Octopus of Odstock

Time all being well, I will do the "reminder" e-mail to all current & potential players this weekend, or at latest, Monday - along with the normal update. If there's anyone not already in that hasn't applied yet for the 2009 DDP (Windsor?) etc, then I will copy the e-mail in here if required. Again, time all being well, I will actually open the entries early - I am looking at December 1st as a possibility. I have made my mind up with the obits, executions & everything except the famous for being famous, which I will make a final decision on tonight after a good sleep. Thanks for your patience, people.

Well, you know, for all this running of the DDP - I am still damn chuffed I have 10 hits - my own record & am I'm the top 10 - to hell with this not wanting to win mularkey! Only the 2nd ever birthday hit if it comes about, but it's also worth mentioning, Wormer has two hits still awaiting obits - Wujcik & Wittman. Chances of either are slim, but if both do get an obit somehow (and after all, Kozol has this week after nearly 3 months - so that's four to update this weekend) then Wormer is in the lead, I think. Also, Wormer picked Fossett. But as obituaries for Fossett were published in 2007, I cannot award points now he is officially completely dead as it's pretty clear he died in 2007.

Well, Bill Stone wasn't the next British WWI vet to die. It's actually Syd Lucas, dead at 108.

I can't work ANY of them out.

Well, seeing as he's set to serve another 5 year term, it looks like old "Zizzy" as Bruno calls him, is here to stay for a bit longer.

John Ringham, profilic character actor in virtually every TV show going has died, aged 80. I am very saddened by this, I always enjoyed his performances. He was great as the Headmaster in Woof! He actually died on October 20th.. I wonder why it's only just been announced now?

No idea how famous he is but sci-fi personage Forrest J Ackerman is near death, it seems.

As well as that, his man in Nevada has dropped dead at just 44 years of age. The Curse of Obama has started, and he's not even in power yet...

Yma Sumac, the famed Peruvian singer, who also starred in a number of films, has died aged 86. This also means an unique CPDP hit for me! Hurrah! Shame, though, she was some singer.

Wow, I finally beat HCW by fair means! Maybe this will be Hearseton's year yet...

93.9 for unleaded petrol in Bushey, Herts. Most impressive.

Two film deaths to report: Delmar Watson, 82, child actor in so many films, including, memorably, Mr Smith Goes To Washington, has died. As has Estelle Reiner, wife of Carl, mother of Rob. Her finest moment...? she was the old lady who stole the scene & one of the most memorable lines of the 1980's when she said "I'll have what she's having" after Meg Ryan's fake orgasm scene in When Harry Met Sally.

What sitcom was Denise van Outen in 30 years ago?? Oh, bringing back to Tony Curtis - yep, not the greatest actor of all time, but to be fair, he had his moments. In particular, his mimicry of Cary Grant in Some Like It Hot was brilliant. Newman may have been a better actor, but Curtis can do better impersanations. That's gotta count for something... As far as I can see by the main report on the BBC, Ross has failed to apologise. But he's failed to apologise all his life for being an unfunny cock, so why should he start now? And finally, is Sachs REALLY 78?! I thought he was only about early 60's maximum!

That sounds fair. But if they lived long enough to meet their execution, the points should not be given. Yep, that's about it, really. For example, you could pick Shoko Asahara or Chemical Ali or the Bali Bombers and if they die of any causes other than execution, points are awarded. If you pick any of them, and they are executed, no points. But that was always the case this year as well.

Okay, I've made two decisions about this topic, and have to decide on one more before I post it to the whole DDP community: Any famous for being ill already on the DDP, either this year or previous years can be picked All teams will be restricted to a maximum of 1 famous for being ill pick If you had to push me now, because I cannot think of a decent compromise, it is probable that I will have to allow anybody to be picked - Evans, JimBob Jones or whoever. I also think those already named should stay as valid picks as they have been allowed in previous years & it would be a bit hypocritical to suddenly ban them. But if I restrict it to a maximum of 1 per team (and this doesn't mean people HAVE to pick one!), then that might dissuade people going for them, or at least would make them think twice whether Evans, Endersby, Taylor or Ainscow are better picks. That's my thinking at the moment, it's not completely set in stone until a couple of weeks. Oh yeah, no executions. I have decided on that, and it will remain banned. If there are any queries on who is famous & who isn't, then you can PM/e-mail me - if you don't want to reveal the name because you don't want to give away a good pick, then simply put a rough outline of who they are or what they do. As a general guide: Endersby, Evans, Ainscow, Mevismler, Kelly Taylor etc are all "famous" for being ill Paul Birch, Atkins etc are all "famous" before their illness. The likes of Barry George, The Darwins & famous murderers etc., Diana Lamplugh - all come into the "famous" category. I think it should be reasonable to work out who is what, but like I say, any queries, let me know. Truth is, though, death depending, I have already pretty much chosen my 2009 team & the likes of Evans won't be on it.

There was an extra hour this morning, looks like both made full use of it! Although I would imagine the decision to sack Ramos & Co. was taken some while ago & Spurs have just been scooting around until all was signed, sealed & delivered.

Carrying on with the football theme, but on topic - Ian McColl, Rangers legend and former Scotland & Sunderland manager has died, aged 81.

I don't mind theme teams but I really want to clamp down on multiple teams. No more than 2 if at all possible, but really I would prefer just one. But, again, there's no way to regulate it across the board because of ahem... "technical difficulties".

Okay, here's my thoughts. Personally speaking, first, this is the kind of case which I don't like to see in Dead Pools. That's just solely my own view and I subscribe somewhat to some of Godot's opinions. I will be entering a very different team in some ways next year - I don't expect to win, partly because I feel I shouldn't, but I will enter a team that is not full of so-called "bankers" and I will probably get more enjoyment (if that is really the right word, which it isn't) from those hits than Atkins, Seve & this young lady. I hope Godot continues, but I will respect any decision made. Professionally: I can't give a quick answer, sorry. I am wrestling with my own thoughts towards people like Rachel Jones & Evans, but also the game as a whole. I think people who picked Mevsimler or Barry Austin deserve points for such an interesting pick. I am trying to find a solution that stops the DDP crossing the line between a black humour, mawkish, bad-taste site to a site that is incredibly bad taste. After all, the DDP is the DP that cares My best suggestion to people is keep her on for now until I have come up with a final solution for the ill for being ill. This is the contentious one, but I don't want to stop the interesting names coming in regardless, despite their workload, I do enjoy it when "different" names are suggested. I'll have an answer by mid-November. I'll have to as I need to update the site for 2009 shortly after.

Personally I think the Bali Bombers should be Given a Hardy & severe Yashin until they say no no zat's enough, we want no Zamora!" Kahn they not just do that? Why can't they Cech that option out? Dida they thinka of that-a? Pfaff!!! Bet they "that's it, execution - z'off." I thank yew.. I thank yew..

On the Daily Telegraph's blog, so expect a full obit soon. As I lived in Dunstable (by Luton for those who don't know) during the David Evans era, well.. he was certainly controversial. But his passion, even if misplaced, was undeniable. Also father of former racing driver, Gary, so my thoughts are with him. David Evans was not my favourite chap, but he was a big name in my growing up & football stage, so for that alone, I am sorry to see him go.

Looking at who the top lot have after the death of Plews, it looks very much like a championship for Devon Death Trip. Though Canadian Paul is an interesting one as he has different (and good) candidates remaining: DDT Right Rev. Ian Cundy Shih Ming-Teh Edwin Morgan Patriarch Pavle Rosemary Pitman Jack Ramsay Sir Bobby Robson (Robson, Pavle & Morgan most likely) CP Milivoj Asner Ronnie Biggs Rev Billy Graham Steven Hill Eunice Kennedy Shriver Patriarch Pavle Joe Weider (Graham, Hill, Shriver, Pavle & Weider most likely) Godot Maurice Allais Zsa Zsa Gabor Claude Lévi-Strauss Harold Pinter Sir Bobby Robson Yitzhak Shamir Russell Watson Sir Nicholas Winton (Robson.. Shamir, Allais & Levi-Strauss?) Wormer Fidel Castro Farrah Fawcett Steve Fossett Connie Hawkins Derryn Hinch Larry James Debbie Nelson Zdvrako Tolimir Don Wittman Erick Wujcik (I don't see any more hits, but if Wittman, Wujick get obits & Fossett is proved to have died in 2008, then things really change....) TMIB Basil D'Oliveira Farrah Fawcett Sir Lenox Hewitt Patrick McGoohan John Mortimer Jeremy Thorpe Zdvrako Tolimir Gore Vidal (Mortimer & D'Oliveira are the best bets here) Banshees Randa bin Laden Right Rev. Ian Cundy Patricia C. Dunn W. Mark Felt Daniel Geiges Bobby Moncur Patriarch Pavle Sir Bobby Robson Zeljko Sturanovic Erick Wujcik (Robson, Pavle, Geiges, Sturanovic & Cundy possibly yes. Wujcik obit would help too...) Meet Your Maker Abdul Aziz Al-Hakim Philip Chevron Right Rev. Ian Cundy Patricia C. Dunn Rev Billy Graham Patriarch Pavle Jack Ramsay Yitzhak Shamir Zeljko Sturanovic (Cundy, Graham, Shamir, Pavle & Sturanovic, but Chevron is a no-go, which doesn't help) But it's certainly livened up lately & well done to DDT & CP for a record 13th hit in one year.

You really can't read can you? Unless you are going out with Orla (who IS the Lemsip girl) and Jilly. But you can't be as Orla is listed as "in a relationship" and his name is not David (or Scot or Angus or any other brother's name). So... either Jilly is lying to you or you are just plain stupid. I know which one it is most likely to be. Nowt wrong with being proud of your girlfriend but plenty wrong being proud of your girlfriend for doing something she has never done or being proud of an imaginary girlfriend.

Same here, and I'm "only" 31 next birthday. It's been on my mind so much, I have been resolving to make the most of life - hence I booked a trip to Lapland for me & OoO's bit of fluff yesterday. If I'm going to go, might as well go snowmobiling off a crevice or something.... Granted, Pete was a big chap & liked his beer, but not to such an extent but you could've foreseen what was coming. Can't quite still get my head round it.

Me. And my mystic pet monkey Clive.