Taos, New Mexico is home to an artistic community, a lot of turquoise jewelry, unbelievably beautiful landscapes…and a strange noise that’s baffled scientists. Out of the blue Sometime out of the blue in the early ‘90s, residents of the northern New Mexico city of Taos — and not from any one part of town either […]
They seemed like a novelty or passing fad when they first arrived in the ‘70s…but it’s fairly evident now that video games are here to stay. Here are some landmarks moments in the history of what toy makers once called “TV games.” First cartridge system Home video game systems, with their abilities to play a […]
Just because something is associated with a certain country doesn’t mean it came from that country…or at least not originally or entirely. Recently we got to talking about stuff we associate with certain countries — like how pizza is an Italian food, for example. Somebody asked, “But is it really from Italy?” We got ourselves […]
Old shows coming back dominates TV — Will & Grace, Murphy Brown, Full House, The X-Files and more have saturated the airwaves with nostalgia. Here are some fun facts about this strange cultural fad. First TV reboot Reboots of old shows is nothing new. In fact, it goes back to when TV wasn’t that old […]
Now that your completed taxes (and a check) are on their way to the government (unless you got an extension…or forgot), here’s a look at some of the strange ways Washington will invest your money. Christmas tree marketing Because they’re a seasonally harvested item, Christmas trees qualify as “specialty products” under Dept. of Agriculture guidelines, […]
News from the bathroom…specifically, the kinds of horrific things that can happen when a person doesn’t go to the bathroom for a while. TOO MUCH In February 2018, a man (his name was unsurprisingly not released in news reports) sought treatment at The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University in Japan for an injury he […]
Prepare for the final season of the HBO mega-hit so that, unlike Jon Snow, you won’t “know nothing.” Most expensive TV show It’s the most expensive TV show in history. Every episode is like a cinema-quality movie, with location shoots and special effects making everything look top notch. Estimated cost: Around $10 million per episode. […]
The baseball season has begun, and what better way to fill the long gaps between pitches by filling up your belly? Here are some of the most creative, interesting, and daunting concession items now available at Major League ballparks. Foot long hot dogs are yesterday’s news. They’re downright tiny when you compare them to the […]
A lot of enduring television classics first aired 40 years ago, in the 1978-79 TV season. Here are some weird stories about them. Fantasy Island It’s a 1970s trivia overload! The plane that brought guests to the show’s Fantasy Island—the one that made Tattoo (Hervé Villechaize) shout “de plane!”—was previously owned by Jonathan Livingston Seagull […]
We all know they’re wrong, and over-generalizations, but there are certain clichés about different nationalities that persist…particularly the ones that seem the weirdest or most inexplicable. For example, there’s the idea that Germans adore Baywatch star David Hasselhoff, or that Canadians love hockey and Tim Hortons donuts. Arguably the most famous of these stereotypes — […]
Some athletes retire at the top of their game — Joe DiMaggio walked away from baseball in 1951 just after winning his ninth World Series, and David Robinson walked off the NBA court for good in 2003, immediately after winning his second league title. Some other athletes just couldn’t stay away from the game they […]
No bones about it — the human skeleton is a fascinating thing. Longest bone Longest bone in the body: The femur, or thigh bone. It’s also the strongest, able to withstand more pressure than concrete. It’s so tough that it’s one of the most seldom broken bones in the body. Smallest bone Smallest bone in […]
The rule of thumb for a successful TV series is that it gets to stay on the air for years. Not so for these shows. Twin Peaks (1990-1991) In 1990, millions of American wanted to know “Who killed Laura Palmer?” That was the central mystery of Twin Peaks, an ABC mystery series co-created by cult […]
Canada is a lot like the U.S., but it’s not nearly identical. Its culture and cuisine enjoy strong influences from England, Scotland, France, East Asia, and indigenous peoples…which makes for a number of unique food choices you’d scarcely find outside of the Great White North. Montreal bagels Montreal is a densely populated, cosmopolitan city on […]
Usually when professional sports teams change names it’s because they moved cities. Sometimes they do it for marketing reasons. Or they decide at the last minute to not change it, or do change it and overlook some other options. NEW JERSEY SWAMP DRAGONS By the early ‘90s, the NBA’s Nets had existed for more than […]
Baseball season is about ready to start, and some people are about to get very rich: the people who play it. Here’s a look back on some important money milestones in the national pastime. First to earn $10,000 While some records say the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Honus Wagner earned a whopping five figures as early as […]
Here’s your rundown on all the mind-bogglingly cool, amazing — and strange — stuff the scientists have been up to lately. AARON THE RIPPER Jack the Ripper is one of history’s most notorious murderers, perhaps in part because his shocking crimes on the streets of London in the 1800s remained unsolved. But in March 2019, […]
It’s springtime, when there’s only one thing on everyone’s minds: allergies, and how they make you miserable with the sneezing, sore throat, and eyes glued shut. It’s all because of tiny little particles of pollen flying around the air. Here’s everything you need to know about spring’s tiniest menace. First use of the word The […]
