Who were Harley & Davidson
Here’s the story behind two of the best-known names in America.
From Books
About Antarctica
Cold, hard facts about the cold, hard continent.
Famous Dropouts
Quitters never win…or do they?
The Barney Story
Some dinosaurs are extinct…and others we only wish were extinct—like Barney. You have to wonder why anyone thought the Barney blitz would succeed…and then you have to wonder why it did. Here’s one version, written by Jack Mingo, the author of How the Cadillac Got Its Fins.
Lottery Row
Want to win the lottery? Some words of caution: It ain’t always a “win.”
Nudes and Prudes
So what side of the debate do you take—are you offended by public nudity, or are you offended by people who are offended by it?
ELVIS: Top Gun
Like many Americans, some of Elvis’s favorite toys were his guns. And when he wasn’t shooting, he liked to pretend he was a karate champ. Some details:
Interesting Facts about Dr. Seuss
Say hello to Dr. Seuss, a rhymer of rhymes both tight and loose. A BRI favorite he really is; the following story is really his. Vital Stats Born: March 2, 1904 Died: September 25, 1991, age 87 Real Name: Theodore Seuss Geisel He adopted “Seuss” as his writing name during Prohibition, while attending Dartmouth College. […]
Weird Celebrity Auctions
For some reason even the most mundane objects can become valuable if a celebrity owned—or even just touched—them. This article was first published in our 29th annual edition, Uncle John’s Uncanny Bathroom Reader. Scarlett Johansson Scarlett Johansson appeared on The Tonight Show in 2008 while sick with a cold. After the show, she was persuaded […]
Celebrity Collections
You could use your wealth to buy cars, houses, yachts…or action figures. This article was first published in our 29th annual edition, Uncle John’s Uncanny Bathroom Reader. Rick Springfield Rick Springfield, who performed the 1980s hit “Jessie’s Girl”, has one of the largest and most complete collections of Star Wars toys in the world. Demi […]
Honourees Who Declined Their Honour
Twice a year, the English monarch bestows “honours” upon notable Britons who have made major contributions to the world, including scientists, entertainers, and politicians. But not everybody who is named “Sir” or “Dame” or an “Officer of the British Empire” wants to be one. Here are a few who told the Crown, “Thanks, but no […]
Bodies of Evidence
You don’t expect to find human remains when remodeling a house or cleaning out a basement. But these folks did. Here are their macabre—but fascinating—stories. This article was first published in Uncle John’s Uncanny Bathroom Reader. Body #1 A carpenter named Bob Kinghorn was doing renovations on a house in a Toronto, Ontario, neighborhood in […]
Mascot Injuries
Ever since the trampoline-jumping, basketball-dunking Phoenix Suns Gorilla burst onto the scene in 1980, teams have wanted their mascots to be bigger, faster, stronger…but sometimes it comes with a price. This article was first published in Uncle John’s Uncanny Bathroom Reader. Rocky the Mountain Lion In 2013, the Denver Nuggets’ mascot, Rocky the Mountain Lion, […]
Race-Day Superstitions
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. This article was first published in our 29th annual edition, Uncle John’s Uncanny Bathroom Reader. Don’t Drive a Green Car Just a few months […]
Three Strange Fads
Fads come and go. But it is hard to believe that these strange fads ever existed! First published in Strange History. Goldfish Swallowing On March 3, 1939, Harvard University student Lothrop Withington Jr. swallowed a live goldfish to win a $10 bet. Days later, not to be outdone, a college student in Pennsylvania downed three […]
Buccaneer Babe – Story of a Female Pirate
If pirating separated the men from the boys, how come one of the best pirates was a woman? Here’s the story of Anne Bonny. Story first published in Uncle John’s Plunges into History. Pirate Benjamin If ever there was an old boys’ club it was under the Jolly Roger. Pirating was a man’s world, and most […]
Only in Canada
Here are a few really weird news stories…that could only have happened in Canada.
Fictional Vacation
Check out these real tourist attractions based on fictional places.
