Mark Mancini

A native of fabulous Rochester, NY, Mark loves freelance writing, community theater, & anything dinosaur-related. He’s also obsessed with Denver Broncos football.

Hindenburg Facts

Rigid zeppelins used to carry the rich and well-to-do across the Atlantic Ocean in style. But after the Hindenburg airship crashed in a fiery heap on May 6, 1937, that industry went up in smoke. Here’s the lowdown on the life and death of this ill-fated flying machine.... READ ON

New Year’s Eve Facts

Read on for some fascinating facts about New Year's Eve and how we celebrate it, whether it's with champagne, pickles, or red underwear.... READ ON

'Santa Claus Conquers the Martians' Movie Facts

'Santa Claus Conquers the Martians,' the so-bad-it's-good cult sci-fi comedy from 1964, is the first motion picture to ever depict Mrs. Claus.... READ ON

'Christmas Vacation' Movie Facts

The Griswold family Christmas classic is the gift that keeps on giving throughout the entire year—and you can thank Stanley Kubrick for it.... READ ON

The Best Advent Calendars for Christmas

Whether you're into tea, Harry Potter, science projects, creepy stories, or anything in between, countdown the days to Christmas with one of these charming Advent calendars.... READ ON

White Castle Facts

White Castle may not be the largest burger chain, but it might just have the fast food world's most devoted following.... READ ON

Will Rogers Quotes

William Penn Adair Rogers ranks among the finest performers, comedians, and social commentators in American history.... READ ON

'Field of Dreams' Movie Facts

Phil Alden Robinson's Oscar-nominated baseball movie is still being talked about, more than 30 years after its initial release.... READ ON

Weird Gifts on Amazon

We’ve scoured the internet to come up with 11 oddball products—from sloth shower curtains to microwave s’mores makers—that should pleasantly surprise your favorite chums. ... READ ON

12 Catherine the Great Facts

Catherine the Great was one of the most important leaders in its history—and no, she didn't die after trying to have sex with a horse.... READ ON

Funny Gag Gifts You Can Buy on Amazon

Need a great gag gift idea? We've got humorous mugs, coloring books, and other prank gifts that are perfect for your friends.... READ ON

13 Halloween Costumes for $25 and Under

Dressing to impress on Halloween doesn't need to spook your wallet. With these 13 budget-friendly Halloween costumes, you'll be a hit at any party.... READ ON

15 Facts About International Talk Like A Pirate Day

Happy Talk Like a Pirate Day! Let’s hoist the Jolly Roger, break out the rum, and look back at the holiday’s timber-shivering history.... READ ON

What’s the Difference Between a Pirate and a Buccaneer?

Four hundred years ago, if you were a seafaring thief, the label that you received said a great deal—mainly about whoever it was doing the labeling.... READ ON

25 Species That Have Made Amazing Comebacks

When it comes to rescuing endangered species, progress is an ongoing effort—but these plants and animals have made successful comebacks.... READ ON

11 Fun Facts About Them!

Find out about the real-world nuclear fears and trailblazing creature effects that went into this "big bug" blockbuster.... READ ON

9 Amazing Facts About Komodo Dragons

Apart from being Earth’s largest living lizard, behavior like man-eating and grave-robbing are the Komodo dragon’s biggest claims to fame.... READ ON

10 Things You Might Not Have Known About Pearl Harbor

Pearl Harbor's contributions to world history didn’t begin—or end—on that fateful day in 1941. From epic rock concerts to astronaut visits, the storied lagoon has seen quite a lot.... READ ON

9 Monumental Facts About Chimney Rock

Standing around 325 feet tall from peak to base, Chimney Rock looms like a lighthouse on the Great Plains—and had a starring role in a popular video game.... READ ON

10 Oversized Water Toys That Are Worth the Splurge

From floating amusement parks to inflatable livestock, here are some of the niftiest—and most impressive—pool toys we could find on the ‘net.... READ ON

12 Expert-Level BBQ Gadgets to Buy This Summer

Outdoor barbecues are a beloved tradition, but that doesn’t mean you have to use traditional equipment. Here are a few of our favorite BBQ gadgets.... READ ON

10 Quick Facts About Roadrunners

Roadrunners—the iconic birds of the American Southwest—are brave enough to feast on rattlesnakes and outsmart coyotes (really, we're not kidding).... READ ON

10 Fascinating Facts About Anne Boleyn

King Henry VIII annulled his first marriage and broke with the Catholic Church in order to wed the charming noblewoman Anne Boleyn. Three years later, she was executed.... READ ON

10 Latin Language References Hidden in Harry Potter

Every other page in the 'Harry Potter' book series is loaded with Latin—here are some of our favorite nods.... READ ON

14 Revolutionary Facts About Bastille Day

On July 14, 1789, Parisian rebels stormed the Bastille prison. Its sudden fall kicked off the French revolution, an Earth-shaking event whose echoes we still feel today.... READ ON

12 Things You Should Know About Rattlesnakes

It's a myth that these venomous vipers will always shake its rattle before attacking, but a rattlesnake bite still packs a punch.... READ ON

10 Star-Spangled Facts About the Musical 1776

The winner of three Tony Awards (including Best Musical), '1776' might be the most improbable hit in Broadway history.... READ ON

Who Was the "Gerry" of Gerrymandering?

Elbridge Gerry might have gone down in history as the “Father of the Bill of Rights.” Instead, he’s remembered first and foremost for another, less admirable claim to fame.... READ ON

20 Freaky Facts About the Giant Squid

Scientists aboard a NOAA expedition ship in the Gulf of Mexico recently captured video of an elusive giant squid—the first recorded sighting in U.S. waters.... READ ON

11 Facts About DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story On Its 15th Anniversary

The sleeper hit both saluted and skewered the sports movie genre. It also gave Chuck Norris the chance to enjoy a free helicopter ride.... READ ON

10 Creepy-Crawly Facts About Spiders

Whether you're an arachnophobe or an arachnophile, here are a few things you should know about our eight-legged friends.... READ ON

What's the Difference Between a Broadway and Off-Broadway Show?

It has to do with a few seats (and a couple million dollars).... READ ON

19 Facts About the 19th Amendment

One hundred years ago today, the 19th Amendment—extending the right to vote to women—was passed by the Senate and sent to the states for ratification. On August 18, 1920, American women finally secured that right. Calling the victory hard-won would be a terrific understatement.... READ ON

10 Facts About Dr. Seuss’s Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

Like square caps and billowing gowns, Dr. Seuss's 'Oh, the Places You’ll Go!' has become synonymous with graduation ceremonies.... READ ON

25 Fun Facts About Godzilla

Look out, Tokyo! On May 31, Godzilla is set to rise from the depths (again) and do battle with some familiar foes in Michael Dougherty's 'Godzilla: King of the Monsters.'... READ ON

14 Things You Should Know About Vultures

Vultures are natures clean-up crew, swiftly flying in to rid our nations highways of roadkill—among other acts that help the environment.... READ ON

15 Father's Day Gifts for Every Type of Dad (and Every Budget)

Did Father's Day sneak up on you this year? We've got you covered. Here are 15 gifts your dad will love, whether he's a Tolkien fan, a photography geek, a seasoned traveler, a diehard baseball fan, or more.... READ ON

The Overlooked Paleontologist Who May Have Inspired 'She Sells Sea Shells'

Though Anning didn't receive her due credit from the male naturalists who reaped the benefits of her labors, word of the fossil-hunter's many achievements still managed to spread far and wide during her lifetime.... READ ON

10 Resolute Facts About William Seward

Abraham Lincoln's most trusted advisor may have also been the most divisive politician of his time.... READ ON

A Brief History of the Chicken Dance

It's on the dance floor at nearly every wedding today, but the success of "The Chicken Dance" didn't happen overnight.... READ ON

15 Heroic Facts About Florence Nightingale

The "founder of modern nursing" left a revolutionary mark on sanitation, healthcare ... and pie charts.... READ ON

13 Memorable Facts About D-Day

The Normandy landings—an event better known as “D-Day”—became a pivotal moment in the Second World War. Here's what you need to know.... READ ON

The True Story Behind Gentleman Jack: 10 Facts About Anne Lister

Anne Lister was a businesswoman, a mountaineer, a world traveler, and a science enthusiast. But it’s her love life that she’s mainly remembered for today.... READ ON

10 Colorful Facts About Cassowaries

The dagger-clawed cassowary, native to Australia, Indonesia, and New Guinea, is one of the world's most dangerous birds—and yes, it has killed people.... READ ON

10 Amazing Facts About Buckingham Palace

For almost two centuries, the reigning monarchs of the United Kingdom have used Buckingham Palace as their administrative headquarters. The building has survived everything from World War II bomb strikes to a crafty undergarment thief.... READ ON

11 Fascinating Facts About the War of the Roses

This 30-plus-year period of bloodshed between England's House of Lancaster and the House of York inspired 'Game of Thrones.'... READ ON

11 Ridiculously Overdue Library Books (That Were Finally Returned)

Next time you bring back a library book a few days past its due date, know that your fine could have been a lot worse.... READ ON

12 Facts for Tennessee Williams's Birthday

Tennessee Williams is best known for having written 'The Glass Menagerie,' 'A Streetcar Named Desire,' and 'Cat On a Hot Tin Roof.' He also hobnobbed with presidents and worked on a film that shocked the censors.... READ ON

13 Memorable Facts About Cats the Musical

Andrew Lloyd Webber's dazzling Broadway production spawned the phrase “It was better than 'Cats'!” Here are a few more facts about 'Cats' the musical.... READ ON

25 Facts About Puppies

In honor of National Puppy Day, here are 25 things everyone should know about these four-legged snuggle buddies who are all very good boys.... READ ON

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