Welcome to Iowa…Or Is It Nebraska?
The weird story of Carter Lake, an Iowa city that’s actually in Nebraska.
Weird, Wonderful World
Car Talk: Automobile Records and Firsts
What did the first police car look like? What about the first solar car? Learn about these and other automobile firsts in this article from Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader History’s Lists.
7 Fun Facts About American Currency
Did you know, Just under half of all money in circulation are $1 bills? Here are other fun facts about the American currency.
Ask Uncle John Anything: We’ve Got Crackers
Uncle John knows pretty much everything—and if he doesn’t, he heads his massive research library, or puts one of his many associates on the case. So go ahead: In the comments below, ask Uncle John anything. (And if we answer your question sometime, we’ll send you a free book!) How did oyster crackers get their […]
3 Places With Bad Insect Problems
Looking to book a vacation? You may want to think twice about visiting these locales during certain times of the year.
The Week in Beer News
All the latest news about brews, brought to you by Uncle John’s Beer-Topia. Beerhemian Rhapsody There are lots of beers named after musicians (or brewed with the cooperation of musicians), including ones inspired by Motohead, Smash Mouth, Wilco, and Slayer. The classic rock band Queen is getting one, too. To celebrate the anniversary of “Bohemian […]
3 Interesting Celebrity Museums
You’ve been to Graceland and you’ve visited the Roy Rogers Museum, but you’re still hungry for a celebrity fix? Here are some other destinations for your next road trip. The Ernest Hemingway Museum House Location: Key West, Florida Features: Hemingway, his wife Pauline, and their two sons lived in this two-story Spanish Colonial-style home from […]
The Theme Park That Cocaine Built
Pablo Escobar was one of Colombia’s most notorious drug lords, and made enough money to build himself an elaborate estate. It’s an amusement park now.
12 Interesting Facts About Apples
Did you know most apple harvests are still picked by hand? Here are 12 other interesting facts about apples you may not know. 1. Some apple varieties are as small as cherries. Others are as large as grapefruits. 2. Maria Ann Sherwood Smith found the first Granny Smith apple growing in her Australian orchard in […]
From the High Desert, It’s Art Bell
Art Bell has been (mostly) off the air for over a decade but, in honor of his return to radio, here’s a quick look at his bizarre career.
6 More Weird July Holidays You Ought to Celebrate
If you’re not still too tired from the Fourth of July and Canada Day, there’s always… July 20: Moon Day This one isn’t such a weird holiday: It honors what is perhaps humanity’s greatest achievement: traveling to the moon and back. It was on this day in 1969 that the “Eagle” Lunar Module touched down […]
Planet Pizza
According to Mrs. Uncle John, pizza—bread, tomatoes, and cheese—is the perfect food. But in many countries, that’s not how it’s made.
8 Facts About Vincent Van Gogh
Van Gogh died in 1890. Here is a look back on the life of one of the most popular, important—and tragic—artists of all time. 1. Van Gogh suffered from a number of mental and physical maladies over his lifetime, including severe depression and migraines. The depression informed his work, as did his migraines: Some art […]
RIP, Inventor of the Pink Flamingo and Text Messaging
They weren’t the same person. Here’s a look at two guys who, for better or for worse, changed modern life.
Root Beer-Topia: Fun Facts About Root Beer
Did you just polish off the last drops of Uncle John’s Beer-Topia? Then pour yourself a glass of facts about that other frosty beverage. Craft Root Beer Craft brewing has revolutionized beermaking, with thick, hefty, hop-loaded ales slowly gaining market share away from lighter lagers like Budweiser. Those same “major microbreweries” are also giving large-scale […]
Ask Uncle John Anything: Mmmm…Doughnuts
The concept dates back to the 1930s and 1940s. Before the proliferation of fast food restaurants and convenience stores, there weren’t a lot of places for swing shift or overnight workers to get a bite to eat or a cup of coffee. By and large, American restaurants opened shortly before normal breakfast hours and closed shortly after normal dinner hours.
Down the Rabbit Hole: 5 Facts About ‘Alice in Wonderland’
The beloved children’s novel is celebrating its 150th birthday this year. Or is next year its “unbirthday”?
Some Sweet Surfing Slang
Now that you know all these surfer slang terms, the only thing stopping you from going surfing is the ability to surf.
