Ellen Gutoskey

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Ellen Gutoskey is a Mental Floss staff writer who especially loves covering pop culture, not-so-popular culture, literature, really tiny things, really giant things, and anything that was previously thought to be lost. She used to work in publishing, she's usually laughing, and you can follow her on Twitter @ellengutoskey.

The Queen Keeps Holiday Decorations Up Through February

Keeping holiday decorations up at Sandringham House until at least February 6 is part of the Queen's holiday tradition for a very sweet reason.... READ ON

Trick to Break a Pacifier Habit

Soothing a teething baby with a pacifier works wonders. Here’s a way to keep that peace once it’s time to break the habit.... READ ON

What's Inside a Lava Lamp

Lava lamp creators are notoriously tight-lipped about their secret ingredients, but DIY lava lamps aren’t impossible.... READ ON

Donate Books to Little Free Libraries

Little Free Libraries have delighted readers around the world since 2009. Discover how they began and how you can get involved, too.... READ ON

Hack to Break In New Shoes

You won’t need any fancy equipment for this easy way to stretch new shoes and keep your feet blister-free.... READ ON

2019 Vermont Timelapse

Is this video undeniable proof that Vermont is the most underrated of all the New England states? We think so.... READ ON

American Girl Debuts Doll With Hearing Aid

And they’ve paired up with 17-year-old soon-to-be Olympic surfer Caroline Marks to promote her message.... READ ON

Don’t Use ‘Just’ in Conversation

Those subtly apologetic follow-up emails could be weakening your original message—and affecting others’ impression of you, too.... READ ON

Inside the Chrysler Building’s Spire

The inside of the Chrysler Building’s spire might not look like you expect—but the view is worth it.... READ ON

‘Super Recognizer’ Facial Recognition Test

This facial recognition test is your chance to earn the right to claim that you never forget a face.... READ ON

Vermont Will Pay You To Move There

Vermont has always offered snowy weather and maple syrup—and now, it’s offering reimbursement for moving costs.... READ ON

Food History: New Mental Floss YouTube Series

Within every fork-full of mashed potatoes is a winding history filled with llama relatives, a proselytizing prisoner of war, and more.... READ ON

Croatia’s Museum of Hangovers

Sometimes, the best hangover cure is realizing that your pounding headache is nothing compared to waking up with only one eye.... READ ON

2020 Quadrantid Meteor Shower

Ringing in the new year with next weekend’s fiery sky show is worth an early-morning wake-up call.... READ ON

Hack for Reading More

Your social media addiction could actually be the key to making a serious dent in your 2020 reading list.... READ ON

Why Bartenders Rinse Beer Glasses

Luckily for all of us, especially during flu season, bartenders aren’t counting on glass rinsers for a thorough clean.... READ ON

Start Your New Year’s Resolution Early

No matter what New Year’s resolution idea you have in mind for 2020, a practice round can help you achieve it.... READ ON

Why Prices End in .99

It’s a clever trick that retailers use to make consumers think items cost less than they actually do.... READ ON

World’s Oldest Christmas Carol

The Catholic Church chose its first Christmas song before it even chose a day to celebrate the holiday on.... READ ON

NYPL’s Most Checked-Out Books of 2019

Yes, Michelle Obama’s book is on the list—but it’s not the only one of her husband’s favorites that made the cut.... READ ON

24-Hour Passport Renewal App

The Mobile Passport app is teaming up with RushMyPassport to deliver you a fresh passport without all the hassle and confusion.... READ ON

Why a Queen’s Husband Isn’t King

If you’ve watched ‘The Crown,’ you might have wondered why Prince Philip isn’t called ‘King Philip.’... READ ON

Therapy Dog Steals Toys From Charity Bin

Stealing toys from a charity bin would be enough to put anyone on Santa’s naughty list—unless you’re an extremely lovable golden retriever.... READ ON

Tennessee Wants Dolly Parton Statue in Capitol

Tennessee native Dolly Parton is a universally beloved country music legend. Nathan Bedford Forrest is not.... READ ON

Wham!’s 'Last Christmas' Video in 4K

Whether you know all the 'Last Christmas' lyrics or avoid the song at all costs, it’s worth seeing George Michael’s hair in 4K glory.... READ ON

Animals Named After Theodore Roosevelt

From big cats to tiny fish, the collection of animals named for Theodore Roosevelt is eclectic—just like our adventurous 26th president.... READ ON

Waze Now Shows Unplowed Roads

Waze is making driving safety even easier with a feature that shows you (and lets you report) dangerous and icy roads.... READ ON

‘Love Actually’ Director Shares What He’d Change

It might be what’s keeping the star-studded Christmas classic ‘Love Actually’ from being your family’s annual holiday movie...... READ ON

Bill Gates's Books of the Decade

Bill Gates hasn’t read ‘Infinite Jest,’ but there are plenty of other impressive books on this list.... READ ON

Samuel L. Jackson Voice on Amazon's Alexa

The legendary star of ‘Pulp Fiction’ and ‘Shaft’ has arrived at a smart speaker near you—profanity and all.... READ ON

Personalized Wearable Cat Masks

Between Tom Hooper’s ‘Cats’ movie and these masks, it’s been a big year for people who kind of wish they were cats.... READ ON

Scented T-Shirts Smell Like Bacon, Coffee, and More

These aromatherapy-inspired graphic t-shirts will have you smelling like a delicious piece of chocolate cake all day long.... READ ON

Don’t Use Public USB Ports Without a Data Blocker

Public USB ports could be an easy way for hackers to steal your device’s passwords and other important data.... READ ON

Get Paid $5000 to Drink Coffee in a Scottish Castle

The gig also comes with a private butler, five-course meals, coffee-inspired spa treatments, and more.... READ ON

Bob Ross Light-Up Holiday Sweater

This holiday sweater featuring Bob Ross’s face is almost as good as owning a Bob Ross original painting, in our opinion.... READ ON

Films That Might Be Christmas Movies

If ‘Die Hard’ has taught us anything, it’s that sometimes the best Christmas movies aren’t necessarily even Christmas movies.... READ ON

Merriam-Webster’s Word of the Year Is ‘They’

This year, the nonbinary pronoun "they" got a new dictionary definition and some high-profile endorsements.... READ ON

Why Santa Lives at the North Pole

Political cartoonist Thomas Nast came up with his own answer to the “Where does Santa live?” question ... and it stuck.... READ ON

Digital Replicas of JFK Assassination Bullets

Sorry, JFK conspiracy theorists—the National Archives has made it clear that this doesn’t mean his case is reopened.... READ ON

World's Most Beautiful Cities

Looking for your next travel destination? This list will help you narrow down your search for best vacation spots.... READ ON

Harry & David’s ‘Cats’-Inspired Gourmet Gift Baskets

These subtle, sophisticated gifts are purr-fect for fans of ‘Cats,’ gift baskets, and delicious food in general.... READ ON

Dentist Prosecuted for Riding Hoverboard on the Job

Granted, he’s not the best dentist—but does riding a hoverboard during dentistry qualify as a crime?... READ ON

Top Christmas Cookies by State

See how your "best Christmas cookie" opinions measure up against your state’s—and discover some new recipes, too.... READ ON

Phoenix High School Builds Laundry Room for Students

If similar programs are any indication, Maya High School could see a significant leap in attendance and participation.... READ ON

New Jersey Pushes Cursive in School Curriculum

The anchor-esque Fs, loopy Js, and the rest of the cursive alphabet are staging a comeback in New Jersey.... READ ON

All the Cats in 'Cats'

All you need to know about the ‘Cats’ movie’s cast of characters, from Taylor Swift’s Bombalurina to James Corden’s Bustopher Jones.... READ ON

Top Christmas Candies by State

Candy canes and peppermint bark do a lot, but it turns out that mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups do the most.... READ ON

Smart TVs Are Vulnerable to Hackers

Before you decide to just return your smart TV altogether, beef up your cybersecurity with tips from the FBI.... READ ON

Crocheting vs. Knitting: What’s the Difference?

For one, dropping a stitch while knitting will probably upset you more than dropping one while crocheting.... READ ON

Vibrating Sloth Pillow

Because the best pillows are the ones that make you feel like a sloth is wrapping you in a warm, cozy hug.... READ ON

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