time

Its the 80th anniversary of the death of John Romulus Brinkley (wikipedia, worth a read if you're not familiar with him), aka John Richard Brinkley, US quack doctor, Nazi sympathiser, Kansas gubernatorial candidate & radio pioneer, who at one time was worth millions, but died penniless owing to the number of law suits brought against him for malpractice, wrongful death and fraud. He had no proper accredited qualifications, obtaining his medical degree via a diploma mill. He became known as the 'goat gland' doctor, thanks to his practice of transplanting goat's testicular glands into men to restore/enhance virility. He died, aged 56, after suffering three heart attacks and the amputation of a leg. (via Chris Coates @MulberryCoates, twitter)

You know when you're on your computer and you have multiple browser tabs open as well as numerous other apps, and you hear an alert/chime and don't know where its from? That can get in room 101.

Why do things now catch on fire, rather than just catch fire?

Not as many column inches as Fern Britton's cat, though.

Its 16 years since the death of Desmond Dekker, ska/rocksteady/reggae singer, from a heart attack, aged 64. After success in his native Jamaica, his 1967 release 007 (Shanty Town) brought him his first UK hit, reaching number 15; the follow-up, The Israelites, reached number 1 and the followingyear It Mek also reached the top ten. Following his UK success, Dekker relocated to the UK in 1969, enjoying further chart success, most notably with You Can Get it if You Really Want, reaching number 2. Here's Desmond's grave in Streatham Park cemetery (via Twitter @helenbarrett, via @StreathamSoc)

Current ages 84, 87, 77, 84 & 87 respectively; it's almost as if being picked by me assures longevity, whatever health issues you may face!

Not much chance of that for the foreseeable

Actor, comedian & marijuana advocate Tommy Chong is 84 today

Unless, of course, you know different!

French street artist Miss.Tic dead aged 66. (French language link)

Poet & author, former poet laureate (and Daniel's dad) Cecil Day-Lewis died 50 years ago today, aged 68, from pancreatic cancer. Born in Ireland, he was brought up by his father in London from age 2, after his mother died. He worked for the Ministry of Information during the war and was a lecturer in poetry at Cambridge University following. Later he also lectured at Oxford. He was awarded a CBE in 1950 and appointed Poet Laureate in 1968. He supplemented his income from his poetic endeavours by writing crime novels under the pseudonym Nicholas Blake. Politically, he was a communist, becoming a member of the CPGB from 1935 to 1938, but became disillusioned following Stalin's purges. He renounced his communist views in his 1960 autobiography The Buried Day.

A big day in the Campbell household, as former Lib Dem leader Menzies reaches 81, actress Cheryl reaches 73 and model Naomi 52.

Not in the latest 8, but I had a similar experience 20 or so years ago. I'm still getting used to it.

Its 57 years since the death of aviation pioneer & entrepreneur Geoffrey de Havilland, aged 82, following a brain haemorrhage. His initial attempts at flying was unsuccessful, cashing on his maiden flight in December 1909; undeterred he succeeded in September the following year. He was commissioned in the RFC and briefly saw active service during WW 1 protecting shipping from U-boats. In 1920 he founded the De Havilland aircraft company which existed until incorporated into Hawker Siddely in 1953. The company designed and built the multi-role Mosquito, of which over 7,000 were produced, continuing in active service with the RAF until 1963. The company's Comet was the world's first commercial jet aircraft, which was in use from 1952 to 1997. He was also a cousin of DL alumna Olivia.

A fringes candidate, and a story previously unknown to me. Paul Willer has died aged 94. He was taken in as a child refugee by Labour leader and future Prime Minister Clement Attlee after fleeing Germany with his mother (Jewish) Franziska and brother following Kristallnacht. His father, a Christian, had left the family home and declared himself a Nazi sympathiser; his mother was told that being half-Aryan it was unlikely that they children could be evacuated via the Kindertransport scheme, so Attlee sponsored the boy. More detail in this 2018 report, as Willer prepared to meet Attlee's granddaughter on the 80th anniversary of Kindertransport.

Not according to the lady herself...

Has anyone seen Top Gun: Maverick yet? How's Val look (though given that the film's been years in the making we probably shouldn't infer too much)?

He was a pick on my short-lived "Roger & Out" theme team 10 years ago. When I picked him I did wonder if he'd receive a QO but thought the New Yorker connection might sway it. Here is BBC obit for Roger Angell

A new Sheen in town Either that or it's some new weird NFT thing.

After a delay of slightly more than a year, finally been on holiday. Just had the best part of a fortnight (that's two weeks for our overseas viewers) in Turkey. Sunburn, cuts and bruises but no broken bones thankfully.

Stanley Johnson has been granted French citizenship, which I'm sure comes as as relief to us all.

My first poll, so forgive me if I fuck it up.

Its 11 years since the unlikely Pearly Gates mates golfer Seve Ballesteros (expectedly) & musician & DJ Big George (unexpectedly) both died, Seve at 54, from a brain tumour, and George at 53 from a heart attack, probably caused by drug use.

Richard O'Sullivan is 78 today

I watched the Marvel films (the MCU ones) in timeline-order (rather than release order) for precisely this reason, over Christmas & New Year, on Disney+. Enjoyed them, and I'm probably not the key demographic either! However, because Disney doesn't own the rights to The Incredible Hulk, it wasn't included. It's now on Amazon Prime, so I gave it a viewing last night, but that didn't really seem to fit into the chronology - William Hurt is still General Ross, Robert Downey Jr is still Tony Stark/Iron Man (& Stan Lee still has a cameo), which implies it is part of the chronology, but it very much feels a stand-alone movie., possibly because Ed Norton was replaced by Mark Ruffalo for subsequent MCU appearances. The Spiderman (rev 3) films weren't on Disney+ either (same reason, distribution rights), but Homecoming has appeared on Netflix, so I'm tempted to watch that tonight. At least Tom Holland isn't replaced by anyone.