One of my all time favourite authors. Haven't read the latest yet because I'm a tight git and will wait until it reaches the library. He's got enough money anyway.

Reading 'The Black Dahlia' by James Elroy at the moment.

J. Russell Coffrey, one of three known remaining US veterans of WWI, aged 109.

blackandblue wrote:

Reading 'The Black Dahlia' by James Elroy at the moment.

Are you enjoying it ?  Great book, shite film.
Have you read any other Ellroy stuff ? I heartily recommend American Tabloid & L.A Confidential.

verno wrote:

Are you enjoying it ?  Great book, shite film. Have you read any other Ellroy stuff ? I heartily recommend American Tabloid & L.A Confidential.

Finished it. It was ok. I haven't seen the film but I thought LA Confidential was excellent, so I might try the book.

Here in Milan at the mo' waiting for the Derby (wish us luck ). As a 'treat' Michael Bolton was live in the Piazza Duomo last night. Great atmosphere but he can't sing Sinatra for toffee!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7161590.stm.

Can't believe no-one saw this coming...
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Non mollare mai.

"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject".

Yes Benazir Bhutto bad bad news

If a year ago I'd known she was to return to Pakistan I'd've put her first on my list. Not a good thing this.

Giovanni Lavafiume wrote:

If a year ago I'd known she was to return to Pakistan I'd've put her first on my list. Not a good thing this.

I put Thaksin Shinawatra on my list. If he returned to Thailand, he'd be risking a lot.

Spookily, I was thinking about my totodeath 2008 list earlier today, and Bhutto was going to be on it. Typical - the only one I get right all year, and it was pre-empted. Bah!

Totodeath 2008

As 2007 draws to a close, it is probably worth giving a quick reprise of the Totodeath rules.

1. Choose 13 celebrities/famous people who you suspect will be making acquaintances with the grim reaper during the period 0001 hours 1 January 2008 aand 2359 hrs 31 December 2008, and list them here.

2. The winner of this tasteful tournament is the person who scores the highest number of famous fatalities in the calandar year.

3. Coupons may not include any of the 'Last Tommies', the small band of First World War Veterans who are still with us. Although the term 'Tommies' is employed here, this covers surviving WW1 veterans of all nations. The poor s*ds have had enough to put up with without being listed on coupons.

4. If a coupon is submitted prior to 1 Jan 2008 and one of the nominated celebrities dies in 2007, a new name may be submitted in lieu of the recently departed nominee.

5. If a celebrity's imminent demise is announced (along the lines of 'the King's life  is drawing peacefully to its close'), the celebrity may not be included on a totodeath coupon submitted after the announcement.

6. Use of celebrity deathwatch type sites will be frowned upon by totodeath purists.

7. Taking active measures to increase your totodeath score is strictly forbidden, and will result in disqualification from the tournament.

8. The prize for victory in the totodeath tournament is to be crowned as 'Foro Angel of Death 2008'.

9. Members of the PC Brigade are asked to note that this competition is a spot of (macabre) fun. If you don't like it, don't participate. [/list]

Dave wrote:

Totodeath 2008 7. Taking active measures to increase your totodeath score is strictly forbidden, and will result in disqualification from the tournament.

Haha!

Only three days to hold on now, and I will be the Master of Death!

Phil O'Donnell, captain of Motherwell, collapsed on the pitch this afternoon during his team's game against Dundee United and later died in hospital.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/f...ll/teams/m/motherwell/7164150.stm
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ACF FIORENTINA : FORZA LA VIOLA

Well, if I'm not mistaken, I am officially Totodeath Champion for 2007 with a winning score of three - Ingmar Bergman, Boris Yeltsin, and Lady Bird Johnson.

I also offer my deepest sympathies to those who lost loved ones in the year 2007 and wish you all, and your families and friends, the safest, happiest, and most prosperous 2008.

Beats my 2 Bracey, so I hereby pass my crown onto you, Foro Angel of Death 2007.

Well done

Many congratulations Foro Angel of Death.

Here is my 2008 selection. Now come on you buggers! Die!

01.] Ernest Borgnine........
02.] Phyllis A. Whitney........
03.] Charlton Heston........
04.] Gloria Stuart........
05.] Ariel Sharon........
06.] Eli Wallach........
07.] Karl Malden........
08.] Richard Widmark........
09.] Kirk Douglas........
10.] Michael Foot........
11.] Fidel Castro........
12.] Michael Gough........
13.] Googie Withers........

George MacDonald Fraser

Author of the Flashman stories and 'Quartered Safe Out Here', aged 82, according to BBC breaking news.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7169047.stm

He was a brilliant author who researched his material meticulously. Anyone here read any of his works?

Too busy reading "Green Eggs and Ham"

Giovanni Lavafiume wrote:

He was a brilliant author who researched his material meticulously. Anyone here read any of his works?

Yeah, I read them. Thought they were great. I learnt more about history through Flashman than any lesson at school. I read someone's comment on his books that they stopped reading them because Flashman never got his comeuppance. I don't think he got the point !
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Non mollare mai.

"A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject".