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Jake Rossen
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Jake Rossen is a senior staff writer for Mental Floss.
Cats Make Facial Expressions, But Not Everyone Can Read Them
Your furry friend can exhibit positive or negative emotions on their face, but it takes a special breed of human to be able to recognize them....
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Best Movies on Netflix Right Now
An Oscar-winning animated film, a boxing classic, and a taut thriller that shows us nothing but Tom Hardy in a car for 85 minutes are all just a click away....
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When Theodore Roosevelt's Gun Was Stolen
Theodore Roosevelt used a Colt revolver given to him by his brother-in-law during the Battle of San Juan Heights, firing a fatal shot. Nearly 100 years later, the gun disappeared without a trace....
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When Disco Demolition Night Sent Shockwaves Through Chicago
In July 1979, the struggling Chicago White Sox offered cheap admission to anyone bringing in a disco record to destroy. The promotion would prove to be catastrophic....
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USPS Releases PTSD Healing Stamp
The United States Postal Service's new 'Healing PTSD' stamp sells for 65 cents, 10 cents over a regularly-priced stamp. The proceeds will go toward funding assistance for those afflicted with post-traumatic stress disorder....
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9 Brilliant Gifts for Gardeners
Do you have plant lovers on your Christmas list who like to get down and dirty? Here are a few gift ideas sure to plant a seed of gratitude....
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'A Charlie Brown Christmas' TV Special Facts
Charles Schulz thought 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' was a "disaster." CBS hated it. But it's the most beloved Christmas special of all time. Nice work, Charlie Brown....
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Valuable Hess Trucks
Every holiday season, Hess rolls out a new collectible Hess truck. Take a look at some of the rarest and most valuable Hess truck models that might be idling in your storage area....
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French Fry Shortage is Probably Overblown
Inhospitable weather has cut into potato harvests in Idaho and Canada, but consumers should still be able to get their French fry fix....
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Try Flamingo Yoga at This Bahamas Resort
Pink flamingos mingle with guests during yoga sessions at the Baha Mar Resort, lending a helping beak when necessary....
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AI Identifies Shakespeare's 'Henry VIII' Co-Writer
The Bard is widely regarded as the greatest playwright in the history of the English language, but what if he had a little help?...
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'Secret Santa' Causes Millennial Anxiety
The traditional gift-giving exchange known as Secret Santa can result in social shaming and overspending, according to a new survey....
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Quick Gift Wrapping Trick
Use a technique embraced by department store workers in Japan to make gift wrapping a seamless event....
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Figure Out How Many Lights Your Christmas Tree Needs
Don't get stuck struggling with a ball of green cords year after year. Here's how to buy and store only the lights you need to make your Christmas tree shine....
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Why More Babies Are Conceived in Winter
Does it seem like a surplus of newborn babies pop up in September? Science has a few explanations why....
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Why Dogs Kick Their Feet After They Poop
Dogs that dig into the ground after relieving themselves aren't trying to bury their waste. They're leaving a fecal message for other dogs....
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How Black Friday Got Its Name
The day after Thanksgiving, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, has a rather sinister label. How did that happen?...
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Kate Warne, America's First Female Private Detective
At a time when women were rarely, if ever, were considered for roles in law enforcement, Kate Warne became a top investigator—and helped saved Abraham Lincoln's life....
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Best TV Shows on Amazon Prime
From 'Fleabag' to 'The Boys,' Amazon's streaming service has something binge-worthy for every taste....
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Lee Harvey Oswald's Unusual Funeral
Fearing attacks on his corpse, the Secret Service guarded Lee Harvey Oswald well into the afterlife....
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Study: 1 in 7 Kids in Denmark Will Have Mental Illness
A large study in Denmark looked closely at the prevalence of mental disorders in children. The results were surprising....
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Tom Dempsey: Toeless NFL Kicker
Tom Dempsey was born with only a partial right foot, but that didn't stop him from making NFL history on November 8, 1970 in a play so amazing even the referee jumped....
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Hallmark Channel Christmas Movie Facts
In an era of cord-cutting, Hallmark Channel Christmas movie programming delivers huge ratings. Here's how fake snow and formulaic plots have taken over the holidays....
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Science Finds a Better Way to Calculate 'Dog Years'
The old method of multiplying your dog's age by seven no longer applies. Here's a more accurate way of assessing your pet's lifespan....
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Bubble Wrap Facts
Pop pop! Everyone's favorite stress reliever has an impressive history. It's even been on the cover of Playboy....
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Cracked Disney+ Accounts: How to Protect Yourself
The newest streaming service is having some early growing pains: Hackers have made off with a number of Disney+ accounts to share among themselves....
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Anthony Blunt: Russian Spy at Buckingham Palace
'The Crown' offers a glimpse of Anthony Blunt, the real-life art curator for Buckingham Palace found to be a Russian Spy in 1964. Incredibly, he stayed on for eight more years. Here's why....
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The Difference Between Stuffing and Dressing
For carbohydrate lovers, nothing completes a Thanksgiving meal quite like stuffing ... or is it dressing? It depends on who you ask....
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Yikesss: Tree Snakes in Australia Can Jump
The 'Dendrelaphis' genus of snakes in Australia can propel themselves through the air, bridging the gap between trees....
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'Sesame Street' Puppeteer Secrets
For the show's 50th anniversary, the performers talk back pain, bloopers, and why they sometimes declare one of the legendary puppet cast members "toast."...
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Best Movies On Disney+
Disney's long-awaited new streaming service promises to have something for everyone. Once you've made your way through the classics, check out these titles....
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Stuck in a Group Chat? Here's How to Stop It
Trapped in a group chat on your phone's messaging service? Here's how to get out quickly and painlessly....
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James Bond Author Ian Fleming's Letters Auctioned
The James Bond author spent time away from home to write and argue with his wife over his infidelity, according to a collection of letters offered by Sotheby's....
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Idling Cars in New Jersey Face Fines
New Jersey lawmakers who are concerned about pollution have cracked down on the antiquated practice of warming up vehicles....
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James Stewart Facts
Jimmy Stewart fought for the right to see combat in World War II and kept his Academy Award in the last place anyone would look....
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How Mammoth Poop Gave Us Pumpkin Pie
When you express gratitude with your loved ones this Thanksgiving, don’t forget to be grateful for mammoth poop....
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David Hasselhoff and the Berlin Wall
In the late 1980s, David Hasselhoff enjoyed an unlikely career as a pop musician in Germany. Did the 'Baywatch' star help bring about the fall of the Berlin Wall?...
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1980s Novelty Cereals
As the market for licensed cereals grew, kids sat down for spoonfuls of Gremlins puffs and soggy Barbie bowls....
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Difference Between Memorial Day and Veterans Day
Both days are meant to celebrate military veterans, but there's one important distinction you should remember....
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Potted Plants Do Not Improve Indoor Air Quality
An examination of decades of studies demonstrates that plants don't do much to filter contaminants from the air....
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A Home Norman Rockwell Painted Is Up for Sale
You no longer need to settle for a home that's Rockwell-esque. Now you can live in a house captured by the acclaimed painter in his "Stockbridge Main Street at Christmas."...
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National Doughnut Day Differences
For Homer Simpson, every day is doughnut day. For the rest of us, there are two—one in June and one in November. But why?...
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Houston's Ice Box Murders
In 1965, Houston was confronted with the savage murder and dismemberment of an elderly couple. They were found in their own refrigerator. The trail only got colder from there....
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Scientific Benefits of Sarcasm
The benefits of a cutting remark can go beyond getting some laughs. Properly deployed, sarcasm can have real social rewards....
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Teenage Inventor Tackles Car Blindspots
Trying to see around a car pillar can be frustrating. Thanks to a Pennsylvania teen, we might not have to deal with it for much longer....
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Mall Madness Game Facts
The popular 1990s board game was hit with criticism for promoting reckless spending and stereotyping women as frenzied shoppers....
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Weird Hobbies Included on Resumes
Some potential employees like to liven up their resumes with strange recreational pastimes. This list proves why that's not a good idea....
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Donate Leftover Halloween Candy
Remove the risk to your waistline and do some good at the same time by donating your leftover Halloween candy....
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'The Office' Best Jokes
The beloved NBC sitcom used a number of recurring jokes, none more quoted than Michael Scott's catchphrase. Here's the math....
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How to Get a Stuck Tongue Out of a Bottle
Kids who find their tongues stuck in juice bottles can experience pain, swelling, or possibly airway obstruction. A technique used to uncork wine bottles could help....
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