Country singer Naomi Judd’s real first name is Diana. Her daughter Wynonna’s real first name is Christina (and she spent years using her father’s last name, Ciminella, before adopting her mother’s last name, Judd).
“Dirty Diana”, a Michael Jackson song about a maliciously seductive fan, was a 1988 single from the Bad album, featuring guitarist Steve Stevens. It reached #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
Diana Dors, the British “bombshell” analogous to the USA’s Jayne Mansfield, was married for a time to Richard Dawson of Family Feud fame. (The couple had already divorced by the time Dawson got the hosting gig.)
At least two different Hollywood actresses best known as bombshells have married or been engaged to pitchers for the Los Angeles Angels - Mamie Van Doren was engaged to Bo Belinsky, and Tawny Kitaen married Chuck Finley.
Insurance magnate Charles O. Finley, the man who moved the Kansas City Athletics to Oakland, California, once made a mule named “Charlie O.” the mascot of the team. For a little while, he had relief pitchers ride the mule from the bullpen to the pitcher’s mound.
Charles Nelson Reilly earned a Tony nomination for originating the role of Cornelius Hackl in the Broadway version of Hello, Dolly! Michael Crawford played the movie role.
In the new Looney Tunes Show, they have Merrie Melodies in which one of the ‘toons does a funny song. Lola Bunny did one about her favorite holiday of the year, Presidents’ Day. But after mentioning Lincoln, Washington and Jefferson, nearly everyone else she mentions is a pop culture figure who didn’t actually become president. (Alec Baldwin’s the first one she mentions).
According to the song, “[President] Charles Nelson Reilly won the war, with the help of his mighty Vice President, Thor!”
Two men have been named Vice President of the United States under the terms of the 25th Amendment, Gerald Ford in 1973 and then his own Vice President, Nelson Rockefeller, the next year.
The phrase “to turn a blind eye” comes from an incident involving Lord Nelson. During the Battle of Copenhagen, Nelson’s superior signalled to him that he had discretion to withdraw from battle. Nelson held the telescope to his blind eye and announced “I really cannot see the signal,” and proceeded to attack.
Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark. The Nazis invaded their northern neighbor in 1940, and it happened so quickly Denmark didn’t even have time to declare war. Sixteen Danish soldiers died in the invasion, but the Danish government surrendered after two hours, knowing it was completely overmatched.
King Christian X remained in Denmark as Head of State, and the American and British governments quickly moved to defend Greenland and prevent Germany from gaining a foothold there, so close to not only Iceland, but North America.
Lois Lowry wrote a fantastic children’s novel, Number the Stars, talking about a child’s experience growing up during the German occupation of Denmark. (I read it in elementary school. Highly recommended even for adults.)
[nevermind]
The flag of Denmark, Dannebrog, is the oldest state flag in the world still in use by an independent nation. It was adopted in 1219.
The British Union Jack appears on the state flag of Hawaii.
Hawaii is the only US state that grows coffee.
The group Cream quite appropriately released The Coffee Song.
The colors of Indiana University, Bloomington campus, are cream and crimson. The Hoosiers basketball team are five-time national champions.
Indiana Jones’ real name is Henry Jones Jr.
The Civil War monument in downtown Indianapolis, capital of Indiana, is the largest in the country.
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.'s great-grandfather Clemens Vonnegut, Sr. was the founder of the Vonnegut Hardware Company, an Indianapolis institution.
Indianapolis and Oklahoma City are the only two US state capitals whose names incorporate the names of their states. Both names also mix languages of origin.