Was anyone else here watching the Kerry speech on CNN? After the speech, it was time to drop the balloons and the balloons clearly didn't work. CNN for some strange reason was broadcasting the voice of the convention's Balloon Master or whoever desperately begging his minions to release the balloons. "More balloons! More balloons! Jesus! What are you guys doing? Where are the balloons?"

Anyway..another Friday, another head-hurtful passel of unsurprising-but-true facterines. Put on your Quizzing Ties (the summer ones please -- the ones printed with the little wombats sipping lemonade):

In 1935, the one-eyed pilot Wiley Post, who had previously made a solo flight around the world, died when the plane he was piloting crashed near Point Barrow, Alaska. He was flying with a single passenger, who was also killed. According to newspapers, Post and his companion were on an “aerial vacation.” Post had planned to fly as far as Moscow, but his passenger was undecided about accompanying him farther than Nome. President Roosevelt was immediately informed about the accident.

Who was the passenger?

First correct answer posted to comments wins a package of Mock Ramen noodles (made with textured vegetable pseudoramen). No Googling or mewing over and over until all right, all right, I’ll throw your goddamned catnip mouse already. One guess per comment, please, but comment as often as you’d like.