Mad Honey Warfare: The Strange History of Hallucinogenic Honey in Battle
Discover mad honey—how toxic rhododendron nectar creates hallucinogenic honey used in ancient warfare, medicine, and modern curiosity.
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Relativity and Fine Fashion Sense
Read more: Relativity and Fine Fashion SenseUnquestionably, Albert Einstein had one of the greatest minds of all time. Even the most casual student of science associates the great man with relativity, unlocking the secrets of the atom, and the photoelectric effect. Einstein believed that “the origin of all technical achievements is the divine curiosity and the play instinct of the working…
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Vinegar Valentines: The Victorian Cards For When You Care Enough to Send Something Truly Insulting
Read more: Vinegar Valentines: The Victorian Cards For When You Care Enough to Send Something Truly InsultingDiscover the bizarre history of Vinegar Valentines, the Victorian-era trend of sending hilariously insulting greeting cards. Learn about their origins, impact, and cultural legacy.
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You May Be a Member of the Militia Without Knowing It
Read more: You May Be a Member of the Militia Without Knowing ItDo you like to watch war movies? Do you dream of performing heroic deeds? Do you wonder how snappy you would look in a military uniform? Can you see yourself in the role of George C. Scott in Patton, standing in front of a massive American flag, exhorting troops to fight bravely? Maybe you missed…
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The Ghost Blimp of World War II: The Unsolved Mystery of the L-8 Airship
Read more: The Ghost Blimp of World War II: The Unsolved Mystery of the L-8 AirshipA WWII Navy blimp known as the L-8 crashed in California in 1942—with no crew aboard. Discover the strange story of the “Ghost Blimp,” one of the most baffling unsolved mysteries of World War II.
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The Ironic Reason O.J. Simpson Missed His Chance to Star in Terminator
Read more: The Ironic Reason O.J. Simpson Missed His Chance to Star in TerminatorJames Cameron had a dream that inspired him to create the 1984 blockbuster Terminator. (Learn about that dream here.) Perhaps for that reason, he was willing to let his inner senses guide other decisions regarding the movie. His instincts appear to be justified, based on the success of Terminator and its sequels. One of the…
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George and His Stamp Collection
Read more: George and His Stamp CollectionGeorge had a thing for postage stamps. You might say it was his passion.
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Words That No Longer Mean What They Used To
Read more: Words That No Longer Mean What They Used ToEveryone reading this is a girl. You lived much of your life in the Matrix. You’re really not all that fantastic; in fact, you’re really quite awful. Even before you were born, you were naughty and artificial, and you will never be too old to wear a diaper. Consider this, as you drink defecated water.…
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When Whistling Was a War Crime
Read more: When Whistling Was a War CrimeThe Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy describes the Marketing Department of the Sirius Cybernetics Corporation as: “A bunch of mindless jerks who’ll be the first against the wall when the revolution comes.” It later notes that an edition of the Encyclopedia Galactica that fell through a rift in the time-space continuum from 1,000 years in…
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Why Do Drug Commercials List All Those Crazy Side Effects?
Read more: Why Do Drug Commercials List All Those Crazy Side Effects?Why do drug commercials always come with a long list of crazy side effects? Learn the surprising explanation.
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Before She Was a Chef Julia Child Cooked Up a Secret Recipe for a Spy Agency
Read more: Before She Was a Chef Julia Child Cooked Up a Secret Recipe for a Spy AgencyJulia Child created many legendary recipes—but during World War II, she developed a top-secret shark repellent for the OSS. Discover the surprising story of her wartime invention before she became America’s favorite French chef.
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Beware the Dangers of Eating Yourself to Death
Read more: Beware the Dangers of Eating Yourself to DeathIs eating yourself to death a possibility? Discover the strange stories of historical figures who may have met an early end through overeating.
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Happy Thanksgiving
Read more: Happy ThanksgivingSkye, the official Commonplace Fun Facts canine contributor, consultant, and — well, let’s face it — she basically calls all the shots around here — can’t wait to dive into the holiday feast that surely was prepared exclusively for her. Before digging in, she wants to wish a happy Thanksgiving to all of our readers.…
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Emperor Norton: The Man Who Was Emperor of the United States
Read more: Emperor Norton: The Man Who Was Emperor of the United StatesLearn about the fascinating and entertaining life of Emperor Norton, the man who proclaimed himself to be the Emperor of the United States.
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Colombia Clashes With Cocaine Hippos
Read more: Colombia Clashes With Cocaine HipposWhy Is There Such a Thing as Colombia Hippos — Not to Mention Cocaine Hippos? It’s bad enough that Colombia has to deal with the ever-present problem of cocaine trafficking. Now it has to deal with cocaine hippos, as well.
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How Freak Shows Revolutionized Medical Care for Babies
Read more: How Freak Shows Revolutionized Medical Care for BabiesDiscover the extraordinary history of premature baby care and how incubators in amusement park freak shows laid the foundation for modern neonatal medicine.
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A Buttload is an Actual Unit of MeasurementFebruary 5, 2020
