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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Healthy Humor Makes a Happy White House Marriage

Some of the couples who have lived in the White House have had what could charitably be described as “political marriages.” Husband and wife are united primarily by a shared desire for power rather than mutual affection. Such a description could not be attributed to the marriage of Calvin and Grace Coolidge, however. Their relationship…
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How Sherlock Holmes’ Author Was Tricked Into Believing in Fairies

Humanity has been looking for proof of the paranormal for a long time. Many people insist there is more to the world than the things most of us see. Skeptics need evidence, however. If only there were reliable photographs to support the claims about the paranormal, that would put a lot of doubts to rest.…
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How Much Do You Know About the Declaration of Independence?

The United States of America celebrates its birthday on July 4. That day marks the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and the formal separation of the colonies from Great Britain. But should July 4 really be the nation’s birthday? See how much you know about this founding document of the USA?
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William Wilburforce and the Apostle Paul: Deceptive Appearances By World-Changing Giants

The lesson of not judging by appearance is highlighted in the contrast between Apostle Paul’s unassuming looks and his immense historical influence, as well as William Wilburforce’s physical frailty despite his pivotal role in abolishing the slave trade. These examples emphasize the fallacy of associating worth or potential with external appearance.
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Garrett Morgan: The Courageous Inventor Who Fought Fire and Prejudice

Discover the amazing contribution of Garrett Morgan, the African-American inventor who revolutionized firefighting.
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The Horrible Five-Week Visit That Destroyed a Friendship

It shouldn’t have been surprising that Chuck and John struck up a friendship. After all, the two men had a lot in common. They shared many of the same interests, a common profession, and were both highly regarded in their field. They first met at a social gathering where John appealed to Chuck’s vanity by…
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King Gillette: a King Who Lost His Edge Gained Fame By Encouraging Waste

Learn about King Gillette — he lost his edge but got it back by encouraging waste.
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Why Do Prices Always End With 99 Cents?

Why do prices always end with 99 cents? Find out why in this informative article.
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The Unexpected Hero Found in an Unmarked Grave

He was known to be a hooligan. Technically, he was a “Hooligan” with a capital H. Known by the locals as Happy Hooligan, Fred was one of the more colorful characters of Washington, Missouri. He lived in a vacant building just outside town. You could easily identify him by his long, scraggly hair and beard.…
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A Sailor, A Prayer, and a Purposeful Life

Lieutenant King heard the alarm and rushed to duty. It was December 1944. His ship was facing its biggest battle of World War II. The mighty USS Monterey had been in service for over a year and had been involved in several battles. Nothing compared to what the aircraft carrier was going through now as…
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Meet Haddon Sundblom: The Artist and the Face Behind Coca-Cola’s Santa Claus

You may not have heard of Haddon Sundblom, but you have seen his work — and his face — more often than you know. Learn about him here.
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The Ghosts That Haunt the White House

They say that the house is haunted. Ridiculous, you say? No educated person believes in ghosts! Before you utterly dismiss the claims, however, you would do well to consider the credentials of those who insist they have seen the spirits wandering the halls.
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Measuring By the Meter, Foot, and Smoot

If you are accustomed to the metric system, imperial units can be perplexing. There is logic in the fact that there are 1,000 meters in a kilometer or ten centimeters in a meter. How are you supposed to remember that there are 5,280 feet in a mile, and why are there 12 inches in a…
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Human Memory Began on Thursday, July 6, 1189

“Time immemorial.” That’s the term we use to describe anything that has been around for so long that no one knows when it started. It is older than human memory. It refers to how long we have had the practice of greeting each other by shaking hands. It describes the amount of time since the…
Read more: Human Memory Began on Thursday, July 6, 1189
How a Young Actor Rose Above Dirty Tricks

The young actor was excited to learn he had been cast alongside a Hollywood legend. He was still trying to find his place in the entertainment world. Appearing next to one of the biggest stars in the industry could be just the thing to make his career take off. It didn’t take long for the…
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