For the person who has more money than they know what to do with. Chanel Segway EXPLANATION: If a no-frills Segway isn’t expensive enough (around $5,000), now you can get a super-deluxe Chanel Edition Segway. It’s the same as a regular Segway, but with quilted leather mudflaps and a Chanel handbag mounted on the front. […]
Let’s set the stage for some of the most unlikely theatrical adaptations of things you’d never think you’d see in a theater. Doctor Who Doctor Whois so popular in England, and has been for some time, that it’s not just a TV show. The series has spawned novels, radio plays, movies, and even a few […]
Is there anything more “old timey” than old timey baseball from the early days of baseball? Yes—old timey baseball’s players’ colorful (by which we mean weird, crude, and mean) nicknames. Dummy In the early 20th century, “dumb” was a word that meant “physically unable to speak.” Power hitter William Hoy was left with profound hearing […]
TV game shows are highly regulated and played under very strict sets of rules. Nevertheless, people still find a way to beat the system to beat the game. Here are some people who cheated on game shows. Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Charles Ingram appeared on the British version of Who Wants to Be […]
Crazy fad diets go back a long way. Here’s what some stars of old Hollywood did when they wanted to drop a few pounds. Marilyn Monroe Two raw eggs whipped in warm milk for breakfast, no lunch, and for dinner broiled liver, steak, or lamb, and five carrots. Jean Harlow She occasionally went on “The […]
It used to be that a vital part of a successful TV series was a catchy and memorable theme song. But there are a handful of TV shows that had such great theme songs that they became hits…and far surpassed the popularity of the shows they came from. Here are some TV theme songs that […]
Bathrooms, toilets, and toilet paper should only be used as a force for good. But sometimes people end up using the facilities for more nefarious deeds. It is for these people that Uncle John created the “Stall of Shame.” Ralph Curry of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania Claim to Fame: Putting Mr. Potato in the head True […]
It’s a pretty big day at BRI headquarters: It’s Trivia Day, an internationally recognized fun holiday. On that note, here’s some trivia about, well, trivia! Trivia doesn’t necessarily mean “trivial.” It actually originally meant something more like “common” or “basic.” In ancient Rome, the word triviae meant a road that forked into two or three […]
The phrase “their season ended early” refers to when a sports team gets knocked out of the playoffs. Lasting to the playoffs is way better than these teams did. American Professional Football Association Before it was called the NFL, the major pro football league was the American Professional Football Association, which began play in 1920. […]
Just when you thought “The Holidays” were over…here are a bunch of silly ones. January 8: Argyle Day Argyle is one of the most famous and recognizable patterns in clothing. A kind of plaid, it originates as the signature tartan of the Clan Campbell of Scotland. It’s seen today in all sorts of colors and […]
Many NASCAR, Formula One, and IndyCar drivers put themselves through some very peculiar rituals, in the belief that if they don’t, bad luck will curse them to lose their race…or worse. For the first segment in the story, read Race-Day Superstitions. Austrian Formula One driver Alex Wurz always raced in mismatched shoes. Dale Earnhardt left every […]
You could watch the big ball drop in Times Square, or you could watch the big ball drop in Times Square on TV, or you could celebrate the New Year the way these people from around the world do. Spain At the stroke of midnight, eat 12 grapes in quick succession. It’s supposed to be […]
So many beloved celebrities left us this year that it really did seem like 2016 had a chip on its shoulder. Here are some words of wisdom from the dearly departed to remind us why they were so beloved. “It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.” –Muhammad Ali […]
It was just announced that six new all-time singers, bands, and rappers will join the ranks of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Here are a few bizarre facts about each of the inductees. Yes The band is most famous for its progressive rock years with keyboardist Rick Wakeman, but the band bad its […]
We might assume that the common names we have for things are accurate descriptions of them, but that’s not always true. Birthday Party You can only have one birth day—the day you were born. After that, every time you celebrate your birthday you’re really throwing an anniversary party. Killer Whale They’re neither killers nor whales. […]
Fisher, the star of Star Wars and prolific writer, recently passed away at the age of 60. As a playwright, screenwriter, and memoirist, she was outspoken about her years in Hollywood…and often in a brutally funny way. The Star Wars Holiday Special is legendarily bad, but Fisher embraced that fact. The special, cheaply produced and […]
The former Wham! frontman made a complete career 180 when he left the pop group for a solo career that was more soul and R&B than it was teenybopper. Michael died over Christmas at the age of 53. Here’s a look back at some notable songs and moments from his 35-year career. Michael’s first solo […]
Not every kid in the world leaves out milk and cookies for Santa. That makes sense, because that treat is a very American pairing. Also, it’s nice that Santa gets to try a variety of snacks on his big night. Here’s a look at what kids around the world (and their parents) leave out on […]
