World’s Strangest

Looking for a way to liven up your Saturday night? Here’s a complete idiot’s guide to throwing a 155th birthday bash for America’s largest-and-in-chargest commander-in-chief: the great William Howard Taft. 1. The Food Almonds, almonds, and more almonds. Smokehouse, cinnamon, vinegar, chocolate – any flavor under the sun. Big Lub, as he was fondly known, couldn’t get [...]

The First World War was an unprecedented catastrophe that killed millions and set the continent of Europe on the path to further calamity two decades later. But it didn’t come out of nowhere. With the centennial of the outbreak of hostilities coming up in 2014, Erik Sass will be looking back at the lead-up to [...]

Happy Birthday to one of the best places in the world to curl up with a good book: the New York Public Library. Here are a few fascinating facts about the library to celebrate her big centennial. 1. We have former Governor of New York Samuel J. Tilden to thank for the NYPL. When he died [...]

by Ethan Trex The Arctic is changing—fast. In fact, within the next 30 to 40 years, the region could be ice-free. So why are countries and companies lining up to get their share of the Arctic pie? And what does a melted Arctic mean for the global economy? Why does everyone want the Arctic? These days, countries are [...]

When it gets this close to Christmas, you can barely turn around without spying someone in a Santa suit. Although most of these Saint Nicks are just old guys who happen to have the man in red’s robust physique, every year some famous Kris Kringles don the suit. Some even hit the White House. Let’s [...]

When it gets this close to Christmas, you can barely turn around without spying someone in a Santa suit. Although most of these Saint Nicks are just old guys who happen to have the man in red’s robust physique, every year some famous Kris Kringles don the suit. Some even hit the White House. Let’s [...]

In honor of Veterans Day, here are some Not-So-Famous Firsts about Arlington National Cemetery. We salute all of you who answered when their country called, and encourage our civilian readers to take a moment to say “thanks” to the veterans they know. First Soldier Buried in Arlington William Henry Christman of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, enlisted in the [...]

We all know the tired old legends and facts – George Washington ‘fessed up to chopping down a cherry tree; Abraham Lincoln lived in a log cabin; JFK had an affair with Marilyn Monroe; Bill Clinton had some laundering issues with a Gap dress. But there’s more than meets the eye with the Presidents – [...]

Sure, the boring facts about states have been drilled into you by teachers and history books over the years. You might even remember all of the state capitals. But here are 50 trivia tidbits that you probably didn’t learn in second grade. 1. Alabama. New Orleans might be the hot spot for Mardi Gras these days, [...]