Miracles! Premonitions! [View all]
Just a slight but somewhat related diversion from Atheism on a holiday weekend. For some reason, here lately I keep getting hit in the face with psychic/ESP/related woo stuff.
Including the eternal claim that while most psychics are frauds and grifters, Psychic X appears to be the Real Deal. Which really just tells me that Psychic X is a slightly better bullshitter and con artist than Psychics A thru W.
Anyhow, I was struck by the eerie experience of the New York fashion designer Richard Mangone. In May 1915, Mr. Mangone booked a transatlantic cruise to the UK, but cancelled at the last minute for unstated reasons. Which was very lucky for him, since he had booked passage on the Lusitania.
Hmm. Otherworldly premonition, or just one of those random Miracles From Gawd we always hear so much about?
Whatever it was, we have to wonder what happened some years later, when Mr. Mangone booked another trip. Naturally he chose the most modern, state-of-the-art, ultrasafe mode of transportation in the world. This time he was coming from Europe and bought himself a ticket on German airship LZ-129. Better known as the Hindenburg. He survived its famous crash in Lakehurst, NJ but was badly burned.
Insert theremin-sounding music soundtrack here...
Found this story in Erik Larson's great book "Dead Wake," about the Lusitania disaster.
= new reply since forum marked as read