Toast

Stephen Joyce, 87, grandson and last descendant of James Joyce. A stroppy character by all accounts, and a DDP miss. He kept strict control of his grandfather’s legacy, in 2004 threatening the Irish government with a lawsuit to prevent public readings on Bloomsday, the annual celebration of Ulysses, launching innumerable tussles with scholars over books on Joyce, and refusing permission to quote from Joyce’s writings. Academics, he told the New Yorker in 2006, were like “rats and lice – they should be exterminated!” https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jan/27/stephen-joyce-last-direct-descendant-of-james-joyce-dies-aged-87

Yes, I was going to write "helicopter crash" but in the end settled for "accident" as it covers plane crashes, car crashes, train crashes etc which is the sort of thing I mean.

Instagram. I signed up to it on my laptop and have never to the best of my recollection accessed it via any other device. Yet whenever I try to log in it says: We Detected An Unusual Login Attempt To secure your account, we'll send you a security code to verify your identity. And then it sends me an email: We noticed a login from a device you don't usually use. It's the ONLY device I've ever used to communicate with you, you cretins. I really can't be arsed with this. Worse still, the one time I wanted to post an image (it was just to enter a competition), it turns out you can only post images from a smartphone. So fuck off, Instagram.

That's true, but if he died in an accident it would still be a shock death. The fact that he's a "has-been" wouldn't make a difference, and that was the point I was making.

I thought it started out awesome, but it became rather soap operaish and I kinda lost interest. I never did finish it, if in fact it is over. But the first couple of seasons are worth it. I made it through to the end of S4. S2 & 3 were good, and the first half of S4 then it started to tail off and most of the interesting characters have been killed off now so I am leaving it there. Hopefully the new series of The Last Kingdom will be here soon. Also looking forward to new series of Endeavour, Fargo and Inside No. 9.

Did anyone guess Kobe Bryant? Or was this just for UK people?

What does that have to do with it? Beckham and Gazza are both still very newsworthy, and the fact they have retired from playing doesn't erase their achievements. I gather Kobe Bryant had also retired.

Plus it's a shock dramatic death. Always sexier than a slow decline.

I agree, but not so sure about Terry Jones who was the other name mentioned.

I am sure that there are millions like me who have no interest or knowledge of US sports persons.

Not that rare. This one makes interesting reading though. https://www.newburytoday.co.uk/news/news/29177/woman-cleared-of-causing-crash-which-killed-thatcham-policeman.html

I see what you did there.

I know the name and that he is a very famous US sportsman and I think I would have said basketball if pushed. But I would not have been able to pick him out in a photo.

No, it's fine to express personal sadness, obviously, but suddenly "sadly died" seems to have become an automatic soundbite (or whatever the equivalent is for the written word.) When people use these phrases out of habit they become meaningless. Another one that intrigues me is "turned" for a birthday. People used to say "X will be 21 next week" or more formally "X will celebrate her 21st birthday next Friday", but you never hear that now. Everybody "turns". This is quite recent too.

I have noticed that it has apparently become de rigueur to describe any death as sad. People have suddenly stopped reporting simply that "X has died", it's always "X has sadly died". I find this annoying because it's a thoughtless cliché. Sometimes people are happy to die, sometimes it's a blessed release, sometimes it's actually good riddance. Just stop it.

Likewise my theme team joker has died, but frankly I shall be surprised if any of the rest of the team do.

Harry's found useful employment at last. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-7931389/Twitter-users-poke-fun-Prince-Harry-advert-showing-handyman-resemblance-royal.html

I don't think crappy "themes" matter much, but I do think competitors should be allowed one theme team only.

I bought a shedload of pork & haggis sausages the other day. They only do them at this time of the year. They are yummmm.

That's why I did "Long Shot Kick De Bucket" one year.

'I Love It' was pretty much a one-hit wonder.

Fuck off.

@alt obits guy has spotted this one which might qualify, as the report gives his age as 50. Saripalli Chanavenkateshwaram Rao