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Mark Mancini
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A native of fabulous Rochester, NY, Mark loves freelance writing, community theater, & anything dinosaur-related. He’s also obsessed with Denver Broncos football.
11 Things You Should Know About the Sacco and Vanzetti Case
For more than a century, legal experts have argued that Sacco and Vanzetti didn't get a fair trial. Here are the facts in the landmark case....
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11 Courageous Facts About the Freedom Riders
Hundreds of civil rights activists calling themselves Freedom Riders bravely held the nation accountable to its rules against segregation in 1961. Here are the facts you need to know....
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10 Big Facts About Anacondas
Green anacondas can weigh more than 200 pounds, making them the world's heaviest snakes. Get wrapped up in more facts about these big beasts....
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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....
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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....
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11 Animals You Wouldn't Expect to Glow
Sometimes the trick goes unnoticed. But at least we can use blacklights to recognize the biofluorescent beasts who lay hidden in our midst....
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15 Facts About 'Dune'
Learn more about author Frank Herbert's sci-fi classic, including a canceled film project that could have been scored by Pink Floyd....
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25 Facts About Puppies
In honor of National Puppy Day, here are 25 things everyone should know about these very good four-legged snuggle buddies....
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11 Things You Might Not Know About 'Moby-Dick'
Whether you've read 'Moby-Dick' cover to cover or just have it propping open your door, here are some little-known facts that will surprise you....
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10 Hard-Shelled Facts About Horseshoe Crabs
The ancient sea creatures have weird blood, mate en masse in May and June, and harbor a secret weapon that’s probably saved your life....
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10 Facts About Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle'
'The Jungle' was a muckraking novel conceived as a political game-changer, a book that would get people talking and instigate major reforms....
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10 Inspiring Facts About the Tuskegee Airmen
The first African American pilots to serve in the United States military, the Tuskegee Airmen helped the Allies win World War II and put the U.S. armed forces on the road to integration. ...
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16 Facts About James Madison
At 5 feet 4 inches, Madison was America’s shortest commander-in-chief—but he left behind a towering legacy....
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10 Giant Facts About 'King Kong'
On March 2, 1933, a beast proudly dubbed “the Eighth Wonder of the World” made his grand debut at Manhattan’s Radio City Music Hall and its sister theater across the street....
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20 Amazing Animals Discovered in the Last 20 Years
In the two decades since Mental Floss first hit newsstands, some pretty incredible animals have entered the world of mainstream science....
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7 of John Adams's Greatest Insults
John Adams had a reputation for articulate jabs and razor-sharp put-downs at the expense of his rivals and allies alike. Here are a few of his best zingers....
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10 Fun Recipes from Books, Movies, and TV Shows
Enjoy these real-life recipes for once-fictional delicacies featured in some of your favorite books, movies, and TV shows....
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11 Facts About 'King Kong vs. Godzilla'
'Godzilla vs. Kong'—a new slugfest from Legendary Pictures—is set to be released on March 31, 2021. But it won't be the first time these monsters have faced off; they met once before in 1962’s 'King Kong vs. Godzilla.'...
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11 Literary Fart Jokes
Throughout history, the chance to make an occasional fart joke has often proven irresistible, even to such influential authors as Aristophanes, Shakespeare, and Mark Twain....
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11 Organisms Scientifically Named After Fictional Characters
Fictional characters provide the inspiration for the names of hundreds of plants and animals. Here are 11 of the most unusual....
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11 Surprising Facts About Thomas Edison
You may know that Thomas Edison was a prolific inventor who revolutionized the electric light bulb. But have you heard about his creepy talking dolls?...
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55 Facts About the Super Bowl
Want to be the smartest person in the room while watching this year's Super Bowl? Bust out a few of these fun facts about Big Games past....
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21 Memorable Virginia Woolf Quotes
With flowing prose and a courageous pen, Virginia Woolf wasn't afraid to dissect any topic, whether it was the idiocy of warfare or the joys of sex....
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5 Weird Things Done During Filibusters
Politicians have done some unusual stuff during a filibuster, from giving cooking lessons to reading the phone book and beyond....
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How to De-Ice Your Driveway
For safety’s sake, if you have a driveway on your property, ice eradication should be a top priority. Here are four tried and tested strategies you can choose from....
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10 Surprising Facts About Benedict Arnold
That fact that Benedict Arnold defected to the British Army in 1780 is common knowledge. But before he switched allegiances, he led a pretty interesting life....
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11 Fascinating Facts About Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Most people know that Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the only U.S. President who served more than two terms. Here are some other FDR facts you may not have learned in your history classes....
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11 Surprising Facts About Alexander Hamilton
Even if you've seen the Broadway musical 'Hamilton,' there's probably a lot you don't know about this enigmatic founding father....
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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....
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Great Gifts for Comic Book Fans
Discover 10 great gifts to get comic book fans for the holiday season, from busts of DC's Batman to a Funko Pop! figurine of the Hulk....
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Gifts for Disney Fans
Got a Disney fan on your list? No matter what age they may be, we've got a gift that'll fit them perfectly....
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Christmas Gifts for Your Dad
Don't know what to get dear ol' dad this holiday season? We've got ideas for every personality and budget....
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'Cat People' Movie Facts
'Cat People' made millions for RKO Pictures and subversively revolutionized the horror genre. Here are 11 facts about this hair-raising classic....
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Bela Lugosi Actor Facts
More than 85 years after he first donned a vampire’s cape, Bela Lugosi's take on Count Dracula is still widely hailed as the definitive portrayal of this legendary fiend. But who was the man behind the monster?...
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12 Fascinating Facts About Crows
Crows get a bad rap, but they're adaptable and brainy to a truly impressive degree. Read on for more about these crafty corvids....
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Talk Like A Pirate Day Holiday Facts
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....
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Labor Day 2020: What’s Open? What’s Closed?
While many people use Labor Day as an excuse to shop ‘til they drop, some places do close their doors whenever Labor Day comes a-knocking. ...
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The Forgotten History of Russia’s California Colony
In the 18th century, Tsarist Russia carved out her own slice of what would become the state of California....
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Davy Crockett Facts
The "King of the Wild Frontier" claimed to have killed 105 bears in one year, and also put a lot of effort into maintaining his wild image....
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Louis Armstrong Musician Facts
To Louis Armstrong's millions of fans, every note the legendary musician let loose made the world feel a bit more wonderful....
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Facts About the End of World War II
Savage battles, atomic detonations, and shark attacks were just some of the events leading up to the end of World War II in August 1945. Here's a look back on the 75th anniversary of V-J Day....
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'The Magic School Bus' Facts
Who wouldn’t want a teacher like Ms. Frizzle? Take a ride down memory lane with these 12 facts about 'The Magic School Bus.'...
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Mount Rushmore Facts
Mount Rushmore draws millions of visitors every year. Here are some facts about the controversial monument....
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Mel Brooks Facts
Mel Brooks is a 10,000-trick pony who has made us laugh as a performer, writer, musician, and, of course, a director....
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'Back to the Future' Products for the Movie's 35th Anniversary
It's been 35 years since the original 'Back to the Future' debuted in theaters, and you can celebrate the occasion properly with these time-traveling collectibles....
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What Did Aaron Burr Do After Shooting Alexander Hamilton?
The first thing Burr did after fatally shooting Hamilton was go home and eat some breakfast. His later years included treason and a drawn-out divorce....
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20 Fun Facts About 'Tremors'
'Tremors'—which is easily the greatest subterranean monster movie ever made—is the definition of an underground classic. '...
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Facts About D-Day
The Normandy landings—an event better known as “D-Day”—became a pivotal moment in the Second World War....
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Father's Day Gifts for Geeky Dads
Celebrate your dad and all the geekiness that comes along with him with these Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and comic book gifts....
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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.'...
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