“I don’t deserve this award, but I have arthritis, and I don’t deserve that, either.” — Jack Benny Read about unusual awards. Read more funny quotes.
Awards and Arthritis
Don’t List These Awards on Your Resume, Pt. 2
There are occasions when an award or prize should not be proudly embraced by the recipient. These tongue-in-cheek “honors” supplement the ones listed in this article, highlighting developments in these areas in […]
Don’t List These Awards on Your Resume
In a world that cherishes personal achievement, there are some awards you probably don’t want to have associated with your name. Here are just a few: The Diagram Prize is awarded each […]
No Awards for Presidential Grammar
H.L. Mencken did not hide his dislike of President Warren G. Harding. He especially loathed Harding’s mangling of the English language and called such utterings “Gamalielese”, in honor of the President’s middle […]
You Will Be Surprised At the Words Invented By Presidents
In a slight departure from normalcy, the premise of this article may sound a little iffy, but we certainly don’t want to encourage a bunch of muckrakers or squatters by sugarcoating or […]
Beware of Falling Cows
As a public service, Commonplace Fun Facts has warned its readers about many of life’s hazards. The dangers of vending machines, overflowing submarine toilets, and spontaneously-combusting pants have been well documented in […]
Rebrand of Suicide Bridge To Promote Life Surprisingly Backfires
The beautiful Han River is one of the primary geographic features of Seoul, South Korea. Spanning the river to connect the Mapo and Yeongdeungpo districts is a majestic bridge that has been […]
Is the Risk Worth the Reward? Understanding Micromorts and Microlives
When considering whether to do something, do you ever consider the risks? If you knew that one activity would certainly bring an immediate end to your life, you probably would not be […]
Contemplate the Variegated Cancerous Concoctions of the Asphyxiating Snare in the Escalating Venality of a 19-Year-Long Court Case
Charles Dickens’ novel Bleak House introduced the world to the never-ending legal saga of Jarndyce and Jarndyce. In Dickens’ uniquely-descriptive words: Jarndyce and Jarndyce drones on. This scarecrow of a suit has, […]
How a Boy With a Kite Helped Bridge Two Nations
On March 8, 1855, history was made when a 23-ton railroad engine crossed over the Niagara River on the world’s first working railway suspension bridge. The bridge was an engineering marvel, spanning […]
Odd Titles Make Riveting Reading and Draw Diagram Prizes
It is true that you can’t judge a book by its cover. It’s also true that the title of a book does not tell the whole story. Sometimes, however, the title tells […]
Learn How Two Grandparents Hacked the Lottery and Made Millions
Despite all the advertisements telling us about the lavish lifestyle that comes to the winners of the lottery, most of us know that buying lottery tickets is just a less efficient means […]
How One Man Changed the Public’s Mind About the Tomato
It is difficult to overstate the contribution of tomatoes to our culinary culture. Imagine how poorer we would be without pizza, marinara sauce, salsa, or any of the countless dishes that rely […]
Cube-Shaped Wombat Poop and Other Scientific Breakthroughs
We at Commonplace Fun Facts are big fans of the Ig Nobel Prize and its mission to “first make people laugh, then make them think.” The list of 2019 laureates touched on […]
5 Minutes For An Oscar
It may take years to hone the acting skills necessary to win an academy award, but in terms of screen time, a few minutes will do it. In 1977, Beatrice Straight won […]
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