The Secret Service agent who studied the currency thought it was a joke. He was looking at a dollar bill that had been used at a cigar store, and it was clearly […]
The Successful Career of the World’s Worst Counterfeiter
Rabbits: The Terror of Australia
Rabbits are so cute and cuddly that it is hard to imagine the word “terror” being associated with them. (NOTE: This would be news to Napoleon and Jimmy Carter, each of whom […]
Shakespeare’s Role in a Real-Life Birdemic
No one who has ever watched Birdemic: Shock and Terror would ever equate the name of William Shakespeare with the movie. The film, widely regarded as one of the worst movies ever made, […]
The True Story of Chicken-Powered Nuclear Landmines
The history of the Cold War is replete with technological marvels that were the fruit of the arms race. There are also some stunning examples of inventions that really make you stop […]
The Geographic Knowledge of Britney Spears
An earlier Commonplace post noted that the music of Britney Spears is one of the most effective deterrents to Somali pirates. Lest that be construed as some kind of derogatory judgment on […]
Nutmeg: the Deadly Drug Hidden in Your Spice Cabinet
It just wouldn’t be Christmas without nutmeg. The tasty spice found in virtually every kitchen adds just the right zing to pumpkin pie, eggnog, mulled cider, wassail, and countless other holiday dishes. […]
The Most Fraudulent Election in History
In an era of allegations of improperly-influenced elections, fraud, and political corruption, it may be comforting to realize that things could be worse.
Weird and Wonderful Book Titles for Curious Collectors
You can’t judge a book by its cover — or its title. Even so, it goes without saying that the title goes a long way toward motivating the potential reader to pick […]
Striped Shirts: Better than Bullet-Proof Vests
In Natoma, Kansas, it is illegal to throw a knife at anyone wearing a striped shirt. Read about more stupid laws. Read fun facts about fashion.
The Motivation of the Wise and Foolish to Speak
“Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something.” — Plato Read more fun facts about philosophers. Read more fun facts about Greece.
Homicidal Horses, Predatory Pigs, Robber Rats: Trials and Executions of Animals in Medieval Courts
These pages have documented many unusual stories and facts relating to capital punishment. Regardless of your personal views on the subject, it probably goes without saying that you assume we are talking […]
Bad Handwriting Responsible for Up to 61% of Prescription Errors
It is a standing joke that physicians have horrible handwriting. It turns out this may not be such a laughing matter. A number of studies have found that sloppy handwriting is just […]
Social Security Records Show 6.5 Million Americans Over the Age of 112; Only 40 People In Entire World Alive at That Age
If you are interested in living well past the age of 100, there seems to be one sure-fire way to improve your chances: get a U.S. Social Security number. Although there are […]
Those Times When Planetary Alingments Messed With Earth’s Gravity
When the respected astronomer announced that gravity’s effects would be briefly suspended, it got everyone’s attention. People who are accustomed to taking action in response to severe thunderstorm warnings, approaching blizzards, or […]
The Worst Structural Failure in History Was Kept a Secret for 30 Years
When the Hindenburg exploded in 1937, killing 36 people, it made headlines around the world and earned a lasting place in history. Titanic’s sinking, causing the death of more than 1,500 people […]
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