LSD Discoverer Albert Hofmann Takes Trip of His Life

Scoring Update! The points change, death remains the same...

Albert Hofmann, who died on Tuesday aged 102, synthesised lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) in 1938 and became the first person in the world to experience a full-blown acid trip.

“I would rather you hadn’t discovered LSD,” Hofmann’s managing director told him. In the end the decision was taken to stop all further production.

Hofmann laid some of the blame at the door of Dr Timothy Leary. In his autobiography, he described meeting Leary in 1971 in the railway station snack bar in Lausanne. Hofmann began by voicing his regret that Leary’s experiments had effectively killed off academic research into LSD and took Leary to task for encouraging its recreational use among young people. Leary was unabashed.

Congratulations and 4 points each awarded to BestDeathPoolRosterEver.BlogSpot.Com, A Time to Kill, Live Like You Were Dying, Blue, Do Not Resuscitate, Daddy to Be Dead Mates, The Kick the Bucket List, Up The Arsenal!, and They Are Now As Cold As Ice. The Rosters and Standings have been updated.

[Daily Telegraph]

Phil Harison Announces His Final Green

Phil Harison, who introduced everyone from Ben Hogan to Jack Nicklaus to Tiger Woods during his 60 years as the starter on the first tee of the Masters, has died. He was 82. He died Sunday of natural causes, Augusta National Golf Club said.

Harison was one of two people to attend every Masters since it began in 1934, and he became a familiar voice to the many fans who grew accustomed to his Southern drawl and understated manner of announcing each player. “Fore please, Jack Nicklaus now driving,” he would say.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Phil Harison,” Masters chairman Billy Payne said Monday. “Phil was a cherished member who made significant contributions to the Masters. As the starter on the first tee, he was the face of the Masters to many patrons. He did a wonderful job in that role.”

We hope that the only person remaining who has lived to see every Masters since 1934 will make it to next year's event. Otherwise, his name will enter the record books next to Jean Van de Velde's.

[San Diego Union Tribune]

Pope Not Holding Same Mass, But Remains Strong

We agree with the Vatican on this one - you can't trust the French. A French newspaper report suggested that Pope Benedict XVI is suffering from poor health.

An article published April 25 in Le Figaro said the pope looked fatigued at times during his U.S. visit. It's no secret, the newspaper said, that the pope has a "fragile heart." Le Figaro said the pope had reduced the number of meetings and audiences before and after the U.S. trip and noted that he had not held his weekly general audience two days after his return.

But the Vatican shot back in response to the allegations.

"Certainly the pope is a man of 81 years, but he is well and is carrying out all his tasks, as everyone can see on live TV," Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, the Vatican spokesman, said April 26.

"This was a demanding visit, long and tiring, in which he carried out all his commitments brilliantly without giving the slightest indication of uncertainty and without having to modify or reduce his program at all," Father Lombardi said.

We believe that this claim stemmed from the abundance of media coverage geared at the Pope in the past few weeks thanks to his trip to the U.S. We doubt that these kinds of rumors will spring up when the Pope visits Sardinia in September. But these sort of rumors were once more vicious, we suppose.

[Catholic News Service]

Some Say John Wilkes Booth Filled More Days

We investigated the story behind Abraham Lincoln's death a little while ago. We posited that it wasn't John Wilkes Booth's weapon that killed the President. Now we wonder if Booth himself may have died another way.

"Pop! A shot was fired and, 143 years ago Saturday, John Wilkes Booth - assassin of Abraham Lincoln - collapsed to the ground, mortally wounded in the neck. That's what history says.

But two Booth family descendants - Joanne Hulme of Philadelphia, and her sister, Virginia Kline of Warminster, Pa. - aren't convinced. They think that another man was killed and that Booth, who they believe was the president's assassin, lived to a ripe old age.

The sisters say that using DNA tests you can prove that Booth escaped on the day he supposedly died. Another researcher has requested for specimen taken from the scenes then in order to investigate the claim. They want to set the record straight.

"It's not too late to set the record straight," added Jan Herman, editor-in-chief of Navy Medicine, the Navy's official medical journal. "This is not a minor footnote in history."

Booth was an actor by trade. We think that even the best actor would have a hard time convincing any audience that he was actually deceased. Even if Booth could somehow have pulled it off, he did so by dragging someone else's reputation in the mud.

[Arizona Republic]

Enrico Donati Finds His Death to be Surreal

Scoring Update! The points change, death remains the same...

Enrico Donati, an Italian-born American painter and sculptor considered by many in the art world to be the last of the Surrealists, died on Friday at his home in Manhattan. He was 99. The cause was complications of injuries sustained in a taxi accident in July, said David Oxman, a spokesman for the family.

As Surrealism faded, Mr. Donati moved on. “He reinvented himself four or five times,” said his biographer, the artist and critic Theodore F. Wolff.

Congratulations and 24 points awarded to Oldies But Goodies. The Rosters and Standings have been updated.

[New York Times]

Paul Harvey Keeps His Airwaves Open and Alive

Video may have killed the radio star, but one radio star is coming back this week after overcoming recent health issues.

Paul Harvey will be back on the radio Monday, with his daily "Rest of the Story" features. The ABC Radio Networks legend has been off the air dealing with health issues since February 29. He'll also begin voicing commercials again on Monday.

"We're certainly pleased to welcome Paul back to the air as he eases himself back into the saddles," said ABC Radio Networks SVP/Programming John McConnell. "Our affiliates and advertisers have been anxiously awaiting his return, as have the millions of Paul Harvey fans across the country. We look forward to his continued progress."

Harvey is one of the few remaining active radio personalities who is older than the medium itself. Just imagine if Harvey had decided to be a professional wheel.

[RadioInk.com]

My Heroin

Didn't this guy see "Pulp Fiction?" I think we can all learn a very important lesson from this. When taking heroin do not smoke or snort it, rather use the traditional intravenous method of intake.

I don't know how one becomes a "dancing machine" but I think it's fair to assume heroin may play a role.

Today is somebody's Birthday! Whose Birthday? Gene Gene the Dancing Machine's Birthday. How Old Is He? 1,2,3,4... 76! And Never been Kissed By... Death

Eugene Patton's name appears on "Yiz-Score: 2007 DP Champ's" roster

• Patton appeared in 1980s "The Gong Show Movie" and had some dialogue.
  

I've caught snippets of "The Gong Show" and I have no idea how they turned that into a movie.

Today is somebody else's Birthday! Whose Birthday? Former Harlem Globetrotter Meadolark Lemon's Birthday. How Old Is He? 1,2,3,4... 76! And Never been Kissed By... Death

Meadowlark Lemon's name appears on "Deep Sleepers'" roster

• Over his career Lemon played in more than 16,000 games for the Globetrotters.

That means he had a career record of 16,000-0. That's pretty good. Of course they were all against the Washington Generals, so I guess you be the judge.

... And Many More!

Peter Falk Found Acting Erratic on Street Scene

Erratic. That's one way to describe Peter Falk's behavior on the street the other day. It's led some to wonder about the state of the actor's health.

The 80-year-old former Columbo star looked dazed and confused as he walked near his Beverly Hills home on Tuesday afternoon. The two-time Oscar nominee was spotted waving his arms in the air and muttering to himself. He looked almost as dishevelled as the famous character he played in the 1970s detective programme.

Another passer-by, who refused to be named, said the star looked to be disorientated. Someone eventually called police, but when officers arrived on the scene Falk convinced them that he didn't need help.

Falk is used to playing the absent-minded role, from his days starring as Lt. Columbo. We're confident that when the police arrived to the scene that Falk took over the investigation immediately. What we want to know is whether he took himself in for questioning.

[Sunday Mail]

Legend of Shirley Temple: Black Broken Arm

We wanted to celebrate with Shirley Temple today. Instead, she's stuck at home on her 80th birthday nursing her most recent wounds. No, it's not a result of her childhood stardom bursting unexpectedly on her.

"I broke my arm last week at my house, it hurts quite a bit," she told Reuters on Tuesday. In recent years, Black has lived quietly in Woodside, California, an upscale town in Silicon Valley south of San Francisco.

"I'm spending my birthday quietly at home," Black said, adding that her broken arm limited her ability to receive visitors. "People should turn on the lights when they are walking around in the dark," she joked.

It sounds to us like Shirley Temple took her married name - Black - a bit too literally. It's supposed to be a slow fade to black, not a walk in the dark.

[Reuters]

Now That's a Tractor Story

Dying on your birthday is bad enough. But compound that with dying by tractor-that's just an awful way to go.

Let's hope these people stay far away from tractors today...

Today is somebody's Birthday! Whose Birthday? British Director Ronald Neame's Birthday. How Old Is He? 1,2,3,4... 97! And Never been Kissed By... Death

Ronald Neame's name appears on "Famous Last Words's" and "Live Free or Die Hard's" rosters

• As a producer, Neame was responsible for three classics of British cinema - Brief Encounter (1945) and Great Expectations (1946) - for which he co-wrote the screenplays - and Oliver Twist (1948) - among others.
  

When someone was responsible for classics, that's always a good time to take them in DP.

Today is somebody else's Birthday! Whose Birthday? Actress Shirley Temple's Birthday. How Old Is She? 1,2,3,4... 80! And Never been Kissed By... Death

Shirley Temple's name appears on "Do Not Resuscitate's" and "Last Call's" rosters

• In 16 of the 30 films Temple made for Fox, she played characters with at least one dead parent. This was part of the formula for her films, which encouraged the adults in the audience to take on the role of her parent

Is it me or is that just a sick type-cast to be stuck in?

Today is somebody else's else's Birthday! Whose Birthday? Former Football Player Joe Ferguson's Birthday. How Old Is She? 1,2,3,4... 82! And Never been Kissed By... Death

Joe Ferguson's name appears on "Last Call's" roster

• The number 12 has been retired by the Bills in honor of both Ferguson and Jim Kelly.
  

So next time you go to a Bill game you can answer intelligently as to who that other guy who had his number 12 retired is.

... And Many More!

God Save the Queen

There are many bad things about dying. However, we on BDPE like to look at the positives of death. And one of those positives is the fact that you get your child pornography charges dropped if you die.

Speaking of child pornography, the Queen of England had a birthday this week. What does that have to do with kiddie porn? You guessed it-absolutely nothing. (I hope.)

Sunday was somebody's Birthday! Whose Birthday? Queen Elizabeth II's Birthday. How Old Is She? 1,2,3,4... 82! And Never been Kissed By... Death

Queen Elizabeth II's name appears on "the Garden of eden's" and "The Quit Parade's" and "Up The Arsenal!'s" rosters

• Elizabeth II married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (born Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark) on 20 November 1947. The couple are second cousins once removed: they are both descended from Christian IX of Denmark – Elizabeth II is a great-great-granddaughter through her paternal great-grandmother Alexandra of Denmark, and the Duke is a great-grandson through his paternal grandfather George I of Greece.
  

So maybe she isn't into kiddie porn, but she is definitely into incest to some degree. But really, what royal isn't?

... And Many More!

Old Violin Strings a New Bow (Tie)

Old people. They service our society in so many ways. One of the ways, they don't service society is by the way they drive. So it stands to reason it is a poor idea for an older man to take the wheel for no reason after waking up. Walter Ross didn't stand to reason.

At least old people are still good at some things. For example, they are very good on staying on Supreme Courts until a member of their political party get elected, even if they are senile already.

Sunday was somebody's Birthday! Whose Birthday? Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens' Birthday. How Old Is He? 1,2,3,4... 88! And Never been Kissed By... Death

John Paul Stevens' name appears on "the Garden of eden's" and "Deep Sleepers'" rosters

• Stevens is the only current Associate Justice to have served under three Chief Justices.

That's what happens when you are appointed when bow-ties are still in.

... And Many More!

Tony Snow Struggles to Stay the Course to Health

This should have been a sweet day for Tony Snow. Instead, it's bittersweet.

Former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow has canceled a series of speaking engagements at Eastern Washington University because of illness. Snow was supposed to make a series of appearances Tuesday at EWU. However, he was taken to the hospital to be treated for exhaustion, in consultation with his doctor, according to a source at the University. The source said he checked into the hospital at 9:30 a.m.

Snow's cancer is reportedly in remission. This appears to us to be a precautionary hospital visit. While Snow is still expected to make a full recovery, we doubt those speaking engagements will ever be made up. Which means that they were cancelled due to Snow.

[AP]
[KXLY.com]

Trust in Papa Ray Charles' Money

Financial management and family members are battling for money left in trusts by singer Ray Charles before his death in 2004.

Several of Charles' 12 children have accused executive Joe Adams of not only hindering the "Georgia on My Mind" star's estate bestowal, but damaging their father's reputation, the Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.

"The biggest issue with me is disrespect for the family and kids," said the Rev. Robert Robinson, who is one of Charles' sons. "If you respect a man and his work, then you respect his kids. His blood is flowing through our veins."

The family thinks that Adams took advantage of Charles' name when he released two Charles albums after the singer died. They also say that he reallocated some of the money that Charles left in trusts, profitting from the late singer.

Charles probably had no clue that he'd be leaving this mess around for others to sort through.

[United Press International]

Humor Has It That Teri Garr is Recovering Happy

Teri Garr has mostly recovered from a brain aneurism she suffered in December 2006. She wants you to know that she's up and running again.

[T]he actress, 61, is back on her feet, joking that the best place to store her wheelchair is at the bottom of the swimming pool "because I don't need it."

She still has, as she puts it, "a touch of MS (multiple sclerosis)," but Garr faces the disease with humor.

It sounds to be us like Garr won't take this disease sitting down.

[Houston Chronicle]

Any Way You Cut It, Roger Ebert's Surgery Rolling

Who Maimed Roger Ebert? We know he's not well. But all he seems to do nowadays is go in for and come out of surgery. He's in. He's out. He's in. He's out.

Roger Ebert is recovering at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago after surgery to repair a minor hip injury. He tripped and fell at the Pritikin Center in Florida, where he had gone to continue physical therapy in preparation for his film festival.

"The show must go on!" Ebert says. "I am doing fine and if the doctors clear me, I will be there." The Roger Ebert Film Festival (Ebertfest) is sponsored by the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign April 23-27.

Had doctors not liked the end result, perhaps Ebert would have been bedpanned.

[ABC7Chicago.com]

Hot Rod (Not the Bad Andy Samberg Movie)

I don't particularly care for fish, but it strike me as odd to eat as fish that is poisonous.

Roddy Piper's friend Ric Flair probably knows much more about this, being that he is the "Nature Boy and all.

Yesterday was somebody's Birthday! Whose Birthday? Former Professional Wrestler "Rowdy" Roddy Piper's Birthday. How Old Is He? 1,2,3,4... 54! And Never been Kissed By... Death

Roddy Piper's name appears on "BestDeathPoolRosterEver.BlogSpot.Com's" roster

• On July 27, 2007, Piper was set to team up with Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake in a tag team match against Greg "The Hammer" Valentine and Chris "The Crippler" Costello at Clash at the Cove 9, Costello's promotion IAW's yearly event at Coveleski Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. However, allegedly, due to a family emergency, Piper had to leave the stadium early to tend to his family. The match was then made a triple threat and Costello won by a countout in under ten minutes.

I don't know what kind of family emergency would possibly be more important that a reunion with Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake. Some one has some explaining to do.

... And Many More!

Danny Federici's Hungry Heart Stops Playing

Scoring Update! The points change, death remains the same...

Danny Federici, the longtime keyboard player for Bruce Springsteen whose stylish work helped define the E Street Band's sound on hits from "Hungry Heart" through "The Rising," died Thursday. He was 58. Federici, who had battled melanoma for three years, died at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York.

Federici had taken a leave of absence during the band's tour in November 2007 to pursue treatment for melanoma, and was temporarily replaced by veteran musician Charles Giordano. At the time, Springsteen described Federici as "one of the pillars of our sound and has played beside me as a great friend for more than 40 years. We all eagerly await his healthy and speedy return."

Congratulations and 24 points awarded to Daddy to Be Dead Mates. The Rosters and Standings have been updated.

[Yahoo! News]

Chaos Theory Puts Edward Lorenz in a Deadly State

Scoring Update! The points change, death remains the same...

Edward Lorenz, the father of chaos theory, died at his home in Cambridge, Mass., Wednesday. He was 90.

"Of all the geniuses of that era, he was the quietest and most humble and the most kind," said Jerry Mahlman, a longtime friend.

Congratulations and 24 points awarded to Angelos or Bust. The Rosters and Standings have been updated.

[AP]

Pope on a Rope

Not to brag or anything, but I've been to many Mets games, and I haven't had much trouble using the escalators.

It seems as though the Pope does have some sort of direct link to God. How else can you explain him holding mass at Nationals Park and Yankee Stadium, but not at Shea Stadium?

Today is somebody's Birthday! Whose Birthday? Pope Benedict XVI's Birthday. How Old Is He? 1,2,3,4... 81! And Never been Kissed By... Death

Pope Benedict XVI's name appears on "Daddy to Be Dead Mates'" roster

• Pope Benedict XVI's interests include classical music and cats. He owns a specially engraved white Apple iPod and enjoys listening to music on it.
  

One of the many perks of being the Pope. All of those are of course offset by the fact he can't have sex. But at least he can listen to Mozart all he wants.

... And Many More!