YoungWillz

Providencia Paredes, Dominican assistant to Jackie Onassis, reported dead. Awaiting UK obit. http://elveedordigital.com/diaspora/5610-fallece-primera-dominicana-que-trabajo-en-la-casa-blanca Edit: Yahoo Obit. https://uk.news.yahoo.com/personal-assistant-jaqueline-kennedy-dies-90-222219509.html#EcNu2TP

Richard Ford, Gerald's half brother, dies. http://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2015/03/dick_ford_half-brother_to_gera.html

Spanish papers reporting death of Leandra Lumbreras at 127, waiting for a UK obit though.

I've done a search here and online and can't find anything regarding Valerie Lush, born Christmas Day 1918. She was Auntie Flo in And Mother Makes Three/Five. Anyone know if she's still with us?

Golfer Morgan Hoffman's grandmother, bless. http://chippewa.com/sports/golf/games/hoffman-learns-grandmother-dies-then-takes-lead-at-bay-hill/article_45fb7f2b-faec-5d68-943b-f5a19ecb86b9.html

5 years ago, legend of boxing commentary, Harry Carpenter, died.

Happy Birthday, Vera! Karaoke at your place?

3 teams did not go asunder by going down under and get points for Malcom Fraser, as reported elsewhere. http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/mar/20/malcolm-fraser-dies-aged-84

One of those pesky Tory MPs who keep doing wrong and get away with it, Jerry Wiggin dies. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/11483368/Sir-Jerry-Wiggin-Tory-MP-obituary.html

Never thought much of the political argument as regards voting, though there is obviously history of acts doing their best against a backdrop of politics (go and watch Belle and the Devotions being roundly booed for Love Games at that particular final). I am excited at how good the contest has been over the last few years and I still view it as a great outlet for acts and songwriters who don't really get a chance. Some of the allegedly "smaller" countries have excellent songs this year (look at Cyprus and San Marino, for example) and Italy have thrown the kitchen sink with a big act and a big song. The hosts Austria could make it back to back wins this year. Possibly more non contenders this year than in recent times though.

Liza in rehab. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-3001711/Liza-Minnelli-enters-rehab-making-excellent-progress.html

Can't argue that there's not interest in Eurovision, but I'm not sure it's the right sort of interest for a pool. Then again, who knows. Good luck. Fair dos. Thought it might be a good game to play post General Election, and it's such a long time until 31 December for results for the main pool games. I'm easy either way.

Reported a hoax, seems he's hanging on! http://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/18/world/singapore-lee-kuan-yew/

Heyup, all the entries for this year's Eurovision are in. Given the discussion here and over at Foreign Personalities, I was wondering if there would be any interest in me opening up a Eurovision Pool over at Extra-Curricular? Still thinking about the rules, but the idea would be to pick one song from each semi final to go through and two from each semi final which are "Dead In The Water", i.e. which would fail to make the final. Then also, for entrants to pick the top 4 songs and the bottom 3 Dead In The Water songs for the final. Admittedly this would involve some level of skill given you would have to think which songs are good enough to get to the final but be in the bottom 3. I could develop a points scoring system and entries would be available until the start of the first semi. If I get say 10 or more members interested, I'd be up for overseeing this. Peace.

4 teams kept the faith with Shaw Taylor and are rewarded. http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2015/mar/18/shaw-taylor

Ib Melchior dead. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ib-melchior-dead-robinson-crusoe-782749

Screenwriter on several movies including Robinson Crusoe On Mars, Ib Melchior, dies at 97. He claimed the ideas for Lost In Space and Star Trek were his. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ib-melchior-dead-robinson-crusoe-782749

Jack Haley, Chicago Bulls and actor in Love In An Elevator video for Aerosmith, dies at 51. http://www.foxsports.com/nba/story/chicago-bulls-los-angeles-lakers-ucla-bruins-jack-haley-dead-at-51-031715

So the UK will experience a supermoon during the solar eclipse on Friday 20 March. Sadly, you won't be able to post it to Facebook. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/03/16/facebook_community_standards_acceptable_content_update/ Sorry, it's a slow death day

Scots are only part of the UK if they vote the right way, naturally. Of course, coalitions were perfectly fine in May 2010! Now the talk is of minority government. Big push from the media on this, which makes me chuckle as a Scot. Why? Because Labour's last minority government up to 1979 led to 18 years of Conservative rule. And then when Major's Conservative government became minority, this ushered in 13 years of Labour rule. (First past the post, dontcha know old boy). And these massive majorities for both these complacent parties have led us to here, and both apparently quoting their divine right to rule, one or the other (no doubt others will quote a 400 year old reference to Scottish monarchs, but the Stuarts were a UK party...think Jim Murphy today). Whereas in Scotland, the SNP's minority government up to 2011 actually led to a huge SNP majority elected by PR. So what is the UK afraid of? Good governance for once?

Interesting. His previous death sentences appear to have been reduced to life, but he has now been sentenced to death yet again. Wonder how that affects Mr Yuck's DDP team? Link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-31914964

Interesting. His previous death sentences appear to have been reduced to life, but he has now been sentenced to death yet again. Wonder how that affects Mr Yuck's DDP team?

Sorry mate didn't mean to stomp on your post. :-( I would there was simply a delete option. SC No worries, Sir C.

Punk record producer who worked with Dead Kennedys and The Offspring, Thom Wilson, reported dead. http://loudwire.com/the-offspring-producer-thom-wilson-dies/

Although I've not really been around that long here, I love the fact that niche topics have developed over a serious number of years. I would say that although some musicians are pop stars, not all pop stars are musicians. For example, Gary Barlow is a musician and pop star, Jason Orange counts only as pop star. (Depends on your firmament I guess, no offence Jason!). Clark Terry was probably pop in his day, but a separate thread for Jazz is probably better now. And I would be unlikely to post the death of Vanessa Mae or Nigel Kennedy here, far less Simon Rattle or the third bassoon player of the London Philharmonic.