Topic

Geography & Places

A collection of 100 issues

From Pest to Pub Star: Unpacking Australia's Weirdest Sport, Cane Toad Racing

In Australia, the reviled cane toad, a toxic invasive pest, is the star of a quirky pub sport: cane toad racing. This bizarre tradition, especially popular on Australia Day, transforms an ecological disaster into a unique and controversial cultural spectacle.

Size Matters: The Icelandic Penis Museum's Comical Quest for a Worthy Human Specimen

The Icelandic Phallological Museum's quest for a human penis specimen hit a snag when its first donation ended up a shriveled mess. This prompted the curator to publicly declare he was waiting for 'a younger and a bigger and better one,' kicking off a bizarre international competition.

The Secret Mexican History of Area Codes 706 and 905

Did you know the area codes for North Georgia (706) and suburban Toronto (905) weren't always for those places? Until 1991, they were special codes used by Americans and Canadians to dial directly to cities in Mexico. This is the story of how an international dialing change gave them new homes.

Three-Twenty-and-Ten: Unlocking the Surprising Logic of Georgian Numbers

Ever tried counting in 20s? The Georgian language does just that with its vigesimal number system. Instead of 'seventy-five', Georgians say 'three-twenty-and-fifteen' (samotsdatkhutmeti). It's a fascinating linguistic quirk that challenges our base-10 assumptions about numbers.

The Great Midwestern Pepper-Mango Mystery: Why Some People Call Bell Peppers "Mangoes"

In parts of the Midwest, some call green bell peppers "mangoes." This isn't a mistake, but a linguistic fossil from the 18th century when "mango" referred to pickled items. Stuffed, pickled peppers were called "mangoes," and the name eventually stuck to the raw pepper itself.

Malört: The Vile Liqueur Chicagoans Love to Hate (and Force on Their Friends)

Malört, Chicago's infamous wormwood liqueur, is a true test of grit. Known for its shockingly bitter taste, this Prohibition-era spirit has become a cultural staple and a bizarre rite of passage, bonding friends and newcomers through the shared trauma of the notorious 'Malört Face'.

The French Lawyer Who Crowned Himself King: The Bizarre, True Story of the Kingdom of Patagonia

In 1860, a French lawyer named Antoine de Tounens declared himself king of the indigenous Mapuche people in South America. His bizarre Kingdom of Araucanía and Patagonia, complete with a constitution, lasted just two years before he was arrested and declared insane by Chilean authorities.