by Jeff Hillyer | Nov 2, 2026 | True Stories
TRUE STORYCold War paranoia had plenty of real causes. This is the story of one that came from the other end of a fish.Fast factsWhen: Soviet sub U 137 ran aground Oct. 27, 1981; herring explanation emerged in the mid-1990sWhere: Swedish coastal waters and the Baltic...
by Jeff Hillyer | Nov 2, 2026 | True Stories
TRUE STORYEvery great military innovation begins with a visionary. This one began with a dentist on vacation.Fast factsWhen: Proposed January 1942; cancelled 1944Where: Tests in New Mexico, California and UtahWho: Dentist Lytle S. Adams, chemist Louis Fieser,...
by Jeff Hillyer | Nov 2, 2026 | True Stories
TRUE STORYMost wars start with an assassination, an invasion, or a really bad treaty. This one started with potatoes.Fast factsWhen: June 15, 1859 (pig shot) to October 21, 1872 (border decided)Where: San Juan Island, between Washington and Vancouver IslandWho:...
by Jeff Hillyer | Nov 2, 2026 | Comics
Doug finally won the thermostat war. He locked it in a box and kept the only key. Victory lasted until about 2 a.m.Comic transcriptDoug: Nobody touches it now. Only I have the key.Nora: Doug, it’s 58 degrees in here.Doug: That’s what sweaters are for.Doug:...
by Jeff Hillyer | Nov 1, 2026 | Comics
Meet the Pruitts. Nora just finished another night shift in the ER, and Doug really should have stopped asking questions after “rough night?”Comic transcriptDoug: Morning, sunshine! Rough night?Nora: A guy came in with the TV remote stuck where no remote...
