Weird, Wonderful World
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 […]
Do you think an animal cares that its owner is a celebrity? Probably not…but we do. MADONNA has a Chihuahua named Chiquita. ERNEST HEMINGWAY had Springer Spaniels named Black Dog and Negrita (and 30 cats). LEONARDO DICAPRIO has a Poodle named Rufus and a lizard named Blizzard. MARTHA STEWART has cats named Beethoven, Mozart, Vivaldi, […]
Birds do it, bees do it. By which we mean eats food and turns it into, uh, solid waste material. But we humans are the only species that can gain amusement from the droppings of other animals, and since we are the people who bring you Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader, here are the latest scoops […]
Playmobil is a popular line of German-produced figurines and playsets. Literally hundreds of different toys are available to account for the interests of any child. Stores, fire stations, airports, horse shows—you name it, there’s a Playmobil playset version of it. They’ve even come out with some that you’d never think of, but hey, there’s some […]
There sure were strange toys out there! Do you remember the strangest toy you ever had? Witch Doctor Head Shrinker’s Kit The Product: As it says—a (plastic) head-shrinking kit The Pitch: “Into the deepest jungle went Pressman Toymakers, looking for something new. The secret they brought back for you is incredible! The Pressman Witch Doctor […]
It’s just about to be fall, which means that store shelves, restaurants, and every place else that sells things is about to be full of “pumpkin spice”-flavored options. What started with Starbucks’ Pumpkin Spice Latte more than a decade ago has now reached epic—and ridiculous proportions. BK Pumpkin A seasonal offering from Burger King Japan: […]
Actors are a superstitious lot. For example, productions of Macbeth have a history of injuries and deaths, so to ward off bad luck, actors usually refer to it as “the Scottish play.” Here are some other theater superstitions. Leave the Light On Some theaters are old and dingy places, perfect haunts for ghosts. So it’s […]
We at the BRI have an insatiable appetite for finding misinformation, including these food myths. French Fries Myth: French fries aren’t really French—they’re Belgian. Truth: Fried, salted potato strips did originally come from Belgium (they were introduced to America by soldiers returning home from World War I). But French fries are also French. How so? […]
Uncle John knows pretty much everything—and if he doesn’t, he puts one of his many researchers on the case. So go ahead: In the comments below, ask Uncle John anything. (And if we answer your question sometime, we’ll send you a free book!) Why is it considered bad to wear white after Labor Day? Our […]
Of course, every dog is special—especially yours. But the following dog breeds are truly one of a kind. Has a Nose That Can be Used in Court Bloodhounds, of course. They’re so good at following a scent—either to people or pieces of evidence—that whatever they find is admissible in criminal cases throughout the United States. […]
Uncle John knows pretty much everything—and if he doesn’t, he heads his massive research library, or puts one of his many associates on the case. So go ahead: In the comments below, ask Uncle John anything. (And if we answer your question sometime, we’ll send you a free book!) Why do some imitation flavors, particularly […]
We usually associate the word “spinoff” with TV shows—Frasier was a spinoff of Cheers, or Laverne & Shirley was a spinoff of Happy Days, for example. But it’s an idea used in the world of restaurants, too. Or at least it was—as these three spinoffs of a very famous fast food brand all flopped. Ollie’s […]
If you think this year’s presidential election has brought out people’s animal instincts, then you probably don’t live in a town that elected an actual animal to be its mayor. Stubbs In 1997, the manager of Nagley’s General Story in Talkeetna, Alaska (population: 876) found a box of abandoned kittens in the store’s parking lot […]
Don’t have any plans this weekend? Fear not! We have lots of fun games for you to play…in the Throne Room! Toilet Tenpin What You Need: Ten golf tees, or other objects that can serve as bowling pins, and a few rubber bands to serve as bowling balls. Set the golf tees up in a […]
Whether you’re a philatelist (that means “stamp collector”) or not, you’ll enjoy this trivia about some of the most famous and noteworthy commemorative stamps ever printed by the U.S. Postal Service. Perhaps the biggest story in stamp history: The Elvis stamp debate. In 1992, the U.S. Post Office announced that it planned to put the […]
You probably knew that a lot of the most popular food items at Chinese restaurants in the U.S. aren’t authentic dishes from the Far East. But do you know how they came to be staples at your corner takeout joint? Crab Rangoon They’re deep-fried wonton wrappers filled with cream cheese, crab (real or imitation), scallions, […]
Unacceptable: punching your little brother in the arm. Acceptable: doing it under the guise of a “game.” Did you play any of these kids’ games? Doorknob! When someone farts, he or she must immediately say “Safety!” If a non-farter detects the fart and says “Doorknob!” before the farter says “Safety,” the person who says “Doorknob” […]
Got a little one going back to school? Or a friend who’s had a bad day? Make them udder-ly happy they know you and download this free farm printable featuring jokes from The Funniest Joke Book Ever! Seriously, who wouldn’t smile/chuckle/groan when the see a punch line like this next to their sandwich?! Why did […]
