People with Three Names Did you ever notice that some people are known for including their middle name alongside their first and surnames? Perhaps it’s a matter of choice or maybe of convenience. Whatever.  This is how we have come to know them. Odd that three of them have Lloyd as their middle name. John […]

Famous People Who Use a Middle Initial Did you ever notice that some people are known for including their middle initial in their full names? For Smiths and Jones and other common surnames this is actually a goof idea. But for others, it seems more an affectation. John F. Kennedy Edward G. Robinson Edward R. […]

Old Diseases Thankfully this list is a long one and that these ailments are pretty much a thing of the past due to the marvelous advances of modern medicine. Diptheria Typhus Tuberculosis Gout Polio Septicemia Consumption Scarlet Fever Grippe Scurvy Yellow Fever Gangrene Croup Elephantitus Scabies Smallpox Ebola

Mythical Places Myths and folklore are filled with imaginary lands and places. Here are a few of them but don’t ask me where they are located. Heaven Hell Valhalla Paradise Purgatory Xanadu Cloud 9 Atlantis Brigadoon Elysium

Mythical Creatures Mythical creatures are always cool to list because there are so many of them. I don’t profess to know them all but this is a good start. I don’t read fantasy novels. Ogres Trolls Mermaid Dragons Gnomes Orcs Sprites Angels Devils Witches Vampires Unicorns Werewolves Zombies Ghouls Gremlins Satyrs Centaurs Minotaur Amazons Leprechauns […]

Miracle Liniments Yes, liniment is an old-fashioned word. But these miracle liquids have survived over the past hundreds of years and are just as useful today. But what are they made of? Vinegar Ammonia Witch Hazel Hydrogen Peroxide Bleach Mineral Spirits Turpentine Rubbing Alcohol Soda Water Tonic Water

Men’s Nudie Magazines Hugh Hefner’s Playboy magazine was certainly a game-changer when it debuted in 1952. It was the first over-the-counter magazine to feature scantily-clad and eventually naked women. Playboy’s popularity led to a variety of copy-cat publications, most of which didn’t survive the 1950’s. And then in the 1970’s a harder assortment emerged, led […]

Looney Tunes Cartoon Stars Warner Brothers’ Looney Tunes series of movie cartoons introduced a great number of beloved characters, all of whom became cartoon stars. Here are some of my favorites. Bugs Bunny Sylvester and Tweety Bird Daffy Duck Porky Pig Road Runner and Wylie E. Coyote Elmer Fudd Speedy Gonzales Foghorn Leghorn Yosemite Sam […]

London Train Stations Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, via Dr. John Watson, described these stations as “cathedrals of transportation” and that seems a fitting label. Victoria Charing Cross Paddington St. Pancras Waterloo King’s Cross London Bridge

Jewish Funny Men Everyone knows that Hollywood was largely founded by Jewish moguls. Naturally a lot of Jewish performers followed them west. An inordinate number were comics. Jack Benny Don Rickles The Marrx Brothers (Groucho, Chico, Harpo and Zeppo) George Burns Henny Youngman Buddy Hackett Jonathon Winters Jerry Lewis Phil Silvers Sid Caesar Danny Kaye […]