funny

The Strange Life Of ‘Lord’ Timothy Dexter, The 18th-Century Millionaire Whose Success Defied Reason

Timothy Dexter made absurd investments that somehow panned out, wrote an entire memoir without a single piece of punctuation, and faked his own death just to see how he would be mourned.

By Genevieve Carlton • Jul 14, 2021

The Strange Life Of ‘Lord’ Timothy Dexter, The 18th-Century Millionaire Whose Success Defied Reason

Timothy Dexter made absurd investments that somehow panned out, wrote an entire memoir without a single piece of punctuation, and faked his own death just to see how he would be mourned.

By Genevieve Carlton • July 14, 2021

Meet Emperor Norton, America’s Self-Proclaimed Supreme Leader

In 1859, San Francisco businessman Joshua Norton declared himself Emperor Norton of The United States. And it worked... sort of.

By Susan Sims • Jul 11, 2021

Meet Emperor Norton, America’s Self-Proclaimed Supreme Leader

In 1859, San Francisco businessman Joshua Norton declared himself Emperor Norton of The United States. And it worked... sort of.

By Susan Sims • July 11, 2021

The True Story Of Triboulet, The 16th-Century Court Jester Whose Wit Saved His Life

Though one of the most beloved court jesters to ever live, Triboulet once slapped the King of France on the rear and told jokes so scandalous that they put his life in danger.

By Marco Margaritoff • Jul 5, 2021

The True Story Of Triboulet, The 16th-Century Court Jester Whose Wit Saved His Life

Though one of the most beloved court jesters to ever live, Triboulet once slapped the King of France on the rear and told jokes so scandalous that they put his life in danger.

By Marco Margaritoff • July 5, 2021

This Giant Noah’s Ark Replica Is Stranded In The UK Because British Authorities Don’t Believe It’s Seaworthy

The floating museum can't actually sail on its own and has to be towed wherever it goes. It has been trapped by an international stalemate over its status as a "non-certified floating vessel."

By Marco Margaritoff • Jun 11, 2021

Weird News

This Giant Noah’s Ark Replica Is Stranded In The UK Because British Authorities Don’t Believe It’s Seaworthy

The floating museum can't actually sail on its own and has to be towed wherever it goes. It has been trapped by an international stalemate over its status as a "non-certified floating vessel."

By Marco Margaritoff • June 11, 2021

Meet James Morison, The 19th-Century Quack Doctor Who Tried To Cure Everything With Laxatives

James Morison claimed that his vegetable pills could cure anything from smallpox to dysentery — and thousands of British people believed him.

By Marc Hartzman • May 9, 2021

Meet James Morison, The 19th-Century Quack Doctor Who Tried To Cure Everything With Laxatives

James Morison claimed that his vegetable pills could cure anything from smallpox to dysentery — and thousands of British people believed him.

By Marc Hartzman • May 9, 2021

Belgian Farmer Accidentally Redraws Country’s Border By Moving Stone Blocking His Tractor

For the last 200 years, the stone has marked the Franco-Belgian border in accordance with an 1820 treaty.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 4, 2021

News

Belgian Farmer Accidentally Redraws Country’s Border By Moving Stone Blocking His Tractor

For the last 200 years, the stone has marked the Franco-Belgian border in accordance with an 1820 treaty.

By Marco Margaritoff • May 4, 2021

Woman Faces Felony Charges For Forgetting To Return ‘Sabrina The Teenage Witch’ VHS Tape 20 Years Ago

“The first thing she told me was felony embezzlement, so I thought I was gonna have a heart attack."

By Kaleena Fraga • Apr 30, 2021

Weird News

Woman Faces Felony Charges For Forgetting To Return ‘Sabrina The Teenage Witch’ VHS Tape 20 Years Ago

“The first thing she told me was felony embezzlement, so I thought I was gonna have a heart attack."

By Kaleena Fraga • April 30, 2021

Is There Life On Mars? Inside Humankind’s Long Quest To Find Out

As soon as humans had telescopes strong enough to study Mars in detail, we've asked ourselves two questions: Does Mars have life? How can we establish contact?

By Marc Hartzman • Apr 29, 2021

Is There Life On Mars? Inside Humankind’s Long Quest To Find Out

As soon as humans had telescopes strong enough to study Mars in detail, we've asked ourselves two questions: Does Mars have life? How can we establish contact?

By Marc Hartzman • April 29, 2021

Italian Hospital Worker Got Away With Not Going To Work For 15 Years — And Made $648,000 In The Process

The 66-year-old civil servant allegedly stopped showing up to work in 2005 and threatened his manager to prevent her from telling on him.

By Marco Margaritoff • Apr 22, 2021

News

Italian Hospital Worker Got Away With Not Going To Work For 15 Years — And Made $648,000 In The Process

The 66-year-old civil servant allegedly stopped showing up to work in 2005 and threatened his manager to prevent her from telling on him.

By Marco Margaritoff • April 22, 2021

Civil Rights Group Steals $500,000 Confederate Monument In Selma — And Threatens To Turn It Into A Toilet

The thieves say they will only return the 128-year-old stone chair if a historic Confederate association agrees to fly a Black rights banner outside their headquarters.

By Marco Margaritoff • Apr 6, 2021

News

Civil Rights Group Steals $500,000 Confederate Monument In Selma — And Threatens To Turn It Into A Toilet

The thieves say they will only return the 128-year-old stone chair if a historic Confederate association agrees to fly a Black rights banner outside their headquarters.

By Marco Margaritoff • April 6, 2021