Some people face hardships, concede that they are inevitable, and deal with them. Others can see the same difficulties and be pummeled into defeat or paralyzed into inaction. Then we have the […]
How a $40 Overdue Fine Created Netflix
How a Stolen Election Propelled LBJ to the White House
A hotly-contested election. Polling data says the outcome is too close to predict. As the polls close, one of the candidates seems to have won. Shortly thereafter, votes are “discovered” for the […]
From Baseball to Fire and Brimstone — How Billy Sunday Transformed American Evangelism
He seemed to be born for baseball. William Ashley “Billy” Sunday was born on November 19, 1862. Seven years later, the first professional baseball team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, was founded. Billy […]
The Hymn Writer and the President
Frances and Stephen were unlikely friends. For one thing, she was seventeen years his senior. Beyond the obvious difference in their ages, the two could not have been more different.
How a Chef’s Flash of Inspiration Created the Nachos
Ignacio was faced with a dilemma. Like all other chefs, he was always looking for novel dishes that would draw new customers. Rarely did he have to come up with something new […]
How a 20th-Century Doctor Treated Patients By Sticking an Ice Pick Into Their Brains Through Their Eyes
“It isn’t brain surgery.” We use the phrase to describe simple tasks that anyone should be able to do. The unstated assumption behind this is that brain surgery is far from simple […]
Oofty Goofty — The Man Who Made a Living Getting Beat Up
To be successful, you need to find something you do well and get people to pay you to do it. As demonstrated by a fellow known as Oofty Goofty, it’s possible to […]
When The World’s Great Authors Formed a Cricket Team
What do literary giants do when they aren’t writing history’s greatest books? There’s no better way to stave off a case of writer’s block than to play a rousing game of cricket. […]
How Many People Were Killed in the Gladiator Games?
When you think about gladiators, what comes to mind? Perhaps you think of movies such as Spartacus, Ben-Hur, or Gladiator. Most of us have some awareness of the fact that gladiator games […]
Who Would Want to Be the Shepherd of the Royal Anus?
What is the weirdest job you could list on your resume? It probably doesn’t hold a candle to “Shepherd of the Royal Anus.” Despite what you may think, having that job was […]
The First Driver to Exceed 100 km/h and His Freaky Prediction About His Death
It seems that every week brings reports of new advancements with electric vehicles. It’s easy to think electric cars are a new phenomenon, but they are nearly as old as the automobile, […]
Your New Word for the Day: Catchfart
If you are in need of a proven conversation starter, try to use the word catchfart at your next social gathering.
The Hopeless Tale of Lazy and Unruly Students
Harry and Francis were not cut out to be scholars. It’s not that they were stupid — far from it. They simply were not the type of students who fit within the […]
Scottish New Year Puts First Foot Forward with Quaaltagh
“Quaaltagh” sounds like a word from the Klingon language. It’s origin is much closer to home, however.
Why A Boat in the Detroit River Has Its Own ZIP Code
If you send many Christmas cards, this is the time of year when several are returned to you because of an out-of-date address. In the United States, the average person moves 11.7 […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 