Ian Fleming died today – 43 years ago

Scottish writer Ian Fleming was born on May 28, 1908 in Mayfair, London, England. He wrote the... yes, you know it... the James Bond novels. He said, “You can get far in North America with laconic grunts. "Huh," "hun," and "hi!" in their various modulations, together with "sure," "guess so," "that so?" and "nuts!" will meet almost any contingency.” [Think about it.]... Mr. Fleming died in 1964 in Canterbury, Kent, England.

U.S. writer, poet, and satirist James Russell Lowell was born on February 22, 1819 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He said, “A weed is no more than a flower in disguise, Which is seen through at once, if love give a man eyes.” [One person’s weed is another person’s flower – or something like that.]... Mr. Lowell died in 1891 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

U.S. composer John Cage was born as John Milton Cage Jr. on September 5, 1912 in Los Angeles, California. He said, “It is better to make a piece of music than to perform one, better to perform one than to listen to one, better to listen to one than to misuse it as a means of distraction, entertainment, or acquisition of ‘culture.'” [Then is it better to misuse it than not to use it at all?]... Mr. Cage died in 1992 in New York City, New York.

German writer and novelist Thomas Mann was born on June 6, 1875 in Lübeck, Germany. He said, “A great truth is a truth whose opposite is also a truth.” [Oh, please!]... Mr. Mann died in 1955 in Zürich, Switzerland.

U.S. actor Henry Fonda was born as Henry Jaynes Fonda on May 16, 1905 in Grand Island, Nebraska. He said, “I've been close to Bette Davis for thirty-eight years - and I have the cigarette burns to prove it.” [She was feisty.]... Mr. Fonda died in 1982 in Los Angeles, California.

U.S. actress Loretta Young was born on January 6, 1913 in Salt Lake City, Utah. She said, “If you want a place in the sun, you have to expect a few blisters." {2} [I guess I can settle for a few MILD ones.]... Ms. Young died in 2000 in Los Angeles, California.