gcreptile

Well, now she's definitely off.

Former governor of South Dakota, Walter Miller, has died at 89: http://www.ksfy.com/home/headlines/Former-South-Dakota-Governor-Walter-Miller-dies-at-89-329924321.html Another dead governor, Sir Creep probably keeps count...

Canadian tenor and musical star, Michael Burgess, dead at 70: http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/michael-burgess-canadian-les-miserables-star-dead-at-70-1.3247903

Hmm, so she has logged off.

The son of Bollywood superstar Asha Bhosle, Hemant Bhosle, who was a composer in his own right, has died in Scotland at 66: http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/music/asha-bhosles-son-and-music-composer-hemant-passes-away-at-66/ Just last week, I included Asha Bhosle into my "database", she's highly obitable because of the "Brimful of Asha" song.

An anonymous prince calls for a regime change in Saudi-Arabia, because King Salman "is not in a stable condition and in reality the son of the king is ruling the kingdom": http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/28/saudi-royal-calls-regime-change-letters-leadership-king-salman

AIDS alone is not terminal anymore, at least at his age. However, he said he got it when he was on Crystal Meth, and if, in the future, he has a relapse, he might become one to watch out for.

He's finally free from Loni Anderson: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3252137/Burt-Reynolds-79-finally-pays-divorce-settlement-ex-wife-Loni-Anderson-22-YEARS-split.html

To expand a little on the "good genes", here is an interesting BBC article on smoking: http://www.bbc.com/news/health-34360865 Some people's DNA protects them against the ill effects of smoking, like bronchitis, COPD and emphysema. So Helmut Schmidt likely has the 'good genes' and Vanessa Redgrave doesn't...

Doesnt sound too great for her but she may last a few years still.Maybe one for the bottom of next years list just in case?Certainly a big name and someone who`s health justifies her inclusion. I think she's definitely going to appear on the Death List at some point (unless she dies very suddenly). I don't think she'll die in 2016 but she has a couple of projects lined up until then, so one can watch her form. Then things will get serious from 2017 on.

You got the wrong link mate. Grrrr, here's a better one: http://myfox8.com/2015/09/22/howard-coble-in-intensive-care-unit-at-hospital/

Helmut Schmidt smokes again: http://www.tagesspiegel.de/weltspiegel/altkanzler-helmut-schmidt-raucht-wieder/12373224.html (link in german) His doctor says that his state has improved considerably and that 'he has good genes'.

High-ranking official of the Greek military junta, and prominent torturer, Theodoros Theofilogiannakos has died of cancer: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/09/25/greek-military-junta-high-ranked-official-passes-away/ This leaves 102-year old Stylianos Pattakos as the last surviving junta official.

Someone for the Rotten Dead Pool or for Shaun's game: Former US representative Howard Coble in critical condition after complications from skin cancer surgery: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3249040/Comedian-Russell-Gilbert-underwent-emergency-surgery-brain-aneurysm-day-went-missing-soulmate-Rochelle-Nolan-s-funeral.html

Australian comedian Russell Gilbert in hospital after a brain aneurysm, shortly after the death of his fiancee: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3249040/Comedian-Russell-Gilbert-underwent-emergency-surgery-brain-aneurysm-day-went-missing-soulmate-Rochelle-Nolan-s-funeral.html

That's a factor I could imagine as well, since Diana Douglas died not too long ago. So for Kirk, the hits keep on coming.

There you go, the best I could.

I think I also have to object. I am 100% sure that if I had known that the competition would last far into 2016, I would have, for example, picked Oliver Sacks, because then the cognitive dissonance that I whined about when I made my team wouldn't have been there. Deathray's idea is not bad. If the aim is to have a competition from mid-year to mid-year, then there will be no champions of full years anyway. Instead there'll be champions of a season 2016/2017 etc... The current contest should stay a trial run, also because people started at different times, and if there are any rule changes planned, they should set in with the first 'serious' run.

I wondered if those dead people, since they didn't complete their hadj, will now go to Halibut hell. I also wondered if suicide bombers who haven't yet completed a hadj, still get into paradise? Is there maybe a shortcut? Finally, I wonder if those disasters are going to become more frequent, since there are more and more Halibuts, and they all have to fit into that, how to call it, stadium (?) and make their seven rounds around the Qaaba. Is there still room or time left? Maybe they soon have to build a sphere around it to make space for more people.

German children's book author Ellis Kaut is dead at 94: http://www.deadfamous.info/ellis-kaut-german-author-died-at-94 Her most famous creation was the Pumuckl, a red-haired gnome, later turned into a tv series that was almost required watching for every german child of a certain age.

Kirk Douglas' sister apparently died recently, and he has not attended her funeral: http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Funeral-for-Kirk-Douglas-sister-in-Albany-6524938.php I do believe that it's Kirk's turn to go in 2016, on the other hand, Michael Douglas didn't appear there either.

Terry Gilliam, who has just survived a recent death rumour himself, is still trying to get his Don Quijiote project made. But after several decades in the making, production of the movie has to be delayed again because no insurance company wants to take the risk of insuring 75-year old pancreatic cancer patient John Hurt: http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Terry-Gilliam-Don-Quixote-Has-Been-Delayed-Again-Course-84087.html

Google news tells me that, according to the National Enquirer, Celine Dion's husband Rene Angelil "Waves Goodbye".

Indeed, interesting. The Washington Post, which announced her cancer, has an obit. Her best bet might be the Telegraph (might take up to a month or so). The Telegraph bookstore offers her books.

Carmen Balcells, literary agent behind the Latin America boom in the 70s and 80s, with Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Mario Vargas Llosa or Pablo Neruda, has died at 85: http://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias/2015/09/150921_muere_carmen_balcells_agente_literaria_ac(link in Spanish)