When last I posted, I was going to be away “for a few days.” Well, it’s been more than a few – and I still odn’t have time for more than a quick post to say “Sorry! My life has become horribly busy. I hope to get back to posting some day!”
10 Facts About Women with the Initials “L.L.”
December 6, 2012
Other entertainment DC Comics, drama, Laura Linney, Lene Lovich, Lois Land, Loretta Lynn, Lotte Lenya, Lucy Lawless, superheroes, Superman, TV 10 Comments
1. There are a lot of them in comics involving Superman: his girl friend Lois Lane; Lois’s sister, Lucy Lane; his high school sweetheart Lana Lang; his college romance Lori Lemaris; his Kryptonian affair, Lyla Lerrol; his cousin Supergirl’s secret identity, Linda Lee; his Kryptonian mother’s maiden name, Lara Lor-Van; and that’s only scratching the surface. 
2. The tabloids would be much quieter without Lindsay Lohan. More
10 Facts About Former Child Star Paul Petersen
December 5, 2012
Other entertainment, Television child stars, comedy, Donna Reed, Paul Petersen, TV 1 Comment
1. Born September 23, 1945, Paul Petersen started out at age ten as a Mousketeer on The Mickey Mouse Club. (He was fired – by Disney himself – apparently for punching a casting director who kept calling him “mouse.”) 
2. He gained much more attention playing Donna Reed’s son, Jeff, from 1958-1966 on The Donna Reed Show. More
10 Facts About the Great Chicago Fire
December 4, 2012
History Chicago, disasters, fire, Great Chicago Fire 1 Comment
1. The Great Chicago Fire started around 9:00 p.m. October 8, 1871 and burned through the morning of October 10, 1871. 
2. The exact death toll attributable to the fire is not known; 125 bodies were recovered but about 200-300 are estimated to have perished. Some 100,000 of the city’s 300,000 people were left homeless. More
10 Facts About Madame Fatal
December 3, 2012
Comics Crack Comics, crossdressing, DC Comics, Madame Fatal, Quality Comics, transvestite 1 Comment
1. Madame Fatal holds the distinction of being the first male cross-dressing hero in comics. (Mainstream comics, at least.) 
2. She first appeared in Quality Comics’ Crack Comics #1 (May, 1940). More
10 Facts About Grampa Simpson of “The Simpsons”
December 1, 2012
Television animation, cartoon, comedy, Grampa, Simpsons, TV 6 Comments
1. Grampa Simpson’s real name is Abraham J. Simpson. (What does the J stand for? Dunno. And I doubt if Grampa does either.) 
2. He is a veteran of both World War I and World War II. (Don’t ask how. This is a cartoon.) More
10 Facts About “Summer and Smoke” by Tennessee Williams
November 30, 2012
Theatre Broadway, drama, Geraldine Page, off-Broadway, play, Tennessee Williams 1 Comment
Geraldine Page backstage during the off-Broadway run of “Summer and Smoke”
1. The play was originally produced on Broadway in 1948, where it had a disappointing run of 102 performances. (Hey, that’s 102 more performances than anything I’ve ever written!)
2. The play was more successful in a 1952 off-Broadway production which ran more than 350 performances; this production is often credited with starting the modern off-Broadway movement. (For which I say, “Thank you very much.”) More
10 Facts About the Tin Man of Oz
November 29, 2012
Books fairytales, land of Oz, Oz, Tin Man, Tin Woodman 12 Comments
1. Although the movie The Wizard of Oz refers to him as the Tin Man, his official name (in the Oz book series) is the Tin Woodman. (Names are important, people!) 
2. Oh, and the Tin Woodman’s “real” name is Nick Chopper. More
10 Facts About (and Recipes Using) Pomegranates
November 28, 2012
Health fruit, pomegranate, recipes 4 Comments
1. Also called a Chinese apple, the pomegranate is a basically round fruit, usually of a deep red color, with a funny little crown at the top. (All hail King Pomegranate!) (Want some roasted sweet potatoes with pomegranate glaze? Go here.)
2. Pomegranate means “seeded apple.” (Hell, takes the poetry out of the name, that does.) (Try an eggplant-lentil stew with pomegranate molasses here.) More
palisadespete 