We’ve been making Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader for 30 years now, and to think, before we came along, people had to read magazines in the bathroom. Magazines?! They’re so unreliable! They can just up and fold at any time—like these ones did. Dynamite Scholastic publishes children’s books—including Harry Potter in the U.S. But before that, […]
Paul McCartney was “the cute Beatle,” Ringo Starr was “the funny Beatle,” and George Harrison was “the sequel Beatle.” Continuations of stories are obviously common in movies, books, and TV shows. Not so much in the world of music, probably because modern pop and rock songs don’t tell full stories, but rather present feelings or […]
Some dinosaurs are extinct…and others we only wish were extinct—like Barney. You have to wonder why anyone thought the Barney blitz would succeed…and then you have to wonder why it did. Here’s one version, written by Jack Mingo, the author of How the Cadillac Got Its Fins.
Most airport names are self-explanatory: Denver International Airport, or Los Angeles International Airport, for example. But what about all those major airports that have been named after major figures? Ever been to one and wondered about the person they’re named after, and you didn’t know because you weren’t from that area? Here are those stories. […]
It’s summertime: Will you be spending it riding rides at one of America’s many
theme parks? Get ready by taking this quiz…which is also a great way to kill
some time while you’re waiting in line to ride those rides!
In 2013, Doctor Who head writer Stephen Moffatt said that it wouldn’t “feel right” to cast a woman in the lead role of the iconic, long-running BBC science-fiction series. But it’s 2017, and new showrunner Chris Chibnall got to pick a new performer to replace the outgoing Peter Capaldi. His first choice: British actress Jodie […]
Want to win the lottery? Some words of caution: It ain’t always a “win.”
Is there a more beautiful sight in the world then to walk into the breakroom at work and find a big pink box of doughnuts? Just sitting there, waiting, full of delicious doughy treats covered in icing, glazes, nuts, and, if you’re really lucky, sprinkles. But while it’s no mystery why doughnuts are so delicious […]
More than 30 years after the first Super Bowl broadcast, the halftime show is no longer just something to fill TV airtime while the football players rest—it’s now a spectacle unto itself. Here are some highlights.
So what side of the debate do you take—are you offended by public nudity, or are you offended by people who are offended by it?
Theme songs are literally an introduction to a TV show. They set the tone, give a little information about the characters and plot…and then get stuck in your head forever. Several have become so ingrained in the collective consciousness that it’s been almost totally forgotten that they weren’t the series’ original theme songs.
The world of varsity athletics isn’t all football and basketball. There are a lot more kooky options to get the student body going rah-rah-siss-boom-bah.
Some kitchen tools are must-haves because they do so many different things—a food processor can chop and blend and mix, for example. In other words, they’re useful necessities. Unlike these real kitchen gadgets you can actually buy. Musical Cake Slicer Isn’t it so hard to cut a birthday cake and sing “Happy Birthday” at the […]
If you work in an office, you’ll probably recognize most of these personality types. Just preparing to enter the workforce? Use this as a guide for whom—or what—to avoid. (Uncle John is a Pontificator.)
It seems like some things are so far in the past, while others just happened a few days ago. Here’s are a few comparisons to show how tricky time can be, even in the world of pop culture. Will Smith After becoming a successful rapper while still a teenager in the ’80s, Will Smith turned […]
Like many Americans, some of Elvis’s favorite toys were his guns. And when he wasn’t shooting, he liked to pretend he was a karate champ. Some details:
July 14 is Bastille Day, also known as French National Day. It commemorates the “Storming of the Bastille” on this day in 1789, thereby beginning the French Revolution. Did you already know that? How well do you know about other famous French stuff?
What if you won the lottery and became an instant millionaire? Would you lose your head and burn through the money? Or would you keep your cool and invest? (Tip: Uncle John would invest in toilet futures.)
