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The Tragic Family Life of Kelsey Grammer
Most people are lucky enough to never experience having a loved one taken from them as a result of violence. Kelsey Grammer is not one of those people- his father was shot and killed
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How Voltaire Made a Fortune Rigging the Lottery
While history knows him as a great Enlightenment thinker, Voltaire was once Francois-Marie Arouet, the charismatic and rebellious youngest son of a middle-class French family. In his early life, Voltaire fell consistently afoul of
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12 Interesting Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Rhinoceroses
Rhinos are lovable lummoxes, herbivores who roam grasslands and forests nibbling on foliage, fruit and grasses. When left alone, they can live for over 40 years in the wild. Able to reach speeds of
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Where “Catch-22″ Came From and the Origins of Other Famous Words and Phrases
Not set in stone, the English language is constantly evolving to describe new developments and experiences and to match the zeitgeist of the times. With words created out of necessity to describe a new
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Granny Smith Apples are Named After a Real Granny Smith
Today I found out that Granny Smith apples are named after a real Granny Smith. Maria Ann Sherwood was born into a farming family in England in 1799. Because of her parents’ work, she
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The Origin of the Word “Condom”
J. Rice asks: Why do we call condoms, “condoms”? Whether one knows them as johnnys, rubbers, raincoats, jimmy hats, or the demure “protection”, people the world over know a condom when they see one.
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Why Storks are Associated with Delivering Babies
Today I found out why storks are associated with delivering babies. We all know how babies are made. The stork can be seen flying over rooftops with a little cloth bundle before landing at
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This Day in History: Jim Gentile Becomes the First Major League Baseball Player to Hit a Grand Slam in Back to Back Innings
This Day In History: May 9, 1961 Yesterday Josh Hamilton tied an MLB record with 15 other players, hitting four home runs in one game. Something even more rare happened on this day in
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How Seattle, Washington Got Its Name
Today I found out how the city of Seattle got its name. Seattle is one of the only major cities in the United States to be named after a Native American chief. In his
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The “Australian” Shepherd Breed was Developed in America
Today I found out the Australian Shepherd breed of dog was developed in the United States, not Australia. The Australian Shepherd is a popular breed throughout the United States, prized for its intelligence and
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