NASA’s New Horizons zoomed past Pluto in July 2015. It not only captured some stunning pictures of the planet, (Yes, we at Commonplace still hold to the notion that it is, indeed, […]
Who Wins in the Competition Between Pluto and Russia?
An Hour at The World’s Most Polluted Lake Will Kill You
What could be more relaxing and beneficial to your health than an hour’s stroll beside a lake? This might be the case just about anywhere in the world except for Lake Karachay. […]
Take a Crash Course Into Aeroflot’s Harrowing History
Airline passengers tend to take for granted that purchasing a ticket will result in travel aboard a dependable aircraft run by an airline that places safety at a premium. The biggest concerns […]
The Cavalry Charges Into History
Few military maneuvers instill as many thoughts of heroism and daring as the cavalry charge. Rushing at full speed against an onslaught of enemy forces has inspired such poetic works Alfred, Lord […]
Which Nation Has the Most Time Zones? The Answer May Surprise You!
Do you think you know which nation has the most time zones? Think again, because the answer may surprise you.
Dip Your Frog to Keep Your Milk Fresh
Has anyone ever asked you if you have a frog in your throat? If you lived in Russia or Finland you might literally have had that affliction, simply from drinking a cup […]
“счастливого Рождества” or “Merry Christmas” — What Day To Say It?
If you live in Russia or Ukraine, you probably celebrate Christmas on January 7, due to the different calendar kept by the Orthodox Church.
Clogging Up the Diplomatic Channels
The International Space Station, a multinational project, is divided into two sections: an American and Russian section. In 1998, when the venture began, it was reported that the Americans and Russians got […]
It’s Bad Enough Being the Middle Child; Imagine Being #43 Out of 87
The record for the most children born to one woman belongs to Valentina Vassilyeva of Shuya, Russia, who gave birth to 16 pairs of twins, seven sets of triplets, and four sets […]
When “Whoops” Doesn’t Quite Cut It
False alarms leading to nuclear war make for interesting movie plots, but when they happen in real life, they are nightmarish, at best. One such nightmare happened on the morning of November […]
Reducing the Werewolf Population One Adoption at a Time
Going the extra mile to keep the werewolf population down, Argentina’s presidents have made it a custom since 1907 to “adopt” the seventh son born in a family. The practice comes from a […]
You’ve Heard of Flying Reindeer; What About Pollyanna, the Reindeer of the Deep Seas?
Pollyanna, with officers of the HMS Trident The British submarine HMS Trident had an unusual crew member for part of its World War II service: a reindeer named Pollyanna. The Trident was […]
I’ll Get You, My Pretty… And Your Little Kitten/Bunny, Too
In a move certain to make Grumpy Cat even more surly, Russian tax collectors have started arresting cats and holding them in custody to motivate delinquent tax payers to make good on […]
With a Little Help From My Friend Adversary
The SR-71 Blackbird was one of the greatest tools of espionage ever built. Flying at speeds of Mach 3, it could out-fly any enemy fighter or surface-to-air missile. In addition to its […]
Language Studies
On the edge of the Caspian Sea in southern Russia is a small village called Archib. With a population of only 1,200, it’s the last remaining spot in the world where Archi […]
