It seems as a if clowns have been around forever, but there had to be a first. If you love clowns, you’ll want to know who to thank. If they terrify you, […]
Who Was the First Clown?
The Surprising Age of the Fax Machine
In this age of email, mobile telephones equipped with cameras, and high-speed internet, the fax machine seems comically antiquated. A popular meme shows two people on the phone. One of them asks […]
Why You Don’t Remember the Amazing Contributions of H.A. Largelamb
What do you know about the fantastic accomplishments of H.A. Largelamb? Don’t be so quick to say you never heard of him. Although you might not immediately recognize his name, you almost […]
That Time a Missile Successfully Struck a U.S. Military Base — and Why It Didn’t Start WWIII
It was during some of the scariest days of the Cold War that the submarine surfaced off the coast of the United States. On the submarine was the most powerful cruise missile […]
The Hated Inventor and the Dreaded Thing He Created
Adolphe must have been the most unfortunate boy ever. He was certainly the most accident-prone. His mother concluded that he was “condemned to misfortune” and concluded that “he won’t live.” It seemed […]
The Famous Captain Who Didn’t Do What He Was Famous For
There seems to be an awful lot of uncertainty and misinformation surrounding the Captain. The thing he is most remembered for is something he probably had nothing to do with. The big […]
Flush Your Finances Away With the Most Expensive Toilet Paper in the World
Among the many distressing aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic was a terrifying few weeks when civilization faced a global toilet paper shortage. Although not the first such scare, it was, for many, […]
Largest Rube Goldberg Machine Lights Up the Holidays
Cartoonist Rube Goldberg (1883-1970) achieved fame for his popular cartoons in which he depicted ridiculously complicated machines invented by Professor Lucifer Gorgonzola Butts. Devices of this sort are now known as Rube […]
No Bones About It — Evel Knievel Holds the Record For Most Breaks
Do you think life has handed you some tough breaks? Odds are that as bad as things get for you, you haven’t had as many tough breaks as Evel Knievel.
Fun and Surprising Facts About the Olympics
At this writing, the focus of the athletic world is in Tokyo for the 32nd Summer Olympic Games. While most of the attention will be on the winners of this year’s various […]
Historic Aviation Achievement Accomplished Without Pants
In the COVID era, when so many people worked from home, some embarrassing situations led to widespread warnings. Among the most notable was the caution that when you are in a Zoom […]
This Tree Is So Deadly That You Can’t Even Stand Near It Without Danger
Joyce Kilmer wrote, “I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree…” Kilmer intended to express the beauty and serenity embodied by trees. If Kilmer’s inspiration had […]
Was He Brilliant, Lucky, or Bonkers? The Eccentric Life of Lord Timothy Dexter
In the world of eccentrics, Lord Timothy Dexter stands in a class by himself. He made several fortunes through either the keenest business instincts in history or by the wildest strokes of […]
How Did Pepsi End Up With the 6th Largest Navy in the World?
In the never-ending battle for market share, Pepsi has consistently taken second place against its rival, Coca-Cola. Fortunately, the rivalry between the companies has been limited to commerce. Had it broken out […]
Learn About the Aviation Legend Who Became the First Person to Die in a Plane Crash
One of the most promising names in the new field of aviation was Thomas E. Selfridge. The fearless young man seemed to have a natural affinity for the amazing machines that could […]
