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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Dances With Wolves and Oreos With Buffalo

If you have seen the 1990 film Dances With Wolves, you know that it stars Kevin Costner, has animals in almost every scene, and includes a lot of dialogue in the Lakota language. But do you know about the Oreos?
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Have You Met the Queen?

For all of the pomp and majesty surrounding her long life, Queen Elizabeth II had a keen wit and a wonderful sense of humor. Since her life was so carefully choreographed, these qualities tended to be seen by those who were closest to her.
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Lincoln and the Dubious Honor

There are things that most people think would be glorious to achieve, but they think differently when they get the opportunity to experience them. Near the top of that list is the presidency of the United States.
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The Incredible Story of the Deserter Who Became the Youngest Medal of Honor Recipient

When she enters the fleet sometime this year, USS Jack H. Lucas (DDG-125) will be the first of the Flight III variants Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. Among the crew of this state-of-the-art ship of war will be 18-year-old men and women. If you think for a moment that any of them are too young, consider the…
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How a Traumatized Combat Vet Gave Us All a Glimpse Into the Surreal

Nothing in Rodman’s young life had prepared him for the hell in which he found himself. He grew up as the son of a grocer in a middle-class community. It was a storybook life until something happened that sent him on a different journey down an unexpected road to a place beyond anyone’s imagination.
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The Boy Who Rejected His Right to be King

What do you make of someone who renounces his birthright — especially when that means renouncing the right to be King? The story has played out before, triggering the expected media firestorm. There is the example of King Edward VIII, who gave up his throne to become the Duke of Windsor. Today’s tabloids and talk…
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The Sinister Origin of a Beach Boys Song

Few cultural symbols better represent the innocence of the 1960s than the Beach Boys. They ushered in the “California sound” with songs that evoke pleasant thoughts of surfing, cars, romance, and youth. That is why the sinister origin of one of their songs is particularly shocking and creepy.
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The Two Deaths of John Dillinger

Public Enemy Number One. There are few titles that carry more notoriety than being labeled as the #1 threat to society. Those who have been so branded are among the worst of the worst. The names of Al Capone, Pretty Boy Floyd, Baby Face Nelson, and El Chapo are forever seared in the public’s memory…
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The Secret Disaster That Saved D-Day

Everyone knew the outcome of the war would be settled in Europe. For that to happen, it would require an invasion of unprecedented force. Over 7,000 ships and landing craft would have to transport nearly 200,000 men across the English Channel to storm the beaches of France. Although only a handful of people knew the…
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How Jack Benny Nearly Became One of the Marx Brothers – A Forgotten Comedy Connection

Did you know Jack Benny nearly joined the Marx Brothers? Discover the untold story of how paused ambitions and parental intervention shaped a comedy legend.
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The Adversary Who Made Douglas MacArthur Vomit

Who Could Possibly Intimidate Douglas MacArthur? No one would associate General Douglas MacArthur with cowardice. One of the few men to rise to the rank of 5-star general, MacArthur was known for bravery, daring, and determination in the face of adversity. It’s hard to imagine him facing an adversary who intimidated him to the point…
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The First Time Someone Calls You a Horse…

“The first time someone calls you a horse you punch him in the nose. The second time someone calls you a horse, you call him a jerk, but the third time someone calls you a horse, well then perhaps it’s time to go shopping for a saddle.”
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Peter Benchley: The White House Speechwriter Who Refused to be Fired

Discover how Peter Benchley, the author of ‘Jaws,’ navigated a tumultuous stint as a White House speechwriter under LBJ and turned his experiences into inspiration for his iconic novel.
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The Brilliant Plan to Sell Wallpaper Cleaner to Children

Wallpaper cleaner and children. The only apparent connection between the two is that the more you have of the latter, the more likely you will need the former. With appropriate supervision, you might want to have children help scrub the walls. Aside from that, we generally don’t advocate unfettered access to cleaning materials by those…
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Major Bambi, USMC — The Untold Story Behind the Voice of Bambi

Learn about Donnie Dunagan, the voice of Bambi, and why he tried to hide his contribution to the Disney movie.
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