A List Of Things Thrown Five Minutes Ago

SOON WE'LL BE MAKING ANOTHER RUN: In a real stunner, the S.S. United States, whose fading, rusting hulk has sat on Philadelphia's waterfront since 1996, has been purchased by Norwegian Cruise Lines. NCL plans to refurbish the glamorous steamship and restore it to its full majesty as an active member of its fleet.





Things to know about the S.S. United States:

--It still holds the record for the fastest Atlantic Ocean crossing -- three days, 10 hours and 42 minutes.

--The ship measures 990 feet long, and is the longest passenger vessel ever built in the United States. It's bigger than any battleship, and is 110 feet longer than the puny RMS Titanic.

--The SS United States' $79 million construction cost was heavily underwritten by the federal government. After the wartime success of Britain's Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, as troop transports, the Navy wanted a superliner of their own that could be easily converted to troopship duty. The United States was constructed so that in just one day, she could be converted into a troop transport capable of carrying over 15,000 men,and could steam non-stop anywhere in the world in less than 10 days. Wow.

--The United States made 400 transatlantic crossings before being pushed aside by jet travel in 1969.

--Famous folks loved sailing on the SSUS. See these pictures of a young Charlton Heston with his son, Marlon Brando chillin' with Salvador Dali, Bob Hope dining with Alfred Hitchcock, and many, many more.

Here are some fabulous pictures of the boat during its sailing days. Here's the menu had you been dining on board on September 1, 1967. The S.S. United States Foundation, dedicated to preserving the ship, can tell you even more.

Go ahead: take a tour.