msc 18,534 Posted August 29 I can answer the why. When I co-ran the DDP we tried to make it as democratic as possible and a whole bunch of players asked for it. The list of qualifying obits was expanded greatly as people who ought to score under the rules (actors, Nobel prize winners) weren't and this got a lot of complaints. (Indeed, you might recall a Carrie Hamilton situation which cost you a third DDP title a number of years ago.) This is why the Radio Times and Economist are there despite never producing a necessary QO. Because one day they feasible might. Anyhow it was a correction to the rather stricter QO rules a predecessor put in place where DDP picks could get BBC obits and not get a qualifying obit. I am unsure as to the success of the Yahoo qo loophole. I am aware it has been claimed to be abused (though imo that's a ffbi issue) and I have no say in future rule changes, thankfully. However if you were to show me a list of DDP hits that only got yahoo obits and there was politicians, actors or scientists on that list then I would stand by it doing exactly what it was intended to do. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Commtech Sio Bibble 2,102 Posted August 29 Personally, I think Yahoo makes the game more interesting as it allows for a more diverse set of picks, by allowing for more unique hits and international hits as well. Without it I could see the game becoming even more UK focused and an over reliance on safe 'drop 40' picks from casuals. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Evil Grimace 361 Posted August 29 On 27/06/2023 at 11:39, Evil Grimace said: The Economist is listed as a QO source, so this should fittingly qualify as such for Economics laureate Harry Markowitz: https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2023/06/26/americans-love-american-stocks-they-should-look-overseas It mentions the day of his death (22 June) in the article before the rest is blocked out. 3 hours ago, msc said: This is why the Radio Times and Economist are there despite never producing a necessary QO. Because one day they feasible might. The Economist did provide a QO for the 2023 DDP for a Nobel laureate. It was @gcreptile at the time who suggested the Financial Times would also provide one, which it eventually did. However the Economist was first and was the QO used by the DDP. Was this the first (and only?) use of the Economist for a QO? 1 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drunkasaskunk 197 Posted August 29 I think that one of the best features of the DDP is the fact that it does have a finite list from which a QO can come, which is why I am so against Yahoo being a source. I know that some dead pools have a committee - or politburo - who decide if someone is famous enough for inclusion. Apart from FFBI picks I love the fact that we rely on journalists at reputable(ish) news organisations to write about the deaths of "famous" people. IMHO it is madness that an obit from a source that is not acceptable suddenly becomes acceptable because a bot at Yahoo has picked it up. I do not think that a death reported in the Flying Fish Cove gazette should be allowed as a QO, even if the yahoo bot picks it up. In my view the only Yahoo obits that should count are those that reference one of OUR QO's - which would make yahoo redundant, though it COULD help if a real QO gets archived leaving the Yahoo obit the only available version. If yahoo is permitted then why not (god forbid!) Wikipedia? (OK - I know why Wiki is not allowed) As for the Carrie Hamilton situation which cost me a third DDP title in 2002 I have no complaints. The rules were (and still are) the rules. She did not get a QO because the UK media did not deem her famous enough. This is just my tough luck and bad judgement on my part. Thems the breaks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WEP 900 Posted August 30 Former Commonwealth secretary-general Sir Shridath "Sonny" Ramphal dead at 95: https://www.derbydeadpool.co.uk/deadpool2024/celebs_R.html#ramphs https://newsroom.gy/2024/08/30/a-beacon-of-diplomacy-compassion-sir-shridath-ramphal-dies/ LotL I think! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WEP 900 Posted August 30 Social worker and activist Anita Mackey dead at 114: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anita_Mackey It's just Wikipedia, so LotL as well... https://www.derbydeadpool.co.uk/deadpool2024/celebs_M.html#mackeya024 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WEP 900 Posted September 1 For the List of the Missed: American civil rights activist Thelma Davidson Adair dead at 103: https://www.derbydeadpool.co.uk/deadpool2023/celebs_A.html#adairt023 https://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/dr-thelma-adair-the-first-african-american-woman-elected-moderator-of-the-general-assembly-dies-at-103/ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alt obits guy 3,382 Posted September 1 On 30/08/2024 at 17:44, WEP said: Former Commonwealth secretary-general Sir Shridath "Sonny" Ramphal dead at 95: https://www.derbydeadpool.co.uk/deadpool2024/celebs_R.html#ramphs https://newsroom.gy/2024/08/30/a-beacon-of-diplomacy-compassion-sir-shridath-ramphal-dies/ LotL I think! It's a "Sonny" day for two deadpoolers. Shridath Ramphal QO: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2024/09/01/sir-shridath-ramphal-sonny-commonwealth-secretary-general/ 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drol 12,122 Posted September 1 How the fuck one could think a former secretary of Commonwealth would not receive a QO by the British press? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Death Impends 8,043 Posted September 2 Okay, my long awaited Scott Thorson tribute is up, and we've got four months to go. The Commonwealth guy's obit will be next time, and as always let me know if any of the LotL/M's slipped me by. Just a reminder that I still need a successor for the front page duties. If it helps at all, I wouldn't rule out still doing some of the less time consuming bits of the front page, you know, LotL/M, Theme Team League, stuff like that. I'd still prefer a full-on successor but wouldn't fully rule out the former if it gets to that point. Or perhaps these duties can be split between two new people. Either way, the obit writing will have to be someone new. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Octopus of Odstock 2,215 Posted September 2 2 minutes ago, Death Impends said: Okay, my long awaited Scott Thorson tribute is up, and we've got four months to go. The Commonwealth guy's obit will be next time, and as always let me know if any of the LotL/M's slipped me by. Just a reminder that I still need a successor for the front page duties. If it helps at all, I wouldn't rule out still doing some of the less time consuming bits of the front page, you know, LotL/M, Theme Team League, stuff like that. I'd still prefer a full-on successor but wouldn't fully rule out the former if it gets to that point. Or perhaps these duties can be split between two new people. Either way, the obit writing will have to be someone new. Does the site actually need obit writing? It's great what you do, but I think it can function well without it. Maybe a monthly (or bi-weekly) brief round up might work better than obits? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Death Impends 8,043 Posted September 2 4 hours ago, Octopus of Odstock said: Does the site actually need obit writing? It's great what you do, but I think it can function well without it. Maybe a monthly (or bi-weekly) brief round up might work better than obits? That could be food for thought. I remember obits weren't a thing until TMIB did his revamp of the front page in 2012 to have his roundups. And then the fuller obits when the site took the current design. But there had been fewer hits in general so more "fun" you could do with the names that were hits. It's possible the 300+ hit rate has reached a breaking point where the obits format isn't really feasible anymore in general. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alt obits guy 3,382 Posted September 2 Brian Trueman QO: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13805931/Brian-Trueman-dies-aged-92-Tributes-paid-writer-kids-cartoons-Danger-Mouse-Count-Duckula-gave-voice-beloved-characters.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
msc 18,534 Posted September 2 7 minutes ago, Death Impends said: That could be food for thought. I remember obits weren't a thing until TMIB did his revamp of the front page in 2012 to have his roundups. And then the fuller obits when the site took the current design. But there had been fewer hits in general so more "fun" you could do with the names that were hits. It's possible the 300+ hit rate has reached a breaking point where the obits format isn't really feasible anymore in general. Tbf the obits for every single name in the current format only continued because Spade said "I bet you can't come up with those puns for five hundred people" and I am a contrary shit. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
alt obits guy 3,382 Posted September 3 James Darren QO: https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/30223518/james-darren-dead-gidget-moondoogie/ 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
arghton 6,861 Posted September 4 On 02/09/2024 at 20:50, Death Impends said: The Commonwealth guy's obit will be next time, and as always let me know if any of the LotL/M's slipped me by. My beloved Sheikh Salem should be one for the LotM, right? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungWillz 21,178 Posted September 4 @time Marjorie Flora Fraser QO: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2024/09/04/lady-saltoun-royal-family-hereditary-peer/ 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drunkasaskunk 197 Posted September 4 50 minutes ago, YoungWillz said: @time Marjorie Flora Fraser QO: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2024/09/04/lady-saltoun-royal-family-hereditary-peer/ Another JOCK AWAY :-) Only 17 more to go. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
time 8,672 Posted September 4 52 minutes ago, YoungWillz said: @time Marjorie Flora Fraser QO: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2024/09/04/lady-saltoun-royal-family-hereditary-peer/ I've been expecting this... 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungWillz 21,178 Posted September 6 Sergio Mendes QO: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13821845/Sergio-Mendes-dead-83-Brazilian-musician-worked-John-Legend-James-Bond-song-Oscar-nominated-Real-Rio.html 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
YoungWillz 21,178 Posted September 7 Ron Yeats QO: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c62348nw4yqo 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
time 8,672 Posted September 8 Herbie Flowers goes to List of the Missed, having last been selected last year 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drunkasaskunk 197 Posted September 8 15 hours ago, time said: Herbie Flowers goes to List of the Missed, having last been selected last year I picked him in 2021 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
drunkasaskunk 197 Posted September 9 On 27/08/2024 at 12:20, drunkasaskunk said: Would the scoreboard look significantly different if Yahoo news (which merely copies and pastes articles from publications that are NOT allowed for QOs) was removed as a valid source of QOs? I find it absurd that a reference to a death written in (say) The Grindelwald Gazette is NOT a QO, but a copy and paste of the exact same article on uk.news.yahoo.com news IS a QO. I have looked at January to March 2024 While a number have UK.NEWS.YAHOO.COM as their Qualifying Obituary most have other qualifying sources too. From January to February I could only find these hits that have no other QO source other than yahoo . . . 25 January 2024 Roger Donlon 15 February 2024 Alexis Buchman 27 February 2024 Richard H. Truly 29 February 2024 Paul Vachon 3 March 2024 Eleanor Collins Of course, just because I can't find an alternative QO to yahoo does not mean that there isn't one - it just means that I can't find one. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Prowler0000 8 Posted September 9 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce81rkg87w8o James Earl Jones has passed. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
