Star Crossed

Don't want to get a reputation as a pedant, but isn't this chap's name actually Dino De Laurentiis? I hate it when people spell my name wrong. "No no NO, let me spell it for you... C. R.O.S..."

A happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to you all, fellow DLers... I'm a proud member of 2 dead pools this year and a member/spectator in this one. Derby Dead Pool (Erm... excuse me... aren't you... dead?) Hartlepool Deadlypool (Star Crossed) Not having been on the net so far this year before this evening, I haven't even checked out the DL 2006 names yet, so I'd better go and have a look, eh? Toodle-pip!

Sorry to be a twunt. How do I put a jpeg in a post, so it displays instead of being a link? A small bag of freshly-picked kudos from my greenhouse will be winging its way to the first helpful DLer... Cheers, Star (edited by me to remove needless apostrophe)

"Michael J Fox...beating the bejeezus out of George Foreman". Superb, Gunjaman! That's an image to brighten up anyone's friday morning.

Is your avatar sporting a shiny new pair of earrings, Bou? Very pretty.

Happy Birthday Bou. Here's a Haiku. Bou of the Deathlist Moderator? Yes, she is Young and attractive

As I'm sure you are aware, the King likes his music. Barely a royal sighting goes by without some speculation as to the current playlist on his royal IPod. Perhaps tonight's Maxi Priest gig on Nuku'alofa gives us a hint as to the sovereign's tastes? After the gig... Taufa': Hi Maxi, I'm the King of Tonga. Could you sign my CD cover for me? Maxi: No problem, your Highness; I'm Maxi Priest, "King of Lovers' Rock".

That raised a chuckle among the crew this morning, nice one CND.

The funny survivor who is dead now, mother-f***ker. I was on his forum just the other day, reading some posts by his partner Jennifer. Excellent stuff. Then I came back to the DL where people were still considering dumping him out of their 2006 dead pools. RIP Richard, let's hope you're somewhere speaking your mind right now. Well done DL, knew we'd get another this year. One a month, not too shabby...

New most hated: the inconsiderate fool who sat next to me on the train this morning and opened a packet of CHEESE AND ONION CRISPS. I mean really, 0730hrs. Inappropriate timing AND location for such activity. I made my feelings known and he moved seats, but not before I'd inhaled at least 3 nosefuls of the noxious odour. Made my stomach turn.

Of COURSE we'll get 12. Having had 11 in 11 months, it stands to reason... blah blah blah. I remain optimistic. Come on Lady Die, keep on sending those positive (negative?) vibes to your favourite remaining candidate... who knows? (apart from Banshees Scream, obviously )

Yeah, I'm trying to cut down to around 1500 a week myself. Allen Carr's book is really helping; I'd "high"ly recommend it

u sick bunch of saddos, pete's a gr8 guy an who gives a f*ck if hes into drugs an that. u lot r a load of sick pervs always wishign people die and get disieases. i hope u all burn in hell u sad muppets, pete docherty has got more tallent in his little finga than all of u sychos put 2getha. hes a poet and a profit. his songs give more pleasure 2 real people like me than u can understand in your sad little world of death an gloom. u sick c*nts all deserve to get casncer for wishing that pete would die. hell live 4 eva, hes 1 of tha greats. pete wil live 4 eva. Edited to add: an hes as sexy as f*ck. u lot r all ugly cretins i bet.

Having just read some comments about Carly Simon in the Cronkite thread, I was reminded of an ambition that I have long held... to learn how to play "Nobody Does It Better" on the piano. I love that track, and I've been procrastinating learning how to play it for about a decade or so. I once managed the basic tune of "Axel F" by Harold Faltermeyer on a keyboard back in the 80s but have never actually learned, or attempted to play, the piano. Other pieces of music I'd love to be able to play, if only I'd learned the instrument concerned... The guitar riffs/licks to... "She Sells Sanctuary" by The Cult. "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC "The Man's Too Strong" by Dire Straits (oops, it's all a bit 80s so far, isn't it?) "The Core" by Eric Clapton (guitar AND saxophone parts) Piano tunes: "The Heart Asks Pleasure First" by Michael Nyman "Tocata And Fugue" by JS Bach (arr. Myleen Klass) "Nobody Does It Better" by Carly Simon Drums: "Black Page" by Terry Bozzio (written by Frank Zappa) "Toad" by Ginger Baker "White Room" by Ginger Baker "The Rhythm Method" by Neil Peart Saxophone: "Lily Was Here" by Candy Dulfer anything else by Candy Dulfer The list goes on and on, but the above are some of the most impressive ones (IF I could actually play them). Do any of my fellow DLers yearn to play their favourite tunes? If so, what?

Complacency or Resignation? I'd say they are, for practical purposes, equal. They both result in the same level of inaction and are, therefore, equally negative. I too have thought about moving abroad, to a country to whose government I don't mind paying my taxes. I feel guilty every day, knowing that somewhere in the world, some innocent human has been killed by a bullet paid for by ME. Just because I was born here and have chosen to stay, I'm hated most of the world over because my passport says I'm a resource-plundering, murdering, selfish, xenophobic, ignorant, uncaring pig. Nobody should have to bear that burden of blameless guilt, which is why I urge more political engagement in those I know and meet. I've probably lost potential friends over my beliefs in this regard, but maybe they weren't worth knowing anyway? To reiterate, complacency and resignation both result in INACTION.

Fair play to Joan Rivers, anyone who can make a living from being opinionated (and relatively articulate, as anyone who's seen her stand-up act would know) deserves everything they get. She's capable of debating pretty much anything with anybody. Granted, she can get petty and annoying when talking about "celebrities" (I couldn't give two f*cks for 99% of today's celeb culture), but if you don't want to hear that, then don't listen to her. I despise Simon Cowell, but I never watch any of his plethora of "talent" shows, so he doesn't get a chance to wind me up that much. As for the cosmetic surgery? Again, fair play to her. She lives in a world which is slightly removed from reality (the USA), where looks are everything and she's taken that ethos to an extreme. It's not the way I'd spend my money (mirror, mirror on the wall... ) but it's not like she's pretending to be some deep spiritual Mother Theresa-type in any case. If there's one thing I do know about Joan Rivers, it's that she's not a hypocrite. For that, at least, she deserves some respect. She's got more balls than most men, and if people pay her to speak her mind, why shouldn't she? (Yes, I know I'm on shaky, hypocritical ground here given my Cowell comments) Joan Rivers shouldn't be a DL candidate for at least another 10 years, barring serious disease. For 72 she's not doing badly at all.

Pilger's quite correct, as is George Monbiot and all the other respectable, experienced journalists who seek to educate us in matters of democracy/lack thereof and governmental extremism. The sad truth is that these brilliant, hard-working journalists tend to preach to the converted; intelligent people who can read and understand logical, rational arguments. They will rarely change public opinion, because Joe Public is so f*cking stupid and illiterate that they can hardly say the word "democracy", let alone understand fully its implications, or notice when it's being dangerously eroded. Most of the "electorate", unfortunately, are Sun-reading, ignorant f*cking sheep who will let Tony and his éliterati ride roughshod over our rights until it's too late to do anything, à la Josco scenario. These c*nts don't deserve to live in the democracy that our country used to be. Take action NOW before we're all totally enslaved, constantly spied-on, catalogued, pigeon-holed and shackled. Attend public demonstrations, write to your MP, tell your friends, neighbours, colleagues, just go DO something about it. Public complacency has got us to the stage we are now at, NOTHING ELSE. Democracy only works if we, the people, stand up and be counted and tell the ignorant f*cks who were "elected" to govern our affairs that we will not stand for their selfish bigotry, lies and hypocrisy. Above all, don't waste your f*cking time like I've just done, venting steam in this thread. Please. Thank you.

No chance. I reckon he'll be dead by the end of november.

Beatified? Or just plain, old-fashioned beaten?

erm... because we hate them?

I hate anyone who harbours hatred* Edit to add: *Most of all, therefore, I hate myself. My Most Hated list is pretty long right now; regular DLers will have twigged that I lean to the left, politically speaking. So, Condy Rice, GWB, GHWB, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rove, Bliar, Blunkett, Clarke, Straw, Campbell, Sharon, Putin... etc. etc. Also on my hate-radar are John Terry of Chelsea and Roy Keane ex-Man. U. for being paid so much money despite being violent little pikeys (jealousy-fuelled hatred), Simon Cowell for being on telly so much, behaving like an over-tired 6-year-old and wearing his trousers up round his neck, Jamie Oliver for being a fat-tongued mockney c*nt, Gordon Ramsay, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Ainsley Harriot for being talentless, annoying f*ckwits, the people who employ them for the same reason. etc. etc. blah blah blah... As I've implied, hatred is a negative emotion with which I don't concern myself.

lol, the only card we want to send to Augusto is this one...

16:30 GMT. Does the winner get free DL merchandise? I reckon they'll announce it late afternoon so we can enjoy some obits on the evening news.

If that's true, it would seem that we were right about the timing of the change to licensing laws. Good work, hospital insider! Of course, if you're just another troublesome drive-by "informant", curse you for getting our hopes up RIP George (only joking). I hope you burn like an over-brandied xmas pudding. Which, let's face it, you will if cremated.

Hi Paul, I don't think anyone other than our resident psychics saw Ronnie Barker's death approaching; he looked good for another few years at least. As for Mr. Corbett, if he pops his clogs before 2015 I'll be very surprised. He's pretty active in work and play (golf etc.) and has no serious illnesses that I know of. Probably not a good pick for anyone's Dead Pool for the next decade. I hope that answers your question. Cheers.