Magere Hein

No winners this round. Topic closed. regards, Hein

For the record, I didn't kill him. Don't worry, your dream was all wrong. It was Vinegar Tits who updated the Blake Edwards thread with the news he had been found dead. regards, Hein

Wel, well. With a nice christmas hit we still might make a nice round ten. I rather like his Pink Panther films, I'm sorry to see him go. Does your dog bite? regards, Hein

The dead often do.Do you know something we don't, Hein? No, just an observation. regards, Hein

The dead often do. regards, Hein

December 2010 Spammers Sheerceoptobe kellyonail71@gmx.com (5th December 2010) Catelehas catelehas@kismail.com (29th December 2010)

Sean really likes his new job in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, playing the role of Master Bates. regards, Hein

Ah, but would you get an obit in a UK news source? regards, Hein

Boris Yeltsin, then. regards, Hein

Today in 1981 Dutch Grandmaster Max Euwe, the fifth Chess World Champion and third president of FIDE died, aged 80. regards, Hein

Apparently they do. There's another thing to consider when discussing heroin use/abuse. One can grow old with a heroin addiction. When you have the money to pay for good grade heroin and clean use-once needles, it won't ruin your health as much as, say, booze. Addicts go bad because when they use low quality smack, re-use needles and neglect their health in general. Combine that with a poor diet and reduced appetite from the habit and it's a fast road down the drain. The classic dog-faced druggie looks like that more from malnutrition than from heroin use. In the Netherlands heroin addiction is quickly going extinct. The average age of our addicts increases almost with the calendar. There are two reasons for that: one is that there are hardly any new addicts, it seems smack has lost its appeal to new drug users. The other one is that after some 20 years of intensive heroin use, users come at a point where heroin simply doesn't work anymore. Aftert that they either kick the habit or overdose. regards, Hein

Well done! Flaim bait no more. regards, Hein

Sharon seems a safe bet. Edit to add: topics merged. regards, Hein

There is at least one difference: while the Pope is very much alive, the Prophet has been dead for almost 14 centuries. regards, Hein

As a matter of fact, this may be considered "bearing false witness", of which the Bible expresses a strong opinion. But who cares really, a confession, a promise to sin no more and some quick penitention and their soul is good as new. I'm not a Christian, but should I ever convert, it'd be to Roman Catholicism. To quote Gerard Reve: "A beautiful belief and not at all expensive." regards, Hein

Did they throw that girl through a basketball hoop? Damn. regards, Hein

Bookies don't elect the pope, so their opinion is not particularly relevant. If Pope Benny hangs on another two years he may render Arinze ineligible, as only cardinals < 80 y/o may be chosen. Thats what I originally thought too, but it turns out that there is no upper age limit on being elected Pope - only an upper age limit on elective Cardinals. Strictly speaken you're right. As I understand it, the College of Cardinals may elect any unmarried RC male as pope. In practice, however, they've chosen one of themselves ever since 1378, if I'm to believe that Wiki. regards, Hein

As far as I know intelligence is not a job requirement. Of course intelligence may help to convince the other cardinals during the conclave, but there are other ways to get there, such as influence, money and political agility. Bookies don't elect the pope, so their opinion is not particularly relevant. If Pope Benny hangs on another two years he may render Arinze ineligible, as only cardinals < 80 y/o may be chosen. Conservatism is part of the job requirements for cardinals. Carreers of progressive priests tend to halt below bishop level, although Latin America has produced a few exceptions, such as Archbishop Óscar Romero of San Salvador, who got himself shot for being a decent chap. I have a feeling he won't be dodging the coffin like his predecessor, but then again, I don't think the RC church is very keen on a new one soon, so they may well keep him going as long as they can. regards, Hein

I guess she's now one of those virgins in heaven that Halibuts go on about. regards, Hein

I don't know a thing about that, but I heard a bit of Pope Ben reading mass on the box yesterday. He sounded like he's 116 years old: a weak and cracking voice and wheezing every now and again. Of course, it also means he's still breathing. regards, Hein

Well, that proved to be an understatement. Al major newpapers abroad write about his death. No Nobel prize, though. I've read quite a few of his books. The first one, Het Stenen Bruidsbed ("The Stone Bridal Bed"), I read when I was about 15, and it didn't mean much to me. This caused me to give his other work a miss untill I was in my 30s. I read both old an new work and rather liked it. I even reread Het Stenen Bruidsbed and was surprised to learn that it's crystal clear. It's one of those books for which the reader needs some knowledge to appreciate it. A fine author died. regards, Hein

Perhaps this should be in topic The Dutch. There are strong rumours that Harry Mulisch (83), a Dutch author fairly known abroad, is suffering from cancer and near death. Mind that earlier reports of his impending death proved somewhat exaggerated. regards, Hein

Damage repaired. Which of the two starting posts should stay? regards, Hein

I think Mulish will indeed get a UK obit. As I understand it, he may not make it to 2011, but again, I have some doubts. Several Dutch newspapers have his illness as news, although it all seems to boil down to: his friend Marcel van Dam says so. His publisher has confirmed that Mulisch's health is deteriorating, but gives no further details. His death would be hit for PNDP. regards, Hein

Difficult to say what was the worst. I tried my hands at most Deadly Sins and broke all of the Ten Commandments, save 1, 6 and 7, although I was an accomplice to 7, which may be just as bad. Quite a few of the laws from Leviticus are fun to break, do I did. I was jailed shortly for throwing bricks[1] at the riot police. Otherwise: no particularly abominous crimes, although I did shoplift most of my college books. [1] If you ever need to throw bricks to the riot police: break them first by throwing them to the ground and throw the fist-sized chunks. Whole bricks are too large for effective throwing. regards, Hein