Death Impends

Awaiting an obit, but I had Harry Yee here. Assuming he at least gets local Hawaiian press, I believe that means whoever wins this year will do so with a record points total?

48 Althea & Donna – Up Town Top Ranking 47 Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights 36 Blondie – Heart of glass 34 Bee Gees - Night Fever +2 33 Gary Numan - Cars +2 29 Ian Dury & the Blockheads – Hit me with your rhythm stick 29 10CC – Dreadlock Holiday 27 Police – Message in a bottle 25 Bee Gees – Tragedy 24 Tubeway Army – Are “friends” electric  23 Gloria Gaynor – I will survive 23 Art Garfunkel – Bright eyes 22 The Boomtown Rats – Rat Trap 22 The Buggles - Video Killed the Radio Star 21 ABBA – Take a chance on me 18 Blondie – Sunday Girl 16 Pink Floyd – Another brick in the wall 11 Police – Walking on the moon 9 Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta – Summer Nights 6 Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta – You´re the one that I want 0 Boney M. – Mary´s boy child / Oh my Lord -6

Cliff an odd case in the US. He was near-nonexistent on charts here for many years, suddenly had a presence during the We Don't Talk Anymore era, then disappeared again. I'm in the camp that loves WDTA so I'll happily take it.

Helen Slayton-Hughes QO: https://uk.news.yahoo.com/entertainment/parks-recreation-helen-slayton-hughes-181257523.html December's hit a day clip continues.

Joseph Kittinger dead at 94.

39 Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights 38 Althea & Donna – Up Town Top Ranking 34 Blondie – Heart of glass +4 29 Boney M. – Mary´s boy child / Oh my Lord 27 The Buggles – Video killed the radio star 27 Bee Gees – Night Fever 26 Tubeway Army – Are “friends” electric 26 Gary Numan – Cars 26 Police – Message in a bottle 25 Ian Dury & the Blockheads – Hit me with your rhythm stick 24 Blondie – Sunday Girl 23 Bee Gees – Tragedy 22 Art Garfunkel – Bright eyes 21 ABBA – Take a chance on me 21 10CC – Dreadlock Holiday 21 The Boomtown Rats – Rat Trap 21 Gloria Gaynor – I will survive 17 The Boomtown Rats – I don´t like Mondays 15 Police – Walking on the moon -3 15 Cliff Richard – We don´t talk anymore 14 Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta – Summer Nights 13 Pink Floyd – Another brick in the wall 11 Rod Stewart – Da ya think I´m sexy -3 10 Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta – You´re the one that I want

That episode was so bland that I saw it about two months back and already can barely remember anything besides the old guy in the wheelchair.

We better have a 60s round some point before encroaching the 2010s (Not 50s mind. While I like more songs from the final couple years than I probably should, most of the decade would end up being "Bill Haley wins by doing absolutely nothing against a bunch of anodyne crooners.")

A rarity - an artist on Art Rupe's label who outlived Rupe himself.

35 Kate Bush - Wuthering Heights 34 Althea & Donna – Up Town Top Ranking 30 Blondie – Sunday Girl +2 28 Tubeway Army – Are “friends” electric 28 Police – Message in a bottle 25 Bee Gees – Night Fever 25 ABBA – Take a chance on me 25 The Buggles – Video killed the radio star +1 25 Gary Numan – Cars +1 24 Police – Walking on the moon 24 Boney M. – Mary´s boy child / Oh my Lord 23 Ian Dury & the Blockheads – Hit me with your rhythm stick 22 Bee Gees – Tragedy 21 Blondie – Heart of glass 21 The Boomtown Rats – Rat Trap 20 10CC – Dreadlock Holiday 20 Anita Ward – Ring my bell 19 Art Garfunkel – Bright eyes 19 Gloria Gaynor – I will survive 18 Cliff Richard – We don´t talk anymore 17 Pink Floyd – Another brick in the wall 17 Rod Stewart – Da ya think I´m sexy 16 The Boomtown Rats – I don´t like Mondays 15 Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta – You´re the one that I want 14 Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta – Summer Nights 8 Village People – Y.M.C.A. 5 Brotherhood of Man - Figaro -3 0 The Commodores – Three times a lady -3

28 Althea & Donna – Up Town Top Ranking 28 Kate Bush – Wuthering Heights 24 The Buggles – Video killed the radio star 24 Police – Walking on the moon 24 Tubeway Army – Are “friends” electric 23 Blondie – Heart of glass +2 23 Blondie – Sunday Girl +2 21 The Boomtown Rats – Rat Trap 21 The Boomtown Rats – I don´t like Mondays 20 Brotherhood of Man – Figaro 20 ABBA – Take a chance on me 20 Bee Gees – Night Fever 20 Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta – You´re the one that I want 20 10CC – Dreadlock Holiday 20 Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta – Summer Nights 20 Rod Stewart – Da ya think I´m sexy 20 Boney M. – Mary´s boy child / Oh my Lord 20 Ian Dury & the Blockheads – Hit me with your rhythm stick 20 Bee Gees – Tragedy 20 Gloria Gaynor – I will survive 20 Art Garfunkel – Bright eyes 20 Anita Ward – Ring my bell 20 Cliff Richard – We don´t talk anymore 20 Gary Numan – Cars 20 Police – Message in a bottle 20 Pink Floyd – Another brick in the wall 14 The Commodores – Three times a lady -6 14 Lena Martell – One day at a time 14 Brian & Michael – Matchstalk men and matchstalk cats and dogs 14 Village People – Y.M.C.A. 8 Dr. Hook – When you´re in love with a beautiful woman 2 Boney M. – Rivers of Babylon / Brown girl in the ring

Surprised I had Weir so low. I've stopped paying close attention to ALS athletes as deadpool picks and forgot how long he's had the disease, so I fully expected him to plummet me to the bottom echelons.

Apparently she also felt appearing on a show revolving around psychiatry went against her Scientologist mores. I had to laugh upon discovering that.

74 Baccara – Yes Sir, I can boogie 74 Donna Summer - I Feel Love 72 ABBA - The Name of the Game 62 ABBA – Knowing me, knowing you 41 ABBA - Fernando +4 28 Rod Stewart – I don't want to talk about it / The first cut is the deepest -6 15 ABBA - Mamma Mia

I've reopened the poll.

72 Baccara – Yes Sir, I can boogie  72 ABBA - The Name of the Game +4 66 Donna Summer - I Feel Love 64 ABBA – Knowing me, knowing you 53 Rod Stewart – I don't want to talk about it / The first cut is the deepest -6 39 ABBA - Fernando +4 23 ABBA - Mamma Mia 13 The Four Seasons - December 1963 (Oh, what a night)

Well done, drol!

Yes, obit sources will remain the same as this year's.

72 Baccara – Yes Sir, I can boogie 63 Donna Summer - I Feel Love 60 ABBA – Knowing me, knowing you 57 Rod Stewart – I don't want to talk about it / The first cut is the deepest -6 46 ABBA - The Name of the Game 44 ABBA - Fernando 33 ABBA - Mamma Mia 27 The Four Seasons - December 1963 (Oh, what a night) +4 18 Hot Chocolate – So you win again 12 Elton John & Kiki Dee - Don`t go breaking my heart RIP Wee Jum's Elton subtraction edited in

68 Baccara – Yes Sir, I can boogie 65 Donna Summer - I Feel Love 63 Rod Stewart – I don't want to talk about it / The first cut is the deepest 54 ABBA – Knowing me, knowing you 42 ABBA - The Name of the Game 40 ABBA - Fernando 30 ABBA - Mamma Mia 28.The Four Seasons – December 1963 (Oh, what a night) +4 26 Hot Chocolate – So you win again 20 ABBA - Dancing Queen 18. Elton John & Kiki Dee- Don`t go breaking my heart 11 Tina Charles – I love to love (But my baby loves to dance) 5 Julie Covington - Don`t cry for me Argentina -6

Gooseberry Crumble had Bill Treacher in pole position on his team. Usually this would bode poorly for a November hit after gradual depreciation, but not in this case as this is his first main team hit for 70 points (50 base + 20 bonus). A ding-donging immortal who participated in both pantos and Celebrity Squares was always going to be a popular lad hereabouts. A hearty 11 teams united for Leslie Phillips: six feet blunder gets 50 + 60 = 110 points. Dying Probably and Hell 45 + 54 = 99. This hit puts Dying Probably on the board. CaptainChorizo 40 + 48 = 88. An Fear Beag and Thatcher 35 + 42 = 77. Great Uncle Bulgaria and YoungWillz 25 + 30 = 55. Toast 20 + 24 = 44. chilean was 10 + 12 = 22. and Exu 5 + 6 = 11. Days of Our Lives actor John Aniston was a unique hit for YorkshireBanker worth 49 points (35 base + 14 bonus). CervicalCheck scandal activist Vicky Phelan another heavyweight for the month. I feel that given she was the face and primary campaigner of a scandal that toppled the HSE director, that it elevates her to a similar level to Deborah James and thus not subject to a FFBI penalty. So it is the full slate of points for the following teams: 40 for Banana, 35 for An Fear Beag and maryportfuncity, 30 for gcreptile, and 25 for Perhaps. Doulton stood alone in having Hogan's Heroes alum Robert Clary, leaving him bunkered up on the subs bench for 25 points. Doulton followed up shortly thereafter with another hit. Contemporary classical composer Ned Rorem was never picked in the DDP, he died too late for the Scavenger Hunt, but the timing was just right for the HPDP for a total of 63 points (45 base + 18 bonus). Another unique comes, this one goes Exu's way in the shape of Doddie Weir. The ALS-stricken rugby player locks down 21 points (15 base + 6 bonus). And continuing the unique train a day later is surgeon Clare Marx. maryportfuncity had his scalpel handy and stitches up an additional 49 points (35 base + 14 bonus) to his tally. And yet another unique to round off November. Toadlike Chinese leader Jiang Zemin came with human rights oppression that was par the course and so it is 22 points (10 base + 12 bonus) for Dying Probably. Then one December hit that could also be crucial. Documentarian Julia Reichert won an Oscar in 2020, and could well deliver another trophy for one of the two players who selected her. gcreptile gains 35 points, and Banana 30. So after quite the turbulent month, here is the latest scoreboard. After Book led for the vast majority of the year, he now falls to third, and gcreptile takes the lead! Obviously Reptile can win if nothing happens for the rest of the year, but with Pele seemingly teetering and not on his team, he might want to hope for one of his three survivors - Luis Garavito, Gianluca Vialli, or Nigel Starmer-Smith - to feel more secure. Banana has a very narrow, but certainly plausible, route to win - Pele, and nothing else happening. His only other survivor is Frank Field, but he would gain fewer points (10) than Book (45). Thus Field, or any other Reptile/Book hit, would make it mathematically impossible for Banana. Book can claw back the lead with Natalie Kwadrans, Frank Field, or Joe Kinnear. As it stands David Graham would see him lag by a fraction of a point, but if Pele does die then Graham would also give him the lead. CaptainChorizo (best route is probably Larry Pressler + Parnelli Jones) and maryportfuncity (best route is probably Bob Barker + Rob Burrow) have ways to take the lead but are a bit more underdog. And for all we know one of the midtable teams has a jackpot lurking in the shadows. All poised to be a gripping final month here at the HPDP... 1. gcreptile 400.81 2. Banana 370.81 3. Book 360 4. CaptainChorizo 335 5. maryportfuncity 329 6. Salmon Mousse 251 7. msc 250 8. drol 249 9. Perhaps 248 10. markb4 220.99 11. An Fear Beag 215.81 12. Pedro67 212 13. DevonDeathTrip 208 14. six feet blunder 205 15. theoldlady 193.82 16. YoungWillz 187 17. Thatcher 183 18. Doulton 180 19. Funeralopolis 161 20. Kenny 155 21. Annami 154 22. Toast 150 23. John Key 142.99 24. Torva Messor 129 25. Great Uncle Bulgaria 128 =26. CalebH 123 =26. MariNisia 123 28. Dying Probably 121 29. YorkshireBanker 105 30. Hell 99.99 31. Gooseberry Crumble 95 32. Valhalla One 73 33. Famous6Eva 68 34. chilean way 67 35. Exu 64 36. The Unknown Man 52 37. JoeMoneypenny 39 38. BabyBlue 35 39. GuyFromFuture 25 40. Joey Russ 22 41. Bibliogryphon 18 42. DeathByArsenic 15 43. The Old Crem 5.99 =44. Death Impends 0 =44. TheSpinosaurus 0 =44. time 0

Here's the Reichert QO - https://uk.news.yahoo.com/julia-reichert-dies-oscar-winning-145842287.html

Julia Reichert pretty much clinches it for Spade whenever the obit comes, and puts him within reach of breaking the points record if Pele does go.

For something a little different... an "interesting other-lives type DDP hit of the month". Criteria is they couldn't have been too familiar to me beforehand but made for enjoyable obit-writing. January: Bob Goalby - went into his obit thinking he'd be "played golf, won tourneys, that's that" only to find the scorecard error story proper fascinating February: Christos Sartzetakis - that he was a (ceremonial) President of Greece yet it was a mere footnote in his life speaks for itself. Shout outs to Gail Halvorsen, Isabel Torres, and Abune Antonios. March: Rupiah Banda - one for the "bad" type of interesting, sod's law in that an African country got one of the relative good guys only to be succeeded by a typical corrupto! April: Feels kind of cheating to pick Art Rupe given I helped gain him DDP popularity. Perhaps David McKee? May: Dervla Murphy June: Sonny Barger one of those insanely memorable batshit lives. Shout out to Margaret Keane whose life story was far darker than I realized! July: Brian Jackson August: Tim Page. Shout out to Raymond Stanley Morris September: Dan Lembo Moon Landrieu, maybe? October: Antonio Inoki. Shout out to Carmen Callil November: David Butler December: TBD. If posting this now jinxes the month to be nothing but NFL players and Survivor contestants I swear to God! I'll work on more general personal picks (read - mostly US-famous musicians/actors) later in the month

For ABBA, it's roughly a tie between Knowing Me Knowing You and Dancing Queen for my fav out of this batch. Really love the guitar in the former. Though their big hits are always at least decent, and I'm also in camp "best #1 is yet to come".