It’s champing at the bit, not chomping at the bit. This phrase (or idiom) comes from the sport of kings: horse racing. A bit is part of the apparatus that goes in the horse’s mouth and connects to the bridle and reins so the horse can be controlled and directed by the jockey on its back. The bit fits into a toothless ridge of the horse’s mouth, so the horse never really bites the bit.
When NASA astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins landed on the moon in 1969, it was the biggest news story of the year – if not the biggest ever – and the public wanted to know as much as possible about Apollo 11, the moon, and the men who went there. A fun part of that were the nitty-gritty financials: How much did it really cost to go to the moon, and where did the money go?
In 2011, a Utah woman named Jennifer Swalberg went in for two fairly routine plastic surgery procedures at the clinic of Dr. Joseph Berg: liposuction and an abdominalplasty (also known as a “tummy tuck”). Most of the details of what allegedly happened next were reported in a lawsuit filing, so, to say the least, things didn’t go well.
Two of these news items really happened. One of them only happened…in our minds. Can you tell which is the fake?
Since its inception in 1987, the Blue Man Group performance art/music collective has entertained millions with its shows in New York, Las Vegas, cruise ships, and touring throughout the U.S. and Europe. Dozens have (mostly anonymously) put on head-to-toe blue makeup to perform with the group, but how did they get there?
Breaking into One World Trade Center is a bad idea. Sneaking all the way up to the roof is an even worse idea. Nevertheless, several daredevils recently engaged in both of these activities (and managed to evade the skyscraper’s round-the-clock security team in the process).
Some quick facts about the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Some people love April Fool’s Day, others hate. Who definitely loves it? Big companies and their ad geniuses. Here’s what they came up with this year.
We recently ran a piece about several kinds of shows you just don’t see on TV anymore. The recent release of the Veronica Mars movie—eight years after the TV show was cancelled—reminded us of one we forgot: made-for-TV movies that served as reunions for beloved old TV shows.
We’ve got a brand new book out this week: Uncle John’s Germophobia. It’s all about hospital horrors, bad doctors, botched surgeries, nightmare nurses, weird diseases, and all the things that can and will go wrong when it comes to your health. Here’s a taste of the kind of thing you’ll find inside.
Last week, Amazon issued millions of dollars in credits to customers who bought e-books between 2010 and 2012. It’s the payout of a class action lawsuit that alleged some publishers overcharged for e-books during that time. What should you get with all that free book money? We have some suggestions.
It’s the result of some pretty complicated federal broadcasting laws. For some reason, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has a clause called “the lottery law,” which states that federal lotteries are illegal.
Finally, Uncle John can justify his daily viewings of Sesame Street. Introducing Raya, a six-year-old, aqua-colored Muppet who encourages kids to always wash their hands after using a toilet, and to always wear shoes when visiting a public latrine.
Two of these news items really happened. One of them only happened…in our minds. Can you tell which is the fake? The answer is below.
Hey, parents of college students: Your kids are using that tuition money you gave them to take a March trip to Florida. (Hey, college students: Your secret is safe with us!) Here’s a little bit about the history of Spring Break.
Think you’ve got a legitimate answer to this crazy question? Keep reading to see if you nailed it.
Both Midler and Kravitz recorded very popular songs that make casual reference to basic scientific phenomena…and both got their facts completely wrong. Really!
How do you prove that you’re a true fan of Star Trek, The Walking Dead, or Game of Thrones? Drink these pop-culture-inspired beers.
The Federation of Beer – as in the United Federation of Planets from Star Trek – has licensed the Star Trek name to create a beer called Roggen Dunkel to be brewed in Indiana.
Think you know the answer to this question? Think you can get it? Good luck…and come back tomorrow to see if you’re right.
