MUTTS Sunday Funnies: Why Patrick McDonnell Belongs Among the Greats
Patrick McDonnell’s new MUTTS Sunday Funnies Volumes 1 and 2 collect his Sunday comic strips from 1994 to 1998 in beautifully presented hardcover editions.
Entertainment
The BBC Withheld Four Star Trek Episodes for 25 Years, and Big Bird Too
The BBC withheld four Star Trek episodes for years and rejected Sesame Street, even as British children watched the surreal favourite The Magic Roundabout.
The Weirdest Thing About Transformers: The Movie Was Its Soundtrack
Why was The Transformers: The Movie soundtrack so unusual? From Stan Bush and Weird Al to Orson Welles, its strange mix still works 40 years later.
The Pen Is Mightier Than Death: Believe It or Not!
Howie Noel, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, Dick Tracy and Charles Schulz reveal how legendary comic strips keep going after their original creators are gone.
Street Fight: Mean America and the War on Sesame Street by Michael Davis
Michael Davis's Street Fight explores the corporate battles behind Sesame Street, the show's changing creative direction, and a bigger question: did we carry its lessons about kindness and acceptance into adulthood?
Unseen Places: The Joy of Discovering Something New by Anna Kodé
Anna Kodé’s Unseen Places explores observation, curiosity and the hidden stories of everyday life, from Italian construction watchers to bonobo apes.
David Byrne’s Sleeping Beauties: When Great Ideas Wake Up
David Byrne’s Sleeping Beauties explores forgotten ideas, overlooked inventions and artists who waited decades or centuries to be rediscovered.
When Snoopy Became Snoopy: A Trip Back to 1967
Peanuts: Your Choice, Snoopy takes us back to 1967, when Snoopy, Woodstock and the Flying Ace were becoming the characters we know today.
The Mrs. Roper Romp gains momentum each year globally
The Mrs. Roper Romp, which originated in 2013 as the "Million Mrs. Roper March," is a lively and creatively themed bar crawl event that pays homage to the iconic character Mrs. Helen Roper from the popular 1970s television series "Three's Company."
Is Miffy Japanese? The Truth Behind This Iconic Bunny’s Origins
Is Miffy Japanese? No, this beloved bunny is Dutch! Learn about Miffy’s history, her 70th anniversary, the Hello Kitty controversy, and her lasting global legacy.
Culture
Street Fight: Mean America and the War on Sesame Street by Michael Davis
Michael Davis’s Street Fight explores the corporate battles behind Sesame Street, the show’s changing creative direction, and a bigger question: did we carry its lessons about kindness and acceptance into adulthood?
Unseen Places: The Joy of Discovering Something New by Anna Kodé
Anna Kodé’s Unseen Places explores observation, curiosity and the hidden stories of everyday life, from Italian construction watchers to bonobo apes.
David Byrne’s Sleeping Beauties: When Great Ideas Wake Up
David Byrne’s Sleeping Beauties explores forgotten ideas, overlooked inventions and artists who waited decades or centuries to be rediscovered.
Martin Mull Took Every Job Except Being Ordinary
Martin Mull was more than a television actor. From comedy and music to painting, his unusual career made him impossible to put in one box.
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir: What the Movie Changed
The 1947 classic The Ghost and Mrs. Muir is more than a romantic ghost story. Here's what the movie changed from the novel and why Captain Gregg may be more controlling than protective.
The Worst Movie You’ll Ever Find: Bela Lugosi Meets a Brooklyn Gorilla
Bela Lugosi, Jerry Lewis imitators, a gorilla suit and Hollywood controversy collide in this bizarre 1952 cult movie.
Bela Lugosi’s Worst Movies: When the Horror Legend Hit Rock Bottom
Bela Lugosi's worst movies reveal the strange, sad final chapter of the Dracula star's career, from Poverty Row productions to Ed Wood's films.
Ace in the Hole: The 1951 Movie That Feels Modern
Billy Wilder's Ace in the Hole, starring Kirk Douglas, is a 1951 film about media greed, sensationalism and the public appetite for tragedy that feels remarkably modern.
The Origin of Good Grief and Charlie Brown’s Famous Phrase
Good Grief became Charlie Brown's signature saying, but its history began decades earlier. Learn the surprising origin of the famous Peanuts phrase.
Who knew that the Maltese Falcon is worth 4.1 million
Steve Wynn, Las Vegas hotel and casino billionaire bought the Maltese Falcon statue at a premium. He won the bid at the total price of a stunning $4.1 million.
Food & Life
Don’t Cook That: When Old Recipes Got Seriously Dangerous
Old cookbooks weren’t always harmless. Some mixed food, medicine and household chemistry in ways that can make Grandma’s apple pie look downright safe.
When Paris Ate the Zoo: The Strangest Menu in History
During the Siege of Paris, starving Parisians ate zoo animals. Here’s the bizarre story behind elephant, camel and kangaroo appearing on a Paris menu.
Why Does Your Jeans Pocket Have That Stupid Little Pocket?
That stupid little pocket in your jeans has a long history, from pocket watches and the real 5th pocket to its cheeky modern reputation as the condom pocket.
Why Did We Put Missing Kids on Milk Cartons?
Why did missing children’s faces appear on milk cartons? We look at the strange history behind the campaign, the kids who recognized themselves, Milk Carton 2.0 and Canada’s famous milk bags.
MUTTS Sunday Funnies: Why Patrick McDonnell Belongs Among the Greats
Patrick McDonnell’s new MUTTS Sunday Funnies Volumes 1 and 2 collect his Sunday comic strips from 1994 to 1998 in beautifully presented hardcover editions.
The Pen Is Mightier Than Death: Believe It or Not!
Howie Noel, Ripley's Believe It or Not!, Dick Tracy and Charles Schulz reveal how legendary comic strips keep going after their original creators are gone.
Nancy Stole the Spotlight. Now Meet the Man Who Created Her.
You know Nancy. You might know Sluggo. But do you know Ernie Bushmiller, the cartoonist whose deceptively simple creation became bigger than its creator?
Exploring Calvin and Hobbes
Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes was always about the art. Now, original artwork from the beloved comic strip is going on tour, giving fans a rare look behind the panels.
Who Is the Winking Chef on Pizza Boxes?
The winking chef on pizza boxes has a surprising origin. Learn how Gill Fox’s 1950s illustration became a timeless pizza industry icon.
Halloween Watch: I Married a Witch
I Married a Witch is a bewitching movie just right for Halloween. No need for blood and gore! No man can resist Veronica Lake in this enchanted romantic movie.
The Odd & Curious
The Famous People Who Died on Halloween
Harry Houdini died on Halloween in 1926, but he wasn’t alone. Explore the famous figures who died on October 31 and Houdini’s final escape pact.
How Did 81 Suddenly Become Young?
When did 81 become young? A funny look at aging, retirement, baby boomers and how our idea of old age keeps changing.
Scratch-and-Sniff Is Making a Comeback
Scratch-and-sniff was once everywhere, from Raspberries albums and MAD Magazine to John Waters’ Odorama. Now the strange little fad is making a comeback.
Forget Book Burning, This Guy Wants You to Chop Your Books
Matt Kirkland has a strange solution for giant books: chop them into smaller, manageable volumes. Chop the biggest books and why it might make sense.
The Weirdest Thing About Transformers: The Movie Was Its Soundtrack
Why was The Transformers: The Movie soundtrack so unusual? From Stan Bush and Weird Al to Orson Welles, its strange mix still works 40 years later.
The 8-Track Tape Died. Apparently Nobody Told It.
The 8-track tape ruled car stereos before cassettes killed it, but its strange legacy lives on in mixtapes, video-game cartridges and collectors.
Show Us the LOVE! Rhino Gives Arthur Lee and Love Another Spin
Rhino's Rocktober gives Arthur Lee and Love another spin with three limited-edition albums, but the real Love story begins with Forever Changes.
We Killed the CD. Now We’re Bringing It Back From the Dead.
We killed the CD, dumped the evidence and moved on. Vinyl is growing, CDs are surging and a new generation is discovering the music we thought we'd left buried.
![A retro-style illustration on a red background shows a man in a suit shouting into a megaphone on the left. To the right, the word 'SNACKSTUME' is written in large, bold, white letters with a black outline, resembling a comic book sound effect. Below it, a dictionary-style definition reads: '[snack-stoom] noun. A Halloween costume based on a snack or food product, usually designed to make the wearer look like a giant version of something you'd normally eat.'](https://i0.wp.com/sandboxworld.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/word-of-the-week-snacktume.png?fit=1600%2C776&ssl=1)
World’s First Disposable Paper Razor
This perhaps the first true disposable razor. They are made from milk cartons. They are great for the travel and hospitality business. They will make their first appearance on April 1st in Japan by KAI Industries
Funko Games’ Seinfeld Party Game
Nothing to see here. For a show about nothing, Seinfeld lasted 9 seasons. That was a whole lot of nothing going on. Funko has created a trivia game based on the 90s hit series. The party game about nothing should be a hit with Seinfeld fans. Along with the game, Funko is also releasing a whole series of Pop figurines based on famous characters from the 9-year run.
The Invisible Man Appears / The Invisible Man vs. The Human Fly
Eiji Tsuburaya the creator of Godzilla got his feet wet five years earlier in 1949 when he lent his special effects talents to perhaps Japan’s first science-fiction movie, The Invisible Man Appears. Unlike the early Universal incarnation, the invisible man is not a lunatic madman.
A little sunshine and a little rain: A Poetry Journal
Instagram has sparked poetic creativity. Sabina Laura has parlayed her @sabinalaurapoerty Instagram account into A little sunshine and a little rain: A Poetry Journal in book format.
Meet Sandwich Friends From Ikea
Now here is a brilliant idea. Toys created by kids for kids. IKEA selected 5 ideas submitted by kids from all over the world for their new line of stuffed soft toys. I really love the Sandwich Friends. All five will be a global phenomenon.
Chocolate Cumberbunny
Oh, it’s real. It’s the Benedict Cumberbatch Bunny! He is so yummy that you will want to start nibbling his ears first. You don’t have to be a sleuth to know that the Chocolate Cumberbunny will be a hit with all the young girls out there.
Batman: Dying is Easy a Fan Film Goes Viral
Batman: Dying is Easy is a fan film catching the attention of the world. The Schoenke brothers raised more than $75,000 through the crowdfunding site Indiegogo for the project. The 30-minute production features the likes of Michael Madsen, Doug Jones, Casper Van Dien and musician Chris Daughtry.
Mad Magazine Artist Al Jaffee Turns 100 Years
Al Jaffee made his first Mad Magazine debut 65 years ago. Jaffee is famous for creating the “Fold-In” and “Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions.” will be 100 years on March 13.
TATTOO: 1730s-1970s Henk Schiffmacher’s Private Collection
One part history book, one part art book, and one part fascinating memoir, this book is an overview of more than two centuries of tattoo history intermixed with an intimate look at the lives of tattoo artists, and the personal struggles and triumphs, occupational hazards, and artistic courage that have defined so much of this history.
Poison Ivy Stars in Thorns by Kody Keplinger and Sara Kipin
Just in time for Pride Month, DC Comics announces Poison Ivy: Thorns by Kody Keplinger and Sara Kipin. It’s complicated! Poison Ivy is one of Batman’s more diverse characters, mostly understood but yet deadly. She is not one-dimensional as some of her fellow rogues from Arkham Asylum. Kody Keplinger and artist Sara Kipin nurture Poison Ivy our favorite antihero with a gothic-horror twist story. This prickly adventure will keep you captivated and seduced by Poison Ivy’s charm.
Naomi Rose’s Big Bird
Photography is about perfect timing. This big bird on the water optical illusion created by Naomi Rose was one of the winners of the 2020 World Nature Photography Awards.
An Atlas of Extinct Countries by Gideon Defoe
As of this year, the UN recognizes 195 countries around the world today. Countries come, countries go. An Atlas of Extinct Countries by Gideon Defoe explores with wit and sarcasm countries that faded into obscurity.