DevonDeathTrip

Melvin Dummar, a man who has spent nearly half his life claiming he is a rightful beneficiary of the will of Howard Hughes, is suffering from cancer. He's been ill for quite a while, this article from 2004 mentions "bone marrow transplants, radiation treatments and the removal of cancerous growths from his neck and abdomen" Not sure if he'll get the required obits, he does have a Wiki Page, he was also the subject of the 1980 film "Melvin And Howard".

A very interesting interview, not often that we see a DL candidate give such a graphic account of their health. With regards to his chances, I'd agree that he's likely to see 2008, but he won't make a great age. As far as I can make out, the extensive surgery he underwent earlier this year was to repair tissue damage caused by anti-cancer radiation seeds which are implanted in his abdomen. The surgery did not remove the seeds, as obviously that would leave him at a much greater risk of the cancer spreading beyond his prostate and colon. However leaving the seeds in place will cause further tissue damage, possibly more fistulas, leakage and a much higher likelihood of further bacteria related infections, subsequently causing a rapid, possibly terminal decline in his health.

That is very sad. I really hope she gets the obits she deserved.

Two Australians had a bad time in today's mountain stage of the Tour De France. Stuart O'Grady fell off during the perilous descent of the Cormet de Roseland, sustaining five broken ribs, three fractured vertebrae and a broken shoulder. On the way down the same Alp, Michael Rogers (a contender for race leader) also had a nasty fall, he carried on despite having dislocated his shoulder, before giving up in agony a few miles later.

His Wikipedia page suggests that Vikas Uppal, possibly the world's tallest man, has died during a failed brain operation. He was 20 (years old, not 20 feet tall )

They executed him over 2 weeks ago DDT. They did him a favour, it would have been more unpleasant dying slowly from lung cancer. Whoops. No one had informed me it was already July.

Jimmy Dale Bland, 49, is due to be executed in Oklahoma on Tuesday. Mr Bland is suffering from lung cancer which has spread to his adrenal glands and his spinal column, he is not expected to live more than a few months anyway. Oklahoma Attorney General Seth Branham is not exactly charitable in his appraisal of the situation.

Prime Minister Apolo Nsibambi of Uganda is in a London hospital, having undergone a major operation...

Archbishop Christodoulos is off to Miami for a liver transplant.

Mrs Pavarotti says her husband is fine: Sounds like he's off his head on morphine.

Yves Saint Laurent is convalescing in hospital after suffering acute health problems - he can't breathe properly and he can't walk. Let us hope is able to tip toe in to 2008.

Shocking news! He was at such a tender age.

Rosemary Pitman, the heir to our throne's wife's ex husband's new wife (practically royalty) is suffering from cancer. She was diagnosed a year ago and the cancer has returned after treatment, she also suffered breast cancer 14 years ago.

Philip Chevron, guitarist for The Pogues, has been diagnosed with "locally advanced throat cancer".

Paul Fox, original guitarist of the legendary punk band The Ruts, has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.

Phil's phone number is here. I bet he won't answer, seeing as he must surely have died privately without telling anyone.

Ah DDT, I'm come over all nostalgic, that was my very first DL sig. I had Phil Drabble on my DDP team for a couple of years, everyone else seemed to think he was dead. I might have to find another glorious Drabble quote to use as my sig now Anyway. I've been doing a bit of research...and I've found no conclusive proof either way. This link, has a quote from Phil Drabble dating back to 2000 (""Thank you for telling me about your forthcoming book The Staffordshire Encyclopedia, which sounds most interesting"). The link also gives his home address... Using a bit of detective work, I then found his phone number listed online, here (it's nearly at the bottom of the page) I was just about to give him a ring (I've been drinking), when at the last moment I thought the better of it and decided to do a bit more digging. I then found another link (dating from 2003) which has a picture of Phil's house, accompanied by the following statement: After that, the trail goes cold...

Professor Donald Michie, who worked as a code breaker at Bletchley Park during the war, has been killed in a car crash. In the same vehicle was his ex-wife, the geneticist Dame Anne McLaren, she was also killed. Also, in a different car crash, Palmeiras footballer Alemao, has been killed at the age of 23.

Former Indian prime minister Chandra Shekhar has died of cancer aged 80.

Ronnie Biggs - but less than 24 hours before Tammy Faye...

If someone could provide evidence of Mr Drabble's aliveness, I shall happily prepare a Massey Ferguson souffle.

Good call from Mystic Maryport. 'Shots fired' at President Musharraf's plane

I believe Phil Drabble to be dead. If he's still alive, I'll eat my tractor.

The fat lady has sung for another opera great - Regine Crespin has died aged 80.

Edmund Hillary is struggling to recover from his fall a couple of months ago. He didn't make a recent dinner party with the Dalai Lama, a spokesman for His Holiness said: His family say he is fine, but it's rare that a family member says "He's dying" or "I doubt he'll see Christmas" or "He's got a mountain to climb" He'd be a good pick for DL 2008. BTW, Whenever I think of Edmund Hillary, I simultaenously think of the song "Running Up That Hill" by Kate Bush, have done for years. That'll be all.