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Mental Floss

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Ken Jennings|
The best gifts for co-workers strike the right balance between familiarity and professionalism.
Scott Beggs|
'Dictionary of the English Language,' published in 1755, remained the foremost dictionary of British English until the early 1900s when the very first installments of the Oxford English Dictionary began to appear.
Paul Anthony Jones|
No one does super-fandom like the Brits, and back in late '90s, it looked as though Beatlemania might finally be outdone by the Spice Girls.
Elisabeth Garber-Paul|
The frequency of cricket chirps rises with the heat, and you can use them to estimate the temperature wherever you are—no thermometer needed.
Michele Debczak|
Before the artist created ‘The Starry Night,’ he dedicated himself to the surreal and beautiful wonder of ‘Sunflowers.’
Kristy Puchko|
Games like Wordle are a dime a dozen these days—but Redactle is a special stumper.
Ellen Gutoskey|
Paranormal investigators explore what goes bump in the night—and here's what they had to say about what their job is really like.
Shayna Murphy|
When filming began on 'Desperately Seeking Susan,' Madonna was an up-and-coming singer. By the time shooting wrapped, she was a bona fide superstar.
Garin Pirnia|
The liminal space aesthetic has only been around for a few years, but it triggers a primal fear that predates the internet.
Michele Debczak|
The story of the OED’s most prolific contributor, a sex-addicted murderer who lived in an insane asylum.
Lucas Reilly|
From groundbreaking movies to landmark novels, these are the best gifts for sci-fi fans in your life.
Jay Serafino|
Abraham Lincoln briefly considered going with them.
Michael Wallis|
The appeal of the internet may be universal, but the way people use it varies depending on where they live.
Michele Debczak|
You don’t need to sign up for a streaming service to satisfy your horror craving.
Michele Debczak|
The author's 100th birthday will be celebrated in style, with attendees encouraged to BYOV (Bring Your Own Vonnegut).
Jake Rossen|
Some of Webster's suggested reforms caught on and still mark a difference between American and British writing. But you won't beleev how many of his reforms went nowhere.
Arika Okrent|
The recipe for Disney World's highly sought after Dole Whip is surprisingly simple.
Michele Debczak|
The link between teachers and apples goes back centuries.
Michele Debczak|
Humans have a strange and lasting fascination with the dark and macabre. Lucky for you, we’ve compiled a list of the best gifts for true crime fans that will appeal to any murder mystery lover.
Hannah McDonald|
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