The phrase was made popular by the 2006 film Lucky Number Slevin, but variations of it seem to have been around for centuries. Regardless of its origins, there is some truth in […]
If Someone Calls You a Horse
The White House Speechwriter Who Refused to be Fired
To be fair, Peter had a demanding boss. Few people were harder to please than President Lyndon B. Johnson. The temperamental president was quick to find fault with anyone at any time. […]
The Brilliant Plan to Sell Wallpaper Cleaner to Children
Wallpaper cleaner and children. The only apparent connection between the two is that the more you have of the latter, the more likely you will need the former. With appropriate supervision, you […]
Major Bambi, USMC
Let’s just acknowledge something right off the bat: there’s nothing unmanly about liking the Disney movie Bambi. While we’re on the subject, we don’t think anything less of anyone who gets emotional […]
The Competitive Brother and the Housemate
Art came from a competitive family. The firstborn of seven brothers, he bore everyone’s expectations to excel in life, but he was going to have to work at it if he was […]
Fated to Die on the Toilet
When they found Michael Godwin, he was already dead. He was also on the toilet. We mention the location of his demise because it is relevant to this story, not because we […]
The Kidnapping That Gave Birth to a Legend
You may wonder why three teenage girls were allowed to go off on such a dangerous outing in the first place. In retrospect, it’s easy to say that was a mistake, but […]
The Supreme Court Justice Who Almost Single-Handedly Decided a Presidential Election
If you want to become President of the United States, you have to campaign for it. You have to be popular. You have to earn votes. Lots of them. Seriously…. You need […]
One of America’s Most Beloved Patriotic Songs Once Promised Death to a Founding Father
One of the earliest and best-known patriotic songs of the United States is “Yankee Doodle.” Learned by every school child and sung every Independence Day, the song is a rich reminder of […]
The Simple Reason LBJ Was Not Well Liked
Few political figures are more divisive than President Lyndon B. Johnson. In the eyes of some, he was a great champion of civil rights, an advocate for the poor, and a liberal […]
The President Who Was Impeached For Talking Too Much
Presidents give speeches. We take that for granted. Suggesting that a President should refrain from public speaking is about as inconceivable as imagining that a President would choose to live in a […]
When Yes or No Aren’t Enough
The legendary showman Florenz Ziegfeld was well known for his constant and frantic use of the telephone and telegram. He would often send his performers telegrams after watching their work from the […]
Groucho Marx and the Cover of Time
When Groucho Marx’s face appeared on the front cover of the December 31, 1951, issue of Time magazine, he sat down and composed the following letter to the magazine’s publisher.
Was The Location of This School The Most Important Decision of the 20th Century?
The decision before the board of trustees was important, and each of its members knew it. They understood that their vote would affect the future of the institution. Did any of them […]
A Flea and a Fly In a Flue
It’s a beautiful day, and the Commonplace Fun Facts writing staff has been promised a brief furlough from the dungeon once today’s article is complete. With that motivation, we present a limerick […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 