If you send many Christmas cards, this is the time of year when several are returned to you because of an out-of-date address. In the United States, the average person moves 11.7 […]
Why A Boat in the Detroit River Has Its Own ZIP Code
Vinegar Valentines — When You Care Enough to Send Something Truly Insulting
The Victorian era is remembered for its civility and good manners. Valentine’s Day cards are synonymous with love and affection. Theoretically, that period should have produced nothing but elegant, heart-warming cards that […]
That Time a Missile Successfully Struck a U.S. Military Base — and Why It Didn’t Start WWIII
It was during some of the scariest days of the Cold War that the submarine surfaced off the coast of the United States. On the submarine was the most powerful cruise missile […]
Why Do Thousands of Mysterious Arrows Cover the USA?
You can be driving through what appears to be the middle of nowhere when you see it. With no explanation as to its presence in that place, you will find a massive […]
How Much Do You Know About Santa Claus?
One of the most recognized people in the world is that jolly, old elf, Santa Claus. Everything about him — his beard, hat, coat, belly, and even his distinctive laugh — immediately […]
The Jolly Old Elf With a Jolly Ol’ Address
Many people have difficulty remembering to stay on Santa’s “Nice” list throughout the year, but remembering his address is much simpler.
Some Slick Stories Surrounding the Slinky
They say some people are like Slinky’s — they’re not really good for anything, but they bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs. If […]
The Postmaster General is the Second-Highest Paid Person in U.S. Government
If the importance of a position is measured by the paycheck, it makes sense that the President of the United States draws the biggest salary of federal government officials. Using salary as […]
Tax Strategies for the Apocalypse
By some miracle, you have survived the disaster that has ushered in the apocalypse. Perhaps it was a nuclear war, asteroid strike, pandemic, or even zombies. Scarcely a month has gone by, […]
Eight Years Trapped at Sea: the Story of the Yellow Fleet
You may have always dreamt of spending extended time sailing on a ship. What would you think about spending eight years on that ship, wondering if you would ever be able to […]
The Postage Stamp Responsible for the Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is so inseparably linked to the nation of Panama that it is difficult to imagine it existing anywhere else. As it turns out, the site for the canal was […]
Mo Udall’s Political Wit
Morris “Mo” Udall (June 15, 1922 – December 12, 1998) served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1961 to 1991. He sought the Democratic nomination for President in 1976. Although he […]
When Landing an Aircraft at the U.S. Capitol Gets You Charged with Impersonating a Postal Vehicle.
Doug Hughes was upset about a lack of progress in campaign finance reform. He wrote letters to members of Congress, urging them to take immediate action. Apparently believing too much time had […]
The Price of Freedom Equals the Cost of Postage
If $86 seems like a lot to pay for postage — especially in 1849 — you might think differently if you realized that was how much it cost to buy one man […]
The Good Fortune and Bad Luck of the Most Expensive Item Ever Mailed
The most valuable item known to have been shipped by U.S. mail was the Hope Diamond. It was shipped from a New York City jewelry store on November 8, 1958, and sent […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 