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.

Keep reading

April 4, 2026April 4, 2026

Check Out the Latest

Bang Your Head — Feel the Burn

Have a few extra pounds you need to burn off? Consider the weight-loss potential of the following activities — all based on an average 150-pound person. Banging your head against a wall uses 150 Calories an hour. Singing in the shower can burn an extra 10-20 Calories per song, depending on the volume and…
Read more: Bang Your Head — Feel the Burn
Realism = Hyper-Caffeinated

Honoré de Balzac, widely considered as one of the founders of realism in European literature, drank 50 cups of coffee each day. He was well regarded for having keen observation of detail — undoubtedly owing to the fact that the world seemed to be moving in extreme slow motion compared to his hyper-caffeinated mind. He…
Read more: Realism = Hyper-Caffeinated
10 Facts about Diamonds

Read more: 10 Facts about Diamonds
“Clumsy, Blundering, Tuneless Bellowing” — A Critic’s View of Wagner

Critic John Ruskin left no doubt of his opinion of Richard Wagner’s opera “Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg” — “Of all the bête, clumsy, blundering, boggling, baboon-blooded stuff I ever saw on a human stage, that thing last night beat — as far as the acting and story went — and of all the affected, sapless,…
Read more: “Clumsy, Blundering, Tuneless Bellowing” — A Critic’s View of Wagner
New Year’s Blessings with New Year’s Food

Ringing in the New Year in style may look different, depending on what country’s traditions you wish to honor. Consider the following foods that are considered a vital part of these national culinary New Year traditions: 1. Spain — grapes. To bring prosperity. 2. Germany — pork and suerkraut. The more strands in a bowl,…
Read more: New Year’s Blessings with New Year’s Food
Jimmy Carter and the Embarrassing Time His Finger Was on the Wrong Button

A Secret Service Rapid Response to Jimmy Carter A former Secret Service agent reported a time when President Jimmy Carter was using the restroom and pushed a button that he thought would flush the toilet. It actually was a panic button.
Read more: Jimmy Carter and the Embarrassing Time His Finger Was on the Wrong Button
Andrew Lloyd Webber: No Beauty Contestant

“Can you watch Andrew Lloyd Webber? He looks like he’s had his face carved off by a diseased butcher. Put in a piñata. Beaten with hockey sticks for six hours, and then the resulting slop piped back onto his head like the icing on the ugliest cake the world has ever seen.” — Frankie…
Read more: Andrew Lloyd Webber: No Beauty Contestant
Betty Ford and the Unnecessary Instructions on Air Force One

Learn about Betty Ford’s amusing anecdote from her time as First Lady on Air Force One.
Read more: Betty Ford and the Unnecessary Instructions on Air Force One
Seeing Friends for the Holidays

Christmas brings an understandable desire to see old friends. For that reason, you might sympathize with Patrick Rempe, who just wanted to see his buddies before the holidays. Of course, his buddies were in custody in the county jail, but why let that little obstacle get in the way of holiday cheer and comradeship? For…
Read more: Seeing Friends for the Holidays
A Body of Knowledge About the Body

Thanks to Saved You a Spot for this graphic and information. Check out this great blog for informative and entertaining posts on education, reading, and life in general.
Read more: A Body of Knowledge About the Body
The Rising Costs of Partridges in Pear Trees

If you want to bless your true love during the 12 days of Christmas next year, you may want to save up your pennies, starting now. According to the latest study, the 364 gifts that are handed out over the course of the 12 days costs $155,407.18 — up 0.6% from 2014’s prices. The breakdown…
Read more: The Rising Costs of Partridges in Pear Trees
How Much Do You Know About Christmas?

Now that Christmas is behind us for one more year, it is time to see just how much of the holiday traditions you know. Consider these Christmas fun facts: What’s so special about mistletoe? The Druids considered mistletoe sacred because it remains green and bears fruit during the winter when all other plants appear to…
Read more: How Much Do You Know About Christmas?
The Candy Cane — More Than Just a Holiday Treat

Think you know all you need to know about the candy cane? Think again… The original candy cane was straight, all white, and hard. A candy cane turned upside down is the letter J, which many believe represents Jesus. National candy cane day is December 26 in the United States. The first candy…
Read more: The Candy Cane — More Than Just a Holiday Treat
Matlock Goes After Sheriff Andy Griffith

Andy Griffith, known for his roles as Sheriff Andy Taylor and Attorney Ben Matlock, was involved in a legal battle when a man changed his name to Andy Griffith, seeking election as sheriff. Griffith sued for trademark and privacy violations but lost the case. Despite his legal victory, the imitator performed poorly in the election.
Read more: Matlock Goes After Sheriff Andy Griffith
Some Assembly Required

The most frightening words in the English language for parents on Christmas Eve are, “Some assembly required.” Putting together the toy that is to be opened in just a few hours has been the cause of more than one nervous breakdown. Next time you bemoan how difficult it is to assembly that Christmas gift, consider…
Read more: Some Assembly Required