Ludwig Roselius was not at all happy. He paid good money to have his shipment sent to Europe, but when it arrived, it was ruined. He looked at the spoiled shipment and […]
How a Spoiled Shipment Transformed a Popular Beverage
Commonplace Fun Facts
France Declares Right to Avoid Office Parties
This is the holiday season — a time for gathering with friends, family, and co-workers for delightful celebrations that bring us all closer together and inject fun into our lives. Unless you […]
The Surprising Legacy of the Man Who Betrayed Al Capone
In the world of organized crime, there were few more respected and feared than Easy Eddie. His intellect, business savvy, and ruthlessness made him a natural for Chicago’s underworld crime syndicate. Anyone […]
Mary Stuart, the Queen of Golf
Unless you are a true golf aficionado, you may not recognize Mary Stuart’s name. If this is the first you are hearing about her, that’s unfortunate. As far as the sport concerned, […]
The Christmas When Charlie Got Stuck in the Snow
It’s funny how things that seem so ordinary to us can be extraordinary for others. For most of us, having a car ride end with being stuck in the snow would register […]
Scotland’s Problem With Christmas
If you are looking for a traditional Christmas, Scotland has just about everything you could want. A deep reverence and emphasis on faith provide the religious elements. The pristine, snowy Highlands offer […]
Try the Seafood Dish That Is Both Dead and Alive
Physicists are familiar with the concept of Schrödinger’s Cat — a creature that can be described as being simultaneously dead and alive. Most of us can relate to having been served undercooked […]
When the Earth Was Hit By a Solar Storm of 10 Billion Nukes
On the morning of September 1, 1859, amateur astronomer Richard Carrington pointed his telescope at the sun. He immediately noticed some unusual activity. A cluster of massive dark spots marred the sun’s […]
How Sony Accidentally Created a Camera That Could See Through Clothing
When tech giant Sony released its Handycam camcorder in 1998, it boasted that it had the most innovative features to date. The camera’s night vision technology was so advanced that company executives […]
How the World Learned About the Theft of All of the U.S. Treasury’s Gold and Silver
It was the biggest crime in the history of the United States. Possibly, it was the greatest heist pulled off anywhere on the planet. The fact that it could occur was beyond […]
The First Turkey Pardoned By a President
The U.S. Constitution gives the President virtually unlimited authority to grant pardons to anyone facing federal charges. Except for William Henry Harrison and James Garfield, all of the nation’s chief executives have […]
Happy Thanksgiving!
Skye, the Commonplace Fun Facts Canine Consultant and Top Dog speaks for all of us by expressing thanks for all of the Lord’s blessings this year. We are thankful for each of […]
Fun Google Tricks To Ward Off Boredom
The Commonplace Fun Facts Department of Data, Analytics, Viewer Demographics, and User Engagement (otherwise known as DAVDAUE — yeah, we know. We’re working on a better name) tells us that a significant […]
How the U.S. Nearly Created a $1 Trillion Coin
Regardless of whether you are a coin collector, you probably would be interested in any currency with a big number on it. It might be something comparatively worthless, such as Zimbabwe’s $100 […]
John Wayne on Life’s Gray Areas
“If everything isn’t black and white, I say, ‘Why the hell not?’” — John Wayne
Commonplace Fun Facts 