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 […]
The American Origin of the German Chocolate Cake
Words Created by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was unquestionably one of the greatest influencers of English literature. He was also an unequaled contributor to the English language itself. Many of the words you have used in the […]
The Unlikely Origin of a Comic Book Legend
Joe and Jerry had an idea that was sure to be a goldmine. The 18-year-old high school students thought up a terrific story featuring a terrifying character. Between Jerry’s writing talents and […]
A Tale of Two Boys and Their Fathers’ Creations That Ruined Their Lives
Chris and Denny might as well have been brothers. They had so much in common — particularly their conflict with their fathers — that it almost looks as if they had the […]
How Did An Upstart Teenager Transform a Comic Book Legend?
It sounds like the plot to a comic book story. A teenage kid takes a shot at something no one ever expected to remember. He messes around with something way bigger than […]
What is the Origin of the “Red Sky in Morning” Warning?
“Red sky at night: sailors’ delight. Red sky in morning: sailors take warning.” This little rhyme is one of the first lessons any of us get about how to predict the weather. […]
What is the Real Reason Chicago is Known as the “Windy City”?
A city’s nickname can be just as powerful of an identifier as its proper name. Mention “Sin City,” and people think of Las Vegas. If you talk about the “Big Apple,” people […]
What Was the Forbidden Fruit in the Garden of Eden?
Even the most casual student of the Bible knows that Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden because they ate the forbidden fruit. Have you ever wondered what kind […]
Meet the Man Responsible for All the Spam Email You Ever Received
Some inventors regretted their creations so much that they actively worked to compensate for their misguided genius. Alfred Nobel was haunted by the realization of what his creation of dynamite would mean […]
No Bones About It: The Origin of the Chainsaw
The chainsaw is an essential tool for those who work with wood, but it is for the roughest of cuts. You would never want to use a chainsaw for anything that requires […]
The Original Version of The Little Mermaid Will Horrify You
The Little Mermaid has been one of Disney’s most successful and beloved movies. The story of Ariel overcoming obstacles and winning the love of a prince (not to mention some of the […]
Des Moines: the City That Got Its Name from a Practical Joke
The city of Des Moines is a jewel in the middle of Iowa. With skyscrapers breaking up the monotony of the prairie horizon and the gold-domed Iowa State Capitol building reflecting the […]
Meet the Phantom: the World’s First Superhero
While many people assume Superman was the first superhero, fandom actually owes recognition to another costumed crimefighter, who made his appearance two years ahead of the man from Krypton. The Phantom first […]
Big, Fat, Hairy Word Origin
When Thomas Savage attempted to develop the first scientific classification of the large primate we know as the gorilla, he reached back over 2,000 years and found a word in a long-filed […]
Where Did the Knock Knock Joke Start? Verily, the Answer May Surprise Thee
William Shakespeare did more than write the most famous plays and sonnets in English literature and contribute more than 1,700 words to the English language. He can also claim credit for inventing […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 