The Sisters of Plenitude are familiar to fans of BBC’s Doctor Who. The nuns lived on New Earth in New New York (technically, “New New New New New New New New New […]
The True Tale of the Meowing Nuns With Biting Issues
How an Overflowing Toilet Caused a Submarine to Sink
Few things are more distressing than an overflowing toilet. Aside from the utter revulsion at having one’s home invaded by the toilet’s contents and the need to get it cleaned up as […]
The American Origin of the German Chocolate Cake
Few things are as American as apple pie, unless, of course, you consider German chocolate cake. Despite its name, this delectable dessert originated in about as non-German of a location as you […]
Can You Crack the Code that Stumps the CIA?
It should not be surprising that CIA Headquarters is home to some of the world’s biggest secrets. What may raise your eyebrows is the fact that one of its biggest secrets is […]
D-Day Shrapnel Makes Up 4% of the Sand on Omaha Beach
June 6, 1944, saw the greatest amphibious landing in the history of warfare. Over 150,000 Allied troops braved unrelenting enemy fire in order so they could regain a foothold on the continent […]
Breaking Out of Jail is Completely Legal in These Countries
Just about every society has imprisonment as a potential punishment for lawbreakers. In at least six countries, you might get sent to jail for breaking the law, but you won’t get in […]
I Gave East Germany An Island, and All I Got Was This Lousy Teddy Bear!
In the coldest days of the Cold War, two countries were special poster children in the category of “Communist Hold-out in the Midst of Western Democracies.” Those countries were Cuba and East […]
Berlin’s Modern Airport That Has Never Seen an Airplane
Airports are for airplanes. Airports are for aviation passengers. Airports are complex logistical partnerships of commerce, transportation, and technology that pump life into the economy. With its reputation for top-notch efficiency, Germany […]
The Wolves That Fought in World War I
War can bring about some uneasy alliances. In the right circumstances, opposing forces can sometimes be persuaded to stop killing each — for a little while, anyway. This happened on Christmas Day, […]
The Volcano That Triggered a Year Without Summer, Defeated an Empire, and Gave Birth to a Monster
In terms of volcano celebrity status, Mount Tambora’s name is rarely mentioned. If someone asks you to name a dramatic volcanic eruption, more than likely, it is Mount Vesuvius, Krakatoa, or Mount […]
Want to Rent An Entire Country?
People are used to using Airbnb for renting a room or a house for a few nights away from home. If you need a little more space — or perhaps you just […]
An Illuminating Strategy for Avoiding Destruction
The city of Konstanz, Germany was one of the few areas of Germany to emerge unharmed from World War II. While other communities endured devastating bombing by Allied air forces, this beautiful […]
Meet the POW Who Voluntarily Returned to Captivity
During World War I a British officer was released from a German POW camp to visit his mother. The release was conditioned on his promise that he return after his visit. He […]
A Word for the Next Time You Drive
Have you ever been at a loss for words because of the bad driving skills of another motorist? The Germans have come to the rescue with deppenfahrerbeaugung. It literally translates as “moron […]
The Cavalry Charges Into History
Few military maneuvers instill as many thoughts of heroism and daring as the cavalry charge. Rushing at full speed against an onslaught of enemy forces has inspired such poetic works Alfred, Lord […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 