One of the most famous opening passages of any novel comes from a book that is hardly recognized today. George Bulwer-Lytton introduced the world to Paul Clifford in 1830 with the words, […]
It Was a Dark and Stormy Opening Line
How a Boy With a Kite Helped Bridge Two Nations
On 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 […]
Odd Titles Make Riveting Reading and Draw Diagram Prizes
It is true that you can’t judge a book by its cover. It’s also true that the title of a book does not tell the whole story. Sometimes, however, the title tells […]
How Many Licks Does it Take To Get to the Tootsie Roll Center of a Tootsie Pop?
In 1970, the world was asked the question, “How many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?” The question was posed in an animated […]
The Award-Winning Great Dane With a Great Bladder
No account of the heroes of World War II can be complete without mentioning the two-time recipient of the Blue Cross medal. Juliana’s heroic acts included single-handedly defusing a bomb and saving […]
Cube-Shaped Wombat Poop and Other Scientific Breakthroughs
We at Commonplace Fun Facts are big fans of the Ig Nobel Prize and its mission to “first make people laugh, then make them think.” The list of 2019 laureates touched on […]
5 Minutes For An Oscar
It may take years to hone the acting skills necessary to win an academy award, but in terms of screen time, a few minutes will do it. In 1977, Beatrice Straight won […]
Awards and Arthritis
“I don’t deserve this award, but I have arthritis, and I don’t deserve that, either.” — Jack Benny Read about unusual awards. Read more funny quotes.
Don’t List These Awards on Your Resume, Pt. 2
There are occasions when an award or prize should not be proudly embraced by the recipient. These tongue-in-cheek “honors” supplement the ones listed in this article, highlighting developments in these areas in […]
Pucker Up and Kiss Your Allergies Goodbye
Countless songs, poems, and dramatic works have been written about the power of a kiss. You may have been unaware of one of the additional benefits of the exercise: allergy reduction. Dr. […]
Don’t List These Awards on Your Resume
In a world that cherishes personal achievement, there are some awards you probably don’t want to have associated with your name. Here are just a few: The Diagram Prize is awarded each […]
First Make People Laugh; Then Make Them Think
The “Ig Nobel Prizes” are a parody of the Nobel Prizes and are given each year for achievements that “first make people laugh, and then make them think”. They are presented by […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 