Godot

My man in the West Country saw Jeremy Thorpe the other week and says he's a racing certainty for 2007 if he makes it through 2006. He has advanced MS, he says.

A field as broad as this one surely deserves its own thread. Just as its natural bedfellow, Fascinating Creatures - Squids, allows discussion of some similar species (i.e the octopus), so this thread should open its arms to anyone knitting for gerbils, mice, rats or even pigmy shrew. I think it should also follow fascinating items of hamster wheel news like this snippet forecasting hamster-powered ipods, thanks to special hamster jackets (a future knitting pattern?). Thread inspired by guest post here.

GODOT'S LAST POST When Dorothy Parker was told of the death of the famously taciturn US President Calvin Coolidge, she replied: "How can they tell?" That's what worries me about the DL. If the success of a newspaper is measured in circulation, the success of a forum has to be measured in the number of posts. Yes it needs good posts, but it also needs healthy debate and banter and there is precious little of that here anymore. Very few members announce they are going to stop posting. It's a silly thing to do anyway because you never know when you are going to get the urge. Instead they simply give up looking in or are distracted by other things (like work as HCW suggested?). A debate such as this is always sensitive because if you suggest the best days are gone, relatively new members are pissed off because they do not have a point of comparison and it suggests that their own posts are not up to snuff. It also pisses off those who do keep on posting, carrying the torch so to speak. I know we have had this debate before and if any mod can find it please merge the topics. I had a cursory search before apathy kicked in and that's the problem, I suspect. People are not posting because they have grown apathetic. That's my theory. The debate was also held some time ago in the Hartlepool Deadlypool and when did anyone last post there? What's happened to HPDP is happening here. Perhaps it is time there was a bit of reform and I have some suggestions: Moderators - yes we all know it involves some work but it should also involve a bit of leadership. If moderators can no longer be bothered to post regularly (or who have decided to get a life, I don't blame them) they should have that responsibility removed and it should be given to some who do. Honez is a good example of a mod who leads by example, with witty posts almost every day - not tons of them - but interesting posts. MPFC posts more than anyone but someone has to and most of his posts are a good standard. Why isn't he a mod? He's a good bloke who cares about the place. It's time there was a shake up among the mods, admins please take note (if you can be bothered). A bit of sh*t should be celebrated. When Star Crossed posted an outrageous personal attack on Lardy he was roundly condemned but Lardy of all people needs no one to defend her. At least he livened things up a bit. He'd obviously had a bad day at work. Some posters get a hard time on this site. Banshees was finally driven off when everyone thought he had a hide as tough as a rhino. Not so, it seems. Apart from Canadian Paul whose posts achieve a consistent level of dullness, most people, even Banshees have their good days. I don't see eye to eye with everything SC writes (apart from any comment on the Big Lebowsky) and I'm sure the feeling is mutual but at least, in his own peculiar way, he cares about this place and about quality posting. I wish everyone here who has a birthday a happy birthday, naturally, but long lines of dull happy birthday posts? Nothing wrong with it except it's the only thing that attracts posts now, that and obscure deaths of friend's ancient uncles. What's that all about? Also these dull "who's gonna die next votes" where people post their choice - boring, boring, boring. I know I'm risking the wrath of fellow posters (some of whom I count as friends, although not Windsor who is entertaining as a poster, mostly, but is a bit too odd and generationally adrift from me, comes from Fraserburgh, spends too much time on buses and allows himself to be kicked around by his employers). But, in the immortal words of Clark Gable, frankly my dears, I don't give a f'uck (and the swearfilter - an area of mod abuse that pisses off most posters should be amended for a start. If I want to say f'uck I should be able to say so like any grown up without a f'ucking apostrophe. A bit of a shitstorm directed my way is better than nothing at all, not that I will be defending any "kick Godot" posts (even if this becomes a sport to provoke a response). I'm off. I never intended to stay more than 3,000 posts. So this is my valedictory post. Please don't read any of this as fair comment. I don't do fair comment, and I know some, as before, will detect a whiff of hypocrisy that is characteristic of my posting. Since I am off (I really, really am) and don't intend to contribute to this thread I suppose it will drown in apathy with the rest of the site but I hope it at least shows that I care about the DL and hope those who attend the Deathcon III (that I am unable to attend) will give it some debate. Best wishes to those who will try harder than I am prepared to do to sustain the site as a fun place to visit. I'm going to miss this place and expect I will be lurking and will be mightily tempted to contribute but I'm going to try not to lurk and to kick the habit completely. I've really enjoyed the past 5 years (nearly) of posting, or four of them at least. Death by atrophy is the worst death of all. The DL doesn't deserve that. So long and thanks for all the squid. Godot Er....that's it, finito, done, ended, no more, definitely the last word from me, signed off, departed, quit, wrapped up, zipped, schtum from now on, gone for good and that's a promise, no honestly.....

Ah, Cohen, wondered when someone would mention him. He seems to go on and on and on, have his latest CD, very good except his voice is deepening and slowing to such an extent it's like playing a single at 33 rpm. Great for black dog days. He has a thing about the word "naked" that I don't quite understand. Anyway not for a while I wouldn't have thought. I'm sure Canadian Paul will have a view. Must go and play it again.....

Coming in to deathlist territory he's 80 now and I hope he lasts for ever. His Berraisms certainly will. Does anyone know which ones can be authenticated? The one above would seem appropriate for Ariel Sharon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yogi_Berra

This is a thread for all things northern, roughly from a line running across north Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Cheshire (not sure about Staffordshire), up to the border with Scotland and spitting distance of Lady Grendal. A lot of stuff here will be inevitably discussing God's own country but there will be room for the odd Scouser, Mancunian and those with three heads who live in the shadow of Sellafield. No piss-taking from southerners will be tolerated and neither will any post from shite posters. Instead we'd like to promote the discussion of wholesome northerness - anything on pies, pork products, gravy and traditional puddings, ferrets, fish and chips, Hartlepool, ckrickit, decent beer and dry stone walls, and those sons and daughters of the north who are not getting about as well as they used to do - such as Dicky Bird and the Duchess of Devonshire.

Will Charles Kennedy's liver see out the year?

While beavering away for hours pondering for a moment or two yesterday on NAP's quiz I started making a list of 10 people alive today who have made a real difference in our lives (instead of 10 most famous or 10 biggest celebrities) and will be remembered long in to the future for the changes they influenced. Here's my top 10 to kick off. Three who came close for me were Fidel Castro, Bill Clinton and Wen Jiabao. Only two of those below are on the current DL. What would your list look like? Neil Armstrong Mikhail Gorbachev James D Watson Francis Collins Tim Berners-Lee Nelson Mandela Margaret Thatcher Bill Gates Mohammed Ali Paul McCartney

If Deathlist did obits.

Thanks MIB for thanking everyone for their thanks. In fact....

Wallow in your favourite snuff movies. Then wallow some more.

Nice post n'all, but this is like putting underpants in the knicker drawer. I'm sure I started a thread yonks ago designed to mop up survivors from various wars, campaigns etc. The SCW is probably not worth its own thread now if it hasn't yet got one but you can't just tag one war on to another like this. It's a taxonomic travesty.

I did like this pic of the guy with the squashed tarantula on his head. I wonder if that ten bob note was, you know, an original? I bet that didn't hang around for long. Looking at that chain round his neck I expect he was the mayor.

My impression seems to be that about 70% of the userbase here are British (or other European) civil servants or civil-servant types. If they're not they do a damn good job of seeming like them. Ok I may be totally wrong there. But if I am correct, I can only agree with your last line wholeheartedly - they really need to get on with doing something useful! Apart from that, fuck off you tedious ponce. How on earth did you draw that rather ridiculous conclusion? And what's a 'civil-servant type'? Deathlist convention 2013.

You wouldn't say that about a Dalek - no legs, limited mobility, yet some time masters of the universe.

Would you happen to know the name of the Ulsterman or anything about the health of the three surviving gang members? Did the survivor of the ones who got away manage to live well on his cut? Maybe that's beyond your ken but it'd be interesting to know how they're fairing.

A few people of stature who might be considered: Christopher Lee James Watson Jimmy Carter Jack Brabham Henry Kissinger Gunter Grass Lauren Bacall

Are you Biggs son, close relative or a fraud ? Critical Divide is the real deal representing Ron. No one (except Ron and any other surviving members of the gang) knows who actually beat up Jack Mills and David Whitby. I'm sure CriticalDivide can confirm that. Whatever happened to the other gang members anyway they dead or some still alive ? Very sad what happened to jack mills his life was ruined. Out of the 17 people who got a share from the Great Train Robbery, 4 are dead, 3 were never caught, and the rest are believed to be alive (They might've faded into obscurity and died without anyone noticing.) In Order of Importance: Bruce Reynolds - Leader - Alive Douglas "Gordon" Goody - Deputy - Alive Charles F. Wilson - Treasurer - Died 1990 Ronald C. Edwards - Organizer - Died 1994 Brian A. Field - Informant and purchaser of gang's hideout - Died 1979 "Ulsterman" - Informant and organizer - Unknown Roy James - Getaway Driver - Died 1997 John Daly - Train stopper - Alive Bill Jennings - Carriage uncoupler - Alive James E. White - Quartermaster and carriage uncoupler - Alive "Alf Thomas" - Muscle - Unknown Roger J. Cordrey - Train stopper and electronics expert - Alive Bob Welch - Organizer and muscle - Alive Thomas Whisbey - Muscle - Alive James Hussey - Muscle - Alive "Frank Munroe" - Muscle - Unknown Ronnie Biggs - Found someone who could drive the train after the robbery - Alive (Barely) It might be worth revisiting this list for DDP purposes. Douglas Goody will get a newspaper mention when he dies. He's been saying he will name the Ulsterman. That could be interesting. That article says John Daly died in May.

I notice the first pic on the Mandela twitter feed is of Morgan Freeman.

Spoilsport. I suppose it would be entertaining . But i think brucie is one of the good guys ( saying that and he gets arrested by yewtree detectives next week) and I can think of a few above bruce that deserve it more. Then again with bruce refusing to retire maybe its probably how he would like to die. Bruce Forsyth is one of those people who splits the opinions of the nation but I must admit that he is the King of Light Entertainment, you may not like the product but he is one of the best proponents of the form. Ask yourself the question who would you rather watch Bruce, Jim Davidson, Michael Barrymore, Jonathon Ross or Lionel Blair. I rest my case. I'd watch Sooty in preference to any of that lot and read a book in preference to watching Sooty. We have a choice! Here, here! None of that lot, including Bruce Forsyth, is fit to lace Sooty's boots. If I had a hand in it, I'd give Sooty the show. He'd make a good fist of it.

Murder Pink Floyd - another prick in a fall.

Will he do?

South Wales & Southern parts of England gonna get it rough overnight. If you venture out into the storm tonight, be mindful of debris. There is nothing worse than being hit in the face by a flying cow or sheep. Or an alpaca. "A moderately windy night. The really great storm was......the great storm."

. Interesting stuff on how have fun when dead but since that's off topic in this thread you'll have to wait for 11.22 if pigs are your thing. Well worth the full 17 minutes. Eight feet! Now that's impressive.