Sneaky Corporations
Powerful corporations often set up fake “institutes” and programs that sound like independent foundations promoting the public good—when in fact they’re just the opposite. Here are four examples.
Daily Dispatch
The Tallest, Shortest, Biggest, Smallest, Youngest, Oldest Athletes Playing Today
We’ve run several articles before about sports star standouts—the tallest, shortest, youngest, oldest, and more to ever play their respective sports. But that’s all in the past—who are some of the current subjects of trivial interest in the NBA, NFL, NHL, and Major League Baseball? Tallest in the NBA Three active NBA players are listed […]
Why Can't I Remove That Tag?
You can remove that tag on the mattress—it’s okay. Really. Lots of products have tags on them—clothes, sheets, towels, for example. Most people have no problem tearing them off if they feel like it. But then there’s the matter of that tag on the mattress. That little strip of waxy paper could so easily be […]
The Official "Blanks" of States
Each of the 50 states has its own “official state” tree, gemstone, fish, animal, dance…you name it! Here is a look at some of them. State Outdoor Drama of Alabama William Gibson’s The Miracle Worker, about the early life of Alabama native Helen Keller, was produced for the first time in 1962 at Ivy Green […]
Who were Harley & Davidson
Here’s the story behind two of the best-known names in America.
6 Unlikely Movie Directors
Like any other kind of artist or creative person, film directors don’t want to do the same thing all the time. They want to stretch their creative muscles once in a while. Result: Movies directed by about the last person you’d expect.
QUIZ: Do You Recognize These Famous Dogs?
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Death Customs
The treatment and disposal of a dead body is a sacred ritual in every culture, but each one does it a little bit differently.
5 Upcoming August “Holidays” You Ought to Celebrate
They say August is the one month without any major holidays—but that’s only if you don’t consider “Ride the Wind Day” to be a major holiday. August 3: National Watermelon Day While watermelon is now available year-round, there’s just something about it that screams summer. It’s a cool and refreshing fruit enjoyed by millions at […]
Snack Chip Origins
Stuff your brain with some stories about these snacks that are great for stuffing in your face.
About Antarctica
Cold, hard facts about the cold, hard continent.
Prime-Time TV’s Biggest Animated Flops
The Simpsons has been airing for nearly 30 years. South Park has been going for 20. Family Guy has been going strong for well over a decade. But not every prime-time cartoon aimed at an audience of mostly adults has such longevity.
True Tales of Rejection and Redemption
What comes before success? Preparation, practice…and rejection. Here are some people who went on to do big things despite some early roadblocks.
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.
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 […]
