This was a wild, harrowing, and unpredictable year… and one that self-proclaimed psychics somehow didn’t see coming. Here are some events that psychics claimed were supposed to happen in 2020. The world may have avoided a catastrophic attack by this man — psychic Sidney Friedman ominously predicted that “cookies” would “disappear.” Friedman also said that […]
Many northern states banned slavery by the mid-1800s, but the immensely ugly practice continued in the South, ended only after presidential action, a constitutional amendment, and a Civil War. Until that point, enslaved Americans fleeing the South did so with the assistance of the Underground Railroad, a secret network that got people safely into the […]
This year, we resolve to write more blog posts about New Year’s resolutions. And look at that, we did it! • Ancient Babylonians started the idea of New Year’s resolutions about 4,000 years ago, although the new year in that society started in the middle of March and lined up with crop-planting season. As part […]
You know him for his boxing prowess and remarkable way with words, but how much do you really know about Muhammad Ali? Read on to find out more about “The Greatest.” By age 18, Clay had won two Amateur Athletic Union national titles, two Golden Gloves national titles, and had amassed a record of 100 […]
Can’t get enough of those true crime podcasts? Then you’re going to love Portable Press’s Strange Crime. But until it arrives, delve into these stories about the most notorious, mysterious — and unsolved — criminal acts in American history.
If it feels good, do it, right? Well, not everything that’s pleasurable is healthy — an all-pizza diet is going to allow anyone to live to 100. But it’s really true for laughter. Everyone loves to laugh, at movies, each other, themselves, or the silliest of jokes, and as it turns out, it’s very healthy […]
It’s probably the most popular and beloved movie franchise of all time… so we had to go to a galaxy far away to find some Star Wars facts we’re pretty sure you haven’t heard before. And after all, October is Star Wars Reads Month. Before he realized that a combination of animatronics, puppetry, and the […]
Here are the stories of some women who broke down barriers and literally changed the world. Hannah Slater received a patent in 1793 for a new type of cotton thread that made textile manufacture simpler and faster. That enabled her husband to develop a textile business, but Slater goes down in history as the first […]
George Lucas’s Star Wars saga spans nine main movies, spinoffs like Rogue One and Solo, and The Mandalorian. That’s a lot of Star Wars, and it doesn’t even count all these other Star Wars projects that almost got made…but didn’t. Before handing off directorial duties on the third produced Star Wars movie, Return of the […]
In June 2020 — 100 years ago —women won the right to vote in all elections in the United States. It took an exceedingly long time, with a lot of progress made over more than 15 decades. 1646: Only property owners at the time could vote, and lawyer Margaret Brent attempts to cast a vote […]
Here’s a look at some of the women who broke the glass ceiling in American politics and became the first females to hold important offices. First elected female mayor In 1887, women in Kansas attained the right to vote and run for office. That year, the town of Argonia held its elections; mayor was on […]
Babe Ruth was one of the greatest baseball players of all time, and in his heyday, he was one of the highest paid athletes and most famous people in the world. Nowadays, he’s the subject of Portable Press’s Show Me History: Babe Ruth, the story of the slugger’s life in graphic novel form. Here are […]
You know, you think you know somebody—like famous movie stars, musicians, politicians, and historical figures—and then you come to find out that they all worked as spies for the government. (They must have been pretty good spies then!)
Chances are, old age or a chronic condition is what will get you, so don’t worry so much about these unlikely, but potential, killers lurking all around. Icicles Ever hear that old riddle about how the “perfect” murder weapon is an icicle because it melts, thus destroying all evidence of its existence? Those sharp shards […]
It’s rare that an amazing achievement that stands the test of time was created by just one person. (Even Uncle John has a staff of writers and researchers.) Here are some things associated with a single individual…who got a lot of help from an associate. Jack Daniel The 19th century Tennessee-based distiller is so strongly […]
Twice in the last 40 years have celebrities become president of the United States: former actor (turned California governor) Ronald Reagan and real estate mogul (turned The Apprentice host) Donald Trump. They’re merely the most successful famous people to run for political office. Clint Eastwood Clint Eastwood is best known as a movie cowboy, but […]
The gift-giving (and receiving) holidays are on their way — you can just about hear the jingling bells in the distance and make out those flickering candle flames. The perfect gift for any occasion: a book. And we’ve got you covered — we’ve got lots of books for every taste! For the paternal cornball YOU: […]
…and a bunch of fun facts about that glowing yellow orb in the sky. The sun’s temperature On average, the sun burns at about 10,000° Fahrenheit. But that’s just on the surface. The sun’s core The central core of the sun serves as a furnace, creating heat, light, and energy by constantly fusing hydrogen and […]
