Did You Know?…Noir Edition
Elephants make friends, bury their dead, and travel for funerals.
LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
OJ Simpson, whenever he earns money, insists on being paid in cash, so he doesn’t have to pay the $58 million in damages awarded to the victim’s families who won a civil suit against him for the murders, of Nicole and Ron.
Beneath Manhattan’s Washington Square Park built in 1871 over the city’s Potter’s Field, 20,000 bodies are buried, mostly dead from the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1795. For ID purposes, they’d wrap you in a yellow blanket, so still on occasion, a Con Edison worker will find a shred of yellow, peeking from down below.
Anything left in remembrance at the Vietnam Wall, in Washington D.C., gets collected and archived, be it a Flag, Teddy bear or note from the grandchild he never knew.
Writers, W. H. Auden (66), Brendan Behan, age (41), Truman Capote (59), Raymond Chandler (70), F. Scott Fitzgerald (44), Patricia Highsmith (74), Jack Kerouac (47), Sinclair Lewis (65), Carson McCullers (50), O’Henry (47), Dorothy Parker (73), Edger Allan Poe (40), Dylan Thomas (39) and James Thurber (66), all died from the effects of alcoholism.
During William Tecumseh Sherman’s famous March to the Sea, his men mangled all the railroad tracks, coined Sherman’s neckties, so the starving south couldn’t get their food.
In 1961, when the U.S. had a new glamorous First Lady, Gucci named a handbag after her called, The Jackie, becoming an instant bestseller, tripling in worth, after her death.
The late, great Carrie Fisher, often worked as a script doctor on other writer’s screenplays, including Steven Spielberg’s Hook, and Sister Act, starring Whoopi Goldberg.
Some still think, Walt Disney, who in 1966, at 65, died of lung cancer, was freeze dried in liquid nitrogen to be preserved till they found a cure, though there is no documentary evidence to be true. What is well documented, is what a first class prick the father of Donald, Goofy, Micky and Minnie was.
What Joe Biden, Carol Burnett, Vanessa Bryant, Johnny Carson, Eric Clapton, Judy Collins, Jerry Lewis, Abraham Lincoln, Loretta Lynn, Mary Tyler Moore, Paul Newman, Sylvester Stallone, Mike Tyson and Gloria Vanderbilt have in common is, they all suffered the loss of children.
John F. Kennedy was the only U.S. President to receive a Purple Heart.
In 1948, when Babe Ruth died of cancer at 53, his two day wake was held at Yankee Stadium, where 100,000 fans came to pay their last respects
if she walks, we walk…and they did, and a stirring sight it was.
This entry was posted in alcohol, animals, Culture, Family, History, humanity, humor, inspiration, New York City, Politics, violence, war, words, writing and tagged American History, Famous people laid to rest, Films by Ken Burns, Knowledge, Trivia. Bookmark the permalink.
Jackie was an amazing first lady in more ways than one … or two or three. As for the A-holes that agree to pay OJ in cash, knowing the reason for the request, I have no words, only disgust.
Another enjoyable post, Susannah, as always.
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It’s funny when you read, what stays with you, what sticks to your bones if you will. They pile up like a plump, historical annuity. I’m always touched that you still read me Skinny, after all this time. 🙂
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I always enjoy your stunning lists.
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Thank you Anne.
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Really amazing info, very interesting.
~Hal Rubenstein from my iPhone
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Trivia, with an edge. 🙂
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You know I love these historical tidbits of information. I was sure Trump weighed more than that… mind you, he’s still working on it. 😏
So many good pieces, I can’t choose my favourite. But I’ll say, keep ’em coming!
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I love the mangled railroad tracks, even with the pain they caused. What a great name.
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Me too. Makes for a beautiful picture
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BY THE WAY…Saw your picture on FFs. David had sent me a link. Nice Rochelle profits from you eye as well.
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Ah yes. Rochelle regularly snags one of mine. Oh! I haven’t read all the FF stories yet. Didn’t see David’s. Must go read his. They are always so good
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He’s so sweet. He did my new banner for me. No one noticed it, but it’s the third one he’s done. Very generous, talented fella. Yes, his essay is quirky, complimenting your photo that looks like food porn, to quote Anthony Bourdain. 🙂
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I actually did notice! (Coz I don’t go through the Reader so I see it) but forgot to tell you. I like it.
He is lovely
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Yeah, he really is. He helps me so much, you have no idea. He’s a prince, that David. 🙂
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Always nice to have a prince at hand! 😊
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He was my very first reader, way back when. We’ve become good cyber friends. He’s kinder to me than those I’ve known for years. A mystery of sorts.
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I so understand how some cyber friendships grow and become closer than those we have known for years. I have made a few.
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I see that..Marco, John. To your credit. 🙂
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Both of whom, I met through Frank; you, through Marc. Rochelle through Sarah whom I met through an Irish group I somehow ended up in. The circles are interesting.
No credit on my part.
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Cyber life. A mystery. 🙃
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An interesting one. 🙂
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i saw your face on Twitter via John. It made me smile, how you illuminated the page. 🙂
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What a sweet thing to say (rather to disconcerting to see my.face flash like that!) Selfie taken during for an on-line photo class where we had to manipulate the photo. I kinda liked it, so I kept it 😊
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I liked it.
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Thanks. I usually hate selfies 😉
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It took Ken Burns five years to produce his epic doc on the Civil War, which was longer than the actual war. The historian Shelby Foote wrote to Burns during this time and reminded him that “God is the greatest dramatist”. Burn cleaned up various parts of the doc after this, allowing for history to use its own voice.
As per Trump, so what you’re saying is that when he calls himself “Huge” he means it literally . . .
I didn’t know that about the Vietnam Wall.
And “if she walks, we walk . .”. is a lesson we might have been wise to learn from.
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I love that they conquered any fear you know they had to feel. And, that they all came for her. De Gualle in particular, adored Jackie Kennedy. Said she knew more French history than any French woman he knew. They actually flew in blood in case he was shot, because his blood type was so rare, yet…he still walked. sigh
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What passes for courage and principle these days bears little resemblance to that. Sadly.
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I know. She’ll never fail to impress me. I think of her every morning when I pass her old building. I l gaze to the 15th Floor thinking I’ll see her there, drinking a cup of coffee. Every morning.
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Me either.
And yanno, I do the same stuff? Whenever I visit NYC, I always imagine I’m going to see JFK Jr walking along, as he was wont to do when he had to think.
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Kennedy sightings are as frequent as seeing Elvis, in his white suit.
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Much more preferable, no offense to Elvis.
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Thank ya vera much, for insultin the King.
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I realize I’m a hound dog for doing such a thing. But I’m willing to do the jailhouse rock just the same.
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Well if you’re all shook up Mr. Imma, then just return to sender,
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We’re caught in a trap, we can’t walk out . . .
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Oh, you and your suspicious mind. GEESH!
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Well played.
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Google gets the credit.
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For the win!
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It kind of says something about the men who have risen to the Presidency that only one of them ever received a Purple Heart.
If Donald Trump only weighs 243 pounds, I’m a 110 pound ballerina.
I’ve always loved the hypocrisy of Republicans trying to hijack Born in the USA for their campaigns. Or is it just ignorance that they don’t know what the song is about.
And finally, what a shame that they bulldozed over their Potter’s Field.
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So few people know that was a Potter’s Field. They half don’t believe me. And as far as you you being a ballerina, well…I could see that Mark. You’re graceful, light on your feet. 🙂
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Pfffftttt….
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You’re a man of few words, unless you’re writing of course. 🙂
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Speaking of writing …
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Yes???
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Ssssh … writer at work.
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Okay…sssh
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A super post, Susannah. I still tear up remembering the sight of Jackie, Robert, and Teddy all walking behind the cortege. It was an unbelievable scene broadcast live. I don’t think there was anyone watching who didn’t need a pound of tissue. I know I did.
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I know John, I cried, writing it. She was only 34 years-old. I mean…WOW!!!
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I always love your history and trivia pieces. Can you imagine how unsettling it must be to be construction or utility worker and come across a piece of cloth from a centuries old disease victim? They must have stories.
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If it were me, I’d be thrilled, my girl ghoul coming out, but yes, I’m sure his lunch hour might have been detained or even skipped that day.
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