Windsor

If someone took that off your hands, why would you ask for it back?

George H. W. Bush was hobbling about a bit and walking with a stick. Not as healthy looking as I thought he would be.

Good idea, though I would say that when it's down to someone else to keep the list of the banned alive. Re the fame bit, there is also an issue where a famous for famous/famous for being ill candidate then goes on to achieve other things on the back of said fame. So - for example - Harry Patch is now a best-selling author, there are obit worthy candidates - like Edwin Morgan - who don't have book sales to rival 'The Last Fighting Tommy,' he might have come by the book deal by default, but it's still an achievement and - arguably - qualifies him to avoid any famous for being famous deductions. I think that WW1 veterans and the World's oldest are a difficult group to place. Personally, I would ban them because they are only famous due to their advanced age. For example, Patch didn't do anything extraordinary during WW1 - he did what was common for men of his generation to do. The only thing that makes him special is that most men of his generation are dead (and his book complicates things further). On the other hand, some could be seen as celebrities - Patch and Allingham especially so. To be honest, I'd be content if the famous for being ill rule only went as far as the likes of Joanne Evans, Tara Jones, Josie Grove, the drug trial men, etc, likes. I like the idea of a kind of 'blacklist' of names. But again, how do you regulate it?

I think the team was rejected mainly because he was being rude to the DDP organisers. He was already sulking with them because they did not accept and obit for one of his picks in 2006 (I seem to recall).

Obsession is a bit strong. Let's just say, I think one so active in the past would be a likely candidate to come back. I can't remember exactly what he did to get banned, though I do recall mucho aggro between TF, BS and the troll back in the day. Tempus had a habit of PM'ing me about such. He went away in a strop because the DDP organisers didn't accept his team back in...2007(?). He thus became abusive towards them on this forum, and didn't receive much DL sympathy for his actions. That is my version of events. That, and he was a creepy bastard. Amongst other things he claimed to have my address and telephone number, and reportedly passed them over to Mr. Scream. I don't want teams to be banned from the DDP, just individual picks who should not qualify for a celebrity deadpool. For example - Joanne Evans. It wouldn't be too difficult. Lets not forget that the death of Saddam Hussein and his cronies led to the banning of points for executions.

The 20th January 2009. I'm told that we have ditch hello today, and instead greet people by saying 'Happy Obama Day'! So...Happy Obama Day, everyone! I don't mean to ruin this momentous occassion, but is anyone else puzzled why Obama has centred his inauguration on Lincoln? Surely he is tempting fate? The other two people compared to Obama have been John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jnr. Is that the nice way of hinting that he's going to be shot in the head?

But if she is to get an obit, there will be a huge haul of points awarded for her demise - even though she is not famous in the slightest. The term 'celebrity dead pool' is thrown about quite alot in the DDP, and Joanne Evans simply is not a celebrity. Thus risk or no risk, she should not be a valid pick on a celebrity deadpool. Fairplay to those who chose her this year (especially if you get the points). Given that there is no rule against it, you simply used good initiative. However, in the future people like Joanne should be banned. PS. If you want an obit for her, instead of emailing the media about poor Joanne, you should email them enraged at the sick bastards who put her on deadpools. It might just be more newsworthy.

Congratulations to MPFC on becoming...a Maryport resident.

He wasn't a legend. He was a creepy bastard.

Just out of interest, would it be too early to start a thread to devise a pllan for 2010 to come up with a full-proof system in dealing with such issues as 'famous for being ill' etc. I recall a thread was started by OoO last year, but no satisfactory plan was agreed upon or drawn up on time...

Don't worry. They will publish something when a slow news day comes along. Once they are fed up with the plane in the Hudson...after this whole Gaza crisis has been resolved...after all the hype of the Obama inauguration has died down...when the global financial crisis is resolved... Could be in for a long wait.

Pish flaps. Another miss for me.

Martin and Gary Kemp's parents died within 48 hours of each other. The dad took a heart attack and died. The mum was already in hospital having just had heart surgery. She died soon after she was informed of her husband's death.

Application forms that make no bloody sense. I'm currently trying to fill in the qualifications section of one. It requires the full name of the subjects I studied in my degree, how many 'credits' they were worth, how long I studied them, and what percentage of the final mark they made up. I am somehow supposed to fit in all of this information with a limit of 20 characters. The application itself has turned into a test of my problem solving skills. As if that's not bad enough I have to write a 'personal statement' - so that's going to be a lie a minute.

This story could run and run... Hopefully into 2010.

I agree, I don't understand why she's on the list. She was a great politician and leader and there aren't many since WW2 you can say that about. Certainly not Tony Benn Plus she doesn't seem to be that ill. She is one of those elderly people who could keel over at any second. If you compare her frail state to the Queen's health, who is only one year younger, you see that she isn't the picture of health. Thatcher has suffered strokes in recent years, isn't the most mobile and her mental state is said to be deteriorating. She may, ofcourse, just be pulling a Pinochet. Just in case... Personally, I have no feeling either way for her. I was only three when she was booted out of office.

There was someone in my history class who adored Margaret Thatcher. I'm led to believe on one occassion he had to give a presentation on the woman which should have taken a brief 10 to 15 minutes. He went on for the full hour. Anyway, my good friend - the Chairman of the University Labour Society - tells me that Thatcher's admirer has been kicked out of the University's Conservative society. His views on immigration were too right wing for them. He is a C-word though. I think I've told you of the poster which used to hang in someone's office? It displayed a picture of Maggie surrounded by the words, "Hurry up and die". It was removed a couple of years back.

Probably something to do with this.

Didn't Lou Rawls go quicker than that? 6 days? Edmund Hillary died on the 10th January last year.

En fuego, eejit, positively en fuego. Can you please submit a list of 50 top tips for next year this coming Christmas, so it can be used for DL 2010. To be fair, 3 of the 4 would not be accepted as DL candidates. Worlds oldest person, WW1 Veteran, and that unknown local woman. Speaking of unknown local women - has anyone heard anything on Joanne Evan?

I'll stick with Atkins.

Sir Dai Llewellyn is the 1st success of 2009. He is the 175th success since 1987. The 2009 list is in 20th place shared with 1987 out of 23 lists.

They do say that certain "genes" skip a generation.... While some genes go right from father to son. And he calls the guy who cleans the stables "Sweep" God bless the royal family for upholding some of Britain's noblest traditions. You can't even say that you want a 'chinky' these days...

Germany's Englishman?

I used to work with a Welsh cook who absolutely adored Patrick Swayze. Her name was Di. Di the Welsh cook went absolutely crazy, When anyone mention Patrick Swayze. She dreamt so much of marrying the hunk, Sadly now these dreams are sunk. Cancer-ridden his end comes nearer, Making the value of his autograph all the dearer, Small consolation to Di the Welsh fan, Who'd give her pension to save that man. But she knows deep down there's no hope, For Di the Welsh Cook she is no dope. She knows that Swayze will surely die, And his millions of fans will be left to cry. If Di should discover the DDP, She will be much enraged to see her VIP. Such a popular pick on that website, She will curse and swear and declare it shite. Then with rolling pin firmly in hand, And after getting sufficiently canned, To Windsor's house she will storm, To batter and briuse that sick worm. Then she will pursue the one they call O-O-O, His fate will equal that of the dead Do-do. His computer destroyed and website offline, Di the Welsh cook can finally recline. She has avenged the death of her Patrick, Although she makes her plans to kill her hatrick. So if you chose the great Mr. Swayze, Watch yourself and please be wary. Well - thats a good chunk of my life I'm never going to get back. Why are we writing poems anyway?