Ethan Trex

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Editorial Director/VP, Strategy at mental_floss.

Likes: doughnuts, spirits (liquor), spirits (supernatural), donuts. Dislikes: injuries.

A Brief and Incomplete Scouting Report on Algeria

With the U.S.-Algeria World Cup clash looming, we thought we'd take a few minutes to find some interesting facts about the North African nation. Here's the scoop on our Group C rivals. They Swing a Mean Fan From the 17th century through the early 19th century, the rulers of the Regency of Algiers were known as deys. This system began to change in 1827, though. The ruling Dey found himself in a rather heated argument with the French consul Pierre Deval, and at one point the Dey lost his... READ ON

How Do You Decaffeinate Coffee Beans?

Many of us can't start our days without at least one cup of coffee, but we don't really give the magic beans much thought after we drain our mugs. Let's take a look at a few questions you might have about the intricacies of the coffee business. How do you decaffeinate coffee... READ ON

Merv Griffin's $80 Million Lullaby & More Tales of Music Royalties

Even if they're not the ones on stage belting out their tunes, songwriters can make quite bit of cash from publishing royalties. If you write a hit song, you'll pick up anywhere from a few cents to hundreds of dollars any time it's played on TV, the radio, or in a film. Let's take a look at a few noteworthy tales of music royalties. Jeopardy! Theme Makes a Non-Trivial... READ ON

Are Tomatoes Fruits or Vegetables?

Here's a scene you'll probably see this summer: you'll be at a barbecue or picnic, enjoying nice, fresh in-season tomatoes, and you might make an offhand comment about tomatoes being your favorite vegetable. Almost immediately, some know-it-all will pipe up with, "Tomatoes are fruits, not vegetables!" No one would blame you if you told your pedantic guest, "Wow! Thanks for correcting me! It's clear now why everyone enjoys your company so much!"... READ ON

Make-A-Wish: Turning Kids Into Superheroes, Ice Cream Men & More

The Make-A-Wish Foundation has granted nearly 200,000 wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions. From the first wish—making a 7-year-old boy with leukemia a police officer for a day—through countless family vacations and celebrity meetups, the foundation has provided all sorts of joy for seriously ill children and their families. Here is just a handful of wishes the foundation has fulfilled in recent years.1. Superhero for a... READ ON

9 Copyrights That Were Donated to Charity

A lucrative patent or a popular copyright can provide a creator's heirs with solid streams of revenue for decades. Some great artists and inventors decided that they'd rather give the rights to their best creations to charity, though. Here are a few well-known bits of intellectual property that have found their way into charities' portfolios. 1. Peter... READ ON

5 Things You Didn't Know About Salmon Chase

Salmon P. Chase may not be history's most familiar name, but he made quite a mark on American politics.... READ ON

Spell It Out: 16 Abbreviated Company Names Explained

Dozens of companies use acronyms or initials in their names, but how well do you know what the abbreviated letters mean? Let's take a look at the etymologies behind a few abbreviated company names.1. CVSSorry, drugstore fans, there aren't three fatcat pharmacists with these initials running around out there. When the pharmacy chain was founded in Lowell, MA in 1963, it was known as "Consumer Value Stores." Over time the name became abbreviated to simply CVS. 2.... READ ON

7 Historical Bans on Smoking

Stud or Dud? The High Stakes World of Racehorse Ownership

Watching the post parade at this weekend's Kentucky Derby will surely fill some of our heads with dreams of horse ownership. How did the julep-sipping folks acquire their prized horses? How much is buying a racehorse going to set you back? Are they sound investments? These are all tricky questions, but let's take a look at a few stories of horse sales that turned out to be winning lottery tickets"¦and a few that were more dud than stud. Mr. Prospector Becomes a Daddy Again... READ ON

10 More Weird Clauses in Sports Contracts

We've taken a look at strange clauses in baseball contracts before, but since the NFL draft is quickly approaching, we're about to be inundated with another round of sports contract terms. Let's take a look at a few more odd terms, conditions, and clauses from the sports world. 1. Bobby Bonilla Finally Gets... READ ON

9 Shameless Abuses of Diplomatic Immunity

Diplomatic immunity may be intended to keep diplomats from running afoul of local authorities while serving abroad, but some workers take it as a license to act like jerks.... READ ON

19 Weird Clauses in Baseball Contracts

Baseball contracts aren't just about money. They're also about bonus clauses and sweet, sweet perks. Here's a list of some of the more creative, generous or ludicrous perks players have received.... READ ON

12 Specialized Government-Run Police Forces

You know all about your local police force, the FBI, and other familiar law enforcement offices. The federal government operates lots of other police forces that don't get quite the same publicity in TV and movies; you might be surprised to learn that up until 2003, the Library of Congress had its own police! Here are a few of the specialized police forces you might not have even known were protecting you. 1. Supreme Court... READ ON

7 Really Tiny Towns

Ever consider getting away from the city to try your hand at small-town life? If you want to live in a place where everybody will know your name, towns don't come much smaller than these teensy communities around the country. Even if you don't blink you might miss them. 1. S.N.P.J.,... READ ON

5 Things You Didn't Know About Kelsey Grammer

TV audiences have long enjoyed Kelsey Grammer for his masterful portrayal of two very different characters: Dr. Frasier Crane and Sideshow Bob. Let's take a look at five things you might not know about the primetime powerhouse.1. He's Had a Traumatic Personal LifeAlthough Grammer has been making audiences laugh for over 25 years, his personal life has been anything but comic. When Grammer was 13 years old, his dad was shot and killed by a deranged intruder. When Grammer was 20, his... READ ON

Census Questions: A Once-a-Decade FAQ

If you're the head of an American household, the odds are a little better than even that you've already mailed back your census form. However, around 48 percent of households are dragging their feet, so let's take a look at a few questions you might have about everyone's favorite once-a-decade survey. Why do we need a census, anyway? Aside from the obvious necessity of knowing how many people there are in the country and how best to allocate our resources among them, the... READ ON

How To Get Yourself on a Postage Stamp

If you're like me, you probably take postage stamps for granted. I'll slap one on an outgoing bill or letter, but I don't usually give them much thought. However, there's a rigorous process that one has to go through to get his mug on a stamp, so we thought we might answer some questions for any aspiring postage subjects.I want to be on a postage stamp! What do I have to do?If it's a United States Postal Service stamp you're gunning for, we've got... READ ON

How 14 Car Companies Got Their Names

Most of us probably don't put too much thought into our cars' names. Sure, we'll take the wheel of a Toyota or a Chevrolet, but how did those cars pick up their monikers? Let's take a look at a few that aren't quite as obvious as the Ford name.... READ ON

In 1994 Kentucky Tweaked Its Logo, Which Some Considered Too Phallic

Kentucky's teams have been the Wildcats since 1909, but in 1994 the school's iconic Wildcat logo underwent a bit of a change. The school had received a number of complaints about the Wildcat's tongue in the logo; some felt the tongue looked more phallic than tongue-like. The university initially thought the complaints were a joke, but on closer inspection the roaring cat's tongue did look a little phallic. The school redesigned the logo so it would be less R-rated. (I was in middle school in Kentucky... READ ON

5 Things You Don't Know About 5 Pro Wrestlers

Since WrestleMania is this Sunday, we decided to break with our normal Friday feature to give you five facts you might not have known about some of the biggest wrestlers of the WrestleMania era. 1. Hulk Hogan Wants to... READ ON

7 Stories The National Enquirer Actually Got Right

Some in the media have argued that The National Enquirer deserves Pulitzer Prize consideration for its investigative work into politician John Edwards' affair with Rielle Hunter. Although it's easy to dismiss The Enquirer as a tabloid collection of fabricated stories that offer little more than a distraction in the grocery store line, the weekly rag has actually broken some pretty big stories. Sure, headlines like "Stars with Cellulite!" and "Kirstie Alley: Only 4 Years to... READ ON

5 Things You Didn't Know About Martha Stewart

You know Martha Stewart as the crafts-and-cooking guru who has dominated print and broadcast media. You know her as the stockowner who ran into a bit of trouble with the feds. Today, let's look at five things you might not know about Stewart. 1. She Was a Model and a... READ ON

Jayhawks, Hoyas & Owls (Oh My!): How 21 Schools Got Their Nicknames

March Madness starts today, which means you're going to be tossing team nicknames around like crazy for the next few weeks. Do you know where these mascots came from, though? What the heck is a Hoya? Would you know a Gaucho if you saw one? Let's take a look at the origins of some of the tournament teams'... READ ON

The mental_floss Guide to the NCAAs: The East

The tournament tips off today, so let's close out our series of interesting facts about the Big Dance's schools with a look at the East... READ ON

The mental_floss Guide to the NCAAs: The Midwest

Let's keep our _flossy take on March Madness rolling with 16 facts you might not have known about the 16 schools who are dancing in the Midwest... READ ON

The mental_floss Guide to the NCAAs: The West

Yesterday we took a look at some interesting facts about the schools in the NCAA tournament's South region. Today, let's turn our sights to the... READ ON

The mental_floss Guide to the NCAAs: The South

We may not be much help in filling out your bracket. But throughout this week we're going to bring you a _flossy take on March Madness: one interesting fact about each of the 65 teams in the tournament field. Let's kick things off with the South... READ ON

5 Things You Didn't Know About Quincy Jones

Quincy Jones has certainly had an interesting career. He's done everything from conducting Frank Sinatra's band to producing films to fathering TV and movie star Rashida Jones.... READ ON

11 (Extra) Special Collections in University Libraries

Usually when we head to the library, we're looking for something relatively mundane, like a common book or a periodical. Step into a library's special collections, though, and you'll find all sorts of offbeat offerings. From puppets to porn, here's a look at some unusual special collections one can peruse in reading rooms around the country. 1. Kidney... READ ON

4 Races Around the World

Looking for a challenge? Try racing around the world! These trips around the globe may not have earned any notice from Jules Verne or the producers of The Amazing Race, but they certainly enabled racers to see the world in unique ways. 1. British Convertible Takes on the... READ ON

7 Super Expensive Alternatives to Grocery Store Brands

Lots of us only ask one question when we head to the grocery store: what's on sale? (At least that's what I do.) If you're flush with cash, though, even buying mundane staple foods can turn into an exercise in conspicuous consumption. Let's take a look at a few super pricey pantry mainstays that will set you back a bit more than the store brands. 1. Milk Your Wallet for All It's... READ ON

Sweet Action: 8 Big Bets Made by Famous People

Most people limit their gambling to friendly Super Bowl wagers or the occasional trip to Vegas. Celebrities, of course, tend to do everything on a grander scale. Let's take a look at some famous people and the high-profile bets on which they cashed in or lost big. 1. Truman Defeats Dewey, Jimmy the Greek Defeats... READ ON

Team Canada's Legally Blind Cross-Country Skier

If you tune in to the Olympic 50 kilometer classical cross-country skiing race on Sunday, you'll get to see an inspiring bit of history. During the race, Canadian skier Brian McKeever will become the first athlete to compete in both the Winter Olympics and Paralympics in the same year. The 30-year-old from Canmore, Alberta, isn't just one of the world's best cross-country skiers; he's also legally... READ ON

Not Quite Medal-Worthy: 7 Winter Demonstration Sports

Through the 1992 games, most Olympics would feature a few demonstration sports, with no medals up for grabs. Many of these, like speed skating, short track speed skating, freestyle skiing, and curling, eventually landed on the official program for later Olympics. What about the sports that didn't quite make the cut, though? Let's take a look at some of the winter events that fell a bit short. 1.... READ ON

Brother Against Brother: The Great Confederate Snowball Fight

History lessons on the American Civil War tend to focus on its depressing aspects: a divided country, rampant gangrene, and Ken Burns appear prominently in most classes. However, despite schedules packed with receiving shoddy medical care and standing still for minutes on end to have their photos taken, some Confederate soldiers found the time to stage what sounds like one of the most strategically sound snowball fights in history. On January 28, 1863, two feet of snow covered a large contingent of... READ ON

The Post-Olympic Careers of 16 Medal Winners

We've all been enjoying watching Olympians triumph and claim medals, but what happens to them after the games are over? Does the luge offer long-term career opportunities? While many former Olympians have stayed close to their sports as coaches or commentators, others have used their medal-grabbing triumphs as springboards into very different careers. Here is what a few notable medalists have done to keep themselves busy. 1. Eric... READ ON

Double Trouble: The Two U.S. Olympic Hockey Teams of 1948

Have you been watching the Olympic ice hockey tournament and cheering for the American team? Be thankful you haven't been forced to choose which U.S. team to root for. American fans faced just such a conundrum at the 1948 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland, when two hockey squads showed up for the games and claimed to be the official American squad. Here's a look at how that happened. The... READ ON

Our Favorite Olympians: Eric Moussambani, Equatorial Guinea

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared during the Beijing Games in 2008. Enjoy! To bring the Olympic spirit to developing nations in the late 1990s, the Olympic Committee allowed a small number of "wild card" athletes to join the Games. But because they didn't have to go through any qualifying rounds to compete, not all of the contenders arrived prepared. One such athlete was a swimmer from Equatorial Guinea named Eric Moussambani. When Moussambani arrived at the 2000 Sydney... READ ON

What's the Difference? Winter Olympic Sports

The Winter Olympics are in full swing, which can be as confusing as it is exciting. Since slalom skiing and ice dancing aren't quite as familiar as basketball and football, the nuanced differences between certain events can be a bit difficult to decipher. Let's take a look at some of the key differences between similar events. Ice Dancing and Pairs Figure Skating Ice dancing is obviously a form of figure skating, but there are important differences that may seem a bit subtle to... READ ON

5 Things You Didn't Know About George Plimpton

George Plimpton had an interesting niche in American letters. Although he was best known for his warm, funny narratives of his own adventures as a participatory sportswriter, he also founded the influential literary journal The Paris Review, dabbled in acting, and enjoyed seeing things blow up. Here are five things you may not have known about him. 1. He Was Shot by John... READ ON

7 Dubious Ways to Gain an Olympic Edge

The Winter Olympics are supposed to be a shining beacon of sportsmanship and goodwill, but things don't always work out that way. Sure, you know all about Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan, but there have been all sorts of other scandals in which an Olympian used dubious tactics to gain an advantage. Some tricks were successful, others failed, and some of them deserve gold medals for shear gall. 1. See a Mysterious Black... READ ON

5 Things You Didn't Know About Pete Rozelle

You know the stories of the great players who have shaped the Super Bowl, but how well do you know the man who made the big game possible? Pete Rozelle spent 29 years as the NFL's commissioner, so in honor of the Super Bowl, let's take a look at a few things you might not know about him. 1. He Hated the Name "Super... READ ON

Who Invented the Gatorade Shower?

Bill Parcells was one of the first coaches to be doused with celebratory Gatorade after a win. But who came up with the idea? Here are the answers to some burning questions about this fairly new tradition.... READ ON

Where Are They Now? Super Bowl Heroes (And Goats)

What happened to the heroes (and goats) of past Super Bowls? Their younger selves may live on in football immortality, but what are they doing in their real lives? We've caught up with a few notable Super Bowl alums. 1. Franco... READ ON

The Origins of 10 Winter Olympic Sports

The Winter Olympics are still a week and a half away, but it's never too early to start getting warmed up. Let's take a look at the origins of some of the events you'll be enjoying from Vancouver. 1. Figure... READ ON

How Did Cameron Get an Indoor Stadium? The Names Behind 12 College Arenas

Now that college basketball season is in full swing, hoops fans are hearing a lot about teams' home arenas during broadcasts. While it's easy to figure out the origins of many of these namesake arenas—basketball fans surely know where Rupp Arena and the Dean Smith Center got their names—some aren't as clear. Who was Cameron, and how did he get an indoor stadium? Let's take a look at the names behind college hoops' best-known venues. 1. Cameron Indoor... READ ON

5 Things You Didn't Know About Margaret Thatcher

Margaret Thatcher was the tough-talking Conservative face of British politics throughout the 1980s. You may know about her policies, but how well do you know the woman who was nicknamed "The Iron Lady"?... READ ON

The Origins of 9 Charities Named After People

We often write their names on the "Pay to the Order of" lines of our donation checks, but how well do we know the inspiring people behind some of our favorite charities and foundations? A lot of charitable foundations are named after the celebrities or high-profile business tycoons who founded them, but others are named after the people who inspired their formations or generous souls with lower public profiles. Let's take a look at a few of these folks and their namesake... READ ON

18 Airports Named After People (Including a Cartoonist)

If you're doing any air travel this winter, chances are you'll end up spending quite a bit of time sitting in airports. During those layovers, your mind may wander.... READ ON

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