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 Kidnapping That Gave Birth to a Legend
Commonplace Fun Facts
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 […]
Why the Only Triple-Landlocked State Has Its Own Navy
If you are the boss, be careful who you leave in charge when you leave town. You might come home to find some big changes have taken place in your absence. That’s […]
The Dangers of Celebrities Ignoring Their Fans
One of the problems with being a celebrity is having to deal with all the people who want to talk to you. Something as ordinary as dining out with a friend becomes […]
Taft’s Advice on How to Write
“Don’t write so that you can be understood, write so that you can’t be misunderstood.” — William Howard Taft
Jefferson’s Views on How Laws Should Be Written
“Laws are made for men of ordinary understanding and should, therefore, be construed by the ordinary rules of common sense. Their meaning is not to be sought for in metaphysical subtleties which […]
The Draconian Lawgiver Who Was Killed By His Popularity
The word “draconian” is used to describe laws or methods considered particularly harsh and unforgiving. It is not the way any politician would seek to be described — particularly if seeking the […]
This School’s Most Famous Student Never Existed
Georgia Institute of Technology is a research university based in Atlanta, Georgia. Since its establishment in 1885, Georgia Tech has awarded degrees to tens of thousands of students. None of them have […]
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