Tom Lehrer was Stephen Sondheim's camp counselor.

Novelty landline phones in the shape of Garfield, the cartoon cat, have been washing up on the Brittany coast for over 30 years. (The New York Times, March 29, 2019)

Cruella De Vil’s surname is the same in Dutch translation and (coincidentally) is the Dutch verb for skinning an animal.

The Nazis invented Fanta soda, making it from food waste products. The name is short for "Fantasie," German for "imagination."

There are fake Apple Stores in China. They look almost exactly like real Apple Stores, and items on sale may or may not be genuine Apple products. It appears that even the stores' “geniuses” have been duped into believing that they are working at an authorized Apple outlet. (Los Angeles Times, July 20, 2011)

At least six people have been killed after singing "My Way" in Philippine karaoke bars. (The New York Times, Feb. 7, 2010)

The shape of Gumby's head was based on the head of creator Art Clokey's father. (Los Angeles Times, Jan. 9, 2010)

Soupy Sales' father sold sheets to the Ku Klux Klan. (Los Angeles Times, Oct. 23, 2009)

Ayn Rand's nickname was "Fluff." (The New York Times, Oct. 22, 2009)

Cosmetics tycoon Elizabeth Arden put skin creams on her racehorses. (The New York Times, May 29, 2009)

The name of the Micronesian island of Niue means "Behold the coconut!" (The New York Times, March 4, 2009)

In North Korea, every home must have a portrait of Kim Jong Il, and there is a fine for failing to dust it. Foreign vistors are warned not to tear, crumple, or throw away a North Korean newspaper, for it is liable to contain a photograph of Kim Jong Il. Foreigners who descrate newspapers containing a picture of Kim Jong Il are not allowed to leave the country until they write a letter of apology. (Los Angeles Times, 9/23/08)

As part of a Honda ad campaign, a road in Lancaster, Calif., was grooved to play the "William Tell Overture" when driven over at 55 mph. (Los Angeles Times, 9/21/08)

The word “slum” is believed to derive from an Irish expression meaning “it is poverty.” (New York Times, 11/11/07)

Merv Griffin made “close to $70-80 million” in royalties for composing the 30 seconds of music played while Jeopardy! contestants ponder the final question. (New York Times, 8/13/07)

There is a man with Alzheimer’s who is able to give well-received lectures on his landscape photography but is unable to reassemble a sandwich, should one piece of bread fall off. (New York Times, 3/29/07)

An Amish boy was electrocuted when downed power lines got caught in the wheels of his horse-drawn buggy. (2/11/07)

The chef on the Cream of Wheat box is named “Rastus.” (New York Times, 8/1/06)

Former first lady Barbara Bush ate an entire jar of Fluff at one sitting. Fluff is a marshmallow cream product. Mamie Eisenhower’s fudge recipe called for a pint of Fluff. (6/26/06)

A lot of people want a house like Tony Soprano’s. It is alleged that about 250 houses have been built as more or less exact replicas of the fictitious gangster's New Jersey mansion. (New York Times, 8/12/02).