We’ve all thought about how we might go out. Do you want it to be in your sleep? In a car? Performing some heroic act? Well, the beautiful internet world of Wikipedia has been nice enough to compile a List of Unusual Deaths. You can access it here.

Here are some of my favorites:

458 BC: Aeschylus, greek playwright, was killed when an eagle dropped a live tortoise on him, mistaking his bald head for a stone. The tortoise survived

258: St Lawrence was executed by being burned or ‘grilled’ on a large metal gridiron at Rome. Images of him often show him holding the instrument of his execution. Legend says that he was so strong-willed that instead of giving in to the Romans and releasing information about the Church, at the point of death he exclaimed “Manduca, iam coctum est.” (”Eat, for it is well done.”) Dizzy Note: Now, that is a horrid death! And, you thought I was stubborn!

1410 Martin I of Aragon died from a lethal combination of indigestion and uncontrollable laughing

1771: King of Sweden, Adolf Frederick, died of digestion problems on February 12, 1771 after having consumed a meal consisting of lobster, caviar, sauerkraut, smoked herring and champagne, which was topped off with 14 servings of his favorite dessert: semla served in a bowl of hot milk.^[33] He is thus remembered by Swedish schoolchildren as “the king who ate himself to death.

And my favorite (drum roll please)……..

1868: Matthew Vassar, brewer and founder of Vassar College, died in mid-speech while delivering his farewell address to the College Board of Trustees

In the early 80’s MTV was born. Part of living out in the middle of no where is living so far out of the way that they (the cable company) won’t lay cable. My parents couldn’t afford a satellite dish. This is back in the day when dishes were the size of a small VW bug. I grew up without cable. I grew up without MTV. I feel like a sub-par Gen-Xer. A part of the pop-culture of my generation is completely lost to me. Do you remember the Pour Some Sugar on Me video by Def Leopard? No. I don’t.

Growing up as an non-MTV watcher solidified my life as a book reader who was not involved in the goings on of actors, musicians or (hold onto your seat) the Real World! For those of you that are younger, this was the social equivalent of not having access to MySpace or YouTube. Yes, I was a social outcast.

What is interesting is because I didn’t grow-up having these conversations or carrying about who was doing what with whom, I still don’t care. I’m horrible at actors’ names. I can’t tell you who directed what movie. I am not the person you want on your team during any kind of pop-culture quiz game (although my boyfriend definitely is). However, if you ever decide to play, guess that philosopher - I’m in!

I’m happy with who I am and what I do and don’t know… but sometimes… just sometimes…. I wish I could participate genuinely in the remember when conversation. Now, I can just YouTube old videos and pretend like I remember!

Where do I go to when I’m searching for new tunes, Pitchfork Media of course.  Full of great reviews, interesting articles and all things music.  Check it out, http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/

He said, “Yo”
with a south-side
queens style
gansta movement
that smuggled his
Columbian bred
Miami grown
roots. 

He said, “besarame”
with full mouth
latin lips
that moved in
seductive rhythm
tango-dancing force
that stuttered
my hips 

He said, “beautiful”
with grand canyon
Great Barrier Reef, awe
that would
move
Helen of Troy
to blush
war-torn red 

He said nothing
In such a thunderous
silence
that it ping-pong
echoed
in me
for days 

(c)  10/18/06

A Dizzle Original