Jean Baptiste Point du Sable was a man without a home, a country, or a culture. He was an outsider everywhere he went. He simply wanted a chance to make a life […]
How a Man Without a Country Created a Quiet Place of Refuge
The Tree That Almost Caused a Second Korean War
Nations have fought wars over seemingly insignificant objects. There was the bloody war about a bucket, the revolution that began with a dispute about an unpaid wig, and the big kerfuffle over […]
The Tragic and Largely-Forgotten Story of the Worst Maritime Disaster in U.S. History
There is much about the worst maritime disaster in United States history that is counter-intuitive. For one thing, the story is largely forgotten. It has been overshadowed by events that were smaller […]
How a Seat Cushion Caused the U.S. to Lose a Nuclear Weapon
Who hasn’t misplaced something? We waste so much time looking for car keys, reading glasses, and the television remote. We turn over every seat cushion and look under the sofa, only to […]
Which War Killed One-Sixth of the World’s Population?
If you had to list the deadliest military conflicts in human history, which would take the #1 spot? The easy answer is World War II. With some estimates placing the death toll […]
How a Fart Started a Revolution
Possibly you have found yourself hastily vacating a room because of someone’s gaseous emissions. Maybe your plans to shop in a certain aisle of a store changed after catching a whiff of […]
What Was the Deadliest Fart in History?
Yes, we’re sure you have horror stories about an obnoxious and flatulent brother who habitually lets one rip as soon as the family is packed into the car. You might have experienced […]
That Time the USA Accidentally Launched a Missile at Mexico
Even the best-intentioned friend can make a mistake. If you borrow your buddy’s car and accidentally scratch the paint, it’s embarrassing. If in your excitement at a ball game, you wave your […]
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.
Which South American City Was Once the Capital of a European Nation?
A nation’s capital city is not only the seat of its government but is also a center of national pride. If a tourist can visit only one city, the capital is the […]
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 […]
Spies, Invisible Ink, Toenails, and Other Declassified CIA Secrets
Secret messages written with invisible ink. It sounds like something straight out of a James Bond movie where the fate of the world rests upon the contents of the clandestine communication. It […]
Boy Scouts Are Not Considered a Private Military Force in Connecticut
As we pointed out in this article you may be a member of the militia without knowing it. That being the case, it’s only natural to assume the same about a group […]
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 […]
How Much Do You Know About the Declaration of Independence?
The United States of America celebrates its birthday on July 4. That day marks the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the formal separation of the colonies from Great Britain. But […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 