Mental Floss

ALL STORIES









It's big and black and white and all over the place.

They’re so-called minimalist modern farmhouses, painted white, with black roofs, window frames, and railings, seemingly adrift from architectural context. Where did the big black-and-white look come from, and why is it so popular?

Tim Brinkhof
Beware of that invitation to tea.

Euphemisms allow us to discuss some grim or controversial topics employing a more palatable turn of phrase. These expressions were coined to disguise everything from capital punishments to diseases, death, slavery, and cannibalism.

Paul Anthony Jones
















Now and Then (1995) • Truth or Dare/Fight Scene [4K]
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Critics might have panned the film—Roger Ebert said it was “made of artificial bits and pieces”—but audiences loved it, and now it’s a beloved cult classic. Ahead of its 30th anniversary in October, here’s what you need to know about ‘Now and Then.’

Meredith Danko