Explore the history of the Lone Ranger, from his 1933 radio debut to television fame, Clayton Moore’s mask lawsuit, movie adaptations, and the surprising Green Hornet connection.
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The city of Goiânia, Brazil once had a chief of police named Hitler Mussolini. See this video of the unfortunately-named law enforcement officer. It seems that Goiânia just can’t get a break. Read how the movie Herbie Goes Bananas led to one of the worst radioactive disasters in history.
For many years, James Joyce’s novel Ulysses held the record for the longest sentence in the English language. The 4,391-word monstrosity contained in Molly Bloom’s soliloquy seemed destined to hold the record for the foreseeable future. In 2001, that record was shattered. The Rotters’ Club by Jonathan Coe now holds the dubious honor of containing…
Clement Vallandigham apparently never did anything unless he would be remembered for it. His memorable death while defending a client in a courtroom has already been chronicled on these pages. (You can read all about it here.) Years before this dubious claim to fame, he had already made a name for himself by getting on President Abraham Lincoln’s…
When Theodore Roosevelt ran for Governor of New York in 1898 he enlisted the help of some of his comrades-in-arms from the Spanish-American War. These men were all-too-eager to sing the praises of the Hero of San Juan Hill. Success on the battlefield does not necessarily translate into political adroitness on the campaign trail. Consider…
Discover the surprising hidden messages to be found in flower meanings, including flower colors, numbers, and types in different cultures. Avoid common gifting mistakes with carnations, roses, and more!
If you are still trying to decide what you want to do when you grow up, and you don’t want to be a “Day Tripper” or a “Paperback Writer”, and if your idea of a perfect college experience is listening to a lot of music, you might consider getting a master’s degree as a Beatles…
Neil Armstrong’s footprints narrowly avoided being rejected as an astronaut. His application to NASA was one week late. Fortunately, Armstrong’s friend, Dick Day, worked at NASA’s Manned Spacecraft Center and happened to notice the application when it arrived after the deadline. Day slipped the application into the pile of timely applications, thus paving the way for Armstrong’s…
Easily the most bizarre creature in the sea, the humble octopus is a cephalopod of many talents, with DNA like that of no other animal (described by one scientist as looking as though it had been rearranged in a blender). An octopus also holds the record for longest brood period of any creature, with one…
Much has been made about the fact that William Howard Taft was the largest President to hold office. The 5′ 11″ man topped out at 340 pounds, surpassing Grover Cleveland’s prior record of 280 pounds. (See this chart for a list of presidential heights, weights and BMIs). Generally good natured about his weight, Taft frequently…
Baseball is one sporting event that doesn’t use a clock to regulate the length of its games. Ironically, it was a clock that was very much at the heart of one of Baseball’s most dramatic moments. The date was June 30, 1988. The Chicago White Sox wanted a new stadium to replace the run-down Cominsky…
Prime Minister Winston Churchill was staying at the White House as a guest of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. They had been discussing their vision for a new-and-improved League of Nations that would help secure the post-war peace. The President had a sudden inspiration for a name for this organization — the United Nations. He was excited…
Does it feel as if time moves more rapidly as you get older? Cheer up, because that is a scientifically-proven myth. In reality, the days are getting longer. Due to the slowing of the earth’s rotation, days grow longer by about 1.7 milliseconds every century. Source
Greece boasts the longest national anthem on record. “Hymn to Liberty” was written in 1823 and consists of 158 verses. To sing the entire song, it takes about one hour. Listen to the entire song below: Read more fun facts about music.
Birthdays in Scotland come with a tradition of being greeted with a soft swat on the backside for every year of age. To make up for any offense, the recipient also receives a £1 note for every year, as well. Source
Danish children celebrate their birthdays by receiving a “cakeman.” The festive dessert is a cake baked and decorated to resemble the birthday child.
