Ulitzer95

Herbert Mahler turns 100, an occasion which seems to have sparked protests outside his house.

I love that song! I think everyone does.

Sylvester?

Whilst I don't disagree that there are a lot of parody accounts and bots on there, there are still a lot of folk on Twitter, aged between their late teens and fully grown cunt who are so deep in their Little Red Book of Mao that they genuinely think we've all swallowed the blue pill. They believe that we're being spoon-fed propaganda and that NK and Cuba are some kind of communist utopias, when in reality it's they who are brainwashed.

Family are denying he's dead (despite Twitter rumours), but former PM of Pakistan, Shujaat Hussain (wiki), who is 76 in January, appears to be ill but "recovering fast". Still worth keeping an eye on.

Twitter seems to be awash with accounts paying tribute to these two. Got to question what planet these people live on...

If you get a chance YW, go listen to the '82–'92 decade mix by Flight Facilities. Contains a lot of brilliant tunes from that era (including Bronski Beat), which I'm sure you'll appreciate.

Trevor Pinch (wiki), eminent British sociologist, being reported dead by Virginia Tech Uni on Twitter. Would've turned 70 on January 1st.

Tweet reporting the death of Bob Speller (wiki), aged 65. Former Canadian Liberal MP who was Minister for Agriculture in the Paul Martin Government from 2003 to 2004.

Dead according to the BBC.

Daily Record reporting the death of Ian Forsyth MBE, aged 96, a celebrated WWII veteran from Lanarkshire who was one of the first liberators to arrive at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1945.

QO via The Guardian for Hiriart. Picked by 3 teams in the DDP.

A little known fact. Anthony Hopkins hit the UK Singles Chart in 1986, with this (albeit it only got to #75): It's a bit odd, if quite soothing... though I just hear Hannibal Lecter talking to Clarice when I listen to it.

Times obit for Denis O'Brien.

Telegraph obit for film director Kevin Billington (wiki), aged 87. Credits include The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (1970), starring Peter Cook. Also worked closely in theatre with Harold Pinter. His widow is author Rachel Billington (wiki), the daughter of the late Labour peer Frank Pakenham, 7th Earl of Longford.

And then there was one... updated entry for the death of Wanda Young. I can see her getting a QO. Perhaps Star, Sun or Mail?

Hungarian-born Canadian family therapist Maria Gomori (wiki) dead at 101.

Seems like an appropriate time for a reminder that Hiriart's "successor" as First Lady of Chile, Leonor Oyarzún (wiki) is still alive. She survived a bout COVID-19, despite the fact we're told she's very ill. She'll be 103 in March, if she makes it that far. An easy DDP death for next year, but question is will she get a QO? I reckon Hiriart will, but only because she was married to Pinochet.

“Mahathir, Malaysia's longest serving prime minister, has a history of heart troubles. He has had heart attacks and bypass surgeries.” Interesting. Did not know this.

*cough cough*

FTFY.

There aren't "final spots". They throw the biggest ones both near the start and the end e.g. the other year, Kirk Douglas came near the start BUT the biggest one comes at the very end. I imagine that will be Christopher Plummer.

Looking forward to TCM Remembers this year. Lots of names to choose from so I imagine they'll have to be somewhat selective to get it down to about 80 names. It should be along very soon (earliest it was ever released was the 14th December, latest was the 22nd).