There’s nothing unique about disputed territory. It is one of the most common causes of war. When two nations cannot agree on who holds the right to possess a piece of real […]
Welcome to the Land Wanted By No Nation
The Famous Ship That Was Named By Mistake
One of the most magnificent passenger liners of the 20th century was the RMS Queen Mary. Its name became synonymous with luxury travel. Its name was also a mistake.
Mary Stuart, the Queen of Golf
Unless you are a true golf aficionado, you may not recognize Mary Stuart’s name. If this is the first you are hearing about her, that’s unfortunate. As far as the sport concerned, […]
The Christmas When Charlie Got Stuck in the Snow
It’s funny how things that seem so ordinary to us can be extraordinary for others. For most of us, having a car ride end with being stuck in the snow would register […]
How a 10th-Century Viking King Is Responsible for Technology You Use Today
Perhaps you are wearing wireless earbuds at the moment. You might have your phone paired with your watch. You could be using a wireless mouse, keyboard, or speakers. In short, there’s a […]
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 […]
A Royal Round of Queenly Quizzes
For the past week and a half, the world’s attention has been on the events leading up to the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. In her honor, we present this queenly […]
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 […]
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 […]
Rest in Peace, Queen Elizabeth II
The staff of Commonplace Fun Facts extends its deepest sympathy to our British readers on the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. The United Kingdom is the second largest source of […]
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 […]
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 […]
How a King Who Lost His Edge Gained Fame By Encouraging Waste
The King had lost his edge. There was no sense denying it. The loss of his edge cut deeply, and it was obvious to anyone who knew him. He started off with […]
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 […]
Human Memory Began on Thursday, July 6, 1189
“Time immemorial.” That’s the term we use to describe anything that has been around for so long that no one knows when it started. It is older than human memory. It refers […]
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