Octopus of Odstock

Kevorkian says health has greatly improved since his release from prison. Well, that's not surprising, considering he probably wasn't ill in the first place. And he's booking talks & speeches well in advance. Not bad for someone "gravely ill" in prison. I think DL are going to zero out with this one.

So the BBC are wrong, then. Any idea where this story came from? Briatore manages Webber. He also runs Renault. So goes the thinking, that if Kovalainen goes, then Webber goes to Renault & Alonso to Red Bull if Alonso doesn't want the Renault drive. I see it as unlikely. It's either most likely, Renault or Toyota. But who knows? There's stranger things that have happened in the past. Don't rule out Kubica, Sutil, Paffett, Rosberg or Button in that 2nd McLaren seat just yet.

Oh, HCW, tsk tsk. This was reported some 24 hours before by my good self. Even put in bold type, so the likes of Iain would read & absorb & not repeat. Never mind, we're all allowed off days. So, as not to completely post-whore, profilic Romance/Mills & Boon author Anne Weale has died. Romance is Dead.

Aye, but there's rumours all the time. BBC News are currently reporting that Alonso is more likely to go to Red Bull than Renault. OoO will know, right? Kovalainen straight swap is THE most likely by some way, and what's more, it's apparently already been agreed, as long ago as September. However, Renault would then NOT promote Nelson Angelo Piquet due to pressure from Piquet Sr vs Alonso & Alonso vs. heavily backed youngsters, so they will keep Fisichella. That would then confirm Glock & Trulli at Toyota. Least that's how I understand it. The other likely possibility is de la Rosa being promoted to the 2nd race drive, mainly because McLaren have a lot of Spanish business backing & would be keen to keep at least some of it & also because PDLR can be a good back-up & support to Hamilton. Alonso could then join Toyota & Glock would go to Williams.

It's getting to the stage in the year that people dying is either a massive boost on DP's or a cruel blow as they were either the perfect candidate or a well kept secret etc. One that would've been a good candidate for any DP, and was on my shortlist (albeit quite low down & unlikely to have been picked for 2008) was Paul Tibbets Mentioned here before, he was the man who flew the plane that dropped the Atomic Bomb over Hiroshima. He was 93 and a news report is here. However four teams score points on the DDP, including one team that had him as their joker.

On November 7th, at 9pm, on BBC4, there will be a programme on George Melly's final weeks. More Here Although concentrating on dementia, and what sufferers go through (and if this makes people understand more about it, then excellent, as I feel a wider audience should generally appreciate more about it & how it affects people's lives), it will, of course, feature heavily on the star that was George. Considering how good, thought-provoking & sobering the Ross Davidson documentary was, post-death, I will certainly tune in for this one.

Update on Philip Chevron's condition from the man himself only yesterday:- Make of it what you will...

Yes, yes, Iain & this is why... Tai causes knotty situation...

Jimmy Armfield has made a good enough recovery to start broadcasting again.

Pardoned, the lucky git.

Has it? I thought a BBC or Independent Online obituary was needed, and I thought Fox had neither? Or have the rules changed?

Paul Fox, member of punk band, the Ruts & mentioned on the DL a few times, has lost his fight against cancer. He was 56.

No. One, it's not their style. Two, why cheat & then throw away the title deliberately? It doesn't make any sense. Three, because neither of their drivers won the title, they now start in the last garage in the pitlane, currently occupied by Super Aguri. It means less VIP area, less pit space & a major disadvantage coming both into & out of the pits. I can't see that they would that on purpose.

Well, thank goodness for that. A worthy title winner, who wins the title by winning on the track in a perfectly legal car & without running anybody off. Although I feel a little sorry for Lewis, I could only guffaw at the sight of Ron "Cheat" Dennis utterly dejected at the end of the race. Hopefully, another of F1's less nicer people, Ralf Schumacher has driven in his last GP. We shall see. Oh, for the crash fans, Kazuki Nakajima ran over two of his mechanics. A fine start to what will be a stellar career I am sure. I can't wait for next season, if only because to erase this season, which, Kimi's quite astonishing comeback, not withstanding, has been one of the poorest & controversial of recent years.

Happy 18th Birthday Ize! May you now do the things legally you couldn't before!

What a terrible loss - to lose Sheridan Morley, George Melly, Ned Sherrin & now Alan Coren (my favourite of the lot) within about 7 or 8 months is a grevious blow - all were excellent storytellers & comics. (Morley less so, perhaps) An incredibly intelligent, erudite & funny man, I shall miss his wit on both radio & TV. TMIB, maybe you could comfort young Victoria?

No. Because, as I said before, if I want a restricted dead pool, I'd go to the Rotten Dead Pool. I like the Derby Dead Pool as it allows me to pick whoever I want. Oh & by the way, a lot of finding the information about the 2007 names was down to me after I (and others) volunteered. There's already a database in place, so the 2008 extra names shouldn't take that long this year. So, as long as there are still those of us who actually volunteer, rather than sit & carp, there's no need for restrictions anyway.

I'm been watching this one & it's hard to say with this one. The above was possibly written by an Egyptian Iain, DDT, as this news report & picture today still show him busy, and he did meet Condoleeza Rice earlier this week. However there are a lot of profiles & reports about Gamal and his future all of a sudden. I think the truth is somewhere in the middle. Fading, but not yet expired.

Suitable obit for Dorothy Webb here, which I think puts MPFC joint 6th in the DDP.

Nope, not yet. Please read the rules again, MPFC about local papers. EDIT No matter. It's in the Daily Mirror and so I lose my top 10 place to MPFC

To add to Bishop & Kerr, another DDP pick, Dorothy Webb, mother of Sir Cliff Richard, has died. MPFC has been championing her cause but so far there's been no suitable obituary.

At first, I was very disappointed to hear this news as she was number 3 in my DDP 2008 team. But I thought.. "never mind, I picked her for my CPDP team though". Alas, I did not. So double - nay treble disappointment (for I enjoyed her films) at today's passing.

A great shame - and truly the end of what was a quite extraordinary entertainment era. I would have a drink in his honour, but wasn't he teetotal?

What a ridicilous suggestion. That only benefits the lazy & makes a mockery & a complete waste of time for those of us like FF, DDT, myself & many others who actively look around for excellent candidates, rather than just choose from a limited pool. If you want a limited pool, stay on the Rotten Dead Pool. But a lot of people avoid it 'cos it's sh*t. I am confident that I will have at least 4 unique picks next year, maybe another 4 yet. That's why the unique pick bonus should be increased to reflect the hard work in finding these names. And these names ARE famous - all would get UK obits. Sometimes people don't have a full date & place of birth, but they are arguably famous - Ronnie Hazlehurst for one, may I note, his birthdate was not known at time of death, but there's no doubt he was an excellent candidate. PS Fair point, Deadsox.

Don't send the congratulation cards just yet... Chemical Ali & co's execution delayed again - may be up to two weeks delay yet