YoungWillz

Series 16 alumnus Bobby Davro recovering from a stroke: https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-former-eastenders-star-bobby-31961187.amp

Thanks. I had the feeling that, say, in a Dem state the Republicans would be more likely to be moderate and vice versa, encouraging the checks and balances and thus the possibility of electoral success. Now though, the culture wars and all the other crap that get in the way of pocket book issues and the arc of progress suggests folk want the rabid or entrenched of one stripe or another. I have said before that Haley seems a reasonable pick and would have easily won the nom years ago, but not now. Newsom or even Mayor Pete on the other side. Reasonableness seems to have gone away though. It’s so odd to watch from the other side of the pond!

I’m interested in the USA voting up and down the ballot also. Better to have Americans discuss that. Is it fair to say for example that your vote in Congress could differ from the Presidency, for example, vote for Biden but vote the check on him Republicans in Congress and could that even differ for state races? That used to happen a lot afaik, but perhaps the polarisation of views means people vote one way all the way?

I don’t know, it was more a general “you” than addressing the previous poster. If I could work the emojis on my phone, I’d follow that with a wink emoji. Must sort my internet out soon!

DDP pick and there are QOs. On phone so link yourselves. Melanie Safka for search purposes.

Baffled by this response to what I believed was a measured objective view of the great USA. At no point do I seek to blame Trump for America’s current issues (except perhaps the whole abortion thing - either it is a state responsibility or it isn’t and the Republicans having successfully returned that matter to the states still seem to want to have federal control of it). I despair as probably many do that this is the choice. Both Trump and Biden have a track record on which they can be judged and neither seems to be a great option. But it is for those citizens of that country to decide. Can you live with that decision on voting day? I don’t envy you guys.

If Trump’s first presidency perhaps told us anything, it showed how the safeguards you mention can easily have a coach and horses driven through them. Trump has promised only those who bend the knee to him will get appointed to positions. That if anything should worry folks. Those who drew him back from nuking tornados for example won’t be there. The economy has its safeguards, true. But where does America’s future lie? Surely not in a deep and dim past of fossil fuels, racism and women’s bodies being controlled by men? The promise of leading by innovation and entrepreneurship has been lost somewhere. All very worrying that a more dynamic president with more promise cannot find a way to deliver.

If you want my tuppence, and why should you? Trump is a coward who failed to do service for his country in Vietnam. He perceives himself as the big bully, but on an international footing he is quite happy to hang off the arm of bigger more experienced political bullies. And give in to them. Domestically folk think he’s a successful businessman, when nearly all his businesses have failed. You can’t simply declare America bankrupt and start again like his uni or casino or literally everything else. His last term floated on Obama’s recovery plans. I see nothing from his lips as to how America reduces its debt and readies that country for a future. Because the voters’ children and grandkids will be dancing on a burning ball of fire. Those that remain above water. That’s before you get to his king or even god delusion and his sexual assault and other things. Neither contender is really fit to continue a presidency. So unless there is something major changing in their candidacies, I fear USA will no longer be the beacon of hope some of us grew up with. Bon chance ordinary folks.

Alma Cogan’s sister and character actress Sandra Caron popped up on an old Crystal Maze. According to IMDB, still alive at 88 and seemingly never mentioned here? Still having issues getting internet connected! Anyway, thought I would mention it in case anyone knows owt.

Lord Bhatia apparently deceased: https://members.parliament.uk/member/2165/career

Not everyone who makes a YouTube video reaches 100 though…

So, watching the news this morning. Once again it’s an election year and once again it’s how dangerous the world is and global threats etc etc. Straight out the “ we are going to lose an election, better tell the public how scared they should be” playbook. This isn’t going to work, the Tories are the ones responsible for a 40 thousand reduction in our armed forces.

Annoyingly my first sub I think on my main DDP team, but of course he didn’t come into play as nobody died pre-New Year. Had a couple of Beatles related folk on my team already, so passed him up for the bench. Wishing him long life. Those early days’ pieces of information he knows are valuable. But of course, knowledge of the lesser known bands also.

Wondered whether I could shoe horn him into my TOTP theme team! Alas, he didn’t really qualify. A loss to lip syncers around the world. RIP.

There’s also the re-releases of Leader Of The Pack in the 70s which entry should be updated.

Report that Mary Weiss, lead singer of the Shangri-las who had UK singles hits in the 60s and 70s, has died: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Weiss

Reputable source reporting the death of former Tory MP for Luton East and Luton South Sir Graham Bright: John Major’s PPS, subsequently a Police and Crime Commissioner. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Bright

Source for Shervington: https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/entertainment/20240119/ram-goat-liver-singer-pluto-shervington-has-died

Alan Mills, Wimbledon referee for many years, reported dead: Again, awaiting the usual if true.

Not sure of the source as still on phone, but report that Pluto Shervington may have died: A few significant reggae hits in the UK singles chart. Anything to corroborate? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto_Shervington

Death notice for Sir John Conant, 2nd Baronet and WWII veteran aged 100: https://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/marketplace/advert/conant-notices_55344 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir_John_Conant,_2nd_Baronet

John Hurst, player with Everton and Oldham, reportedly dead aged 76: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/25412548/john-hurst-dead-everton-title-winner/ https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Hurst_(footballer)

Ok, here’s the team. YoungWillz Dustbusters 1. Andy Taylor 2. Phil Collins 3. Pope Francis 4. Ozzy Osbourne 5. Willie Nelson 6. Michael J Fox 7. Billy Connolly 8. Rupert Murdoch 9. William Shatner 10. Clint Eastwood 11. Robert Wagner 12. Dick Van Dyke 13. Mel Brooks 14. David Attenborough 15. Buzz Aldrin 16. Joe Biden 17. Eva Marie Saint 18. Dave Myers 19. Linda Nolan 20. Dennis Skinner 21. Prunella Scales 22. Denis Law 23. Tim Bilton 24. (wildlife) Simon Cowell 25. Shannen Doherty Sub: Toby Keith.

Report that Stuart Dunning, bassist with mid-80s pop band The Tempest, has died: https://twitter.com/CherylDunning13/status/1747684781620420675 https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tempest_(band)

Tony Lloyd’s death means a by-election in Rochdale, no?