The 2011 Off Topic Celebrity Dead Pool

[Wezil]

Jeff Conaway was aged 60 and the pick of two teams - Robert Plomp (15) and stonesfan (18)

Robert Plomp --> 196 points
stonesfan --> 193 points

I did not award bonus points for unnatural causes as the drugs were secondary to his cause of death. At the risk of inciting a backlash I will entertain arguments for these points if you wish.

Robert Plomp takes over the lead in the pool.

[Wezil]

Wezil, you should know me well enough to realize it was a tweak, a minor troll. Why you decided to take it as a personal attack rather than how it was intended -- as a normal post, well within the norms of the thread -- is beyond me. But since it was obviously perceived that way, all I can do is apologize.

Your apology in not necessary as I have accepted the fault lies with me.

To explain:

My job is adversarial in nature and I spend many working hours per week arguing with people in a respectful manner. As such, arguing and disagreeing here is really no big deal to me. What I do have issue with is the tone. I accept that the remaining posters here have long ago decided they prefer more lax moderation. Fair enough, if that is what is preferred. I however don't want to spend my leisure time on activities I don't enjoy.

The On-Topic forums lost my interest when I gave up on the Civ franchise years ago (Civ2) yet I have continued to try to find a place in the Off-Topic forum. Through the use of both selective engagement and the "Ignore" feature I was able to tolerate the OT for the most part. That ended when I was personally name called by a poster I was not allowed to ignore (presumably a staff member). A minor occurrence for what goes on here these days but my inability to rectify the problem left me with few options - I could put up with it (see above about leisure time) or leave. I would have left the site then were it not for the Dead Pool.

The incident between us occurred only days later. By site standards your comments were only a "minor troll" but they stemmed from my unwillingness to accept the word of the US government at face value ("yellow cake" anyone?) and the inference that I was some sort of crank or conspiracy theorist because of it. The fact situation of this particular death (OBL) was a whole lot different than 99.9% of deaths and being chided for even raising the issue was, imho, unfair. Of course I have always assumed ultimate responsibility for making the call at the DP but as you should have noticed over the years, I always tried to administer the game in a collegial manner and often I would canvass the players for their thoughts and arguments on issues. This was never done in a trolling manner (as you accuse re - OBL) but simply to ensure we were all part of this experience and that it wasn't Wezil's personal Kingdom. It is after all a game.

In short, you have done nothing wrong by site standards and the problem is clearly with me. It's not that I have thin skin or am somehow too sensitive. I assure you I am fully capable of enduring the abuse at Poly (and giving it back), I just choose not to as I have better ways to spend my time.

[stonesfan]

Hey Wezil

My understanding is that Jeff Conaway was snorting some pain medication, which caused a bacterial infection in the lungs, and that lead to pneumonia and then sepsis set in and he died. That would be my only argument for an accidental death. If he weren’t snorting the stuff he would most likely still be here.

[-Jrabbit]

Thanks for the explanation, Wezil. Again, sorry for the dust-up. I honestly did not think you would take it that way.

Now, back to business: May I have credit for Harmon Killebrew?

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/17/us-baseball-killebrew-idUSTRE74G52820110517

Thank you.

[SlowwHand]

updated 2 hours 16 minutes ago

Dr. Jack Kevorkian, the Michigan pathologist convicted and jailed for participating in assisted suicides of terminally ill people, died early Friday, his lawyer told local media.

Kevorkian, 83, died at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich., where he had been hospitalized for about two weeks with kidney and heart problems.

The lawyer, Mayer Morganroth, said it appears Kevorkian suffered a pulmonary thrombosis when a blood clot from his leg broke free and lodged in his heart, according to the Detroit Free Press.

"It was peaceful. He didn't feel a thing," Morganroth told the newspaper.

[SlowwHand]

R.I.P.

James Arness, a bigger-than-life actor who kept the peace as Marshal Matt Dillon on 'Gunsmoke' for its 20-year run, died Friday of natural causes at his home in Brentwood, Calif., his family told the Los Angeles Times. He was 88.

[Guynemer]

Jesus tap dancing Christ, if I knew I was protecting good ol' Dr. Jack, I'd never have taken him off my list.

[SlowwHand]

Don't you find it kind of strange that he didn't use his device of demise?

[Robert]

Jeff Conaway was aged 60 and the pick of two teams - Robert Plomp (15) and stonesfan (18)

Robert Plomp --> 196 points
stonesfan --> 193 points

I did not award bonus points for unnatural causes as the drugs were secondary to his cause of death. At the risk of inciting a backlash I will entertain arguments for these points if you wish.

Robert Plomp takes over the lead in the pool.

I'm really good at this 8)
I should have played all earlier editions of this game

People can start sending me money and I will then not put them on my list.

[SlowwHand]

You're going down!

[-Jrabbit]

1. It's not even the midway point yet.
2. You're not even leading, Plomp.

I'm still owed my points for Harmon Killebrew.
And someone else is owed for Dr. Death - solomwi, I think.

[Solomwi]

Yep, unique pick at #15 and 83 years old - 198 points for me from Dr. Death.

[SlowwHand]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Versatile singer/songwriter Andrew Gold, who enjoyed chart success in the 1970s with the songs "Lonely Boy" and "Thank You For Being a Friend," died in his sleep. He was 59.

The Los Angeles Times said he died at his home on Friday. He had been undergoing cancer treatment but was responding well to treatment.

RIP

[Wezil]

Hey Wezil

My understanding is that Jeff Conaway was snorting some pain medication, which caused a bacterial infection in the lungs, and that lead to pneumonia and then sepsis set in and he died. That would be my only argument for an accidental death. If he weren’t snorting the stuff he would most likely still be here.

I leave it to you to link autopsy results if and when they are reported. Let's see what the Quincy has to say.

[Wezil]

Now, back to business: May I have credit for Harmon Killebrew?

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/17/us-baseball-killebrew-idUSTRE74G52820110517

Thank you.

My apologies. Scrolling back I see his death was posted although, in my defense, I will point out that no one actually made a claim for points on him. He got lost in the funeral parade.

Harmon Killebrew was 74 and a unique pick for the Vicious Rabbits (#18)

(171-18) + (100-74) +25
=204 points

His death on the 17th also puts the Rabbits in contention for the Killing Spree Award.