Leaderboard

I’ll unlock this in a couple of days. Unlocked.

Cult director of Cannibal Holocaust Ruggero Deodato dead at 83.

But you know…. Not everyone makes it to 100 or is beyond 100… that’s something for you to remember…

10 Donna Summer – I Feel Love -5 10 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights -1 10 David Bowie – Space Oddity +4 08 Blondie – Heart of Glass

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is in serious but stable health conditions. "His situation hasn't changed compared to yesterday", sources in contact with the former Mater Ecclesiae monastery tell ANSA. The Pontiff emeritus spent the night continuously under the supervision of doctors and monitoring will continue in the next few hours. https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/topnews/2022/12/29/condizioni-ratzinger-gravi-ma-stabili_8bb4cf16-d78f-4228-a78f-6d1e6cbebc64.html

Boggles my mind how a frail 95-year-old Pope was not included on the list.

Edgar Savisaar finally dead.

Maximilian, Margrave of Baden (wiki) dead at 89. First cousin of King Charles III.

János Varga was a Hungarian Greco-Roman fighter, he died on 12/29 at the age of 83, in 1964 he fought at Bantamweight, and among 18 fighters he is the 5th to die, he was eliminated in the 3rd round of this competition. round and is the 6th to die, among 20 fighters. In 1968 he won gold at bantamweight and was the seventh to die among 24 athletes. world champion in 1963 and 1970 and silver in 67 and 71 https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/58674

Oldest living Brazilian WWII veteran Ruy de Noronha Goyos, dead at 108.

On this day 2 years ago, Italian-born French fashion designer Pierre Cardin, who was best known for a fondess for geometric designs such as introducing the bubble dress in 1954 and the collarless suit worn by the Beatles in 1963, passed away at the age of 98. He would have been 100 in July of this year.

I think his real significance probably lies in the work he did before being Pope when he advised on doctrine. He was very hard line on traditional Catholic bugbears like abortion and same sex relationships but he was soft on members of the clergy who committed abuse. I think the main reason he stepped down was that he recognised he was not the vehicle for change the Church needed and/or to avoid answering some awkward questions

TJS in. Mentally locked myself into my picks by midmonth and I didn't have the heart to swap out any interesting oldies for Pope Benedict

Hypothetical 2023 List- FINAL VERSION 1. Pope Benedict XVI (96, Former Pope; -) 2. Pele (83, Footballer; 41) 3. Gianluca Vialli (59, Ex-Chelsea manager; NEW) 4. Rolf Harris (93, Pedophile; NEW) 5. Bob Barker (100, The Price Is Right; 4) 6. Henry Kissinger (100, Diplomat; 2) 7. Roberta Flack (86, Singer; NEW) 8. June Spencer (104, Peggy Woolley; NEW) 9. William Russell (99, Actor; NEW) 10. Rob Burrow (41, Rugby player; NEW) 11. Jimmy Carter (99, Ex US President; 9) 12. James Whale (72, Broadcaster; 26) 13. Glynis Johns (100, Actress; NEW) 14. Nigel Starmer-Smith (79, Rugby Commentator; 6) 15. Tony Bennett (97, Crooner; 10) 16. Mel Brooks (97, Comedian / Director; 14) 17. Joanne Woodward (93, Actress; -) 18. David Graham (98, Actor; NEW) 19. Alan Greenspan (97, Economist; 5) 20. Eva Marie Saint (99, Actress; NEW) 21. Jean-Marie Le Pen (95, French Neo-Nazi; 24) 22. Harry Belafonte (96, Singer; 13) 23. Dick Van Dyke (98, Actor; 1) 24. Jacques Delors (98, French Politician; 30) 25. Stanley Baxter (97, Comedian; 35) 26. Cleo Laine (96, Jazz Singer; 27) 27. Jonnie Irwin (50, TV presenter; NEW) 28. Fay Weldon (92, Author; NEW) 29. Noam Chomsky (95, Intellectual; 37) 30. Norman Tebbit (92, Politician; 39) 31. Rosalynn Carter (96, Ex-FLOTUS; 20) 32. Burt Bacharach (95, Singer Songwriter; 34) 33. Barbara Walters (94, Broadcast Journalist; -) 34. Bob Newhart (94, Comedian; -) 35. Winnie Ewing (94, Scottish Politician; NEW) 36. Milan Kundera (94, Author; 46) 37. Nigel Lawson (91, UK Politician; -) 38. George Alagiah (68, Newscaster; NEW) 39. Bobby Charlton (86, Footballer; 16) 40. Tom Lehrer (95, Musical humorist; NEW) 41. Sandy Gall (96, TV news reporter; 21) 42. James Earl Jones (92, Vader's Voice; NEW) 43. Dennis Skinner (91, Politician; NEW) 44. Kenneth Cope (92, Actor; NEW) 45. Andy Taylor (62, Duran Duran guitarist; NEW) 46. David Attenborough (97, Broadcaster and Natural Historian; 17) 47. Shannen Doherty (53, 90210 Actor; -) 48. Joss Ackland (95, Actor; 49) 49. Douglas Hurd (93, Politician; 43) 50. Vladimir Putin (71, Orc; NEW) If Pele (or someone else on the list) ends up dying before Saturday night, then Ted Kaczynski replaces him- I'd put him between Ackland and Hurd. If a return or debut name dies (i.e. Benedict), either Linda Nolan or Yoko Ono returns.

Al Smith, a former pro basketball player who spent five seasons in the American Basketball Association (ABA), died last Monday in Florida. He was 75 years old. It was reported that Smith shot his live-in girlfriend. Law enforcement arrived, and negotiators attempted to talk to Smith for several hours but could not make contact. Sarasota County (FL) officials forced entry and discovered Smith died by suicide due to a self-inflicted gunshot. Smith's girlfriend was transported to a hospital for treatment. Smith was selected in the 11th round of the NBA Draft by the Chicago Bulls in 1971. He was also drafted by the Denver Rockets in the ABA Draft and decided to play for them SC

My performance this year was so unexpectedly good that I am actually tempted to give it another go. It'll be the only thing I compete in this year. We'll see, I have a few days left to decide...

Wrestler, darling. Not "fighter".

Would've been irked if the winner was ahead by thirty or something, glad that it's going to be a well-fought battle

Luis Torras Martinez is 110 today. Here's an image from last week: Apparently he still paints and must be locally pretty famous as he's had a Galician wiki since he was 95. His wife is "only" 99 or 100.

Inga Swenson, the phenomenal American actress who is probably remembered for her roles on the television sitcoms "Benson" and "Soap", and as the northern matriarch Maude Hazard in the acclaimed mini-series "North and South", is 90 today. Jon Voight, the famed American actor who began his acting career on Broadway, whose first great success was the iconic film "Midnight Cowboy", and winner of an Oscar for his notable performance in the anti-war Vietnam film "Coming Home", is 84 today.

Nitin Manmohan dead at 60.

Thomas Becket died on this day 852 years ago, aged 51. Becket began to study canon law in the early 1150s, and was named the Archdeacon of Canterbury in 1154 by Theobald of Bec, the Archbishop (a possible relative considering the name). In 1155, he was appointed as Lord Chancellor by Henry II due to his effectiveness in his job, and Henry sent his son (Henry the Young King) to live with him for a period of time. After Theobald's death in 1162, Thomas was elected as his successor. The relationship between Becket and King Henry worsened as Becket no longer defended royal interests and continued to have close ties to the pope; these went against the church values at the time of the reign of Henry I, and Henry II made them sign a document to adhere to the values of that time, called the Constitutions of Clarendon. In 1164, Becket violated the document by attempting to visit France without royal permission- after his trial, he evaded paying his fine, and fled to France, holding a meeting with Pope Alexander III. Henry refused to let Becket return to England, and then exiled his family, clerks, and servants. In 1166, Becket excommunicated several of Henry II's advisers. The pope soon acted as an arbitrator, and in 1170, Henry made a compromise that allowed Becket to return to England. In November 1170, Becket excommunicated three bishops to the ire of Henry- he reportedly stated "Will no one rid me of this turbulent priest", which was interpreted as a royal decree. The next month, four knights (Richard le Briton, Reginald Fitzurse, Hugh de Morville, and William de Tracy) confronted him at Canterbury Cathedral and killed him (for this reason, Becket is often depicted with a sword through his head (as you can see in the picture above)). Becket was immediately considered a martyr, and was made a saint less than three years after his death.

I've submitted all my teams for deadpools that begin Jan 1. I'll resume entering teams tomorrow. Only was able to enter the first few before falling sick late on Christmas, but I'm well enough again to be back on the computer that has the Excel master file.

What worries me though is the time difference between Brazil and England .Gives a fair amount of time for Pele to die on the 31st local time and for it not to be reported until we'll into 1st January UK time rendering a drop 40 pick useless. Benedict I believe is in Vatican City which is an hour ahead of GMT so that worries me less.

Would have celebrated his 100th birthday today.