N. Fritz

Really??? You could knock me over with a feather... I could have sworn he was at least independent!

What about Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson?

Wrong Kenny, numbnuts!

Let's not forget that Julius Caesar declared himself dictator for life and died surrounded by 30 of his closest "friends" (no knife/stabbing emoji?!)

One can only hope that the Weinstein fallout empowers people who are assaulted/harassed/abused to speak out when their accusations may be acted upon legally. But so many years after the fact, it comes down to "he said, she said".

I might catch hell for this, but a 32 year old accusation is absurd. Yes, harassment might have occurred, but the time to speak out was a long, long time ago. Now it just looks like people are jumping on the current bandwagon.

could have sworn Darlene Cates had died years ago. RIP.

Three words: American healthcare system (or four words if you like: American health care system). Hospitals get you in and out as fast as possible to free up beds for other insured customers patients so they can make more money. "It's all about the money, boys!" - Big Dan Teague, O Brother, Where Art Thou?

"We're waiting for the undertaker and the stone mason, in that order." - Vaughan as Delaney in "Oliver's Travels"

"Bowie, Muhammad Ali and Castro have got to be the three biggest contenders for this year's most iconic death in a year of many celebrity deaths" Prince should also get honorable mention... just as iconic as the rest of this lot, and his death was much more unexpected

Quite a few assisted suicides in the news this week. Alexis Arquette and W.P. Kinsella to name two.

Coming up on the SIXTH anniversary of Zsa Zsa's last rites (August 15?)... she may really be immortal

http://www.findagrave.com/ If I remember correctly, the person who keeps this site updated also collects a spoonful of dirt from each of the graves. I submitted the first photo of Phil Stong's grave, and I'm almost certain I sent along a dirt sample.

In Vienna there are dozens of euphemisms for death and dying. My favorite is "s/he took the Seventy-One," the 71 being the streetcar that goes directly to the Central Cemetery!

I approve this thread! Long live Karl May!(German author who wrote stories about the American West without having set foot in the US... film adaptations are cult classics in German speaking countries)

Has this been posted yet? www.orderofthegooddeath.com and corresponding YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/OrderoftheGoodDeath (featuring the video series "Ask a Mortician" and "Morbid Minute") Mortician Caitlin Doughty, author of Smoke Gets In Your Eyes and Other Lessons from the Crematorium, is spearheading a revolution in death culture in the U.S. Many of the insane U.S. laws regarding death, body disposal, burial, cremation, etc. can be chalked up to political lobbying by death professionals. Doughty calls for families to be more involved in the actual rituals of death, and pushes for green alternatives (including alkaline hydrolysis).

Most recent glurge: http://www.people.com/article/muhammad-ali-london-exhibit Edited so the link works. Does the link work?

Color me intrigued! May take advantage of the late start to submit my first ever list ('bout time... I've been following for how many years now?!)

Lovin' this thread! I have a playlist called Funky Favorites so I guess I'll start with that: Africa - Toto All the Heart's Desire/Black Orchids (Chris Stamey) Basin Street Blues (Preservation Hall Jazz Band) Best of My Love (Emotions) Black Water (Doobie Brothers) Don't Fear the Reaper (Blue Öyster Cult) Eminence Front (Who) Feelin' Good (Connie Lush and Blues Shouter) Happy (Pharrell Williams...I'm allowed one earworm, right?) I'd Rather (SIr Oliver Mally Blues Distillery) Listen My Son (The Unseen Guest) Miss You (Rolling Stones) Night of the Swallow (Kate Bush) Ja ti zelam (ZVA 12-28, Slovakian blues band) Stairway to Heaven (Heart Kennedy Center Honors Version)

Despite the fact that it's been five - FIVE! - years since Zsa Zsa was read last rites , I, too, went with Leslie Phillips.

Robert "Wolfman" Belfour, February 25 http://heavy.com/news/2015/02/robert-wolfman-belfour-dead-dies-rip-funeral-tribute-cause-of-death/

Jim Nabors, 83, beloved U.S. singer, comedian/actor - saying farewell to his standard gig at the Indy 500. http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/05/jim-nabors-indy-500

Luise Rainer - Low hanging fruit?

Alice Munro won the Nobel Prize for literature this year, but did not attend the ceremonies in Sweden on December 10 citing poor health. One to watch for 2014?? Apologies if posted elsewhere. This seemed like the appropriate thread!

I'd like to see 2013 go out with a bang... Kalashnikov.