Commonplace Fun Facts

Colorblindness: What It Is, What It Isn’t, and Why Your Charts Are the Problem

Explore colorblindness: what it is, common myths, causes, everyday challenges, and surprising advantages in this humorous, informative guide.

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April 4, 2026April 4, 2026

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NASA Knows it Needs an Official Nose

When you contemplate all the skills involved in sending someone into space, you think about math, physics, rocketry, and orbital dynamics. Odds are that you didn’t spend a lot of time thinking about the importance of how things smell. NASA believes it makes a lot of sense to think about a lot of scents. That’s…
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Real Life Romance for the Voices of Mickey and Minnie

When Russi Taylor visited Disneyland as a young girl, she met Walt Disney. She thought that was the pinnacle of any experience any fan of the Magic Kingdom could ever have. As it turned out, it was only the beginning of a life — and love — connected to Disney’s creations.
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The Colorful Connection Between Television and Black and White Dreams

Think of the most vivid dream you can remember. Was it in color? If so, there’s a good chance you did not spend much of your childhood sitting in front of a black-and-white television set.
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The Letter J Was the Last Letter Added to the Alphabet

The letter J, often regarded as the last letter added to the alphabet, was actually the 26th added. Gian Giorgio Trissino advocated for its distinction from “I” in 1524, suggesting “J” represent the “j” sound. His proposal influenced modern usage, allowing names like Julie and Jason to start with “J.”
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The Reign of Terror of the Nazi Guillotine

Few images are more closely associated with France and its Reign of Terror than the guillotine. The horrifying execution device seems to be a relic of the past that faded away with the close of the 18th century. As already documented here, France continued to use the guillotine up to 1977. What may be just…
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Do You Need Your Own Growlery?

Have you ever found yourself in a bad mood and wished you had a place where you could go to get away from everyone? Perhaps you live with someone who is prone to occasional bouts of stinkin’ thinkin’, and you have longed for somewhere to send that disagreeable person until there is a change of…
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Mark Your Calendar for “What If Dogs and Cats Had Opposable Thumbs Day”

Have you ever wondered what would happen if dogs and cats had opposable thumbs? If so, there is a special day for you to take your imagination to even higher levels. If the thought has never crossed your mind, it can be a day for you to consider the staggering possibilities for the first time.…
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The U.S. Navy Uses Xbox 360 Controllers on its Submarines

At $2.6 billion, you would think there is nothing cheap about the Virginia-class submarines of the U.S. Navy. The massive subs are 114.9 meters (377 feet) long and displace 7,800 tons of water. They are armed with four 21-inch torpedo tubes, and two Virginia Payload Tubes, capable of holding 6 Tomahawk missiles each, for a…
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You Might LOL About the PM Who Received the First OMG

Winston Churchill (1874-1965) lived long before the smartphone but was a pioneer in the use of mobile communications lingo. More than a century ago, he was the recipient of the first recorded use of “OMG” in a message. Lord John Arbuthnot Fisher was a retired English naval admiral. He wrote to Churchill on September 9,…
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The Armless Wonder Who Rose Above Her Circumstances

By just about every standard of society, no one should have heard about Kathryn M.R. Smith (1882-1967). Horribly disfigured at the hands of an abusive alcoholic father, the girl who went by the name Kittie wasn’t necessarily lucky to even be alive. One of her neighbors was heard to say that she would be better…
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Cher Ami: The Heroic Pigeon of WWI Who Saved Nearly 200 Lives

Learn about Cher Ami, the heroic pigeon who saved 200 people during World War I.
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The $1 Million Coin Heist: The Creation, Theft, and Mysterious Disappearance of the Big Maple Leaf

Discover the incredible story of the $1 million Big Maple Leaf coin—the largest gold coin ever minted. Learn about its creation, daring coin heist from Germany’s Bode Museum, and why it may never be found again!
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Rabies — 100% Fatal and 100% Preventable

Learn about rabies — a disease that has a 100% fatality rate but is completely preventable.
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How a Missed Train Saved a Life and Changed a Nation

John was running late, and the timing could not be worse for him. He was preparing for the biggest meeting of his life. It was a meeting with one of the most important men in the country, and the outcome would decide the fate of his fledgling business. Already on a very tight schedule, it…
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The Time Politicians Messed With Time to Prevent Anyone Messing With Time

There have been situations where politicians have thought themselves capable of legislating against nature itself, such as the time Indiana considered changing the value of pi, or the Norwegian town where it is illegal to die. There have also been those instances where political antics have pretended that time had stopped, such as the day…
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