Incentives. We love them. Without our parents’ offer of a cash bonus for good grades, we probably would have totally blown off Mrs. Smethels’ Home Economics class in 8th grade. The incentive […]
Beware the Unintended Consequences of the Cobra Effect
Fugitive Charlie’s Fearful Flight
Charlie was a fugitive. He had been running for a long time. It felt as if everyone had turned against him. He was at one of the lowest points of his life. […]
The First Driver to Exceed 100 km/h and His Freaky Prediction About His Death
It seems that every week brings reports of new advancements with electric vehicles. It’s easy to think electric cars are a new phenomenon, but they are nearly as old as the automobile, […]
The Bridge That Wouldn’t Work Because of a Misplaced Remote Control
Admit it. We’re all guilty of setting the remote control somewhere and losing track of it. Even though the television is less than 10 feet away, we’ll hunt around for 15 minutes, […]
Wearing the Crown Brings Some Unusual Rights
Historically, royalty carries with it inherent aspects of sovereignty, power, and might. To wear the crown is to have the ability to yell, “Off with their heads!” and have the command carried […]
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: […]
What’s the Difference Between Great Britain and the United Kingdom?
Have you ever wondered how you are supposed to refer to that nation that is home to Queen Elizabeth II? Are you supposed to call it England? Great Britain? The United Kingdom? […]
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 […]
Grave Irish Humor
President Ronald Reagan liked to tell the story about the time he and Nancy visited a cemetery in Ireland. They came across an old gravestone, on which was carved this inscription: Remember […]
A Dog’s Loyalty is a High Honor
The love and loyalty of man’s best friend is not something that should be taken for granted. No one recognized this fact better than the Irish. There, the dog (known in Celtic […]
Around the World with a Baby Carriage
The Earl of Lonsdale accepted a bet from his friend John Pierpoint Morgan that no man could circumnavigate the globe, on foot, without being recognized. The wager didn’t end there. By 1908, […]
Do You See Me Now? How About Now?
Dr. “Jackey” Barrett of Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland, was as well known for his eccentricities as he was for his ability to teach Hebrew. As a rule he prefaced everything he said […]
The Luck of the Irish to Have It
The oldest known manuscript of the New Testament of the Holy Bible is housed in the Chester Beatty Library, next to Dublin Castle, in Dublin City Center. source
Commonplace Fun Facts 