Who hasn’t misplaced something? We waste so much time looking for car keys, reading glasses, and the television remote. We turn over every seat cushion and look under the sofa, only to […]
How a Seat Cushion Caused the U.S. to Lose a Nuclear Weapon
Commonplace Fun Facts
Memorable Last Words of Famous People
Except for the person who has never spoken, everyone will utter his or her last words. Those words may be an expression of surprise, such as Julius Caesar’s famous, “Et tu, Brute?” […]
Mr. Accordion’s Revenge From the Grave
Oak Ridge Cemetery in Springfield, Illinois is not your typical graveyard. It receives visitors from all parts of the world who come to pay their respects at the final resting place of […]
Learning By Peeing On An Electric Fence
“There are three kinds of men: the ones that learn by readin’, the few who learn by observation; the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves.” — […]
How much will kill you?
The Oxford English Dictionary defines “poison” as “a substance that is capable of causing the illness or death of a living organism when introduced or absorbed.” At first glance, that seems to […]
Politics Makes Estranged Bedfellows
Kansas City native and humorist Goodman Ace summed up the divisiveness of certain types of discussion when he observed, “Politics makes estranged bedfellows.”
Which War Killed One-Sixth of the World’s Population?
If you had to list the deadliest military conflicts in human history, which would take the #1 spot? The easy answer is World War II. With some estimates placing the death toll […]
Political Power Increases But Rarely Lessens
George Bryan and John Smilie published a series of eight articles signed by “An Old Whig” from October 1787 to February 1788, expressing concern about the ratification of the newly-drafted Constitution of […]
Study Finds Poor Writing, Not Legalese, Makes Legal Documents Difficult
According to the Commonplace Fun Facts Legal Department, one of the first things they teach in law school is, “Never use one word where ten will suffice.” Actually, what they told us […]
How a 10th-Century Viking King Is Responsible for Technology You Use Today
Perhaps you are wearing wireless earbuds at the moment. You might have your phone paired with your watch. You could be using a wireless mouse, keyboard, or speakers. In short, there’s a […]
Lincoln Shows How to Respect Opponents
For those of us who live in one of the most divisive periods in history, we would do well to follow the example of Abraham Lincoln. He is rightly remembered as the […]
How a Fart Started a Revolution
Possibly you have found yourself hastily vacating a room because of someone’s gaseous emissions. Maybe your plans to shop in a certain aisle of a store changed after catching a whiff of […]
What Was the Deadliest Fart in History?
Yes, we’re sure you have horror stories about an obnoxious and flatulent brother who habitually lets one rip as soon as the family is packed into the car. You might have experienced […]
That Time the USA Accidentally Launched a Missile at Mexico
Even the best-intentioned friend can make a mistake. If you borrow your buddy’s car and accidentally scratch the paint, it’s embarrassing. If in your excitement at a ball game, you wave your […]
Lucy’s Advice for Staying Young
“The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age.” — Lucille Ball
Commonplace Fun Facts 