As we enter into Mother’s Day weekend in the United States, we present this article from Waxing Poet, regarding the origins of this special day. Give thanks this day for your mother. […]
Remembering the Origins of Mother’s Day
How a $40 Overdue Fine Created Netflix
Some people face hardships, concede that they are inevitable, and deal with them. Others can see the same difficulties and be pummeled into defeat or paralyzed into inaction. Then we have the […]
How Do You Pronounce GIF?
There’s nothing we like better than to be able to write about a totally non-controversial subject. It is difficult to express our joy when the matter is so clear and accepted that […]
How a Chef’s Flash of Inspiration Created the Nachos
Ignacio was faced with a dilemma. Like all other chefs, he was always looking for novel dishes that would draw new customers. Rarely did he have to come up with something new […]
Why Grammar Nerds Get Sick to Their Stomachs When You Say You Are Nauseous
Have you ever used the excuse of staying home, saying, “I feel nauseous”? You probably meant that you weren’t feeling well, and that is the way most people interpreted your words. It’s […]
The Accidental Ascendency of @
Some call it “at.” Others know it as “each.” The Italians refer to it as a “snail.” To the Dutch, it is the “monkey tail.” This curious symbol, known by so many […]
The First Email Was a Typo and Took an Hour to Send
Have you ever waited impatiently for an important email, wishing your internet connection wasn’t so slow? When that email arrived, did it generate more questions than answers? If that has been your […]
Why Do Movies Insist that Similarities to Real People Are Purely Coincidental?
Guardians of the Galaxy is a 2014 movie by Marvel Studios. It features some entertaining-but-implausible characters. An anthropomorphic raccoon, sentient tree-like creature, and green-skinned alien woman travel throughout the galaxy, alternately fleeing […]
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 […]
Words That No Longer Mean What They Used To
Everyone reading this is a girl. You lived much of your life in the Matrix. You’re really not all that fantastic; in fact, you’re really quite awful. Even before you were born, […]
You Will Be Surprised At the Words Invented By Presidents
In a slight departure from normalcy, the premise of this article may sound a little iffy, but we certainly don’t want to encourage a bunch of muckrakers or squatters by sugarcoating or […]
The Remarkable Accidental Creation of the Chocolate Chip Cookie
Necessity is the mother of invention. That adage certainly proved true for Ruth Graves Wakefield, the creator of one of the most popular treats ever.
What is the Real Story of Humpty Dumpty?
One of the first rhymes learned by children is “Humpty Dumpty.” We all know that poor ol’ Humpty was an anthropomorphic egg who, despite his fragile physique, unwisely sat on a wall. […]
Coffee, Crypts, Bones, and Friars — the Origin of the Cappuccino
What do coffee, crypts, bones, and friars have in common? No, they aren’t the ingredients for a misguided Halloween party theme. They are, instead, the basis for what may be one of […]
The Disturbing and Decidedly-Unromantic Origin of the Honeymoon
Today, the concept of a honeymoon is completely wonderful. The newly-married couple gets away for a few days of romantic bliss, making sure that their life-long commitment begins on a happy note. […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 