In Paradise Lost, John Milton paints a word picture of Satan being cast into Hell. The fallen angel, in making his choice of eternal rebellion, declares, “Better to reign in hell than […]
You Can Reign in Hell (Michigan)
Which South American City Was Once the Capital of a European Nation?
A nation’s capital city is not only the seat of its government but is also a center of national pride. If a tourist can visit only one city, the capital is the […]
Rest in Peace, Queen Elizabeth II
The staff of Commonplace Fun Facts extends its deepest sympathy to our British readers on the death of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. The United Kingdom is the second largest source of […]
The Ironic End of the Scientist Who Discovered R.E.M. Sleep
Although we spend, on average, one-third of our lives sleeping, the scientific study of the activity is relatively new. Officially known as somnology, the study of sleep began in earnest in 1936 […]
Why Hanson Gregory is Remembered for Inventing Nothing
When you get to the end of your days, the last thing you want to hear is the solemn proclamation that you were responsible for nothing. You would likely defend yourself against […]
The Ancient Egyptian Job That Earned Hatred If Done Right
Anyone who has ever watched a movie that features a mummy knows that running away from the mummy is what people invariably do. That’s how it is in science fiction, anyway. It […]
Wigging Out on British Legal Customs
If you enjoy watching television programs that deal with the law, you have a good idea of what a courtroom looks like. It’s relatively easy to spot the lawyers, due to their […]
The Seven Convicts Who Launched a Revolution
As symbols of revolutions go, they aren’t the most inspiring examples. For one thing, they were all criminals. Yes, it is true that all would-be revolutionaries are criminals in the eyes of […]
A Bright Mind Suggested Using Bright Light For Winning Chess Strategy
Chess presents a near-infinite number of moves. Consequently, there is no shortage of self-proclaimed experts to offer helpful advice on how to master the game. As far back as A.D. 840, when […]
It is Illegal to Sell Infants in Pennsylvania
The Commonplace Fun Facts Legal Department tells us that laws are supposed to be reasonable. Apparently, this concept doesn’t apply to legal advice, however. That one sentence generated a bill for $362.11.
Commonplace Fun Facts Featured on The Write Stuff
If you somehow succeed in getting past the elite paramilitary mercenaries and a fierce-yet-adorable Boxador, you may become one of the privileged few to enter the warehouse. Inside, you will find the […]
North Carolina Prohibits Attending a Meeting in Costume
Let’s face it — meetings can be tedious. Anything that can introduce a measure of entertainment or levity is generally welcome. Consider the most tedious meeting that you have attended in the […]
Spies, Invisible Ink, Toenails, and Other Declassified CIA Secrets
Secret messages written with invisible ink. It sounds like something straight out of a James Bond movie where the fate of the world rests upon the contents of the clandestine communication. It […]
Government, Luck, and Fools
“A little government and a little luck are necessary in life, but only a fool trusts either of them.” — P.J. O’Rourke
School Holds Girls For Debt
It’s the little things that show up in our research that are often the most intriguing. For reasons we can’t seem to remember, our Research Department found itself pursuing Washington, D.C.’s Evening […]
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