In the realm of science fiction, one of the most formidable fighters of all time is a Terminator. These robotic soldiers from the future are the ultimate killing machine because they are […]
The Unkillable General Adrian Carton de Wiart
Does Beautiful Art Make You Sick?
A sure sign of getting older is when you struggle to make sense of the younger generation’s lingo. For those of Generation X or older, declaring that something is “sick” means that […]
Prisencolinensinainciusol — The Nonsensical Hit Song that Sounds Like English to Non-English Speakers
Italian pop star Adriano Celentano wrote a song that rose to hit No. 1 on Italy’s music charts but wasn’t in Italian. It was inspired by English, but its words weren’t from […]
The Pastabilities Are Endless — The History and Varieties of Pasta
Nothing says “Italy” quite like pasta. The flavors, smells, shapes, and even the names of the many-varied noodles are as Italian as Italian can be.
Switzerland’s Air Force — Now Able to Defend the Skies, Even During Lunch Hour
The high drama of the hijacking of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 702 ended without bloodshed. After the plane landed in Geneva, Swiss authorities took the hijacker into custody, and all 202 passengers and […]
The True Tale of the Meowing Nuns With Biting Issues
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 […]
France Says Sacré Bleu! When it Orders the Wrong Size of Trains
If you accidentally purchase the wrong size of pants, it’s no big deal; as long as you have the receipt, you can exchange them for something that will fit. If only it […]
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 […]
One of History’s Bloodiest Wars Was Fought Over a Bucket
Commonplace Fun Facts has documented a war fought over a pig, a war against emus, and another that was fought over spilled soup. None of this can quite compare to one of […]
From Tyrant Teacher to Despicable Dictator
Benito Mussolini started out as a school teacher. He soon realized he was unsuited for the job. This was no shock to his students, who conferred a nickname upon their teacher: “The […]
Get Two Trees for the Price of One with the Double Tree of Casorzo
Poet Joyce Kilmer famously opined that he would never see a poem as lovely as a tree. If one tree struck his fancy, one wonders what he would have said if he […]
The Army That Grows While Deployed
For such a tiny country, Liechtenstein has a very colorful history — particularly as it relates to matters of the military. It is one of only 15 countries in the world without […]
Banking on Italian Values and the American Dream
Amadeo P. Giannini was proud of the Italian heritage he inherited from his immigrant parents. Although born in California as an American citizen, Giannini was raised to value the culture of his […]
Smiling: It’s Not Just a Good Idea — It’s the Law
In Milan, Italy the law requires everyone to smile at all times, unless attending a funeral or visiting the hospital. source
The Early Bird Gets the Worm … and the Cheese It Lives In
Casu marzu is a type of cheese found mainly in Sardinia, Italy. It is distinctive in that it contains live maggots. The maggots — larvae of the cheese fly (Piophila casei), are translucent […]
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