I buried Paul.

I've always been a fan of celebrity death hoaxes. From the good old fashioned urban legend (Slash killed Axl in a drunken rage back in 1988), to the out and out hoax (Adam Rich died of an overdose, cica 1991). Here's a list of some of the ones that have made the rounds most recently, all of them within this decade. The only one I remember hearing is the one about Lou Reed.

Rap star Eminem. In December 2000 news reports claimed that he was the victim of a car crash.

Suzanne Shaw of the band Hear'Say. In May 2001 the BBC reported she had been found dead in her home.

Rock legend Lou Reed. In May 2001 numerous radio stations reported he had been found dead in his apartment. Cause of death: Drug overdose.

Justin Timberlake and Britney Spears. In June 2001 a Los Angeles radio station reported that the couple had died together in a car crash (just like Eminem). It was a really bad year death-wise for Britney Spears because in October her death was reported again. Once more it was an automobile accident that did her in. In this second case a twenty-two-year-old hacker named Tim Fries managed to make it appear as if the report of her death was on CNN's website, thus adding far more credibility to the story.

Jackass star Johnny Knoxville. A notice on the internet claimed he had died "while being filmed parachuting from a biplane whilst eating a catering sized tub of Heinz baked beans, when his parachute failed to open."

Athlete Carl Lewis. In July 2003 he was reported to have been killed in a bicycle accident. The fake report was actually written by a biking enthusiast to draw attention to an abutment in a Houston park that he considered dangerous.

Michael Jackson. Supposedly committed suicide in April 2004 by "consuming more than two-dozen sleeping pills," according to an internet report.

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. A fake news story (disguised as a page from the Guardian) reported the passing of the Iron Lady. As a tribute to her, Stephen Hawking was supposedly going to speak in her voice.

Napoleon Dynamite star Jon Heder. An email rumor claimed he crashed and died while driving to Oregon. It partially read: "John Heder, lead role in Napoleon Dynamite, died of head injuries after undergoing a highway car accident two days ago. He was riding in the passenger seat on his way to Salem, Oregon with his friend Mike McHill when the driver supposedly saw a deer run in front of the car. Mike overcorrected and drove off a steep ten foot embankment after rolling three or four times."

Actor John Goodman. An obituary that circulated by email in January 2005 claimed he had collapsed from a heart attack.

American Idol anti-hero William Hung. The source of his false death report was a faux-news piece on the site Broken Newz. He was said to have OD'd from heroin, leaving a suicide note that read: "I have no reason of living... my art which is my importance to the best everybody laugh to... I make end here... goodbye world of cruel."

Actor Will Ferrell. An obituary uploaded to the wire service iNewswire in March 2006 claimed that the comedian had died in a paragliding accident "after a freak wind gush basically blew Ferrell and his companion towards a wooded area where they lost control before crashing into dense foilage."
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All of these come from Museum of Hoaxes. I was directed there, while following a story about Jaleel "Urkel" White commiting suicide earlier this year. My favorite part is the suicide note that ends "Did I Do That?"

The site also had this pic of the Bin Laden family on vacation. Unfortunately those bitches killed my link, so instead, you get this bit of news.

Though I would have preferred my prediction of Will "1st Black President" Smith taking the oath of office in 2020, I will most definitely be keeping a close eye on this man.

Overshadowed by all the weather news today, he's just announced a Presidential exploratory committee, which means he's just a step away from making it official.

Does he stand a chance? He's got better odds than Hilary. If he gets the nomination, his main obstacle would probably be that duplicitous fence straddling back stabbing liar in sheep's clothing named John McCain.

2008 is gonna be ugly. I can't wait.