Sir Creep

OK here's a CLASSIC example of a person to be argued about. Famous only for being ill? Yes. This has female basketball player Lauren Hill written all over it. Should he be allowed in DPs with a rule saying you can't be famous for dying. No. Quincy Jones is a 32-year-old stand-up comedian who had been diagnosed with terminal stage four mesothelioma. Jones wanted to leave behind some kind legacy before he died, so his friends set up a Kickstarter to raise money so he could tape an hour-long comedy special. The Kickstarter ended up pulling in more than 10 times its roughly $5,000 goal (for a total of $50,273), and HBO has decided to air Jones’ special at some point this spring after he tapes it in Los Angeles on April 4. Article says how Ellen DeGeneres gave him $$$ when he appeared on her show as well. SC

In December 2015 Valeant Pharmaceuticals CEO J. Michael Pearson was hospitalised with 'severe pneumonia' and his return was uncertain. Return he did, maybe 6 weeks ago, but is now going on permanent leave -- not for medical reasons, but for business-related ones. "Valeant Pharmaceuticals on Monday announced a series of management changes, including plans to replace J. Michael Pearson as chief executive, in another striking turn of events for the embattled company. The company also said that the activist investor William A. Ackman, whose hedge fund, Pershing Square Capital Management, is Valeant’s second-biggest shareholder, would be joining the board. In addition, the company said it would restate some of its earnings and asked Howard B. Schiller, a former chief financial officer, to resign from the board, accusing him of “improper conduct.” Valeant's stock was trading at $200/share 6 months ago. Closed around $29 today. SC

Anandan, ace film historian and legendary photo journalist of south Indian cinema, passed away here today after brief illness, his family said. Anandan was 90 and passed away at his residence here this morning, they said. "He was recently hospitalised for breathing problems. He passed away this morning in our house," Anandan's son 'Diamond' Babu said. Apparently this guy is so renowned as to be a 1-name celeb (ala Sting, Prince, Madonna, Janet (inside joke if you've been paying attention)) SC

Independent Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae was hospitalised last night after a run-in with a cow. It is understood he was injured while working with cattle on the family farm. Reports indicate he may have been kicked and then attacked by the animal. SC

A man has found fossil evidence/proof of Noah's flood -- in his Texas backyard. Glad that mystery is solved once and for all. SC

Although, then again.... For those keeping score at home, she's now Olivia Newton-John-Lattanzi-Easterling

OH look, someone posted something new in the Zsa Zsa Gabor thread! *mark this forum as read*

So you managed to log in using the new pw provided by the forum, but you can't change it to something else. I have no idea why that is, but often it's a matter of typing (or copy and pasting) the required bits carefully. My advice is: log out, log in again and if that succeeds, try to change your pw again. If that fails, PM me, I can help. Just to update, MH --- I've actually memorized the behemoth, seeing as it 'interestingly' had both my past and present phone area codes in't it wasn't too bad. But should the need arise I will take you up on the PM re: this issue in the future. Thanks for the offer. SC

Oh my DP league I run is bitching and moaning (not necessarily in that order) about what is 'celebrity' and/or a 'QO'. So I'm doing some research for next year and came across the rule below I like quite a lot. I like the word 'DEDICATED' obit, it takes the mish mash outta this Delpech et.al nonsense buried in Rickman's obit. Sorry, that's Rickman's obit.....no one else's. You don't get a DEDICATED obit you don't score. I'm definitely advancing this idea into my DP for next year and suggest we do the same here. SC ---------- "WE REQUIRE A PUBLISHED OBITUARY FOR A CELEBRITY PICK TO COUNT AS A HIT. All qualified picks submitted will be accepted, but if you want them to "Score" a Hit, they'll need their own dedicated obituary article page (NOT part of a multiple Obit "Round-Up" page) on at least ONE of the following sites...."

DDP Archive, available on homepage. The full list of teams aren't available from before 2003 for some reason. Sorry but maybe it's my browser -- when I clicked on Archives (long before posting the aforementioned post) it took me to an error message (see below). I assumed it was void of content. SC " The webpage cannot be found HTTP 404 Most likely causes: There might be a typing error in the address. If you clicked on a link, it may be out of date. What you can try: Retype the address. Go back to the previous page.Go back to the previous page. Go to the main site and look for the information you want. More information

Going old school today (3/21): Robert I, Duke of Burgundy - 940 years Robert III, Duke of Burgundy - 710 years Lastly, choosing between church and state can be tough for an Archbishop, at least one who forgets the 'bishop' part of that title. Thanks to heathen Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer you now have the Church of England--bloody splitters!--and for that he was justifiably burned at the stake 460 years ago.

Deleted. I was being mean, sorry

1. Where is the link to historical names of DDP picks -- I ask cuz I can't figure out how people here know who should make the List of the Missed. 2. 'Days with no deaths' and Milestones (certainly we've passed 1600-1700-1800) update that shit. :-? SirC

Celebrated film actress Parveen Sultana Diti has died after a long battle with cancer. SC

Geoffrey H. Hartman, a literary critic whose work took in the Romantic poets, Judaic sacred texts, Holocaust studies, deconstruction and the workings of memory, died on March 14 at his home in Hamden, Conn. He was 86. His death was announced by Yale University, where he was the Sterling professor emeritus of English and comparative literature. Hartman was considered one of the world’s foremost scholars of literature. SC

Anker's Away....

Ouch. (Oh and Peter M-D as well....)

The fact you took time to make the list I tip my cap. And I'm not going to take said time, and I like many of the names you have posted, so I'll just agree to agree. You've already swapped out Mandela. However I'm left shaking my head at your hard-on for former First Ladies. Who gives a shit. They won the marriage lottery, and apart from maybe Eleanore Roosevelt really aren't accomplished individuals at all, other than a few charitable efforts expected of them. SC

Roger Agnelli, ex-President/CEO of the world's largest mining conglomerate Vale, S.A., dies in a plane crash in Sao Paulo (crashed into a house!). ...along with his wife and kids.....leaving cousin Sir Creep as their sole heir! SC

Interesting article about what we would say to our dying loved ones if we had the chance, and the conclusion is very little. SC

I didn't post what seemed like an insignificant anniversary yesterday (3/19)... Pope Clement XI - 295 years ...until it became significant today (3/20)... Pope Clement III - 825 years And the gravity of the situation lest we forget Sir Isaac Newton - 290 years...

Charles Bissell of The Wrens has multiple myeloma. SC

Woman falls over a cliff and dies. Then the fun starts! SC

Cases like this are a primarily example of why DDP rules needed changing, it was never intended to include people like that poor bairn. It's a celebrity death pool for famous people, not anyone whose had any coverage of their illness in the history of man. This year I will be compiling an alternative DDP leaderboard at the end of the year which excludes anybody whose team includes non-famous people. I'd dispute that, given the very first DDP ever had an 11 year old score points. That suggests it's always been considered a free for all. You're opening a can of worms, Deathray, though a rule requiring one to be famous other than for their illness is typical in most other DPs. But you sound like the whiny bitches in MY DP I run, whaaaa that person isn't 'famous'. What the fuck is 'fame'? For the record, I've never heard fuck all about 90% of the people we post about in here. For my money, being elected doesn't make someone 'famous'. Why would anyone in Britain know who the FUCK Steve LaTourette is? But no one flinches when he is on a team. I'll grant you I've NO business receiving points for Hassan Asif. I can give you dozens and DOZENS of names of people I'd never heard of in my life and never would have if they weren't ready to die. Jenny Diski? Peter Esterhazy? Jeannie Little? OJ Brigance? Ray Columbus? All nobodies. And all on Sir Creep's Shadow List -- and why? Cuz they're dying and that fact has been made public, nothing more. So who is going to determine who is 'famous'? The only criteria you can use is demanding the obit be published in a limited supply of authorities. I should say I believe the list DDP uses is TOO GENEROUS (though it SHOULD include the NYTimes, but I get it, it's a UK thaaang). Cut it down to half a dozen major news sources and that will eliminate the fluff of some guitar player named Fekett from some band no one ever heard of. No one would dare list them, they'd know better. Why should Rob Ford be allowed? He was a mayor, big whoop. Do you have a population minimum for cities or can I list the mayor of Climax, French Lick, and Intercourse (MI, IN, PA respectively)? I think the obit requirement takes them outta play, and that is enough. I agree a little clean-up is in order, and I say add a rule saying 1) you can't be famous simply cuz you're dying (ahhh, but who is Andrew smith then?) and 2) REDUCE the sources allowed even further, be Draconian as hell about it if you want 'real famous people only'. I think all that does is dummy down DP to the level of those who aren't willing to do their homework on a daily basis. Does the shoe feel like it fits? *descends soap box* SC

Nor me. Although to be fair, I don't actually have a twitter account. Nor me. LOL