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 […]
Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité… and Trousers
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 […]
The Surprising Legacy of the Man Who Betrayed Al Capone
In the world of organized crime, there were few more respected and feared than Easy Eddie. His intellect, business savvy, and ruthlessness made him a natural for Chicago’s underworld crime syndicate. Anyone […]
How the World Learned About the Theft of All of the U.S. Treasury’s Gold and Silver
It was the biggest crime in the history of the United States. Possibly, it was the greatest heist pulled off anywhere on the planet. The fact that it could occur was beyond […]
Does Pink Purposefully Prevent Prisoners From Pummeling People?
When you see the color pink, you might think about any number of things: the panther nemesis of Inspector Clouseau, Floyd’s first name, the last name of Clara Oswald’s boyfriend in Doctor […]
The Seven Convicts Who Launched a Revolution
As symbols of revolutions go, they aren’t the most inspiring examples. For one thing, they were all criminals. Yes, it is true that all would-be revolutionaries are criminals in the eyes of […]
It is Illegal to Sell Infants in Pennsylvania
The Commonplace Fun Facts Legal Department tells us that laws are supposed to be reasonable. Apparently, this concept doesn’t apply to legal advice, however. That one sentence generated a bill for $362.11.
North Carolina Prohibits Attending a Meeting in Costume
Let’s face it — meetings can be tedious. Anything that can introduce a measure of entertainment or levity is generally welcome. Consider the most tedious meeting that you have attended in the […]
Colorado’s Constitution Requires Voters to Approve Nuclear Explosions
It’s probably safe to say that you wouldn’t want a nuclear explosion in your backyard. All things being equal, you likely would prefer that your neighborhood remain free of nuclear fallout. Would […]
The Perils of Pilfering From a President
The young man tried to be quiet as he rifled through the contents of the dresser drawer. He was desperate for funds to pay his way back to college. That desperation drove […]
Fugitive Charlie’s Fearful Flight
Charlie was a fugitive. He had been running for a long time. It felt as if everyone had turned against him. He was at one of the lowest points of his life. […]
The President With a Lead Foot
Imagine the police officer’s surprise. Washington, D.C. Officer William West was on routine patrol on M Street when he saw a vehicle approaching at a dangerously fast speed. He conducted what he […]
Did This Man Murder Himself?
The taking of human life is a tragedy. The circumstances under which it happens make a big difference in how we view that tragedy. When a person takes his or her own […]
The Real-Life Story of Agatha Christie’s Greatest Unsolved Mystery
Agatha Christie’s name is synonymous with mysteries. The author of such classics as Murder on the Orient Express, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, and Death on the Nile, her novels have sold […]
How Did a Guy Live in a Mall for Four Years?
“[It is a] room that a person can only enter when they have real need of it. Sometimes it is there and sometimes it is not, but when it appears, it is […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 