Today Was Weird
March 31st, 2025 Edition
Factory Accident Floods Town With Soda
circa 2001
A valve failure at a soda bottling plant caused thousands of gallons of orange soda to flood the streets. Children played in it while city officials frantically set up sandbags. The smell lingered for days.
City Outlaws Pointy Shoes
circa 1953
After a rash of tripping accidents, a city council in 1953 banned pointy-toed shoes. Police patrolled fashion stores with rulers. The law was repealed the next year due to 'enforcement fatigue.'
Eiffel Tower Officially Opened
circa 1889
The Eiffel Tower opened to the public on March 31, 1889 as part of the World's Fair in Paris. Originally criticized by artists and intellectuals, it quickly became a symbol of the city. At 300 meters, it was the tallest man-made structure at the time.
Yesterday Was Weird Too
March 30th, 2025 Results
See what you missed. Only one of yesterday’s stories was real — find out which one it was and how the world voted.
🤔 Almost There!
Most participants selected a fictional event. The real historical event was: The Pencil with Attached Eraser Is Patented . Better luck next time!
Citywide Pillow Fight Ends in Feathers
circa 2008 Bogus
A social media campaign in 2008 triggered a massive flash mob pillow fight downtown. Over 1,000 people participated, covering the streets in feathers for days. Cleanup took 12 hours, and one street sweeper was quoted saying, 'It looked like a chicken exploded.'
The Pencil with Attached Eraser Is Patented
circa 1981 This Actually Happened
On March 30, 1858, Hyman Lipman of Philadelphia received the first patent for a pencil with an attached eraser. This innovative design combined a writing instrument with a means of correction, streamlining the process of writing and editing. Lipman's invention laid the groundwork for the modern pencil, an everyday tool that has become indispensable in various fields.
Bird Wins Lottery
circa 1997 Bogus
In 1997, a pet parrot in Michigan pecked lottery numbers at random—and they won. The bird’s owner claimed the prize and credited the win entirely to 'Mr. Feathers.' The parrot got a golden cage.
