When Winston Churchill donated his home to the United Kingdom’s National Trust, he did so with the request that there always be a marmalade cat named Jock, with a white bib and […]
Churchill’s Bequest for a Marmalade Cat
Charles Vance Millar: The Man Who Laughed From Beyond the Grave
To be a good practical joker, you need to have patience. Timing of a joke is everything. By that measure, Charles Vance Millar had all the makings of being one of the […]
The Very Long and Very Short of Last Wills and Testaments
When it comes to a Last Will and Testament, there are rules mandating how short or long it may be. Take a lesson from the following extremes of the shortest and longest […]
The Philosopher Who Taught Everyone How to Face Death By Having Everyone Look at His Dead Face
English philosopher Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832) was the founder of utilitarianism. The philosophy espouses the idea that each one should do the things that will result in the most total happiness. Considering that […]
Should Abraham Lincoln Have Been a Pastor?
As often as Abraham Lincoln referred to faith issues in speeches and ordinary conversation, one wonders if he may have felt a call toward pastoral ministry. An incident in the decade before […]
Benjamin Franklin and the Bequest Made From a Dare
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) has been credited with calling compound interest the eighth wonder of the world. Whether he actually said that is a matter of debate, but the fact that he believed […]
She Was Trouble in Life And Provided for Trouble in Death
New York hotel magnate Leona Helmsley left $12 million for the upkeep of her Maltese terrier, Trouble. The will was successfully contested, however, leaving Trouble with only $2 million. The dog still […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 