How California Got Its Name from a Mythical Island, a Warrior Queen, and a Book Most People Have Never Heard Of
A mythical island ruled by warrior women? Find out how California got its name from a book that no one remembers.
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Abraham Lincoln and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Really Bad Blind Date
Read more: Abraham Lincoln and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Really Bad Blind DateEven history’s greatest people can be subject to less-than-stellar love lives. It was 1842 when Abraham Lincoln tied the knot with Mary Todd, a woman whose ambition unquestionably helped propel him into the White House. Six years earlier, however, he was a forlorn bachelor, with no clear prospects for his condition to improve. The future…
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When Lawmakers Battle Each Other, Instead of Fighting For You
Read more: When Lawmakers Battle Each Other, Instead of Fighting For YouWe receive countless suggestions from faithful readers, asking us to do articles about any number of topics. A few of these get filed away for further research and consideration. Some get scrapped out of hand. Others trigger referrals to helpful mental health professionals. It is a rare gem of a suggestion that sends us off…
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Are You Afraid of Opinions? You May Have Allodoxaphobia
Read more: Are You Afraid of Opinions? You May Have AllodoxaphobiaDo you suffer from allodoxaphobia? If so, you’d better stay away from social media. For that matter, it would be best to avoid conversations with anyone about anything. Allodoxaphobia is a fear of opinions.
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Sowing Wild Oats and Praying For a Crop Failure
Read more: Sowing Wild Oats and Praying For a Crop Failure“Most of us spend the first 6 days of each week sowing wild oats, then we go to church on Sunday and pray for a crop failure.” — Fred Allen
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A Tortured Critic Responds to a Tortured Saxophone
Read more: A Tortured Critic Responds to a Tortured SaxophoneIs honesty really the best policy? Unquestionably, it is wrong to be untruthful. Just the same, there are times when the better approach might be silence — or at least honesty coupled with a generous dose of tact.
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I Can’t Come to Work Today — I’m Too Busy Being a Deity
Read more: I Can’t Come to Work Today — I’m Too Busy Being a DeityThe Human Resources Department of Commonplace Fun Facts thought they had heard every excuse for not coming into the office. “I can work just as well from home.” “The commute is too long.” “My co-workers make me feel bad by mocking my awkward social skills.” These are just a handful of reasons I have given…
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How a Boy With a Kite Helped Bridge Two Nations
Read more: How a Boy With a Kite Helped Bridge Two NationsOn March 8, 1855, history was made when a 23-ton railroad engine crossed over the Niagara River on the world’s first working railway suspension bridge. The bridge was an engineering marvel, spanning 825 feet (251 m). Consisting of two levels, it allowed trains, pedestrians, and horse-drawn carriages to traverse the gorge near Niagara Falls. The…
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The Diagram Prize: Odd Titles Make Riveting Reading
Read more: The Diagram Prize: Odd Titles Make Riveting ReadingThe Diagram Prize, awarded annually by The Bookseller, recognizes books with unusual titles. This summary lists winners from its inception, showcasing diverse subjects ranging from humor and health to unique cultural insights. Notable titles include “People Who Don’t Know They’re Dead” and “How to Poo on a Date,” reflecting creative engagement.
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Little Baby’s Ice Cream Commercials: The Creepiest Ads You’ll Ever See
Read more: Little Baby’s Ice Cream Commercials: The Creepiest Ads You’ll Ever SeeDiscover the bizarre Little Baby’s Ice Cream commercials that shocked viewers with surreal, creepy imagery—and why they’re still unforgettable today.
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The Path of Silencing Opposition
Read more: The Path of Silencing Opposition“Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens where everyone lives in fear.” — Harry S Truman
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How to Tell Whether the Large Hadron Collider Has Destroyed the World
Read more: How to Tell Whether the Large Hadron Collider Has Destroyed the WorldWant to know if the Large Hadron Collider has destroyed the world? Find out how.
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Visit the Place Where Your Nearest Neighbors Are In Space
Read more: Visit the Place Where Your Nearest Neighbors Are In SpaceReaders of Commonplace Fun Facts already know that the most remote piece of real estate in the world is Bouvet Island. When you are there, you are on the most isolated island on the planet. It is the perfect place for introverts. What if Bouvet Island gets a sudden influx of introverted tourists, and you…
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Black Underwear For Umpires and Other Weird Baseball Rules
Read more: Black Underwear For Umpires and Other Weird Baseball RulesEven the uninitiated know a few basic facts about the rules of baseball. Everyone knows the game is played on a diamond-shaped arrangement of four bases, and if the batter swings three times at the ball and misses, that player is out. There is a lot more to the game that is known as America’s…
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Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary of Disdain
Read more: Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary of DisdainA common word of warning for those who might be inclined to argue with someone who writes or edits a newspaper is, “Never pick a fight with a man who buys ink by the barrel.” This advice is particularly valuable when applied toward anyone who has the ability to influence an entire language. A Dictionary…
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Abbott and Costello’s Who’s On First — The Greatest Comedy Routine in History
Read more: Abbott and Costello’s Who’s On First — The Greatest Comedy Routine in HistoryLearn about Abbott and Costello’s classic skit Who’s On First — the greatest comedy routine of all time!
