The Great Fire of London (1666): Strange Facts Behind the Famous Disaster
The Great Fire of London wasn’t just a disaster—it was full of odd decisions and strange moments. Here are the quirkiest facts from 1666.
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The Secret to Energy Conservation at the World’s Most Secret Building
Read more: The Secret to Energy Conservation at the World’s Most Secret BuildingThe words “efficiency” and “government” rarely belong in the same sentence. There is one government entity that is an exception to the rule, and despite being a place known for its secrecy, it is more than willing to share this particular secret.
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The Day Someone Stole the Empire State Building
Read more: The Day Someone Stole the Empire State BuildingThe city of New York is certainly not a stranger to crime. Whether it is burglary, pickpocketing, vehicle theft or other like offenses, New York City experienced 371,880 incidents of property crime in 2012. Despite those impressive numbers, there was one crime that year that was truly unprecedented: the theft of one of the world’s…
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The 27th Letter and Why the Ampersand was Removed From the Alphabet
Read more: The 27th Letter and Why the Ampersand was Removed From the AlphabetAmpersand & Its Place in the Alphabet Every schoolchild knows there are 26 letters in the English alphabet. It seems self-evident that this fact must be as old as the language itself. Surprising as it may seem, as recently as the mid-1800s, there was a 27th letter — one you see on your computer keyboard…
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The Unbelievable Successful Career of the World’s Worst Counterfeiter
Read more: The Unbelievable Successful Career of the World’s Worst CounterfeiterWho was the world’s worst counterfeiter and how did he manage to be so incredibly successful? Meet “Mr. 880” and learn how he kept the Secret Service busy for so long.
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How Long is the Perfect “Power Nap”?
Read more: How Long is the Perfect “Power Nap”?There is no denying the mental health aspect of a good nap. On those days when the mind is sluggish and the body can’t seem to shift out of first gear, a few minutes of shut-eye is just the thing to breathe new life into your day. As every napper knows, however, there is a…
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The Island that Switches Countries Every Six Months
Read more: The Island that Switches Countries Every Six MonthsIf you want to experience international travel without ever leaving your home, you might want to consider living on Pheasant Island. This island has the distinction of belonging to one country for half of the year and another country for the other half.
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A Buttload is an Actual Unit of Measurement
Read more: A Buttload is an Actual Unit of MeasurementThe term “buttload” originates from medieval liquid measurements, specifically “butts,” which equate to two hogsheads. A butt of ale is approximately 108 imperial gallons, while a butt of wine is about 126 imperial gallons. Misunderstanding this term could lead to humorous repercussions for the critic.
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Coffee So Strong That it Shapes a Language
Read more: Coffee So Strong That it Shapes a LanguageCoffee has been integral to Turkish culture for over 500 years. Turkish coffee is made by brewing finely-ground coffee beans, which are then left in the beverage when it is served. The result is recognized around the world for having a very strong, robust flavor. Coffee is much more than a mere beverage to the…
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How Big of a Telescope is Needed to See Any Interest?
Read more: How Big of a Telescope is Needed to See Any Interest?A popular television program of the early days of television was This is Show Business. It ran from 1949 to 1954 and gave aspiring entertainers the opportunity to get advice from a panel of experienced celebrities. Sometimes the advice was helpful. The helpfulness of the advice typically had a correlation to the level of sympathy…
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Winston Churchill: Think Twice Before Putting Your Ear to the Ground
Read more: Winston Churchill: Think Twice Before Putting Your Ear to the Ground“I see that a speaker… said that this was a time when leaders should keep their ears to the ground. All I can say is that the British nation will find it very hard to look up to leaders who are detected in that somewhat ungainly posture.” — Winston Churchill Read more funny quotes. Read…
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How Did a Measles Outbreak Lead to the Use of Telephone Numbers?
Read more: How Did a Measles Outbreak Lead to the Use of Telephone Numbers?As events such as the COVID-19 outbreak affecting the ability to travel, many people are grateful for the option of picking up a phone, dialing a number, and being able to speak with people on the other side of the world. Surprising as it may seem, it was because of an infectious disease outbreak nearly…
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Parenting and the Presidency: the Limits of Power
Read more: Parenting and the Presidency: the Limits of PowerWhen President Theodore Roosevelt was confronted with complaints about the behavior of his 19-year-old daughter, Alice, he responded, “I can do one of two things. I can be President of the United States, or I can control Alice. I cannot possibly do both.” Read more fun facts about Presidents. Read more funny quotes.
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How ‘I Don’t Care’ and ‘Whatever’ Became a Profitable Business Naming Strategy in the Telecom Industry
Read more: How ‘I Don’t Care’ and ‘Whatever’ Became a Profitable Business Naming Strategy in the Telecom IndustryDiscover how a clever business naming strategy like ‘I Don’t Care’ and ‘Whatever’ led to surprising profits in the telecommunications industry.
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Harvard’s History of Rebellion and Food Fights
Read more: Harvard’s History of Rebellion and Food FightsStudent protests seem to be a phenomenon that started in the 1960s, but they are much older than that. The proud history of protests on college campuses got its start in America before there was such a thing as the United States. The subject of the protest was something that is still near and dear…
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The Postage Stamp Responsible for the Panama Canal
Read more: The Postage Stamp Responsible for the Panama CanalThe Panama Canal is so inseparably linked to the nation of Panama that it is difficult to imagine it existing anywhere else. As it turns out, the site for the canal was very nearly the nation of Nicaragua. When it came down to the moment of decision, it was a pretty tiny thing that decided…
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A Buttload is an Actual Unit of MeasurementFebruary 5, 2020
