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J.D. Salinger, the legendary author, youth hero and fugitive from fame whose “The Catcher in the Rye” shocked and inspired a world he increasingly shunned, died of natural causes on 1/27/2010 at the age of 91.

The cult of “Catcher” turned tragic in 1980 when crazed Beatles fan Mark David Chapman shot and killed John Lennon, citing Salinger’s novel as an inspiration and stating that “this extraordinary book holds many answers.”

“The Catcher in the Rye” became both required and restricted reading, periodically banned by a school board or challenged by parents worried by its frank language and the irresistible chip on Holden’s shoulder.  Read more... (223 words, estimated 54 secs reading time)

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Zelda Rubinstein, the pint-sized psychic Tangina from The Poltergeist movie, passed away from natural causes on 11/27/10 at the age of 76. The 4-foot, 3-inch actress had various health problems following a mild heart attack she suffered late last year.

A medical lab technician before launching her acting career in her 40s, the 4-foot-3 Rubinstein made her film debut as one of the little people in the 1981 Chevy Chase comedy “Under the Rainbow.” Among her other credits are the movies “Frances,” “Sixteen Candles,” “Teen Witch,” “Anguish” and “Southland Tales” and the TV series “Picket Fences,” on which she was a regular.  Read more... (193 words, estimated 46 secs reading time)

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Pernell Roberts was the last living Cartwright from the way-ancient show Bonanza at the age of 81. Pernell Roberts’ wife Eleanor Criswell confirmed that the actor died of cancer.

Pernell Roberts was best known for playing Adam Cartwright, the eldest son in the Cartwright clan. In 1979, he starred in Trapper John, MD, playing the title character, Dr. John McIntyre. The series, which was a spin-off of MASH, lasted seven seasons.

Feral Fodder wins a solo shot for the death, as well as a $20 gift certificate to Blockbuster for scoring the first actor death of 2010. Congrats, FF!!  Read more... (108 words, estimated 26 secs reading time)

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Chemical Ali, who’s real name was Ali Hassan al-Majeed, was hanged in Iraq this morning as part of a state sentence to death for his role in numerous cases against humanity.

Al-Majeed had been held in United States custody since his capture in 2003. But he was handed over to the Iraqi authorities in the 24 hours before his execution, U.S. Ambassador Christopher Hill told CNN’s Diana Magnay on Monday.

The 1988 poison gas attack on the village of Halabja, which earned al-Majeed his nickname, was part of the Anfal campaign, in which the Hussein regime killed at least 100,000 Iraqi Kurds. The campaign is believed to be worst poison gas attack on civilians ever.  Read more... (240 words, estimated 58 secs reading time)

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In other news, I didn’t know Scott Baio was still alive.

Turns out that ol’ Scotty, postered heartthrob Chachi from the late 70′s to early 80′s, posted a less than flattering picture of First Lady Michelle on his Twitter account, with the quote “WOW He wakes up to this every morning.

The backlash was immediate and brutal.

Here’s the rest of the story:

But now it’s Baio who’s feeling the backlash. According to FoxNews.com, the former Happy Days star says he’s been receiving death threats for his comment, as other Twitter users bashed him with tweets like, “Scott Baio should be PUT DOWN.”

 Read more... (274 words, estimated 1:06 mins reading time)

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75-year old actress Rue McClanahan, who is probably best known for playing the erstwhile Blanche Devereaux in “The Golden Girls,” has suffered a minor stroke recently, while recovering from heart bypass surgery.

According to a report at eonline.com, the Emmy-award winning actress had her heart bypass surgery back in November. Rue then spent two weeks in the ICU, after doctors successfully removed the blot clot that was in her brain.

McClanahan’s recovery is slow but steady. Her speech and movement on the right side of her body was affected by the stroke, but her rep says she is undergoing physical therapy and should be out of the hospital by the end of the month.  Read more... (168 words, estimated 40 secs reading time)

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Well, it appears we have our first scored death. Meip Geis, the protector of Anne Frank and the last living person from The Diary of Anne Frank, died on January 11, 2010 at the age of 100.

Miep Gies, who helped shelter Anne Frank’s family from Nazis in the Netherlands during World War II, died Monday, the Anne Frank Museum said. She was 100.

A posting on a Web site devoted to Gies said she died following a short illness but there were no other details, The New York Times reported.  Read more... (175 words, estimated 42 secs reading time)

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The health of the Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua is causing serious concerns in the country, which is one of the biggest exporters of oil in the world. President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua had been admitted to a hospital in Saudi Arabia about 49 days back, after he complained of heart problems. That was the last that the world heard of him. Ever since, there has been no news of either his well being or of his possible demise, leading to much speculation, most of them concluding in his death.

Read more here.  Read more... (156 words, estimated 37 secs reading time)

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Internet rumors hit today that Artie Lange’s mysterious disappearance was due to an attempted suicide. Artie allegedly stabbed himself nine times on January 2nd.

Think of the points on this should he have given the players that have him – PLUS the first death money?

Here‘s the story on Artie.

This could be either good news or bad news for Ghoulpool players. The good says he is so effed up that he will either OD, crash while driving drunk, or maybe try all over again. The bad says he gave it a shot, failed, and now will have overwhelming support from friends and family and maybe even a new found love of life. In which case he will lose 100 pounds, pose naked, and we’ll never be able to un-see that.

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There are several Ghoulpoolers excited about the news that Artie Lange was rushed to a hospital. Not only would it be great points, but that coveted “first kill” gives the winner(s) $75 in prize money.

Here’s the story (borrowed from the Boston Herald)

Howard Stern sidekick and very funny but troubled man, Artie Lange, ended up in the hospital over the weekend. Sadly, it was the weekend before he was due to return to the Stern Show after a month long absence which has been blamed on Lange’s substance abuse problems.

 Read more... (187 words, estimated 45 secs reading time)

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