The weather couldn’t have been better for travel. As Charlie made his way home by train, neither he nor his fellow passengers had any clue that they were headed toward an unspeakable […]
The Disaster That Haunted An Unlikely Hero
O Holy Night — Merry Christmas to All
Among the most beloved Christmas carols is “O Holy Night. It was written to commemorate the renovation of the church organ in Roquemaure, France. Town native Placide Cappeau wrote the lyrics in […]
The Christmas When Charlie Got Stuck in the Snow
It’s funny how things that seem so ordinary to us can be extraordinary for others. For most of us, having a car ride end with being stuck in the snow would register […]
Scotland’s Problem With Christmas
If you are looking for a traditional Christmas, Scotland has just about everything you could want. A deep reverence and emphasis on faith provide the religious elements. The pristine, snowy Highlands offer […]
The First Turkey Pardoned By a President
The U.S. Constitution gives the President virtually unlimited authority to grant pardons to anyone facing federal charges. Except for William Henry Harrison and James Garfield, all of the nation’s chief executives have […]
Be Prepared for Something of Great Interest to Follow
It was a cold night in the Atlantic Ocean. The crew ship that was operated by the United Fruit Company thought it was going to be an ordinary evening. Then the radio […]
The Face Behind the Most-Famous Self Portrait
Take a close look at the face of the man in the picture above. Do you recognize him? Look again. You have seen his face more times than you can count, but […]
JFK Checked to Make Sure Santa Was Safe From Russian Nuke Tests
With all the responsibilities that fall upon the President of the United States, it’s nice to know he has time to check in on the welfare of Santa Claus.
Reagan Reflects on Reason for Christmas
“Christmas can be celebrated in the school room with pine trees, tinsel and reindeer, but there must be no mention of the man whose birthday is being celebrated. One wonders how a […]
Merry Christmas!
Skye, the official Commonplace Fun Facts Canine Consultant, Contributor, and Commander-in-Chief has remained vigilant throughout the night to safeguard Santa’s passage down the chimney.
The Unlikely Origin of One of the Best-Loved Christmas Songs
It is almost impossible to imagine Christmas without thinking of all the songs that go with the day. There are enough holiday tunes to fill the season, and many are so beloved […]
Finland’s Reflecting Reindeer Plan … And How It Turned Out
Once upon a time, there was a reindeer. It was a very special reindeer because part of its body glowed brightly in the night. If it weren’t for that unnatural light source, […]
That Time the President Gave the Pope a Strange Christmas Present
It is hard enough coming up with just the right Christmas gift when you have a year to plan for it. What do you do when you need to choose an appropriate […]
How to Become a Professional Santa Claus
All schools have a code of conduct, but some put a particular emphasis on keeping a list of who’s been naughty and who’s been nice. If you want to make the spreading […]
Largest Rube Goldberg Machine Lights Up the Holidays
Cartoonist Rube Goldberg (1883-1970) achieved fame for his popular cartoons in which he depicted ridiculously complicated machines invented by Professor Lucifer Gorgonzola Butts. Devices of this sort are now known as Rube […]
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