RadGuy

Made it back home around 5PM yesterday. Stayed up for the first batch of fireworks but around 9:30 I went to bed. Proceeded to wake up at 4:30 this morning... gonna be tough getting used to the time difference. Thanks for your updates @Cat O'Falk. I wasn't on the forums during my trip, but I did read your PMs thru my email notifications.

My trip to Poland is coming to an end. I'm pretty happy to be heading back home tbh. After a whole month, I've had my fill. Especially since I do the same things every summer - sit around with my grandparents, walk their dog, go on hikes, take a day trip to nearby Kraków with my friends, smoke joints behind a dumpster. Not that those things aren't enjoyable, but they're getting old. But I knew I had to make the most of my trip since I'll probably be too busy to go next year. I'll be preparing for college and I'll want to spend one last summer with my high school friends. My flight from Rzeszów to Warsaw is around 9AM local time on Wednesday. Only a few hours layover, then around 1PM is my flight to Chicago.

I love doing this whole survivor analysis thing, but I haven't done it since the beginning of the year. So here's my mid-year edition. Leah Bracknell: The report of her needing to get her lungs drained often is ominous. Reminds me of Sam Simon in his final days. 90% Greg Gilbert (JOKER): Probably the worst pick on my team. Has a wedding planned and treatment is still working for now. Shitty joker. 20% Jose Jose: One of these hospitalizations will be his last. But when will that be? 50% Dilip Kumar: So frail... he can't hang on much longer. Autumn-time death. 80% Devin Lima: Seen a lot of 'prayers' talk on social media. However, seems more like fans concerned with his diagnosis than friends concerned with his condition. 40% Philomena Lynott: No way she's refusing treatment. An 87-year-old doesn't survive almost a full year with untreated lung cancer. 50% John McCain: Any day now. Though that is what I've been saying for a couple months. 95% Charlotte Rae: We don't really know how her cancer is progressing. Her frail looks could be attributed to the fact that she can't be bothered to wear makeup anymore. 50% Fernando Ricksen: He may be optimistic, but that's no cure for organ failure - which he will soon have. Likely goner this year. 75% Stefan Karl Stefansson: Doesn't look as frail as you'd expect. But given the pessimistic news, 6 more months is a big ask. 80% Nobby Stiles: Has had dementia forever. He'll die on a quiet day in the fall. 85% Marieke Vervoort: She's a happy person. I doubt she will undergo euthanasia any time soon. 30%

40 points for me now that David Shutts got his obit.

Not sure about this thread. I know you weren't around back then, but we did have separate threads for the 2016 primaries and 2016 general election. So the same can be expected in 2020 for the primaries and general. Perhaps rename this the "2018 midterms" thread or sum'n like that. As for Ocasio-Cortez's victory, I'm overjoyed. Joe Crowley was the incumbent with all the name recognition, and he spent 10 times as much money as her. But lost. Oh, how glorious. Watching how shocked all the pundits and number-crunchers are after last night is beautiful. Joy Ann Reid even admitted she never heard of Ocasio-Cortez before she won. Of course, they're already making excuses about how this doesn't mean anything and the fact she was a progressive and a democratic socialist and a Berniecrat doesn't mean anything. But it does show that far-left candidates who focus on economic justice can do well in a country that is predominately made up of working class people. But no, the pundits say, that socialist Ocasio-Cortez only won because it was the Bronx and Queens. She wouldn't stand a chance in West Virginia; Democratic candidates in conservative places need to be centrist and centre-right! That's not exactly true either. First of all, it's not an issue of "centrist vs. far-left". It's an issue of "corrupt/corporatist vs. pro-working people". The moderate Democrats are moderate on economic issues because they take money from corporations and big pharma and such. So obviously they're not gonna fight for a working class agenda. The working class social conservatives of the South could definitely support Berniecrats and progressives, but with a couple of 'requirements'. 1. Little emphasis on identity politics 2. Don't call yourself a 'socialist' because people are ignorant and are scared of that word and think it means you're a full blown dirty Soviet commie. 3. Be socially conservative, or at least don't bring up social issues like gay rights or gun laws. What's the proof? Richard Ojeda is a Democrat running for Congress in West Virginia's 3rd district. He is endorsed by the Bernie wing of the party, he supports medicare for all, and is a big union guy. But he's also pro-mining, and doesn't discuss social issues. He currently has a 6-point lead in the polls on his Republican opponent. Basically, far-left progressives CAN succeed in poor, conservative areas. They just need to put the emphasis on stuff like healthcare, welfare, and prosperity. The ruby red state of Kansas had a Democratic governor a mere 15 years ago because she focused her campaign on the economy, healthcare, and Social Security, rather than being liberal on social issues. Unfortunately, a lot of working class Southerners and Midwesterns have been voting against their best economic interests, because they've been fed the propaganda that the Democrats are lunatics who wanna turn your kids gay, steal everyone's guns, make veganism mandatory, and open the borders for all the illegal immigrant criminals to rape your wives and steal your jobs. Progressives who don't focus on those issues can easily win running on populist economic issues. So, when the hacky pundits tell you only "moderate Democrats" can win in Republican areas, they're not giving you the full picture. By "moderate", they mean people who won't stand up for raising the minimum wage or for universal healthcare. But this couldn't be further from the truth. Poor rednecks in the heartland don't vote Republican because of their corporate economic message, I mean why would they? They're broke as fuck! They vote Republican because neither the Republicans nor the moderate Democrats actually give a fuck about them, so they might as well vote Republican based on social issues and conservative "traditional American" culture. Progressives who don't take corporate donations and who will fight for working people can win anywhere, whether it's New York City or West Virginia. Except of course for a handful of rich neighborhoods and towns - the only places that actually like the status quo and corporatist policies. But those places are in the minority.

Update #14 Hits: 6 June - Teddy Johnson (b. 1920) - Bibliogryphon 8 June - Danny Kirwan (b. 1950) - Toast 18 June - Big Van Vader (b. 1955) - Wormfarmer 21 June - Johnny Hubbard (b. 1930) - msc Scoreboard: gcreptile 889 msc 733 CaptainChorizo 705 Grim Up North 695 drol 658 DeathImpends 650 Joey Russ 636 Book 600 Sean 593 Prophet 541 DevonDeathTrip 525 Banana 412 FixedBusiness 379 The Unknown Man 338 Toast 319 Torva Messor 251 Wormfarmer 204 John Key 178 YoungWillz 164 Gooseberry Crumble 100 Grigori 80 mr.whit 43 Bibliogryphon 38 A flurry of unique hits, but still enough for a pretty big change: msc moves into 2nd. In other news, the transfer day is soon approaching. Here's a quick review of the rules: On the day of June 30th, from 00:00GMT to 23:59GMT, you can exchange up to 5 names from your team for different names. You don't have to do 5, you can do 4, 3, 2, 1, or even make no changes at all. It is up to you. But 5 is the maximum. Your changes must be posted in this thread - not thru PM - in the 24 hour period stated above. Your changes will "go live" at 00:00 GMT July 1st. Now, for the specifics. You can not transfer out a name that died (why would you want to anyway?). You can not transfer out a name that didn't get an obit. They're stuck on your team forever. *evil laugh* You also can not change your joker for a different joker. Whoever you picked at the beginning of the year will be your joker for the next 6 months as well. So, to answer GUN's question - I've decided you can't "lose" your joker either, as in transfer them out and continue in the game without a joker. Basically, no joker changes at all. If you transfered somebody out, and it is later announced that they died in June or earlier, you don't get points even if they were technically still on your team at the time of their death. What matters is that they weren't on your team anymore at the time of their death announcement. I want all of you to provide 1 substitute when you make your post with the transfers, because if you transfer somebody in, and they are announced within 48 hours of your transfers being posted (so sometime on July 2nd GMT) to have died in June or earlier, they will be replaced on your team with your substitute. However, if it takes more than 48 hours after the posting of your transfers for their death to be announced, they will stay on your team and no substitutions will be made. You'll just not get any points. Ok, I hope that covers it all. I probably won't post anymore reminders about the transfer day. I trust y'all to remember it when it comes and to post your changes.

X's death is a big fucking deal for people my age. I wasn't a huge fan, but there's no denying he put out some good songs.

Of course Poland loses to Senegal. My dad was right... This should've been expected. The overpaid cunts didn't even try... they're treating the World Cup as a relaxing vacation from their club careers. Whatever happened to making your country proud?

Duckworth is my Senator and she could definitely beat Trump due to the reasons you mentioned. Bernie Sanders would probably win too, he could take back much of the Rust Belt from Trump. Joe Biden also has that working class appeal. Other than that, I don't think many other Democrats could win in 2020. Cory Booker has too many Wall Street ties and Kamala Harris did some sketchy things as Attorney General of California. Kirsten Gillibrand isn't very likeable and doesn't have much name recognition. Andrew Cuomo has a "corrupt urban political machine boss" vibe about him. If Tim Kaine or Hillary Clinton ran again (God forbid), they'd get their asses handed to them with even states like Minnesota and Maine probably going to Trump.

"Oh, shit, all these independent journalists just keep falling out their apartment windows, blyat" 1 "Fine, fine, by Allah, we'll let the inferior womanfolk drive!" 2

Pretty heated discussion at the dinner table today about how Poland will fair this year. I'm optimistic and say we'll definitely at least make it past the group stage. Colombia's the only major threat, it shouldn't be hard getting past Senegal and Japan. But my dad's older and has seen much more disappointment over the years. He knows that the Polish team will find a way to fuck it all up. His prediction is that Colombia and Senegal make it out of the group. As for a winner, I'd say Belgium. But they did find a way to choke in the 2016 Euros so it's not a sure thing. France, Portugal, Germany, Brazil, and Argentina are all contenders too. But what do I know? 12 months ago I said Chile will win it.

Can't change jokers either. I think that about covers it. Edit: @Grim Up North asked if you can just sub out your joker and - rather than switching to a new joker (which I already said you can't do) - continue in the competition without a joker. Honestly, I'll have to think about it. I'll let you all know within 2 weeks.

Just the usual. Maximum of 5 names, post in the thread (not PM), can't replace picks who didn't obit. Please post on the day of June 30th, GMT. I probably won't update the masterlist until I get back to America a few days after that.

Update #13 Hits: 24 May - Jerry Maren (b. 1920) - Torva Messor 4 June - Jalal Mansur Nuriddin (b. 1944) - DeathImpends 4 June - Dwight Clark (b. 1957) - Wormfarmer 6 June - Mary Wilson (b. 1916) - Grigori (J), msc Scoreboard: gcreptile 889 CaptainChorizo 705 msc 703 Grim Up North 695 drol 658 DeathImpends 650 Joey Russ 636 Book 600 Sean 593 Prophet 541 DevonDeathTrip 525 Banana 412 FixedBusiness 379 The Unknown Man 338 Toast 269 Torva Messor 251 John Key 178 YoungWillz 164 Wormfarmer 149 Gooseberry Crumble 100 Grigori 80 mr.whit 43 Bibliogryphon 18

"The Grandfather of Rap" and DeathImpends B-Team pick Jalal Mansur Nurridin has apparently died.

Planning on submitting an American football theme team next year - mostly NFL but a couple college names too. Dwight Clark's death has me a bit nervous. If a few more of the ill names (Bart Starr, Steve Gleason, Jim Kelly) don't make January, the team'll be shit. Oh well, at least the name I planned is great: "Traded to the Saints."

Yesterday was my last day of school, and tonight I'm leaving for Poland for a month. LO4 at 9:30PM from Chicago O'Hare to Warsaw, if Cat's interested. Then, a 3 hour layover in Warsaw before my flight to Rzeszów.

Poland's second oldest person, Czesława Łasiewicz, has died at 111. Meanwhile, only nine days left until the doyenne of Poland, Tekla Juniewicz, turns 112. *knock on wood*

Looks like I'm late... 4 hours late. Thought I'd be safe coming on right now, since last year we could barely fill all the spots. I was gonna pick Alejandro Junco. Although I could only find one source saying he was ill, I figured I'd take a punt since this is mostly a game of luck anyway.

Update #12 Hits: 12 May - Tessa Jowell (b. 1947) - FixedBusiness, The Unknown Man, Gooseberry Crumble, msc, drol, Joey Russ, Book, Grim Up North, gcreptile, Torva Messor, Captain Chorizo, Banana, DeathImpends, DevonDeathTrip 24 May - John Bain (b. 1984) - msc, Sean, Book, Grim Up North, DeathImpends, Prophet 25 May - Dean Francis (b. 1974) - msc, Sean, drol, Joey Russ, Book, Grim Up North, gcreptile, CaptainChorizo, Banana, Toast, DeathImpends, DevonDeathTrip, Prophet (J) Scoreboard: gcreptile 889 CaptainChorizo 705 Grim Up North 695 msc 687 drol 658 Joey Russ 636 DeathImpends 606 Book 600 Sean 593 Prophet 541 DevonDeathTrip 525 Banana 412 FixedBusiness 379 The Unknown Man 338 Toast 269 Torva Messor 231 John Key 178 YoungWillz 164 Gooseberry Crumble 100 Wormfarmer 92 Grigori 48 mr.whit 43 Bibliogryphon 18

I've been in the DDP for 3 years and every single one of those years I've had a boxer die in late spring/early summer. Although, there's probably several people like me, since Ali, Christie, and Francis were all popular picks. I'll update Death By Numbers later today.

Bessie's family just didn't bother notifying the media. That's the same reason Zoltan Sarosy (oldest Canadian) and Marie Gaudette (oldest American citizen/Italian resident) got no press, despite having been covered by the media previously. Camm's definitely dead. The gerontology geeks ain't wrong - they never are.

A new JustGiving has been opened for Dean Francis, this time to "give him the send off he deserves". Just adds to the long list of teetering-on-the-brink folk... the dominoes will start falling soon.

As mentioned by Zsa Zsa's Leg, today is the West Virginia Primary. As a Bernie bro, I'm very excited to see how Justice Democrat "coal miner's daughter" Paula Jean Swearengin will do in her primary against sitting Senator Joe Manchin. I don't expect her to win, unfortunately, as Manchin has the big money and establishment on his side. It's sort of understandable when establishment centrist Democrats support people like Hillary Clinton or Joe Biden, who are still somewhat liberal. But I don't get how ANY Democrat, no matter how centrist, could support Joe Manchin based on principal - he votes with the Trump administration 61% of the time! There are Republicans who are more liberal than him... The Democratic Party's support of Manchin once again shows that they're not actually for the working people or their progressive base.

Edith MacArthur received a Times obit, meaning the DDP 2018 is officially at 100 hits.