There’s nothing unique about disputed territory. It is one of the most common causes of war. When two nations cannot agree on who holds the right to possess a piece of real […]
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Commonplace Fun Facts
Lincoln and the Disputed Legal Bill
During his legal career, Abraham Lincoln represented clients from diverse backgrounds. The wealthiest and most powerful of them was unquestionably the Illinois Central Railroad. Lincoln was sent to the White House in […]
Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité… and Trousers
Tourists visiting France soon learn that certain things can really irritate the natives. Daring to desecrate French bread with butter, speaking English, or mispronouncing a French word are just a few of […]
Tax Tips for the Law-Abiding Criminal
As the days lengthen, warm weather returns and the sublime signs of Spring show themselves all around us, our thoughts naturally turn to income tax season. If you are in the United […]
That Time a TV Host Apologized For a Bad Show
Game shows are not at all unique in the history of television. Neither is there any shortage of bad game shows. There is one bad game show, however, that deserves special attention. […]
Steve Allen Defines What is Funny
“In general, the straight line of a joke sets up a premise, an expectation. Then the funny ending – the punch line – in a sense contradicts the original assumption by refusing […]
Mark Twain’s Thoughts On Turning Tom Sawyer Into a Play
Mark Twain was at the height of his popularity when he received a request to dramatize Tom Sawyer. The director of a theater company asked the author’s permission to use his name […]
The Disaster That Haunted An Unlikely Hero
The weather couldn’t have been better for travel. As Charlie made his way home by train, neither he nor his fellow passengers had any clue that they were headed toward an unspeakable […]
America’s Lost War Against a Highly-Addictive Substance
Who could have anticipated the dire consequences of the pharmacist’s experiments? It started so innocently. Hippolyte Mège-Mouriès was participating in a challenge that was sanctioned by none other than Emperor Napoleon III. […]
How NOT to Get Around Word Limits
Many of our readers are students, preparing to return to school after Christmas break. They will undoubtedly encounter essay and research paper assignments with strict requirements concerning the number of words. For […]
When Comic Books Come to the Courtroom
It goes without saying that legal documents tend to be boring. If they were interesting, people would actually read the fine print before signing contracts and thereby eliminate the need for the […]
O Holy Night — Merry Christmas to All
Among the most beloved Christmas carols is “O Holy Night. It was written to commemorate the renovation of the church organ in Roquemaure, France. Town native Placide Cappeau wrote the lyrics in […]
The Famous Ship That Was Named By Mistake
One of the most magnificent passenger liners of the 20th century was the RMS Queen Mary. Its name became synonymous with luxury travel. Its name was also a mistake.
The Quest to Add Orbisculate to the Dictionary
What is the difference between a real word and a made-up word? OK, admittedly all words are made-up. We should probably ask what it takes to transform a newly manufactured word into […]
The $2.5 Million Worst Super Bowl Commercial Ever
For those who watch the Super Bowl, commercials are often more enjoyable than the game. Advertisers spend good money and dedicate a significant part of the year to developing memorable 30-second Super […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 