RIP Jimmy Castor

Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

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Posted by Andrew Unterberger on 01/17/2012 at 2:41 PM News

The Popdust Files: '70s, Eulogies, Jimmy Castor Bunch, RIP, Samples

Jimmy Castor, doo-wop singer turned funk hitmaker turned hip-hop sample staple, died yesterday. Rolling Stone reports that the singer and saxophonist, best known for his work in The Teenagers and his eponymous Jimmy Castor Bunch, passed away of unknown causes in Las Vegas. He was 64.

Castor started out his career in New York as a doo-wop singer, briefly replacing Frankie Lymon in the famous group The Teenagers, but quickly moving on to a solo career. He played saxophone on “Rinky Dink,” a 1962 instrumental hit for Dave “Baby” Cortez, and also had a minor hit of his own in 1966 with “Hey Leroy, Your Mama’s Callin’ You,” an early appearance of the Leroy character that would appear in many of his later songs.

Castor would have his greatest fame commercial success in the early ’70s with the Jimmy Castor Bunch, a funk outfit that in many way epitomized what people think of when they look back on music in the ’70s, with wah-wah guitar, tons of saxophone, goofy song lyrics (the group’s biggest hits were a caveman love song called “Troglodyte” and a booty jam ode entitled “The Bertha Butt Boogie”) and of course, some big-ass afros. Castor played with the Bunch until the early ’80s, when he started a record label (Long Distance Records) and had a minor late-decade hit with the Joyce Sims duet “Love Makes a Woman.”

After his commercial fortunes faded, however, Castor was given a second life in the early years of hip-hop, as his early ’70s material became a regular source material for many key artists. “It’s Just Begun” was sampled by Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa and Eric B. and Rakim, and even featured in a breakdancing scene in the hit ’83 flick Flashdance, while the famous “way back…back into time” intro from “Troglodyte” became a regular drop for DJs of nearly all genres. Even artists as modern as Kanye West have continued to pilfer from Castor, with Yeezy ripping his “I Just Wanna Stop” for College Dropout opener “We Don’t Care.”

Check out some clips of Castor in his prime, as well as of some of the artists who borrowed from him, and break out your best funk growl in memoriam:

Source: Popdust.com

Etta Updates

Singer Etta James off respirator, breathing on her own

By Denise Quan and Alan Duke, CNN

January 2, 2012 -- Updated 1806 GMT (0206 HKT)

Singer Etta James, who is battling the final stages of terminal leukemia, is off the respirator and breathing on her own, but remains hospitalized.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: James' sons share "end of life" decisions with husband, lawyer says
• The "At Last" singer is battling the final stages of terminal leukemia
• She is also suffering from dementia
• Etta James was hospitalized on December 21

Los Angeles (CNN) -- Singer Etta James is "nearing the ends of her time," but her health has improved in recent days allowing doctors to remove the respirator that was helping her breathe, according to her sons' lawyer.

James, 73, has been in a Southern California hospital for two weeks battling the final stages of terminal leukemia and suffering from dementia.

The "At Last" singer spent New Year's Eve watching the ball drop with her sons, Donto and Sametto James, in her hospital room, said Donto James, who played drums in his mother's Roots band for 15 years.

"She's all right," James said. "My brother and I would like to see her stay in the hospital a little longer until she gets more stable. Our main concern is for her to be taken care of right."

2003: Etta James reflects on her career

Paul Wright, a lawyer represents the sons in their dispute with Etta James' husband over who makes decisions for her, said Sunday that the singer is "nearing the ends of her time, but she's a tough lady."

The judge overseeing James' conservatorship approved an agreement last month in which husband Artis Mills is the conservator, but he must equally share "end of life" decisions with the sons, Wright said.

Mills is also limited in how much of her estate he can spend and he cannot "encumber her music catalog," Wright said.

End of 2011 Death Pool Update

The end of 2011 is here! We waited until almost the last possible moment to post the update - we wanted to make sure all possible deaths were covered. What a year! If the standings hold Katie will barely beat Barb and Tricia. All three hit it big with pathetic Amy Winehouse and her alcohol induced death. And we thought she was doing so much better. Amy had us fooled.

Now to catch up on

the deaths since September:

Cliff Robertson - you all remember Cliff as Peter's uncle in Spiderman - but some of us remember Cliff from the Twilight Zone. Yes - Cliff was in a couple episodes. Here he is in one now with his little Navy friend. (we found it odd that the dummy was dressed as a sailor - use your imaginations)

Heidi the Opossum died! Yes! Heidi! Three years old - oh Heidi we hardl

y knew ye! Heidi resided in a Denmark zoo. This was big news in Denmark. They apparently really like their opossums there. Heidi has her own Facebook page: Heidi, das schielende opossum. Go Friend Heidi before she decomposes any more.

Anwar al -Awlaki and Samir Kahn both died in the same drone strike - Amercians turned terrorists. This has been a bad year for terrorists. Kind of strange that Carol has a whole list of obscure bad guys but fails to pick the ones that actually die! Ok, she did get Kim Jong Il but the rest of the list is a bunch of ex-Nazis and Jerry Lewis. We are still trying to figure out just what Jerry did to get on the old terrorist list. Why not have Gaddaffi on your list Carol? That's ok - no one did! How did we all miss that one?? We are contemplating making our list for 2012 comprised solely of middle eastern dictators. Here's a nice picture of Moammar (believe us - the best one without holes in his head). We like the headline best. (no - not the free milk from the booby chick)

So let's talk about some real losses this year: Steve Jobs - can we imagine our lives if he had never lived? Vaclav Havel (look him up) - leader of the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia - then president of the Czech Republic when the Czechs and the Slovaks broke up (it was a friendly divorce), Joe Frazier - heavyweight champ of the world - best known for beating Ali's brain to the pulpy mass it is today (ok, that sounds bad but he did win a Gold medal for the US in the Olympics), Harry Morgan - best known as the sidekick of Jack Webb on Dragnet and as Colonel Potter on M*A*S*H* - well, he was mostly a good guy - did get arrested for beating up his elderly wife when he was 80 or so - And we will really miss George Daniels. Who is George Daniels you say? He was a Horologist. Anyone who is a Horologist gets a shout out in this blog.

Al Davis died!

Another one we've had on the list before - we always thought Al was too mean or demented to die but off Al went to that big end zone in the sky. Here's a picture of Al in his younger days putting a hex on the opposing team.

And, it seems the year left the best for last. Kim Jong Il - he was on our Death list more than once so of course he kicks it this year when we left him off. That seems to happen to us a lot. We had Amy Winehouse on our list last year too. The lesson here is to stay on our list and you will live. Here' a great picture of Il just relaxing on vacation - it's nice to think of old Il when he was happy and carefree while starving all the people in North Korea:

We have not yet been able to figure out just how Zsa Zsa is hanging on. We think she is really dead and her strange hu

sband, Prince whatever the hell his name is, has her preserved somewhere in the mansion so he can maintain that crazy Hollywood lifestyle he is accustomed to. We've been saving this clip for when Zsa Zsa gives up the ghost but we'll share it in anxious anticipation of the actual event:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEn8QdI8-24

And how is Billy Graham hanging on? And Etta James? And Jerry Lewis? (is there anything wrong with Jerry? Why does Carol hate him?)

All of us did get on the board with at least one death, except for David, Susan and Carolyn. Carolyn was so close - just one Dugger baby away from really racking up the points! Better luck next year! I'm sure another Dugger baby will come along. (sorry - kind of sick, but there are like 40 or 50 of them)

That's it poolers! Good luck in 2012!

It's been a long time! Did you think we died?? Hahahahahaha. Death jokes are fun.

We're going back all the way to April - time just flies when you are living the dream. April wasn't a big month celebrity death-wise. There was a Cuban flautist named Efrain Loyola. Just threw this in here for Katie, Madeline and Carolyn. No word if he was related to the saint. Also there was Edward Edwards (yes, seriously his name - no imagination there mom and dad) who was a serial killer. He only killed five people - does that really qualify for serial killer? Maybe mini-serial killer? Serial killer light? And they weren't really random. I kind of just think he was a scumbag loser kind of killer. Cheated the death chamber by dying of 'natural' causes. Whatever, we've all heard what goes down in prison. Or at least have watched on cable television.

Sidney Lumet died - best known for directing Al Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon (ATTICA! ATTICA!) and Network (I'm mad as hell and not going to take it anymore!) Look it up - great lines from great movies.

But getting to the biggest headline in deaths - OSAMA BIN LADIN! Just when everyone took him off their lists because they thought he was already dead! What can we say about him? The worst person on Earth died! (not to be confused with the WORST PLACE ON EARTH which is apparently our attic) And apparently living in relative splendor in Pakistan (yes, that is splendor for Pakistan) growing his own goats for food and all the sex he could stand with new wives. Attached here is our favorite picture of Osama enjoying some NFL football. We heard they found his Fantasy Football picks on the confiscated computers. The CIA has a hell of a league going for this year.

Also killed was Abu, (no, not Apu) his loyal courier, who evidently unknowingly outed where Osama was living the high life.

More deaths in May: Jeff Conaway. Cannot believe no one has him on their lists! The guy was a walking death pool all by himself. So here's a contrast in Before and After that we should all learn to live by: no more crack, booze and heroin. It makes you ugly even when you try to cover it up with professional make up. Who is this guy you say? He played Kenickie in Grease!! And he was in the TV show, Taxi. Apparently he just couldn't live with the fact that John Travolta actually became more popular and famous than he did through Scientology.

And Randy Savage died too! Heart attack! You'd think a professional wrestler would have been in terrific shape! Oh, yeah. Professional wrestler.

Harmon Killebrew also died - he was a real athlete. Hall of Fame baseball player. Aunt Judy has a funny story about him but we will let her tell that one (no he didn't have a girlfriend on the side).

Moving on to June - Marshall Dillon died! He was 88. Again, most of you non-baby boomers won't know who he is. Actually his name was James Arness and he played Marshall Dillon on the TV show Gunsmoke for twenty years!. Back in the day, writers could actually come up with plots every week for 9 months a year over twenty years! James was the brother of Peter Graves, best known for playing the perv pilot in the movie, Airplane!.

Also dead in June was Shrek! Haha - totally got your attention with that one. No, not the cartoon Shrek who is not even a real live person, ogre, whatever. Shrek the celebrity sheep in New Zealand. Now we all know how Kiwis are kind of desparate for celebrities there. I mean, after Peter Jackson what have they got there? A picture of Shrek in tribute to sheep stardom. Kind of think Shrek is ugly. At the least needs a shave - but he's a star of a movie! WTF!

Also dead is George Ballas, inventor of the weed eater. (that one is for you, Hon)

Tired of death already? We've got July and August to go -

Betty Ford died - a few of us had old Betty on our lists. Good for us. She was 93 but looked 110. Betty was actually a very admirable woman and hero to drugged out alcoholic loser celebrities everywhere for her treatment center in Rancho Mirage California. So accessible to all us regular alcoholic druggie losers. (Jeff Conaway apparently was more in the 'regular' loser status than celebrity since he had to settle for the Dr Drew show to try to get clean) There is a nice garden in Vail named for old Betty since she and Gerry Ford hung out up there a lot. Betty's maiden name was Bloomer. We just put that in there because we think it's funny.

And the death that is putting Katie Barry almost out of reach this year: Amy Winehouse! We had her on our list a couple years ago but it seemed Amy had gotten her shit together and she dropped off. Apparently no drugs or alcohol in her system when she died. A mystery is unfolding... here are some nice pictures of Amy after death. Or wait, maybe she's alive? We really just can't tell. Maybe just death warmed over? You decide.

Another British musician, Cuddley Dudley, died. He was known as the 'first black Rock n Roller from Britain'. Really? Not lookin' too 'rockin' in this picture.

We are embarrassed for Cuddley.

Hey - and what the hell is up with Zsa Zsa? Did she do a deal with Satan or something? We are thinking the husband (the pretend prince) has got her up in bedroom all made up but dead like the mother in Psycho. Here is a recent picture of Zsa Zsa.

And lastly is Bubba Smith, big ass NFL player best known for Miller Lite commercials and the Police Academy movies. We like him because he likes Miller Lite. Or at least sold it on TV.

A quick update on scoring:

Katie B 109
Barb 88
Tricia 88
Madeline 28
Sue 7
David 0
Carol 0
Patrick 0
Susan E 0
Carolyn 0

First Update for 2011

It took until March but we have our first Death Pool points awarded! Madeline and Katie astutely chose Elizabeth Taylor, actress, femme fatale, activist, and professional husband hunter, died of congestive heart failure at age 79. Not bad for a boozing drug addict really - ok, Recovered boozing drug addict. Liz started out really beautiful but that didn't necessarily transition to her older years. (see picture Below right) She kind of went for the 'old, been ridden hard and put away wet' look. But apparently she was a nice person and good mother so we'll cut her a break on her fashion/make up/old cleavage hanging out faux pas. Ok, the picture at left here isn't really Liz being interviewed by Bill Murray on SNL - it's John Belushi - but Liz kind of resembled him at the time (she had 'water retention' issues. (ok, she was fat). I tried to find this clip on You Tube but no luck. She is eating fried chicken and starts choking. She gives herself the Heimlich and spits out a big chunk o'chicken onto her cleavage. Pretty funny at the time. Well, let's move on to other notable deaths since Jan 1. One of our favorite actors, Pete Postlewaite died at 64 of pancreatic cancer. Usually played a bad guy. Our favorite role was in The Name of the Father. Good movie - about wrongly accused Irish falsely imprisoned. Kind of the story of the Irish and the British, eh? Dr. Creep died! Horrors! So shocking! He was 69, had had a series of strokes or something recently but somehow was able to tough it out and attend the HorrorHound Weekend in Cincinnati as the guest of honor. Major shit for Cincinnati - HorrorHound Weekend - such a happening place. Where else in America but Cincinnati? Here is a recent picture of the Doctor. Jack LaLanne - super human exercise freak before being an exercise freak was considered hip. Best known for shackling his arms behind his back and swimming to Alcatraz pulling a towboat with his teeth. Why would he do this you ask? Because Jack was just a wacky nutty guy given to spur of the moment idiot ideas such as this. Apparently Jack thought it would inspire all us lazy ass slobs to do the same thing. Whatever, Jack. Just in case you don't believe me here is the photographic proof of his Herculean deed. I like the swimming cap - apparently to keep his crew-cutted hair out of his eyes - like he could actually see in the water in San Francisco Bay. Don Kirshner. Who is Don Kirshner you say? Our answer: Don Kirshner's Rock Concert on ABC - that's who! Yes, Don was big in the music business and ended up with a weekly TV show highlighting new musical acts in the U.S. Best known for managing the fake rock/pop groups, The Monkees and The Archies. http://www.hulu.com/watch/4148/saturday-night-live-rock-against-yeast. He was best known for organizing music stars for charity benefits - click on link above. Other notables:

• Sargent Shriver - founder of the Peace Corps


• John Paul Getty III - best known for being the grandson of gazillionaire John Paul Getty #1. Was kidnapped for ransom. Kidnappers cut his ear off before Grandpa finally coughed up the cash.


• Duke Snider - Hall of Fame center fielder for the Brooklyn/LA Dodgers


• Warren Christopher - former Secretary of State


• Zoogz Rift - musician AND professional wrestler - he made the blog because we enjoy his name and professions.

Bad News Brown - Canadian rapper and harmonica player. Are we more shocked that that Canada has rappers or that he was a rapping harmonica player? Poor Bad News was beaten and shot. No word if the shooter just wanted his snazzy jacket and hat (see picture below left)

Tura Satana - actress in B movies. Best known for playing Varla in Russ Meyer's sexploitation movie, "Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" (see humorous movie poster, right) Another character in the movie was Vegetable, the dim witted son of the antagonist. Tura had quite a rack. Updates on our lists:

• Zsa Zsa - admitted to the hospital with high blood pressure due to worry that 'she is next' after hearing of Liz Taylor's death. Thinking it may be getting closer to 'the time' for Zsa Zsa.


• Charlie Sheen - still manically (is that a word?) crazy. No signs of slowing down. Hoping he makes it long enough to hire Katie as his intern.


• Dick Cheney - needing a heart transplant - need I say more?


• Carrot Top - still headlining in Vegas, although downgraded to the Luxor. Could be depressing for him...


• Al Davis - might not have anything to live for this fall - except hatred for the Players Union.


• Aretha Franklin - shrinking down to only obese from morbidly obese


• Andy Dick - still a dick


• Josie Duggar - thinking she's doing well since she made it through the winter.


• Pete Doherty - he'll never die


• Kirk Douglas - looked pretty spry on the Oscar telecast


• Fidel Castro - still giving interviews - the guy just can't shut up.


• Kim Jong Il - haven't seen the guy in a while - could be dead.

A special shout out to Carol and her long list of Nazis. The funny thing about Carol's list is that it's full of evil people except she's got Jerry Lewis in the list. Jerry is surrounded by Nazis and other terrorists. Is it his hair? Sock fetish? Incredibly fat and swollen face? Why Jerry, Carol? Why? Let's end today's blog on a classier note: Major Dick Winters, WWII veteran best known for commanding Company E of the 101st Airborne Division. Featured in a number of books, the best known being Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose. Major Winters was a war hero having been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. The only reason he did not get awarded the Medal of Honor was that his Division had already had a Medal of Honor awardee and there was a quota system in place at the time. There is an effort in place in Congress to have the medal awarded to him posthumously. Let's hope they do the right thing. Here is a link if anyone would like to read up on Major Winters. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Winters/ That's it Poolers. Stay tuned for the next update - there are many just circling the drain....

Update September 26, 2009

Hello Death Poolers!! It's been a while and plenty of death out there - unfortunately just not enough Death Pool death. (ok, that was a bit cynical - but you are all thinking it!)

Where to start? Who else but our poor Patrick Swayze?! I know we were really all pulling for him to make it past the new year and give us all the big 'F*** off' but he just couldn't quite make it. Patrick died at 57 so with the terminal illness penalty he got us 23 points! Oh, that's right, there's a few Death Poolers who did not have him on their lists. In fact, one of the Poolers even called the rest of us "Bottom Feeders" and that this one was just "too obvious". Apparently this Death Pooler kind of forgot that there is strategy when choosing your list. I won't name names but you know who you are Judy.

So we'll celebrate Patrick's life in pictures and song!

Ok, so one's a bad picture - but this is a DEATH blog.

I did say song, didn't I? Here you go - best part of the whole movie (this one's for you Judes!) Ok, what the rest of you don't know is that Judy tried doing this move at a strip club on "open stage" night. You were supposed to strip but Judy made some loser guy try to do this dance move. The manager of the club kept trying to get Judes to take her top off but the most Judes' showed was a little thigh. Hahahahaha

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9PSkJ0Lkjg

And one last picture of Patrick - kind of how he probably looks today. Only he's probably not kissing Demi. And he probably would be slipping her the tongue.

Ok - on to the rest of the deaths!

Again - weird animal deaths! This time it's Mr. Percival (call me Mr Percival!) the pelican. Yes, a pelican - and he was in a movie! And got billing! WTF?!

Also, King Titus the Gorilla. Who is King Titus you say? Who the F*** knows. But he made it on the obituaries out in the Internet. Here is the King and Mr. in better days.

Who out there remembers Peter Paul and Mary? Folksingers? Anyone? Ok, Judy and I do. Maybe Mike (doubt it). Maybe this song will ring a bell: Puff the Magic Dragon! Anyone? Ok, so it's a song about drugs. I did say they were "folksingers". Anyway, poor old Mary died. Not looking too good at the end - see below - before and after:

Not sure of her cause of death but I'm thinking maybe old Mary had some sort of "glandular" problem. Could have been all that "magic dragon" over the years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi4ZL3RcDwk

What better version of the song than reggae!

Other notable deaths include:

Henry Gibson - quick trivia - who the hell is Henry Gibson? And what pioneering TV show was he a regular cast member of?

Larry Gelbart - writer of M*A*S*H* (TV show), Tootsie and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. And about a million other shows.

Armey Archerd - greeter on the red carpet for the Academy Awards. Ok, he did other stuff too - I think he was a columnist for Hollywood trade papers. Who names their kid Armey?

Bob Stupak - 67 - leukemia. We all know Bob - he's famous for his Bob Stupak's Vegas World and the Stratosphere tower.

Melvin Simon - producer of the movie Porkies and he owned the Indiana Pacers. (weird!) So do you suppose all those bucks from Porkies bought the Indiana Pacers? Is there some irony there? Are there a lot of pig farms in Indiana? Ok, that one's a stretch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xh-qBa4-bQ

Ok, speaking of weird - Weird deaths:

Baroness Chapman - Brittle Bone Disease (ouch!) AKA Osteogenesis Imperfecta. This is just not right. Poor Baroness.

Ron Raikes, Nebraska State Senator, found under a "Haybuster". No, not sexual (even though he is a politician) - he was a farmer and apparently was busting hay. Strangely, he was appointed senator after the previous guy's death. eeeeooooeee

Yoshito Usui - fell off a cliff. Well, they assumed that when they found him dead and broken at the bottom of the cliff. Coulda been pushed. Ok, the cliff somehow killed him.

Abdullah Laghmani - he was a leader of the Afgan Secret Service (they have one?) who died from a bomb! ok, more ironic than weird. So apparently the Afgan Secret Service is still kind of a work in progress.

Thabet bin Laden - don't get excited - he is just one of a multitude of siblings of the big guy.

Gertrude Baines - 115 years old! Died of a "suspected" heart attack. hahaha - "suspected" - she was 115! hahaha 'suspected' hahahaha. maybe she died of "suspected" older than shit disease.

And along with Gertrude is Fred Sherman. Fred was an economist and was 86. He died from "multiple health problems" No shit. Fred was 86! Some coroner really stuck his neck out on those two.

Let's update the standings:

Barb is still on top with 76 points. Her lead is quickly becoming insurrmountable but a few key deaths here and there and the rest of us could be back in it!

Sue's next with 41 and Bryan, John, Mike, David, Eddie trail closely behind.

Megs/Josh have 8 points and the following are at zero (see above comments on why some people did not choose Patrick Swayze) : Madeline, Carol and Judy.

So a quick update on some of our choices:

No word on the condition of Kim Jong Il but he can die happy after his brief spot in the limelight during Bill Clinton's visit. He looks so happy here:

And apparently Osama is still making recordings. Harmid Karzai was just re-elected (hmmm - see Afgan Secret Service bomb above). Dick Cheney recently seen on the Death Star having cocktails with Darth Vadar (who is seen here dishing up some nice drinks) Dick's looking much better after retirement, don't you think? Getting the color back in his cheeks.

And finally, a fab picture of Liz at some Michael Jackson gala or tribute or something (haven't they ended yet??)

Who else is thinking Liz needs to stay inside more? Like, away from cameras? and galas? and the general public? Kind of looking like she's got some ill-fitting dentures. And I'm beginning to believe that myth about people's ears and noses keep growing into old age. And, in Liz's case, lips apparently keep growing too.

Ok - well, that's the latest - let's all just keep having "the times of our lives" (ok, kind of sappy, sorry)

End of Summer Update

As we mourn the end of summer it's time for another Death Pool 2009 update.

And the lead off story is......

Kennedys dropping like flies!! Who's next??

Oh yeah, only one left - there goes the suspense. Unless you count Ethel. Uhhh - no.

First Eunice succumbs to her multiple strokes. Eunice was a kick ass kind of chick - her own father said had she been born with balls (yes, old Joe was a bit crass and sexist) she'd have been the best politician in the family. However in her later years Eunice became a poster child for using sunblock and staying out of the sun (and this is a good picture!).

Next is Ted - the Lion of the Senate dies of his brain cancer. We had several players who chose Ted - congratulations to Barbi, Bryan and John. Let's hear it for both Bryan and John for making it onto the Leaderboard. Of course, poor old Ted was only worth 3 points after the Terminal Illness deduction. But better than a poke in the eye! Well, maybe not - but still pretty good! Way to go!

Here's a recent picture of Ted before he really started feeling badly. Wait a minute - that's not Ted Kennedy you say! It is Ted Kennedy - just not THAT Ted - this is Ted Kennedy, Maple Leafs player, who also died this month. Thought I'd just give him a mention and see if you are paying attention.

Here's the more well known Ted - eerily waving goodbye to all of us. It's like he knew something......

Let's move on to other notable deaths this month! August was a busy month for celebrity/notables moving onto their reward.

Budd Schulberg, author of On the Waterfront (I coulda been a contenda!)

John Hughes, 59, Heart Attack! Shit! Hitting a bit close to home for us other Baby Boomers. Mike - quick get to the gym! We all know his films: Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Sweet Sixteen, Vacation, Home Alone.

Andy Kessler, 48, American Skateboarder - died of A WASP STING. WTF!! Check this mother out:

Ok, not the wasp that killed poor Andy but this one did attack Mike out on our deck. So it was a really close call for Mike - he could have made the blog. Whew!

Les Paul, 94, inventor of the solid body electric guitar and pretty much thanks to him we have rock and roll. Has his own exhibit at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Also godfather to Steve Miller.

Robert Novak - famous conservative (how do you become famous for being a conservative?)

Ellie Greenwich, songwriter - "Chapel of Love" and "Be My Baby".

Dominick Dunne, author - covered OJ's first trial for Vanity Fair - then dragged himself off of his sick bed to cover the second in Las Vegas - guess he wanted to see justice finally served.

Jasmine Fiore and Ryan Jenkins - who? you say - actually kind of sad but more famous in death - she is a Playboy bunny and he is her husband who was on some lame reality show. Guess she pissed him off because he strangles her, cuts off her fingers and pulls out her teeth and beats it to Canada. Don't piss off Ryan! Shit! Ryan, not being too brilliant here, doesn't realize her breast implants have serial numbers that can be used to identify the body. Imagine if he had! (no, don't) So he hangs himself in his hotel. Happy ending to that Hollywood dream.

DJ AM, aka Adam Goldstein, 36, Overdose. This guy survives a fiery plane crash and keeps smoking crack?? Darwin's theory lives on....

And finally, to confirm that the British are just really weird:

• Sybil, Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office, Downing Street. Yes, really, a cat. They give a cat an official title - and -
  Benson, 25 (yes! a 25 year old Carp!), "Britain's Biggest and Best Loved Carp". You read correctly, CARP. WTF! They actually kept track of this f'in big fish for the last 25 years! Her husband (haha) was named Hedges (get it? Benson and Hedges?? haha - that British humor is just too much!) She died with 300,000 eggs in her! So apparently her death was due to childbirth (don't read anything into this Meghann - you only have one) Attached are actual pictures of Sybil and Benson:
  
  
  
  
  

And speaking of weird Brits - anyone see the Queen and/or Phillip lately? Hmmmmm


Now to update on some of our current picks who are still hanging on:

Patrick Swayze - in a wheelchair. Come on Patrick! Make it past Dec 31 and flip us off!

Michael Jackson - yes, I know, he's already dead but now we know he was actually MURDERED. Yes, murdered. Weird since I'm pretty sure he voluntarily submitted to receiving infusions of several sedatives and anesthesia - oh - and the 'tar heroin' rumored to be found in his bedroom? Just moldy weed. Forgot about that stash, eh MJ? Probably just as well, the mold would have killed him. hahahaha. ok, I'm sick. And because I know you can't get enough of Wacko Jacko, one more picture:

Fidel Castro - looking pretty perky in a 'recent' picture. Personally I thought his track suit looked padded (if you know what I mean, wink wink). Here's Fidel shaking his fist in the face of us dirty capitalists.

George Bush Sr - not at Teddy's funeral. Hmmmmmm.

Barbara Bush - not at Teddy's funeral. Hmmmmmm

Nancy Reagan - not at Teddy's funeral. Hmmmmm

Ok, maybe they all just hated Teddy - but I'm thinking some old people maybe weren't "up for the trip"

George Michael - in some sort of driving accident - walked away, must have staggered a bit since they tested him for DUI.

Gary Glitter - who cares? ok, Carol does, but really? Gary Glitter?

Elizabeth Edwards - not looking good but who would when they find out their cheating asshole husband has another kid with the woman he cheated on while you were fighting breast cancer. Ok, not confirmed with DNA, but thinking it's probably true.

Kim Il Jong - looked a bit pale and skinny in his photo op with Bill.

Mary Lou Retton - huh?

So, the current standings:

Barb, with an impressive 53 points - thinking that is unsurmountable (unless Mary Lou Retton kicks it)

Sue - 18

Meg/Josh - 8

Bryan - 3

John - 3

Everyone else: ZERO.

Ok - keep those Comments coming! Hello? Bueller?