Weird, Wonderful World
“Common knowledge” is frequently wrong. Here are some examples of things that many people believe…but that, according to our sources, just aren’t true. Sushi Myth: Sushi is raw fish. Fact: Technically, sushi isn’t fish at all. The name of this Japanese dish refers to the vinegared rice, which often is topped with raw seafood. But […]
Save these classic curses to use against people who refuse to toast you. May the curse of Mary Maline and her nine blind children chase you so far over the hills of Damnation that the Lord himself won’t find you with a telescope. May your daughter’s beauty be admired by everyone in the circus. May […]
It’s a bizarre Internet phenomenon: Old pictures or videos pop up, and somebody in them looks like they’re using modern-day technology. Are we just seeing things wrong…or are these time-travelers caught on camera? If you could go back in time, what would you do? Warn people about coming tragedies? Invest in the stock market? Or […]
What kind of person would think you can learn and have fun at the same time? (Uh-oh—don’t tell Uncle John we said that.) STACKING RINGS Cornelius Holgate started a small family carpentry business outside Philadelphia in 1789. It thrived over the years, but in 1929, the Holgates finally found their niche: wooden toys. Child psychologist […]
GIVEAWAY CLOSED! Welcome to another amazing June is Bathroom Reading Month giveaway. It’s true that we have a love for reading in the bathroom year-round. But, June is when we can celebrate it with all of our fans. For our grand prize this year, we are thrilled to offer an entire set of Uncle John’s Bathroom […]
Father’s Day will be here before you know it. Is your dad a beer guy? Get your shopping done early and order up Beer-Topia in our store. It’s full of stories and pieces like this one.
Here, ladies and gentlemen, are the stories behind some well-known products (and one character) who prefer to be addressed as “Mister.” Mr. COFFEE In the 1968, Vincent Marotta and Sam Glazer, highschool friends who became partners in a small construction company, decided to start a coffee delivery service. Obsessed with finding a way for people […]
Hairstyles can define a time period as much as music or clothes. Here are the stories behind some iconic styles of yesteryear. Beehive Margaret Vinci Heldt, who owned Margaret Vinci Coiffures in Chicago, won the National Coiffure Championship—a tournament for hairdressers to introduce and invent new hairstyles—in 1954. A few years later, a hairdresser trade […]
In our quest to not cook up a bland book, our seasoned researchers spiced things up with a dash of tasty origins. ALLSPICE Allspice grows naturally in the West Indies and Central America, where Spanish explorers discovered it in the 16th century. They thought the shrubby tree’s fruit looked like peppercorns, so they called the […]
You probably know that red roses symbolize love and passion, but you may not know that the color, number, and how roses are combined have coded meanings dating to the Victorian era. Here’s a guide to sending the perfect bouquet. 1 red rose: “I like you.” 6 red roses: “I adore you.” A dozen red […]
Our favorite childhood classics make us feel as snug as a bunny in bed. Here’s a look at what’s down the rabbit hole. GOODNIGHT MOON “Goodnight light and the red balloon…” Margaret Wise Brown wrote more than 100 books for children, but her most famous is Goodnight Moon, published in 1947. It was a revolutionary […]
We were driven to write this post on unusual cars. PHILION ROAD CARRIAGE: One of the oldest American automobiles, patented in 1892 by showman Achille Philion. It had a 2-cylinder, 1 horsepower, steam-powered engine; had a movable steering wheel (it could go on the front or back of the car); and could reach 8 mph. The […]
Ever watched rounders and fish splash the pot until they’re down to the felt? If so, you’ve seen some serious poker players. They have their own language, too. Ante up! All in: Bet all your chips Down to the felt: So broke all you see in front of you is the green felt of the […]
Fascinating origins that answer the question: What lies beneath? CORSET Meaning: A stiffened undergarment extending from a woman’s hips to below her chest, to support and shape the torso Origin: Corset is Old French for “little body,” from the Latin corpus, or “body.” (Body—later bodice—was used to refer to the part of a dress that […]
Stop watching Netflix for a minute and read these facts about Netflix. CEO Reed Hastings got the idea for a company where uses pay a monthly fee to keep out DVDs—instead of a fee to rent a single movie for a day or two, and then incur late charges—in 1997. He’d returned Apollo 13 […]
In 1976 the United States celebrated its bicentennial. Here is a look at how much things cost 40 years ago! (1) Want to watch a movie at home? There’s a new invention called a VCR that sells for a mere $1,600. (2) Rather attend the theater to see the year’s hottest flicks, like Rocky or Network? […]
These spider facts are more scared of you than you are of them. SPIDERS ARE SNEAKY! Ever seen a newborn spider? No? That’s because they’re colorless (and tiny), making them virtually invisible to predators…and you. Hundreds can colonize your home and by the time you realize it, they’re all fully grown. THEY CAN SEE YOU! […]
When you think about it, baseball is kind of an absurd game: hit a ball with a stick, and then run around a square as fast as you can. But that’s nothing compared to these real games and sports played around the world. Contest: The Tough Guy Played in: England How it’s played: This grueling […]
