It’s been called a voluntary tax on the poor and under educated, with people spending a whopping $60 billion a year in the United States alone on lottery tickets, most of which are purchased by low income individuals. (All total, about 20% of Americans play the lotto). Despite the high number of lotto tickets purchased annually, when playing the lottery […]
Read more
You should know how to easily tell if a number is divisible by 11. (many more fun math tricks below) As an example, we’ll use the number 10604. First, add up the odd number digits in the number: 1 + 6 + 4 = 11. Next, add up the even number digits: 0 + 0= 0. Now subtract the sum […]
Read more
Humans have invented a variety of amazingly cruel and unusual ways to kill or maim one another (often for shockingly arbitrary reasons). And, of course, wars tend to bring out the worst in people; so it’s not surprising that war-time executions can occasionally be among the most bizarre and cruel. On that note, I was recently reading the first volume […]
Read more
Trevor A. asks: Why did Coke try to switch to “New Coke”? It turns out there was actually (if you squint at the problem hard enough), a semi-good reason for doing the switch. It didn’t work out, of course… But then, it kind of did work out amazingly well at the same time, as you’ll soon see. Now, before I […]
Read more
Hostess announced today that they’re shutting down operations and selling off their assets owing to a worker strike that resulted in them having to file for bankruptcy. This means, for a little while at least, we’ll have to say goodbye to Twinkies and other delectable Hostess products. Although, it seems highly unlikely that it will be for very long on […]
Read more
Steph B. asks: Why do Diet Coke and Mentos react with each other? If you’ve ever wondered why Diet Coke and Mentos react so strongly to one another, well, wonder no more. To start, it should be noted that it’s not just Diet Coke and Mentos that “react”; other carbonated beverages will also readily respond to the addition of Mentos. […]
Read more
Today I found out the origin of the term “jackpot”. Jackpot originally popped up around the 1870s and was from the poker game “Jacks or Better”. This is much like traditional five card draw, except in this case, if a player does not have a pair of “jacks or better” in the first round of betting, he has to pass. […]
Read more
So I thought I should post this interview I did on WGN Radio last night for those of you that like to listen, rather than read. In it Bill Leff and I discuss a variety of interesting facts ranging from from Spy Kitties to Nuking the Moon.
Read more
The man who found me brought me home because he couldn’t find me. The more he looked for me; the more he felt my presence. When he finally found me; he threw me away. I hold many things, but no one holds me. The more they remove, the larger I get. I live between two worlds, both inside and out. […]
Read more
My red eye looks upon you With burning my tears flow My sorrow is something that you’ll never know At birth I have no blood nor bone My insides highly sought My death no one will ever atone As I fry in places hot My father gave me this and I passed it to my son. Though the three of […]
Read more
Many who make me are chased Others who make me are raced If mortal peril you’re faced Make me with your shoes laced Every language do I speak Even when the caller be Greek The caller and I always agree Yet no man has ever seen me. I have holes all over my body. Yet I have no trouble holding […]
Read more
I never was, am always to be, No one ever saw me, nor ever will, And yet I am the confidence of all To live and breathe on this terrestrial ball. With beautiful women I often dance, they sweep me off my feet. Yet these ladies offer me no romance, With no man can I compete. My nose is long, […]
Read more
This is a continuation of the four part “Interesting U.S. President Facts” series. If you’re interested in the other parts, you can find them here: Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. 33) Harry S. Truman Facts: The “S” in Truman’s middle name doesn’t stand for anything. His parents picked it to honor both of his grandfathers, Anderson Shipp Truman […]
Read more
This is a continuation of the four part “Interesting U.S. President Facts” series. If you’re interested in the other parts, you can find them here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 4. 25) William McKinley Facts: McKinley worked jobs as a postal clerk and as a teacher before the Civil War. He joined the army as a Private and rose to the […]
Read more
Presidents only get to keep this after they have given it. It is something they often give. But even though they are allowed to keep it after giving it, they rarely choose to. I have been observed by every human who ever lived. Yet no one has ever seen me in person and I’m replaced daily. I have a tongue, […]
Read more
This is a continuation of the four part “Interesting U.S. President Facts” series. If you’re interested in the other parts, you can find them here: Part 1, Part 3, Part 4. 13) Millard Fillmore Facts: Fillmore was the first President to have running water in the White House. While touring Europe later in life, the University of Oxford offered him […]
Read more
I saw a peanut stand, Heard a rubber band. I saw a cuckoo wind up its clock. But I think I will have seen everything, when I hear an elephant talk… Without being trained to do so, Koshik the elephant has learned to speak five Korean words: “anja” (sit down); “aniya” (no), “nuo” (lie down); “choa” (good); and the one […]
Read more
Cups, containers, caskets, and cans What do you fill with empty hands? Though everyone has had me, none has ever noticed when they lost me. I have feathers, but I don’t fly. I have legs, but I don’t walk. I am constantly being used and never get any rest. Yet no one ever says thank you. With bloodless strokes I […]
Read more