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Mental Floss
You know Orson Welles was one of the most revered actors and directors of the 20th century, but how much do you know about his sketchy big break or his deft efforts to make rabbits disappear? Let’s take a look at five surprising things about Welles. 1.
Ethan Trex|
A while back, I was browsing at a favorite used book shop and found a paperback called Backward Masking Unmasked. Written in 1983 by a youth minister named Jacob Aranza, it’s an unintentionally hilarious attempt to expose the alleged backward Satanic mess
Bill DeMain|
Ever wonder how teenager Marty McFly got friendly with the highly eccentric and middle-aged Doc Brown? 'Back to the Future' co-writer Bob Gale has the answer.
Jason English|
In Vienna, a teenage girl drowned herself while clutching a piece of sheet music. In Budapest, a shopkeeper killed himself and left a note that quoted from the lyrics of the same song. In London, a woman overdosed while listening to a record of the song o
Bill DeMain|
Always a bridesmaid and never a bride, B is the also-ran, the second best, the afterthought, the sidekick to the alphaletter A. When things fall apart, we go to Plan B; we’ll watch B-movies with B-list actors on basic cable if we can’t fall asleep; we’ll
Matt Soniak|
It’s a bit unbelievable to think that Barack Obama would hold a White House wedding reception for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, but something just like that happened almost 150 years ago when Abraham Lincoln held a White House reception for General Tom Th
Stacy Conradt|
Last month, the Northwestern athletic department garnered national attention when it shipped two 7-pound purple dumbbells to about 80 college football writers across the country. A subtle hint that the recipients should spend a little more time in the gym
Scott Allen|
If you ever find yourself trapped in a pen with a bull and you happen to be wearing your favorite lucky red cape (what? you don’t have a lucky cape?), never fear. You could be wearing a red hat, pants, shirt, shoes and socks and the bull likely wouldn’t b
Stacy Conradt|
Earlier this year, Ranker.com assembled a list of food-centric town names. It made us hungry. Here's how some of those places got those delicious monikers. 1. Hot Coffee,
Bill DeMain|
You've probably seen this photo with the caption "Be this guy." But who was he? Here's the tragic story of August Landmesser.
Miss Cellania|
Silent movie comedy was all about slapstick and sight gags. Slipping on banana peels, falling from moving cars, teetering on high window ledges—audiences loved to see comedians testing the boundaries of gravity. And in an era long before CGI, these amazin
Bill DeMain|
Kara Kovalchik|
Buying fruit juice at the supermarket is a surprisingly complicated task that leads to myriad questions. What’s really in that “100% juice”? Why does that “juice” have the word “cocktail” loitering behind it? Let’s take a look at the exciting world of jui
Ethan Trex|
Phil Spector was best known for developing a new production style and murdering Lana Clarkson by gunshot wound. Here are five musical artists he also threatened with a gun.
Bill DeMain|
1. Bovine
Haley Sweetland Edwards|
The United States is a charter member of the United Nations, but that doesn't mean the entire U.S. is represented.
Jason Plautz|
Paul: "I just wanted to thank you fans. Don't know where we'd be without you." John: "The army, probably." George, speaking about their upcoming film: "This one will be in color." John: "Green." --1964 Beatles Christmas
Eddie Deezen|
Next time you order a chai tea from your corner coffee shop, take a moment and appreciate your killer multilingual skills.
Haley Sweetland Edwards|
From chasing down a robber to carrying the Olympic torch, Alex Trebek was just as impressive in real life as he was on the small screen.
Stacy Conradt|
Some of the most important literary figures of the last century had previously made a name for themselves in athletics. Here are the stories of a halfback who became a beatnik, an Olympic-hopeful wrestler who became leader of the Merry Pranksters, and nin
Conor McKeon|
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