Tourists visiting France soon learn that certain things can really irritate the natives. Daring to desecrate French bread with butter, speaking English, or mispronouncing a French word are just a few of […]
Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité… and Trousers
Scotland’s Problem With Christmas
If you are looking for a traditional Christmas, Scotland has just about everything you could want. A deep reverence and emphasis on faith provide the religious elements. The pristine, snowy Highlands offer […]
It is Illegal to Sell Infants in Pennsylvania
The Commonplace Fun Facts Legal Department tells us that laws are supposed to be reasonable. Apparently, this concept doesn’t apply to legal advice, however. That one sentence generated a bill for $362.11.
North Carolina Prohibits Attending a Meeting in Costume
Let’s face it — meetings can be tedious. Anything that can introduce a measure of entertainment or levity is generally welcome. Consider the most tedious meeting that you have attended in the […]
Law & Order – Hammurabi’s Code Division
In Babylon’s criminal justice system, the people were governed by a code of justice and the king who wrote that code. These are their stories. Welcome to Law and Order: Hammurabi’s Code […]
What Was the Original Purpose of a Strip Search?
In compiling your list of the things you’d like to do over the holidays, it’s highly unlikely participating in a strip search is anywhere close to the top of the list. If […]
Why Call a Lawyer When You Can Summon a Prince to Help Through Clameur de Haro
What do you do if someone is occupying or infringing on your rights to your land? Yes, you could call the police, or you could bring a lawsuit against the offender. Or […]
It is Illegal in Georgia to Sell a Child Under the Age of 12 to a Circus
For anyone who is hoping to make money through the sale of children to circuses, be careful when conducting business in Georgia. The state has imposed a minimum age for such a […]
Black Underwear For Umpires and Other Weird Baseball Rules
Even the uninitiated know a few basic facts about the rules of baseball. Everyone knows the game is played on a diamond-shaped arrangement of four bases, and if the batter swings three […]
Visit the Zone of Death Where You Can Legally Get Away With Murder
Imagine a place where it is possible to get away with murder — legally. We’re not talking about walking away from a crime that is so fiendishly executed by a criminal mastermind […]
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 […]
There May Be More Tigers in Texas Than Roaming Wild in the Rest of the World
If you want to find a lot of tigers, most of us would imagine a journey to India or western Asia. Few would think to plan a trip to Texas. Even so, […]
Breaking Out of Jail is Completely Legal in These Countries
Just about every society has imprisonment as a potential punishment for lawbreakers. In at least six countries, you might get sent to jail for breaking the law, but you won’t get in […]
British Brake for Dogs, But Not Cats
Drivers in the United Kingdom whose cars collide with a dog are required to file a report with the police. If they hit a cat, no one seems to care. The law […]
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 […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 