Commonplace Facts

Does the Thought of Cricket Bread Bug You?

Looking for a little extra something to liven up your breakfast toast? You might try Fazar bakery’s Better Bread. What makes it better? According to …

20 Quirks and Strange Habits — The Weird Side of Famous Writers

Readers of this site will not be surprised that famous writers have their own niche in the realm of eccentricity. Whether it be their unusual jobs, …

Did Dr. Doom Help Design the Atomic Bomb?

Readers of Marvel Comics know that the nefarious Dr. Doom will go to any lengths in his power-hungry desire to conquer the world. It is worth taking …

A Fungus Among Us Is the Largest Living Thing On the Planet

When it comes to the holder of the title of “World’s Largest Living Thing,” it’s a cinch that it must be the blue whale, right? Wrong.<p>The actual …

Do You Think You Know the Tallest Mountain? You Are Probably Wrong

When asked to identify the tallest mountain on the planet, most people readily name Mount Everest. Most people are wrong. The holder of that …

When You Don’t Look Enough Like Yourself

The great film star and comedian Charlie Chaplin once entered a “Charlie Chaplin Look-Alike Contest,” thinking it would be a great joke. The joke was …

Don’t be a Flipperförälder

We’ve all seen them. They tend to show up at supermarkets, airports, and movie theaters, and they make life miserable for everyone else. I’m …

Rhymes With Orange

It is commonly said that no word in the English language rhymes with <i>orange.</i> This amuses the people in Wales who live near the hill named …

Think Napoleon was Short? Think Again

Whenever the name Napoleon Bonaparte is mentioned, it inevitably brings up images of a short man, laboring under the psychological burden of his …

Meet the Artist of the Underwater Crop Circles

Scientists were long baffled by the appearance of beautiful, intricate underwater artwork that resembled crop circles. These phenomena appeared up to …

This Royal Custom Was a Real Slap in the Face

Who hasn’t heard of some unpopular government action and entertained a stray thought about slapping the person who was responsible? In ancient …

Salute the Flag and Duck for Cover

The Island of Recycled Opportunity

If you are looking to own your own tropical island, you can expect to pay a lot of money, or your can do what Richard Sowa did: build your own.<p>Joyxee …

The Time Virginia Woolf Scammed the British Navy

The pride and joy of the British Navy was the HMS <i>Dreadnought</i>, its most powerful battleship. That’s why, despite the last-minute notice, the ship’s …

20 Years of Parking Forgetfulness

Who hasn’t gotten sidetracked while shopping and forgot exactly where the car was parked? Some of us try to avoid that problem by parking in the same …

Forget “An Arm and a Leg” — Here’s The Really Expensive Stuff

We refer to something outlandishly expensive as “costing an arm and a leg.” Perhaps a better comparison would be the cost of a unit of blood. The …

The Wright Brothers Fly to the Moon

The first airplane flight covered a mere 852 feet, but a part of that plane ultimately flew nearly half a million miles.<p>When Neil Armstrong and his …

Learn This Word Before Your Next Visit to a Pet Store

Have you ever been at a loss to describe your feelings when you see an utterly adorable kitten or a supremely-cuddly puppy?<p>If you lived in the …

Do You Confess to Being a Macroverbumsciolist?

If you were accused of being a macroverbumsciolist, how would you plead?<p>If you answered without knowing what the word means, you probably should have …

The Accidental Invasions of Liechtenstein

Switzerland has a long-standing tradition of neutrality and rarely gets involved in military confrontation. It may, therefore, surprise you to learn …

The Great Tootsie Roll Battle of the Korean War

On Veteran’s Day we honor and celebrate those who have served their country in the armed forces. These individuals are known for bravery, …

Nothing Says, “I Love You” Like Your Husband’s Severed Head in a Bag

Sir Walter Raleigh’s life came to an end on October 29, 1618. On orders from James I, the executioner took Raleigh’s head from his shoulders …

Great Strategy. Bad Geography.

When it came to big names in the Viking community, Hastein was certainly a rising star. This 9th century chieftain made his name with raids in the …

Making coffee is fraught with danger since my adult kids got in on the act

My kitchen feels like a branch of Starbucks, full of twentysomethings slumped around, sipping my French roast from giant cups<p>Coffee drinking is one of those habits that signifies adulthood, the flat white, cappuccino or espresso clutched in your hand a marker of being a grownup at last. So, now …

The Second Round of the Hamilton/Burr Duel

One of the most famous rivalries in history was between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. It culminated in a duel between the two men, resulting in …

Finally, An Automated Laundry Folding Machine For Home

This is the Foldimate, an automatic laundry folding machine that can "fold, steam, sanitize, soften and even perfume" your laundry so you don't have …

Doctor Who Dalek fired after calling bosses 'c***s' in coded magazine article

The man had worked as a Dalek operator for 12 years, but will not be returning to the show.<p>A BBC employee has been sacked after he wrote an insulting …

A Look Inside the Subterreanean City Beneath Kansas City, Missouri

There is more to Kansas City, Missouri than what you see on the surface. In fact, 10% of its industrial real estate is underground. Situated atop …

How did Pirates Keep the United States from Going Metric?

Of all the countries in the world, only the United States, Burma, and Liberia have not adopted the International System of Units, more commonly known …