Will We Always Have Shimon Peres?

Israel's normally indefatigable 84-year-old president, Shimon Peres, was resting Wednesday at the order of his doctor after being diagnosed with a light case of the flu, officials said.

Peres, who became president in July, canceled events Tuesday and Wednesday, but hoped to deliver a speech to a conference of American Jewish leaders at his Jerusalem residence later in the day, said his spokeswoman Ayelet Frisch. A statement from her office said the meeting would be in a "reduced" format, closed to reporters.

"This is a man who doesn't like to rest even when he is sick," Frisch said.

Perhaps the politician was fearful of what he'd heard in recent years about the country' flu vaccine. This is evidently a case of one flu over the cuckoo's Knesset

[International Herald Tribune]

Hospitals Now 20 Percent Less Preachy

Two popular DP picks both got out hospitals yesterday. Let's go in age order.

Evangelist Billy Graham returned to his mountainside home Tuesday to continue his recovery from surgery to update a shunt that controls excess fluid on his brain, officials said. Graham, who underwent the elective surgery last Wednesday, is recovering well, and his physicians are pleased with his progress, said Mission Hospitals spokeswoman Merrell Gregory.

Dr. Ralph Loomis, Graham's neurosurgeon, said doctors will continue to calibrate the updated valve at Graham's home. The shunt was first installed in 2000 and drains fluid from Graham's brain through a small tube, relieving excess pressure that can cause symptoms similar to Parkinson's disease.

And now to someone who "just said no" to breaking a hip:

Former first lady Nancy Reagan was released Tuesday from a suburban Los Angeles, California, hospital after a fall over the weekend, according to Joanne Drake, chief of staff for the Reagan Foundation...

The 86-year-old Reagan was taken from her Bel-Air home to St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, on Sunday, where doctors determined she did not break a hip as feared, according to The Associated Press.

So two celebrities, close in age, both single, leave the hospital to "go home" the same day and no gossip blog wants to investigate this? If something ever comes to light, you heard it here first.

[AP]
[CNN]

Bob Howsam Dead, Old Sparky Anderson Bleeds Red

Bob Howsam, the man who gave baseball its Big Red Machine and gave Denver its beloved Broncos, died Tuesday in Sun City, Ariz. He was 89.

But his guiding principle was that the fans came first, his son said. "He loved the fans. They made his life," the son said.

It wasn't just family members who were emotional about Howsam's passing. The manager of those Big Red Machine teams, Sparky Anderson, cried when he heard the news.

Anderson, who recently returned home after 12 days in the hospital for an undisclosed illness, was convalescing at home.

“He was precious to me,” began a frail-sounding Anderson. “I’m not doing too well right now, but I had to call. This man changed my entire life, my home, everything.”

We guess the American Red Cross only spares some.

[ESPN]
[Cincinnati Enquirer]

Arts and (Old) Farts and Doody Darts

This man will not be participating in the Hawaiian caucuses today.

Nor will today's birthday boy (I think), but that can mainly be attributed to the fact he doesn't live in Hawaii, not because of car accidents involving horses.

Today is somebody's Birthday! Whose Birthday? Painter and Sculptor Enrico Donati's Birthday. How Old Is He? 1,2,3,4... 99! And Never been Kissed By... Death

Enrico Donati's name appears on "Oldies But Goodies'" roster

• In the late 1940s Donati responded to the crisis in Surrealism by going through a Constructivist phase, from which he developed a calligraphic style and drew on to melted tar, or diluted paint with turpentine.
  

If anyone can explain this to me they are a lot smarter than I am.

... And Many More!

Stay in Touch With Dead Celebrities Online

MySpace has given a voice to the youth. It's a social networking site, and a public place for a personal journal, photographs, music and video. And anyone can sign up. Even some famous dead people.

Every dead poet, philosopher, artist and past president you can think of has a MySpace page -- and many are presented in the first person, as if Thomas Edison and Joan of Arc are lounging at home in their pajamas, posting pictures and updating their blogs.

Benjamin Franklin recommends that his visitors read a bio that's posted on the site. "Maybe," he writes, "it will help people realize that flying a freakin' kite wasn't my greatest accomplishment." And George Washington asks us: "Who rocked the revolution?...That's right, I did."

Time travel has never been easier, as MySpace users can interact with some of the famous people who lived (and died) before them. It has benefits for the deceased as well. For instance, Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth have apparently settled their differences and are now "friends."

We think this could be a useful tool to educate kids about history. When textbooks don't work as effectively as teachers may hope, they should find ways to reach the students. We're just afraid of what the students might say to Eleanor Roosevelt based on what they've heard of her already.

[Fort Worth Star-Telegram]

Castro Steps Down Without Tripping

Fidel Castro is our most-covered celebrity. He's the Paris Hilton of health updates, the Britney Spears of, well, maybe that's not the best celebrity to compare to. But boy does Castro know how to stay in the spotlight.

Fidel Castro resigned as president and commander-in-chief of Cuba, after almost 50 years as the country's leader, the official daily Granma said.

Castro, 81, the world's longest serving president, seized power in Cuba almost a half-century ago promising liberty and economic justice only to turn the Caribbean island into a communist bastion and a flashpoint of the Cold War.

Although there is no indication that his resignation stemmed directly from a new bout with illness, Castro for several years now has seen his health deteriorate. In the summer of 2006 he stepped down temporarily, yet still maintained some control over the government while working with his brother, Raul, the interim leader.

He's been in power for so long that three out of four Cubans have never lived under a different ruler. During the time Castro was in power, nine different presidents served for the United States.

[Bloomberg]

People Who Are Really Celebrating Their Birthday Today (That's Right-I'm Talking to You Georgie)

Note to all bus drivers reading this blog-make sure that all wheelchair brakes are on when you are driving your bus.

I'm going to assume this is very important advice to at least one of the following people. I mean you have to assume that a 101 year old isn't walking by himself anymore

Today is somebody's birthday! Whose Birthday? Screenwriter Oscar Brodney's Birthday. How Old Is He? 1,2,3,4... 101! And Never been Kissed By... Death

Oscar Brodney's name appears on "Oldies But Goodies'" roster

• Brodney was nominated for an Oscar for "The Glenn Miller Story" screenplay which he wrote with Valentine Davies in 1954.
  

Maybe if he would have thought of a more creative title he would've won that Oscar.

Today is somebody else's birthday! Whose Birthday? Author and Publisher Helen Gurley Brown's Birthday. How Old Is She? 1,2,3,4... 86! And Never been Kissed By... Death

Helen Gurley Brown's name appears on "the Garden of eden's" roster

• In the mid 1990s Brown was ousted from her role as the US editor of Cosmopolitan and was replaced by Bonnie Fuller. However, Brown stayed on at Hearst publishing and remains the international editor for all 59 international editions of Cosmo.
  

If as she says "Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere" looks like she's a bad girl.

Today is somebody else's else's birthday! Whose Birthday? Musician and Artisit Yoko Ono's Birthday. How Old Is She? 1,2,3,4... 75! And Never been Kissed By... Death

Yoko Ono's name appears on "Deep Sleepers'" roster

• Lennon's first personal encounter with Ono involved her passing him a card that read simply "Breathe". He was taken with the positivity, humor, and interactivity of her work, such as a ladder leading up to a black canvas with a spyglass on a chain allowing John to read the word "Yes" written on the canvas along with a real apple displayed with a card reading "APPLE."

Sounds pretty DUMB to me. i have to blame it on too much pot for the both of them.

Today is somebody else's else's else's birthday (what is it with holidays? Groundhog's Day had 4 birthdays, now President's Day? Sheesh)! Whose Birthday? Former Soccer Player and Manager Bobby Robson's Birthday. How Old Is He? 1,2,3,4... 75! And Never been Kissed By... Death

Bobby Robson's name appears on "Yiz-Score:2007 DP Champ's" and "Future Corpses of America's" rosters

• Robson was knighted in 2002, is a member of the English Football Hall of Fame and is the honorary president of Ipswich Town.
  

If the President of the United States is considered the most powerful man in the world, the Honorary President of Ipswich Town is like what? The 3,763 most powerful man in the world?

... And Many More!

Long After Fall of Communism, Nancy Reagan Just Falls

Former first lady Nancy Reagan was hospitalized after falling in her home in Bel-Air but is doing well, her spokeswoman said.

Reagan, 86, was taken to St. John's Health Center, where doctors determined she did not break a hip Sunday as feared, spokeswoman Joanne Drake said. Drake said Reagan was doing well and would stay the night in the same room where former President Ronald Reagan stayed after he broke his hip at home in 2001. He died June 5, 2004.

The former first lady is "joking and visiting in her room," Drake said. Reagan's family physician recommended the overnight stay "as a precaution," Drake said.

If they offer Nancy advice and devices to prevent future falls, some DP participants are hoping she will "Just Say No."

[MSNBC]

He's Still Got It

It's tough to say what's worse here. That he got murdered or that he, well, umm y'know...

On to happier things...

Yesterday was somebody's birthday! Whose Birthday? Sprinter Philip Rabinowitz's Birthday. How Old Is He? 1,2,3,4... 104! And Never been Kissed By... Death

Philip Rabinowitz's name appears on "Live Like You Were Dying's" roster

• Rabinowitz finished the 100 meters in a time of 30.86 seconds becoming the fastest 100 year old in the 100 meters. A week before, the centenarian broke the record, but a faulty electronic timer kept the mark out of the books.
  

If you think about it, since he was 100, and the world record holder was set by a 24 year old at 9.74 seconds, Rabinowitz beats the world record in seconds/year.

... And Many More!

Death is Equal for Blacks, Whites and Oranges

The Rev. James Orange, a civil rights activist whose 1965 jailing sparked a fatal protest that ultimately led to the famed Selma-to-Montgomery march and the Voting Rights Act, died Saturday at Atlanta's Crawford Long Hospital, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference said in a statement. He was 65.

Orange was a native of Birmingham, Alabama, "who resided in southwest Atlanta for four decades while fighting the good fight for equality and social justice for all mankind," said the SCLC, a civil rights organization.

Orange was arrested and jailed in Perry County, Alabama, in 1965 on charges of disorderly conduct and contributing to the delinquency of minors for enlisting students to aid in voting rights drives.

Someone once described the reverend as "a gentle giant" because of his large frame. A gentle Orange giant.

[CNN]

Blake Fielder-Civil Seeking New Ways to Overdose

You might think that prison is the safest place for Blake Fielder-Civil to be. He won't find any drugs there that could hurt him, right? Well, it's right in some sense.

[H]e collapsed in agony after taking what he thought was heroin. Guards found the 35-year-old writhing in pain and vomiting violently in a cell. They instantly set off alarms and activated emergency procedures to save his life.

A probe was launched and prison officers found he had taken a drug believed to be heroin, mixed with a toxic substance. A jail source said: "This was a close call, but he might not be so lucky next time. If he carries on taking so many drugs, he'll end up dead before long."

Authorities have not revealed what that substance actually was. We have some idea of an explanation.

[NewsOfTheWorld.co.UK]

While One Fawcett Fights, Another Fossett is Turned Off

Self-made business tycoon Steve Fossett, whose thirst for adrenaline drove him to fly around the world solo in a balloon, climb mountains and aim for speed records, has been declared dead, 5 months after his small plane vanished. He was 63.

"Steve's lived his life to the full, and he hasn't wasted a minute of his life," his rival-turned-comrade, British billionaire Sir Richard Branson, said after Fossett's single-engine plane disappeared on Sept. 3. "Everything he's done, he's taken a calculated risk with."

Fossett was last seen after taking off in a single-engine plane from an airstrip near Yerington, Nev., heading toward Bishop, Calif. Cook County Judge Jeffrey Malak's declaration Friday at the request of Fossett's wife, Peggy V. Fossett, ended the legal limbo of his estate, said her attorney, Michael LoVallo. The judge heard testimony from Peggy Fossett, a family friend and a search-and-rescue expert before deciding there was sufficient evidence to declare him dead.

Fossett's death is the latest in a series of deaths in absentia that includes the likes of Jimmy Hoffa, Amelia Earhart and D.B. Cooper. Fossett's family first requested the pronouncement late last year, releasing them from the uncertainty of his return.

[AP]

Treehouse of Horror

You would think that if you wanted to commit suicide there are easier ways to do it than this. At least he kept a diary to chronicle why he did it.

Speaking of people who kept diaries...

Today is somebody's birthday! Whose Birthday? Humanitarian and hider of Anne Frank Miep Gies' Birthday. How Old Is She? 1,2,3,4... 99! And Never been Kissed By... Death

Miep Gies' name appears on "Deep Sleepers'" and "Daddy to Be Dead Mates'" rosters

• Gies avoided arrest for hiding the Franks because the officer who came to question her was Austrian. Gies was born in Vienna, Austria which led the officer to felt a connection to her.
  

They could reminisce of days eating wiener schnitzel and singing Mozart tunes.

Today is somebody else's birthday! Whose Birthday? Actor Kevin McCarthy's Birthday. How Old Is He? 1,2,3,4... 94! And Never been Kissed By... Death

Kevin McCarthy's name appears on "Whoaa-ooah, Dying on the Edge's" roster

• McCarthy was quite accomplished at a young age in the theater. In 1949, he was cast as Biff in the London company of Death of a Salesman, starring Paul Muni. A film was made in 1951 and he was nominated for an Academy Award for his role.

Since he didn't win, he must have been liked, but not well liked.

... And Many More!

Sir Bobby Robson's Goal is to Kick Cancer

Sir Bobby Robson, former soccer player and manager, has kicked cancer four times since 1991. Despite the score being Robson 4 and Cancer 0, the illness returned for a fifth time.

“There is still some fight in me yet,” said Robson, who is currently being treated for cancer for the fifth time. “I’m still going and I’m still strong. I’ve had my health problems and I’m still fighting them, but I’ve always been a fighter."

Robson’s health is fragile and the treatment for his condition saps his strength, but the mind remains sharp whenever football is mentioned. Enquire about his health and all you get is “I’m doing okay.” Enquire about his thoughts on football and he will talk for hours, particularly about his beloved Newcastle.

It looks like he's still managing just fine.

[The Journal]

♫ Modell Had to Go... Mo-dell! (yeah...) ♫

The man whose name is synonymous with sporting goods in the Northeast part of the country, William Modell, died yesterday at the age of 86.

Mr. Modell joined Modell’s, a 118-year old family-owned business, at the end of World War II and became chairman in 1985. But he had effectively run the corporation since 1963, working alongside his father, Henry, who was chairman. In 1975, the chain consisted of 10 stores in New York City and on Long Island, with annual revenue of about $10.5 million. There are now 136 Modell’s stores in eight states and Washington, with revenue last year of approximately $635 million.

As I mentioned above, his name is truly synonymous with sporting goods. Of course, that famous last name also belongs to his cousin Art, whose name is synonymous with much worse things in the city of Cleveland.

[NY Times]

Graham's Brain Surgery Leaves Him Medical Bill-y

Evangelist Billy Graham underwent successful surgery Wednesday to update a shunt that controls excess fluid in his brain, and was expected to remain in the hospital for several days.

Graham was listed in fair condition at Asheville's Mission Hospitals after the 28-minute procedure. "He's on a soft diet tonight, will be on a regular diet tomorrow and should be up and walking around," said Larry Ross, Graham's spokesman.

Even into his old age and through his health problems, Graham continues to produce a daily advice column in many newspapers. We're confident that if Graham wanted to take some time off from the column, the papers could surely rerun older advice columns with past questions. It's what we feel JWD if he was the editor and forced to make a decision at this difficult time.

[Fox News]

Birthdays that Didn't Suspend Alternate Side Parking in New York City

Some people just can't wait to be part of death pool Even if it means faking their own death.

Alas, some people remain picked but not worth any points (yet). But at least they get to celebrate their own birthdays...

Yesterday was somebody's birthday! Whose Birthday? Former Boston Celtic Bill Russell's Birthday. How Old Is He? 1,2,3,4... 74! And Never been Kissed By... Death

Bill Russell's name appears on "the Garden of eden's" roster

• Before the 1966-67 NBA season, legendary Celtics coach Red Auerbach retired and named Russell as a player-coach. Russell thus became the first African-American head coach in NBA history.
  

I have nothing funny to say about this. Good for Bill.

Yesterday was somebody else's birthday! Whose Birthday? Senator Arlen Specter's Birthday. How Old Is He? 1,2,3,4... 78! And Never been Kissed By... Death

Arlen Specter's name appears on "Yiz-Score: 2007 DP Champ's" roster

• At the recommendation of Rep. Gerald R. Ford, he worked for the Warren Commission, investigating the assassination of John F. Kennedy. As an assistant counsel for the commission, he authored or co-authored the controversial "single bullet theory," which suggested the non-fatal wounds to President Kennedy and Texas Governor John Connally were caused by the same bullet.

How did he think that theory made sense? I wouldn't vote for him for Senate just becuase he obviously lives in a fantasy land.

... And Many More!

Japanese Film King Kon Ichikawa is Slayed to Rest

Japanese film director Kon Ichikawa, who won a raft of awards for his work in the 1950s and 1960s, has died of pneumonia, movie studio Toho Co said on Wednesday. He was 92.

One of the country's best-known directors at a time when the West was discovering Japanese cinema, Ichikawa often worked with his wife, Natto Wada, a respected scriptwriter, until she became disillusioned with the industry in the 1960s.

Perhaps they will now remake 1955's Seven Year Itch as a Japanese film titled The 92 Year Ichikawa.

[Reuters]

Dale Earnhardt's Legacy Brings Not So Hard-Earned Money

When it comes to selecting a roster of celebrities to take for the upcoming year, DP participants will sometimes choose people who are in industries or who live lifestyles that are more prone to death. Take recently deceased Evel Knievel for instance. Those who chose Evel in 2007 benefitted from taking the daredevil.

On the other hand, these coyld be "red herrings," people who have seemingly dangerous professions yet don't pose more of a risk of dying doing what they do best. When Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin died last year, it was very much a fluke that the stingray got him in the heart instantly killing him.

It's hard to say where racecar driving fits into the equation. A severe crash at those speeds and a driver could very well find himself in a morgue rather than a hospital. That was of course the case for fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Sr. back in 2001. Now, some are looking to So collect on the fallen driver's fame.

Motorsports Authentics (which is owned by International Speedway Corp. and Speedway Motorsports Inc.) is selling die-cast collectible versions of this fantasy car for $74.99. It's another effort to make money off Earnhardt, who died after wrecking in the 2001 Daytona 500.

No one could dispute Daytona International Speedway President Robin Braig when he said at the news conference, "We certainly make some money off of Dale, let's put it that way."

This isn't something unique to racecar driving. Whenever a prominent entertainer passes, the name resonates with people who remain fans of the industry. At times, fans long to have him or her back. Most often, though, they want to honor and remember the deceased celebrity with a souvenir.

Some wonder if that is necessarily a real tribute or merely a way to capitalize on the recognizable name.

The culture of the dead celebrity has a long history (Elvis, anyone?) and isn't going away. And it's no secret that newspapers and magazines run "anniversary" stories, often about deceased subjects, because we think people will read them and, you know, buy our product.

But we can at least do him the courtesy of remembering him the way he was, not the way that will sell the most $74.99 souvenirs.

We tend to think that some souvenirs are more appropriate than others. We know that we are often comforted by our Kurt Cobain bobblehead doll that "moshes" to this day.

[Seattle Post-Intelligencer]

Musharraf More Focused on Fitness, Less on His Country's Instability

So, your country is in a state of emergency. Doesn't mean you can't stay in shape!

President Pervez Musharraf is paying more attention to his physical fitness after stepping down as the chief of army staff, according to a close friend of the president.

The article goes on to mention the grueling physical activites Musharraf is undertaking: table tennis, lawn tennis, and golf. This plan will probably be as effective as a political opponent challenging Musharraf's power. Zing!

[Daily Times]