Jennifer Bray-Weber's Blog, page 21
October 31, 2017
October 27, 2017
Friday Fun Facts- Strange Deaths of “Freaks”
I’ve always heard about freak shows but have never been to one. I actually don’t think I’d want to go because they seem a little sad to me. I could be way off base. IDK[image error]
Not only were these people called freaks when they were alive, but freaky things happened to them in death. Read and see-
Edouard Beaupre was a giant at 8’3″. He died at 23 of a pulmonary hemorrhage. His cause of death wasn’t unusual given his size. The circus, where he performed, had his body taken to a mortuary to be embalmed, but balked at the high price of shipping his body home. [image error] He convinced the family to let him be buried in St. Louis where they were for The Louisiana Purchase Exposition. (The family didn’t go to the funeral.) Instead of paying the mortuary, the guy skipped town and left Edouard to fate. They put his body in a storefront window for a while, but it caused too much traffic. His body was sold 2 more times! It went to a museum and then a circus where he was stored in a barn after the circus went bankrupt. A doctor then bought him, mummified him, and put him on display for 85 years. Finally, a nephew in 1975 petitioned the university to get his uncle back. It wasn’t until July 7, 1990 that he was cremated and buried with dignity.
Chang and Eng were “Siamese” twins born in Thailand (Siam). A Scottish merchant saw them while there and was amazed at how fast they could swim and move being conjoined. He paid a large amount of money to the family for adoption. He immediately put them in on the sideshow circuit. They did very well! Eventually, they settled in North Carolina, made a lot of money in business, married sisters, and fathered 21 children. [image error] The Civil War stripped them of a lot of their wealth and Chang drank heavily. They did not share a circulatory system so Eng did not have the same drinking issues. But on Jan. 17, 1874, Eng woke up to find his brother dead from a cerebral blood clot. Terrified, he called doctors to do an emergency separation, but it was too late. He died 3 hours later. Some think it was mainly due to the shock of losing his brother.
Grady Stiles was an evil, mean man and got more so the more he drank. He also had fingers that looked more like lobster claws and his feet and legs were also deformed. Even so, he had a good career at the shows, married and had a daughter. On the eve of his daughter’s wedding, he and the groom to be were at a party. Grady was drinking and he murdered the fellow in cold blood. He was found guilty but Grady played on the courts using his disability. Instead of life or an execution, he got 15 years on parole. [image error] He never showed remorse and bragged about how he got away with murder. The abuse of those around him got so bad, his wife paid $1500 to another performer to assassinate him! He took 3 bullets to the head while watching TV.
Betty Lou Williams was born in Georgia 1932. She was the youngest of 12 children, but the only one born with 4 legs and an extra arm. The parasitic twin’s head was lodged inside her torso. Her parents put her on the circuit by the time she was 2. she made a lot of money and managed to put all of her siblings through college and bought her parents a house. She, obviously, was very generous! [image error] Betty Lou was also a beauty and never had problems dating despite her deformity. She fell madly, passionately in love with a man and they were engaged to be married. Unfortunately, she found out that he did not really love her, he liked her for her ability to bring in a ton of money. The revelation triggered a massive asthma attack which she died from, but her family insists she died from a broken heart. TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK…………[image error]
October 25, 2017
Hump Day Kick Start – Snarling Creature Edition
Hump Day Kick Start – for your muse, a writing picture prompt, or ju st a visual treat.
Last Halloween prompt of the month and it’s a doozy!
Set this up. Has there been a rash of disappearances in town? Pets missing or livestock mutilated? Scratching at the back door? Who is this creature after? Could a loved one have been bitten by a wild dog? Maybe this is the friendly neighborhood grocer by day who is a cursed hunter by night. What if the family who just moved in is finding out the house is a portal to hell. Is this a mom/wife/girlfriend now severely upset about the sink full of dirty dishes?
What’s your take? I’d love to hear it. Or just caption the pic.
October 24, 2017
Link of the Week – The Grinch
We’ve all heard of the Dr. Suess classic How The Grinch Who Stole Christmas. But did you know there was Grinchy Halloween story, too?
For your viewing pleasure: Halloween is Grinch Night.
Enjoy!
October 18, 2017
Hump Day Kick Start – Writing Prompt #19
Writing prompts to kick-start your muse.
This brings back memories of a movie which causes me an irrational fear of corn fields and red-headed teenage boys named Malachai. *shivers*
As we march into mid-October, here is your 3rd creepy prompt of the month. What is the warning? Are the kids armed and dangerous with sickles, butcher knives, dead cats, or the ability to catch you on fire? Psychotic flesh eaters who like games of hide and seek? Are they white-haired, murderous psychics? Devil children who crab-walk or are watched over by rottweiler dogs? Do they play with possessed, blood-lusting toys? Is it prom night? Do they want you to sit through episodes of Dora, Elmo, or Barney?
I’m creeping myself out! Share your ideas and/or post your creations, even if it’s just a line or two. I’d love to hear them.
October 17, 2017
Link Of The Week-EVAN Your IT Guy!!!
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Holy cow! I am so glad I found this week’s link! It is something every writer, every small business owner needs.
https://www.evanyouritguy.com/
How many times have you found your computer running slow, acting funny, not talking to your printer, not able to access email, and on and on and on……. I have found the solution!
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EVAN is a network of IT professionals ready to provide on-demand help with your computer needs.
SECURITY
EVAN’s top priority is to provide peace of mind to its customers.
RELIABILITY
EVAN is always available, 24/7.
TRANSPARENCY
Honesty and openness are at the top of our list. Nothing to hide, ever.
SPEED
The faster we fix it, the faster our customers can get back to work.
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October 11, 2017
Hump Day Kick Start – The Path Edition
Hump Day Kick Start – for your muse, a writing picture prompt, or ju st a visual treat.
Continuing on the Halloween theme, here is the second creepy prompt for the month.
Would you walk down this path? What’s going on here? What’s at the end of the trail? Is it worth getting to the other side? Is someone lost, trying to get back to a road and civilization? Are these hungry zombies? Restless, murderous demonic creatures from the past? Children of the corn all grown up? *shivers* Has someone neglected to mow their yard, trapping wayward delivery drivers and solicitors?
What’s your take? I’d love to hear it. Or just caption the pic.
October 10, 2017
Link of the Week – St. Elmo’s Fire
[image error]How about a fun little mix of science and history for this week’s link? Here’s a post I wrote for History Undressed on St. Elmo’s Fire—the weather phenomenon, not the coming-of-age movie starring the Brat Pack. Check out why superstitious sailors not afraid of the hissing blue sparks shooting off masts.
http://www.historyundressed.com/2017/10/st-elmos-fire-phenomenon-at-sea.html
October 6, 2017
Friday Fun Facts- Knives
French gangsters in the early 1900s used a weapon that functioned as a revolver, a knife, and brass knuckles.[image error]
In 2000, a Mexican woman successfully performed a C-section on herself with a kitchen knife and 3 glasses of hard liquor, while her husband was drinking at a bar.
King Tutankhamun’s dagger was made of meteoric iron.[image error]
A sharp knife actually causes less cuts. Since you don’t have to push down as hard, there’s less of a chance you let the blade slip.
There’s no such thing as true stainless steel.
Over 34,000 Swiss Army knives are made everyday![image error]
There are many places that end with “sex” in their name. (Sussex, Middlesex etc.) It comes from the Old English word seax meaning knife. Sexsmith used to be a common last name- meaning one who made knives.
The most expensive knife is called “The Gem of The Orient”. It sold for $2.1 Million!! In total, it has 153 emeralds (10 carats) and nine diamonds (5 carats). The weight of the gold in the knife is 28 ounces. It took ten years to produce such knife.[image error]
The Russians make knives out of sapphires with bone handles. It doesn’t show up on any metal detectors.[image error]
There is a knife (the WASP knife) that once inside the victim, forces over 800 psi of CO2 inside the victim, creating a basketball sized air pocket and freezing the surrounding internal organs. [image error]
October 4, 2017
Hump Day Kick Start – Writing Prompt #18
Writing prompts to kick-start your muse.
I love October. It’s that spooky time of year to get our freak on decorating with pumpkins, witches, cats, and skeletons. We parade around in our devil horns demanding pumpkin spice lattes like zombies. *shivers* We watch horror movies and Halloween flicks. We revel in the unexplained, the mysterious, the downright scary. We celebrate death with whimsical costumes and candy. Dude…we’re kinda morbid.
So to capitalize on the fun, I give you the first of creepy prompts. Who is she and who is she running from? The typical sorority girl and serial killer? Unarmed sheriff and the convict she recently put away? Weary traveler and deranged child with red hair and farmer coveralls? Does she attract unsavory spirits? What happens if she does? Do they terrorize her or protect her? Does she even get away with her life?
Share your ideas and/or post your creations, even if it’s just a line or two. I’d love to hear them.
