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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The Evacuation of St Kilda: A Story of Isolation, Resilience, and Change

St. Kilda, a remote island group west of Scotland, has a mysterious history, inhabited for 2,000 years before being evacuated in 1930 due to harsh living conditions. The resilient community survived on a diet of seabirds and meager vegetation, and their departure marked the end of an era. Today, St. Kilda remains a UNESCO World…
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Mutiny on the Ship of Democracy

“The ship of democracy, which has weathered all storms, may sink through the mutiny of those on board.“ — Grover Cleveland
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The Curious Case of Alfred Loewenstein: The World’s Third-Richest Man Who Fell From an Airplane

Alfred Loewenstein, the third richest person in 1928, met a mysterious end when he fell from his private plane into the English Channel. The circumstances surrounding his death, including theories of murder, suicide, or faking his death, remain unsolved. Despite his fortune and power, the truth behind his fatal plunge remains elusive.
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The Waiter Who Became The Most Successful Art Thief In History: The Adventures of Stéphane Breitwieser

Imagine you are a waiter. It’s been a long day of schlepping trays, sweet-talking customers, and bending over backwards for people who can’t be bothered to clean up the messes they make. You are dead tired and want to chill. By the way, you’re still living with your mom. What do you do to unwind?…
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Remembering the Wilhelm Gustloff: the Worst Naval Disaster in History

The Titanic and the Lusitania are well-known maritime disasters, but the sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff in 1945 overshadowed them in terms of human loss. Carrying over 7,000 civilians fleeing the Soviets, it faced tragic chaos and minimal rescue efforts. Despite being largely forgotten, its legacy serves as a poignant wartime reminder.
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The Great Lunik Heist: That Time the CIA Kidnapped a Soviet Spacecraft

Learn about the time the CIA kidnapped a Soviet spacecraft! The outrageous Lunik Heist of the Cold War!
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Moonlighting at SCOTUS: Supreme Court Justices With Side Jobs

In times of economic uncertainty, many take on second jobs. Surprisingly, even top U.S. judges have pursued additional roles. John Jay ran for governor while Chief Justice, setting a precedent. Others, like Smith Thompson and David Davis, sought different political positions. Charles Evans Hughes came close to the presidency, while other justices embraced significant public…
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The Bath School Disaster: The Deadliest Act of School Violence In US History — That No One Remembers

Discover the shocking story of the Bath School Disaster — the worst case of school violence in U.S. history.
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Can You Identify The Only Non-Valedictorian Celebrity?

Many valedictorians have gone on to bigger and better things. Can you tell which of these famous and successful people was NOT a valedictorian celebrity?
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Philo T. Farnsworth: The Teenage Genius Inventor of the Television

Philo T. Farnsworth, a brilliant young inventor of the television, changed the world with his inventions. Find out more about him here.
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Theodore Roosevelt Bullet Wound Speech: Unforgettable Leadership During Adversity

On the evening of July 13, 2024, a speech by former president and current presidential candidate Donald J. Trump was cut short by a would-be assassin. A bullet grazed Trump’s ear before the Secret Service was able to neutralize his assailant, Thomas Matthew Crooks. As Trump was rushed from the scene with blood streaming from…
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Jackie Coogan: The Child Star Who Lost It All and Crawled Back to Fame

Jackie Coogan, the world’s first child superstar, experienced the highs of fame and the lows of loss. From performing as a child in Vaudeville to starring in classic films, he faced financial exploitation and personal tragedy. Despite this, he found a second wave of fame as Uncle Fester in The Addams Family, leaving a lasting…
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Progress and the Unreasonable Man

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” – George Kearsley Shaw
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Benjamin Franklin’s Advice On Living and Writing

“If you would not be forgotten as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading, or do things worth the writing.” — Benjamin Franklin
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The Wild, Weird, and Oddly Creepy North Korean Smartphone

You’ve never seen anything quite like the Arirang 151, the state-of-the-art smartphone from North Korea. It’s a North Korean smartphone that isn’t particularly smart. In their defense, it isn’t really North Korean. Almost everything about it was ripped off from other countries. It does have the uniquely North Korean qualities, though. It is dysfunctional, overhyped,…
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