Mark Twain was at the height of his popularity when he received a request to dramatize Tom Sawyer. The director of a theater company asked the author’s permission to use his name […]
Mark Twain’s Thoughts On Turning Tom Sawyer Into a Play
Lincoln Shows How to Respect Opponents
For those of us who live in one of the most divisive periods in history, we would do well to follow the example of Abraham Lincoln. He is rightly remembered as the […]
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 […]
Fairies Intervene to Keep Churchill Humble
“When Winston [Churchill] was born, lots of fairies swooped down on his cradle with gifts–imagination, eloquence, industry, ability–and then came a fairy who said ‘No one person has a right to so […]
Depression, Tragedy, Suicidal Thoughts, and the Man Who Overcame Them
He had so many nicknames and titles throughout his life that we’ll just call him G.E. for now. His name isn’t nearly as important as his symptoms. It doesn’t take a psychiatrist […]
How to Recognize a Logical Fallacy – Part 2
The Secret Royal Lineage of a Weird, Awkward Boy
At the time of this writing, the world’s attention is on the events surrounding the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the ascendency of King Charles III to the throne. One can’t […]
The Girl Responsible for History’s Most Famous Beard
Abraham Lincoln is one of the most-recognized figures in history. If you ask anyone to describe him, inevitably you will hear that he was tall, wore a stovepipe hat, and had a […]
Healthy Humor Makes a Happy White House Marriage
Some of the couples who have lived in the White House have had what could charitably be described as “political marriages.” Husband and wife are united primarily by a shared desire for […]
Deceptive Appearances By World-Changing Giants
One of the earliest lessons we are supposed to learn is not to judge a person by appearance. The most impressive-looking individual may never amount to anything. At the same time, a […]
The Horrible Five-Week Visit That Destroyed a Friendship
It shouldn’t have been surprising that Chuck and John struck up a friendship. After all, the two men had a lot in common. They shared many of the same interests, a common […]
The Unexpected Hero Found in an Unmarked Grave
He was known to be a hooligan. Technically, he was a “Hooligan” with a capital H. Known by the locals as Happy Hooligan, Fred was one of the more colorful characters of […]
The Face Behind the Most-Famous Self Portrait
Take a close look at the face of the man in the picture above. Do you recognize him? Look again. You have seen his face more times than you can count, but […]
How a Young Actor Rose Above Dirty Tricks
The young actor was excited to learn he had been cast alongside a Hollywood legend. He was still trying to find his place in the entertainment world. Appearing next to one of […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 