It ain't over 'till it's over

Please check your list and make sure we haven't missed any timely demises.

Claude Levi-Strauss

Claude Levi-Strauss is taking notes on the Happy Hunting Grounds vs. the Elysian Fields and you DPers don't seem to have noticed. For shame! (And how is it that I'm paying more attention to this than the participants??) -- John (who did not join us this year, for mysterious reasons of his own)

RIP, Claude. May you walk the many realms of the dead, cataloging their similarities and differences.

Alas, Becca is no longer our angel of deathlessness. Thanks for putting her on the board, Claude. Double-alas, Claude's demise is similar in structure to many other recent demises in that it brings me points. Nine more ravens also go to Tom and Craig.

That brings my lead to nineteen points over the nearest contender, the very-annoyed-not-to-have-Claude-this-year Holly. Heather, Craig and Tom are all within ten points of Holly.

Unlike last year at this time, we don't have to do pretend to propose new scoring rules in order to imagine knocking me from my place in the lead. We all picked good portfolios so we all began with around 100 potential points. My remaining potential is down to 40, Holly's is 61, etc. Based just on those numbers, Heather has the best chance of catching up right now, with 73 potential points and only a 13-point deficit.

There are actual scientists amongst the ghouls, so I won't embarrass myself with further faux statistical hoo-hah. But here's my main point: don't stop trash-talking just because I'm kicking your butt.

If you do, the kicking will lose a certain sweetness.

Ghost II

Now that he's dead, only I can see Patrick Swayze. Perhaps that is because I love him so much for giving me a substantial lead.

He danced dirty in Dirty Dancing, got into Whoopi in Ghost, and got up early to fight the commies in Red Dawn. He also brought points to moi, Heather, Holly G and Craig. I'm now in the lead with 36 points, with Heather at 32 and Holly and Andy next in line with 26 each.

I'd say more, but to quote Jed, Swayze's character in Red Dawn: "Shut up, Danny! Shut up!"

Kennedead

I gotta say... I'm not feeling the in-the-face-of-death goofies this morning, so I'll stick to the facts (more or less).

Ted's dead, baby. Ted's dead. His death gives us our second political brain death in a row. (That's a straight line, ready for any takers.) It also pushes me into an oddly unsatisfying lead, giving a mild endorsement to my geriatric/cancer strategy.

Seven of us scored points on the Senator's death. He had a particularly strong impact on those competing to be the Bright Anti-prophet of Doom: Tom, Cathy and Holly G are all out of the running for Angel of Deathlessness. That leaves Becca and Craig. If either of you suffers a tragic accident we will suspect foul play, so don't try anything.

Novacula

Known vampire Bob Novak "died" today. His "death" renders him unavailable for subpoena on the Valerie Plame outing, which is convenient for some folks.

His death also benefits many of us. Heather holds onto her lead, but Andy, Betsy, Holly and yours truly all scored points. I'm in second place by a (dead) nose. Holly, Andy and Betsy make up the unstoppable zombie horde in third place. Thanks, Bob.

Waltah

The beloved Mr. Cronkite has died. In his will he left eleven points each to the Emily & Bill team and to Ben.

Tom and Cathy should now root for Ted Kennedy so they can leave Becca as the last one with no points. Meanwhile, Tom and Becca can plot (in at least two senses of the word) against Claude Levi-Strauss.

The rest of us can look down on them as evil schemers and low scorers. Can I get a collective "Harumph"?

Harumph.

S is for Strange; D is for Dead

Robert S. McNamara (nobody had him), dead at 93.