2024

In Memoriam 2024

Another year flies by and far too many beloved celebrities passed away. Here are a few for us to remember: 

January

  • Derek Draper: The author and former political adviser, died aged 56 from extreme complications from Covid since contracting the disease in March 2020. Probably most famous for being TV presenter Kate Garroway’s husband. 
  • David Soul: Soul is best known for his role as one half of the ’70’s buddy cop duo “Starsky & Hutch.” Soul would later reprise his role alongside partner Paul Michael Glaser in the 2004 big-screen remake starring Owen Wilson as Hutch and Ben Stiller as Starsky. Outside of acting, Soul was also a chart-topping singer who reached #1 on the Billboard charts with “Don’t Give Up on Us” and “Silver Lady.” He was 80.
  • Glynis Johns: British actress Glynis Johns has appeared in over 60 films in a career spanning eight decades. Her most notable role came as Mrs. Banks opposite Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke in “Mary Poppins.” Her TV roles included appearances on “Cheers,” “Murder She Wrote” and “The Love Boat.” Johns died at her home of natural causes. She was 100.
  • Franz Beckenbauer: German and World Cup football legend Franz Beckenbauer was widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. A talented defender, he won an array of trophies and honours across his glittering career, including a World Cup with West Germany as both a player and a manager, and two Ballon d’Or awards. He died aged 78.
  • Annie Nightingale: Nightingale was Radio 1s first female DJ. She first appeared as a panelist on the BBC’s Jukebox Jury before joining the station as a mainstay seven years later. She was awarded an MBE in 2002, a CBE in 2020. 

February

  • Carl Weathers: After playing for the Oakland Raiders for two seasons, Carl Weathers retired from pro football in 1974 to pursue acting. His breakout role came in 1976, when he played Apollo Creed in the movie “Rocky.” He would reprise that role in three “Rocky” sequels. He also starred in the movie “Predator”and the hit streaming series “The Mandalorian.” He died at the age of 76.
  • Jonnie Irwin: The presenter of A Place In The Sun and Escape To The Country died on 2nd February, aged 50. He announced that he had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2020.
  • Ian Lavender: Lavender was the last surviving member of the main cast of the BBC sitcom Dad’s Army, which ran from 1968 to 1977, playing “stupid boy” Private Pike. He also appeared in EastEnders, Yes Minister and the 1970s TV version of The Glums and the film Carry On Behind. He died on 2nd February 2024, aged 77.
  • Steve Wright: He hosted shows for the BBC for over 40 years and hosted his popular show Steve Wright in the Afternoon from 1981-2022. He died at the age of 69 and the BBC’s director of music was among those paying tribute, saying: “He loved radio, and he loved the BBC, but most of all… he loved his audience.”
  • Robin Windsor: The Ipswich-born Latin and ballroom dancer and Strictly Come Dancing professional died on 19th February 2024, aged 44.
  • John Savident: Savident arrived on the famous cobbles in 1994 and was quickly established as a fan favourite, known for playing the booming-voiced butcher Fred Elliott. Fred’s disastrous love life, including three marriages and several failed proposals, provided many of the character’s most memorable storylines on the soap. He also had a secret son, Ashley, played by Steven Arnold, and the two later developed a close bond as they worked as butchers together. He died aged 86. 

March

  • Dave Myers: Myers met his on-screen cooking partner Si King on the set of an ITV drama back in 1995. The pair then starred together on TV in 2004, on The Hairy Bikers’ Cookbook in 2004. Over almost 30 years, the two became British TV cooking favourites and published more than 25 books.
  • Tony Green: The popular darts commentator became known to a wider audience by co-hosting the TV quiz show Bullseye with the late Jim Bowen. He died on 4th March 2024, aged 85.
  • Louis Gossett Jr.: Gossett Jr. is best known for his role in the 1982 film, “An Officer and a Gentleman,” a role that earned him a Golden Globe and a best supporting actor Oscar. He was the first African American actor to win in the category. He was 87.

April

  • Peter Higgs: Nobel Prize-winning physicist Professor Peter Higgs died this year, age 94. His pioneering theory led to the discovery of the Higgs boson particle. This particle, also known as the “God particle”, explains why matter has mass and holds the universe together.
  • O. J. Simpson: The former American football great who was accused of and ultimately acquitted of the brutal 1994 slayings of his ex-wife and her friend. He had a second career as an actor, appearing in the Naked Gun series, The Towering Inferno, Capricorn One and many other movies and TV shows. He was 76. 
  • Terry Carter: 

May

  • Bernard Hill: Hill, famed for his role as King Theoden in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy and Captain Edward Smith in the 1997 Oscar-winning film Titanic, died earlier this year at age 79. He also featured as Yosser Hughes in the iconic drama series Boys From The Blackstuff.
  • Dabney Coleman: Perhaps best known for his role as the boss in the movie “9 to 5,” Dabney Coleman also had supporting roles in the hit movies “Tootsie” and “You’ve Got Mail.” He appeared in TV shows such as “The Fugitive,” “Bonanza,” and, more recently, “Broadway Empire,” for which he won two Screen Actors Guild Awards. He was 92. 
  • David Wilkie: The Scottish athlete was the only person to have held British, Commonwealth, European, World and Olympic swimming titles simultaneously. He died on 22nd May 2024, aged 70.
  • Morgan Spurlock: The American documentary maker, who was best known for his 2004 fast food film Super Size Me, died on 23rd May 2024, aged 53.

June

  • Rob Burrow: Former Rugby League player, campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of motor neurone disease (MND) following his own diagnosis of the illness. He played for Leeds Rhinos throughout his entire league career, and played internationally for England and Great Britain. He was celebrated for his bravery in living with his illness and was awarded a CBE in the New Year Honours List before dying at age 41.
  • Michael Mosley: TV Doctor Michael Mosley died earlier this year age 67 after going missing on holiday on the Greek island of Symi. Michael was known for his commitment to medical journalism and for the documentary Infested! Living With Parasites on BBC Four, he lived with tapeworms in his gut for six weeks. 
  • Jeannette Charles: The Queen’s most famous lookalike, who enjoyed a long career in film and television thanks to their uncanny resemblance. Alongside chat shows, corporate events, fete openings and other appearances, she appeared in Motörhead’s music video promoting their version of the Sex Pistols song God Save the Queen in 2000. She died at the age of 96. 
  • Donald Sutherland: Sutherland’s big break came when he starred in the 1970 movie comedy “M*A*S*H.” Other films included the 1978 remake of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers” and the Oscar-winning 1980 drama “Ordinary People.” He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011 and an Honorary Academy Award in 2017. More recently, he appeared in “The Hunger Games” film series. Sutherland died at the age of 88.

July

  • Shelley Duvall: Was an actress best known for her performance in The Shining alongside Jack Nicholson. She also starred in Popeye with Robin Williams, and Jane Campion’s Portrait of a Lady. Duvall was a regular figure of director Robert Altman, having appeared in seven of the director’s films, she was 75. 
  • Ruth Westheimer: Known as Dr. Ruth, was hired for a weekly 15-minute radio show called “Sexually Speaking,” in 1980. The show became so successful that it was expanded to an hour and became the most popular radio show in NY by 1983. That same year, her book, “Dr. Ruth’s Guide to Good Sex,” was published. She went on to publish more than 40 books. She died aged 96.
  • Shannen Doherty: Actress Shannen Doherty, best-known for her roles on TV’s “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Charmed” series and movies like “Heathers,” “Mallrats,” and “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.” Doherty lost her battle with cancer at the age of 53.
  • Richard Simmons: Simmons was a fitness personality who, after going through his own weight-loss journey, wanted to motivate others. He opened a gym in Los Angeles in 1974 and released popular workout videos, such as “Sweatin’ To The Oldies.” He appeared on the soap opera “General Hospital,” and starred in his own TV series, “The Richard Simmons Show”. He died at the age of 76.
  • Ray Reardon: The Welsh six-time World Snooker Championship winner died on 19th July 2024, aged 91. 

August

  • John Anderson: “Contenders, ready! Gladiators, ready!” For those who grew up in the 1990s, Anderson’s was one of the most familiar voices of Saturday night TV. He was best known as the umpire in the original ITV series of Gladiators, which aired between 1992 and 2000, and the revamped Sky series in 2008. But the Scottish sports coach also trained more than 100 Olympians and was inducted into the Coaching Hall of Fame in 2002. He died at the age of 92
  • Graham Thorpe: The Surrey cricketer, who represented England in 100 Test matches and 82 One Day Internationals sadly took his own life on 4th August 2024. He was 55.
  • Gena Rowlands: Actress Gena Rowlands made her TV debut in 1954. After years of working in television, she started making movies, most notably, “Woman Under The Influence“, and “Gloria”. More recently, she appeared in the 2004 hit movie “The Notebook” as well as TV shows such as “Monk” and “NCIS.” She died aged 96.
  • Alain Delon: The French actor and star of films such as The Leopard, The Yellow Rolls Royce and Girl On A Motorcycle died on 18th August 2024, aged 88. 
  • Phil Donahue: Famed TV talk show host Phil Donahue was known for “The Phil Donahue Show,” which aired for nearly 30 years. He died aged 88. 
  • Dewi “Pws” Morris: Best known for his leading role in the 1978 rugby comedy film Grand Slam, Morris died in August, aged 76.

September

  • Sven-Göran Eriksson: The football manager was the England team’s first foreign manager and he coached football icons such as David Beckham, Steven Gerrard, Wayne Rooney and Frank Lampard back in 2001. During his tenure, the England team beat Germany 5-1 in 2001, reached the quarter-finals in 2004 and again for the World Cup in 2006. He died of cancer aged 76.
  • James Earl Jones: Jones’s signature deep, rumbling voice gave life to iconic movie characters, such as Darth Vader in Star Wars and Mufasa in both the 1994 and 2019 versions of Disney’s The Lion King. He also starred in classics such as Conan the Barbarian, Coming to America and The Hunt for Red October. He also achieved EGOT status, winning Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards. He died at age 93 surrounded by family and Mark Hamill, who played his son Luke Skywalker, paid tribute to the actor saying: “RIP dad.”
  • Clive Everton: Was known to millions worldwide as the calm, authoritative voice of televised snooker, but of even greater importance was his work as a campaigning journalist for better governance of the game. He died aged 87.
  • Dame Maggie Smith: Maggie Smith performed in theatre, movies and television during her over 60-year career. Having appeared in more than 50 films, Smith is known for her roles in the “Harry Potter” films and “Downton Abbey.” In addition to winning two Academy Awards, Smith earned five BAFTA Awards, four Emmy Awards, three Golden Globes. In 1990, she was appointed a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. She was 89.

October

  • Kris Kristofferson: Kris Kristofferson was more than just a country music icon and formidable actor, he was also a Rhodes scholar, Army veteran and Golden Gloves boxer. However, he’s most known for his roles in “Blade”, “Convoy” and “A Star is Born,” which won him a Golden Globe. He was 88.
  • John Amos: Actor John Amos starred in the hit TV show “Good Times,” that aired from 1974 to 1976, and in the iconic 1977 miniseries “Roots.” His movie credits include  “Coming To America,” and “Die Hard 2.” He died at the age of 84.
  • Alex Salmond: Salmond led the Scottish National Party between 1990 and 2000, befoe serving again from 2004-2014. He was a prominent figure in the Scottish nationalist movement and went on to form his own party. At the time of his death at 69, he had been the leader of the nationalist Alba Party since 2021.
  • Liam Payne: Payne rose to fame as a member of the boy band One Direction. The band released five albums and won numerous awards. Payne died Oct. 16 after falling from his hotel room in Buenos Aires. He was 31. 
  • Geoff Capes: The British Olympic shot putter and strongman died aged 75. Capes set the record for the longest shot put by a British man with a distance of 21.68m in 1980. 

November

  • Janey Godley: The Scottish comedian found viral fame with her dubbed imitations of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon’s COVID-19 news briefings during the pandemic. She also appeared on shows including Have I Got News For You, the Scottish soap opera River City, and crime drama Traces. She died of cancer aged 63. 
  • Quincy Jones: Music legend Quincy Jones died on November 3 at age 91. He was a 28-time Grammy winner, working with Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles and many more. 
  • Tony Todd: The Washington-born actor was best known for the title role in the 1992 horror film Candyman and 1986’s Platoon. He also appeared in the remake of Night of The Living Dead, The Crow, Final Destination and the TV series Star Trek: The Next Generation and Deep Space Nine. He died on 6th November, aged 69.
  • Timothy West: West was a star of stage and screen and was known for his roles in soaps Coronation Street and Eastenders. He was married to Prunella Scales who played Sybil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers. He died peacefully aged 90 “after a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage”. 
  • John Prescott, Baron Prescott: Prescott was the longest-serving deputy prime minister in British history, serving in Neil Kinnock’s shadow cabinet before becoming Tony Blair’s deputy. He was a former trade union activist and ex-merchant seaman, who served as MP for Kingston upon Hull East for 40 years. He died at the age of 86 and former prime minister Tony Blair paid tribute saying John was: “One of the most talented people I ever encountered in politics.”

December

  • Barbara Taylor Bradford: The author of best-selling novels including A Woman of Substance, died at the age of 91. Published in 1979, A Woman of Substance sold 30 million copies and spawned seven sequels and a TV adaptation, which is still the most-watched programme in Channel 4’s history.
  • Terry Griffiths: The Welsh snooker player, who won the world championship in 1979, died from complications from dementia aged 77. In 2007 was made an OBE for his services to the sport.
  • Jimmy Carter: Former President Jimmy Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his work to end conflict and advance human rights. Born to a peanut farmer in Georgia, he faced a daunting era of rising energy costs, inflation, and world crises during his White House years. He died aged 100 and was often called “the best former president in history.” 

1st January 2025 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 29th December 2024

So, some housekeeping before we come to the end of this years competition. I missed that Neil had Alwen Hughes listed as his Woman. As Rolf Harris’ wife she was a good bet, sadly for Neil, she didn’t get a Wiki listing when she died, so nil points I’m afraid! Other than that, I actually kept on top of things this year! 

With only a couple more days to go, I’m still the points leader, at the moment… In the 33 years I have been running The Dead Pool I have never come close to winning and I promise that I didn’t send out the Flying Monkeys after the people I listed! Honest! 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Former US President Bill Clinton has been discharged from the hospital after being treated for the flu, a spokesperson said on Tuesday. “He and his family are deeply grateful for the exceptional care provided by the team at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and are touched by the kind messages and well wishes he received,” Angel Ureña wrote on Twitter. Clinton was admitted to Georgetown University Medical Center on Monday evening for tests and observation after developing a fever. The 78-year-old was last admitted to the hospital for six days in 2021 in California after developing an infection that reached his blood. The 42nd US president, who served in the White House from 1993 to 2001, is also known to have suffered with heart issues in the past. In 2004, aged 58, he had a quadruple bypass surgery after doctors found signs of extensive heart disease and, ten years later, he had a clogged artery opened after complaining of chest pains. He has been active since leaving office, starting what later became known as the Clinton Foundation, which partnered with American Heart Association to form the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. Not long after his second surgery, the ex-president – known for his love of fatty foods – went vegan. He told Politico in 2016, “I might not be around if I hadn’t become a vegan. It’s great.”  

One of the stars of Crocodile Dundee, who appeared alongside Paul Hogan in the 1986 blockbuster, has died at an estimated age of 90, the reptile’s caretakers have confirmed. Burt, the five-metre-long, 700kg saltwater crocodile, died in captivity at Crocosaurus Cove, a crocodile herpetarium and aquarium in Darwin, Australia, where he had been living since 2008. In a statement, the zoo said on Facebook: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Burt, the iconic Saltwater crocodile and star of the Australian classic Crocodile Dundee. Burt passed away peacefully over the weekend, estimated to be over 90 years old, marking the end of an incredible era.” The average saltwater crocodile typically lives for about 70 years but some may live for up to 100 years. The species is the largest reptile on the planet and is capable of eating any animal that strays too close to it. Burt became one of the world’s most famous reptiles thanks to the worldwide success of the Peter Faiman-directed film Crocodile Dundee, which remains the highest-grossing Australian film of all time. Paying tribute to the titular crocodile, the zoo reflected on Burt’s inspiring story and rise to fame, when he was captured in the early 1980s before his big screen debut. “Captured in the 1980s in the Reynolds River, Burt became one of the most recognised crocodiles in the world, appearing in Crocodile Dundee and helping to shape Australia’s image as a land of rugged natural beauty and awe-inspiring wildlife.” The zoo remarked that Burt was a “confirmed bachelor” and was fiercely independent, judging by his lack of enthusiasm to meet a mate on the crocodile farm.  

Homes Under the Hammer star Martin Roberts has revealed he does not know how long he has left to live. The 61-year-old, who has presented the popular BBC property auction series since 2017, has undergone a series of health complications in that period. In 2022, the TV host revealed doctors had told him he had just hours to live after he suffered a pericardial effusion, a condition caused by too much fluid build up around the heart, and was rushed into emergency life-saving surgery. At the time, he had thought the chest pains were the effects of long Covid. Following the operation, Roberts admitted he still has “twinges” in his chest, which cause him to worry. He admitted “I don’t know how much time I’ve got left”, as he went against advice to “slow down”. “The physical side of things took a lot longer than we thought to get around, I still get twinges and every single time I get a twinge in my chest, I panic. As anyone who has had any kind of problems with their heart would attest to it.” He explained that he was only told much later that he “probably had maybe two or three hours to live” when he underwent emergency surgery, according to a consultant. “That was two to three hours from dying and not being here and not seeing the kids anymore and not fulfilling all my ambitions and doing all the things I want to do,” he explained. “So that’s sort of the psychological side of that. It takes a lot longer to get over than the physical side.” However, Roberts said that despite medical advice to slow down, he has taken the opportunity to do more than ever. “I was told I need to slow down and take things easy and all that kind of stuff, and I’ve gone completely the other way,” he said. “I don’t know how much time I’ve got left, so I just want to do as much as I possibly can.” he said. 

On This Day

  • 1913 – Cecil B. DeMille starts filming Hollywood’s first feature film, The Squaw Man.
  • 2006 – The UK settles its Anglo-American loan, post-WWII loan debt.
  • 2013 – Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher suffers a massive head injury while skiing in the French Alps.

Deaths

  • 1170 – Thomas Becket, English archbishop and saint (b. 1118).
  • 1986 – Harold Macmillan, English politician, Prime Minister of the UK (b. 1894).
  • 2003 – Bob Monkhouse, English comedian, actor, and game show host (b. 1928).
  • 2020 – Pierre Cardin, Italian-French fashion designer (b. 1922).
  • 2022 – Pelé, Brazilian footballer (b. 1940).
  • 2022 – Vivienne Westwood, English fashion designer (b. 1941).

Last Week’s Birthdays

Jude Law (52), Ted Danson (77), Jon Voight (86), Danny McBride (48), Lilly Wachowski (57), Denzel Washington (70), Sienna Miller (43), Noomi Rapace (45), Joe Manganiello (48), Timothée Chalamet (29), Olivia Cooke (31), Gérard Depardieu (76), Kit Harington 38), Jared Leto (53), Temuera Morrison (64), Sissy Spacek (75), Annie Lennox (70), Carol Vorderman (64), Finn Wolfhard (22), and Harry Shearer (81).

29th December 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Sgt Pepper 2024

Another year flies by and some well loved celebrities sadly passed away. Below is this years Sgt Pepper from talented artist Chris Barker, go buy him a coffee here. You can click on the image for a larger version. If you can’t figure out who they all are, the key is behind this link.

 

26th December 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 22nd December 2024

Another strange week. I could have sworn Eddie Stobart was already dead, but apparently it was his son Edward Stobart who died a while back. One week to go, get your lists sorted for next year and ask your morbid friends to join in.  

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

A bizarre hunting accident ended in the deaths of both a bear and a father in Virginia. A group of hunters were reportedly tracking a bear in Lunenburg County, between Richmond and Danville, Virginia, on December 9th when the animal ran up into a tree to escape its pursuers. A hunter shot the bear, which fell out of the tree, crushing and killing another member of the party. The man has been identified by the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources as Lester Harvey, 58, of Phenix, Virginia. The bear fell approximately 10 feet and landed on Harvey, who was standing under the tree, according to the Flying Monkeys. A member of the hunting party provided first aid until Harvey could be transported to a nearby hospital, but he ultimately died from his injuries on Friday, according to the wildlife department. According to his obituary, Harvey was a married father of five and had eight grandchildren. He worked as a self-employed contractor and reportedly loved the outdoors. A funeral for Harvey has been scheduled for Thursday.  Josh Harvey, one of his sons, said in a Facebook post that his dad was “injured extremely badly” doing what he loved the most along with his good friends. The post included photos from the hunting trip along with the dead bear and videos from his time in hospital. Despite the odd circumstances leading to Harvey’s death, it’s not unheard of for hunters to die or sustain severe injuries in the chaos of trying to kill a fleeing animal. In Alaska in 2018, a hunter was critically injured after his hunting partner shot a bear that was standing on a ridge. The bear fell down a slope next to the ridge, dislodging rocks that tumbled down and struck the man. A year later, another hunter in North Carolina was injured when his partner shot a bear in a tree. The bear fell out, but wasn’t dead; it defended itself and began attacking the hunter. The man and the bear then tumbled off a cliff together. The hunter was rushed to a nearby hospital, and the bear was later found dead.  

Police looking for a Britain’s Got Talent comic who has been missing since Monday have found a body. Officers looking for missing man Martyn Crofts, who impressed BGT judges Amanda Holden and Alesha Dixon in the show’s sixth series in 2012, issued the update. He made it through to the semi-final stage as his oddball act with a saucepan on his head earned him the nickname ‘The Pan Man’ . In another round he sang a song while impersonating a Dalek from Doctor Who.  Police found a body on the Whinny Gill reservoir in Skipton, North Yorkshire on December 16th. While identification is still ongoing, the family has been informed and are being supported, North Yorkshire said. Following this, tributes have been pouring in for the 55-year-old on social media saying he was was ‘a light in everyone’s life’ who ‘put smiles on our faces while the world was at uncertainty’.  

A girl with a very rare genetic condition which causes rapid bodily aging has died at the age of 19 in South Africa. Influencer Beandri Booysen had been diagnosed with Progeria – also known as Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) – an incredibly rare condition which affects only around one in four million babies in the world and causes children to rapidly age. Babies born with the condition tend to appear healthy at birth, but tend to start showing signs of premature aging within the first two years of life. According to the Cleveland Clinic, Progeria slows a person’s growth rate and hampers their weight gain as well as leading to a number of other symptoms including hair loss, wrinkled skin and a loss of fat underneath the skin. Booysen, from South Africa, had gained a significant following on social media after she and her family shared her journey with thousands of people. However, earlier this month (18th December), her family released a statement on Facebook announcing that she had sadly died. In the group ‘Beandri, Our Inspiration’, which was created by her family 15 years ago, they said: “It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Beandri Booysen, one of South Africa’s most beloved and inspiring young women. Beandri was not only known for her vibrant personality and infectious laugh but also as the last surviving individual in South Africa living with Progeria – a rare genetic condition that causes children to age prematurely. Despite the challenges she faced, Beandri radiated hope and joy. She became a symbol of awareness for Progeria and other special needs, using her unique spirit to inspire thousands of people worldwide. The Booysen family kindly requests privacy during this profoundly difficult time as they mourn the loss of their beloved Beandri.” Her mother shared on 8th October that Beandri had gone in for heart surgery and had thanked fans for their support. 

On This Day

  • 856 – Damghan earthquake: An earthquake near the Persian city of Damghan kills an estimated 200,000 people, the sixth deadliest earthquake in recorded history.
  • 1965 – In the United Kingdom, a 70 miles per hour speed limit is applied to all rural roads including motorways for the first time.
  • 2001 – Richard Reid attempts to destroy a passenger airliner by igniting explosives hidden in his shoes aboard American Airlines Flight 63.

Deaths

  • 1880 – George Eliot, English novelist and poet (b. 1819).
  • 1943 – Beatrix Potter, English children’s book writer and illustrator (b. 1866).
  • 2014 – Joe Cocker, English singer-songwriter (b. 1944).
  • 2018 – Paddy Ashdown, British politician (b. 1941).

Last Meals

Joseph Edward Corcoran was an American convicted mass murderer who was executed for a 1997 quadruple murder case in Indiana. Corcoran was found guilty of the 1997 murders of his brother, his sister’s fiancé, and two of their friends at his house, and sentenced to death in 1999. Prior to this, Corcoran was previously charged in 1992 with murdering his parents when he was nearly 17 but was acquitted of all charges.

On April 14, 1992, four days short of reaching his 17th birthday, Joseph Corcoran allegedly murdered his parents – 53-year-old Jack Corcoran and 47-year-old Kathryn Corcoran.

At around 8.30am, Corcoran’s parents were found dead inside their Ball Lake home at Steuben County, Indiana, sustaining gunshot wounds caused by a shotgun. Evidence showed that Corcoran likely murdered his parents with a 12-gauge shotgun. He allegedly believed they were too strict with him, had sold a car he thought would belong to him, burned his music tapes, and made him go to church. The timing of the discovery of his parents’ bodies was an hour after Corcoran boarded the school bus to school. His friends had testified that Corcoran had offered them $200 and a shotgun to kill his parents, and their conversations revolved around killing people and animals. However, the evidence against Corcoran was circumstantial and no direct evidence was found to prove Corcoran guilty of the double murder. 

On July 26, 1997, five years after allegedly killing his parents, Joseph Corcoran committed the quadruple murder of his brother and three other men.

Corcoran was inside his house in with his 30-year-old brother James Corcoran. They shared the house with their sister Kelly Nieto and her 32-year-old fiancé Robert Scott Turner. Friends 30-year-old Timothy G. Bricker and 30-year-old Douglas A. Stillwell were also inside the house that day. Corcoran’s sister was absent from home and at a nearby store at that time.

According to court and media sources, James, his friends, and Turner were together in the living room, watching television and eating pizza. Corcoran, who was upstairs on the second floor, purportedly overheard the four men talking about him in the living room. Prosecutors claim Corcoran overheard those in the living room talking about his alleged involvement in the murder of his parents. Enraged at this, Corcoran confronted the men with a gun. Before he did so, Corcoran took his seven-year-old niece into an upstairs bedroom to protect her from the gunfire and then loaded a semi-automatic rifle and moved to the living room with the weapon. Corcoran shot his brother, Turner, and Bricker. Stillwell was able to evade the initial onslaught and attempted to escape, but Corcoran shot and killed Stillwell before he could leave the house.

After murdering the four men, Corcoran stepped out of the house and asked a neighbour to call the police. When the police arrived, they found the bodies of the four men, and found Corcoran’s niece unharmed inside her bedroom. Authorities also discovered about 20 to 30 weapons inside the attic of Corcoran’s house. 

When Corcoran’s sister received word of the murders, she told the press that the truth of Corcoran murdering her other brother and fiancé made her completely view the murders of her parents in a different light. She was now certain that Corcoran was guilty of their parents’ murders in 1992. Previously, she and James defended him fiercely in court. Corcoran’s sister stated that she cried over the case and blamed Corcoran for ruining her life with the loss of their parents and James. 

Unsurprisingly, the then 22-year-old Joseph Corcoran was arraigned in court on four counts of murder, one for each of his victims. On May 22, 1999, Corcoran was found guilty of murder on all four counts. The jury returned with their verdict two days later, unanimously recommending Corcoran receive four death sentences for all the four killings. 

After being sentenced in 1999, Joseph Corcoran spent more than two decades on death row at Indiana State Prison.  

Early on the morning of December 18, 2024, Corcoran was executed by lethal injection at the Indiana State Prison. He was pronounced dead at 12:44 am, eight minutes after he received a single dose of pentobarbital. No media attendees were permitted, although Corcoran chose a reporter with the Indiana Capital Chronicle as one of his witnesses.

Corcoran reportedly requested ice cream from Ben & Jerry’s for his last meal, without specifying a particular flavour. Corcoran was granted a final meeting with his family, including his wife Tahina, whom he married while in prison. Corcoran’s last words were “Not really. Let’s get this over with.” 

Corcoran was the first condemned inmate to be executed in Indiana after a 15-year moratorium on executions since 2009. Corcoran was the 24th death row prisoner to have his death sentence carried out in the U.S. in 2024.

Last Week’s Birthdays

Ralph Fiennes (62), Vanessa Paradis (52), Samuel L. Jackson (76), Kiefer Sutherland (58), Jane Fonda (87), Jenny Agutter (72), Jonah Hill (41), Jake Gyllenhaal (44), Kristy Swanson (55), Alyssa Milano (52), Jennifer Beals (61), Richard Hammond (55), Emily Atack (35), Christina Aguilera (44), Steve Austin (60), Sia (49), Keith Richards (81), Brad Pitt (61), Steven Spielberg (78), Katheryn Winnick (47), Milla Jovovich (49), Bill Pullman (71), Laurie Holden (55), Eugene Levy (78), Ernie Hudson (79), Miranda Otto (57), and Krysten Ritter (43).

22nd December 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 15th December 2024

With little over two weeks left, we seem to have hit a quiet period for celebrity deaths. I hate to do this before Xmas, but the Flying Monkeys have been deployed! 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

The Wanted musician, Max George, will spend Christmas in hospital after medical tests have revealed problems with this heart. The 36-year-old has been a part of the band alongside Siva Kaneswaran, Nathan Sykes, Jay McGuinness, and the late Tom Parker, since 2009. George’s news comes two years after the death of Parker following an 18-month experience with brain cancer. He revealed he was rushed into hospital and some issues were found with his heart. “Hey everyone, Yesterday I felt really unwell and was taken in to hospital,” George wrote in a post on Instagram on Thursday night, wearing a hospital gown. “Unfortunately after some tests they’ve found that I have some issues with my heart.” Although he did not confirm the nature of the diagnosis, he said, “I have a lot more tests to determine the extent of the problems and what surgery I will need to get me back on my feet. It’s gonna be a difficult few weeks / months… and Christmas in a hospital bed wasn’t exactly what I had planned!” He thanked his loved ones and his girlfriend and Eastenders actor Maisie Smith for their support. “As always, I’m surrounded with love and support by my wonderful partner Maisie, her family, my family and friends.. and I’m 100 per cent in the best place. Although this is a huge shock and no doubt a setback, it’s something I’ll take on with all I’ve got! I count myself very lucky that this was caught when it was. Apologies if I bore you with updates in the coming weeks.. I’ve probably got a month in a bed and there’s not THAT much to do! Let’s do this! Much love, Max x”. 

Hollywood legend Dick Van Dyke has revealed that his neighbours “saved” him from his home as he attempted to evacuate due to the devastating Malibu Franklin Fire. The Franklin Fire, another late-year wildfire fanned by fierce Santa Ana winds, left a trail of destruction in its wake. Officials confirmed nine structures were destroyed and six had been damaged. Evacuations in Malibu displaced thousands of residents, including celebrities Dick Van Dyke and Cher. According to the Flying Monkeys, the Mary Poppins star, who turned 99 on Friday, admitted that he had a lucky escape from the fire and was thankful to his neighbours. Van Dyke said: “The fire was coming from the hill, you could see it. And oh my God, and we got out of here. I was trying to crawl to the car, I had exhausted myself, I couldn’t get up.” He added: “Three neighbours came and carried me out and came back and put out a little fire in the guest house and saved me.” The actor had previously posted on Facebook on Tuesday to announce that he and his wife, Arlene Silver, were safe, but that they were not able to locate one of their pets. “Arlene and I have safely evacuated with our animals except for Bobo escaped as we were leaving,” he wrote about their cat at the time. “We’re praying he’ll be ok and that our community in Serra Retreat will survive these terrible fires.” The actor later updated his followers when they found Bobo, writing: “We found Bobo as soon as we arrived back home this morning. There was so much interest in his disappearance that Animal Control was called in to assist. But, thankfully he was easy to find and not harmed.”  

Ian Hislop has been injured after he was struck by an electric bike as he was crossing a road. The 64-year-old hurt his head in the accident and has been seen wearing a large bandage on the place he was hit by the bike. The star was given medical attention and medics applied the dressing. According to reports, he is now said to be “OK”. The incident was confirmed in a statement from Private Eye. His bandage was on show as he went to an event that same evening with his wife of 36 years, Victoria Hislop. The incident comes just months after he was in a taxi when the rear window smashed. Ian was in the back of the vehicle at the time, but no injuries were reported. It happened on Oxford Street near where Private Eye’s office is based. The Metropolitan Police confirmed there was “no evidence of a firearms discharge at this time” after it was initially believed the taxi had been hit by a bullet. “I always say at this point I’m glad to be here, but this week I really mean it,” Ian stated during an episode of Have I Got News For You in October. Ian also shared a little about what police officers asked him during their investigation. He said: “There was one high point when a policeman investigating me said, ‘This may be a silly question, but is there anyone who might have a grudge against you?’

On This Day

  • 1890 – Hunkpapa Lakota leader Sitting Bull is killed on Standing Rock Indian Reservation, leading to the Wounded Knee Massacre. 
  • 1914 – A gas explosion at Mitsubishi Hōjō coal mine, in Kyushu, Japan, kills 687.
  • 1973 – The American Psychiatric Association votes 13–0 to remove homosexuality from its official list of psychiatric disorders.
  • 1981 – A suicide car bombing targeting the Iraqi embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, levels the embassy and kills 61 people, including Iraq’s ambassador to Lebanon. The attack is considered the first modern suicide bombing.

Deaths

  • 1944 – Glenn Miller, American bandleader and composer (b. 1904).
  • 1966 – Walt Disney, American animator, director, producer, and screenwriter (b. 1901).
  • 2011 – Christopher Hitchens, English essayist, literary critic, & journalist (b. 1949).
  • 2013 – Joan Fontaine, British-American actress (b. 1917).
  • 2017 – Heinz Wolff, scientist and TV presenter (b. 1928).

Robot Feelings

A surprising incident happened in South Korea. For the first time in history, a robot committed suicide. The robot was found dead after it leaped down a six-and-a-half-foot flight of stairs.

Before the event, an official saw the robot “circling in one spot as if something was there.” The robot was designated as a municipal council officer and could autonomously navigate floors by utilising an elevator.

The cutting-edge bot, created by California-based Bear Robotics, was the first of its type to occupy such a role. It helped with information sharing, city promotion, and daily document deliveries. It even held a card as a civil service officer who worked regular hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

It remains unclear why the robot took the action. Authorities in Gumi City Council are looking into the event because they think the robot may have been “depressed,” presumably due to its workload. The sudden demise of the robot has spurred discussion about the mental health of even the most sophisticated technologies.

Headlines are ablaze with conjecture on whether the robot committed suicide due to “work stress” as reality begins to resemble a dystopian science fiction story. This scenario uncannily resembles the plot of the 2004 science fiction movie “I, Robot,” in which an advanced robot can “dream,” just like a human.

The robot’s alleged suicide received mixed responses on social media. One said it would be dangerous and scary if robots started to think like humans. Another suggested it was just an “accidental fall.” A different user believed it was just a technical failure and not an act comparable to human suicide.

Experts think that the incident was most likely a technological error or a bug, despite others sensationalising it as “robot suicide.” Since its deployment in August 2023, the robot, which was a member of the city hall staff, has been operating “diligently.”

It is said to have aided in routine duties like delivering documents, informing locals, and promoting the city. Investigations are ongoing to determine what caused the fall.

Officials said there could have been a programming problem, sensor failure, or navigational error. The company has collected the pieces and will analyse them.

The council is collaborating with Bear Robotics, the manufacturer, to investigate and prevent such occurrences in the future.

Gumi City Council is not considering replacing the deceased officer with another robot.

According to the International Federation of Robotics, South Korea has the highest robot density in the world, with one industrial robot for every ten human employees. The country is renowned for its quick adoption of robotic technology.

Last Week’s Birthdays

Helen Slater (61), Paul Kaye (59), Charlie Cox (42), Garrett Wang (56), Adam Brody (45), Don Johnson (75), Natascha McElhone (55), Miranda Hart (52), Vicki Michelle (74), Emma Corrin (29), Dick Van Dyke (99), Steve Buscemi (67), Jamie Foxx (57), Taylor Swift (35), Jennifer Connelly (54), Bill Nighy (75), Mädchen Amick (54), Mayim Bialik (49), Sarah Douglas (72), Connie Francis (87), Kenneth Cranham (80), Hailee Steinfeld (28), Kenneth Branagh (64), Fionnula Flanagan (83), Susanna Reid (54), John Malkovich (71), Judi Dench (90), Beau Bridges (83), Michael Dorn (72), and Donny Osmond (67).

15th December 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 8th December 2024

Three weeks or so to go, I hope you’re all working on your lists for 2025!  

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Dick Van Dyke stars in a new music video from Coldplay, as he prepares to celebrate his 99th birthday. The clip for “All My Love” was filmed at the Mary Poppins star’s beachside home in Malibu, and follows him as he reflects on life and aging. “I’m acutely aware that I could go any day now,” Van Dyke says, “but I don’t know why it doesn’t concern me. I’m not afraid of it. I have the feeling that I’m gonna be alright.” During the video, Van Dyke recreates his famous penguin dance from Mary Poppins as well as The Twizzle, from his Sixties TV sitcom The Dick Van Dyke Show. It is interspersed with photos of Van Dyke through his decades-long career, revealing a life-size statue of his Mary Poppins character, Bert the chimney sweep. Reflecting on his storied career, Van Dyke says he believes he’s one of those “lucky people” who “got to do for a living what I would have done anyway. I got to do what I love… play and act silly,” he said. The clip ends with Martin improvising a song for Van Dyke, who laughs in astonishment: “Have we got that on film?” he asks, beaming. “Can you believe this man?” A shorter version of the video will be released on Friday 13 December to mark the actor’s 99th birthday.  

Neighbours legend Ian Smith is reportedly allowing a camera crew to follow him through his terminal cancer battle. The Harold Bishop actor, 86 – whose portrayal of the beloved Ramsay Street stalwart made him a household name – received a pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma diagnosis earlier this year. ‘I found out a few months back that I have cancer,’ he told the Flying Monkeys. ‘That I have a very aggressive non-fixable cancer and they expect me to… they expect me to die.’ Ian has undergone three rounds of chemotherapy, telling the Flying Monkeys that he ‘put his hands up to be a guinea pig’ because he doesn’t want to die. ‘I want to stay alive with quality as long as I can,’ he said. ‘If they can do that, I’m very happy. But I wake up every morning hoping there’s no pain, because I know that’s the beginning of the bad part.’ Ian has already filmed his final scenes alongside former co-star Anne Charleston, who is not reprising her Madge Bishop role but will be playing a new character. In an emotional video, cast and crew were joined alongside Kevin Harrington who played Harold’s son David to bid an emotional farewell to their friend and colleague, who first appeared on the soap almost four decades ago. 

Sum 41 have cancelled their entire Australian tour as frontman Deryck Whibley continues to battle pneumonia. The Canadian singer, 44, has been deemed too unwell to perform by Australian doctors, leading the band to make an announcement about the tour on Wednesday. “It is with deep sadness and regret that we announce our 2024 Australian tour is unable to proceed,” the statement. “We were beyond excited to deliver this tour from 4 December – 12 December, and connect with our Aussie fans once more.” The statement continued: “Now that we’re here though, and under the guidance and direction of multiple Australian doctors, it’s clear that Deryck is too unwell to perform. We understand and appreciate your disappointment – we’re gutted too. The good news is Good Things Festival is still going ahead in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane this weekend with an incredible lineup of local and international acts. We can’t be there, but get along for us and have the best time.” Sum 41 have been touring as part of their farewell run, while supporting their eighth and final album, Heaven :x: Hell, which was released in March this year. The latest cancellation comes after their earlier decision to call off their 4 December show at Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley Music Hall, after Whibley was diagnosed with pneumonia. The band said their frontman was receiving “the best possible care” Back in 2011, Sum 41 also had to cancel their planned appearance at Soundwave Festival after Whibley was admitted to hospital with pneumonia. He was also treated in hospital for the illness last year. 

On This Day

  • 1980 – John Lennon is murdered by Mark David Chapman in front of The Dakota in New York City.
  • 2004 – Nathan Gale opens fire at the Alrosa Villa nightclub in Columbus, Ohio, killing former Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell and three others before being shot dead by a police officer.
  • 2013 – Metallica performs a show in Antarctica, making them the first band to perform on all seven continents.
  • 2019 – First confirmed case of COVID-19 in China.

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Teri Hatcher (60), Kim Basinger (71), Dominic Monaghan (48), David Harewood (59), Nicki Minaj (42), Kristofer Hivju (46), Nicholas Hoult (35), Jennifer Carpenter (45), Jeffrey Wright (59), C. Thomas Howell (58), Ellen Burstyn (92), Tom Hulce (71), Frankie Muniz (39), Catherine Tate (55), Marisa Tomei (60), Jeff Bridges (75), Pamela Stephenson (75), Jay-Z (55), Brendan Fraser (56, Amanda Seyfried (39), Julianne Moore (64), Daryl Hannah (64), Ozzy Osbourne (76), Lucy Liu (56), Lesley-Ann Brandt (43), Britney Spears (43), and Connie Booth (84),

8th December 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 1st December 2024

I was all ready to award some points following our Telegram group revelation that the worlds oldest mad had died, alas nobody had him listed! 38+ points gone wasted! 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Dolph Lundgren has confirmed that he is cancer-free after previously being told he only had a few years to live by doctors. The Swedish actor, 67, has been in a nine-year battle with lung cancer but confirmed on Wednesday that he was cancer-free. The star, best known as Soviet boxer Ivan Drago in Rocky IV, filmed from his hospital bed and told fans that he was undergoing a lung ablation. The procedure is minimally invasive and targets cancer cells with heat or cold, without surgery. In the video, he told his Instagram followers: ‘Here I am at UCLA, I’m about to go in and get rid of that last tumour,’ he said. ‘Since there are no cancer cells in my body anymore, I guess I’ll be cancer-free, so I’m looking forward to this procedure. It’s been a rough ride and really taught me how to live in the moment and enjoy every moment of life. I mean, it’s the only way to go.’ He captioned the video: ‘Health update – finally cancer free with gratefulness and excitement for a bright future. Thanks for all your support always. ’ In 2023, the actor revealed he had been privately battling cancer. Dolph was first diagnosed in 2015 but it was in 2021 – when a ‘lemon-sized’ tumour was found in his liver – that he was told he wouldn’t live longer than a few more years. During an interview on In Depth With Graham Bensinger, Dolph revealed: ‘‘The doctor kind of started talking about all these different tumours, like, in the lung and the stomach and the spine, outside the kidneys. I asked him, “How long do you think I’ve got left?” I think he said two or three years, but I could tell in his voice that he probably thought it was less. I thought it was it, for sure.’  

Veteran stage actor Julien Arnold died suddenly on Sunday, November 24th, midway through a performance of A Christmas Carol, after experiencing a medical emergency. He passed after collapsing onstage during an evening performance of the stage production at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, according to the theatre. The cause of death has not been announced. The Flying Monkeys reported that he died at the theatre “despite resuscitation attempts” from paramedics, according to a spokesperson for Alberta Health Services. He was 60, the Edmonton Journal reported. The theatre announced Arnold’s death in a statement on Instagram. “It is with heavy hearts we share the news of the sudden passing of Julien Arnold, a beloved actor and dear friend of the Citadel Theatre. A cherished member of the Edmonton theatre community, Julien was a gifted performer whose charisma and talent graced our stage in countless productions, including A Christmas Carol. Julien’s passing is a profound loss to his family, friends, fellow Carol company members, Citadel staff, and the Edmonton community he loved so dearly. His presence brought joy, heart and depth to every role, and his artistic contributions – and big hugs – will be deeply missed.” The theatre said that the remaining performances of A Christmas Carol will be dedicated to the actor, who also performed in productions of The Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Once.  

Dame Esther Rantzen told the Flying Monkeys that she is “determined” to live to see the next stage of the assisted dying bill after MPs voted in favour of it on Friday. In a historic step towards backing the right for adults with less than six months to live to choose to end their own lives, a total of 330 MPs voted for the bill and 275 voted against. Speaking in the minutes after the result of the vote was read out in the House of Commons, Dame Esther’s daughter, Rebecca Wilcox, spoke to her mother on the phone. When asked if she had heard the news, Dame Esther replied: “I certainly did, my goodness me, was that thrilling.” On having to see the bill through the next stage in parliament, she said: “I’ve got to stay alive a bit longer, haven’t I?! It’s quite a responsibility. It is a very important next stage, and I’m sure it will be taken through very very carefully because some of the best judicial minds, medical minds and political minds will make sure every detail is right.” The 84-year-old broadcaster, who is terminally ill, has been a strong advocate for changing the law to allow dying adults to take their own lives in limited circumstances, without fear of their families being prosecuted for helping them. She revealed in December last year that she had joined Dignitas, to give her the choice of an assisted death in Switzerland. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was among those to vote in favour, along with the majority of his Cabinet, as well as former PM Rishi Sunak who was one of only 23 Tories to do so.

On This Day

  • 1919 – Lady Astor becomes the first female Member of Parliament (MP) to take her seat in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. 
  • 1952 – The New York Daily News reports the news of Christine Jorgensen, the first notable case of sex reassignment surgery.
  • 1955 – American Civil Rights Movement: In Montgomery, Alabama, seamstress Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat to a white man and is arrested for violating the city’s racial segregation laws, an incident which leads to that city’s bus boycott.
  • 1958 – The Our Lady of the Angels School fire in Chicago kills 92 children and three nuns. God remains silent… 
  • 1990 – Channel Tunnel sections started from the United Kingdom and France meet beneath the seabed.
  • 2019 – The outbreak of coronavirus infection began in Wuhan.
  • 2020 – The Arecibo Telescope collapsed.

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Zoë Kravitz (36), Sarah Silverman (54), Bette Midler (79), Ridley Scott (87), Kaley Cuoco (39), Ben Stiller (59), Woody Allen (89), Mandy Patinkin (72), Gemma Chan (42), Jeff Fahey (72), Don Cheadle (60), Karen Gillan (37), Mary Elizabeth Winstead (40), Ed Harris (74), Martin Clunes (63), Jon Stewart (62), Ellie Taylor (41), Armando Iannucci (61), Rita Ora (34), Hafþór Júlíus Björnsson (36), Christina Applegate (53), and John Larroquette (77).

1st December 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 24th November 2024

Alas, no points to dispense this week. With little over five weeks left to go, one big death  could change the outcome! 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Lauren Laverne has revealed she’s cancer free and would be back presenting BBC’s The One Show on Tuesday. The broadcaster, 46, took to her Instagram with the news alongside a beaming selfie in which she proudly wore a jumper which read: ‘Life is beautiful’. The mother of-two did not reveal the type of cancer she had been diagnosed with but said when announcing the news in August had been picked up ‘unexpectedly’ during a screening test. Now in a lengthy statement she paid tribute to hospital staff and her ‘astounding’ sons and ‘absolutely extraordinary’ husband Greame Fisher. She penned: ‘Well hello there! Just a quick update from me to say that after taking some time off to get better I’ve had the all clear and will be back to work on your TV this Tuesday with the wonderful @bbctheoneshow team. I’ve also been working on some new #DesertIslandDiscs episodes (which will air soon) and am looking forward to returning to @BBC6Music in the New Year’.  She continued: I want to say a huge thank you to the brilliant medical teams who took such great care of me, to the thousands of people who sent me such beautiful and encouraging messages, the friends and acquaintances who took the time to support me after going through cancer themselves, and most of all to my family: my two astounding kids and especially my husband Graeme, who was absolutely extraordinary throughout’.  It’s been a difficult time but one that has taught me so much about what really matters. I can’t say I suddenly regretted never having hiked the Inca Trail, more that I now see more beauty in ordinary things than I could have imagined, and feel more than ever that the small things in life – the connections we make and care we take with each other – are the big things really’.

A prisoner convicted of the 1994 murder of a female hitchhiker is set to become the third person executed by controversial nitrogen gas. Alabama this year began using nitrogen gas to carry out some death sentences, the first use of a new execution method in the United States since lethal injection was introduced in 1982. The method involves placing a respirator gas mask over the person’s face to replace breathable air with pure nitrogen gas, causing death by lack of oxygen. Critics of the method cite how the first two people executed shook for several minutes. They say the method needs more scrutiny, particularly if other states follow Alabama’s path and adopt it. Carey Dale Grayson, 50, was one of four teenagers convicted of killing Vickie Deblieux, 37, who was hitchhiking through Alabama on her way to her mother’s home in Louisiana. He is scheduled to be executed at 6pm on Thursday at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in south Alabama. Deblieux’s mutilated body was found at the bottom of a bluff near Odenville, Alabama, on Feb. 26, 1994. Prosecutors said Deblieux was hitchhiking from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to her mother’s home in West Monroe, Louisiana, when four teens offered her a ride. Prosecutors said the teens took her to a wooded area and attacked and beat her. They threw her off a cliff and later returned to mutilate her body. A medical examiner testified that Deblieux’s face was so fractured that she was identified by an earlier X-ray of her spine. Her fingers had also been severed. Investigators said the four teens were identified as suspects after one of them showed a friend a severed finger and boasted about the killing. Grayson is the only one of the four facing a death sentence since the other teens were under 18 at the time of the killing. Grayson was 19. Two of the teens were initially sentenced to death but had those sentences set aside when the U.S. Supreme Court banned the execution of offenders who were younger than 18 at the time of their crimes. Another teen involved in Deblieux’s killing was sentenced to life in prison. Grayson’s final appeals focused on the call for more scrutiny of the new execution method. They argued that the person experiences “conscious suffocation” and that the first two nitrogen executions did not result in swift unconsciousness and death as the state promised. Attorneys for Grayson asked the U.S. Supreme Court to stay the execution to give time to weigh the constitutionality of the method. “Given this is the first new execution method used in the United States since lethal injection was first used in 1982, it is appropriate for this Court to reach the issues surrounding this novel method,” Grayson’s attorneys wrote. Lawyers for the Alabama attorney general’s office asked justices to let the execution go forward, saying a lower court found Grayson’s claims speculative. The state lawyers wrote that Alabama’s “nitrogen hypoxia protocol has been successfully used twice, and both times it resulted in a death within a matter of minutes.” 

Thomas E. Kurtz, a mathematician and inventor of the simplified computer programming language known as BASIC, which allowed students to operate early computers and eventually propelled generations into the world of personal computing, died on Tuesday in Lebanon, N.H. He was 96. The cause of his death, in a hospice, was multiple organ failure from sepsis, said Agnes Kurtz, his wife. In the early 1960s, before the days of laptops and smartphones, a computer was the size of a small car and an institution like Dartmouth College, where Dr. Kurtz taught, had just one. Programming one was the province of scientists and mathematicians, specialists who understood the nonintuitive commands used to manipulate data through those hulking machines, which processed data in large batches, an effort that sometimes took days or weeks to complete. Dr. Kurtz and John G. Kemeny, then the chairman of Dartmouth’s math department, believed that students would come to depend on computers and benefit from understanding how to use them. The language was simple. Typing the command “RUN” would start a program. “PRINT” printed a word or string of letters. “STOP” told the program to stop. Students could use other popular languages of the time like Algol and Fortran, but BASIC, which required only two one-hour seminars to master the fundamentals, became the language of choice not only for Dartmouth students but also for students learning programming around the globe. The programming language would provide the intellectual building blocks for later software and is still a fundamental tool in teaching computer programming. One student who later benefited from BASIC was Bill Gates, who used a variation of it as the foundation for the first Microsoft operating systems. Versions of BASIC still empower computer operating systems today. 

On This Day

  • 1963 – Lee Harvey Oswald, the assassin of President John F. Kennedy, is killed by Jack Ruby on live television. 
  • 1971 – During a severe thunderstorm over Washington state, a hijacker calling himself Dan Cooper (aka D. B. Cooper) parachutes from a Northwest Orient Airlines plane with $200,000 in ransom money. He has never been found.
  • 1974 – Donald Johanson and Tom Gray discover the 40% complete Australopithecus afarensis skeleton, nicknamed “Lucy” (after The Beatles song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”), in the Awash Valley of Ethiopia’s Afar Depression

Deaths

  • 1982 – Barack Obama, Sr., Kenyan economist and academic, father of Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States (b. 1936)
  • 1991 – Freddie Mercury, Tanzanian-English singer-songwriter, lead vocalist of Queen, and producer (b. 1946).
  • 2005 – Pat Morita, American actor (b. 1932).

Spaced Out! 

Have you ever wondered what would happen to your body if you were to die out in space? Researchers have put their brains together to answer the difficult questions regarding the unusual scenario.

NASA are planning another space mission to send humans to the moon within the next seven years, with wilder plans to send people to Mars in the 2030s.

The journey to the red planet will require a long-distance mission and many months in space. Because of this, there’s a need to consider how humans will survive such a long time out in the ether. 

Since the beginning of human spaceflight over 60 years ago, 20 people have died. However, none of these deaths were actually in space and were due to failed launches before leaving the Earth’s atmosphere.

Though NASA hasn’t illustrated set protocols for dealing with a death that happens in space (because they haven’t had to deal with it yet), some of the world’s space researchers have come up with their own hypothesis.

One of the ways someone could die in space is by being exposed to its vacuum without having a suitably pressurised suit to protect them.

Chris Hadfield, Canadian astronaut and former commander of the International Space Station, shares his thoughts on what could be the worst possible outcome.

He said: “In the worst case scenario, something happens during a spacewalk. You could suddenly be struck by a micro-meteorite, and there’s nothing you can do about that. It could puncture a hole in your suit, and within a few seconds you’re incapacitated.”

Here comes the gruesome part. You probably thought it was just a dramatic effect for films, but nope. 

Emmanuel Urquieta, professor of space medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine, described the horrific death experienced by an astronaut who was exposed to the vacuum, saying that it would become impossible for them to breathe and their blood and other bodily fluids would effectively boil.

According to Popular Science, the unfortunate astronaut’s blood would vaporise, along with the water in their body, in just 10 seconds.

They would lose consciousness in 15 seconds as their body horrifically expanded and their lungs collapsed. They’d be paralysed or more likely dead in 30 seconds, most likely of asphyxiation or decompression.

Then there’s the issue of burial – or lack thereof.

If someone died on Mars, Urquieta explained burial or cremation wouldn’t be possible as they ‘could contaminate the Martian surface’.

He said ‘the crew would likely preserve the body in a specialised body bag until it could be returned to Earth’.

If the astronaut was unlucky enough to die out in space, their body would eventually enter a frozen or mummified state and float through the ether – potentially for millions of years, since there’s no oxygen to prompt decomposition – until it was destroyed by a planet or star, or perhaps heat or radiation.

A cheery thought for a Sunday.

Last Week’s Birthdays

Sarah Hyland (34), Colin Hanks (47), Stephen Merchant (50), Conleth Hill (60), Billy Connolly (82), Denise Crosby (67), Dwight Schultz (77), Kayvan Novak (46), Michelle Gomez (58), Miley Cyrus (32), Scarlett Johansson (40), Mads Mikkelsen (59), Jamie Lee Curtis (66), Mark Ruffalo (57), Terry Gilliam (84), Goldie Hawn (79), Alexander Siddig (59), Björk (59), Sean Young (65), Ming-Na Wen (61), Bo Derek (68), Joe Biden (82), Adam Driver (41), Jodie Foster (62), Meg Ryan (63), Terry Farrell (61), Robert Beltran (71), Owen Wilson (56), Linda Evans (82), and Delroy Lindo (72).

24th November 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 17th November 2024

Another pointless week, but time is ticking onwards with only a few weeks left to go! I know a few of you are already working on your lists for 2025, but if you are struggling to find inspiration, running through a few older newsletters will help you out.  

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Davina McCall has announced she is undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumour. The TV presenter and Masked Singer judge is having the operation to remove a 14mm benign brain tumour, which she discovered during a recent health scan. She shared the news in an Instagram post on Friday, revealing she had a colloid cyst that affects only three in a million people. In a new video posted to her Instagram account, McCall explained: “A few months ago I did a menopause talk for a company and they offered me a health scan in return, which I thought I was going to ace, but it turned out I had a benign brain tumour called a colloid cyst, which is very rare.” McCall explained that upon learning about the tumour, she put her “head in the sand for a while” but then sought out advice from neurosurgeons and got different opinions. “I realised that I have to get it taken out,” she said. “It’s big for the space – it fills the space. It’s 14mm wide. And it needs to come out because if it grows it would be bad.” The presenter will undergo a craniotomy – a surgical procedure to remove part of the skull to access the brain – to take out the cyst. “Say a prayer for me,” she said. McCall’s partner Michael Douglas then arrived in the video to assure fans he was taking care of her, and that she would be “off the grid” until she recovers. She will be in hospital for nine days in total. “I’m just letting people know that I will have my eye on her throughout the procedure,” said Douglas, before joking, “In fact, I offered to do the operation to make sure it was done properly – but they won’t let me.” McCall remarked they had both “been through a lot” but they remained in good spirits. “I’m going to be off my phone for a while, so Michael might fill you in,” she added. She assured fans that she is in good hands, and that she has total faith in her surgeon and his team. “I’m handing the reins over to my surgeon, he knows what he’s doing and I’m going to do the getting better bit after,” McCall said. “I’ll see you on the other side.” According to the London Neurology Partnership, colloid cysts are small fluid-filled sacs located in or around the lateral and third ventricle of the brain.  

Full House star Dave Coulier has revealed that he has been diagnosed with a “very aggressive” form of stage 3 non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The 65-year-old actor, who starred as Joey Gladstone on the hit ABC sitcom, shared the news during an appearance on the Today show on Wednesday. Coulier said he first discovered symptoms several months ago when he got a cold and then found a large lump on his groin. “It swelled up immediately,” he recalled. “I thought, ‘Wow, I’m either really sick, or my body’s really reacting to something.’” He visited the doctor, who shared the shocking diagnosis with him just five weeks ago. “The first thing I said to them was, ‘Wait a minute – cancer?’” he said. “I was feeling like I got punched in the stomach because it never happens to you. You always hear about it happening to someone else.” Non-Hodgkins lymphoma is a form of cancer that affects the white blood cells, causing them to grow abnormally and can form tumours throughout the body. Stage 3 typically means that the cancer is large and may have spread to surrounding tissues or lymph nodes. Coulier said he started undergoing rounds of chemotherapy two weeks ago. He shared that he has six rounds of chemo every three weeks and is expected to wrap up treatment by February. “You hear chemo, and it scares the daylights out of you,” he said. “The first round was pretty intense because you don’t know what to expect. You don’t know how you’re going to feel. Is this going to hit me immediately? Is it going to be devastating? Am I going to walk out of here?” Describing treatment as “a bit of a roller coaster,” he said: “There are days where I feel unbelievable. Then there’s other days where… I’m just going to lay down and let this be what it’s going to be. Some days are nauseous and dizzy, and then there’s other days where the steroids kick in, and I feel like I have a ton of energy,” he added. “I actually skated yesterday with some friends here in Detroit. We just went and skated around and shot pucks, and it was wonderful just to be out there doing something that I love and just trying to stay focused on all the great stuff that I have in my life.” Coulier praised his wife, Melissa Bring Coulier, for her support, sharing that she “organised his entire life, from nutrition to the doctor’s appointments to pills.” 

Dolly Parton’s brother, David, has died. Their sister, Stella Parton, paid tribute to him on social media. Stella announced the sad news via Twitter  on Friday, saying her wonderful brother had passed away, adding it’s never easy to lose a loved one, but she knows David is now at peace. The Farrar Funeral Home in White Pine, Tennessee posted his obituary to their website, confirming he passed away peacefully at home. No cause of death was included. While Dolly doesn’t often talk about her family, she has expressed gratitude for their continued support of her career through the years. David was the second-oldest sibling of the 11 Parton kids. His living brothers and sisters include Willadeene, 84, Coy, 81, Dolly, Robert Jr., 76, Stella, Cassie, 73, Freida, 67, and Rachel, 65. He had three other siblings, Randy, Larry and Floyd, who all died before him. It comes just under four years after the death of Randy, at the age of 67, from cancer. Dolly, aged 78, said on behalf of her family at the time: “My brother Randy has lost his battle with cancer. The family and I are grieving his loss but we know he is in a better place than we are at this time.”

On This Day

  • 1894 – H. H. Holmes, one of the first modern serial killers, is arrested in Boston, Massachusetts. 
  • 1947   – American scientists John Bardeen and Walter Houser Brattain observe the basic principles of the transistor, a key element for the electronics revolution of the 20th century.
  • 2019 – The first known case of COVID-19 is traced to a 55-year-old man who had visited a market in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.

Deaths

  • 1917 – Auguste Rodin, French sculptor and illustrator (b. 1840).
  • 1940 – Eric Gill, English sculptor and typeface designer (b. 1882).
  • 1968 – Mervyn Peake, English poet, author, and illustrator (b. 1911).

Last Words

A war criminal had some chilling final words before he drank poison in court and died by suicide.

It’s not often that you can say that you actually heard someone’s last words, especially in such a setting. But those who were in the room with Slobodan Praljak will never be able to forget.

It was on 29th November 2017 in a United Nations courtroom for an appeal hearing for Praljak’s 20-year jail sentence that he ended his own life.

The ex-commander of Bosnian Croat forces had been sent down for war crimes after being convicted of crimes against humanity in 2013. However, the appeals judge was not going to be lenient on him.  Once the judge confirmed the 72-year-old’s long and hard sentence, he took his own life, right in front of those in attendance, and the cameras.

You can see how he looked moments before he uttered his last words, as he fiddled with a bottle in his hands. Praljak went on to claim that he was innocent and then drank from the small bottle containing potassium cyanide before collapsing.

According to the Flying Monkeys, the former commander of Bosnian Croat military forces shouted for all to hear: “Slobodan Praljak is not a war criminal. I am rejecting the court ruling.”  He then tipped his head back and quickly drank the liquid.

All of this was streamed live from the court’s website, and anyone could have witnessed him collapsing. Praljak died two hours later in a Dutch hospital, but one questioned remained: How did he manage to get the bottle inside of court?  Nobody actually knows.

In 2018, Dutch prosecutors ended their investigation into Praljak’s suicide after an investigation had been launched into how the war criminal was able get it into the UN courtroom. The Hague Public Prosecution Service concluded in a statement that they could not find out ‘in what way and at what point in time Mr Praljak had obtained the potassium cyanide he used’.

Surveillance footage from court also led to nothing after police and prosecutors reviewed it and interviewed witnesses. The also searched his UN cell and found that there were no criminal offences committed in his bid to die by suicide.

According to reports, Praljak left a handwritten ‘farewell letter’ to his family, which was left in his cell at the UN Detention Unit, where he resided for years while he waited for the outcome of his 1992-95 Bosnian war crimes. It is said to have been written two years before he killed himself. It told his wife and step-children that he didn’t want a funeral, but did want his ashes to be scattered over a cemetery in the Croatian capital of Zagreb.

Prosecutors shared that he wrote ‘that he had already decided to put an end to his life a long time ago, should he be found guilty’.

Last Week’s Birthdays

Martin Scorsese (82), Rachel McAdams (46), Tom Ellis (46), Danny DeVito (80), Sophie Marceau (58), Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (66), Kerry Godliman (51), RuPaul (64), Missi Pyle (52), Maggie Gyllenhaal (47), Pete Davidson (31), Martha Plimpton (54), Lisa Bonet (57), Gemma Atkinson (40), Jonny Lee Miller (52), Beverly D’Angelo (73), Olga Kurylenko (45), Sandahl Bergman (73), Paul McGann (65), Whoopi Goldberg (69), Gerard Butler (55), Neil Young (79), Max Grodénchik (72), Wallace Shawn (81), Ryan Gosling (44), Anne Hathaway (42), Calista Flockhart (60), Richard Dormer (55), Stanley Tucci (64), Leonardo DiCaprio (50), and Demi Moore (62).

17th November 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 10th November 2024

We have points to award!!! With the passing of June Spencer at the ripe old age of 105, Ceri  gets 145 points as she had her down as her Woman. Well done her! 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Bhad Bhabie has seemingly revealed she’s been diagnosed with cancer after hitting back at fans for commenting on her appearance. The 21-year-old rapper, whose real name is Danielle Bregoli, took to her Instagram Story on Thursday in response to fans’ concerns about her health, after she appeared to lose significant weight in recent weeks. “I’m sorry my cancer medicine made me loose weight,” she wrote on her Story. “I’m slowly gaining it back. So stop running with the worst narratives.” Bregoli, who rose to internet stardom for her “Cash me outside, how ‘bout that?” catchphrase during a Dr Phil appearance in 2016, didn’t disclose any further information about her cancer medicine or diagnosis. While the OnlyFans model hasn’t shared further details about her health, many fans posted their well wishes for Bregoli following her Instagram post. In 2022, the “Gucci Flip Flops” rapper revealed she had earned $52m on OnlyFans. She later shared a screenshot to Instagram as proof of her OnlyFans income. Just one year prior, Bregoli had broken an OnlyFans record; she racked up $1m in just six hours after joining the subscription-based video-sharing platform. 

James Van Der Beek has been diagnosed with cancer. The actor, 47, shot to fame playing the lead role in teen drama Dawson’s Creek, which ran between 1998 and 2003. In a statement to the Flying Monkeys, Van Der Beek said: “I have colorectal cancer. I’ve been privately dealing with this diagnosis and have been taking steps to resolve it, with the support of my incredible family.” He added: “There’s reason for optimism, and I’m feeling good.” Colorectal cancer is a type of cancer which starts in either the colon or the rectum, which are both part of the large intestine in the body’s digestive system. Van Der Beek starred in multiple popular shows and films in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He played Dawson Leery in the hit TV show Dawson’s Creek, which ran from 1998 to 2003. He also played a fictionalised version of himself in the cult television show Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23, and he performed on the 28th US season of Dancing with the Stars. So far, Van Der Beek has continued working through his diagnosis.  

Janey Godley is to go on a ‘final tour’ before her funeral. The funeral of comedian Godley will take place over two days across two cities as part of a “final tour” of Scotland. A hearse will travel through Edinburgh on 29th November in tribute to her “beloved festival home” before returning to Glasgow on 30th November for the ceremony. The funeral for the comic, who died on 2nd November aged 63 after receiving palliative care for terminal cancer, will take place at St Mary’s Cathedral in the city’s west end. Her daughter, Ashley Storrie, confirmed the arrangements on social media. Godley, who found viral fame with her dubbed parodies of then Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon’s coronavirus news briefings during the pandemic, revealed she had ovarian cancer in November 2021. She had been due to embark on a tour entitled “Not Dead Yet,” but was forced to cancel it after her condition worsened. Godley was given the all-clear in 2022 but later that year announced another scan had shown signs of the disease in her abdomen. In the social media post her daughter said: “Here’s the details of Janey’s final tour, thank you for all the love and kindness in this past week. For the past few years of Ma’s life, it was important to her that she shared her journey with everyone, to offer support for others on the same path and to highlight the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer – all of course in her very singular Janey style, with laughter and candour. So many of you who have travelled with us on this journey wish to bid her a final farewell, so here’s the details of my mum’s final tour, in the two cities she loved with all her heart.” The hearse will travel along the Royal Mile and Lawnmarket in Edinburgh with a “pause for reflection” at St Giles’ Cathedral before travelling along Cockburn Street, Market Street and on to Glasgow. After the funeral on Saturday there will be a private service at a crematorium. Ms Storrie said her mother asked that instead of traditional funeral attire, those who wish to do so should wear bright colours to celebrate her life. She also asked that no flowers be sent but said people were invited to contribute to the Prince and Princess of Wales Hospice or any charity of their choice.

On This Day

  • 1871 – Henry Morton Stanley locates missing explorer and missionary, David Livingstone in Ujiji, near Lake Tanganyika, famously greeting him with the words, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?”
  • 1944 – The ammunition ship USS Mount Hood explodes at Seeadler Harbour, Manus, Admiralty Islands, killing at least 432 and wounding 371.
  • 1983 – Bill Gates introduces Windows 1.0.
  • 1989 – Germans begin to tear down the Berlin Wall.

Deaths

  • 1982 – Leonid Brezhnev, Ukrainian-Russian, 4th Head of State of the U.S.S.R. (b. 1906).
  • 2006 – Jack Palance, American boxer and actor (b. 1919).
  • 2010 – Dino De Laurentiis, Italian-American actor, producer (b. 1919).
  • 2015 – Helmut Schmidt, German soldier, economist, and politician, 5th Chancellor of Germany (b. 1918).

The Lead Coffins of Notre-Dame

Following the devastating Notre-Dame cathedral fire of 2019, Paris authorities were intrigued when they uncovered two lead-lined coffins 65 feet below the church floor.

One skeleton was quickly identified as a local cleric born in the 17th century, but the experts were left perplexed by the second, simply describing him as an ‘unknown nobleman’.

Now, they announce that it was the body of Joachim du Bellay, a celebrated French Renaissance poet and critic, born in Liré, western France in 1522.

Dubbed ‘the Horseman‘ due to his penchant for riding horses, du Bellay died of chronic meningitis due to tuberculosis in 1560, at the age of just 37.

Following his death, his remains were thought to be buried at Notre-Dame but were never identified – until now.

The new findings were revealed by University of Toulouse III and France’s National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP). Dr Éric Crubézy, professor of anthropology at University of Toulouse III, said he died of ‘chronic tuberculous meningitis in the 16th century’. ‘This age is rarely represented among the burials of important people in the cathedral,’ the professor added.

Following the Notre-Dame cathedral fire of April 2019, two lead-lined coffins were found under paving stones in a spot where the ‘nave’ and the ‘transept’ meet. In a cross-shaped cathedral like Notre-Dame, the nave and the transept are the two straight parts that are at right angles to each other. The coffins were first uncovered in March 2022, but the opening of the tombs only occurred eight months later that November.

Although burials in cathedrals were practiced throughout the medieval and modern periods, a burial in a lead coffin was special – an act ‘reserved for an elite’ – and the men were deemed to be once wealthy.

One of the coffins was identified as containing Antoine de la Porte – a cleric of the cathedral who died in 1710 at the age of 87 – largely thanks to an identification plate with his name on the coffin. Born in 1627, Antoine de la Porte provided financial support to the redevelopment of the enclosure of the choir of Notre Dame in fulfilment of the Vow of Louis XIII.

Although no organic tissue was left on the bones, the remains were still well-preserved – including his hair and beard. Examination of the bones revealed he was between 25 and 40 years of at death and spent much of his early life riding horses, giving him the nickname ‘le Cavalier’ (the Horseman). There are several markings associated with horse-riding on his  upper limbs.

Forensic experts have been able to link such physical evidence from his remains to the life and death of Joachim du Bellay as detailed in the literature. Traces of bone tuberculosis and chronic meningitis were found on the skeleton, of which the poet showed symptoms in the last years of his life.

“He matches all the criteria of the portrait.’ Dr Crubézy said at a news conference last week, as quoted by La Croix and Live Science. ‘He is an accomplished horseman, suffers from both conditions mentioned in some of his poems, like in ‘The Complaint of the Despairing’. He describes “this storm that blurs his mind” and his family belonged to the royal court and the pope’s close entourage.’

However, Christophe Besnier, an INRAP archaeologist and excavation leader, suggested that some doubts remain. ‘Certain elements do not support this hypothesis,’ Besnier said. ‘Isotope analysis of the teeth indicates that the individual lived in the Paris region or Rhône-Alpes until he was 10 years old.  However, we know that Joachim du Bellay grew up in Anjou.’

It’s thought that without the cathedral fire five years ago the sarcophagi would be still lying undiscovered.

On April 15, 2019, millions worldwide watched in horror as firefighters battled through the night to save the cathedral as a fire tore through its roof and toppled the steeple. The 300-foot-tall Gothic spire collapsed into the embers early in the blaze to pained cries of locals transfixed by the unfolding scene.

One of one of Europe’s most-visited landmarks, the fierce blaze broke out just before 7pm local time in a roof area undergoing renovations.

‘Notre-Dame survived all the wars, all the bombardments. We never thought it could burn. I feel incredibly sad and empty,’ Stephane Seigneurie, a consultant who joined other shocked onlookers in a solemn rendition of ‘Ave Maria’ as they watched the fire from a nearby bridge.

Firefighters bravely worked to stop the flames and French authorities said the holy building was within ’15 to 30 minutes’ of complete destruction.

In September 2021, the French government announced the cathedral was finally stable and secure enough to start work to rebuild it. Following restoration work largely funded by €840 million from donors, Notre-Dame cathedral is due to reopen December 8 this year.

Last Week’s Birthdays

Taron Egerton (35), Walton Goggins (53), Hugh Bonneville (61), Neil Gaiman 64), Robert Duncan McNeill (60), Lou Ferrigno (73), Parker Posey (56), Matthew Rhys (50), Gretchen Mol (52), Alfre Woodard (72), Richard Curtis (68), Gordon Ramsay (58), Adam Devine (41),  Emma Stone (36), Ethan Hawke (54), Rebecca Romijn (52), Thandiwe Newton (52), Sally Field (78), Nigel Havers (73), Maria Shriver (69), Famke Janssen (60), Sam Rockwell (56), Tilda Swinton (64), Robert Patrick (66), Armin Shimerman (75), Matthew McConaughey (55), Ralph Macchio (63), Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs (55), Tanya Reynolds (33), Loretta Swit (87), and Olivia Taylor Dudley (39).

10th November 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 3rd November 2024

With a couple of months left to go, anyone scoring a Big Three could clinch the top spot! So all to play for! Sounds like some of you are already working on your lists for 2025 too! 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Strictly Come Dancing professional Amy Dowden was rushed to hospital after collapsing backstage following Saturday night’s live show. The Welsh dancer, 34, who recently battled breast cancer, fell ill at the show’s Hertfordshire studios shortly after performing with celebrity partner JB Gill. Paramedics were called to Elstree Studios after 9pm following reports of a medical emergency. A spokesperson for the East of England Ambulance Service said: “We were called just after 9pm on Saturday to attend a medical emergency at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood. An ambulance was sent to the scene. One patient, an adult female, was transported to Barnet Hospital for further care.” The health scare came moments after Dowden and former JLS star Gill performed the Foxtrot to Toploader’s Dancing In The Moonlight, scoring 32 points and placing fifth on the leaderboard. A spokesperson for Dowden said: “Amy was feeling unwell and so an ambulance was called as a precaution. She is feeling much better and would like to thank the Strictly family for their love and concern. We request Amy’s privacy in matters of health is kindly respected.” The dancer, who returned to Strictly in September after a two-year break, has endured a challenging year. She was diagnosed with cancer just one day after returning from her honeymoon with dancer husband Ben Jones in 2023. Despite initial hopes that surgery would be sufficient treatment, doctors discovered a second type of cancer in June. Dowden subsequently underwent a mastectomy and chemotherapy, while also battling a life-threatening case of sepsis during her treatment.  

The Toronto Zoo says its 52-year-old western lowland silverback gorilla, Charles, died Tuesday after the sudden onset of “significant health issues.” Charles had been a fixture at the zoo since its opening day in 1974. In a statement, the zoo described him as the “protective and wise leader” of its gorilla troop. “He will be dearly missed, and his memory will continue to inspire those who knew him to continue the fight against the extinction of this incredible, critically endangered species,” the zoo said. Charles was brought to Canada as an orphan from Gabon. Over his five decades at the zoo, he grew to weigh nearly 430 pounds and sired 10 offspring. He was also a grandfather to six gorillas. “His days were filled with moments of joy, quiet reflection, and family bonds — a testament to the complex social lives gorillas share,” the statement said. The zoo noted that despite his large size, Charles was afraid of toads. He also “despised” tall men because he saw them as rivals. Charles didn’t like when the donkeys or alpacas would walk past the gorilla enclosure, but never seemed to have a problem with dogs, the zoo added.  Late last week, zoo staff noticed Charles was “not his usual self,” the statement explained. He was moving more slowly and seemed to be breathing “a little quicker and harder.” Staff made a presumptive diagnosis of heart failure and, in consultation with subject matter experts, Charles was put on cardiac medication, the zoo said. He seemed to rally over the weekend and appeared to be doing well as of Tuesday morning. But in the afternoon, his health “deteriorated suddenly and quickly,” according to the zoo. The entire gorilla troop was able to see Charles before he passed to “say their goodbyes,” the zoo said. He died surrounded by his keepers. 

On This Day

  • 1936 – Franklin D. Roosevelt is elected the 32nd President of the United States.
  • 1957 – The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 2. On board is the first animal to enter orbit, a dog named Laika.
  • 1992 – Governor Bill Clinton defeats Republican President George H. W. Bush in the United States presidential election. 
  • 2014 – One World Trade Center officially opens in New York City, replacing the Twin Towers after they were destroyed during the September 11 attacks.

Deaths

  • 1926 – Annie Oakley, American entertainer and target shooter (b. 1860).
  • 1954 – Henri Matisse, French painter and sculptor (b. 1869).
  • 1998 – Bob Kane, American author and illustrator, co-created Batman (b. 1915).
  • 2002 – Lonnie Donegan, Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist (b. 1931).
  • 2018 – Sondra Locke, American actress and director (b. 1944).

Last Meals

South Carolina death row inmate Richard Moore’s last words were ones of contrition after he was executed by lethal injection on Friday for the 1999 fatal shooting of a convenience store clerk.

Moore, 59, was put to death despite a broad appeal for mercy by parties that included three jurors and the judge from his trial, a former prison director, pastors and members of his family. He pronounced dead at 6:24 p.m.

Moore was convicted of killing James Mahoney, the Spartanburg clerk, in September 1999 and sentenced to death two years later.

Afterward prison spokeswoman Chrysti Shain read his last words at a news conference.

‘To the family of Mr. James Mahoney, I am deeply sorry for the pain and sorrow I caused you all,’ he said.

‘To my children and granddaughters, I love you and am so proud of you. Thank you for the joy you have brought to my life. To all of my family and friends, new and old, thank you for your love and support.’ 

His final meal was steak cooked medium, fried catfish and shrimp, scalloped potatoes, green peas, broccoli with cheese, sweet potato pie, German chocolate cake and grape juice.

Moore went into the store unarmed, took a gun from the victim when it was pointed at him and fatally shot him in the chest as the victim shot him with a second gun in the arm.

Moore´s lawyers asked Republican Gov. Henry McMaster to reduce his sentence to life in prison without parole because of his spotless prison record and willingness to be a mentor to other inmates.

They also said it would be unjust to execute someone for what could be considered self-defence and unfair that Moore, who was Black, was the only inmate on the state’s death row convicted by a jury without any African Americans.

But McMaster refused to grant clemency. In a letter, he did not give a reason why but said he reviewed all the items submitted by Moore´s lawyers and spoke to the victim’s family.

No South Carolina governor has reduced a death sentence, and 45 executions have now been carried out in the state since the U.S. Supreme Court allowed states to restart them nearly 50 years ago.

Unlike in previous executions, the curtain to the death chamber was open when media witnesses arrived. Moore’s last words had already been read by Lindsey Vann, his lawyer of 10 years. 

Moore had his eyes closed, and his head was pointed toward the ceiling. A prison employee announced the execution could begin at 6:01 p.m.

He took several deep breaths that sounded like snores over the next minute. Then he took some shallow breaths until about 6:04, when his breathing stopped. Moore showed no obvious signs of discomfort.

Vann cried as the employee announced the execution could start. She clutched a prayer bracelet with a cross. Sitting beside her was a spiritual advisor, his hands on his knees, palms up. Vann clutched a prayer bracelet with a cross.

Two members of the victims’ family were also present, along with Solicitor Barry Barnette, who was on the prosecution team that convicted Moore. They all watched stoically.

Last Week’s Birthdays

Dolph Lundgren (67), Kate Capshaw (71), Roseanne Barr (72), Lulu (76), David Schwimmer (58), Stefanie Powers (82), Toni Collette (52), Anthony Kiedis (62), Peter Jackson (63), Erica Cerra (45), Stephen Rea (78), Clémence Poésy (42), Fiona Dourif (43), Henry Winkler (79), Jessica Hynes (52), Winona Ryder (53), Rufus Sewell (57), Ben Foster (44), Richard Dreyfuss (77), Dan Castellaneta (67), Joaquin Phoenix (50), Annie Potts (72), Julia Roberts (57), Gwendoline Christie (46), Matt Smith (42), and Joanna Scanlan (63).

3rd November 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 27th October 2024

Surprisingly nobody had Americas oldest person, so a few points missed out on there, and sadly we have lost Geoff Capes, a childhood hero to those of us of a certain age!

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced Hollywood mogul whose alleged sexual misconduct fuelled the #MeToo movement and who was recently indicted on new charges, has chronic myeloid leukaemia. The Flying Monkeys say that Weinstein is undergoing treatment in prison at Rikers Island in New York. Chronic myeloid leukaemia is an uncommon form of cancer of the bone marrow, according to our medical expert, Dr F Monkey. In a statement on Monday night, Weinstein’s legal health care representative Craig Rothfeld said in part, “Out of respect for Mr. Weinstein’s privacy, we will offer no further comment.” The news of Weinstein’s diagnosis comes amid a myriad of health issues. Last month, he underwent emergency heart surgery to alleviate a significant amount of fluid in his lungs and heart. In July, he was hospitalised and tested positive for Covid-19 and double pneumonia. Tick tock Harvey, your time is up!!!  

A 36-year-old surfer from Italy died after being impaled by a swordfish while surfing the waters in Indonesia. Giulia Manfrini, a surfer from Turin, was reportedly struck in the chest by a swordfish on Friday in the Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra Province, a popular surfing destination known for its beautiful waters and challenging waves. James Colston, who set up a travel agency with Manfrini, said on Instagram: “Even with the brave efforts of her partner, local resort staff and doctors, Giulia couldn’t be saved.” The swordfish “unexpectedly jumped towards Manfrini and pierced her chest”, said Lahmudin Siregar, acting head of the Mentawai Islands’ Disaster Management Agency. “The information we received from the Head of Southwest Siberut District was that an accident occurred with an Italian citizen while surfing,” Mr Siregar told the Flying Monkeys. The swordfish left a two-inch deep wound and although Manfrini was rushed to a nearby clinic, she died shortly after. Mr Colston called it “a freak accident” and said that “we believe she died doing what she loved, in a place that she loved”. “Giulia was the lifeblood of this company and her infectious enthusiasm for surf, snow and life will be remembered by all that came in contact with her,” he said. The news of her sudden death has left her 22,000 Instagram followers heartbroken, where she often shared her surfing adventures. Tributes poured in from her colleagues and Fabio Giulivi, the mayor of her hometown, Venaria Reale.  

A funeral home in Poland has been forced to apologise after a corpse fell out of a hearse into traffic. Hades Funeral Services, the company transferring the corpse in the city of Stalowa Wola in south eastern Poland, said the incident was caused by an “unexpected technical failure” involving the vehicle’s lock. A man driving on Friday in Stalowa Wola first noticed a sheet on his car window before realising a body was lying on the road after the sheet slid down, according to reports in local media. Polish media reported the driver briefly worried he had hit the person. Local press published an image of the corpse lying on a white striped pedestrian crossing where it had tumbled out of the hearse. In a statement on their website shared on Saturday, Hades Funeral Services said: “It is with deep regret that we inform you that as a result of an unexpected technical failure of the electric tailgate lock in the hearse, during the transport of the body of the deceased, an unfortunate event occurred”. The funeral company said the incident “does not reflect the high standards of our company, our deep empathy towards the families of the deceased, and the respect we always show to the deceased” as they apologised to “all those who were disappointed and upset by this event.”

On This Day

  • 1962 – By refusing to agree to the firing of a nuclear torpedo at a US warship, Vasily Arkhipov averts nuclear war.
  • 1994 – Gliese 229B is the first exoplanet to be unquestionably identified. 
  • 2018 – Leicester City F.C. owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha dies in a helicopter crash along with four others after a Premier League match against West Ham United.

Deaths

  • 939 – Æthelstan, English king.
  • 1930 – Ellen Hayes, American mathematician and astronomer (b. 1851).
  • 1988 – Charles Hawtrey, English actor, singer, and pianist (b. 1914).
  • 2013 – Lou Reed, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer, and actor (b. 1942)

The woman who ‘died and visited Hell’  

A woman who was pronounced dead for 11 minutes has offered a vivid account of the afterlife, insisting that she’s seen both heaven and hell with her own eyes.

In 2019, Charlotte Holmes of Wichita, Kansas, was having a routine checkup with her cardiologist when her blood pressure suddenly spiked.

She was told that she was either having a stroke or was about to have a heart attack and so was rushed to hospital where she was placed on an intravenous drip.

As medical staff rushed to save her, she started describing beautiful flowers to her husband Danny, who was by her side throughout the ordeal.

“Well, I looked around, and I knew there were no flowers in that room,” Danny later told Christian chat show The 700 Club. “That’s when I knew she was not in this world.”

It turns out, Charlotte’ s heart had stopped. And for the next 11 minutes, she was clinically dead.

Speaking to the same TV show, Charlotte, who was then aged 68, recalled: “I could see Danny standing in the corner, I could see all the nurses around. Then I opened my eyes, I looked around at the beauty. I could see the trees, I could see the grass. And everything was swaying with the music, because everything in heaven worships God.” 

She then stressed that she was unable to convey “what heaven looked like” because “it’s so above what we can even imagine by a million times, a million times”.

The great-grandmother claimed that she was led into heaven by angels, and stressed that she felt “no fear” only “pure joy”.

Then, she said, she began to recognise deceased family members, including her mother, father and sister.

“See, they didn’t look old, they didn’t look sick, none of them wore glasses,” she continued. “They looked like they were in their 30s. They looked wonderful.”

She then explained the shock she felt when, standing behind her mum and dad, she saw a blindingly bright light which she “knew” to be God. Alongside Him, she saw a toddler, whom “her Heavenly Father” informed her was her son.

“I lost that child,” she explained. “I was five-and-a-half months pregnant. I can remember them holding the baby up and saying, Charlotte, it’s a boy. Then he was gone.

“So when I saw this toddler, I said, ‘God, how is that possible?’ And he says, ‘They continue to grow in heaven’.”

Following this heartwarming reunion, Charlotte said God chose to show her one more thing: “the edge of hell.”

“I looked down, and the smell, and then rotten flesh – that’s what it smelled like – and then screams,” she recounted. “After seeing the beauty of heaven, the contrast to seeing hell is almost unbearable.” She continued: “And He says, ‘I show you this to tell you, if some of them do not change their ways, this is where they shall reside”.”

Then, she said she heard her father instruct her to “to go back and share” what she’d learnt. And, suddenly, she “felt herself being drawn back into her body” and was back in her hospital bed.

Charlotte made a full recovery and was released from hospital two weeks later, after which she did her utmost to share her story with as many people as possible.

“People need hope,” she said. “They want to know that there really is something out there, they want to know that everything’s OK.” She continued: “Heaven is more than you can imagine. I’m so grateful I can look you square in the eye and tell you for sure, heaven is real.”

Charlotte died four years later, at the age of 72, on 28 November, 2023. She was survived by Danny, their daughter, two grandkids and one great grandson.

Last Week’s Birthdays

John Cleese (85), Robert Picardo (71), Cary Elwes (62), Seth MacFarlane (51), Jon Heder (47), Roger Allam (71), Katy Perry (40), Nancy Cartwright (67), Glynis Barber (69), Kevin Kline (77), Charlie Vickers (32), F. Murray Abraham (85), Ryan Reynolds (48), Emilia Clarke (38), ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic (65), Derek Jacobi (86), Christopher Lloyd (86), Jeff Goldblum (72), Bob Odenkirk (62), Catherine Deneuve (81), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (49), Andrew Scott (48), Kim Kardashian (44), and Ken Watanabe (65).

29th October 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 20th October 2024

I don’t know if you heard, as the media have barely covered it, but a member of One Direction died last week… 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

A British influencer has plunged to his death while attempting to scale Spain’s highest bridge without safety equipment for an Instagram stunt. Lewis Stevenson, 26, fell from the 630ft Castilla La Mancha bridge on Sunday morning after ignoring his family’s pleas to call off the risky climb. Speaking from his home in Derby, his grandfather Clifford Stevenson, 70, told the Flying Monkeys: ‘We all tried to talk him out of it. We were always trying to talk him out of doing things but that was the way he was. He loved doing it, always went out there believing he’d be alright. He did what he did for his own pleasure. He did not get any money for it, he was an adventurer’. Tributes to Lewis were led by his heartbroken girlfriend Savannah Parker, who revealed that the last thing he said to her was ‘Good night, I love you’ the night before his death. Stevenson showcased some of his ‘rooftoping’ around the world on his Instagram page under the name expedition. Dizzying photos of Stevenson atop a New York skyscraper and resting on a metal beam overlooking the City of London were among those documented by Stevenson. Other photos showed the daredevil hanging from a structure in Croatia and a hotel roof in Mexico City. One of his most recent climbing stunts on October 3rd was to the top of a stand at Nottingham Forest’s ground. Authorities in Spain said Stevenson was accompanied by a 24 year old friend. He was said to be in shock at the tragedy but is unlikely to face any criminal charges. The pair had scaled a quarter of the 630ft bridge when Stevenson lost his grip and fell. Local councillor Macarena Munoz said accessing the bridge was ‘totally banned’ and said Stevenson’s body was found at 7.14am on Sunday. A source close to the investigation said: ‘Both the dead man and the companion that survived were climbing without any harnesses or other protection.  

Olympic legend Sir Chris Hoy has revealed he has “two to four years” left to live after a recent terminal cancer diagnosis. Hoy, 48, announced in February that he was being treated for cancer. However, after a scan last September showed a tumour in his shoulder, a second scan found the main cancer to be in his prostate – which has since spread to Hoy’s shoulder, pelvis, hip, ribs and spine. The six-time Olympic cycling champion, who has two children aged seven and 10, has now revealed he has been given a terminal cancer diagnosis and has two to four years left to live. He added that he had kept his terminal diagnosis private for a year and also divulged that his wife, Sarra, has “very active and aggressive” multiple sclerosis after a scan last year. “As unnatural as it feels, this is nature,” Hoy told the Flying Monkeys. “You know, we were all born and we all die, and this is just part of the process. You remind yourself, ‘aren’t I lucky that there is medicine I can take that will fend this off for as long as possible’. But most of the battle for me with cancer hasn’t been physical. For me, it has been in my head.” The former track cyclist is an 11-time world champion as well as a six-time Olympic champion, who competed for Great Britain at four Olympic Games between 2000 and 2012. Hoy is Scotland’s most successful Olympian and has the second-most British gold medals behind Jason Kenny.  

Jeremy Clarkson has undergone a heart procedure after experiencing sudden health “deterioration”. The Clarkson’s Farm host, who recently cut his professional ties with Grand Tour co-stars Richard Hammond and James May, has said a doctor told him he was “maybe” days away from dying. Clarkson first started struggling while swimming from a boat to the beach while on holiday on a small island, explaining that: “It wasn’t far, maybe the length of two swimming pools. But when I finally reached the beach, there was more water in my lungs than there is in Lake Superior, and I was mostly dead.” His worries were heightened when he struggled to walk up the stairs without holding somebody’s hand. He told the Flying Monkeys: “I’m not exaggerating. These problems all manifested themselves in one day.” He returned to the UK and, after feeling a tightness in his chest and pins and needles in his left arm, he was rushed to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford in an ambulance. Clarkson said that the “sudden deterioration” that “began to gather pace” left him especially concerned after the death of Alex Salmond from a heart attack earlier this month. However, after having several checks, including an electrocardiogram (ECG), the presenter was told he was not having a heart attack – but that he was “maybe” days away from death. Clarkson wrote: “It seems that of the arteries feeding my heart with nourishing blood, one was completely blocked and the second of three was heading that way. “So he made a hole in my wrist, inserted his Dyno-Rod equipment and went in for a closer look. The question was this. Were the arteries so ruined that I’d need an emergency heart bypass? Or could he use his Dyno-Rods and some ultrasonic battering rams to loosen them up before inserting a stent?” Clarkson said that “mercifully”, the doctor was able to insert a stent, which he said “wasn’t especially painful – just odd”. The presenter said the scary experience made him think, “Crikey, that was close.” 

On This Day

  • 1947 – The House Un-American Activities Committee begins its investigation into Communist infiltration of the Hollywood film industry, resulting in a blacklist that prevents some from working in the industry for years. 
  • 1973 – The Sydney Opera House is opened by Elizabeth II after 14 years of construction. 
  • 1977 – A plane carrying the rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd crashes in woodland in Mississippi, United States. Six people, including three band members, are killed. 
  • 2011 – Rebel forces capture Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi and his son Mutassim in his hometown of Sirte and kill him shortly thereafter, ending the first Libyan civil war. 
  • 2022 – Liz Truss steps down as British Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party after tanking the British economy, serving for the least time of any British Prime Minister [49 days]. 

Deaths

  • 1964 – Herbert Hoover, American engineer & politician, 31st President of the United States (b. 1874). 
  • 1977 – Steve Gaines, American guitarist (b. 1949). 
  • 1977 – Ronnie Van Zant, American singer-songwriter (b. 1948). 
  • 1984 – Paul Dirac, English-American physicist and mathematician (b. 1902). 
  • 1994 – Burt Lancaster, American actor (b. 1913). 
  • 2003 – Jack Elam, American actor (b. 1918). 
  • 2010 – Bob Guccione, American publisher, founded Penthouse magazine (b. 1930). 
  • 2011 – Muammar Gaddafi, Libyan colonel & politician, Prime Minister of Libya (b. 1942).
  • 2020 – James Randi, Canadian-American stage magician and author (b. 1928). 

Rest in Peace, Patti McGee

The skateboarding world is heartbroken by the news of legendary Patti McGee’s passing on October 17, 2024. An icon, an innovator, a skateboarder, and a straight-up badass, Patti’s influence on skateboarding will live on forever.

All of skateboarding felt this one. It’s a tough pill to swallow, and while I’ve seen countless heartwarming posts from top pros, skateboarding enthusiasts, friends, family and everyone else in between sharing memories and stories of Patti, I really enjoyed former TWS alumni, Miki Vuckovich’s post and all the kind words he shared

“FAREWELL TO THE QUEEN – I last saw Patti McGee less than two weeks ago at the Oceanside Band Shell, site of many historic skateboarding events. Except this time she was there cheering and supporting a group of youth and adaptive skateboarders at the @poseidenfoundation competition, more than a half century after she made national and international news, winning the first Women’s National Skateboarding Championship title in 1964,” he wrote on Instagram.

“She would appear on the covers of both LIFE magazine and Skateboarder magazine the following year, plus the Dick Clark Show and other popular TV programs. She was the poster girl for the ‘Craze And The Menace of Skateboarding,’ as LIFE magazine called it. And in the past couple of decades, she and her daughter @yeahailey could be seen at skate events, large and small, continuing to share her story, her presence, and her support for the new communities that have adopted skateboarding as their own – groups that hadn’t previously seen themselves in skateboarding, but have stepped in to become part of our growing community.” 

I was fortunate enough to meet Patti a few times myself and she was always the kindest, most charming human. An absolute legend! Yet so humble, real and sincere. One thing was certain – she loved skateboarding. And skateboarding loved her right back. The mark she left on the culture is incredible and the influence she had is monumental. Style like hers can’t be faked! She was as real as it gets.

“A couple days after we were with her in Oceanside, Patti entered hospice care,” Miki continued. “She passed last night, and the tributes have been rolling through the channels like a champion skateboarder who saw an opportunity to share what she loved and went for it. And she continued sharing, right to the end.” 

News like this is never easy to take, but it’s a great time to reflect and remember just how amazing of a person Patti was. If you skate, then I’d guarantee you’ve been seeing posts about the news as well. Take some time and read through the stories, scroll through some photos and honour the life of skateboarding’s official queen, Patti McGee. Our hearts go out to her entire family.

“The Queen is dead,” Miki concluded. “Long live the Queen.”

And we’ll echo that, Mik. RIP Patti McGee.

Last Week’s Birthdays

Viggo Mortensen (66), John Krasinski (45), Snoop Dogg (53), Kamala Harris (60), Rebecca Ferguson (41), John Lithgow (79), Katja Herbers (44), Barry Keoghan (32), Zac Efron (37), Jean-Claude Van Damme (64), Pam Dawber (73), Felicity Jones (41), Michael McKean (77), Eminem (52), George Wendt (76), Tim Robbins (66), Dominic West (55), Lori Petty (61),  and Steve Coogan (59).

20th October 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 13th October 2024

Another pointless week, and apologies for the long read, but you might find it all very  fascinating! Thanks as always to everyone who sends stories in, much appreciated. 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Terminally ill BBC DJ Johnnie Walker has shared “a very sad announcement” with his listeners. Walker, who has worked at the BBC since 1969, began his career at Radio 1 before moving to Radio 2 in 1998, where he currently hosts Sounds of the 70s and The Radio 2 Rock Show. However, the DJ, who was previously told he should “prepare to die at any moment”, is officially retiring at the end of October due to his declining health. Walker, 79, shared a message live on air on Sunday during the latest episode of Sounds of the 70s, in which he told his listeners: “The struggles I’ve had with doing the show and trying to sort of keep up a professional standard suitable for Radio 2 has been getting more and more difficult. “So I’ve had to make the decision that I need to bring my career to an end after 58 years. And so I’ll be doing my last Sounds of the 70s on 27th October.” Walker said he will “make the last three shows as good as I possibly can”. Back in June, the DJ suggested his popular radio show was keeping him alive, stating: “As long as I can keep doing the show I will. It gives me a purpose. If I stopped doing it I’d probably die a lot sooner. Since Walker was diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an inflation of the lungs, he has been presenting his radio shows from his home in Dorset. Walker needs round-the-clock care and is being looked after, full-time, by his wife, Tiggy. The couple opened up about Walker’s terminal illness on BBC Sounds podcast, Walker and Walker: Johnnie and Tiggy, in honour of Carers Week back in June. In the special, the DJ opened up about having “only a finite amount of time left here in the physical before I pass over”, calling it “a very reflective time for us”. Walker, who was previously cared for by Tiggy when he was diagnosed with cancer shortly after their marriage in 2006, told his wife: “Here we are at the end of my life when you’re having to care for me all over again.”  

Celebrity hairdresser Trevor Sorbie MBE has bravely announced he has terminal bowel cancer and that he ‘might not make it to Christmas’. The 75-year-old shared his heartbreaking news on This Morning last week, joined by his wife Carole in the studio. Trevor, who found out about his devastating diagnosis in June, revealed to hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard that he had been given six months to live. The businessman said, “I lost a lot of blood one night and was unusually disturbed about that. I went to the hospital, and they told me I had bowel cancer.” Trevor shared the emotional turmoil that followed the diagnosis, including a panic attack that left him and Carole speechless. He explained, “I had a little panic attack and Carole and I looked at each other and we were just both speechless walking down the road… I didn’t know what to say.” Despite the initial shock, Trevor found temporary relief in a gin and tonic, confessing, “I went and had a big gin and tonic and that helped!” However, his challenges were far from over as the cancer soon spread to his liver. He said, “I had a six-hour operation, but it came back to my liver, had another operation, and now the major growth they won’t cut it out because it’s too close to a major blood vessel.” Despite the severity of his condition, Trevor’s resolve remains unshaken. He remarked, “The thing is with me, I never wake up thinking, ‘Oh poor me, I’ve got cancer,’ or feel sorry for myself.” Pointing to his stomach, Trevor continued: “I know I’ve got it here but I haven’t got it here,” and to his head, adding, “I’ve been going to work two days a week, up until two weeks ago. “I go there because that’s my medicine, that is my life. Sixty years I’ve worked passionately to achieve beyond my wildest dreams and when I go in, it’s my staff. I’ve had them for up to 30 years, they are like family, I’m just one of the team.”

On This Day

  • 54 – Roman emperor Claudius dies from poisoning under mysterious circumstances. He is succeeded by his adoptive son Nero.  
  • 1792 – In Washington, D.C., the cornerstone of the United States Executive Mansion (known as the White House since 1818) is laid.
  • 1908 – Margaret Travers Symons bursts into the UK parliament and becomes the first woman to speak there.

Deaths

The Best Way to Go

After languishing on Death Row for almost 25 years, convicted murderer Richard Moore now faces an agonising decision – choosing how he will be executed.

The 59-year-old American has less than a week to pick his fate for fatally shooting a shop assistant in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, during a botched robbery in September 1999.

Jail officials have told him he has three options: death by firing squad, electric chair or lethal injection. If he can’t make up his mind, he will be electrocuted by default on November 1st.

And as Moore mulls over how he will ultimately end his life, his Death Row dilemma has once again thrust the debate over state-sanctioned executions back into the spotlight.

Although deemed ‘humane’ methods of death, each of his options come with their own nightmarish risks, which could see Moore facing a tortuous and excruciatingly painful end.

Prisoners strapped to the electric chair have previously burst into flames, as their flesh melted away, blood ‘boiled’ and eyes ‘exploded in their skulls’. While those put to death by lethal injection were seen writhing in agony, taking an hour or more to die as the chemicals ravaged their insides.

And although death by firing squad is touted as perhaps one of the quickest ways of the three to die, with hearts stopping in some in around 15 seconds, it is messy – and poor shooting can lead to inmates slowly bleeding to death.

Now we delve into the brutal world of capital punishments – and which methods of execution are still being used today.  

Lethal injection – First developed in the US in 1977, but now used in China and parts of Africa and Asia, the lethal injection is one of the most common methods of execution used today.

Condemned people are restrained before being injected with a series of drugs which will put them to sleep, stop their breathing and cause a fatal heart attack

First, the inmate is secured, strip-searched and monitored in the execution room. They are then usually plied with Midazolam, an anaesthetic intended to render them unconscious. Another has saline to flush it back out of the IV line. A dose is expected to take up to two minutes to kick in.

After five, officials check the patient is unconscious before applying bromide or equivalent. An anaesthesiologist told the Flying Monkeys if the inmate is not unconscious at this stage, the injection will ‘feel like they’re drowning’.

The condemned then receives a shot intended to paralyse them, followed by more saline. This stops them from moving – but also means they cannot communicate distress. Bromide would likely stop breathing. 

After another couple of minutes, potassium chloride is usually injected to stop the heart. Conscious, an inmate might feel like their arm is on fire, an expert told us. Within a minute, this causes cardiac arrest and death.

The method is supposed to be a more ‘humane’ means of execution but has flaws. Miscalculations can leave patients conscious for an excruciating death. It took Joseph Lewis Clark nearly 90 minutes to die in 2006, and Joseph Wood required a two-hour procedure and as many as 15 shots before he died.

The nature of the procedure has caused some difficulty, requiring medical professionals, who are sworn to protect human life, to administer the drugs, creating a conflict of interest. Nonetheless, firms have looked to get around the issues of a three-part injection with a simplified single shot.

Between 1976 and 2023, 1,392 executions in the US were carried out by lethal injection. This makes it by far the most common means of capital punishment, with 163 electrocutions, 11 killed in gas chambers, three hanged and three executed by firing squad. 

Electrocution – It was a method of death dreamt up by a drunken dentist more than 140 years ago as a more humane alternative to other forms of capital punishment, such as hanging.

The electric chair has been used in America for more than century but has garnered a reputation as one of the most gruesome execution methods.

Strapped down to a chair, with high-voltage electrodes attached to the head and legs, prisoners are blasted with up to three jolts of electricity, starting at 2,000 volts for 4.5 seconds, then – if death hasn’t occurred – 1,000 volts for eight seconds and 120 volts for two minutes.

But the procedure has led to hellish scenes of inmates bursting into flames as their skin melts and eyes exploding.

The first person executed by electric chair was William Kemmler, on August 6, 1890, in New York state. Afterwards, a reporter witnessing the death said: ‘Probably no convicted murderer of modern times has been made to suffer as Kemmler suffered.’  

Firing squad – ‘It’s an almost instantaneous death, it’s the cheapest, it’s the simplest, it has the lowest “botch” rate,’ declared Corinna Lain, a law professor at the University of Richmond.

But death by firing squad has only recently come back into use in America after falling out of favour for being too grisly and messy.

Earlier this year South Carolina revealed plans to restart executions by firing squad after state prosecutors said deaths don’t need to be quick and painless. The push shocked many – but the state is not alone in using firing squads to execute its prisoners. 

The last firing squad execution in the US was surprisingly recent, with Ronnie Lee Gardner executed at Utah State Prison on June 18, 2010 for killing an attorney during a dramatic courthouse escape attempt. Five prison staff shot Gardner from 25ft with .30 calibre rifles. He was pronounced dead two minutes later.

While the practice was meant to have been discontinued in China in 2010, the use of firing squads have been recorded since.

In one case, a man who stabbed nine school children – Zhao Zewei – was shot dead by a firing squad in 2018 in front of a crowd of villagers.

In Somalia, too, the practice is still used to punish criminals. In 2015, Hassan Hanafi, a former media officer for the Somali Islamist group al Shabaab, was tied up at a police academy square in the capital Mogadishu before being shot following a conviction for murdering five journalists. 

And in Yemen, still, Houthi authorities reserve the punishment of death by firing squad for serious crimes. In 2021, nine men found guilty of spying for the opposing Saudi-led coalition forces were put to death, executed publicly in Tahrir Square in the rebel-held capital of Sanaa.

South Carolina’s ­firing squad consists of three ­volunteers from the prison guards who, after meeting ‘certain qualifications’ that officials haven’t specified, have been trained to fire a single round at a target placed on the heart from 15 feet (4.6 metres) away. Unlike in other states which put a blank round in one of the guns, each of the three is issued with live ammunition. 

The state has spent more than £40,000 adapting its death ­chamber at a prison in its capital city of Columbia to cater for death by bullet. A metal chair has been installed in a corner of the chamber which sits within a large metal tray – to catch the blood. A rectangular box directly behind the chair is designed to absorb the bullets.

After being allowed to make a final statement, the prisoner is strapped into the chair and a hood placed over their head.

The firing squad point their rifles through a hole cut in a brick wall, allowing them to remain out of view of official witnesses, who are behind bulletproof glass.

An execution team member will place a ‘small aim point’ over the inmate’s heart, and after the prison warden reads the ­execution order, they will open fire. A doctor will then examine the body to confirm death. Two years ago, a court hearing revealed the state wanted to use ‘fragmentation’ bullets which break up inside their target, causing greater damage but providing a more ‘instantaneous’ death than conventional solid rounds.  

Beheading – The majority of state executions in Saudi Arabia are still carried out by sword decapitation. It is a particularly bloody and violent means of capital punishment only carried out by Saudi Arabia – and can be used for a variety of crimes including murder, apostasy (abandoning Islam), homosexuality, witchcraft or sorcery, and ‘waging war on God’.

On March 12, 2022, 81 people were beheaded – the largest mass execution in recent years, despite promises to limit use of such measures.

Human Rights Watch slammed the Saudi authorities for a ‘brutal show of autocratic rule’, noting many families found out about the deaths of their loved ones ‘just like the rest of us, after the fact and through the media’. They also questioned the ‘fairness of their trials and sentencing’.

Reprieve has said the tenure of Mohammed bin Salman since 2015 saw a 82 per cent rise in the number of yearly beheadings over the period 2015 – 2021.

In 2003, state executioner Muhammad Saad al-Beshi detailed exactly how these brutal killings take place, sometimes with a gun, others a sword. He said of his first execution in 1998: ‘The criminal was tied and blindfolded. With one stroke of the sword I severed his head. It rolled metres away. There are many people who faint when they witness an execution. I don’t know why they come and watch if they don’t have the stomach for it,’ said the father of seven, who has been known to let his children clean the sword after a killing.

‘No one is afraid of me. I have a lot of relatives, and many friends at the mosque, and I live a normal life like everyone else. There are no drawbacks for my social life.’  

Gas chambers – In Europe, gas chambers invoke the horrific memory of the Holocaust, which saw some six million Jewish men, women and children systematically killed by the Nazis between 1941 and 1945. The programme began with trials on people with physical and intellectual disabilities deemed ‘unworthy of life’ – and was extended to the Roma people and other victims of the Holocaust.

Since then, the practice has almost completely died out as a means of capital punishment. But the United States remains a notable exception. ‘Lethal gas’ remains a legal means of execution in seven states – Alabama, Arizona, California, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wyoming – though all have lethal injection listed as their primary method.

The means of execution is not quick. The 1999 execution of German national Walter LaGrand in Arizona was described as ‘barbaric’ by German Justice Minister Herta Daeubler-Gmelin, lasting 18 minutes. It was the last time the means was used.

The 1992 execution of Robert Alton Harris in California was likewise described as a ‘macabre and surreal scene’, dying 14 minutes after the execution order was given.

Harris died after requesting a mammoth order for his last meals: 21 pieces of KFC, two large Domino’s pizzas, a bag of jelly beans, a six-pack of Pepsi and a packet of cigarettes.

In 1994, David Lawson was put to death by gas chamber in North Carolina for the murder of Wayne Shinn during a burglary. Cyanide pellets were dropped into a bowl of sulfuric acid in the chamber, splashing Lawson with acid. He struggled so hard as to break the restraints around his leg and screamed ‘I am human’ several times as mucus poured out of his nose onto his blindfold. Lawson took about ten minutes to die, left alone screaming in the chamber.

In 2021, The Flying Monkeys revealed that Arizona had ‘refurbished’ its gas chamber to prepare for executions, according to documents seen by the outlet. They reported the state was ‘preparing to kill death row inmates using hydrogen cyanide, the same lethal gas that was deployed at Auschwitz’. 

Mobile death vans – While China does not release its official figures, rights groups believe many thousands of people are executed each year by the state with horrifying means including mobile death vans, firing squads and lethal injections.

Death sentences are frequently handed down for crimes ranging from drug trafficking to murder, but also white collar crimes such as corruption. 

According to a report published in 2021, China’s Penal Code of 1997 – which is still in force today – has 46 crimes punishable by death, including 24 violent crimes  and 22 non-violent crimes. The country’s justice system is also notorious for favouring prosecutors, with Chinese courts having a 99.9 percent conviction rate.

To expedite killings, China is claimed to use mobile death vans in some cases, allowing roaming death squads to carry out the state-sanctioned killings of civilians without the need to move the prisoner to an execution ground.

On the outside, they appear as normal police vehicles, with no external markings to indicate what it is used for. On the inside, however, is an execution chamber. According to reports, the rear of the vehicle houses a windowless chamber where the execution itself takes place.

Several CCTV cameras are also present in the van, meaning the execution can be recorded or watched if officials desire to monitor it.

A bed slides out from the wall of the van, to which the convicted criminal is strapped. A syringe is then put into their arm by a technician, before a police official administers a lethal injection by pressing a button.

The concept of the vans, which reports suggest were first used in the late 1990s, have drawn comparisons to larger models developed by the Nazis in the Second World War to gas Jewish prisoners during the Holocaust.

Minghui, a volunteer operation reporting on the Falun Gong community, said the buses had been in use in China since 2004 for their expediency in killing political dissidents.

‘In the eyes of CCP officials, the biggest advantage of the execution vehicle is the convenience of taking organs from criminals for profit: their eyes, kidneys, livers, pancreas, lung and all other useful body parts, are harvested,’ they concluded, referencing China’s alleged organ harvesting trade. 

Nitrogen gas – Kenneth Eugene Smith stopped breathing at eight minutes past eight in the evening of January 25, 2024. He had spent more than 35 years serving a jury-decided life sentence for the paid assassination of Elizabeth Sennett in Alabama in 1988, but it was his dramatic last moments that would immortalise his name. 

It took Smith 22 minutes to die under the effects of nitrogen hypoxia, an American first that state officials had assured the public would be a quick and painless death after a judge overrode the ruling and imposed the death penalty. Smith writhed around in pain for nearly ten minutes before his breathing appeared to stop.

Strapped to a gurney, he struggled as his lungs filled with nitrogen. His final words were recorded as: ‘Tonight, Alabama causes humanity to take a step backwards. I’m leaving with love, peace, and light. Thank you for supporting me. Love all of you.’

The state execution and its harshness immediately prompted outcry from rights groups, condemning the state for going ahead with the experimental means of execution a year after failing to end his life with a botched lethal injection.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said at the time the method could ‘amount to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under international human rights law.’ The Alabama Attorney General dismissed the complaints, judging it ‘textbook’.

The means of execution has proven controversial, dividing voters on whether it is an effective and humane means of capital punishment. But on February 22, not even a month since Smith’s horrifying death in Alabama, the state said it was looking to execute a second inmate using nitrogen gas.

Alan Eugene Miller, 59, could become the second person to be executed by nitrogen hypoxia in the US if the plan goes ahead.  Miller has been on death row since 2000 after he was convicted of killing three people in two 1999 workplace shootings. Miller pleaded innocent, citing mental disease or defect. His attorneys said he was ‘at best, very slow’ and should be in a mental health facility rather than a prison.  

Stoning – The brutal execution method of stoning a person to death is documented in the Torah, written centuries before the common era – and remains in use in several countries including Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen and the UAE. 

Earlier this month, Houthi rebels in Yemen sentenced 13 people to be stoned to death for homosexuality – a charge typical in the region, according to human rights groups. A 2022 report by the Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor said the Houthis have sentenced 350 people to death since seizing the capital in 2014, and have executed 11 of them.

In 2020, horrifying footage showed an Afghan woman being stoned to death by an angry mob as she cowered and screamed in a hole. The Afghan president blamed the Taliban, who claimed the footage was from 2015. Activists were unconvinced ‘The intensity of their violence and what they can do against women in the absence of law and order is clearly visible,’ said prominent activist Laila Haidari at the time. In the video, the woman can be heard crying and screaming while the crowd shouts ‘Allahu Akbar’ and ‘hit her’. The victim, named only as Rokhshana, was accused of adultery because she was engaged to a man she did not want to marry, Afghan authorities said at the time.

ISIS (and Al-Qaeda) also used sickening stoning practices at the height of its claim to parts of Iraq and Syria. Footage from 2015 in the stronghold of Mosul showed crowds gathering to watch jihadis murder a defenceless couple accused of having sex before marriage.

Young boys clamber onto their fathers’ shoulders to get a better view of the man and woman being charged with ‘fornication’, before Mosul-based executioner-in-chief Abu Ansar al-Ansari orders their stoning to death.

A militant with a yellow scarf covering his face is then seen using a microphone and PA system to read out the charge of ‘fornication’ against the couple, suggesting they had not been charged of adultery.

In a sudden act of brutality, militants are then seen taking large stones from a pile heaped in the middle of the road and throwing them at the blindfolded couple, who have their hands bound to prevent them from getting away. Large pools of blood appear in the road before the couple succumb to their injuries.

Even today, stoning remains a fairly common punishment in Iran. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last year the government was executing people at ‘an alarming rate.’ He said at least 419 people received capital punishment in the first seven months of 2023, an increase of 30% from the same period last year. Crimes punishable by the death penalty in Iran include adultery, sodomy, murder, rape, armed robbery, kidnapping and drug trafficking. 

Anti-aircraft guns – North Korea has deliberately separated itself from the norms and customs of its neighbours. While South Korea retains the death penalty for the most violent crimes, it has avoided using it since 1997. North Korean despot Kim Jong Un has proven less apprehensive, according to civilians fleeing his murky regime. 

In 2015, reports surfaced from South Korean intelligence that its neighbour had publicly executed its Defence Minister Hyong Yong Chol with an anti-aircraft gun for falling asleep during an event and not carrying out instructions.

A rights group in North Korea later shared shocking satellite footage appearing to show a group of people lined up in a military training area opposite six ZPU-4 AA-guns near a viewing area.

A year later, a former agriculture minister and a senior education official were reportedly killed in a similar manner, ‘executed by anti-aircraft gun at a military academy in Pyongyang’ – the latter also alleged to have dozed off during a meeting.

In another case, defector Hee Yeon Lim reportedly claimed she was one of 10,000 made to watch the AA-gun execution of 11 musicians accused of making a pornographic film.

‘What I saw that day made me sick in my stomach,’ she said. ‘They were lashed to the end of anti-aircraft guns,’ she said. ‘A gun was fired, the noise was deafening, absolutely terrifying. And the guns were fired one after the other. The musicians just disappeared each time the guns were fired into them. Their bodies were blown to bits, totally destroyed, blood and bits flying everywhere… and then, after that, military tanks moved in and they ran over the bits on the ground where the remains lay.’

A year prior, it was reported Kim Jong Un had purged a number of senior officials including deputy public security minister, who was ‘executed by flamethrower’. Others were allegedly executed there or sent to a North Korean concentration camp.  

Hanging – Hanging as a means of capital punishment was mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey, but became a common method of execution by the Middle Ages. In the US, it remained the primary means until the 1890s – and still today the practice is mostly unchanged where it is legal in countries including Japan and Singapore.

Prisoners sentenced to be hanged are often weighed before the execution and rehearsals performed to work out how much ‘drop’ will be needed to kill them quickly. Too much rope can lead to decapitation after the condemned person falls through the air, and too little can result in strangulation lasting as long as 45 minutes.

The most recent recorded example of this was the execution of Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, one of three half-brothers of Saddam Hussein. He was hanged on January 15, 2007 for crimes against humanity (along with Hussein) – but was decapitated by the rope due to a mistaken calculation about his weight and the length of the drop.

Before an execution by hanging, a prisoner’s limbs are secured, they are blindfolded and a noose is placed around the neck. In traditional executions, a trap door falls open for the prisoner to drop through. Their weight should cause a rapid fracture-dislocation of the neck – but it is rare the prisoner dies immediately.

Iran still uses cranes to hang its prisoners, tying them to a noose and then lifting them high in the air to be seen for miles. In 2022, protestor Majidreza Rahnavard made headlines when he was charged with ‘waging war against God’, ran through a ‘sham trial’ and put to death.

Executions conducted in public with a crane have been more rare in recent years, though Iran used the same manner of hanging to put down unrest following the disputed 2009 presidential election and the Green Movement protests that followed.

Typically, those condemned are alive as the crane lifts them off their feet, hanging by a rope and struggling to breathe before they asphyxiate or their neck breaks.

Public hangings are nothing new. In England in the 1800s, events could attract thousands, or tens of thousands, of viewers with a perverse fascination in watching the brutal death. In a scathing criticism of capital punishment, French philosopher Albert Camus noted that the spectacle of brutal killings did not seem to deter criminals; hangings often attracted many pickpockets, drawn to the large crowds of people. Of 167 condemned inmates at Bristol prison in 1886, 164 had themselves watched the horrific means of execution already.

Still, it took more horror stories before Britain abolished the penalty formally in 1998. In 1953, British man Derek Bentley was hanged for the murder of a policeman during a burglary attempt. Aged 19, the man was hanged at Wandsworth Prison. The case provoked debates, and Bentley was later pardoned and proven innocent. The complexities of the case, including views on Bentley’s learning difficulties, created public outrage at the time.

Even today, with advances in forensic evidence gathering and justice, for every eight people executed, one person has been exonerated – leaving countless potentially wrongfully sent to their deaths.

Last Week’s Birthdays

Hugh Jackman (56), Hiroyuki Sanada (64), Josh Hutcherson (32), Robin Askwith (74), Michelle Trachtenberg (39), Emily Deschanel (48), Claudia Black (52), Joan Cusack (62), Jane Krakowski (56), Stephen Moyer (55), John Nettles (81), Dawn French (67), Dan Stevens (42), Manu Bennett (55), Rose McIver (36), Charles Dance (78), Sarah Lancashire (60), Guillermo del Toro (60), Tony Shalhoub (71), Scott Bakula (70), Brandon Routh (45), Chris O’Dowd (45), Brian Blessed (88), Matt Damon (54), Bella Thorne (27), Sigourney Weaver (75), Chevy Chase (81), Paul Hogan (85), Ardal O’Hanlon (59), Bruno Mars (39), Shawn Ashmore (45), and Simon Cowell (65).

13th October 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 6th October 2024

No points this week, but some good news regarding the website. I will be migrating to a new host in the next couple of weeks, so the problems some of you are experiencing will all hopefully go away. So there might be some disruption for a couple of weeks whilst it all gets sorted out. 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Frankie Valli has addressed a series of viral TikToks that sparked concern among fans over his recent live performances. The Four Seasons crooner, 90, has been the subject of a number of clips doing the rounds on social media. In one, he is seemingly a few beats behind the choreography of his classic single “December 1963 (Oh What a Night)”. Another shows the band performing “Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby, Goodbye)”, where Valli appears to miss some of the lyrics. Some fans claimed that he appeared to be lip-syncing. “He needs to rest,” one viewer commented, while another said he looked “exhausted”. In a statement to the Flying Monkeys on Monday, Valli dismissed the concern as he insisted he still loves performing live shows. “I know there has been a lot of stuff on the internet about me lately so I wanted to clear the air. I am blessed to be 90 years old and still be doing what I love to do and as long as I am able, and audiences want to come see me, I am going to be out there performing as I always have,” he said. “I absolutely love what I do. And I know we put on a great show because our fans are still coming out in force and the show still rocks.” Valli said he’d had a “chuckle” reading the comments from those wondering if he was being “forced” to go on stage. “Nobody has ever made me do anything I didn’t want to do,” he said. “How do we do the show?! The Four Seasons sound was always about layering vocals and instruments. We use our 60 years of experience so we sound like the records. I sing, I have singers who sing, great arrangements… everything.” Valli’s statement concluded: “I plan to be doing shows as long as I can, delivering that great Four Seasons sound. Like that line in Jersey Boys, I’m like that bunny on TV, that just keeps going and going and going. Chasing the music.”  

Popular Cuban reggaeton artist El Taiger is said to be in “very critical condition” after he was shot in the head. The 37-year-old Latin American singer, whose real name is Jose Manuel Carbajal, was found Thursday morning in a black Mercedes SUV with a gunshot wound, Miami Police Department officials said in a press conference on Friday. After first responders rendered first aid, he was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, where he underwent surgery and remains in “very critical condition,” according to Miami Chief of Police Manuel Morales. An investigation is ongoing. “We’re confident that we’ll get to the bottom of this and solve this incident,” Morales said. “It is a tragic incident that has shaken our local South Florida community.” Carbajal suffered significant brain damage and was put on life support, according to the Flying Monkeys. Miami police spokesperson Mike Vega told us that it is not yet known whether the gunshot wound was self-inflicted. Officials do not believe that the incident happened in the same place Carbajal was found. “Our officers are investigating because we think this didn’t happen in the city of Miami,” Vega said. “We’re sure that it didn’t happen in that corner where the vehicle was found. This happened in another place; someone brought him here, left him, and left on foot.” Carbajal’s manager, Macel Reinosa, told the Flying Monkeys that “nobody on the team believes that he tried to commit suicide, based on what they are saying on the bullet.” “It was in the front of his head, so I would really doubt someone would shoot himself and then get on the back of the trunk by himself,” Reinosa said. Carbajal is well-known within the Latin music community for his contributions to reggaeton, a music genre characterised by its blend of Caribbean rhythms and urban beats. Some of his most listened-to tracks include “La Historia” and “La Guariconfianza.” 

Janey Godley has revealed the “worst thing” about dying as she receives end-of-life care. In September, the Scottish comedian confirmed that her cancer had spread and she is now getting palliative care in a hospice. “The chemo ran out of options and I just couldn’t take any more of it and the cancer has spread,” the 63-year-old said in a video at the time. “So it looks like this will be getting to near the end of it and it’s really difficult to speak about this and say to people.” In an interview with the Flying Monkeys, conducted together with her 38-year-old daughter, Ashley Storrie, Godley revealed what she believes to be the “worst thing” about approaching the end of her life. Godley said that she  dreads to think of the day she is unable to see Ashley, a comedian and actor, who she called “the best thing to come out of my vagina”. “She’s my big success in life and I’m dead proud of her,” Godley added. “The worst thing about me dying is not being able to see her. I can’t imagine being a spirit and not having her in my orbit.” Similarly, Godley said the “worst” part of her cancer diagnosis was having to tell her daughter. “The worst part of it was having to tell Ashley,” Godley told the publication. “She has always been a catastrophiser; telling her was like throwing a hand grenade.” Godley was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2021, and has undergone treatment since then, which she called “dreadful”. “I had been on chemo, which kept pushing it back, but have run out of options and the cancer has spread,” she told us. “So it looks like this will be getting to near the end of it. I’m now in palliative care and at end-of-life care in the hospital. It is devastating news to know that I’m facing end-of-life, but we all come to an end sometimes.”

On This Day

  • 1927 – Opening of The Jazz Singer, the first prominent “talkie” movie.
  • 1981 – Egyptian President Anwar Sadat is murdered by Islamic extremists.
  • 1985 – Police constable Keith Blakelock is murdered as riots erupt in the Broadwater Farm suburb of London.
  • 1995 – The first planet orbiting another sun, 51 Pegasi b, is discovered.
  • 2010 – Instagram, a mainstream photo-sharing application, is founded.

Deaths

Dead Space

Have you ever wondered what would happen to your body if you were to die out in space? Researchers have put their brains together to answer the difficult questions regarding the unusual scenario.

NASA are planning another space mission to send humans to the moon within the next seven years, with wilder plans to send people to Mars in the 2030s. The journey to the red planet will require a long-distance mission and many months in space. Because of this, there’s a need to consider how humans will survive such a long time out in the ether. 

Since the beginning of human spaceflight over 60 years ago, 20 people have died. However, none of these deaths were actually in space and were due to failed launches before leaving the Earth’s atmosphere.

Though NASA hasn’t illustrated set protocols for dealing with a death that happens in space (because they haven’t had to deal with it yet), some of the world’s space researchers have come up with their own hypothesis.

One of the ways someone could die in space is by being exposed to its vacuum without having a suitably pressurised suit to protect them.

Chris Hadfield, Canadian astronaut and former commander of the International Space Station, shares his thoughts on what could be the worst possible outcome.

He said: “In the worst case scenario, something happens during a spacewalk. You could suddenly be struck by a micro-meteorite, and there’s nothing you can do about that. It could puncture a hole in your suit, and within a few seconds you’re incapacitated.”

Here comes the gruesome part. You probably thought it was just a dramatic effect for films, but nope. 

Emmanuel Urquieta, professor of space medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine, described the horrific death experienced by an astronaut who was exposed to the vacuum, saying that it would become impossible for them to breathe and their blood and other bodily fluids would effectively boil. According to Popular Science, the unfortunate astronaut’s blood would vaporise, along with the water in their body, in just 10 seconds. They would lose consciousness in 15 seconds as their body horrifically expanded and their lungs collapsed. They’d be paralysed or more likely dead in 30 seconds, most likely of asphyxiation or decompression.

Then there’s the issue of burial – or lack thereof. If someone died on Mars, Urquieta explained burial or cremation wouldn’t be possible as they ‘could contaminate the Martian surface’. He said ‘the crew would likely preserve the body in a specialised body bag until it could be returned to Earth’. If the astronaut was unlucky enough to die out in space, their body would eventually enter a frozen or mummified state and float through the ether – potentially for millions of years, since there’s no oxygen to prompt decomposition – until it was destroyed by a planet or star, or perhaps heat or radiation.

A cheery thought for a Sunday.

Last Week’s Birthdays

Elisabeth Shue (61), Emily Mortimer (53), Ioan Gruffudd (51), Britt Ekland (82), Kate Winslet (49), Guy Pearce (57), Jesse Eisenberg (41), Karen Allen (73), Diane Morgan (49), Clive Barker (72), Neil deGrasse Tyson (66), Liev Schreiber (57), Dakota Johnson (35), Alicia Silverstone (48), Christoph Waltz (68), Susan Sarandon (78), Melissa Benoist (36), Nick Mohammed (44), Alicia Vikander (36), Lena Headey (51), Denis Villeneuve (57), Neve Campbell (51), Clive Owen (60), Seann William Scott (48), Noah Schnapp  (20), Gwen Stefani (55), Lorraine Bracco (70), Avery Brooks (76), Sting (73), Brie Larson (35), Charles Edwards (55), Julie Andrews (89), Zach Galifianakis (55), and Monica Bellucci (60).

6th October 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 29th September 2024

A sad week as Dame Maggie Smith passes away. But we do have points to award to Gryffindor, er no, to Vic and Iwan, who both had her listed as their Woman, so 161 points each! Ceri had her listed too, so another 61 points to her tally. Well done all three of you!  

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Police in Switzerland say several people have been detained over the suspected death of an American woman, 64, inside a “suicide capsule”. A criminal investigation has been opened after prosecutors in Schaffhausen were informed by a law firm that an assisted suicide involving the Sarco capsule had taken place near a forest cabin in Merishausen. They said several people had been taken into custody with investigators looking at possible incitement and accessory to suicide. The pod, which had never been used before, is a 3D-printed device that cost more than $1m to develop. Exit International, the group behind the device, said in a statement that a 64-year-old woman from the US had died using it at approximately 4:01pm on Monday. It added that the woman “had been suffering for many years from a number of serious problems associated with severe immune compromise”. The group said the co-president of The Last Resort Association, a Swiss affiliate of Exit International, Dr Florian Willet, was the was the only person present. “The death took place in open air, under a canopy of trees, at a private forest retreat in the Canton of Schaffhausen close to the Swiss-German border,” the statement read. The group said it had followed legal advice from lawyers which, it said, showed the use of the capsule was lawful in Switzerland. Swiss law allows assisted suicide so long as the person takes his or her life with no “external assistance” and those who help the person die do not do so for “any self-serving motive”, according to a government website. Switzerland is among the only countries in the world where foreigners can travel to legally end their lives, and is home to a number of organisations that are dedicated to helping people kill themselves.  

A mother-of-five has become the first person to die from a Brazilian Bum Lift procedure in the UK. Alice Webb, 33, passed away on Monday just hours after having the surgery, which is believed to have been performed in the West Country. Gloucestershire Police confirmed it is investigating the death and has arrested two people on suspicion of manslaughter. The practitioner alleged to have carried out the surgery is one of those who has been arrested. Alice was an advanced aesthetic practitioner at Crystal Clear in Wotton-under-Edge, a market town in Gloucestershire. A GoFundMe page set up by her pal Abigail Irwin revealed the tragedy. It said: ‘I am hoping to raise as many funds as we can to support Dane, the partner of Alice and their five beautiful children at this very difficult sad time. According to a report from Save Face published in July there has been an ‘alarming increase in the number of patient reported complaints relating to non-surgical breast augmentation and BBLs’. The report said that more than half have resulted in severe and life-threatening complications, including sepsis, abscesses and infections.   

The world’s longest-serving death row prisoner was acquitted by a Japanese court on Thursday, more than half a century after his 1968 murder conviction. The Shizuoka District Court ruled that 88-year-old Iwao Hakamada was not guilty in a retrial obtained by the former boxer and his supporters a decade ago. ‘The court finds the defendant innocent,’ judge Koshi Kunii said. Hakamada’s health is delicate and he was not present in court, but his 91-year-old sister Hideko, who often speaks for him, bowed deeply to Kunii several times. Until he was freed in 2014 pending retrial, Hakamada had been on death row for 46 years after being convicted of killing his boss, the man’s wife and their two teenage children. But over the years, questions arose over fabricated evidence and coerced confessions, sparking scrutiny of Japan’s justice system, which critics say holds suspects ‘hostage’. Hundreds of people had queued in the morning at the Shizuoka District Court, trying to secure a seat for the verdict in the murder saga that has gripped the nation. ‘For so long, we have fought a battle that has felt endless,’ Hideko had told reporters in July. ‘But this time, I believe it will be settled.’ Japan is the only major industrialised democracy other than the United States to retain capital punishment, a policy that has broad public support. Hakamada is the fifth death row inmate granted a retrial in Japan’s post-war history. All four previous cases also resulted in exoneration. After decades of detention, mostly in solitary confinement, Hakamada sometimes seems like he ‘lives in a world of fantasy’, according to his lead lawyer Hideyo Ogawa.

On This Day

  • 1940 – Two Avro Ansons collide in mid-air over New South Wales, Australia, remain locked together, then land safely.
  • 1957 – The Kyshtym disaster is the third-worst nuclear accident ever recorded.
  • 1988 – NASA launches STS-26, the first Space Shuttle mission since the Challenger disaster.

Deaths

  • 1902 – Émile Zola, French journalist, author, and playwright (b. 1840).
  • 1981 – Bill Shankly, Scottish footballer and manager (b. 1913).
  • 1997 – Roy Lichtenstein, American painter and sculptor (b. 1923).
  • 2010 – Tony Curtis, American actor (b. 1925).

Last Meals

An Alabama death row inmate gave a chilling two sentence final statement in the moments before his execution by nitrogen hypoxia.

Alan Eugene Miller, 59, became the second person to die from the controversial method on Thursday night. He had been on death row for decades for killing three people in back-to-back workplace shootings in 1999.

Protesting his innocence until the end, his final words were: ‘I didn’t do anything to be in here. I didn’t do anything to be on death row.’

Alabama corrections officials then pumped nitrogen gas into a mask that covered Miller’s face from his forehead to his chin, forcing him to shake and tremble on the gurney for about two minutes. His left hand shook and clenched into a fist several times, and he was forced to lift his head from the gurney. That was followed by about six minutes of periodic gasping breaths before he finally went still.

Miller was finally pronounced dead at around 6.38pm, Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm said at an ensuing news conference, noting the two minutes of shaking was to be expected.

‘There’s going to be involuntary body movements as the body is depleted of oxygen, so that is nothing we did not expect,’ Hamm said. ‘Everything went according to plan and according to our protocol, so it went just as we had planned.’

But Hamm later admitted that a corrections officer had to adjust the inmate’s mask before the gas started to flow.  ‘That’s just making sure the mask is fitted,’ he said.

The execution was the second to use the new method Alabama first employed in January, when Kenneth Smith was put to death. The method involves placing a respirator gas mask over the inmate’s face to replace breathable air with pure nitrogen gas, causing death by lack of oxygen. 

Miller had selected the option to die by asphyxiation in a 2018 form distributed to Alabama death row inmates. But the state was still not prepared to use nitrogen hypoxia as a form of execution when officials received a warrant for Miller’s execution in September 22nd, and opted to instead try to execute him by lethal injection. That attempt was then called off when state officials said they could not access Miller’s veins before the execution warrant expired at midnight. The inmate later filed a lawsuit against the prison, claiming that prison workers poked him for ninety minutes while trying to start an IV and left him hanging vertically as he laid strapped into a gurney.  State prosecutors ultimately settled the suit, and agreed not to execute Miller using any method other than nitrogen hypoxia. 

Miller, a delivery truck driver, was convicted of capital murder in 2000 for the August 5th 1999 shootings that claimed three lives and shocked the city of Pelham, a suburban city just south of Birmingham.

He had worked with each of the three victims – Lee Holdbrooks, 32, Scott Yancy, 28, and Terry Lee Jarvis, 39 – and had accused them of spreading rumours about him.

Police say he entered Ferguson Enterprises and fatally shot Yancy three times, leaving him unable to move after the first shot ‘traveled through his  groin and into his spine, paralysing him.’ Holdbrooks was also shot about six times and tried to crawl down a hallway to escape before Miller shot him in the head ‘causing him to die in a pool of blood,’ according to court documents. Miller then headed to his previous employer Post Airgas, where Jarvis worked. He walked in and said, ‘Hey I hear you’ve been spreading rumours about me.’ Jarvis replied that he had not been spreading any rumours, a witness said, but just moments later Miller shot Jarvis ‘a number of times.’ He was later captured on the highway with a Glock pistol with one round in the chamber and 11 rounds in an ammunition magazine, police said.

Miller had initially pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity but later withdrew the plea. A psychiatrist hired by the defence said that Miller was mentally ill but his condition wasn’t severe enough to use as a basis for an insanity defence, according to court documents. Jurors convicted Miller after 20 minutes of deliberation and recommended by a vote of 10-2 that he receive the death penalty. 

‘Just as Alan Miller cowardly fled after he maliciously committed three calculated murders in 1999, he has attempted to escape justice for two decades,’ Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement Thursday. ‘Tonight, justice was finally served for these three victims through the execution method elected by the inmate. His acts were not that of insanity, but pure evil,’ the governor said. ‘Three families were forever changed by his heinous crimes and I pray that they can find comfort all these years later.’

Family members of the three victims did not witness the execution and did not issue a statement to be read to reporters, state officials said. Miller’ last meal was of a hamburger steak, baked potato and French fries. 

Last Week’s Birthdays

Zachary Levi (44), Erika Eleniak (55), Ian McShane (82), Luke Goss (56), Mackenzie Crook (53), Halsey (30), James Lance (49), Jeffrey Jones (78), Naomi Watts (56), Mira Sorvino (57), Hilary Duff (37), Brigitte Bardot (90), Dita Von Teese (52), Jenna Ortega (22), Indira Varma (51), Gwyneth Paltrow (52), Avril Lavigne (40), Linda Hamilton (68), Bella Ramsey (21), Will Smith (56), Catherine Zeta-Jones (55), Michael Madsen (67), Michael Douglas (80), Mark Hamill (73), Donald Glover (41), Heather Locklear (63), Beth Toussaint (62), Felicity Kendal (78), Kevin Sorbo (66), Kimberley Nixon (39), Sven-Ole Thorsen (80), Jack Dee (63), Rosalind Chao (67), Bruce Springsteen (75), and Karl Pilkington (52).

29th September 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 22nd September 2024

Alas no points this week, but plenty to read! Let’s crack on!  

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Former NBA star Michael Jordan has sparked health concerns among fans after he was spotted at a Champions League game on Thursday. During the match the 61-year-old basketball legend was pictured with glassy, orange-coloured eyes. On Twitter, Bleacher Report Football posted a photo of Jordan in the stands, amassing over 17.6 million views and hundreds of comments. The photo, which has now been reposted over 3,600 times, the six-time NBA champion is smiling in a black Air Jordan Jumpman hat and a matching shirt. His eyes appear to be bloodshot in an orange-yellow pigment. Immediately, fans flocked to the comments section, questioning whether they should be worried about Jordan’s health. Some Twitter users thought his eyes were a sign of liver failure. “That boy’s liver is cooked,” one blunt individual wrote, while another questioned: “Does he have Jaundice?” Though jaundice can occur at any age, the condition poses serious health risks in older individuals. Jaundice can be a sign of problems with the liver, pancreas, or gall bladder, which could signal liver disease or a severe infection. Jordan has not spoken publicly about the colour of his eyes nor any recent health issues. 

Musician Patti Scialfa, Bruce Springsteen’s wife and E  Street bandmate, has revealed that she was diagnosed in 2018 with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. The singer-songwriter addresses her diagnosis in the new documentary Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, which premiered last Sunday at the Toronto Film Festival. Scialfa disclosed that her illness has made it difficult to perform, leading to her decision to take a step back from touring. “This affects my immune system, so I have to be careful what I choose to do and where I choose to go. Every once in a while, I come to a show or two and I can sing a few songs on stage, and that’s been a treat. That’s the new normal for me right now, and I’m OK with that.” Scialfa explained that she received her diagnosis while she and Springsteen were on the rock singer’s Broadway run in 2018. Multiple myeloma, also known as myeloma, is a form of bone marrow cancer, and can affect several areas of the body including the spine, skull, pelvis and ribs. Over time, it can cause issues including persistent bone pain, fatigue, weakness and shortness of breath, and blurred vision, headaches or dizziness. Scialfa, 71, has been a member of the E Street Band since 1984; she was inducted with the rest of the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. She and Springsteen married in 1991. They have three children together.  

Heart Radio presenter Jamie Theakston has revealed that he has been diagnosed with cancer. In a statement shared online, the radio host told followers he recently underwent an operation to remove a lesion from his vocal cords, but the biopsy identified Stage one laryngeal cancer. “So…I have cancer… but cancer doesn’t have me!” he told fans. “The prognosis is very positive and I’m hoping to be back with you in October.” The radio host, who presents the station’s breakfast show on weekdays with Amanda Holden, explained that he has been advised to undergo vocal rest until he is fully recovered. “Until then, I leave you in the mostly capable hands of JK [Jason King] and Amanda Holden. Huge thanks to them and all the Global Family who have been unbelievably supportive.” He continued: “Be thankful for this day, and when I see you next, I’ll have a great story to tell.” The 53-year-old was prompted to get his throat examined after listeners noticed his voice sounded different on air. In a health update shared on 1st September, Theakston thanked his listeners for urging him to get it checked. “Got it checked – Doctors found a lesion on my vocal cords which I’ve had removed this weekend – thanks for all the kind messages – should be back on my feet soon,” he wrote at the time. After announcing that his condition had been identified as cancerous, Theakston has been met with well-wishes from his celebrity colleagues and fans. Carol Vorderman wrote: “Sending best Jamie. thank goodness your listeners spotted the change in your voice, all found early and you’ll be back keeping everyone happy very soon.” Theakston’s former presenting colleague Lisa Snowdon wrote: “Sending lots of love Jamie,” as Emma Bunton, his co-presenter from 2013 to 2018, simply added, “Love you to bits.” 

Janey Godley has cancelled her forthcoming tour as she deals with ongoing treatment for incurable ovarian cancer. Godley, 63, who was due to begin her UK tour Why Is She  Still Here? this autumn, was advised to stop working “for the foreseeable future” because her cancer is spreading. In a video shared online, the comedian told fans that she has been in hospital for eight days to be treated for sepsis, and told by cancer specialists that she should not return to work. “The sepsis is under control but the cancer is spreading so they’ve told me not to work,” she said. “I’m really sorry. We sold thousands and thousands of tickets and there’s so many people employed and my poor bloody agent Chris has been magnificent.” A statement to the Flying Monkeys said: “It is with huge sadness that we must announce the cancellation of Janey Godley’s autumn 2024 tour. Janey has been living with stage four ovarian cancer for the past few years and the treatment from the wonderful Scottish NHS has kept the disease at bay, but sadly in the last few weeks the cancer has returned and there have been a few added complications. Her doctors have now advised her that she must stop work for the foreseeable future. Janey is devastated to let down her thousands of loyal fans, and the wonderful venues, she has played many times over the years. She would like to thank everyone for their love and support at this difficult time.” Godley, who became a viral hit with her voiceover videos dubbing then-first minister Nicola Sturgeon’s daily Covid briefings during the pandemic, revealed she had ovarian cancer in November 2021. She was given the all-clear in 2022 but announced the following year that the disease had been found in her abdomen. Despite this news, she continued with her tour in February and March 2023. 

On This Day

  • 1934 – The Gresford disaster in Wales kills 266 miners and rescuers.
  • 1975 – Sara Jane Moore tries to assassinate U.S. President Gerald Ford, but is foiled by the Secret Service. 
  • 1993 – A barge strikes a railroad bridge near Mobile, Alabama, causing the deadliest train wreck in Amtrak history. Forty-seven passengers are killed.

Deaths

Last Meals

A man who killed two people in cold blood uttered just  one word before he was executed in a South Carolina prison on Friday – the state’s first in 13 years.

Freddie Owens said ‘bye’ to his attorney and was then strapped into a gurney where he awaited the lethal injection that led to his ultimate demise. Owens remained conscious for a minute before his eyes closed, his breaths shortened and his face twitched for five minutes before he died.

The 46-year-old killed convenience store clerk Irene Graves during a botched robbery in Greenville in 1997. During his trial, he murdered fellow inmate Christopher Lee at a county jail which earned him the death penalty. 

Owens’ execution was the first carried out in South Carolina in 13 years amid a struggle to source the required drugs for lethal injections. After he said his farewell, his attorney responded ‘bye’ and the injection was administered. A doctor came in and declared him dead a little more than 10 minutes later at 6.55pm.

His last meal was two cheeseburgers, French fries, well-done ribeye steak, six chicken wings, two strawberry sodas and a slice of apple pie.

Owens’ last-ditch appeals were repeatedly denied, including by a federal court on Friday morning. His execution was thrown into last minute chaos after a key witness said in a sworn statement that he lied in order to have him convicted. On Wednesday, his lawyers filed a statement from his co-defendant Steven Golden saying that Owens wasn’t at the store at the time when Graves was killed. Golden said that he had blamed Owens, who was 19 at the time, because he was high on cocaine and facing pressure from police. He wrote: ‘I thought the real shooter or his associates might kill me if I named him to police. I am still afraid of that. But Freddie was not there.’ But despite Golden’s recantation, the South Carolina Supreme Court  ruled on Thursday it wasn’t enough to halt prison officials from executing Owens. Prosecutors said that several other witnesses testified that Owens had been the one that pulled the trigger. Those witnesses had been friends of Owens who said he had bragged to them about killing Graves. His former girlfriend also testified that he confessed to the killing.

Since the unintentional execution pause, South Carolina’s death row population has dwindled. The state had 63 condemned people in early 2011. It now has 31 after Owens’ death on Friday. About 20 people have been taken off death row and received different prison sentences after successful appeals. Others have died of natural causes.

Last Week’s Birthdays

Billie Piper (42), Tom Felton (37), Ruth Jones (58), Nick Cave (67), Bill Murray (74), Luke Wilson (53), Stephen King (77), David Wenham (59), Ricki Lake (56), Alfonso Ribeiro (53), Liam Gallagher (52), Jon Bernthal (48), Moon Bloodgood (49), Asia Argento (49), George R.R. Martin (76), Danielle Panabaker (37), Jeremy Irons (76), Jimmy Fallon (50), Twiggy (75), James Marsden (51), Jason Sudeikis (49), Tim McInnerny (68), Keeley Hazell (38), Ella Purnell (28), Cassandra Peterson (73), Bruce Spence (79), Ed Begley Jr. (75), Madeline Zima (39), Jennifer Tilly (66), Mickey Rourke (72), and Amy Poehler (53).

22nd September 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 15th September 2024

A sad week indeed as the voice of Darth Vader dies. However we will not lose him forever, as prior to his death Jones sold the rights to his voice to an AI company, so that future Star Wars films and series can include his iconic voice. 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

The disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was rushed from prison to a New York City hospital for emergency heart surgery after he experienced chest pains, his representatives told the Flying Monkeys. “Mr Weinstein was rushed to Bellevue Hospital last night due to several medical conditions,” Weinstein representatives Craig Rothfeld and Juda Engelmayer said in a statement. “We can confirm that Mr Weinstein had a procedure and surgery on his heart today, however we cannot comment any further than that. As we have extensively stated before, Mr Weinstein suffers a plethora of significant health issues that need ongoing treatment.” Weinstein was out of surgery as of Monday afternoon and is in recovery, they said. Weinstein, 72, was transferred to Bellevue from New York’s Rikers Island jail complex, where he is awaiting retrial on rape and sexual assault charges. It is the second time in two months he had been taken to hospital. Weinstein’s lawyer, Arthur Aidala, said they requested jail officials immediately move Weinstein to Bellevue “based on his complaints to us regarding chest pains”. In one email, Aidala said, he told them: “This guy is going to die on your watch if you don’t do something.” He was admitted in July for treatment for a variety of health problems including Covid-19 and pneumonia in both lungs. Representatives at the time said the former director and producer also suffered from diabetes, high blood pressure, spinal stenosis and fluid on his heart and lungs.  

The Cure’s Roger O’Donnell has revealed a “devastating” Lymphoma diagnosis. The keyboardist revealed his diagnosis in a post for Blood Cancer Awareness Month on Sunday after he was diagnosed with the “very rare and aggressive” cancer in September 2023 and subsequently underwent treatment. “September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month so it’s a good opportunity to have a dialogue about these diseases,” O’Donnell started in a series of posts on Twitter. “In September last year I was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive form of lymphoma. I had ignored the symptoms for a few months but finally went and after surgery the result of the biopsy was devastating.” He explained that he’s now “fine” and has an “amazing” prognosis after undergoing several rounds of treatment over the past year. “I’ve now completed 11 months of treatment under some of the finest specialists in the world and with second opinions and advice from the teams that had developed the drugs I was being given. I had the benefit of the latest sci-fi immunotherapy and some drugs that were first used 100 years ago. The last phase of treatment was radiotherapy which also was one of the first treatments developed against cancer. I’m fine and the prognosis is amazing,” added O’Donnell. O’Donnell went on to urge others to get tested for cancer so they can catch and better treat it early. “The mad axe murderer knocked on the door and we didn’t answer,” he wrote. “Cancer CAN be beaten but if you are diagnosed early enough you stand a way better chance, so all I have to say is go GET TESTED, if you have the faintest thought you may have symptoms go and get checked out. If you know someone who is ill or suffering talk to them, every single word helps, believe me I know. I would also like to thank my Drs, rockstars everyone of them, all the nurses and technicians, my friends, family and Mimi, sometimes its harder to be on the other side of this…” added O’Donnell.  

A teenager who appeared in Freddie Flintoff’s BBC documentary has tragically died in a horrific double death crash after the high performance car he was driving smashed into trees. Umar Mahmood, 18, died in hospital last week after being seriously injured while at the wheel of an Audi A3 Sport which veered off the road in Preston, Lancashire on Tuesday. Back seat passenger 16-year-old Adam Bodi also suffered fatal injuries while a 17-year-old who was also in the car remains in hospital, with police investigating the cause of the double tragedy. Umar had been filmed being coached by the England cricket legend in ‘Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams’. He had been a pupil at Penwortham Priory Academy, finishing his studies two years ago, as was Adam who left after his GCSEs this summer. The show saw England all-rounder turned TV presenter Flintoff recruit teenagers from under privileged parts of Lancashire in a bid to change people’s perspective of the sport. Umar’s school paid tribute to the ‘bright’ and ‘studious’ youngster. Principal Matt Eastham said: ‘We are again saddened as a school to hear the news that Umar, who was in the same accident as Adam, and who left Priory two years ago, has also passed away. Umar was a bright, studious and well-loved member of our school community. He had a passion for geography as well as his cricket, playing for Priory’s school team and appearing in the BBC One documentary Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams. It was a privilege for us here at Priory to know Umar. He was a young man who was always considerate to those around him and who showed ambition and kindness in all that he did. It is of course with great sadness that we hear this news. We give our sincere condolences to all of Umar’s family and friends on behalf of the school, at what will be a very difficult time. They too, are in our thoughts and prayers today.’

On This Day

  • 1830 – The Liverpool to Manchester railway line opens; British MP William Huskisson becomes the first widely reported railway passenger fatality when he is struck and killed by the locomotive Rocket.
  • 1916 – World War I: Tanks are used for the first time in battle, at the Battle of the Somme.
  • 1954 – Marilyn Monroe’s iconic skirt scene is shot during filming for The Seven Year Itch.

Deaths

Our Final Thoughts?

The first ever recording of the very moment someone dies has revealed what our final thoughts could be.

Probably since the beginning of time, what happens to us after we die is the question we have always wanted to know the answer to.

Even though we will probably have to wait until we’re dead to know for sure, scientists reckon they’ve been able to look into our last ever thoughts before we pass away.

This comes after researchers in Vancouver, Canada, took a look at the brain of a 87-year-old patient suffering from epilepsy, but he unexpectedly died of a heart attack while they were observing him. 

By using the results from an electroencephalogram (EEG) test, they were able to determine what was happening in his brain during his last moments – specifically the 30 seconds before and after his heart stopped beating.

And that age old idea that one’s life ‘flashes before their eyes’ might just be a real thing after an increase in ‘gamma oscillations’ was detected.

‘Gamma oscillations’ are linked to the retrieval of memories and dreaming, which might suggest the patient was reliving past experiences before he died.

Lead author of the study – published in the journal Frontiers in Ageing Neuroscience – Dr Ajmal Zemmar said: “Through generating oscillations involved in memory retrieval, the brain may be playing a last recall of important life events just before we die, similar to the ones reported in near-death experiences.

“These findings challenge our understanding of when exactly life ends and generate important subsequent questions, such as those related to the timing of organ donation.” 

The study showed similar changes in brainwaves between rats at the time of death – but it’s the first time it was detected in humans.

However, as with most studies, the team say that further research is needed in order to provide more conclusive results.

It’s also important to note that the data focuses on just a single case study and the patient’s brain had already been damaged from epilepsy.

Therefore, professionals aren’t able to truly say if the same thing would happened with a different person, near the time of their death.

“Something we may learn from this research is: although our loved ones have their eyes closed and are ready to leave us to rest, their brains may be replaying some of the nicest moments they experienced in their lives,” Dr. Zemmar added.

Last Week’s Birthdays

Tom Hardy (47), Tommy Lee Jones (78), Ben Schwartz (43), John Bradley (36), Brendan O’Carroll (69), Jimmy Carr (52), Sam Neill (77), Andrew Lincoln (51), Lolly Adefope (34), Walter Koenig (88), Amanda Barrie (89), Alfie Allen (38), Linda Gray (84), Virginia Madsen (63), Tyler Hoechlin (37), Roxann Dawson (66), Johnny Vegas (53), Guy Ritchie (56), Colin Firth (64), Adam Sandler (58), Hugh Grant (64), Jeffrey Combs (70), Eric Stonestreet (53), and Julia Sawalha (56).

15th September 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 8th September 2024

Short and sweet this week, also considering making next years list full of American rappers! 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Queen rocker Brian May has revealed that he was rushed to hospital after suffering a minor stroke and temporarily losing control of his left arm. The British musician, 77, shared the health update with fans in a video posted to his website as he addressed the events of the past week. May referred to a “little health hiccup” that saw him rushed to hospital in an ambulance: “The good news is I can play guitar,” he said. “They called it a minor stroke, and all of a sudden out of the blue, I didn’t have any control of this arm,” he said, moving his left arm and flexing his fingers to show the movement had returned. “It was a little scary, I have to say. I had the most fantastic care and attention from the hospital where I went, blue lights flashing, the lot, it was very exciting. I might post a video if you like.” He continued: “I didn’t wanna say anything at the time because I didn’t want anything surrounding it, I really don’t want sympathy. Please don’t do that, because it’ll clutter up my inbox, and I hate that. The good news is I’m OK.” The musician appeared slightly disgruntled as he explained he’s “grounded” and not allowed to drive, get on a plane or do anything that might risk raising his heart rate. “Not allowed to have planes flying over, which will stress me,” he said, glancing up at a plane flying noisily overhead, before concluding: “But I’m good.” May has suffered health issues in the past, including a heart attack that turned out to be a symptom of an arterial disease. The guitarist told fans he was “very near death” after being admitted to hospital in May 2020, where doctors discovered that three of his arteries were blocked and in danger of stopping the blood supply to his heart. He admitted he was baffled by the heart attack: “I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I don’t have high cholesterol and I was exercising through the tour, so why did it happen?” he questioned. “At least I now have a heart that is working far better than it was.” His doctors advised him to undergo heart surgery, but he instead chose the alternative to have three stents put inside his heart.  

Elle Macpherson has revealed she has been secretly battling breast cancer, but is now in remission despite refusing chemotherapy against the advice of “32 doctors and experts”. The supermodel was diagnosed seven years ago and underwent a lumpectomy but opted against further treatment which went against her “belief system”, instead relying on an “intuitive, heart-led holistic approach”. “It was a shock, it was unexpected, it was confusing, it was daunting in so many ways and it really gave me an opportunity to dig deep in my inner sense to find a solution that worked for me,” she said in an interview with The Flying Monkeys. Macpherson, 60, underwent the procedure to remove a tumour at the time before being diagnosed with HER2 positive oestrogen receptive intraductal carcinoma. Her doctor recommended she undergo a mastectomy with radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and breast reconstruction. However, she decided against the advice. “I realised I was going to need my own truth, my belief system to support me through it,” she said. She described her decision to go against traditional medicine as “a wonderful exercise in being true to myself, trusting myself and trusting the nature of my body and the course of action that I had chosen”. In 2022, medical researchers at Yale found that those who used homeopathy and alternative remedies to treat cancer, were twice as likely to die from the disease. The businesswoman who owns her own wellness brand, WelleCo, says she did not take the decision to decline chemotherapy lightly. However, she has been known to be vocal within the anti-vaccination community, having previously dated disgraced British doctor Andrew Wakefield. “Saying no to standard medical solutions was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. But saying no to my own inner sense would have been even harder,” she said. She later describes feeling that chemotherapy and surgery were “extreme”. Her family were divided over her decision. She said her “more conventional” 19-year-old son “wasn’t comfortable with my choice at all”, meanwhile her 14-year-old son “thought that chemo kills you”. Their father, and her ex-husband Arki Busson had a mixed reaction, being “supportive” but Macpherson admits, “he didn’t agree with what I was doing” 

On This Day

  • 1727 – A barn fire during a puppet show in the village of Burwell in Cambridgeshire, England kills 78 people, many of whom are children. 
  • 1888 – In London, the body of Jack the Ripper’s second murder victim, Annie Chapman, is found.
  • 1900 – Galveston hurricane: A powerful hurricane hits Galveston, Texas killing about 8,000 people.
  • 1966 – The landmark American science fiction television series Star Trek premieres with its first-aired episode, “The Man Trap“. 
  • 2022 – Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom dies at Balmoral Castle in Scotland after reigning for 70 years.

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Heather Thomas (67), Martin Freeman (53), Gaten Matarazzo (22), P!nk (45), Miles Jupp (45), Jodie Turner-Smith (38), Michael Emerson (70), Evan Rachel Wood (37), Jonathan Majors (35), Toby Jones (58), Julie Kavner (74), Doug Bradley (70), Freya Allan (23), Idris Elba (52), Mathew Horne (46), Michael Keaton (73), Carice van Houten (48), Rose McGowan (51), Paddy Considine (51), Michael Berryman (76), Beyoncé (43), Charlie Sheen (59), Keanu Reeves (60), and Salma Hayek (58).

8th September 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 1st September 2024

Sadly no points this week, just your run of the mill edition with amazing stories to read. 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Downing Street officials are preparing a “media plan” to announce the eventual passing of Larry the cat, The Flying Monkeys understand. Larry has become a widely loved fixture of Downing Street and is often seen outside the door to Number 10 during major political events and news broadcasts. The 17-year-old ‘chief mouser’ is thought to be in his final years, having already outlived the average lifespan for a tabby cat. Government sources told The Flying Monkeys that a press release and graphics are drafted “ready for the sad day he goes”. Pictures, selected to be published upon news of his death, are reportedly stored in folders on the No 10 IT system as part of a plan to inform the public. While one source said that, at present, Larry is “doing OK”, another said: “We felt it had to be handled so sensitively.” The cat, who was adopted from Battersea Cats Home, was first brought into Downing Street by David Cameron as a pet for his children and has since outlasted five prime ministers. The Cabinet Office website includes a biography of the beloved cat, which reads: “Larry has been in residence since 15th February 2011, he is the first cat at Number 10 to be bestowed with the official title Chief Mouser. Larry was recruited from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home on recommendation for his mousing skills. He joined the Number 10 household and has made a significant impact.” It adds: “He has captured the hearts of the Great British public and the press teams often camped outside the front door. In turn the nation sends him gifts and treats daily. Larry spends his days greeting guests to the house, inspecting security defences and testing antique furniture for napping quality. His day-to-day responsibilities also include contemplating a solution to the mouse occupancy of the house. Larry says this is still ‘in the tactical planning stage’.”  

Linda Nolan has shared a health update following her ongoing cancer treatment. The singer, 65, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and went into remission the following year. In 2017, she revealed she had been diagnosed with a secondary cancer in her hip, which spread to her liver in 2020. Three years later, the cancer had spread to her brain. Nolan said she was left “sobbing” when doctor’s delivered her latest set of results, which revealed two of her largest tumours had grown in size. Speaking to The Flying Monkeys, Nolan said: “I sobbed when my consultant first told me. I know so many people are suffering and going through things, but I thought, just for once, could cancer just leave me alone? My heart sank.” She continued: “I had feared something was wrong. My balance has been getting worse and my memory – my sisters have to prompt me when I get lost in the middle of a sentence.’ After doctor’s confirmed Nolan’s fears that her cancer had spread, they confirmed she would be placed on a  new life-extending breast cancer drug called Enhertu. Enhertu is not available on the National Health Service as its manufacturers and the NHS spending watchdog could not agree on a price for the medication. Nolan said of her forthcoming treatment: “To be able to try a new drug is amazing, I just wish everyone could have this opportunity. “To be able to try this is hope – it’s a plan B not everyone is being allowed. To take this drug away from women is to take away their hope.” Although the singer admitted she’s dreading the possibility she could lose her hair for the fifth time in the course of her cancer treatment she said she’s “ready to try anything” to get back to full health. “I have done this before and I can do it again,” she said. Back in 2023, Nolan admitted she had started planning her funeral after being diagnosed with brain cancer. “I think it’s a one-way trip now,” she said. While her eldest sister Anne successfully recovered from cancer, Nolan lost both her husband Brian Hudson and younger sister Bernie to the illness. She told The Flying Monkeys that they had organised their own funerals, adding that “it’s easier for people left behind”. She revealed: “I’ve gone into it a little bit. A Neil Sedaka song, “Our Last Song Together”. And I know the funeral people I’m going to use.”  

John Tinniswood, the world’s oldest living man, has turned 112 at his care home in Southport, Merseyside. Mr Tinniswood was born in Liverpool on August 26th 1912, the year the Titanic sank, and became the world’s oldest living man in April, saying the secret of his longevity is “just luck”. Asked how he feels to be turning 112, he told the Guinness World Records: “In all honesty, no different. I don’t feel that age, I don’t get excited over it. That’s probably why I’ve reached it. I just take it in my stride like anything else, why I’ve lived that long I have no idea at all. I can’t think of any special secrets I have. I was quite active as a youngster, I did a lot of walking. Whether that had something to do with it, I don’t know. But to me, I’m no different. No different at all.” On what the biggest difference in the world is over the course of his life, he said: “It’s no better in my opinion, or hardly any better, than it was then. Probably in some places it is, but in other places it’s worse.” Beyond eating a portion of battered fish and chips every Friday, Mr Tinniswood said he does not follow any particular diet. “I eat what they give me and so does everybody else. I don’t have a special diet,” he said. Mr Tinniswood lived through both world wars and is the world’s oldest surviving male Second World War veteran. He worked in an administrative role for the Army Pay Corps. In addition to accounts and auditing, his work involved logistical tasks such as locating stranded soldiers and organising food supplies. He went on to work as an accountant for Shell and BP before retiring in 1972. A lifelong Liverpool FC fan, Mr Tinniswood was born just 20 years after the club was founded in 1892, and has lived through all eight of his club’s FA Cup wins and 17 of their 19 league title wins. Mr Tinniswood met his wife, Blodwen, at a dance in Liverpool, and the couple enjoyed 44 years together before Blodwen died in 1986. Since turning 100 in 2012, he received a birthday card each year from the late Queen Elizabeth, who was his junior by almost 14 years. The oldest man ever was Jiroemon Kimura from Japan, who lived to the age of 116 years 54 days and died in 2013. The world’s oldest living woman, and oldest living person, is Japan’s 116-year-old Tomiko Itooka.

On This Day

  • 1923 – The Great Kantō earthquake devastates Tokyo and Yokohama, killing about 105,000 people. 
  • 1974 – The SR-71 Blackbird sets (and still holds) the record for flying from New York to London in the time of one hour, 54 minutes and 56.4 seconds at a speed of 1,435.587 miles per hour
  • 2004 – The Beslan school siege begins when armed terrorists take schoolchildren and school staff hostage in North Ossetia, Russia; by the end of the siege, three days later, more than 385 people are dead (including hostages, other civilians, security personnel and terrorists).

Deaths

  • 1715 – Louis XIV of France (b. 1638).
  • 1914 – Martha, last known passenger pigeon (h. 1885).
  • 2006 – Kyffin Williams, Welsh painter and educator (b. 1918).
  • 2008 – Jerry Reed, American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and actor (b. 1937).

Send Nudes! 

California investigators discovered human remains on Friday, under the home of a man charged with murder in the disappearance of an elderly couple from the Olive Dell Ranch nudist resort in San Bernardino County.

Redlands police said at a news conference on Friday that they found the remains beneath the home of Michael Royce Sparks, 62, the neighbour of Daniel Menard, 79, and his wife, Stephanie Menard, 73. Police arrested Sparks Thursday and he was booked at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.

“We don’t know we’ve located their bodies,” Redlands Police Department spokesman Carl Baker said during a Friday news conference. “We located human remains. I can’t verify that that’s Dan and Stephanie.”

Baker said that around 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Sparks was found underneath his home and surrendered to police.

“Let me say he surrendered voluntarily. I won’t say he’s been cooperative, but he did surrender voluntarily last night after lengthy negotiations,” Baker said.

The Menards were last seen at the Olive Dell Ranch around 10 a.m. Saturday, according to police. Their dog, a small white Shih Tzu named Cuddles, was with them.

A cadaver dog was used to search for the couple’s bodies at Sparks’ residence Friday morning. Baker said at a news conference that “the dog did alert, indicating the presence of a body somewhere underneath the house.”

“I can confirm the presence of human remains under the house”

In the days following the Menards’ disappearance, friends expressed concern as police dispatched dogs and a sheriff’s office helicopter to aid in the search.

On Thursday, police said that a tip had been called into investigators, prompting them to obtain a search warrant “to try and locate the suspect.”

“We suspect that there may have been foul play,” Baker said during a news conference Thursday afternoon.

A SWAT team used armoured vehicles to tear down the walls of Sparks’ house instead of entering it directly “for the officers’ safety,” according to police. On Friday, Baker said Sparks was armed with a rifle and barricaded in the home.

“He did have a rifle and he did attempt to kill himself when police discovered him, but the rifle misfired,” Baker said.

Baker added on Friday that police will continue investigating the dismantled home to search for the couple.

Investigators discovered the human remains along with “bags of evidence” under Sparks’ home.

“At this time, I can confirm the presence of human remains under the house,” Baker said. “We have a representative from the Coroner’s Office here who is evaluating the remains, but  obviously, we are not going to be able to identify those at this time.”

While police have not yet identified the remains, they “believe that Dan and Stephanie Menard are deceased,” Baker said.

“Very suspicious for them to be gone”

Shortly after the couple was last seen, their unlocked car was found down the street from their home in the 26000 block of Keissel Road in Redlands. Some of their possessions, including their cellphones and Stephanie Menard’s purse, were found at the home.

The circumstances of their disappearance had led to concerns from friends.

“I just want them back,” said Sandy Marinelli, who has been friends with the couple for more than a decade. “They don’t deserve this. … They’re just good people. They go to church. They don’t deserve any of this.”

Marinelli said another neighbour went to the couple’s home on Sunday when they weren’t ready for church and discovered Stephanie Menard’s cane inside. She also said a TV and computer were left on.

But the couple was nowhere to be found.

“It was just very suspicious for them to be gone,” Marinelli said.

Tammie Wilkerson, who also lives at the ranch, said Sparks had an ongoing dispute with the Menards.

“He didn’t like them. He hated them, and he told me many times,” Wilkerson said. “It’s such a stupid reason. They had a tree that was on their property line, and Dan used to go trim the limbs and he hated that. That formed his hatred towards them.”

Last Week’s Birthdays

Zendaya (28), Burn Gorman (50), Lily Tomlin (85), Steve Pemberton (57), Gloria Estefan (67), Richard Gere (75), Chris Tucker (53), Cameron Diaz (52), Julian Richings (68), Carla Gugino (53), Rebecca De Mornay (65), Elliott Gould (86), Lenny Henry (66), Jack Black (55), Armie Hammer (38), Brian Thompson (65), Luis Guzmán (68), Barbara Bach (78), Billy Boyd (56), Shania Twain (59), Peter Stormare (71), Aaron Paul (45), Peter Mensah (65), Reece Shearsmith (55), Mike Colter (48), Chris Pine (44), Melissa McCarthy (54), and Macaulay Culkin (44).

1st September 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 25th August 2024

Let’s start by dishing out the points! With the passing of the world’s oldest woman, I can award 33 points to Christine, and 133 points to Abi, Dave, Stu, Paul C. & Lee for being their Cert/Woman. Well done all of you, certainly spicing up the top of the league table! 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

BBC presenter Lauren Laverne has announced she has been diagnosed with cancer. The broadcaster, 46, shared the news on Instagram, urging people to “get checked out”, saying she is lucky to have “caught it early” and is “expected to make a full recovery”. Alongside a picture of her smiling, the presenter of BBC 6 Music’s breakfast show and Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs wrote: “Right then, some personal news… I recently had a cancer diagnosis. It was (thank God) caught early and unexpectedly during a screening test and I am expected to make a full recovery. I’m in hospital at the moment and wanted to take this moment to say thank you: Firstly to the medical teams who have got me this far with incredible skill and kindness. To my family and friends who have been absolutely extraordinary every step of the way – I am so very grateful and love you so much. And of course thank you to my colleagues – including those at @itg_ltd, @bbc6music, @bbctheoneshow and #DesertIslandDiscs for their support – and for giving me the time off that I need to get better.” She continued: “I also want to say that if you’re avoiding a test or putting off an appointment to get yourself checked out please, please do it today. Half of us will get cancer at some point, and if you do, finding out asap is everything. It’s usually my job to bring the good vibes on air but any you have to spare are very much welcome here. Sending loads of love to anyone in a similar boat, or who has made it back to shore. xxx.”  

The world’s oldest living person, Maria Branyas Morera, died in Catalonia in Spain at the age of 117 years and 168 days, her family said on Tuesday. Born in San Francisco, US, in 1907, she lived through two World Wars, the Spanish Civil War and the 1918 flu pandemic and faced many personal hardships in her early years, including losing her father during her family’s emigration to Spain and suffering hearing loss as a child. Her remarkable longevity was recognised by both the Gerontology Research Group and the Guinness World Records, and Branyas Morera became a symbol of resilience, having survived Covid at age 113. “Maria Branyas has left us. She died as she wished: in her sleep, peacefully and without pain,” her family wrote on her Twitter account. “We will always remember her for her advice and kindness.” Catalonia’s president, Salvador Illa, re-shared the post and expressed his condolences to the family. ”Maria Branyas, the grandmother of Catalonia and the oldest person in the world, has left us. We lose an endearing woman, who has taught us the value of life and the wisdom of the years.” Branyas Morera, who had spent the last 20 years at the Santa Maria del Tura nursing home in Olot, northeastern Spain, shared in a post on Tuesday that she was feeling “weak”.  Her account was run by her family. “The time is near,” she added. “Please don’t cry; I don’t like tears. And above all, don’t worry about me. Wherever I go, I will be happy.” In January 2023, Guinness World Records recognised Branyas Morera as the world’s oldest person following the death of French nun Lucile Randon at age 118. Branyas Morera tested positive for Covid in April 2020 but recovered, becoming the oldest recorded survivor of the disease at the time. In an interview with the Flying Monkeys, she urged for better treatment of the elderly. “This pandemic has revealed that older people are the forgotten ones of our society. They fought their whole lives, sacrificed time and their dreams for today’s quality of life. They didn’t deserve to leave the world in this way,” she said. Branyas Morera attributed her longevity to “order, tranquillity, good connection with family and friends, contact with nature, emotional stability, no worries, no regrets, lots of positivity, and staying away from toxic people. I think longevity is also about being lucky. Luck and good genetics.” Following the death of Branyas Morera, the title of the world’s oldest living person passed to Japan’s Tomiko Itooka, who is 116.  

Clueless star Alicia Silverstone has reassured fans she is “alive and well” after she filmed herself eating a poisonous berry during a visit to London. The 47-year-old actor had shared a video on TikTok on Monday in which she held up an orange berry with seeds inside it. She was seen biting into the fruit and appearing confused by what it was, before fans flocked to social media to warn that it was a “very poisonous form of deadly nightshade”. Silverstone was not heard from on social media for hours after the posting, prompting fans to speculate that she could have succumbed to the poison. Social media users begged for an update as they said “You’re going to need to let us know you’re OK. It’s been five hours” and “Woman! Update us! Are you alive and well?”. On Tuesday the star shared a picture of herself on a photoshoot with the caption: “Alive and well! Don’t worry… I didn’t swallow.” She added a winking emoji. Supporters shared their relief as they wrote: “Queen I’m glad you’re alive” and “I came here for this confirmation. Glad you’re healthy!” The original post showed the actor, who is best known for playing Cher Horowitz in Nineties classic Clueless, walking down a street in England and plucking an orange berry from a bush in someone’s front garden to taste it. “OK, I’ve discovered something that I can’t figure out what it is and I need your help,” she told her viewers. “I just bit into it because it was on the street, and we were discussing whether it was a tomato or not,” she continued, before filming the gated garden where she got the fruit from. Silverstone also questioned the type of leaves in the plant, which had green, red, and orange berries hanging from it. “So what the heck is this?” the star added, before showing the fruit opened up on the street, with seeds popping out of it. She once again bit into the fruit and showed off the inside of it for the camera. “I don’t think you’re supposed to eat this,” she admitted. “But it’s almost like a pepper. Does anyone know what this is? I don’t know what it is.” The actor emphasised her confusion in the caption, writing: “What the heck is this!? I’m in England and can’t figure it out.” The TikTok video quickly went viral, with more than 1.3 million views on her page and over 10 million views where it was reposted on Twitter. In the comments, multiple people claimed that the fruit she was eating was a Jerusalem cherry, which is poisonous.  

Dr Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was hospitalised after testing positive for West Nile virus. Fauci, a longtime public health official who became a household name as part of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, has now been discharged and is expected to recover fully, a spokesperson said. “Tony Fauci has been hospitalised with a case of West Nile virus. He is now home and is recovering. A full recovery is expected,” the spokesperson said in a statement shared with the Flying Monkeys. They reported that Fauci had spent six days in hospital before being discharged. Fauci, 83, ran the NIAID for nearly four decades before he retired in 2022. As well as fronting the US response to the Covid-19 pandemic, he achieved fame after becoming the target of political attacks from then-president Donald Trump. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), West Nile virus is the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the continental United States and is most commonly spread to people by the bite of an infected mosquito. Cases of West Nile occur during mosquito season, which starts in the summer and continues through autumn. There are no vaccines to prevent or medicines to treat West Nile in people, though most people infected with the virus do not feel sick. Around one in five people who are infected develop a fever and other symptoms. About one out of 150 infected people develop a serious, sometimes fatal, illness, according to the CDC. Despite leaving government nearly two years ago, Fauci has continued to face fierce political attacks from congressional Republicans for his role in the nation’s response to coronavirus. In June, he testified before a House panel investigating the response, where he was accused by GOP lawmakers of orchestrating a coverup of the virus’s origins. At the time he described the allegations as “simply preposterous.” 

Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson has sent a heartbreaking message as he reaches the end of his life and tells fans: ‘I hope you’ll remember me.’ The Swedish ex-Three Lions manager, who has terminal pancreatic cancer, was in charge of England’s ‘Golden Generation’ men’s football team from 2001 to 2006. The 76-year-old revealed in January that he had ‘best case a year’ to live and a new documentary about his life is being released on Amazon Prime on Friday. ‘I hope you will remember me as a positive guy trying to do everything he could do,’ Eriksson said. ‘Don’t be sorry, smile. Thank you for everything, coaches, players, the crowds, it’s been fantastic. Take care of yourself and take care of your life. And live it.’ Speaking candidly as he approaches the end, Eriksson added: ‘I had a good life. I think we are all scared of the day when we die, but life is about death as well. ‘You have to learn to accept it for what it is. Hopefully at the end people will say, ‘yeah, he was a good man’. But everyone will not say that.’ 

On This Day

  • 1609 – Galileo Galilei demonstrates his first telescope to Venetian lawmakers.
  • 1958 – The world’s first publicly marketed instant noodles,  Chikin Ramen, are introduced by Taiwanese-Japanese businessman Momofuku Ando. 
  • 1991 – Linus Torvalds announces the first version of what will become Linux.
  • 2001 – American singer Aaliyah and several members of her record company are killed as their overloaded aircraft crashes shortly after takeoff from Marsh Harbour Airport, Bahamas.
  • 2012 – Voyager 1 spacecraft enters interstellar space becoming the first man-made object to do so.

Deaths

  • 1819 – James Watt, Scottish engineer and instrument maker (b. 1736).
  • 1900 – Friedrich Nietzsche, German philologist, philosopher, and critic (b. 1844).
  • 1984 – Truman Capote, American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter (b. 1924).
  • 2001 – Aaliyah, American singer and actress (b. 1979).
  • 2009 – Ted Kennedy, American politician (b. 1932).
  • 2012 – Neil Armstrong, American pilot, engineer, and astronaut (b. 1930).

Last Week’s Birthdays

Blake Lively (37), Alexander Skarsgård (48), Tim Burton (66), Tom Skerritt (91), Gene Simmons (75), Billy Ray Cyrus (63), Jared Harris (63), Rupert Grint (36), Steve Guttenberg (66), Stephen Fry (67), Kristen Wiig (51), Richard Armitage (53), Dua Lipa (29), Ty Burrell (57), James ‘the cunt’ Corden (46), Mark Williams (65), Hayden Panettiere (35), Kim Cattrall (68), Carrie-Anne Moss (57), Amy Adams (50), Andrew Garfield (41), Ke Huy Quan (53), James Marsters (62), John Noble (76), Demi Lovato (32), Ray Wise (77), Sylvester McCoy (81), David Walliams (53), Ian McElhinney (76), Diana Muldaur (86), Jonathan Frakes (72), Jim Carter (76), and Simon Bird (40). 

25th August 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 18th August 2024

Sadly no points scored this week, even though we had a couple of big hitting actors and a centenarian bite the bullet. Perhaps it’s time to let fly those evil monkeys… 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Trisha Goddard was praised as she made her debut as a guest presenter on Good Morning Britain. The TV star, 66, joined Richard Madeley to host ITV’s breakfast show, days after she spoke about her terminal breast cancer diagnosis on the programme. Trisha – who fronted her own talk show in the ‘90s and 2000s and now lives in America – was a guest presenter, filling in for Kate Garraway. Trisha opened up about her diagnosis with secondary breast cancer earlier this month. She discovered that the incurable cancer had returned, this time to her hip, when she had a serious fall at her home in Connecticut, in 2022. However, she chose to keep the news of her stage four cancer private from her colleagues and the public. ‘I was grappling with how to deal with it myself. Plus I just wanted to work and be me, with CNN and my colleagues there, they didn’t know that I had no hair, that I had no feeling in my legs from the treatment, because I had chemo every week for four and a half months.’ She previously said, ‘My worry is that people will start seeing me as a frail little thing, and that if it got out, I’d be judged, or people would change the way they are with me, or that I wouldn’t work.’ But she admitted that keeping the ‘difficult secret’ became ‘tough’ as time went on. ‘I can’t lie; I can’t keep making up stories. It gets to a stage, after a year and a half, when keeping a secret becomes more of a burden than anything else,’ she added. ‘It’s not going to go away. And with that knowledge comes grief, and fear. But I must keep enjoying what I have always enjoyed,’ she told the Flying Monkeys. Trisha is determined not to be ‘a poster girl for cancer’. ‘It’s not who I am. It’s not why I’m here,’ she said. ‘Also, I didn’t want to read words like ‘dying’ and ‘terminal’ or ‘battling’. Or ‘inspirational’ because it’s all bollocks.”  

Sir Rod Stewart has been issued a further medical warning after being forced to cancel his concerts due to battling a string of health conditions. Last week we reported that Rod had been struggling with Strep Throat, but now he’s also contracted Covid-19! He was due to perform at Stateline in Nevada, followed by a show at Thunder Valley Casino in Lincoln, California on Saturday night. However, an Instagram post to his 1.4million followers late on Friday confirmed he was once again cancelling. A statement read: “We regret to announce that tonight’s Rod Stewart concert in Stateline, NV and his August 10 show in Lincoln, CA have been postponed, as the singer recovers from a summer strain of Covid-19.” The post also gave details of rescheduled dates for the two cancelled concerts which will now take place on August 18 and 20. Whilst Stewart is keen to return to the stage, the musician has been issued a stern warning over his recovery. Dr Chun Tang, a GP and Medical Director at Pall Mall Medical, claimed Stewart will need “significant rehabilitation” for his voice to return to normal following his illness. He told the Flying Monkeys: “Covid can have several long-lasting effects on the vocal cords, especially for those who experienced severe symptoms. The virus can cause persistent inflammation of the vocal cords, leading to ongoing hoarseness, a reduced vocal range, and a weak or breathy voice.” In some cases, Covid can cause nerve damage that affects the control of vocal cords. Tang added: “This can make it difficult to speak or sing normally and may require significant rehabilitation.”  

John Farnham’s sons Rob and James have spoken about their father’s cancer battle, as the Australian music icon continues to recover from throat cancer following a devastating 2022 diagnosis. The 75-year-old underwent 12-hour surgery after being diagnosed with throat cancer, with doctors removing a tumour from his mouth and reconstructing his jaw. He has since received an “all clear” regarding the cancer. “He’s doing really well,” Rob said. “Every day is another step forward, as it is for everyone with cancer. He’s just gotta keep moving forward and keeping positive, and you know, keep driving forward. That’s what it’s about.” The boys went on to praise their mother, saying she had held the family together for the past two years, and also reflected on comments from global superstar Celine Dion, who paid tribute to Farnham in her own documentary I Am: Celine Dion, calling him one of the greatest singers of all time. “He was pretty impressed — it was pretty cool for him to see it,” James said. “He was quite surprised she spoke about him for so long, and he was the only singer he spoke about in the whole documentary.”

On This Day

  • 1612 – The trial of the Pendle witches, one of England’s most famous witch trials, begins at Lancaster Assizes. 
  • 1958 – Vladimir Nabokov’s controversial novel Lolita is published in the United States.
  • 1977 – Steve Biko is arrested at a police roadblock under Terrorism Act No. 83 of 1967 in King William’s Town, South Africa. He later dies from injuries sustained during this arrest, bringing attention to South Africa’s apartheid policies.

Deaths

  • 1998 – Persis Khambatta, Indian model and actress, Femina Miss India 1965 (b. 1948).
  • 2004 – Elmer Bernstein, American composer and conductor (b. 1922).
  • 2017 – Bruce Forsyth, English television presenter and entertainer (b. 1928).
  • 2018 – Kofi Annan, Ghanaian diplomat and seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations (b. 1938).

The Pendle Witches

On August 20th 1612 ten people convicted of witchcraft at the Summer Assize held in Lancaster Castle went to the gallows on the moors above the town. Among their number were two men and a woman in her eighties. Their crimes included laming, causing madness and what was termed “simple” witchcraft. In addition to this some sixteen unexplained deaths, many stretching back decades, were laid at their door. 

Lancashire, in the early years of the seventeenth century, was remote, its roads poor, its people ill-educated. Throughout the county there were places where the outside world hardly intruded, and one such area was Pendle Forest. It was here, among stark hillsides, infertile valleys and scattered hamlets, that the story of the Pendle Witches had its beginnings. 

On March 18th 1612 a young woman by the name of Alison Device was out begging on the road to Colne. She stopped a peddler from Halifax, John Law, and asked him for a pin. He refused her request and walked away. According to Alison’s own testimony her ‘familiar spirit’ in the shape of a dog, appeared to her and asked if she would like him to harm Law. Alison was new to the art of witchcraft, indeed she seems to have resisted being indoctrinated into what was in effect the family business. But now she agreed that Law must be punished and she told the dog to lame the peddler. No doubt to her great surprise, the curse took immediate effect and Law fell to the ground, paralysed down one side (presumably by a stroke) and unable to speak. He was taken to a local inn and later Alison was brought to his bedside. She admitted her part in his illness and begged his forgiveness, which he gave. However, Law’s son Abraham had become involved, and he was far from satisfied. He took the matter to Roger Nowell the local magistrate, and from there things snowballed at an alarming rate. After hearing the most awful admissions from those he interviewed, Nowell made many arrests. By the end of  April nineteen people (including a group from Samlesbury and Isobel Roby from Windle) were incarcerated in Lancaster Castle, awaiting trial at the August Assize. 

The most famous of the Pendle witches actually died before coming to trial. Elizabeth Southernes (“Old Demdike”) had admitted to Nowell that she was a witch. In so doing she also implicated many of her co-accused, as did Anne Whittle (“Old Chattox”) who was herself accused of the murder by witchcraft of Robert Nutter. Also implicated were members of both their families: Elizabeth Device, Demdike’s daughter, was accused of two murders, as was her son James, while Alison was to stand trial for what she had done to John Law on that fateful spring day five months before. Anne Redfearne, Chattox’s daughter, stood accused of the murder of Christopher Nutter eighteen years previously.

Others were dragged into the affair: John and Jane Bulcock, a mother and her son, were tried for causing madness, and for being at a so-called Witches Sabbath held at Malkin Tower on Good Friday 1612; Alice Nutter from Roughlee Hall, was accused of killing one Henry Mitton because he refused to give Demdike a penny; Margaret Pearson was accused of bewitching one of her neighbour’s horses to death, and Katherine Hewitt was accused of the murder of Ann Foulds. 

Lancaster formed part of the Northern Circuit, and the Assize Court judges visited the town twice a year. The trials commenced on Tuesday 18th August with Sir Edward Bromley presiding. First into the dock was Old Chattox. She was accused of the murder of Robert Nutter some eighteen years previously. She pleaded not guilty, but eventually confessed when confronted by evidence given by Demdike and James Device to Roger Nowell back in April. Elizabeth Device followed her into court. She stood charged with three counts of murder, accusations she vehemently denied. However, the Prosecution had a star witness in the form of Elizabeth’s own nine year old daughter Jennet. Her evidence was devastating, and Elizabeth was so overcome with anger that she had to be removed from court. Jennet told of familiar spirits, of the making of clay images in order to cause death, of the Sabbath supposedly held at Malkin Tower on Good Friday, where it was decided to blow up the castle and kill the Governor, Thomas Covell, in order to free those imprisoned there. She spoke of witches mounting ponies and flying off on them before vanishing into thin air. Inevitably, Elizabeth was found guilty as well.

James Device was tried next. He was in a pitiable condition, and may even have been physically ill-treated during his imprisonment. However, there was little sympathy for him and after more hearsay evidence, and his own testimony, he was found guilty along with Elizabeth Device and Anne Whittle. 

Anne Redfearne had already been acquitted of one murder. Now she was tried for killing Christopher Nutter eighteen years previously. The evidence hinged on Nutter’s daughter remembering that her father believed he was the victim of a curse. She had also been seen making clay images by James Device. Anne was found guilty. Next into the dock was Alice Nutter. She was a gentlewoman, and the evidence against her was flimsy. However, her fate was sealed by Jennet Device, who identified her as being present at the infamous Sabbath. Alice too, was convicted. The trial of Katherine Hewitt “Mouldheels” went much the same way, with little Jennet again the star witness. Katherine was convicted as well. Jennet’s evidence against John and Jane Bulcock was even more slight: she remembered John turning a spit on which they had roasted a lamb that  Good Friday. It was illegal to aid or assist a witch, and this was enough in 1612, along with other hearsay evidence, to seal the fate of both defendants.

Margaret Pearson was tried for killing a horse by riding it to death (“Hag Ridden” from which we get the modern word “haggard”) She was convicted, although ultimately not condemned.

Alizon Device was the last of the Pendle witches to be tried. Unusually, the key witness against her was also the victim: John Law. He was the object of much pity, as his brush with Alison had left him crippled. When he was assisted into court Alison rushed to him and begged his forgiveness once more, which he again gave. The court was moved to ask her if she could help restore him to health. She told them she was not powerful enough, but that Old Demdike, had she lived, could have done so. Alison was found guilty.

Isobel Roby, from Windle, also stood trial on charges of witchcraft at this Assize, and she too was convicted.

All that remained was for the sentences to be handed down. Bromley had little option: under the terms of the 1604 Witchcraft Act all the accused had been found guilty of crimes punishable by death. On August 20th 1612 the ten condemned prisoners were taken to the moors above the town and hanged. 

The trials in Lancaster in August 1612 are among the most famous witchcraft trials in history. This is mainly due to the fact that we have a very full (albeit biased) account of them, left to us by the Clerk of the Court, Thomas Potts. In 1613 he published his account of these events in a book entitled “The Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Lancaster.” This is our only real primary source for what was going on in the more remote areas of Lancashire over all those years, and Potts was writing for an audience which included King James I himself, and one which was more than ready to believe in the existence of such evil. This was also a time of great tension, and of anti-Catholic rhetoric. The Gunpowder Plot was still fresh in the memory, and Potts chose to dedicate his book to Lord Knyvett, the man who had actually arrested Guy Fawkes in 1605. Politics and religion played their part in the prosecutions and convictions in Lancaster in 1612, but the inescapable fact remains that at the end of the day ten people lost their lives, found guilty of a crime that no longer even officially exists.

Last Week’s Birthdays

Christian Slater (55), Edward Norton (55), Robert Redford (88), Roman Polanski (91), Huw Edwards (63), Austin Butler (33), Robert De Niro (81), Sean Penn (64), Belinda Carlisle (66), Taika Waititi (49), Steve Carell (62), James Cameron (70), Julie Newmar (91), Madonna (66), Jennifer Lawrence (34), Ben Affleck (52), David Zayas (62), Natasha Henstridge (50), Jim Dale (89), Tony Robinson (78), Mila Kunis (41), Halle Berry (58), Steve Martin (79), Joseph Marcell (76), Sebastian Stan (42), Cara Delevingne (32), and Jim Beaver (74). 

18th August 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 11th August 2024

Looks like none of the Fascist rioters have managed to cause any famous deaths, perhaps they don’t socialise in the same circles… Maybe they could do with a succulent Chinese meal to calm down. 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

The world of chess has been rocked after a Russian chess champion allegedly attempted to poison her childhood rival by covering her pieces in deadly mercury. Now facing a possible prison sentence, Amina Abakarova, 43, was caught on a security camera appearing to smear her rival’s pieces with the substance ahead of a tournament in Makhachkala, southern Russia last week. According to the World Health Organisation, even minor exposure to mercury can have serious health consequences. In the shocking footage, Ms Abakarova can be seen looking suspiciously around a room full of chess boards to ensure no one else was present. She then approaches her opponent’s table, takes what appears to be a vial from her bag, and pours the substance on the pieces before looking around the room again. The victim required medical treatment after experiencing “severe dizziness and nausea” during the game, but she was able to continue with the tournament. It is claimed that Ms Abakarova poisoned Umayganat Osmanova in an act of revenge after she insulted her last Friday. She is now facing up to three years behind bars for the incident. Sazhid Sazhidov, a Dagistani sports official, said: “We have video proof showing that one of the players at the Dagestani chess championship, Amina Abakarova from the city of Makhachkala, applied an unidentified substance, which later turned out to contain mercury, to the table where Umayganat Osmanova from the city of Kaspiisk was set to play against her.” Malcolm Pain of the English Chess Federation told The Flying Monkeys that there is no other recorded case in the history of chess of an attempted poisoning during a game. “Like many others, I am perplexed by what happened, and the motives of such an experienced competitor as Amina Abakarova are incomprehensible,” he said. “The actions she took could have led to a most tragic outcome, threatening the lives of everyone who was present, including herself. Now she must answer for what she did by the law.” The Russian Chess Federation is now considering giving Ms Abakarova a lifetime ban.  

Oasis singer Noel Gallagher, 57, has made a dark prediction about his future saying he would be “lucky” to make it to 60. The “Wonderwall” singer reflected on his health and lifestyle habits, particularly his alcohol consumption, as he explained the reasons behind the bleak prognosis. Comparing himself to 81-year-old Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones, he told the Flying Monkeys, “Just because Jagger is mincing around at 103 doesn’t mean everyone can.” The Manchester musician continued, “Well, I mean, they’ve got to be pushing, what, 70 now, innit? “I mean, the way I feel fucking now, I mean I’ll be fucking lucky if I make it to 60.” Reflecting on his health and alcohol intake, he explained he had also noticed some weight gain, and added, “I could do with getting off the booze, let’s put it that way,” he said. Gallagher previously said he didn’t want to live past 75 as he told BBC Radio 1 in 2022, “Do I want to live another 50 years? No. Just think how shit the world is now. I would rather not live through it. At 75 I want to go.” At the time he shared a bucket list of goals he’d like to tick off before he dies, including making a song with Johnny Marr and meeting Bob Dylan. Last month, he revealed he was set to go under the knife because of his “bad knees”. Although he didn’t explain the details of the procedure, the news came after his brother, Liam, has also been open about the arthritis affecting his knees suggesting the condition could be genetic.  

Sir Rod Stewart has cancelled his 200th residency celebration show due to a bout of the bacterial infection strep throat. The 79-year-old singer was set to bring his The Hits show at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace to a close on Wednesday after performing at the venue across the last 13 years. However, Sir Rod withdrew hours before what was meant to be his last show at the venue, saying he was “desperately sorry”. He added: “Most people can work with strep throat but obviously not me. I’m absolutely gutted. I’ve been looking forward to this concert for so long. My deepest regrets for any inconvenience this has caused. Thankfully we’ll now be returning in 2025 and I hope to see you all there,” he vowed. According to the NHS, a strep infection can mean patients having a sore throat, a rash, nausea and vomiting and muscle aches. It is often not a serious illness and can be treated with antibiotics. Sir Rod is a member of the US Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and was knighted by the Queen in 2016. Reflecting on his incredible legacy, Rod – who turns 80 in January – recently acknowledged his “days are numbered.” “I’m aware my days are numbered but I’ve got no fear. We have all got to pass on at some point, so we are all in the same basket. I am going to be enjoying myself for these last few years as much as I can. I say few — probably another 15. I can do that easy mate, easy.”

On This Day

  • 1929 – Babe Ruth becomes the first baseball player to hit 500 home runs in his career with a home run at League Park in Cleveland, Ohio.
  • 1934 – The first civilian prisoners arrive at the Federal prison on Alcatraz Island.
  • 1942 – Actress Hedy Lamarr and composer George Antheil receive a patent for a Frequency-hopping spread spectrum communication system that later became the basis for modern technologies in wireless telephones, two-way radio communications, and Wi-Fi. 
  • 1962 – Vostok 3 launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome and cosmonaut Andrian Nikolayev becomes the first person to float in microgravity.

Deaths

Last Week’s Birthdays

Chris Hemsworth (41), Viola Davis (59), Anna Gunn (56), Ian McDiarmid (80), Hulk Hogan (71), Rosanna Arquette (65), Antonio Banderas (64), Bill Skarsgård (34), Anna Kendrick (39), Gillian Anderson (56), Sam Elliott (80), Rhona Mitra (48), Eric Bana (56), Melanie Griffith (67), Dan Levy (41), Audrey Tautou (48), Dustin Hoffman (87), Charlize Theron (49), Michael Shannon (50), Abbie Cornish (42), Harold Perrineau (61), David Duchovny (64), Tobin Bell (82), M. Night Shyamalan (54), Michelle Yeoh (62), and Mark Strong (61).

11th August 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

Dead Pool 4th August 2024

Contender, ready! Gladiator, ready!!! No winners today though! Might as well sit down and  have a Tiramisu. 

Look Who You Could Have Had:

In Other News

Miriam Margolyes has shared a health update as she experiences difficulty walking, due to problems with problems her spine. The 83-year-old Harry Potter actor has opened up about dealing with spinal stenosis – the narrowing of the spinal canal – which can cause compression on the spinal nerves. As the condition progresses, it can cause back and leg pain. Margolyes said that she is now registered as disabled and has started using a mobility scooter. “I can’t walk very well, and I’m registered disabled,” she told the Flying Monkeys. “I use all kinds of assistance. I’ve got two sticks and a walker and they’re such a bore, but I’ve just got a mobility scooter, which is a lot of fun.” Last year, the Australian actor underwent major heart surgery to replace her aortic valve, and has since shared concerns that she won’t have enough money to cover her health and medical support costs as she gets older. “I’m worried that I won’t have enough money for carers when I finally get paralysed or whatever it is that’s going to happen to me, I’m saving up cash so that I can pay people to look after me and my partner. We don’t have children, so I need to make sure I’m going to be looked after in the way that I’ve become accustomed. When I started kind of failing physically, I remember saying to directors and producers, please don’t show me clambering out of a car or climbing upstairs on my hands and knees. I didn’t want people to see that because I was embarrassed to see myself looking so pathetic. But, subsequently, I’ve met loads of people who have said I gave them the courage to do things that they never thought they could. So I’m very pleased about that.”  

Following on from last weeks story of the 23-year-old Australian surfer who survived having his leg bitten off by a suspected great white shark, he has vowed to be back in the water “in no time”. Kai McKenzie was attacked off the mid-north coast of New South Wales last week, and his severed leg later washed up on the beach. The limb was placed on ice and taken to a hospital about 200km away from the place where the attack took place, with the hope that it could be reattached. It’s not clear if doctors attempted surgery to reattach the leg, but an Instagram post by Mr McKenzie on Monday confirmed that he had lost the limb. “Spot something missing? Hahah,” Mr McKenzie quipped in a caption alongside an image showing him standing arm-in-arm with a group of friends. Mr McKenzie was taken to Port Macquarie Base Hospital and later flown to John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle after last Tuesday’s attack. He was riding the waves off the shore of New South Wales when a 10ft shark attacked and nearly killed him. In an earlier post on Instagram on Saturday he detailed the incident and thanked people for the support he received. “To be here right now just to fucking be able to hold my beautiful Eve and my family is everything to me,” he wrote. “A few days ago I went through a crazy shark attack, biggest shark I’ve ever seen, which was a very crazy scene and scared the living fuck out of me. But to all you fucking kind-hearted people, all you legends, to anyone and everyone all your support has meant the absolute world to me. I can tell you now if you know my personality this means fuck all. I’ll be back in that water in no time, big fuck off to that shark and big thanks to Steve for saving my life.” In a statement on Thursday, the McKenzie family also thanked all of the “medical staff … bystanders and first responders” who had worked to save the surfer’s life. 

Good Morning Britain contributor Iain Dale has shared an update on his health following the news earlier this week that he had been admitted to hospital with “acute pain”. The broadcaster, 62 – who’s made numerous appearances as a panelist on the ITV show over the years – announced just days ago that he had ended up in A&E over a suspected “gall bladder issue”. He however later told fans that he was in intensive care awaiting an operation to remove the organ. The LBC radio host took to Twitter, on Wednesday afternoon to share an update. He stated that his gallbladder is “infected and inflamed,” with Iain adding that his operation had been postponed amid other treatment. Addressing his followers, he wrote in the post: “FURTHER UPDATE: No sign of gallstones but gallbladder infected and inflamed. Decision on op put off until we see if antibiotics work.” He continued: “Hope to be discharged tomorrow, but won’t be at full capacity for some time, I’m told.” Iain also expressed gratitude to his followers for their well wishes and support. He concluded the recent tweet by writing: “Renewed thanks for all the kind comments and to the wonderful people who have been caring for me.” It comes just days after Iain shared that he was “suffering” due to his health recently. He initially took to the platform on Sunday to apologise to his followers for his “lack of interaction,” attributing it to a “bout of food poisoning”. 

On This Day

  • 1693 – Date traditionally ascribed to Dom Perignon’s invention of champagne. 
  • 1783 – Mount Asama erupts in Japan, killing about 1,400 people. The eruption causes a famine, which results in an additional 20,000 deaths.
  • 1892 – The father and stepmother of Lizzie Borden are found murdered in their Fall River, Massachusetts home. She will be tried and acquitted for the crimes a year later. 
  • 2020 – Beirut Port explosion: At least 220 people are killed and over 5,000 are wounded when 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate explodes in Beirut, Lebanon.

Deaths

How Lizzie Borden Got Away With Murder

The Lizzie Borden murder case is one of the most famous in American criminal history. New England’s major crime of the Gilded Age, its barbarity captivated the national press. And the suspected killer was immortalised by an eerie rhyme passed down through generations:

Lizzie Borden took an ax
And gave her mother forty whacks.
When she saw what she had done,
She gave her father forty-one.

While the public largely believed that Borden committed the murders, the rhyme is not quite correct: the female victim was Borden’s stepmother, and the weapon wasn’t an ax, but rather a hatchet, a smaller, lighter tool. Also, the killer struck the victims around half as many times as stated in the rhyme, 19 blows rained down on 64-year-old Abby Borden, and 10 or 11 rendered the face of Lizzie Borden’s 69-year-old father, Andrew Borden, unrecognisable. Still, the rhyme does accurately record the sequence of the murders, which took place about an hour and a half apart on the morning of August 4th, 1892. 

In the early hours, after the discovery of the bodies, the public only knew that the assassin had struck the victims in broad daylight at their home on a busy street, one block from the town’s business district. There was no evident motive like robbery or sexual assault. Neighbours and passers-by heard nothing. No one saw a suspect enter or leave the Borden property.

Moreover, Andrew Borden was no ordinary citizen. Like other Fall River Bordens, he possessed wealth and standing. He had invested in mills, banks and real estate. But Andrew had never made a show of his good fortune. He lived on the unfashionable Second Street, in a modest house, now a spooky bed and breakfast, instead of on “The Hill,” Fall River’s lofty, leafy, silk-stocking enclave.

Lizzie Borden, then a 32-year-old who lived at home, longed to reside on The Hill. She knew her father could afford to move away from a neighbourhood increasingly dominated by Catholic immigrants. 

Police initially considered the killings the work of a man, probably a “foreigner.” Within a few hours of the murders, they arrested a suspect: an innocent Portuguese immigrant from the town’s new diaspora of European workers. 

On the day of the murders, Lizzie claimed that she’d come into the house from the barn and discovered her father’s body. She yelled for the Bordens’ 26-year-old Irish servant, Maggie Sullivan, who was resting in her third-floor room. She told Sullivan she needed a doctor and sent the servant across the street to the family physician’s house. He was not at home. 

Initially, this helped keep Lizzie off the suspect list. She was, after all, a Sunday school teacher at her wealthy Central Congregational Church. Members of her social class didn’t think a person like her would slaughter her parents. 

But during the interrogation, Lizzie’s answers to different police officers shifted. And her inability to summon a single tear aroused police suspicion. Then an officer discovered that Borden had tried to purchase deadly prussic acid from a nearby drugstore a day before the murders. 

Five days after the murders, authorities convened an inquest. Lizzie took the stand on each of its three days; the inquest was the only time she testified in court under oath.

Even more than the heap of inconsistencies that the police compiled, Lizzie’s testimony led her into a briar patch of seeming self-incrimination. She did not have a defence lawyer during what was a closed inquiry. But she was not without defenders. The family doctor, who staunchly believed in her innocence, testified that after the murders, he prescribed a double dose of morphine to help her sleep. Its side effects, he claimed, could account for her confusion. Her 41-year-old sister, Emma Borden, who also lived at home, claimed that the sisters harboured no anger toward their stepmother. 

However, authorities arrested Lizzie on August 11th, one week after the murders. The judge sent her to the county jail. This privileged suspect found herself confined to a cheerless 9.5-by-7.5-foot cell for the next nine months. 

Lizzie’s arrest provoked an uproar that quickly became national. Women’s groups rallied to her side, especially the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union and suffragists. Borden’s supporters protested that at trial, she would not be judged by a jury of her peers, as women did not have the right to serve on juries.

Lizzie’s upper-class status benefited her throughout her ordeal. During the preliminary hearing, one of Boston’s most prominent defence lawyers joined the family attorney to advocate for her innocence. 

Her attorneys stressed that the prosecution offered no murder weapon and possessed no bloody clothes. As to the prussic acid, Lizzie was a victim of misidentification, they claimed. In addition, throughout the saga, her legion of supporters remained steadfast that Lizzie’s guilt was culturally inconceivable: A well-bred, virtuous Victorian woman, a “Protestant nun,” to use the words of the national president of the temperance union, could never commit patricide. 

At the preliminary hearing, Lizzie’s defence attorney  delivered a rousing closing argument. Her partisans erupted into loud applause. It was to no avail. The judge determined she was ‘probably guilty’ and should remain jailed until a state Superior Court trial. 

Neither the attorney general, who typically prosecuted capital crimes, nor the district attorney was eager to haul Lizzie into Superior Court, though both believed in her guilt. There were holes in the police’s evidence. And while Lizzie’s place in the local order was unassailable, her arrest had also provoked a groundswell of support.

Though he did not have to, the district attorney brought the case before a grand jury in November. He was not sure he would secure an indictment. Twenty-three jurors convened to hear the case on the charges of murder. They adjourned with no action. Then the grand jury reconvened on December 1st and heard dramatic testimony. 

Alice Russell, a single, pious, 40-year-old member of Central Congregational, was Lizzie’s close friend. Shortly after Andrew Borden was killed, Lizzie sent Sullivan to summon Alice. She slept in the Borden house for several nights after the murders, with the brutalised victims stretched out on mortician boards in the dining room. Russell had testified at the inquest, the preliminary hearing and earlier before the grand jury. But she had never disclosed one important detail. Distressed over her omission, Russell returned to the grand jury. She testified that on the morning after the murders, Lizzie had pulled a dress from a shelf in the pantry closet and proceeded to burn it in the cast iron coal stove. The grand jury indicted Lizzie the next day. 

The district attorney perhaps underestimated the legal and cultural impediments he faced. With her father’s money in hand, Lizzie could afford the best legal team to defend her, including a former Massachusetts governor who had appointed one of the three justices who would preside over the case. That justice delivered a slanted charge to the jury, which one major newspaper described as “a plea for the innocent.” The justices took other actions that stymied the prosecution, excluding testimony about prussic acid because the prosecution had not refuted that the deadly poison could be used for innocent purposes. 

Not surprisingly, the jury quickly decided to acquit Lizzie. They waited for an hour so it would not appear they’d made a hasty decision. 

The courtroom audience, the bulk of the press and women’s groups cheered Lizzie’s acquittal. But her life was altered forever. Two months after the innocent verdict, the Borden sisters moved to a large Victorian house on The Hill. Yet many people there and in the Central Congregational Church shunned her. Lizzie became Fall River’s curio, followed by street urchins and stared down whenever she appeared in public. She withdrew to her home, but even there, neighbourhood kids pestered Lizzie with pranks. 

Lizzie enjoyed traveling to Boston, New York and Washington, D.C., dining in style and attending the theatre. She and her sister Emma had a falling out in 1904, and Emma left the house in 1905. The sisters never saw each other again. Both died in 1927, Lizzie first and Emma nine days later. Both were buried in the same plot as their father and stepmother.

Last Week’s Birthdays

Meghan Markle (43), Billy Bob Thornton (69), Barack Obama (63), Lee Mack (56), Evangeline Lilly (45), Stephen Graham (51), Martin Sheen (84), Steven Berkoff (87), John C. McGinley (65), Mamie Gummer (41), Sam Worthington (48), Edward Furlong (47), Kevin Smith (54), Jason Momoa (45), Daisy May Cooper (38), Wesley Snipes (62), Michael Biehn (68), Emilia Fox (50), Dean Cain (58), J.K. Rowling (59), Christopher Nolan (54), Arnold Schwarzenegger (77), Lisa Kudrow (61), Hilary Swank (50), Laurence Fishburne (63), Frances de la Tour (80), Terry Crews (56), Jean Reno (76), Carel Struycken (76), and Wil Wheaton (52).

4th August 2024 | Categories: 2024 | Leave A Comment »

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