QUIZ: The 10-Scoop Ice Cream Quiz
I scream. You scream. We all scream for…online trivia quizzes about ice cream! See how well you do on this quiz, and then we bet you’ll help yourself to a bowl of the ideal summer treat.
Daily Dispatch
Famous Dropouts
Quitters never win…or do they?
We’re Gonna Need Another First Lady!
Here are few stories of times that somebody other than the wife of the president has served as First Lady. Jefferson Martha Wayles Jefferson, the wife of third president Thomas Jefferson, died at age 33 in 1782—nearly 20 years before Jefferson took office in 1801. So, stepping in to take on the First Lady’s duties of […]
When Magazines Go Bust
We’ve been making Uncle John’s Bathroom Reader for 30 years now, and to think, before we came along, people had to read magazines in the bathroom. Magazines?! They’re so unreliable! They can just up and fold at any time—like these ones did. Dynamite Scholastic publishes children’s books—including Harry Potter in the U.S. But before that, […]
The Sequel Songs of George Harrison
Paul McCartney was “the cute Beatle,” Ringo Starr was “the funny Beatle,” and George Harrison was “the sequel Beatle.” Continuations of stories are obviously common in movies, books, and TV shows. Not so much in the world of music, probably because modern pop and rock songs don’t tell full stories, but rather present feelings or […]
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.
Who Was O’Hare, And Why Did They Have Such a Huge Airport?
Most airport names are self-explanatory: Denver International Airport, or Los Angeles International Airport, for example. But what about all those major airports that have been named after major figures? Ever been to one and wondered about the person they’re named after, and you didn’t know because you weren’t from that area? Here are those stories. […]
QUIZ: How Well Do You Know Your Theme Parks?
It’s summertime: Will you be spending it riding rides at one of America’s many
theme parks? Get ready by taking this quiz…which is also a great way to kill
some time while you’re waiting in line to ride those rides!
Not a Doctor…and They Didn’t Play One on TV
In 2013, Doctor Who head writer Stephen Moffatt said that it wouldn’t “feel right” to cast a woman in the lead role of the iconic, long-running BBC science-fiction series. But it’s 2017, and new showrunner Chris Chibnall got to pick a new performer to replace the outgoing Peter Capaldi. His first choice: British actress Jodie […]
Lottery Row
Want to win the lottery? Some words of caution: It ain’t always a “win.”
Why Are Doughnut Boxes Pink?
Is there a more beautiful sight in the world then to walk into the breakroom at work and find a big pink box of doughnuts? Just sitting there, waiting, full of delicious doughy treats covered in icing, glazes, nuts, and, if you’re really lucky, sprinkles. But while it’s no mystery why doughnuts are so delicious […]
Super Bowl Halftime Shows
More than 30 years after the first Super Bowl broadcast, the halftime show is no longer just something to fill TV airtime while the football players rest—it’s now a spectacle unto itself. Here are some highlights.
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?
They Changed the Theme Song?
Theme songs are literally an introduction to a TV show. They set the tone, give a little information about the characters and plot…and then get stuck in your head forever. Several have become so ingrained in the collective consciousness that it’s been almost totally forgotten that they weren’t the series’ original theme songs.
Strange College Sports That Really Exist
The world of varsity athletics isn’t all football and basketball. There are a lot more kooky options to get the student body going rah-rah-siss-boom-bah.
6 Completely Unnecessary Kitchen Gadgets
Some kitchen tools are must-haves because they do so many different things—a food processor can chop and blend and mix, for example. In other words, they’re useful necessities. Unlike these real kitchen gadgets you can actually buy. Musical Cake Slicer Isn’t it so hard to cut a birthday cake and sing “Happy Birthday” at the […]
Office Personalities
If you work in an office, you’ll probably recognize most of these personality types. Just preparing to enter the workforce? Use this as a guide for whom—or what—to avoid. (Uncle John is a Pontificator.)
How Time Flies
It seems like some things are so far in the past, while others just happened a few days ago. Here’s are a few comparisons to show how tricky time can be, even in the world of pop culture. Will Smith After becoming a successful rapper while still a teenager in the ’80s, Will Smith turned […]
