If you have figured out how to derive the meaning of a sentence containing nothing other than eight uses of the word “buffalo,” then roll up your sleeves and tackle this beauty: […]
It’s your lucky day! Just in time for your birthday party, a beautiful circular cake has been delivered to your house. It promises to be just as pleasing to the tastebuds as […]
Imagine you walking along a path. You reach a fork in the road. Each of the divergent paths is blocked by a guard. A sign tells you that one path leads to […]
The Unexpected Hanging Paradox — also known by various names such as the Surprise Examination and the Surprise Drill — has stumped the most brilliant of thinkers. It has been debated in […]
For those of us who have yet to memorize our multiplication tables, the concept of someone doing math for fun is as paradoxical as putting pineapple on pizza. Even so, Leigh Mercer […]
Let’s assume you are a person of unmatched intelligence. You know every detail of all the obscure realms of human knowledge. On top of that, you have reflexes that are second to […]
Tongue-twisters are phrases designed to trip up even the most skilled orator. As we already reported in an earlier article, “Pad kid poured curd pulled cod” is said by speech experts to […]
One of the best ways to prevent mental decline is to take some time every day to exercise your brain. As a public service, Commonplace Fun Facts offers you this opportunity to […]
The delightful book Littlewood’s Miscellany by John Edensor Littlewood contains a snippet that will cause brain cramps if you contemplate it for very long: It notes that in a writing competition in […]
If you have read the nearly 2,000 articles published in Commonplace Fun Facts over the past 7 years, we think you should qualify for an advanced degree. Unfortunately, the accreditation agencies are […]
For those who enjoy challenging brain teasers, there is one that has challenged the sharpest of minds for over 1,000 years. Known as the River Crossing Puzzle, it first appeared in the […]
The television game show Let’s Make a Deal hit the airwaves in 1962. One of the most popular features of the program involved the host, Monty Hall, giving the contestant the option […]
Assuming you are a person of reasonable intelligence, (actually, since you are a reader of Commonplace Fun Facts, we assume you are a person of extraordinary intelligence), what would you make of […]
In 1970, the world was asked the question, “How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?” The question was posed in an animated […]
Watching one’s weight is especially important during the holiday season. Lots of fad diets and dietary products promise miraculous results but ultimately prove to be mere illusions. There is, however, one illusion […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 