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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Ultracrepidarian: A Person Who Speaks Beyond Expertise

All of us know at least one person who loves to pontificate about things outside his or her expertise. Now we know what to call that annoying person.
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Doggie Hamlet Brought to You By Your Tax Dollars

“There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” (“Hamlet”, Act I, Scene 5) When Shakespeare wrote those immortal words, one wonders if even he could have imagined some of the strangeness that would take place in his name. Consider, for example, “Doggie Hamlet,” a theatrical production featuring…
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The Tantalizing Tale of the Trademarked Tarzan Yell

Learn the complicated and interesting story of the Tarzan yell and how it came to be one of the most recognized sounds in the world.
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How the Wilhelm Scream Became One of Hollywood’s Biggest Easter Eggs

The Wilhelm Scream: you’ve heard it countless times without knowing what it is. Find out in this insightful article.
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Two Musical Geniuses Separated by a Wall and 200 Years

In the 2020 movie Bill & Ted Face the Music, Jimi Hendrix teams up with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and a number of other musical geniuses from history to perform a song that will connect everyone, breaking the barriers of space and time. While that story is clearly fiction, it does seem there is something that…
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Cut Loose of the Misuse of the Mispronounced Name of Dr. Seuss

Theodor Geisel is known around the world by his pen name Dr. Seuss. The author and illustrator of more than 60 children’s books such as The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and Horton Hears a Who!, Dr. Seuss’s books have sold over 600 million copies in more than 20 languages. If you…
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The Latest Gossip About What to Call Someone Who Gossips

We all know that person who just has to have the latest news — good or bad — about everyone. You might think of that person as a busybody or a gossip. Whatever the name, we all profess to despise the practice while simultaneously crave to hear whatever that person has to say. The practice…
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The Foul Story of Baseball’s Unluckiest Fan

The baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Giants on August 17, 1957, is one for the history books. What made the game so memorable wasn’t anything like a no-hitter, extra innings, or even an impressive final score. This was a game that would go into the books because of two foul…
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Seven Monarchs For 465 Days

Between November 9, 1683, and February 6, 1685, (465 days), the nation now known as the United Kingdom had seven current and future monarchs alive at the same time. Charles II Born: May 29, 1630 Reign (King of Scotland): January 30, 1649 – September 3, 1651 Reign (King of England, Scotland, and Ireland): May 29,…
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How Did Star Wars Nearly Cause a Real War?

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…. Well, actually, not that long ago, and much closer to home… Let’s start this again. Back in 1976, in the deserts of Tunisia, the suspicious activities caused neighboring Libya to prepare for war. The suspicious activities involved people and vehicles from a long time ago…
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Herbert Hoover’s Expectations

“My country owes me nothing. It gave me, as it gives every boy and girl, a chance. It gave me schooling, independence of action, opportunity for service and honor.” — Herbert Hoover
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Giving the Boot to the Star Wars Shoe Asteroid Myth

According to legend, some asteroids in Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back were potatoes and one was a shoe. Is this true?
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Vending Machines Are More Deadly Than Sharks

They have invaded human society so completely that they can be found in all areas of life. Businesses, hospitals, schools, and even police stations are their habitat. These silent killers lure their unsuspecting victims with enticements of candy, soda, and chips. They appear to be harmless, but they are more deadly than sharks. Who are…
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When Churchill Got His Foot Caught on a Dangling Preposition

Few people have ever commanded such a mastery of the English language as Winston Churchill. He labored over his speeches and writing, carefully selecting just the right words in just the right order to accomplish their intended purpose. Once he settled on the way to express his thoughts, he did not take kindly to anyone’s…
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How Do Dogs Bark in Other Languages?

Who knew that animals are like people in having to learn other languages to be understood in different cultures? It may seem that the basic sound made by dogs, “woof,” would be universally understood. Curiously, an English-speaking (English-barking?) dog might be hopelessly confused in another country. Consider Russia, where dogs say, “gav gav,” or France,…
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