There are books that are good and books that are bad. Then you have the delightfully atrocious English As She Is Spoke — a book that is so bad that it is […]
The Best Disqualification for Political Office
“The desire to be a politician should bar you for life from ever being one.” — Billy Connolly
Long Life vs Getting Old
A Playful Peek at the Loyalty of JFK’s Private Secretary
Evelyn Lincoln served as John F. Kennedy’s private secretary from his election to the Senate in 1953 until his death. He quickly learned to value her unwavering loyalty.
A Street Sweeper or a Prime Minister
Winston Churchill noticed his wife had spent an inordinate amount of time in conversation with a street sweeper. Curious about the encounter, he asked Clementine, “What did you talk about for so […]
Bob Hope Explains the Benefit of a Two-Party System
“No one party can fool all of the people all of the time; that’s why we have two parties.” — Bob Hope
Have You Met the Queen?
For all of the pomp and majesty surrounding her long life, Queen Elizabeth II had a keen wit and a wonderful sense of humor. Since her life was so carefully choreographed, these […]
Lincoln and the Dubious Honor
There are things that most people think would be glorious to achieve, but they think differently when they get the opportunity to experience them. Near the top of that list is the […]
Making the Most of Paused Ambitions
Benjamin was forced to pause his career plans. If there’s one thing he hated, it was that pause. Like so many young men, he was ambitious, and he was certain he knew […]
The Simple Reason LBJ Was Not Well Liked
Few political figures are more divisive than President Lyndon B. Johnson. In the eyes of some, he was a great champion of civil rights, an advocate for the poor, and a liberal […]
When Yes or No Aren’t Enough
The legendary showman Florenz Ziegfeld was well known for his constant and frantic use of the telephone and telegram. He would often send his performers telegrams after watching their work from the […]
Groucho Marx and the Cover of Time
When Groucho Marx’s face appeared on the front cover of the December 31, 1951, issue of Time magazine, he sat down and composed the following letter to the magazine’s publisher.
Why the Only Triple-Landlocked State Has Its Own Navy
If you are the boss, be careful who you leave in charge when you leave town. You might come home to find some big changes have taken place in your absence. That’s […]
This School’s Most Famous Student Never Existed
Georgia Institute of Technology is a research university based in Atlanta, Georgia. Since its establishment in 1885, Georgia Tech has awarded degrees to tens of thousands of students. None of them have […]
Overheard at the Convention of Cool-Talking Chemists
What can we say? Even cool-talking chemists learn to just say no to any offer of sodium hypobromite.