The Celebrity Death Pool 2008

[OneCentStamp]

Mickey Rooney
Queen Elizabeth II
Britney Spears
Earvin "Magic" Johnson
Hi, I'm Chris Hansen from Dateline NBC
B.B. King
Batista (professional wrestler)
Jimmy Carter
Laird Hamilton
Jeff Gordon
Takeru Kobayashi
Lindsay Lohan
Dr. Robert Jarvik

[Fear Itself]

Hey folks, this close to the deadline, how about y'all make it easier by reposting plain lists?Nobody's listening.

[amarone]

Hey folks, this close to the deadline, how about y'all make it easier by reposting plain lists? Thanks. I will take a pause after post 242 to see if I can get any that are easier to handle. There are 132 entries to that point and the most frequent nominees are, in order:

Fidel Castro
Ariel Sharon
Farrah Fawcett
Britney Spears
Elizabeth Taylor
Amy Winehouse
Billy Graham
Kirk Douglas
Muhammad Ali
Dick Cheney
Elizabeth Edwards

[swampbear]

amarone thanks for the update and for bein' our host (hostess?) with the most (mostest?) this comin' year for this most gruesome yet fun thread.

Also, in case I haven't said so, thanks to a bunchanumbers for all her hard work and dedication.

I could not do this. I would have already reached out and slapped a bunch of folks for not following directions.

Thanks again!

[anyrose]

Thank you Sean, for reminding the MMPers - I almost forgot. Here is my Death Pool 2008 final list.


Claude Levi-Strauss
Esther Williams
Hal David
Nanette Fabray
Edwin Newman
Phyllis Diller
Robert McNamara
Sargent Shriver
Robert Mondavi
William F Buckley
Hugh Downs
Tom Bosley
Annette Funicello
Lou Jacobi


alternates
Julie Newmar
Marty Allen
Mitch Miller

[anyrose]

amarone thanks for the update and for bein' our host (hostess?) with the most (mostest?) this comin' year for this most gruesome yet fun thread.

Also, in case I haven't said so, thanks to a bunchanumbers for all her hard work and dedication.

I could not do this. I would have already reached out and slapped a bunch of folks for not following directions.

Thanks again!

Hear, hear. (Here, here? Hair, hair?) and ditto about not being able to do this myself.

[wolf_meister]

Wow !!!!!!! Gotta get my list in pronto !!!

Ervin 'Magic' Johnson
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lewis
Jayne Meadows
Art Linkletter
Ann B. Davis
William Shatner
Barbara Billingsley
Larry Storch
Professor Irwin Corey
Charlie Daniels
Les Paul
Barbara Bain

and an alternate in case one of those folks passes away in the next 8 hours ....

Chevy Chase

[Kuizelemartz]

Trying it again, my Drugs Are Bad, MKay???

Farrah Fawcett
Amy Winehouse
Blake Fielder-Civil
Brittany Spears
Lindsay Lohan
Whitney Houston
Courtney Love
Andy Dick
Jeff Conway
Boy George
Keith Richards
Eddie Van Halen
Mary Kate Olsen

Alternates
George Michael
Natasha Lyonne
Jessica Sierra

[Hal Briston]

It would seem I'm better at this than I thought. I had a fresh list of 13 brand new names that I was going to submit. Then I ran each of them through Wikipedia, an found that nine of them already died this year. Ah well...

So, here's four new ones and nine reissues (as always, all original ideas -- no picking through the thread for tips):

1) Elizabeth Taylor - Actress
2) Salvatore "Fat Sal" Scala - accused Gambino crime family captain
3) Robin Roberts - Good Morning America host
4) Rosanne Cash - Singer
5) Aretha Franklin - Singer
6) Muhammad Ali - Boxer
7) Louis Farrakhan - Nation of Islam Leader
8) Jerry Lewis - Comedian
9) Jerry Lee Lewis - Musician
10) Fidel Castro - Cuban Dictator
11) Al Davis - Oakland Raiders Owner
12) John Madden - NFL Commentator
13) Reverend Donald Wildmon - Raging Douchebag

And in easy C&P format as well:

Elizabeth Taylor
Salvatore Scala
Robin Roberts
Rosanne Cash
Aretha Franklin
Muhammad Ali
Louis Farrakhan
Jerry Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Fidel Castro
Al Davis
John Madden
Reverend Donald Wildmon

Aaaand, just in case we have a clock-beater, we'll call Charlton Heston to be an alternate.

[BJMoose]

Last year I went with an Old Fogey strategy, average age in the upper 80s. They're all doing fine and well, thank you very much.* Best I managed was Art Buchwald, who was #20 on the list I had compiled.

What to do, what to do? Dig a deeper hole! The thirteen listed below now have an average age of 92:


Mitch Miller
Karl Malden
Studs Terkel
Jack LaLanne
Norman Lloyd
Richard Widmark
Harry Morgan
Les Paul
Olivia de Haviland
Van Johnson
Daniel Schorr
Walter Cronkite
Kirk Douglas

Alternates:

Zsa Zsa Gabor
Lena Horne
Phyllis Diller


Alas, June Foray (voice of Rocket J. Squirrel, Esq.) falls to #17 on my current list. Hang in there, little buddy!


__________
* If anyone has heard of the demise of Studs Terkel, Harry Morgan, Daniel Schorr, Walter Cronkite, Kirk Douglas, Phyllis Diller, June Foray, Oral Roberts, Mike Wallace, Billy Graham, Andy Rooney, Mickey Rooney, or Hugh Downs,+ please let me know!
__________
+ Wanna bet the last seven, who didn't make the cut this year, all bite the big one in Ought Eight?

[Mona Lisa Simpson]

Okay: I was, I believe 0/13 last year. You would think a palliative care nurse such as myself could do better than this but its more that I dont get hourly reports of peoples health. So some of it is repeats with a few fresh/elderly faces.

1. George W. Bush, current president of USA
2. Nancy Reagan
3. Margaret Thatcher
4. Henry Kissinger
5. Phil Lesh (Grateful Dead bassist)
6. Stan Lee (Spiderman!)
7. Fidel Castro
8. Joyce Randolph, (Trixie Norton on Honeymooners)
9. Steven Hawking, scientist
10. Mario Lemeiux, legendary NHL Penguin.
11. Pat Burns, NHL coach, last of NJ Devils
12. William Bill Davis, former premier of Ontario.
13. Robert Picton, pig farmer, born 1950. Convicted of murder of women from Vancouvers Downtown East Side.

Alternates:
Melanie Safka, What have they done to my song?
Bill Murray, Comedic actor



juliefoolie

George W. Bush,
Nancy Reagan
Margaret Thatcher
Henry Kissinger
Phil Lesh
Stan Lee
Fidel Castro
Joyce Randolph
Steven Hawking
Mario Lemeiux
Pat Burns
William Davis
Robert Picton

Melanie Safka
Bill Murray

[amarone]

amarone thanks for the update and for bein' our host (hostess?) Thank you - and I'm a he.

[CowPatty]

I dunno. I thought I was ready to post my list and then I saw in the news that Mindy McCready got out of jail over the weekend. Hmmmm. I might need to move her up from alternate status.

Clearly I must give this more thought. I'm wildly paranoid that I'll somehow miss the posting deadline though (I did that one year and I'm still filled with grrrr over it) so I'll go ahead, post what I have, and reserve the right for a few last minute tweaks if needed.

Farrah Fawcett
Suzanne Pleshette
Eunice Kennedy Shriver
Fidel Castro
Tony Snow
Jack Kevorkian
Suge Knight
Amy Winehouse
Robert Mugabe
Annette Funicello
Louis Farrakhan
Ronnie Biggs
Pacman Jones

Alternates:

Fred Phelps
Mindy McCready

[Loach]

So, when is Rachm Qoch going to post his master list? :D

I hope he's playing it close to the vest and didn't forget. Even though his list is usually filled with celebrities that I never heard of like the prime minister of East Bumfuqistan. I still admire his research technique.

[Mona Lisa Simpson]

Oh and before anyone comments, Robert Picton is convicted in Canada, and he won't recieve the death penalty. It was mentioned last year too. I am thinking that a)he might not be the healthiest person arround, (what with eating all that pig meat, and his partying with women of interesting occupations) and b) there might be a few people not too pleased with him. So yes, convicted murderer, death by other means.

[anyrose]

Rachm Qoch, IIRC, usually posts at the very last minute.

[Baker]

anyrose, you have 14 on your list.

[BJMoose]

Rachm Qoch, IIRC, usually posts at the very last minute.
Given his track record, if he posted any earlier we'd all copy his list!

[Fear Itself]

Given his track record, if he posted any earlier we'd all copy his list!I like to think he is cribbing from all of us.

[Lok]

I like to think he is cribbing from all of us.
And doing it better than we do. :D

[Loach]

Rachm Qoch, IIRC, usually posts at the very last minute.

Last year he posted at 11pm eastern but he was active in the tread before he posted his final list. I'm worried. If he doesn't post then no one will die next year! You know what that means. Zombies. Lots of zombies.

[anyrose]

anyrose, you have 14 on your list.
omg! thank you

ok revised list:
Claude Levi-Strauss
Esther Williams
Hal David
Nanette Fabray
Edwin Newman
Phyllis Diller
Robert McNamara
Sargent Shriver
Robert Mondavi
William F Buckley
Hugh Downs
Tom Bosley
Annette Funicello


alternates
Lou Jacobi
Julie Newmar
Marty Allen
Mitch Miller

easily solved - I just moved one down to my alternates list

eta: and given my track record, he'll be the first to kick in '08

[Grits and Hard Toast]

Ariel Sharon
Fidel Castro
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman
Ronnie Biggs
Billy Graham
Mohammed Ali
Sydney Pollack
Orlando Thomas
Nelson Mandela
Farah Fawcett
Steve Smith
Eunice Kennedy Shriver

Alternates:
John Wooden
Osama Bin Laden
Louis Farrakhan

Thanks for doing this amarone!

[An Arky]

Elizabeth Taylor
Charlton Heston
Nancy Reagan
Frank Cady
Pete Doherty
Amy Winehouse
Britney Spears
Dale Earnhardt Jr.
Snoop Dogg
Michael J. Fox
Tom Cruise
Paul Stanley
Osama Bin Laden

[Shirley Ujest]

Plain List:


1. Osama bin Laden
2. Harper Lee
3. Chayito Valdez
4. Ariel Sharon
5. Tony Snow
6. Vice Vukov
7. Fidel Castro
8. Pope Benedict
9. Muqtada al Sadr
10. Abuc Ayyub Al Masri
11. Britney Spears
12. Christopher Tolkien
13. J.D. Salinger

Alternates:
Andy Dick
Farley Granger

[bowler girl]

Estelle Getty
Amy Winehouse
Annette Funicello
Pete Doherty
Britney Spears
Farrah Fawcett
Patty Andrews
Dick Button
Tony Snow
Elizabeth Edwards
Fidel Castro
Ariel Sharon
Tara Reid

Alternates:
Jack Klugman
Lindsay Lohan

[Loach]

5 hours left.......

[amarone]

amarone

Farrah Fawcett
Fidel Castro
Suzanne Pleshette
Abdul Al-Hakim
Danny Federici
Bobby Murcer
Tony Proudfoot
Wayne Shelford
Steve Smith
Orlando Thomas
Russell Watson
Charlie Wedermeyer
Don Wittman

Alternates: Tony Snow, Ariel Sharon.

[CowPatty]

I'm sorry for the bother but I did some minor tweaking. I upgraded Mindy McCready and moved Pacman Jones to alternate. Here's the final version:

Farrah Fawcett
Suzanne Pleshette
Eunice Kennedy Shriver
Fidel Castro
Tony Snow
Jack Kevorkian
Suge Knight
Amy Winehouse
Robert Mugabe
Annette Funicello
Louis Farrakhan
Ronnie Biggs
Mindy McCready

Alternates:

Fred Phelps
Pacman Jones

By the way, if placing Amy Winehouse on your list just isn't enough for you, you might want to try this site: When Will Amy Winehouse Die? (http://www.whenwillamywinehousedie.com/) You might win an iPod Touch!

[WarmNPrickly]

Kirk Douglas
Wilfred Brimley
Dick Clark
Dudley Moore
Andy Rooney
Jack Kevorkian
Oliver Sacks
Soupy Sales
Jesse Helms
Abe Vigoda
Don Rickles
Sidney Poitier
Nelson Mandela

Alternates
Dom DeLuise
Stephen Colbert

That's my list!

[ErinPuff]

Christopher, Dudley Moore died in 2002 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dudley_Moore).

[WarmNPrickly]

Well maybe his zombie will come back. Take my first alternate then, I'm gonna have to break this to my wife as it was her suggestion. That is pretty funny.

[Wile E]

I'm going to play. My list in no way reflects any ill will on the listees.
I double-checked their aliveness with two sources before posting.


1) Britney Spears, b. 2/2/81 singer, trainwreck

2) Farrah Fawcett, b. 2/2/47 actress

3) Elizabeth Taylor, b. 2/27/32 actress

4) Buzz Aldrin, b. 1/20/30 astronaut and second person to walk on the moon.

5) Ursula K. LeGuin, b. 10/21/29 author

6) Ariel Sharon, b. 2/27/28 former Israeli prime minister and current vegetable

7) Edward Albee, b. 3/12/28 playwright

8) Jack Kevorkian, b. 5/26/28 Physician, proponent of assisted suicide

9) Mel Brooks, b. 6/28/26 entertainer

10) Tony Curtis, b. 6/3/25 actor

11) Nancy Reagan, b/ 7/6/21 former first lady

12) Richard Adams, b. 5/9/20 author

13) Betty Ford, b. 4/8/18 former first lady


Just in case anyone kicks off before midnight, alternate is;
Vera Miles, b. 8/23/30 actress


And for copy and paste purposes:

Britney Spears
Farrah Fawcett
Elizabeth Taylor
Buzz Aldrin
Ursula K. LeGuin
Ariel Sharon
Edward Albee
Jack Kevorkian
Mel Brooks
Tony Curtis
Nancy Reagan
Richard Adams
Betty Ford

[fisha]

Ok, first timer. nothing like waiting til the last minute.


Fidel Castro
Owen Wilson
Tom Petty
Henry Kissinger
Rosalynn Carter
Elizabeth Edwards
Tom Bosley
Eartha Kitt
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Joan Kennedy



Lou Diamond Phillips, for the next 4 hours as my alternate.


ETA-EEK! I get 13??!! Damnit, I'll repost in a minute, I actually trimmed my list down!

[Wile E]

Ok, first timer. nothing like waiting til the last minute.


Fidel Castro
Owen Wilson
Tom Petty
Henry Kissinger
Rosalynn Carter
Elizabeth Edwards
Tom Bosley
Eartha Kitt
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Joan Kennedy



Lou Diamond Phillips, for the next 4 hours as my alternate.


ETA-EEK! I get 13??!! Damnit, I'll repost in a minute, I actually trimmed my list down!


fisha, you get 13 picks. May I recommend the Kevorkian, it's practically a guarantee?

ETA: Okay, I guess you realized that and edited it in the time it took me to hit "post reply".

[fisha]

Fidel Castro
Owen Wilson
Tom Petty
Henry Kissinger
Rosalynn Carter
Elizabeth Edwards
Tom Bosley
Eartha Kitt
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Joan Kennedy
Jack Kevorkian
Daniel Baldwin
Clive Cussler

With Lou Diamond Phillips for another 3.5 hours as my alternate.

Thanks for trying to help, Wile I'll take Dr. Death, just so I have at least a minimum of success.

[VenusProbe]

Almost the same as last years list, just moved my top alt to Tammy Fayes spot. Here's hoping I do better this year.

01 Fidel Castro
02 Billy Graham
03 Elizabeth Taylor
04 Bob Barker
05 Keith Richards
06 Kirk Douglas
07 Tom Arnold
08 Muhammad Ali
09 Annette Funicello
10 Hugh Heffner
11 Pope Benedict XVI
12 Charlton Heston
13 Jack Klugman

Alternates:

a) Karl Malden
b) Dick Clark

[NurseCarmen]

Charlton Heston (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlton_Heston[/url) 10/4/24. Time to pry his gun from his hand.
Artie Lange ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artie_Lange ) 10/11/67. Fat comedian. Likes drugs.
Orlando Thomas ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orlando_Thomas ) 10/21/72. Former Minnesota Viking. I reaally will be sad about this one.
Tony Snow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Snow) 6/1/55. Sold his soul to the administration. They no longer have a need for it.
Phillip Chevron ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Chevron ) 6/17/57. Pogues guitarist. Everybody is amazed when Shane outlasts him.
Abdul Aziz al-Hakim ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abdul_Aziz_al-Hakim ) 1950 Iraqi theologian and politician and the leader of SIIC,
Mark Karan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Karan) former Greatful Dead guitarist.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayaan_Hirsi_ali) Dutch feminist. Targeted by the same folks who killed Theo Van Gogh.
Steven Smith (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Smith_%28running_back%29)8/30/64. former running back for the Oakland Raiders

Those that I just can’t drop from last year’s list.

Shane MacGowan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shane_MacGowan) 12/25/1957 Irish drunk singer.
Darlene Cates ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darlene_Cates) 12/13/1947 Another carryover that stunned me surviving 2006 and 2007.
Ariel Sharon ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariel_sharon) 2/27/1928
Suzanne Pleshette ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzanne_Pleshette ) 1/31/37

Alternates

John Wesley "Johnny Lam" Jones (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley_Jones) 4/4/58 former NFL great.
John Lee Tapia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Tapia) 2/13/67. five-time world boxing champion. He is nicknamed "Mi Vida Loca".


--------------------
Charlton Heston
Artie Lange
Orlando Thomas
Tony Snow
Phillip Chevron
Abdul Aziz al-Hakim
Mark Karan
Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Steven Smith
Shane MacGowan
Darlene Cates
Ariel Sharon
Suzanne Pleshette

alternates

Johnny Law
Johnnie Tapia

[kunilou]

Fidel Castro
B.B. King
David Crosby
Amy Winehouse
Loretta Lynn
Estelle Getty
Robert Byrd
Stan Musial
Georgia Frontietrre
Suzanne Pleshette
Ethel Kennedy
Jimmy Carter

[Rachm Qoch]

Thanks to Numbers Lady and amarone for maintaining the thread. Without further ado:

Doku Umarov -- President of Chechen Republic of Ichkeria
Elizabeth Edwards -- Could-have-been First Lady
Farrah Fawcett -- Actor
Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei -- Ayatollah
Jack Kevorkian -- Dr. Death
Dave Chappelle -- Comedian
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo -- President of Equatorial Guinea
Johnny "Lam" Jones -- NY Jets Wide Receiver
Lute Olsen -- Basketball Coach
Orlando Thomas -- Minnesota Vikings Safety
Steve Smith -- Raiders Fullback
Charlton Heston -- Actor
Begum Nusrat Bhutto -- Former First Lady of Pakistan

Alts:
Zdravko Tolimir -- War Criminal
Fidel Castro -- Dictator
Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman -- Blind Sheikh









Doku Umarov
Elizabeth Edwards
Farrah Fawcett
Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Jack Kevorkian
Dave Chappelle
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
Johnny "Lam" Jones
Lute Olsen
Orlando Thomas
Steve Smith
Charlton Heston
Begum Nusrat Bhutto

Alts:
Zdravko Tolimir
Fidel Castro
Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman

[The Vorlon]

This years choices to pass beyond the rim....



Jimmy Carter

Tony Snow

Fidel Castro

Don Kent

Suzanne Pleshette

Dave Maynard

Robert Byrd

U.S. Rep. Julia Carson, D-Ind

Ted Kennedy

Omar Abdel-Rahman

Britney Spears

Ariel Sharon

Sydney Pollack

[ErinPuff]

The Vorlon, Julia Carson died on December 15 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julia_Carson).

[drewbert]

kunilou that's only twelve...

[Earthman]

Here's mine:

Muhammad Ali
Jimmy Carter
Fidel Castro
Louis Farrakhan
Farrah Fawcett
Ruth Bader Ginsberg
Stephen Hawking
Ted Kennedy
Pervez Musharraf
Ariel Sharon
Tony Snow
Helen Thomas
Jonathan Winters

Alternate: Mel Brooks

[Boyo Jim]

Maybe it's too late now for 2008, but if Fidel Castro survives 2008, I propose he be added as an automatic "guest" entry on everyone's list in 2009. He's gotta already be on 3/4 of the lists, so we may as well save the space.

[Anne Elk]

Artie Lang
Andy Dick
Pete Doherty
Laird Hamilton
Ralphie May
Farrah Fawcett
Ariel Sharon
Wilfred Brimley
Suzanne Pleshette
Asif Ali Zardari
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari
Sean D. Tucker
Will Gadd

[Fear Itself]

Wilfred BrimleyWilfred Brimley<nitpick>
Wilford Brimley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilford_Brimley)
</nitpick>

[Captain Lance Murdoch]

Most of the “unique” picks I had lined up got picked in the last day or so. Oh well.

Lynn Kohlman
Randy Pausch
Farrah Fawcett
Zdravko Tolimir
Lydia Shum
Daniel Lee Siebert
Orlando Thomas
Johnny “Lam” Jones
Doku Umarov
Archbishop Christodoulos
Steve Smith
Leroy Sievers
Tyrone Jones

Lynn Kohlman – Model, DKNY big shot, author
Randy Pausch – Professor, just landed a $7 million book deal
Farrah Fawcett – Angel, literally?
Zdravko Tolimir – Serb general on trial for genocide and crimes against humanity
Lydia Shum – Hong Kong mega-celeb
Daniel Lee Siebert – Serial killer on ‘Bama’s death row. Risky pick.
Orlando Thomas – MN Viking and alleged wife-beater
Johnny “Lam” Jones – Olympian and receiver who couldn’t catch (not to be confused with Troy Williamson)
Doku Umarov – Self-proclaimed emir of Chechnya. Has declared jihad against Israel, the US and UK for when he finishes off Russia.
Archbishop Christodoulos – Head of Greek Ortho church
Steve Smith – running back Seahawks etc…
Leroy Sievers – 12-time Emmy winner, 2-time Peabody winner. Eat your heart out Bill O’Reilly
Tyrone Jones – Blue Bomber

Alternate (!)
Georgia Frontiere – keeping up my football theme. Rams owner whose hubby was whacked by the mob

[Wile E]

I'm not much into sports, so what makes Orlando Thomas a popular pick?

[Loach]

I'm not much into sports, so what makes Orlando Thomas a popular pick?

ALS

[Loach]

50 minutes......

[42fish]

Hey, Rachm Qoch has four picks in common with my list! I might get a second place this time.

[carnivorousplant]

ALS
...and what is ALS?

[Rachm Qoch]

Hey, Rachm Qoch has four picks in common with my list! I might get a second place this time.
Could you settle for three? New list:

Yo-sam Choi
Orlando Thomas
Randy Pausch
Daniel Lee Siebert
Erick Wujcik
Steve Smith
Doku Umarov
Don Wittman
Abu Ayyub al-Masri
Christodoulos
Tony Snow
Sherrill Headrick
Farrah Fawcett

Alts:
Leroy Sievers
Abdul Aziz al-Hakim
Sydney Pollack

[Etherman]

Fidel Castro
Ariel Sharon
Britney Spears
Amy Winehouse
Kirk Douglas
Muhammad Ali
Farrah Fawcett
Courtney Love
Dick Clark
Nancy Reagan
Jack Kevorkian
Margret Thatcher
Robert Redford


ALT
Pervez Musharraf

[Fear Itself]

Could you settle for three? New list:Sneaky. ;)

[SSG Schwartz]

...and what is ALS?

Lou Gehrigs disease (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amyotrophic_lateral_sclerosis)

SSG Schwartz

[Rachm Qoch]

Sneaky. ;)
Nobody picked Dave Chappelle. I'm Insulted!

[Randy Seltzer]

Nobody picked Dave Chappelle. I'm Insulted!It was a trap! Totally appropriate, considering today's classic column (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_165.html).

[42fish]

Could you settle for three? New list:



You're such a tease.

[Loach]

For probably the only time I can say it this year.....I'm in first place.

[SSG Schwartz]

I am currently checking all major news feeds for a bus crash with only 13 passengers.

SSG Schwartz

[Grits and Hard Toast]

OK, I admit...... I came home from a great New Year's Eve party to find that I had six picks, including alternates, the same as Rachm Qoch. I posted mine first, so I must have an inside track with the Grim Reaper! Whoo Whoo for me!

But now I see, with revisions, I only have four. I am so sad now....I hope the rest of 2008 is not so disapointing......

[NurseCarmen]

Damn. I must admit. The number of "players" has increased this year. There are some obviously well researched and insightful postings.

[Mehitabel]

Well, mine ain't. Sneaking in, it's still December 31st in Hawaii and that's in America, so:

The Muckety-Mucks:
1) Fidel Castro
2) Pervez Musharraf
3) Ariel Sharon (legally still alive)
4) George Steinbrenner

The Publicly Sick:
5) Elizabeth Edwards
6) Farrah Fawcett
7) Omar Abdel-Rahman (the blind terrorist sheik)
8) Margaret Thatcher

The Ancients:
9) Walter Cronkite
10) Julie Wilson, cabaret singer

The Geez, They’re Still Alive?!
11) Elizabeth Taylor
12) Whitney Houston
13) Charlton Heston

I did so badly last year that I feel bad giving people like El Viejo an extended lifespan, but most of these folks I bear no ill-will to.

[Shirley Ujest]

Yanno what is rather disturbing or funny ( depending on how you look at it.) is that I had a dream last night that Some Doper I have no idea who. called me on my cell to advise me I had the first official death of 2008 and it was one of my PVS peoples.

Do you know how freakin' happy I was in that dream?


Am I mental or what?

[Shirley Ujest]

Good luck to everyone this year!

I am enjoying my new found DP Cherry.

[swampbear]

Yanno what is rather disturbing or funny ( depending on how you look at it.) is that I had a dream last night that Some Doper I have no idea who. called me on my cell to advise me I had the first official death of 2008 and it was one of my PVS peoples.

Do you know how freakin' happy I was in that dream?


Am I mental or what?
Yes you are mental. Why else would you be playin' celebrity death pool. :D

[anyrose]

Well, mine ain't. Sneaking in, it's still December 31st in Hawaii and that's in America, so:

that'd be up to amarone - but the rules in the OP clearly state, ad have stated every year, the deadline is midnight GMT-6 which is CST, where Chicago, the home of the Dope, is.

[twickster]

Woo hoo! I have a pick in common with Rachm Qoch!

[MadTheSwine]

Who died today?

[MadTheSwine]

oops

[MadTheSwine]

whoops

[Little Nemo]

We all know we're not going to win now. The only excitment will be seeing if Rachm Qoch goes undefeated this year.

[Loach]

Is the official word out about the firey car crash involving Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Amy Winehouse? What a tragedy. I heard that Fidel Castro and Ariel Sharon were both passengers in Britney's car.

[Captain Lance Murdoch]

Could you settle for three? New list:


Your new list has seven of my guys on it. looks like we won't be far apart this year. Come on Zdravko!

[Quartz]

I too have several names in common with RQ. They're clearly doomed.

I wonder who has the most unique picks? And how the field compares with last year?

[Sir Dirx]

I too have several names in common with RQ. They're clearly doomed.

I wonder who has the most unique picks? And how the field compares with last year?
Idunno about anyone else, but I've got 12 unique picks. If it weren't for Yllaria and BobLibDem reading my mind about Pernell Roberts, I coulda had a full 13. I probably won't get a single point out of the lot, but hey, worth a shot anyway.

[Shirley Ujest]

I heard that the Kennedy Family yes, all of them died in a brutal shoot out at their Compound/trailer park.

[GuanoLad]

Am I out of the loop? Who is Rachm Qoch (a Doper I've never encountered before) and why do they matter?

[Hostile Dialect]

Rachm Qoch is the undisputed master of the Celebrity Death Pool.

[amarone]

that'd be up to amarone - but the rules in the OP clearly state, ad have stated every year, the deadline is midnight GMT-6 which is CST, where Chicago, the home of the Dope, is. Sorry Mehitabel - I'm going to stick with the stated rules and not allow late entries. Last year severus was not allowed to enter when his post was one minute late.

Having a hard deadline puts a limit on how long people have to see other people's selections and research them. Allowing late entries would not be fair on all those who were on time.

I have nearly all the entries in the spreadsheet now. I just have to go back and pick up a couple that were entered in unhelpful format, then go through and look for different spellings for the same person. I should have some stats published later today.

[amarone]

Damn. I must admit. The number of "players" has increased this year. There are some obviously well researched and insightful postings. Actually, there are fewer - 161 this year versus 192 last.

[Boyo Jim]

Rachm Qoch is the undisputed master of the Celebrity Death Pool.

And possibly the world's most successful hitman. :p

[amarone]

All the data is in my spreadsheet. Some numbers:


we have 161 entrants
there are 807 different celebrities
514 are unique picks, representing 64% of the total


The twenty most nominated people are:

Fidel Castro 85
Ariel Sharon 49
Farrah Fawcett 47
Britney Spears 41
Amy Winehouse 35
Elizabeth Taylor 34
Kirk Douglas 30
Billy Graham 28
Muhammad Ali 27
Elizabeth Edwards 21
Suzanne Pleshette 21
Dick Cheney 19
Lindsay Lohan 19
Margaret Thatcher 18
Bob Barker 17
Dick Clark 17
Eunice Kennedy Shriver 17
Stephen Hawking 17
Jack Kevorkian 16
Tony Snow 16

[Clothahump]

This will be my first attempt ever at the Pool:


Willie Nelson
Bob Barker
Britney Spears
Keith Richards
Ted Kennedy
Dick Clark
Fidel Castro
Chuck Norris
O.J. Simpson
Larry King
Sean Connery
Eddy Arnold
Chuck Berry

Alts:

Leon Redbone
Jamie Farr
Morley Safer

[Eliahna]

This will be my first attempt ever at the Pool:
No... no it won't :smack:

Deadline has come and gone. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!

[anyrose]

amarone, would you be able to, at some point, be able to, perhaps in batches of 10 or 25, list the unique picks?

[Fear Itself]

514 are unique picks, representing 64% of the total
Well, sort of. Actually, there were 2093 predictions (161 entrants times 13 celebrities); if 514 were unique, that represents only 24% of the total number of predictions.

[Baker]

But there were 807 celebrities listed, and with 514 being unique, that means not quite 70 % of the choices are unique.

[Loach]

Rachm Qoch is the undisputed master of the Celebrity Death Pool.

Old news. You are only as good as your next win. We all start with a clean slate and have just as good a chance to win as RQ.

Yeah I don't believe it either.

Just as I tried to do, only one pick in the top twenty. I wasn't paying attention to see if any were unique. Had to stick with Ariel Sharon. He'll come through for me some year.

[Fear Itself]

But there were 807 celebrities listed, and with 514 being unique, that means not quite 70 % of the choices are unique.I disagree. The 807 figure does not represent the total number of predictions. One prediction of Ken Kercheval is in no way equivalent to 85 predictions of Fidel Castro.

[Loach]

I disagree. The 807 figure does not represent the total number of predictions. One prediction of Ken Kercheval is in no way equivalent to 85 predictions of Fidel Castro.

apples

oranges

There is a difference between the number of celebrities and the number of predictions. This discussion could go on forever because you are arguing about two different things. Of course unique picks will be a lower percentage of overall predictions. That's because they are unique. I think it is more interesting that 70% of the celebrities chosen were unique picks. That shows a definate stragedy on the part of most of the players. Your stat just shows that unique picks are unique picks.

[Loach]

Actually, there are fewer - 161 this year versus 192 last.

I thought it felt lighter this year. I have a bad feeling that it is an indication of the health of the board in general.

[amarone]

Well, sort of. Actually, there were 2093 predictions (161 entrants times 13 celebrities); Actually there were 2091 as two lists only had 12 valid celebs.

[Rachm Qoch]

Your new list has seven of my guys on it. looks like we won't be far apart this year. Come on Zdravko!
Yep. Coming in second is gonna be real sweet, isn't it?

:D

[BJMoose]

Huh. Just one of my picks is in the top twenty. Hope that's a good sign. ('Twould be ironic if I snagged the prize for Most Unique Picks when I was aiming for Most People. Not that I'd complain. . . .)


(On re-reading the rules): There isn't a prize for Most Unique Picks. :(

[amarone]

Huh. Just one of my picks is in the top twenty. Hope that's a good sign. ('Twould be ironic if I snagged the prize for Most Unique Picks when I was aiming for Most People. Not that I'd complain. . . .)


(On re-reading the rules): There isn't a prize for Most Unique Picks. :( There isn't a prize just for picking uniquely, but for picking unique celebrities that die, there is:

The "Inside Track With the Grim Reaper" Award: to be awarded to the poster or posters who pick a celebrity that no one else picked.
I think we should interpret that prize to being for the doper who picks the greatest number of unique celebrities that die.

[twickster]

There isn't a prize just for picking uniquely, but for picking unique celebrities that die, there is:


I think we should interpret that prize to being for the doper who picks the greatest number of unique celebrities that die.

As long as we (i.e., you) are crunching numbers -- which poster has the most unique picks? I think I've got at least five, but would imagine others might have more.

[42fish]

The inevitable happens as Rachm Qoch gets his first points with the death of Korean boxer Yo-Sam Choi, age 35 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yo-Sam_Choi)

[Dolores Reborn]

Are you serious???? Day-um, that boy is gooood.

[amarone]

The inevitable happens as Rachm Qoch gets his first points with the death of Korean boxer Yo-Sam Choi, age 35 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yo-Sam_Choi)Sounds like he died in 2007 but was only declared dead in 2008...

Hey, I only took the job in the hope it would give me enough power to invalidate some of Rachm Qoch's picks.

[appleciders]

That's an intriguing one- at what point do we determine that death has occurred? When the doctor calls it or when it actually occurs?

It won't matter anyhow- if he did die in 2007, Rachm Qoch's alternate will be moved up and will promptly die, just to keep him (her?) in the lead.

[carnivorousplant]

Sounds like he died in 2007 but was only declared dead in 2008...

Hey, I only took the job in the hope it would give me enough power to invalidate some of Rachm Qoch's picks.
Is this a Democracy? I would suggest that the guy dies when a physician declares him dead. :)

[Sean Factotum]

Here's the scoop on the boxer. (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/more/01/01/brain.dead.boxer.ap/index.html) Went into a coma last week at the end of the fight, declared legally dead today at the request of his family so that his organs could be harvested.

So who is going to defend his title?

[mobo85]

This seems like one of those Terri Schiavo controversies- at what point can we say a comatose person on life support has truly died? Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_dead) states that brain death is considered a form of death in most countries. So is the official date of death December 25, 2007 or January 2, 2008? I guess the judges will have to decide.

[Lok]

I think it should be when he was declared dead. He went into the coma last year, but it took some time for them to figure out he wasn't coming out of it. If he had been in a coma for 2 years and just died it would still be a death for this year.

[Quartz]

And he gets the opening kick-off award too.

[Fear Itself]

And he gets the opening kick-off award too.And very good chance at the Robbing the Cradle award. I smell a three-fer.

[Quartz]

And very good chance at the Robbing the Cradle award. I smell a three-fer.

ITYM four - Winner, Opening Kick-off, Robbing the Cradle, and Inside Track.

I guess the rest of us are just batting for the last one to die in 2008.

Jeez, I'm all but declaring the contest a clean sweep only one day in.

[wolf_meister]

Two minutes after posting my 2008 list, I calculated I was mathematically eliminated from any hope of finishing first. :(

Geez, we've got some really sharp death pool players here. (and I'm certainly not counting myself as one of those). :)

[Wile E]

And very good chance at the Robbing the Cradle award. I smell a three-fer.


It's only January 2nd and we still have lots of people with Britney, Lindsey and Amy on their lists. There's still a chance he won't get that one.

[amarone]

And he gets the opening kick-off award too.Which I won the last two years. He can pry the trophy from my cold, dead - no, wait a minute, that's tempting fate a bit too much.

[Fear Itself]

It's only January 2nd and we still have lots of people with Britney, Lindsey and Amy on their lists. There's still a chance he won't get that one.God protects fools and drunks. They will all make to at least 40. People have been betting against Courtney Love for years, and she refuses to die; I think it will be the same with the current crop of diva delinquents.

[swampbear]

I took Courtney off this year's list. I expect to hear of her spectacular death any day now.

[Boyo Jim]

The inevitable happens as Rachm Qoch gets his first points with the death of Korean boxer Yo-Sam Choi, age 35 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yo-Sam_Choi)

Is the Username "Grim Reaper" available? I propose a name change.

[Mehitabel]

Sorry Mehitabel - I'm going to stick with the stated rules and not allow late entries. Last year severus was not allowed to enter when his post was one minute late.

:smack: I hadda run into a Doper with integrity! INTEGRITY!! :smack:

Of course, you're right, I totally zoned on posting my picks this time. Considering only one of my picks shook hands with St. Peter in '07 (poor Tammy Faye) it's probably for the best. Oh well, being a spectator to the moral quandry that is the DP is almost as much fun as being in it.

[carnivorousplant]

I hadda run into a Doper with integrity! INTEGRITY!!

I used to know a girl named Integrity...

[Johnny L.A.]

Anybody have Salvatore 'Bill' Bonanno (son of Mafia boss Joe Bonanno) or Peter Caffrey (Irish actor)?

[Rachm Qoch]

ITYM four - Winner, Opening Kick-off, Robbing the Cradle, and Inside Track.

I guess the rest of us are just batting for the last one to die in 2008.

Jeez, I'm all but declaring the contest a clean sweep only one day in.
Cheer up -- there's always next year.

[Fear Itself]

Cheer up -- there's always next year.I've already started my new list; how about you?

[Boyo Jim]

I've already started my new list; how about you?

Is Rachm Qoch on it? :p

[Shirley Ujest]

George MacDonald Fraser (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7169047.stm) has put the DP Game into play.

[Annie-Xmas]

I heard that the Kennedy Family yes, all of them died in a brutal shoot out at their Compound/trailer park.

When it happens, I will do my Happy Dance. And how sick is that?

[carnivorousplant]

When it happens, I will do my Happy Dance. And how sick is that?
Pretty sick, given JFK and Bobby. :(

[BJMoose]

George MacDonald Fraser (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7169047.stm) has put the DP Game into play.
Didn't catch up on the tread before you posted, eh? Rachm's already won the damned thing. . . .

[Captain Lance Murdoch]

Sounds like he died in 2007 but was only declared dead in 2008...

Hey, I only took the job in the hope it would give me enough power to invalidate some of Rachm Qoch's picks.

Steve Fossett has not yet been declared dead. If the boxer counts then would Fossett also have been a valid pick? We know he's dead, but the declaration will probably come some time this year.

[Hostile Dialect]

Cheer up -- there's always next year.

Wins the Internet.

[N9IWP]

I'm sure no one had him, and is pretty borderline "celebrity" but former Wisconsin Govenor Lee Dreyfus died Jan 2. He was 81
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/01/03/newsupdate/06dreyfus.txt
He's often associated with waering a red vest.
He's also the only politician I can positivle say I have washed his dishes he ate a restaurant where I worked.

Brian

[Rilchiam]

Britney is about to be Baker Acted, looks like. (http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/04/spears/index.html) Don't know if this increases or decreases her chances of surviving 2008.

[Shirley Ujest]

Didn't catch up on the tread before you posted, eh? Rachm's already won the damned thing. . . .


{shakes fist} CURSES!


On the positive front, for the rest of us Bridesmaids of the Dead Pool, Britney looks like she's going to make 2008 really interesting.



Meanwhile, back on the farm, Ariel Sharon still putzes along.

[yellowval]

When we saw the news this morning about Britney being hospitalized, my husband's reaction was, "I hope you have her on your death pool list." I love him so much.

[Little Nemo]

he ate a restaurant where I workedNo wonder he's dead.

[Duckster]

I'm sure no one had him, and is pretty borderline "celebrity" but former Wisconsin Govenor Lee Dreyfus died Jan 2. He was 81
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/01/03/newsupdate/06dreyfus.txt
He's often associated with waering a red vest.
He's also the only politician I can positivle say I have washed his dishes he ate a restaurant where I worked.

Brian

He was the Wisconsin Bee Poop Governor.

[8675309]

The inevitable happens as Rachm Qoch gets his first points with the death of Korean boxer Yo-Sam Choi, age 35 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yo-Sam_Choi)

Is he on Rachm's list?

[amarone]

Is he on Rachm's list?Yup.

[amarone]

More fun with spreadsheets. The people with the most unique lists are as follows. The number represents the total number of times their candidates were picked, including their own pick. Hence the minimum possible 'score' is 13:

Name Picks

Sir Dirx 15
Key Lime Guy 15
Mullinator 17
Fear Itself 20
JohnnieEnigma 21
zoog 22
Intelligently Designed 24
Annie-Xmas 29
Yllaria 32
Spiff 33
percussion 33
anyrose 36
BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed 36
Dinah Steeler 37
wolf_meister 41
MadTheSwine 41
vraskin 43
DfrntBreign 47
Justin Credible 51
Fiveroptic 55
MsWhatsit 56
mobo85 56
Mahaloth 58
PsychoNoddy 61
BobLibDem 63
Tikki 63
Shoshana 67
BJMoose 73
Sublight 73
Dung Beetle 73
Kilvert's Pagan 74
Tuckerfan 78
Ellef 79
Loach 79
Kat 82
Captain Lance Murdoch 84
Diomedes 85
Rilchiam 89
Rachm Qoch 96
Qwisp 97
Lok 98
GuanoLad 99
Rico 100
snowblindfrog 101
OneCentStamp 105
vivalostwages 105
Mikeargo 105
Christopher 105
Ferd Burfel 106
WF Tomba 110

[amarone]

And here are the people with the most unique picks:

Annie-Xmas 12
Sir Dirx 12
percussion 11
Key Lime Guy 11
Mullinator 11
JohnnieEnigma 10
Spiff 10
twickster 8
MsWhatsit 8
Kilvert's Pagan 8
Ellef 8
Fear Itself 8
Intelligently Designed 7
Mahaloth 7
Yllaria 7
Sine Nomine 7
GuanoLad 7
zoog 7
BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed 7
vraskin 7
racer72 6
SpoilerVirgin/psychobunny 6
carnivorousplant 6
Sublight 6
anyrose 6
Rico 6
vivalostwages 6
Dinah Steeler 5
labtrash 5
OneCentStamp 5
katie1341 5
HeyHomie 5
Cazzle 5
Borborygmi 5
drm 5
Hal Briston 5
mobo85 5
BobLibDem 5
Tuckerfan 5

[anyrose]

Thank you for those list, amarone.

[twickster]

Yes, thanks! (Though it took me a minute to figure out how I could be so high on the second list and yet appear not at all on the first.)

[8675309]

Yup.

Of course he is. (sigh)

I say next year we all pool our money together and buy life insurance policies for those poor (soon to be) departed souls on Rachm's list.

[Annie-Xmas]

And here are the people with the most unique picks:

Annie-Xmas 12


It's nice to be at the top of one Death Pool list

[Loach]

Damn I thought I would have a few more unique picks. At least I have a lot of unpopular picks. I could shoot right up to the top in no time.

[BJMoose]

Waddaya know?! I finally beat Rachm Qoch at something! On average, the folks on my list were each picked 5.615 times; the folks on his 7.385 times. I might win yet!


Gee, guys, is that white jacket for me? Aw, shucks, you didn't have to. I dunno: those sleeves look alfully long.

[Santos L Halper]

Johnny Grant, the "honorary mayor of Hollywood" has died (http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0964296520080110) at the age of 84. Grant was perhaps best known for introducing celebrities when they got their stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

[Duckster]

AP is reporting Sir Edmund Hillary has died.

[Cunctator]

AP is reporting Sir Edmund Hillary has died.As is the NZ Herald (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/)

[Tristan]

And NPR.

[Only Mostly Dead]

Hillary was my oldest pick, but he was my pick all the same!

[amarone]

Hillary was my oldest pick, but he was my pick all the same! You and Dinah Steeler. Welcome to 2nd place.

[carnivorousplant]

Hillary was my oldest pick, but he was my pick all the same!
Congratulations.

I hate you.










:)

[Dinah Steeler]

Wow, just 10 days into the new year and I'm already on the board. Not too bad for my first time playing.

[Intelligently Designed]

Former U.S. figure skating champion Christopher Bowman (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/more/01/11/obit.bowman.ap/index.html?cnn=yes) has died of a possible drug overdose at 40.

[Shirley Ujest]

Congratulations.

I hate you.










:)

Jealousy is the highest form of flattery in the Dead Pool World.

I hate you, too. :)

[carnivorousplant]

I hate you, too. :)

Me or him?

[Annie-Xmas]

SHIT! Come into the Death Pool and see a post about Hilary dying! :eek:

[twickster]

Former U.S. figure skating champion Christopher Bowman (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/more/01/11/obit.bowman.ap/index.html?cnn=yes) has died of a possible drug overdose at 40.
Very sad news. He was an immensely talented athlete.

[Shirley Ujest]

Me or him?

Anyone who has scored this year with dead pool on someone I don't have, I catagorically despise. It's nothing personal. It's Dead Pool. :) Politics, sports, religion, I could care less. Dead People watching is good clean wacked out fun!



Speaking of hating, has the Gold Plated Diamond Encrusted Belt Buckle for the Championship been awarded? Oh, wait, Rahm can just give it too himself. Not that I'm bitter about his list actually working at near 100% capacity.

Has there been an official tally for 2007, so that I can at least rest on my one dead person laurels in smug satisfaction?

[Loach]

This is really going to shake up the presidential race.

[Grits and Hard Toast]

Congratulations.

I hate you.
:)

Every year I try to tell myself I won't be jealous when someone dies and I didn't pick them, but someone else did. I should instead rejoice with them, share in their happiness of one of their picks dying. I need to be confident that with patience, I too will get to have that special thrill of hearing on the radio, or watching a news report, or reading online of a celebrity death that will mean something special to me. One that will make me smile everytime it is mentioned. One that will encourage me and remind me any day could be my lucky day.

January is not even halfway over, so I need to remember there is still plenty of time for my guys and gals to die. Those of you who have been able to experience your first deaths already....well congratulations! For most of us, they are few and far between, so you should enjoy them when they happen, you don't know how long it might be until your next one. And for now I will just have to live vicariously through you, knowing my day will come.

( only in the safety of the Celebrity Death Pool thread can one express such feelings, knowing others can relate.....I am so going to hell.....)

[anyrose]

<great big snip>.....I am so going to hell.....)
you'll be in such good company

"Hell Dopefest, three weeks from Thursday - Who's going?"

[carnivorousplant]

I should instead rejoice with them, share in their happiness of one of their picks dying.


this thing may be getting out of hand...

[Clothahump]

No... no it won't :smack:

Deadline has come and gone. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news!

Note to self - read the friggin' rules.....

[Fear Itself]

Carl Karcher, Founder of Carl's Jr. Hamburger Chain, Dies at 90 (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=af6LlFeydVBc&refer=muse)

[anyrose]

Vampira is dead (http://laist.com/2008/01/11/vampira_goes_to.php), with no hope of rising.

[Morgyn]

Vampira is dead (http://laist.com/2008/01/11/vampira_goes_to.php), with no hope of rising.Hey! There's a link to an obituary for her written by our very own Eve!

[carnivorousplant]

Jesus, anyrose, don't scare me like that. I thought you meant Elvira. (http://www.elvira.com/)

[Shirley Ujest]

Hey! There's a link to an obituary for her written by our very own Eve!

I want to write obits.



Anywhoo, the pic for VAmpira sans makeup is great. She is a handsome woman and she is holding in her hand a rat and a cigerette. I guess smoking will kill her at a young age, huh.

[carnivorousplant]

she is holding in her hand a rat and a cigerette. I guess smoking will kill her at a young age, huh.

Perhaps rodents are an antidote to carcinogens.

[Hostile Dialect]

Are you kidding? Have you ever tried to smoke rat fur? Yeccch!

[carnivorousplant]

Are you kidding? Have you ever tried to smoke rat fur? Yeccch!
Ah, but they have no hair on their tail. Indeed, one of the definitions of rat is that the tail is hairless. I had a teacher in Middle School who...but I digress and hijack the thread. Perhaps she did something with rat tails.

[8675309]

I had Brad Renfro as an alternate!!! 75 points!

[anyrose]

I had Brad Renfro as an alternate!!! 75 points!
you don't get any points for your alternates. Those are in case one of you prime 13 kick it before the official kick off at 00:00:01 CST January 1st (any given year)

[carnivorousplant]

you don't get any points for your alternates. Those are in case one of you prime 13 kick it before the official kick off at 00:00:01 CST January 1st (any given year)
Look on the positive side.
Think of the many of us who do not hate you.
:)

[Grits and Hard Toast]

you don't get any points for your alternates. Those are in case one of you prime 13 kick it before the official kick off at 00:00:01 CST January 1st (any given year)


Instead of getting points, you now get to beat yourself up over not using him as a main pick instead of an alternate. You get the knowledge that if you had just moved him up, and someone else down (someone you used who probably won't kick off anyway, and surely not worth so many points) then you could be celebrating a likely unique, many pointed, pick.

But now you will haunted by the old cliche of "Close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades."

Life ( and death) can sometimes be so unfair.......

[8675309]

you don't get any points for your alternates. Those are in case one of you prime 13 kick it before the official kick off at 00:00:01 CST January 1st (any given year)

I should have been clearer. I realized I didn't get any points, I was mad for not moving him up on my real list.


I am so going to hell....

[BJMoose]

Perhaps rodents are an antidote to carcinogens.
Oh? Then explain all those lab mice that get cancer.

[carnivorousplant]

Oh? Then explain all those lab mice that get cancer.
Homeopathy?

[Shirley Ujest]

Brad Renfro (http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2008-01-15-brad-renfro-obit_N.htm?csp=34) smokes rats?

[NurseCarmen]

meh. I used to smoke roaches. Why not rats?

[wolf_meister]

Cancer researcher Dr Judah Folkman (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judah_Folkman) has died.

[MsWhatsit]

Ike Turner has died of a cocaine overdose. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22688659/)

[twickster]

Ike Turner has died of a cocaine overdose. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22688659/)
That was last month. Old news!

[MsWhatsit]

Durr! Should have checked the date, I guess. My apologies, carry on please.

[VunderBob]

Durr! Should have checked the date, I guess. My apologies, carry on please.Still relevant, because that item was just released by the coroner.

I'm shocked! shocked! by the revelation. :rolleyes:

[BJMoose]

Go figure. I make a joke about cancer and a cancer researcher dies.





Hmmm. Mebbe I should make jokes about the folks on my list. . . .

[twickster]

Hmmm. Mebbe I should make jokes about the folks on my list. . . .
So, Mitzi Gaynor, Ron Popeil, and William Safire walked into a bar...

[Hostile Dialect]

And the bartender says to Safire, "Is your participle dangling or are you just happy to see me?"

[VunderBob]

So, Mitzi Gaynor, Ron Popeil, and William Safire walked into a bar...
... and they all suffered skull fractures.

[Hostile Dialect]

And the bartender says to Safire, "Is your participle dangling or are you just happy to see me?"

And then Safire said to Gaynor, "Is this some kind of joke, or are bartenders incapable of writing with their tenses in agreement?" :smack:

[anyrose]

And then Safire said to Gaynor, "Is this some kind of joke, or are bartenders incapable of writing with their tenses in agreement?" :smack:
Mitzi said nothing in reply, instead performed an interpretive dance of her opinion on the matter.

[Borborygmi]

Ron Popeil, upon noticing Mitzi's fracture, suggested she set it and forget it.

[Fear Itself]

Creator of the Hula Hoop loses his shoop-shoop. (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iMzCkToli-nkBd0KtF1C40ZzVtBQD8U7IU2O1)

[Little Nemo]

Ike Turner has died of a cocaine overdose.That was last month. Old news!Yes, but he's finally stopped twitching.

[Fear Itself]

Chess master Bobby Fischer, check and mate. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080118/ap_on_re_eu/obit_fischer_5)

[Annie-Xmas]

Chess master Bobby Fischer, check and mate. (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080118/ap_on_re_eu/obit_fischer_5)

Died at age 64, which is the number of squares on a chessboard

*cue Twlight Zone music*

[Duckster]

TMZ has learned Rams owner Georgia Frontiere has died in L.A. (http://www.tmz.com)

[Shirley Ujest]

Christian Brando (http://www.tmz.com/2008/01/18/christian-brando-in-icu/) is in ICU.

[Boyo Jim]

Christian Brando (http://www.tmz.com/2008/01/18/christian-brando-in-icu/) is in ICU. He looks vaguely like Nicholas Cage. He can't possibly be as untalented, though.

[Shirley Ujest]

He looks vaguely like Nicholas Cage. He can't possibly be as untalented, though.

I just came from National Treasure, and while I enjoyed it, felt that Nicolas is starting too look a little botox-y.

Can someone die from a botox overdose?

[Hostile Dialect]

I just came from National Treasure, and while I enjoyed it, felt that Nicolas is starting too look a little botox-y.

Can someone die from a botox overdose?

Since botox is the toxin that causes botulism, I would wager that's a definite "yes".

[Boyo Jim]

I just came from National Treasure, and while I enjoyed it, felt that Nicolas is starting too look a little botox-y.

Can someone die from a botox overdose?

If we find out the answer to this is yes, it will entirely change the nature of my 2009 list.

[Intelligently Designed]

Canadian sportscaster Don Wittman (http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2008/01/19/wittman-obit.html) has passed away. I seem to recall someone had picked him.

[MsWhatsit]

Canadian sportscaster Don Wittman (http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2008/01/19/wittman-obit.html) has passed away. I seem to recall someone had picked him.

amarone, qwest, and (sigh) Rachm Qoch.

[Johnny L.A.]

Has Allan 'Sam the Butcher' Melvin (http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iByHXwAa4tqJ_f6irPzWUv9_MRnA)'s passing been noted yet?
LOS ANGELES - Allan Melvin, a character actor with countless credits best known for playing Sam the Butcher on "The Brady Bunch," has died. He was 84.

[amarone]

Has Allan 'Sam the Butcher' Melvin (http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iByHXwAa4tqJ_f6irPzWUv9_MRnA)'s passing been noted yet?A unique pick for racer72.

[amarone]

TMZ has learned Rams owner Georgia Frontiere has died in L.A. (http://www.tmz.com) 20 points for kunilou and 5 time champ.

[Eleanor of Aquitaine]

Has Allan 'Sam the Butcher' Melvin (http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5iByHXwAa4tqJ_f6irPzWUv9_MRnA)'s passing been noted yet?Ok, that's weird. I just posted something about him yesterday in Cafe Society, about his multiple appearances on The Andy Griffith Show.

[Randy Seltzer]

Oh no! The tenth most popular pick has died and I didn't have her! 30 points down the drain!

Suzanne Pleshette (http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8022879?nclick_check=1)

[Shirley Ujest]

Oh no! The tenth most popular pick has died and I didn't have her! 30 points down the drain!

Suzanne Pleshette (http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8022879?nclick_check=1)


I had her in 2006, I beleive. BAH.

[SpazCat]

Non-registration link for Suzanne Pleshette (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hR-orOZKA0H0lJUYeJLS4nenaFwQD8U9G31O0)

[amarone]

Oh no! The tenth most popular pick has died and I didn't have her! Amazingly, neither did Rachm Qoch. He's still winning, though.

[Lsura]

Oh no! The tenth most popular pick has died and I didn't have her! 30 points down the drain!

Suzanne Pleshette (http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8022879?nclick_check=1)


She was a completely random pick for me, and I can't believe it's worked out so early. I admit, I squeed when I saw this on Fark this morning. But there's still 11+ more months in the year for me to fail on the rest of my picks. :)

[racer72]

A unique pick for racer72.

Woo Hoo!!!. Finally on the board after being shut out the last year I played.

[VunderBob]

Oh no! The tenth most popular pick has died and I didn't have her! 30 points down the drain!

Suzanne Pleshette (http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_8022879?nclick_check=1)
I'm on the board for this year, along with about half the other players...

[Hostile Dialect]

Oh no! The tenth most popular pick has died and I didn't have her! 30 points down the drain!

YES! My cherry is broken after 20 days!

[8675309]

Amazingly, neither did Rachm Qoch. He's still winning, though.

Big surprise, eh? How many points has he racked up already this year?

[Intelligently Designed]

Louis de Cazenave (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080120/ap_on_re_eu/france_obit_de_cazenave;_ylt=At3jwkEp4ymgNj9uWRdkOUtEhMgF), one of only two remaining French soldiers from World War I, has died at 110.

[amarone]

Big surprise, eh? How many points has he racked up already this year? Early standings:

Rachm Qoch 94
amarone 59
kunilou 50
lots of people 30

[Wile E]

John Stewart (http://www.cmt.com/news/articles/1579972/20080120/murray_anne.jhtml) of the Kingston Trio, songwriter of "Daydream Believer" has died.

[kunilou]

Early standings:

Rachm Qoch 94
amarone 59
kunilou 50
lots of people 30

Based on my usual skill with competitions like this, 50 is probably what I'll wind up with on Dec. 31.

[Carm6773]

Amy Winehouse seems to be racing toward The Great Beyond.

Linky Poo. (http://news.aol.com/entertainment/music/music-news-story/ar/_a/no-rehab-after-winehouse-crack-video/20080122070909990001)

[Boyo Jim]

Amy Winehouse seems to be racing toward The Great Beyond.

Linky Poo. (http://news.aol.com/entertainment/music/music-news-story/ar/_a/no-rehab-after-winehouse-crack-video/20080122070909990001)

::track announcer::
It's Britney and Amy, neck and neck as they round the final turn! Amy is only a puff of smoke ahead as they approach the wire, but Britney is melting fast! It's gonna be a photo finish! ::track announcer::

My money is on Britney.

[MsWhatsit]

TMZ is reporting that Heath Ledger has died. (http://www.tmz.com/2008/01/22/heath-ledger-is-dead/)

[Idle Thoughts]

Reports that Heath Ledger is dead.

[Wile E]

Reports that Heath Ledger is dead.

The hell?!

[8675309]

Was Heath on anyone's list?

[Duckster]

Reports that Heath Ledger is dead.

CNN Breaking News. Nothing more to add right now.

[Loach]

Not shocking like Heath Ledger but the amazingly prolific mystery writer Edward Hoch (http://www.sfwa.org/news/2008/ehoch.htm) is dead at 77.

[EmAnJ]

Who had Heath Ledger? Anyone?

[cbawlmer]

We lose Heath Ledger but Britney Spears is still running loose? Come on, universe, cut us a break here.

[MsWhatsit]

Was Heath on anyone's list?


No. (A quick way to check is to use the "search this thread" feature to search on the celebrity's last name.)

[amarone]

Who had Heath Ledger? Anyone?No. Nor Edward Hoch.

[Only Mostly Dead]

I think it's a sign I'm a jaded bastard when my first thought is "good thing primary filming is done on The Dark Knight."

And my second thought is "and Heath Ledger has such heavy makeup that a stand-in is reasonable for any post production filming."

[carnivorousplant]

Fred Thompson drops out (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/us/politics/23thompson.html?em&ex=1201150800&en=54f1031dc2ec5875&ei=5087%0A) of the Republican primary.

Maybe he's sick! :)

[Shirley Ujest]

We lose Heath Ledger but Britney Spears is still running loose? Come on, universe, cut us a break here.


Britney could be the Keith Richards of our generation. With less talent.

[Boyo Jim]

We lose Heath Ledger but Britney Spears is still running loose? Come on, universe, cut us a break here.

I'm not certain she's running around. She might be strapped down.

[Loach]

This is where I go for all things dead so I thought I'd ask you guys about this. Yesterday there was a headline on the front page of AOL stating that Richard Kline died (best known probably as Larry from Three's Company but he has done a ton of other stuff). It was up for a little bit then disappeared. I have not seen anything else about it. Nothing I can find is reporting the death. I know I didn't hallucinate, my wife saw it too. So, did anyone else see it? Was it a screwup that they covered well enough that I was the only one to see it? Is he in fact dead or in some state of undead?

[Eliahna]

Yesterday there was a headline on the front page of AOL stating that Richard Kline died He was looking pretty good on Thursday (http://www.tmz.com/2008/01/18/hello-larry/). I can't find anything to suggest he's dead. WAG: Someone screwed up at AOL. Shocking, I know, but there had to be a first time.

[Johnny L.A.]

Lois Nettleton has died.

Slim Whitman hasn't.

[Boyo Jim]

::track announcer::
It's Britney and Amy, neck and neck as they round the final turn! Amy is only a puff of smoke ahead as they approach the wire, but Britney is melting fast! It's gonna be a photo finish! ::track announcer::

My money is on Britney.

And racing in from the rear (no pun intended), it's Heath by a nose!

FYI, the person who discovered his body (http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/police-provide-new-details-on-ledger-death/index.html?ex=1358830800&en=711f27a73b18bcf3&ei=5089&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss) called Mary Kate Olson, twice, before calling 911. If only she called Ashley, Heath might still be alive. :smack:

[Morgyn]

FYI, the person who discovered his body (http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/police-provide-new-details-on-ledger-death/index.html?ex=1358830800&en=711f27a73b18bcf3&ei=5089&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss) called Mary Kate Olson, twice, before calling 911. If only she called Ashley, Heath might still be alive. :smack:
FWIW, I heard on a news report this morning that the woman knew that one of Mary Kate's bodyguards is a certified EMT, and was trying to reach him.

[VunderBob]

And racing in from the rear (no pun intended), it's Heath by a nose!

FYI, the person who discovered his body (http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/police-provide-new-details-on-ledger-death/index.html?ex=1358830800&en=711f27a73b18bcf3&ei=5089&partner=rssyahoo&emc=rss) called Mary Kate Olson, twice, before calling 911. If only she called Ashley, Heath might still be alive. :smack:
Not a chance. He was cold when he was found, and the 2 calls would not have mattered. I've done CPR on a cold one myself, so I speak from experience.

[Annie-Xmas]

Britney could be the Keith Richards of our generation. With less talent.

I'd give that title to Whitney Houston. She does have talent.

[Shirley Ujest]

I'd give that title to Whitney Houston. She does have talent.


Good call. Amy Winehouse might be in the Keith Richards Living Zombie catagory one day.

But, it is too early to call.

[wolf_meister]

John Stewart died. (No not the one from the Daily Show who may be hosting the Oscars and who spells his name Jon.)

This John Stewart was a member (but not an original member) of the Kingston Trio way back in the 1960's. He then started a solo career probably best known for his album "California Bloodlines". Perhaps his biggest solo hit was 1979's "Gold". (There's people out there turning music into gold) Remember?

[Duckster]

Fred Thompson drops out (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/us/politics/23thompson.html?em&ex=1201150800&en=54f1031dc2ec5875&ei=5087%0A) of the Republican primary.

Maybe he's sick! :) News reports said he dropped out because of the stress and he was tired all the time.

This was later confirmed by a flight attendant on his last flight. Thompson was told, "I'm sorry Mr Thompson but you're going to have to check those bags under your eyes. We don't seem to have enough room for them in the overhead bin or under your seat."

I'm not Fred Thompson and I didn't pay for this ad. Now back to the Celebrity Death Pool 2008.

[Lamar Mundane]

I'd give that title to Whitney Houston. She does have talent.

Off topic, but Brittany Spears and Whitney Houston could go out together if the Univ. of Colorado Women's Basketball team got in a plane crash (or a dorm room incident since they are roommates.)

CU Women's Basketball Roster (http://www.cubuffs.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=600&KEY=&SPID=258&SPSID=3912)

[Sternvogel]

Lois Nettleton has died.

Here's an obituary. (http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-nettleton23jan23,1,1848046.story)

wolf_meister: John Stewart's death was reported in a Wile E post of January 20. Gold appeared on the memorably-titled album Bombs Away Dream Babies, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombs_Away_Dream_Babies) which was followed by the less-inspired Dream Babies Go Hollywood.

[Tuckerfan]

Christian Brando has died. (http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-brando27jan27,0,655300.story)