The Great Fire of London (1666): Strange Facts Behind the Famous Disaster
The Great Fire of London wasn’t just a disaster—it was full of odd decisions and strange moments. Here are the quirkiest facts from 1666.
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Did a Monkey Get Hanged For Being a French Spy?
Read more: Did a Monkey Get Hanged For Being a French Spy?Just when we thought we had thoroughly combed the historical record and reported all interesting tidbits on a subject, we are reminded that there is no limit to strange stories from the past. In recent days, Commonplace Fun Facts has brought you the accounts of a town that placed a bunch of insects on trial…
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How Do Barcodes Work?
Read more: How Do Barcodes Work?How do barcodes work? Find out the secrets behind those black and white stripes that serve as price tags.
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The Chaos — The Aptly-Named Poem About the Insanity of the English Language
Read more: The Chaos — The Aptly-Named Poem About the Insanity of the English LanguageThose of us who love the English language have to admit to a bit of schizophrenia about the love affair. On the one hand, English is an utterly-flexible and ever-changing language, allowing near-infinite ways to communicate whatever you wish to express. On the other hand, its grammar consists of far more exceptions than constants, and…
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Commending Your Brand of Craziness
Read more: Commending Your Brand of CrazinessAuthor Lani Lynn Vale offers wonderful words for the people in your life who seem to have waded a bit too far into the deep end of insanity: “I don’t understand your specific brand of crazy, but I do commend your devotion to it.”
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Why Are There No Rats in Alberta, Canada?
Read more: Why Are There No Rats in Alberta, Canada?The official editorial position of Commonplace Fun Facts takes a skeptical view toward government programs. We adhere to Ronald Reagan’s warning, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.’” Having said that, some maladies are of such great magnitude that it is appropriate to…
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Dormie — The Exciting Tale of the Dog That Went on Trial for Murder
Read more: Dormie — The Exciting Tale of the Dog That Went on Trial for MurderThe trial of Dormie, an Airedale terrier accused of killing twelve cats, captivated San Francisco in 1921. Despite public outrage and an aggressive prosecution, Dormie’s defense argued reasonable doubt and an instinctive impulse. The jury couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict, leading to the dismissal of charges, establishing unique legal precedents.
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Deliver Us From Weevils — The Time a Town Put a Bunch of Insects on Trial
Read more: Deliver Us From Weevils — The Time a Town Put a Bunch of Insects on TrialSomething was bugging the people of St. Julien. The “something” was a bug. A bunch of them, actually. Weevils were threatening the peace and prosperity of the French town. Criminal trespass to property. Destruction of property. Theft. Intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress. The offenses committed by the perpetrators made a list larger than…
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The Prime Minister Who Got Eaten By His People
Read more: The Prime Minister Who Got Eaten By His PeopleYou know what they say about pursuing a career in politics. It is a vocation fraught with hazards. The public is so fickle and can love you one day, only to chew you up and spit you out the next. If only Johan de Witt had heeded that warning. If only he had realized that…
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From Baseball to Fire and Brimstone — How Billy Sunday Transformed American Evangelism
Read more: From Baseball to Fire and Brimstone — How Billy Sunday Transformed American EvangelismLearn how Billy Sunday transformed the face of American evangelism.
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Word of the Day Challenge: Crepuscular
Read more: Word of the Day Challenge: CrepuscularCrepuscular. The word fairly trips off the tongue, making even the most uneducated person sound sophisticated — assuming it is used correctly, that is.
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The Cookbook That Was Recalled Because of an Explosive Recipe
Read more: The Cookbook That Was Recalled Because of an Explosive RecipeWhen you hear about a product being recalled by the manufacturer, it typically is a device with a defective part, a toy that is a choking hazard, or food that has become contaminated. How often have you heard of a book being recalled? What if we told you it happened because of the risks of…
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Abraham Lincoln: Mystery Writer
Read more: Abraham Lincoln: Mystery WriterAbraham Lincoln attempted many things in his life. He was a railsplitter, boatman, store clerk, soldier, surveyor, postmaster, lawyer, legislator, and President. Along the way, he tried his hand as an inventor, becoming the first President to receive a patent. If all of that wasn’t enough, he was a published author of a murder mystery.
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When Brains Count For Government
Read more: When Brains Count For Government“Here the people rule, and their will is the supreme law. It is sometimes sneeringly said by those who do not like free government, that here we count heads. True, heads are counted, but brains also.” — William McKinley
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Why Does the U.S. Have a Secret Strategic Chicken Stockpile?
Read more: Why Does the U.S. Have a Secret Strategic Chicken Stockpile?The content discusses a fictional and humorous narrative about a secret U.S. strategic chicken stockpile intended for pandemic preparedness. It highlights the importance of chicken eggs in vaccine production, necessary for combating ailments like the Spanish Flu and COVID-19. The narrative ends with a light critique of government slow responses and planning.
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How the Baby Ruth Candy Bar Influenced the Bombing of Hiroshima
Read more: How the Baby Ruth Candy Bar Influenced the Bombing of HiroshimaThe Baby Ruth candy bar, initially the Kandy Kake, emerged in 1921 after Chicago’s Curtis Candy Company revamped its recipe and branding. Named ambiguously after Ruth Cleveland, its success soared amidst intense competition. Its marketing stunts, including aerial candy drops, contributed to its rise, eventually leading to significant legal disputes with Babe Ruth.
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A Buttload is an Actual Unit of MeasurementFebruary 5, 2020
