CharonsCrew

I also had Stephen Hawking in the main game, so I guess you win some, you lose some..... RIP though, I'm sad he's gone.

Is it possible that 20 Hits No Problem is actually Death? Because if so, I don't think that's very sporting. Death, his/her immediate family members, and any affiliated companies should be barred from taking part.

True that! If this was a democracy, we'd be sunk. All hail the Glorious Leader, whose final word on this shall be Law....

I'm still pretty new here, but here's my opinion for what it's worth. Not sure re the euthanasia, (you make some excellent points), but personally, I'd have thought in the case of open findings, the bonus doesn't apply. If there's any doubt, no bonus. Likewise when Ms Vervoort dies, the unnatural bonus should only be given if information is released that it was indeed euthanasia. She is, after all, extremely ill, and it's not that far fetched that she may meet a natural end, as did Sir Terry Pratchett despite his advocacy of the right to die. I'll hold up my hands here and state outright that I don't have Ms Vervoort on my team, though I wish I did. I'm honestly looking at this fairly though, and would be saying the same if I did have her. I had Jessica Falkholt, and completely agree with the decision not to award unnatural death points in that case. As far as the stroke and the car accident, I think it would hinge on the cause of death. If the coroner determined it was the stroke, no bonus, if the car, give the bonus. If it's unclear for any reason, then you don't get the bonus.

Thanks. It's tempting. I've haven't ever fielded a theme team. One to think about for next year, certainly.

Thanks for the responses all. I would agree that an unnatural death is an unnatural death regardless, otherwise it might be hard to decide where to draw the line. That Branson fellow used to do some fairly interesting things - if he skydived dressed as an angel while holding a 'Fly Virgin!' sign, is that work-related? I'd never really thought of picking people who make these daring reality shows, but I might give them a consideration for next year. Even if their shows aren't necessarily popular, the press will probably pick up on someone who deliberately ran into a tornado.

In that case, I have a question about this. I've seen people pick those in high risk professions, and I'm thinking about that guy who died recently from "Storm Chasers." Ironically, if anyone had chosen him they would presumably have got the unnatural causes bonus anyway, since it's been reported that he died of a drug overdose. But if he'd got too close to a tornado instead, and been killed, would that have counted as unnatural causes or not? And if so, is there any difference between that and a boxer? (We'll assume that the incident and death happen in the same year.) I'm not arguing or anything, I'm just genuinely curious about what the rules are. Thanks for any clarification.

1. Paul Gascoigne 2. Queen Elizabeth II 3. Angela Lansbury 4. Aretha Franklin 5. Henry Kissinger 6. Dick Van Dyke 7. Jimmy Carter 8. Betty White 9. Prince Philip 10. Doris Day 11. Linda Nolan 12. Olivia Newton John 13. Stan Lee 14. Terry Jones 15. Olivia de Havilland 16. Val Kilmer 17. Robert Mugabe 18. Dennis Norden 19. Stephen Hawking 20. Vera Lynn 21. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI 22. Bob Barker 23. Valerie Harper 24. Prunella Scales 25. Bob Dole Sub Clive James

Thank you, and thank you for doing this! Apologies - I've just seen you had already posted the deadline. I was reading the thread too quickly, and missed it. Thanks again.

Do I still have time to enter a team? I'll have one for you within the hour.....thanks either way.

I might well be wrong, but I believe someone said a while back that it's because the incident that caused the unnatural death happened before the New Year. Presumably therefore it's denied because the bonus is intended more for the unexpected. I think that's fair. I have Jessica Falkholt on my team too, and certainly wouldn't have said no to an extra three points, but I understand and agree with the reasoning behind it.

Jessica Falkholt. Rest In Peace. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-42713522 The Guardian has it as well. https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/jan/17/jessica-falkholt-australian-actor-dies-after-boxing-day-car-crash

"on this final page of my stint as stand-in diarist. I don’t think Clive James, in whose immense shadow I have written these last six months, would take my preference amiss." Does this mean Clive James is returning to write for The Guardian, or are they getting a new permanent writer in? Anyone know? https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jan/13/meyerowitz-stories-great-art

Jessica Falkholt remains in critical condition apparently ......the Home and Away tweet saying RIP has been deleted. http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/jessica-falkholt-remains-critical-in-hospital-after-horror-crash-20180111-h0h2zs.html

Thank you. Mind you, she's not gone yet....I picked her, but didn't joker her, so congratulations to those who did. Gave my joker to Leah Bracknell instead, who seemed a safer pick. I'm hoping for top 100 this year, and when I realized I'd missed Marieke Vervoort, I figured that wasn't going to happen. But I did pick Jessica Falkholt and Rayya Elias, so maybe. I'm sorry though that such a young person with her life ahead of her had this happen. At least she hopefully doesn't have to wake up to be told she's lost her parents and sister so close to Christmas.

I think one team (and maybe one theme team) works better, and it means less work for the host. Running this game must be very time-consuming.

Thanks, good to know! The Daily Mail has indeed picked it up as well.

Thanks. I see both the Telegraph and the Daily Mail have mentioned her in the past, so hopefully so.

I see Rayya Elias has gone.....did she get a proper UK obit yet? RIP.

I put him on my DDP list this year, but I'm starting to seriously consider he might be a Highlander Immortal. Or possibly an android. Maybe the real Kirk snuffed it in 1955 or something.

I considered Paul Darrow, he's been so ill I think you may well get the points for him. But I couldn't bring myself to list him, simply because he was such a childhood hero of mine. It's funny, I don't usually balk even when I'm very fond of a celebrity (I had Brian Cant on my list last year, and was really upset when he died), but I just couldn't. Anyone else ever had that, been unable to choose a certain celebrity because they've personally meant something to you, and heart has won over head? I'm just curious. And yes good luck everyone, and thanks to those who've worked on this, past and present. It must be one hell of a huge job.

I thought yesterday, drawing up my DDP list, that I was probably improving the chances of the people on it. Alas, I can only save twenty. It's a big responsibility.

Whereabouts do you live?

I have her on my list. I don't think she's a slam dunk, her chances are 50/50. I don't know if she'll make the Drop 40, but I'll be quite surprised if only a few teams pick her. I considered making her my joker, but the uncertainty made me choose Leah Bracknell instead.

Thanks. I had him, but it's not like I'm a contender for winning anyway! Picked my team mostly at random, I didn't know much about most of them. This has been my first year playing both this and the Derby Dead Pool. I'm doing slightly better in the main game, was about 65th or so until recently, but a slew of recent deaths I didn't have knocked me to 95th, and ironically I didn't have Gord Downie in that, so goodbye top 100! It's been a fun and interesting learning curve though. I'm putting more thought into next year's team.