When it comes to a Last Will and Testament, there are rules mandating how short or long it may be. Take a lesson from the following extremes of the shortest and longest […]
The Very Long and Very Short of Last Wills and Testaments
Is It Illegal to Die in This Norwegian Town?
Governments have been known to criminalize things such as cursing, making jokes of national leaders with funny names, and even time travel movies. Rules and regulations have become so cumbersome that it […]
An Artist Who Put Himself Into His Work
Mark Gruenwald was best known for his work with Marvel Comics and serving as Executive Editor of Captain America and Iron Man. After a fatal heart attack in 1996, an interesting request […]
People Are Dying to Get Out Of Here
Death is one thing we can all count on, but we try not to dwell on it. Although it is a certainty for everyone, it always seems to take us by surprise. […]
Death Comes from Above
How can suicide be the cause of death and not be self-inflicted? How about when the suicide of one person causes the death of another? Such an unfortunate event happened on August […]
Disagreeable or Not, Guess What Happened?
When a concerned visitor expressed fear that actor John Barrymore’s latest illness would result in his death, Barrymore indignantly replied, “Die? I should say not, dear fellow. No Barrymore would allow such […]
I Always Thought He Had Beady Eyes…
In South Korea, a law passed in 2000 requires anyone burying a loved one to remove the grave after 60 years. Because of dwindling graveyard space and this resulting law, cremation has become […]
The Long Goodbye
In Tana Toraja in eastern Indonesia, funerals are major events, involving a feast that may be attended by thousands and last for several days. Because of the elaborate nature of the ceremony, […]
Dance With the Dead
In some parts of Madagascar, burying a loved one does not necessarily mean that’s the last you see of that person. The Malagasy tradition of Famadihana, known as the turning of the […]
Leaving With Approval
“I did not attend his funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.”– Mark Twain
Not a Good Candidate for a 30-Year Mortgage
The lifespan of a mayfly, once it reaches the adult stage, ranges from a few minutes to a few days, depending on the species. source
He Probably Wished He Had Bought A Parachute Company, Instead
Jimi Heselden, chairman of the company that manufactures Segways, died after driving his Segway off a cliff. source
No Tears Shed at This Funeral
Obituaries typically portray the dearly-departed in the best of light. That being the case, one can’t help but wonder what Dolores Aguilar (1929-2008) was really like. Consider this excerpt from her obituary, […]
Someone Needs to Pour Some Chlorine In That Gene Pool
Charles II of Spain (1661-1700) is widely regarded as one of the least competent kings to have reigned. He was the unhappy result of over a century of inbreeding within the Hapsburg […]
Dying is Easy. Comedy is Hard.
Andy Kaufman (1949-1984) was an entertainer known for elaborate pranks and hoaxes. He was so well known for this that when he died in 1984, rumors immediately started that he staged his […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 