What is the difference between a real word and a made-up word? OK, admittedly all words are made-up. We should probably ask what it takes to transform a newly manufactured word into […]
The Quest to Add Orbisculate to the Dictionary
France Declares Right to Avoid Office Parties
This is the holiday season — a time for gathering with friends, family, and co-workers for delightful celebrations that bring us all closer together and inject fun into our lives. Unless you […]
Scotland’s Problem With Christmas
If you are looking for a traditional Christmas, Scotland has just about everything you could want. A deep reverence and emphasis on faith provide the religious elements. The pristine, snowy Highlands offer […]
Try the Seafood Dish That Is Both Dead and Alive
Physicists are familiar with the concept of Schrödinger’s Cat — a creature that can be described as being simultaneously dead and alive. Most of us can relate to having been served undercooked […]
The First Turkey Pardoned By a President
The U.S. Constitution gives the President virtually unlimited authority to grant pardons to anyone facing federal charges. Except for William Henry Harrison and James Garfield, all of the nation’s chief executives have […]
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 Fast-Food Phenomenon Was Started As a Service to Servicemen
The soldiers at Fort Huachuca had a problem. Their duties frequently had them traveling off base at meal times, and it was hard to get a good meal.
The Song Played for the Loneliest Birthday on the Planet
Birthdays and parties go together. It is a time of celebration for the one who is having a birthday, as well as his or her friends and family. At some point during […]
Why Does Silence Fall Across South Korea For a Day Each Year?
Today’s article is courtesy of one of our newest favorite reads, Tour the Globe. This blog is filled with intriguing geographical facts and will open your eyes to places you didn’t even […]
How One Man Owns All of a Country’s Bread for One Week
Some people like bread. I mean they really like it. They can consume several loaves a day and still want more. Some may even dream about buying all the bread in the […]
How to Recognize a Logical Fallacy – Part 2
Is it Kitty-Corner or Catty-Corner?
Suppose a friend asks you for directions to the nearest coffee shop. Your friend knows how to get to the grocery store on the corner of Main Street and Oak Avenue. You […]
Why Hanson Gregory is Remembered for Inventing Nothing
When you get to the end of your days, the last thing you want to hear is the solemn proclamation that you were responsible for nothing. You would likely defend yourself against […]
The Ancient Egyptian Job That Earned Hatred If Done Right
Anyone who has ever watched a movie that features a mummy knows that running away from the mummy is what people invariably do. That’s how it is in science fiction, anyway. It […]
Wigging Out on British Legal Customs
If you enjoy watching television programs that deal with the law, you have a good idea of what a courtroom looks like. It’s relatively easy to spot the lawyers, due to their […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 