2007 Second Hottest Year Ever in Phoenix

All those 110 degrees and 100 degrees days and 90 degrees nights in the Valley of the Sun added up to making 2007 the second hottest year ever in Phoenix. The urbanization and sprawl which is increased markedly this decade has resulted in six of the seven years of this decade being ranked in the top ten with the other four years coming from the 80s decade. '07 just missed by .6 degrees in being the hottest year and that was with a colder than normal January and February in Phoenix.

Prediction: 2008 does become the hottest year for Phoenix.

SXUS75 KPSR 020237
RERPSR

RECORD EVENT REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ
745 PM MST SAT DEC 01 2007

...2007 SECOND WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD IN PHOENIX...

THE AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OF 76.4 MADE 2007 THE SECOND WARMEST YEAR ON RECORD IN PHOENIX. THE WARMEST YEAR EVER WAS 1989 WHEN THETEMPERATURE AVERAGED 77.0

WARMEST YEARS
1989 77.0
2007 76.4
2003 76.3
2002 76.0
1988 76.0
1981 76.0
2001 75.9
1986 75.7
2005 75.6
2006 75.5

$$

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Iowa Caucuses History and Information

We will know in about 48 hours from the time of this post (9:15pm MST) who are the winners in the Iowa Caucus. Winning these caucuses does note necessarily mean election to the presidency is a sure bet. Some of the past winners whom did even get nominated include Tom Harkin, Richard Gephardt, and Bob Dole.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_caucus

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The Twenty Annoying Things about 2007

I can probably come up with another fifty to add to the list, but I will spare you of having to read them. This is a good, funny, and sobering article. Fortunately I am not exposed to all of these negatives due to where I reside and where the media I receive originates from (Denver, Casper, Cheyenne).

http://www.alternet.org/story/72157/?page=entire

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Privacy in America: On a par with China and Russia

It is a sad and horrifying day when ones privacy in a supposed free country is about as bad as it is in China and Russia. Legislation is urgent on the federal and state levels prohibiting corporations and businesses from infringing upon citizens' privacy unless specifically requested and approved by the citizen. And laws effecting governmental controls on the invasion of citizens privacy must be toughened and more strictly definied. The Bill of Rights and US Constitution is being violated in unimaginable numbers everyday by corporations and government.

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/01/the-surveillanc.html

http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2008/01/01/map.jpg

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Natural Hot Pools/Springs: The Ultimate in Relaxation

We are fortunate to live in a region where natural hot pools and springs are close by. It is an activity that I do not get to participate in nearly enough. One thing I always have wanted is a hot tub and spa to make avail of just outside my back door to relax for hours in. Alas, I have never gotten that wish achieved, and do not know anyone who has one either. Hopefully this will change in '08.

http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2008/01/01/outdoors/1_out_12-26-07.txt

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_spring

http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/nndc/struts/results?op_0=eq&v_0=&op_1=l&v_1=&op_2=l&v_2=&t=100006&s=1&d=1

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_spa_towns#In_the_Americas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_tub

http://www.hottubsdirectory.com/

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FBI Still Wants to Look for D B Cooper !

What an incredible waste of taxpayers money and time. While they are at, how is the investigations going on the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa, Amelia Earhart, and the huge numbers of other missing people from the last century ? FBI apparently means Futile Boneheaded Idiots. I would much rather having them locate our MIA soldiers in Iraq. Or solving the missing child kidnapping case of Tara Calico, now almost 20 years ago.

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/fbi-makes-new-bid-to-find-1971-skyjacker/20080101141209990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._B._Cooper

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_who_have_disappeared

http://www.geocities.com/jenbirdscully/calico.html

http://www.thesuperficial.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-36920.html

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WCHA Hockey Enters into 2008 Part of Season

WCHA college hockey is now into its second half of the regular season with the games upcoming this weekend. The college hockey game is much more freeflowing , exciting, and more reliant on individual player's skills and teamwork than the NHL. The two Front Range schools, Denver and Colorado College, are strongly setting the pace in the league and even across the sport this season.

Denver University Pioneers remaining schedule

FRI 11 Jan WISCONSIN
SAT 12 Jan WISCONSIN
FRI 18 Jan @ Air Force
SAT 19 Jan BEMIDJI ST
FRI 1 Feb @ Minnesota St
SAT 2 Feb @ Minnesota St
FRI 8 Feb MINNESOTA
SAT 9 Feb MINNESOTA
FRI 15 Feb @ North Dakota
SAT 16 Feb @ North Dakota
FRI 22 Feb ALASKA-ANCHORAGE
SAT 23 Feb ALASKA-ANCHORAGE
FRI 29 Feb @ Michigan Tech
SAT 1 Mar @ Michigan Tech
FRI 7 Mar COLORADO COLLEGE
SAT 8 Mar @ Colorado College

Colorado College Tigers remaining schedule

FRI 4 Jan @ Wisconsin
SAT 5 Jan @ Wisconsin
FRI 11 Jan ALASKA-ANCHORAGE
SAT 12 Jan ALASKA-ANCHORAGE
FRI 18 Jan BEMIDJI ST
SAT 19 Jan AIR FORCE
FRI 25 Jan @ Michigan Tech
SAT 26 Jan @ Michigan Tech
FRI 1 Feb CLARKSON
SAT 2 Feb CLARKSON
FRI 8 Feb ST CLOUD ST
SAT 9 Feb ST CLOUD ST
FRI 22 Feb @ Minnesota-Duluth
SAT 23 Feb @ Minnesota-Duluth
FRI 29 Feb MINNESOTA ST
SAT 1 Mar MINNESOTA ST
FRI 7 Mar @ Denver
SAT 8 Mar DENVER

http://wcha.cstv.com/genrel/stats.html?0708/wcstand/wcham

http://wcha.cstv.com/genrel/stats.html?0708/wccompos/wcham

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Trying to Explain Power and Influence within Iran

This article, which is quite lengthy and detailed, does a reasonable job of trying to explain how government works within Iran is regards to power and influence within the state and its various undergovernments. But after one reads it, one is still unsure if everything is completely clear or the evident power vacuums are the results of the individuals themselves and their own particular psychologies. I guess you can simply call it an oligarchy.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-circle31dec31,1,6012308.story?coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=4&cset=true

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Lott Replacement Named in Mississippi

Its going to be seven term Mississippi US Congressman Roger Wicker, another conservative much like Trent Lott himself. Wicker has been representing Mississippi's First congressional district which makes up the northern part of the state and includes Tupelo, Oxford, and Columbus and succeeded the legendary Jamie Whitten who represented that district for 54 years starting in 1940. Wicker was born in 1951 in Pototoc, MS; is a Southern Baptist; married with three offspring; has a law degree from Mississippi; and served in the US Air Force as an officer from 1976 to 1980. While in the US House of Representatives, he served on the House Appropriations Committee and was the Republican Whip. Look for him to become a powerful and influential US Senator within the next several years. He could even be in consideration for the Presidency in 2016 or 2020.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071231/ap_on_re_us/lott_s_senate_seat;_ylt=AgfLXtGV6viSUjUk4UDn5iRvzwcF

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Wicker

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Iran Nuclear Facility to be Online by Summer

When and how will the Bush Junta react as this this moment draws closer ? The facility is but about 250 miles east of Kuwait City across the Persian Gulf.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/30/AR2007123000425.html?hpid=moreheadlines

http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=HPIB,HPIB:2006-32,HPIB:en&q=Bushehr%2c+Iran

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Worlds Largest Solar-Thermol Plant to be Constructed

This is exciting and exceptionally good news. Besides wind, solar is the energy source of the future to replace coal, natural gas, and oil for electricity, home heating, and water heating. The cost of solar will go below that of coal by 2012 which bodes well for consumers wanting to be their own managers and creators of their home energy needs.

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/ausra-to-build-worlds-largest-solar-thermal-factory-394.html

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Getting Down to the Nitty Gritty

Paul Krugman nails it dead on on the economic differences in policy between the candidates of the two parties: supporting corporate and wealthy tax breaks and pork. This is the absolute bottom line for American middle class and working class citizens. Most, if not all, of the GOP candidates want to strongly continue following the Bush economic plan and program to the vast detriment of us all who are not wealthy and have the lobbying power and big dirty money of corporations.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/31/opinion/31krugman.html?_r=2&ref=opinion&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

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Ten Good Things That Happened in 2007

I am far too often a cynic and curmudgeon when it comes to public policy, trends, and the news of the day, so its a little refreshing to get a positive story to read, reflect on, and appreciate.

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/12/31/6083/

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Ten Frightening Future Predictions and Trends

...but, I cannot help tending to see the negative trends as being far more strongly, effective, influential, and destructive. The world and our nation are not getting to be better places.

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/12/31/6084/

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Bloomberg Increasingly Considering Run

New York City Mayor and financial media magnate Michael Bloomberg is seriously considering a third party run for the presidency and may make the decision in the coming weeks. A Bloomberg candidacy would be detrimental probably more so to Republicans, depending on whom their nominee is. I cannot really see Bloomberg in the race as being a negative for Democrats, but its a long, long road to 4 November

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/31/us/politics/31bloomberg.html?ei=5065&en=2da39fd541678920&ex=1199682000&partner=MYWAY&pagewanted=print

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McCain Experiencing Political Renaissance

Arizona US Senator John McCain and his campaign for the presidency had largely been dismissed as recently as November as having no chance. But as citizens learn more about the other candidates and consider their positions on various issues, McCain is experiencing a rebirth of support among potential voters in many polls. He probably will not win the Iowa caucuses, but a second or third place finish is not out of question. He could win the New Hampshire primary on Tuesday 8 January, putting significant dents in the campaigns of Romney, Giuliani, and Thompson. No candidate who has not finished at least third in the Iowa caucuses since 1972 has won the nomination.

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2007/12/29/politics/fromtheroad/entry3656453.shtml?source=search_story

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NFL Opponents Schedules for 2008

With the completion of the 2007 NFL regular season schedule, the schedule of opponents for all teams in the 2008 season can now be known. The dates and days for the 2008 schedule will be announced by the league in late March to early April 2008.

The Denver Broncos, in addition to their regular divisional rivalry games, will play home games against the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Jacksonville Jaguars. Their road games will be against the New England Patriots, New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and Cleveland Browns.

To see the full schedule of opponents for each team, one can go to this website...

http://www.johnnyroadtrip.com/schedules/nfl_future_afcw.htm

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NFL Postseason Schedule Announced

The schedule of games dates and starting times for the upcoming wild card weekend and subsequent divisional playoffs has been set by the National Football League. (all times MST)

Saturday 5 January

Washington Redskins @ Seattle Seahawks -- 2:30pm NBC

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Pittsburgh Steelers -- 6pm NBC

Sunday 6 January

New York Giants @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- 11am FOX

Tennessee Titans @ San Diego Chargers -- 2:30pm CBS

Saturday 12 January

Lowest remaining NFC seed @ Dallas Cocaineboys -- 2:30pm FOX

Lowest remaining AFC seed @ New England Patriots -- 6pm CBS

Sunday 13 January

Higher remaining AFC seed @ Indianapolis Colts -- 11am CBS

Higher remaining NFC seed @ Green Bay Packers --2:30pm FOX

Sunday 20 January

AFC & NFC Championship Games -- 2:30 pm/6pm

Sunday 3 February

Super Bowl 42 from Phoenix/Glendale AZ -- 4pm FOX

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Alternet's Top Ten Economic Stories of '07

Here is the list of the 2007 top ten economic stories from Alternet.

1) Widespread GOP sponsorship of increasing corporate welfare and wealthy tax breaks.

2) James Kunstler on readying oneself for the post-oil society.

3) The increasing peril of a repeat of the Crash of '29.

4) How libraries are becoming homeless shelters. ( I can really relate to this one personally)

5) Krugman on the destruction of the middle class.

6) American working mothers: Still dealing with a 1950's corporate and societal mindset.

7) Corporations' broad efforts to steal and hoard public water.

8) The paradox of having greater wealth and material goods resulting in unhappiness.

9) Widespread epidemic of corporation crimes

10) Corporation propaganda and lies about motherhood.

This is an excellent range of topics that we get little coverage of, if any, from the mainstream corporate media. Maybe by this time in 2009 we will have a least a few positive reports to read. Some of these reports were commented on and linked to in posts I made at some point earlier in 2007.

http://www.alternet.org/workplace/71856/

And one can read and learn more about other interesting issues at the website...

http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com/

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My Dead Pool for 2008

Here is my list of the some of the noteworthy individuals globally that could pass away in 2008, be it by natural causes or as a victim of circumstances, intentional or accidental. (month and year of birth in parentheses)

Mahmoud Abbas: President of Palestine (3/35)

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad: President of Iran (10/56)

Akihito: Emperor of Japan (12/33)

Buzz Aldrin: Astronaut, second man on moon as part of Apollo 11 (1/30)

Marty Allen: Comedian/actor (3/22)

Patty Andrews: one-third of singing group The Andrews Sisters (2/18)

Maya Angelou: Author, poet, civil rights activist (2/28)

Michael Ansara: Actor, played Klingon on Star Trek TV series (4/22)

Allen Arbus: Actor, known for Dr Freedman on M*A*S*H (2/18)

James Arness: Actor, known for Marshall Dillon on Gunsmoke (5/23)

Eddy Arnold: Country Singer from 1950s-60s (5/18)

Bea Arthur: Actress, known for All in the Family, Maude, Golden Girls roles (5/23)

William Avery: Second oldest living former governor (KS) (8/1911)

F Lee Bailey: Attorney, celebrity (6/33)

Conrad Bain: Actor, known for role in Different Strokes TV show (2/23)

Howard Baker: Former US Tennessee Senator, bureaucrat (11/25)

Chuck Barris: Game Show Producer/Host (6/29)

Sammy Baugh: Football Quarterback/Coach/Hall of Fame member (3/14)

Harry Belafonte: Singer/Actor/Activist (3/27)

Pope Bendedict XVI: Leader of Catholic Church (4/27)

Yogi Berra: Baseball Player/Manager/Hall of Fame member (5/25)

Chuck Berry: Oldies rock 'n' roll guitarist/singer (10/26)

Barbara Billingsley: Actress, known for role in Leave it to Beaver TV show

Osama bin Laden: Terrorist, Criminal Mastermind (3/57)

Ernest Borgnine: Actor (1/17)

Ray Bradbury: Science Fiction Author (8/20)

Wilford Brimley: Actor (9/34)

Edward Brooke: Former US Massachusetts Senator (10/19)

Bobby Brown: Rapper, Drug Addict, Criminal (2/69)

Dave Brubeck: Historic Jazz pianist and musician (12/20)

Harry Byrd: Former Virginia US Senator (12/1914)

Robert Byrd: Current US West Virginia Senator (11/20)

Sid Caesar: Comedian/Actor/Emcee (9/20)

Pierre Cardin: Fashion designer (7/22)

Fidel Castro: Communist dictator of Cuba (8/26)

Channing: Actress/Comedianne (1/21)

Cyd Charisse: Actress (3/21)

Dick Cheney: US Vice-President (1/41)

Arthur C Clarke: Science Fiction Author (12/17)

Mike Connors: Actor, known for role in TV show Mannix

Walter Cronkite: Journalist/Reporter (11/16)

Al Davis: Pro Football Oakland Raiders Owner, Rabblerouser (7/29)

Doris Day: Actress, Animal Rights activist (4/24)

Olivia de Havilland: Actress (7/16)

Dino De Laurentiis: Film Producer (8/19)

Dom DeLuise: Actor, Chef (8/33)

Bo Diddley: Musician/Guitarist/Actor (12/28)

Phyllis Diller: Actress/Comedienne (7/17)

Dom DiMaggio: Baseball player, brother of legendary Joe (2/17)

Ronnie James Dio: Rock musician (7/42)

Anatoly Dobrynin: Soviet diplomat/ambassador (11/19)

Fats Domino: Musician/singer (2/28)

Kirk Douglas: Actor (12/16)

Robert Downey Jr: Actor, drug addict (4/65)

Hugh Downs: Broadcaster (2/21)

Angelo Dundee: Boxing Trainer/manager (8/23)

Charles Durning: Actor (2/23) *[may be a guideline for yours truly]

Lou Duva: Boxing Trainer/manager (5/22)

Roger Ebert: Film Critic, writer (6/42)

Blake Edwards: Movie director (7/22)

Nanette Fabray: Actress (10/20)

Peter Falk: Actor (9/27)

Louis Farrakhan: Militant political activist (5/33)

Lawrence Ferlinghetti: Beat poet, City Lights Bookstore owner (SF) (3/19)

Mel Ferrer: Actor (8/17)

Eddie Fisher: Actor/Singer/Entertainer (8/28)

Larry Flynt: Pornographer, constitutional rights activist (11/42)

Joan Fontaine: Actress (10/17)

Betty Ford: widow of former US President Ford (4/18)

John Forsythe: Actor (1/18)

Pete Fountain: Jazz clarinetist (7/30)

Aretha Franklin: Singer (3/42)

Annette Funicello: Actress (10/42)

Zsa Zsa Gabor: Celebrity/actress (2/17)

James Garner: Actor (4/28)

George Gaynes: Actor (5/17)

Mikhail Gorbachev: USSR President, writer, activist (3/31)

Micheal Gough: Actor (11/17)

Billy Graham: Evangelist, activist (11/18)

Peter Graves: Actor (3/26)

Rosey Grier: Football Player, actor, minister (7/32)

Robert Griffin: Former US Michigan Senator (11/23)

Andy Griffith: Actor, personality (6/26)

Bob Guccione: Publisher of Penthouse (12/30)

Larry Hagman: Actor (9/31)

Alexander Haig: Military General, bureaucrat (12/24)

Rob Halford: Lead singer of Judas Priest (8/51)

Monty Hall: Game show host (8/23)

Ralph Hall: Current US Texas Representative (5/23)

Clifford Hansen: Former US Wyoming Senator, governor (10/1912)

King Harard V of Norway: (2/37)

Ray Harryhausen: Cinematic Special Effects Genius (6/20)

Paul Harvey: Radio voice of the political Right Wing (9/18)

Mark Hatfield: Former US Oregon Senator, governor (7/22)

Stephen Hawking: Author, genius (1/42)

Charlton Heston: Actor, activist (10/24)

Paris Hilton: Celebrity, pornography actress (2/81)

Albert Hofmann: Chemist, created LSD (1/1906)

Hal Holbrook: Actor (2/25)

Earl Holliman: Actor (9/28)

Ernest Hollings: Former US South Carolina Senator, governor (1/22)

Celeste Holm: Actress (4/19)

Dolores Hope: Widow of Comic Bob Hope (5/1909)

Lena Horne: Jazz singer (6/17)

Whitney Houston: Singer (8/63)

Lee Iacocca: Automobile manufacturing executive (10/24)

Michael Jackson: singer, freak, child molester (5/58)

Etta James: Singer (1/38)

Wojciech Jaruzelski: Last Communist dictator of Poland (7/23)

Ron Jeremy: Pornography actor (3/53)

Van Johnson: Actor (8/16)

Ernie Johnson Jr.: Sports broadcaster (?/56)

KC Jones: Pro basketball player/coach (5/32)

Kim Jong-Il: Communist dictator of North Korea (2/41)

Ramzan Kadyrov: President of Chechnia

Ethel Kennedy: Widow of RFK (4/28)

George Kennedy: Actor (2/25)

Edward Kennedy: Current US Massachusetts Senator (2/32)

Eunice Kennedy-Shriver: Fifth of nine Kennedy siblings (7/21)

Kirk Kerkorian: Billionaire business magnate

Ali Khamenei: Supreme Ayatollah and Leader of Iran (6/39)

Abdul Qadeer Khan: Pakistani nuclear scientist (4/36)

Richard Kiel: Actor (9/39)

BB King: Blues guitarist, songwriter, singer (9/25)

Larry King: Television/Radio/Media personality (11/33)

Henry Kissinger: US Foriegn Policy developer/analyst, author (5/23)

Eartha Kitt: Actress, singer (1/27)

Jack Klugman: Actor (4/22)

Marion Knight: Rapper, criminal (4/65)

Helmut Kohl: Former chancellor of Germany (4/30)

C Everett Koop: Surgeon General, honest physician (10/16)

Harvey Korman: Actor (2/27)

Jake LaMotta: Boxer (7/21)

Angela Lansbury: Actress (10/25)

Tom Lantos: US Congressman from CA (2/28)

Christopher Lee: Actor (5/22)

Harper Lee: Authoress (4/26)

Stan Lee: Marvel Comics cartoonist (12/22)

Tommy Lee: Rock musician (10/62)

Claude Levi-Strauss: Anthropologist (11/1908)

Jerry Lewis: Actor/Comedian, activist (3/26)\

Jerry Lee Lewis: Musician (9/35)

Art Linkletter: TV host/personality (7/12

Lindsay Lohan: Celebrity, drug abuser (7/86)

Gavin McLeod: Actor (2/30)

Patrick Macnee: Actor (2/22)

Karl Malden: Actor (3/12)

Nelson Mandela: South African political prisoner, President, activist (7/18)

Charles Manson: Murderer, criminal, inmate, nutcase (11/34)

Imelda Marcos: Widow of Phillipines dictator Marcos, shoe fetishist (7/29)

Rose Marie: Actress (8/23)

Dick Martin: Comedian, actor (1/22)

George Martin: Producer of the Beatles (1/26)

Al Martino: Singer, actor (10/27)

Johnny Mathis: Musician, singer (9/35)

Ed McMahon: Television personality, host, actor (3/23)

Robert McNamara: US Secretary of Defense, banker, author (6/16)

Jayne Meadows: Actress (9/20)

Zubin Mehta: Classical music conductor (4/36)

Vera Miles: Actress (8/29)

Mitch Miller: Musician, performer (7/1911)

Liza Minelli: Actress, singer, celebrity (3/46)

Al Molinaro: Actor (6/19)

Ricardo Montalban: Actor (11/20)

Sun Myung Moon: Religious cultist, publisher, criminal (1/20)

Harry Morgan: Actor (4/15)

Ennio Morricone: Composer (11/28)

Kate Moss: Model, drug abuser (1/74)

Hosni Mubarak: President of Egypt (5/28)

Robert Mugabe: Dictator of Rhodesia/Zimbabwe (2/24)

Rupert Murdoch: Australian uber-capitalistic media magnate (3/31)

Pervez Musharaff: Dictator of Pakistan, human rights abuser (8/43)

Hassan Nasrallah: Lebanese Shia leader, terrorist, murderer (8/60)

Bob Newhart: Comedian/actor (9/29)

Edwin Newman: Journalist/reporter (1/19)

Vo Nguyen Giap: North Vietnamese general, politician (8/1911)

Leslie Neilson: Actor (2/26)

Leonard Nimoy: Actor (3/31)

Nick Nolte: Actor (2/41)

Maila Nurmi: Actress (12/21)

Rosie O'Donnell: Actress, activist, lesbian (3/62)

Maureen O'Sullivan: Actress (8/20)

Mullah Omar: Taliban leader, terrorist, murderer (?)

Ryan O'Neal: Actor (4/41)

Alan Oppenheimer: Voice actor (4/30)

Ozzy Osbourne: Musician, singer, celebrity, drug addict (12/48)

Peter O'Toole: Actor (8/32)

Terrell Owens: Professional football player (12/73)

Bettie Page: Actress, model (4/23)

Greg Page: Boxing champion (10/58)

Arnold Palmer: Golfer, philanthropist (9/29)

Don Pardo: Television/radio announcer (2/18)

Fess Parker: Actor (8/24)

Les Paul: Musician, songwriter, singer, inventor (6/15)

Patriarch Pavle: Serbian religious leader (9/14

James Pearson: Former US Kansas Senator (5/20)

I M Pei: Architect (4/17)

Claiborne Pell: Former US Rhode Island Senator (11/18)

Charles Percy: Former US Illinois Senator (9/19)

Shimon Peres: Former Israeli Prime Minister, politician (8/23)

Javier Perez de Cuellar: Former UN Secretary-General (1/20)

Johnny Pesky: Baseball player/manager, Boston legend (9/19)

Fred Phelps: Religious pastor/leader, ardent hater of homosexuals (11/29)

Prince Philip: Husband of British Queen Elizabeth II (6/21)

Roddy Piper: Celebrity wrestler, entertainer (4/54)

Joe Piscopo: Comedian/actor (6/51)

Sidney Pottier: Actor, entertainer, activist (2/27)

Iggy Pop: Musician, actor, drug addict (4/47)

Ahmed Qurei: Former Palestinean Prime Minister (3/37)

Louise Rainer: Actress (1/1910)

Jack Ramsey: Basketball coach, television/radio analsyst (2/25)

Nancy Reagan; Actress, activist, widow of US President Reagan (7/21)

Keith Richards: Guitarist, celebrity, drug addict (12/43)

Don Rickles: Actor, comedian, celebrity (5/26)

Oral Roberts: Tele-evangelist, hustler (1/18)

David Rockefeller: Banking magnate, member of Bilderbergs (6/15)

Mickey Rooney: Actor, personality (9/20)

Albert Rosselini: Oldest living former governor (WA) (1/1910)

Donald Rumsfeld: Inept politician, bureaucrat (7/32)

Jane Russell: Actress (6/21)

William Safire: Author, journalist, speechwriter (12/19)

Eva Marie Saint: Actress (7/24)

Soupy Sales: Comedian, entertainer, personality (1/26)

J D Sallinger: Author, legend, recluse (1/19)

Juan Antonio Samaranch: Olympics executive (7/20)

Frederick Sanger: Novel Laureate chemist (8/18)

William Schallert: Actor (7/22)

Helmut Schmidt: Former Chancellor of Germany (12/18)

Pete Seeger: Singer, songwriter, activist (5/19)

Yitzhak Shamir: Former Israeli Prime Minister, guerilla, politician (10/15)

Ravi Shankar: Hindu guru for the Beatles (4/20)

Ariel Sharon: Former Israeli Prime Minister, politician (2/28)

Charlie Sheen: Actor, celebrity, drug abuser (9/65)

Eduard Shevardnadze: Soviet bureaucart, President of Georgia (1/28)

King Sihanouk: Ousted king of Cambodia, politically exiled (10/22)

Neil Simon: Playwright, screenwriter (7/27)

OJ Simpson: Football player, actor, celebrity, murderer, criminal (7/47)

Tom Sizemore: Actor, drug addict (11/61)

Percy Sledge: Singer (11/40)

Alexander Solzhenitsyn: Author, activist, politicallu exiled (12/18)

Boris Spassky: Chess champion (1/37)

Britney Spears: Celebrity, drug addict (12/81)

Yves St Laurent: Fashion designer (8/36)

Jackie Stallone: celebrity, psychic, nutcase (12/21)

Harry Dean Stanton: Actor (7/26)

Jean Stapleton: Actress, activist (1/23)

Scott Stapp: Singer, drug addict (8/73)

George Steinbrenner: Baseball New York Yankees owner, business magnate, nutcase (7/30)

John Paul Stevens: US Supreme Court Justice (4/20)

Sly Stone: musician, singer (3/43)

Darryl Strawberry: Baseball player, inmate, drug addict (3/62)

Gloria Stuart: Actress, known for role in Titanic (7/1910)

Bert Sugar: Boxing publisher (6/36)

Suharto: Dictator of Indonesia (6/21)

Charles Taylor: Dictator of Liberia (1/48)

Elizabeth Taylor: Actress (2/32)

Rod Taylor: Actor (1/30)

Shirley Temple-Black: Actress, ambassador, activist (4/28)

Studs Terkel: Author, journalist, broadcaster (5/1912)

Margeret Thatcher: British Prime Minister, politician (10/25)

Pete Townshend: Guitarist, songwriter, sex offender (5/45)

Verne Troyer: Actor, celebrity (1/69)

Margaret Truman: Author, biographer, daughter of US President Truman (2/24)

Donald Trump: Business magnate, meglomaniac, nutcase (6/46)

Desmond Tutu: Religious leader, activist, political leader (12/31)

Joseph Tydings: Former US Maryland Senator (5/28)

Mike Tyson: Boxer, rapist, criminal, nutcase (6/66)

Abigail Van Buren: Newspaper columnist, moralist (7/18)

Steve Van Buren: Professional football player (12/20)

Dick Van Dyke: Actor, comedian (12/25)

Theodore Van Kirk: Navigator of the Enola Gay (2/21)

Dick Van Patten: Actor, celebrity (12/28)

Gloria Vanderbilt: Heiress, socialite, celebrity, activist (2/24)

Donatella Versace: Fashion designer, celebrity (5/55)

Gore Vidal: Essayist, novelist, playwright, commentator (10/25)

Abe Vigoda: Actor, celebrity (2/21)

Jan-Michael Vincent: Actor (7/44)

Otto von Habsburg: Crown Prince of Austria, celebrity (12/1912)

Max von Sydow: Actor (4/29)

Mike Wallace: Journalist (5/18)

Eli Wallach: Actor, philanthropist (12/15)

Charlie Watts: Drummer (6/41)

Scott Weiland: Singer, drug addict (10/67)

The Duke of Wellington: Aristocrat (7/15

Kitty Wells: Singer (8/19)

Adam West: Actor, celebrity (9/28)

Ruth Westheimer: Sex therapist, author, wartime sniper (6/28)

Betty White: Actress, activist (1/22)

Kevin White: Former Mayor of Boston MA (9/25)

Slim Whitman: Singer (1/24)

James Whitmore: Actor (10/21)

Phyllis Whitney: Author (9/1903)

Richard Widmark: Actor (12/1914)

Elie Wiesel: Activist, novelist (9/28)

Gene Wilder: Actor, screenwriter, director (6/33)

Andy Williams: Singer (12/27)

John Williams: Composer (2/32)

Brian Wilson: Musician (6/42)

Amy Winehouse: Singer, songwriter, drug addict (9/83)

Jonathon Winters: Comedian, actor, writer (11/25)

John Wooden: Greatest college basketball coach (10/1910)

Herman Wouk: Author (5/15)

Andrew Wyeth: Painter (7/17)

Bill Wyman: Guitarist (10/36)

Chuck Yeager: Military officer, test pilot (2/23)

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi: Guru (10/1911)

Victor Yushchenko: President of Ukraine (2/54)

Franco Zeffirelli: Film Director (2/23)

Jiang Zemin: Dictator of China (8/26)

Efrem Zimbalist Jr,: Actor (11/18)
************************************

We should also see some of these other oldest living former governors , oldest former US congresspeople, or another of these oldest living US Senators pass.

A good source for a list of those still alive over age 85 is...

http://www.deadoraliveinfo.com/dead.nsf/viewdocs-nf/oldpeople

And one is macabre enough to want to enter a contest to challenge others on whom that is noteworthy that will die in 2008, you can go to...

http://www.thedeadpool.com/

http://dir.yahoo.com/Entertainment/Contests__Surveys__and_Polls/Pools/Death_Pools/

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