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.

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

Harvey Milk Facts

Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, and one of the first openly gay politicians elected to office in all of America. He also had a major issue with dog poop.... READ ON

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

Unique Puzzles That Belong in Your Collection

Whether you're looking to test your skills with unique color patterns or just want to put 40,000-plus pieces back together again, these jigsaw puzzles will give you the challenge you're looking for.... READ ON

Florence Nightingale Facts

Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, left a revolutionary mark on sanitation, healthcare ... and pie charts.... 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

Easy-to-Grow Plants for First-Time Gardeners

You won't need a green thumb to take care of these tough plants.... READ ON

Amazing Things Harper Lee Did After 'To Kill a Mockingbird'

Until 2015's 'Go Set a Watchman,' the late, great Pulitzer Prize-winning author Harper Lee was known as a literary one-hit wonder.... READ ON

Facts About Phyllis Schlafly: The True Story Behind 'Mrs. America'

Phyllis Schlafly, a conservative lawyer and mother of six whose grassroots campaign to thwart the Equal Rights Amendment, is the subject of the new Hulu/FX miniseries 'Mrs. America,' starring Cate Blanchett.... READ ON

Beverly Cleary Author Facts

Moving, relatable, and frequently hilarious, Beverly Cleary’s stories have been captivating readers of all ages for more than 60 years.... READ ON

John Brown Facts

Over the past 160 years, abolitionist John Brown has been called a hero, a madman, a martyr, and a terrorist. Now Showtime is exploring his legacy with an adaption of James McBride’s 'The Good Lord Bird,' starring Ethan Hawke.... 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

Dr. Seuss Facts

Theodor Seuss Geisel—who you probably know better by his pen name, Doctor Seuss—came into the world on March 2, 1904. In the more than 100 years since, he has changed it for the better for readers all over the planet.... READ ON

Gifts for Bridesmaids and Groomsmen

Your bridesmaids and groomsmen are instrumental in making sure your wedding goes off without a hitch. Show you appreciate their hard work with thoughtful gifts.... READ ON

Nuts That Aren't Actually Nuts

Impress your botanist friends by knowing that peanuts are really legumes and cashews come from colorful “apples.”... READ ON

Fort Sumter Facts

The 1861 Battle of Fort Sumter sparked the American Civil War. From the garrison's 19th-century beginnings to its current use as a National Historical Park, here are 10 fascinating facts about Fort Sumter.... READ ON

Old Faithful Facts

Old Faithful isn't as predictable as it used to be, but geologists in Yellowstone National Park can still time its eruptions pretty accurately.... READ ON

Super Bowl Facts

Want to be the smartest person in the room at this year's Super Bowl party? Bust out a few of these fun facts about Big Games past.... READ ON

Leap Year Facts

We’ve been adding an extra day to February since Julius Caesar overhauled the Roman calendar and implemented leap years in 46 BCE.... READ ON

Virginia Woolf Quotes

Virginia Woolf was a true writer’s writer. With flowing prose and a courageous pen, she dissected every topic from the idiocy of warfare to the joys of sex. We've picked 20 lines that rank among her all-time best—which is no easy feat.... READ ON

Martin Luther King Jr.’s ‘I Have a Dream’ Speech Facts

On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his 17-minute “I Have a Dream” speech—an oratorical masterpiece that changed King's life, his movement, and the nation at large.... READ ON

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

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

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

'DodgeBall' Movie Facts

The sleeper hit 'DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story' 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

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