LOL! I never heard of the Santa Claus-Coca-Cola connection, so no worries on that account. I think most Americans know about Erikson & the Viking landings in the New World ... but maybe not.

I do appreciate the bit about Marilyn. I think you're absolutely spot on about how she died. She was overmedicated by her doctors who didn't communicate & Murray, who administered the drugs, probably rectally, which was indeed common then. It was at best medical malpractice, at worst manslaughter. Poor Marilyn, she deserved better.