greatest-hits

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The Ins & Outs of Exotic Animal Smuggling

This article originally appeared in mental_floss magazine. If you're in a subscribing mood, here are the... READ ON

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A $100,000 Bill? The Story Behind Large-Denomination Currency

Your local convenience store may not accept bills larger than $20, but once upon a time you could have paid for your gum with a nice fresh $10,000 bill. What's the story behind the large-denomination bills that the government used to issue? What big bills has the U.S.... READ ON

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Who Invented the Gatorade Shower?

Snow and ice may be dominating the weather report, but January is also a great time for another very specific type of precipitation: the Gatorade shower. With the college bowl season winding down tonight and the NFL playoffs heating up this weekend, get ready to see some coaches covered in sports drink. Here are the answers to some burning questions about this fairly new tradition. Who started the Gatorade... READ ON

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5 Ways Doctor Who Made a Difference

1. The Theme Song Many TV shows have had memorable theme songs, but few were as innovative as the eerie Doctor Who theme. Composed by Ron Grainer (who also wrote the themes for such classic 1960s shows as Steptoe and Son and The Prisoner), it was arranged and mixed by Delia Derbyshire at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. The Workshop pioneered electronic music in Britain, and Derbyshire's arrangement (using electronic oscillators, tape loops and reverse tape effects) was unlike anything ever heard... READ ON

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8 U.S. Presidents With Statues Abroad

Every former U.S. president has been honored with a statue in the United States, some more than others. A handful of the 43 men who have held the nation's highest office have also been honored with statues abroad. Here are a few examples, including some that may surprise you. 1. George W.... READ ON

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The Rise & Fall of The National Sports Daily

When mental_floss asked me to write about my experience with The National Sports Daily—one of the biggest swings (and subsequently one of the biggest misses) in the history of American sports journalism—I took an inventory from my days there as the Chicago Bureau Chief and later as the Detroit columnist: "¢ I have a book signed by former Sports Illustrated writer and current NPR commentator Frank Deford, who was The National's editor and publisher (and the pied piper calling many away... READ ON

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Strange Geographies: Village Life in Vanuatu

I've written a lot about strange places in the U.S. this year -- an airplane graveyard in the desert; a mock Iraqi village in the suburbs of San Diego; a town killed by a modern-day dustbowl two hours north of Los Angeles. But the strangest place I've ever been -- the strangest and most beautiful, I should say -- is a developing nation 1000km northeast of Australia, populated by the friendliest former cannibals you'll ever meet, called Vanuatu. I wrote about it a little bit back in April, right after I... READ ON

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9 Tasty Foods Named After People

Ever wonder what it takes to get your name permanently affixed to a dish? It doesn't hurt to invent a new delicacy that people just can't stop eating, but for some people it's just been a matter of being in the right place at the right time—and complimenting the chef on a job well done. Here are nine foods named after people, including Margherita pizza, Graham crackers, and nachos (yes, nachos). 1. Chicken a la... READ ON

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The Nautical Roots of 9 Common Phrases

by Mark S. Longo The Vikings, Columbus, the Pilgrims "¦ they all arrived here by ship. So it stands to reason that some of the phrases we use today were born on the high seas. While sources differ on the roots of many sayings, others have a clear path to the days of sailing across the ocean. Here's a look at 9 family-friendly phrases that likely came from the mouths of sailors. 1. Clean Bill of Health The "Age of Sail" in the 18th and early 19th centuries was a glorious time... READ ON

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The Late Movies: Dogs Welcoming Home Soldiers

I can't begin to imagine how hard it would be to leave my family for months at a time, especially if my destination were Iraq or Afghanistan. And I don't know how I could deal with my wife being deployed overseas. These reunion videos—for me, at least—shed a tiny beam of light on how emotionally draining being a military family can be. They'll also make you want a dog. To commemorate Veterans Day, here are some overjoyed dogs greeting returning soldiers. In our first clip, Gracie... READ ON