1️⃣ Two seemingly unrelated objects - a snack can and a flying disc - tell one of the strangest tales about legacy you’ll ever hear.


2️⃣ Holidays inspired by TV episodes or movies - that worked their way into our real calendars. 

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1️⃣ You can have a currency, passport, and flag - but forming your own personal nation won’t keep you from paying taxes. 

2️⃣ Most wars go on, well, forever. This week we look at a few that barely lasted the workday.

Sources:

https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/shortest-wars-in-human-history.html

https://www.britannica.com/topic/micronation

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1️⃣ When disaster strikes we don’t look away, even when we probably should. 

2️⃣ WD-40 has unstuck stuck things for the last 50 years.  What’s its secret? Only a handful of people could tell you.

Sources:

https://www.wsj.com/business/the-secret-society-of-people-who-know-the-formula-for-wd-40-e9c0ff54

https://case.edu/news/why-are-we-so-drawn-tragedy-psychological-sciences-professor-explains

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1️⃣ There are a few pay phones left in the world. Here’s who’s using them. 

2️⃣ We’re terrible at telling the future. We keep trying anyway. 

Sources:

http://www.commutethepodcast.com

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It’s the world’s most famous movie sound effect. You know it when you hear it. 

This popular Chinese phone app is one of the simplest - and the darkest. 

Sources:

https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/wilhelm-scream-explained-75982/

https://www.wired.com/story/china-are-you-dead-yet-app/

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Sometimes humans randomly … explode??

There’s a lot of money spent (and wasted) with our favorite go-to last-minute gift.

Sources:

https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesfinancecouncil/2024/02/09/gift-cards-a-strategy-for-retailers-and-consumers/

https://www.popsci.com/health/can-humans-spontaneously-combust-the-baffling-cases-explained/

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Ever wonder why January 1st is the beginning of a new year? So did we…

Not all New Year's traditions are about fireworks and funny hats - some are disgusting, others are deadly.

Sources:

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/653232/victorian-new-years-traditions

https://www.npr.org/2025/12/29/nx-s1-5624238/new-year-calendar-january-history

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For nearly 70 years, kids have tracked Santa thanks to a misdial and a quick-thinking Air Force colonel who met the moment. 

The success of Home Alone, led to Home Alone 2. That led to one of the most intense Christmas toy crazes of all time. 

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We once declared war on a bunch of birds. It went as you’d expect.

The pet of our Commander in Chief often say more about that administration than any speech ever could. 

Sources:

https://www.historyhit.com/the-great-emu-war/

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If you suspect your local high school’s mascot looks suspiciously like a professional team or D1 university version, you’re probably right. And they probably shouldn’t be doing that. 

Every year, the Oxford Dictionary’s Word of the year is less about the dictionary update and more about where we are as a society. This year is no different. 

Sources:

https://www.mentalfloss.com/language/words/oxford-word-of-year-explained

https://frontofficesports.com/high-schools-walk-legal-tightrope-using-trademarked-pro-logos/

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