Jake Rossen

Joined: May 6, 2013

Jake Rossen is a senior staff writer for Mental Floss.

Up in the Air: When ‘Balloon Boy’ Took Flight

Nickelodeon invaded schools throughout the 1990s.

When ‘Nick Takes Over Your School’ Let Kids Rule

The 10 Best (and Worst) States for Road Trips in Summer 2025

Why Is It Called “New York-Style” Cheesecake?

Star Wars figures can force high prices on the collector's market.

15 of the Most Valuable Star Wars Action Figures

Discover some of the most valuable vintage Star Wars action figures, including a Jawa with a vinyl cape and the 1979 Kenner Boba Fett action figure, plus so much more.

The seal of Anthony Comstock’s New York Society for the Suppression of Vice.

The Moral Policeman: Anthony Comstock’s War on Sex in 1800s New York

Anthony Comstock would stop at nothing to rid the world of explicit photos, birth control, and anything else he deemed a threat to morals.

‘Jaws 3, People 0’ was canceled in favor of a more traditional sequel.

When John Hughes Wrote an Unmade ‘Jaws’ Movie

After two successful ‘Jaws’ movies, Universal wanted to satirize them in the form of a National Lampoon feature titled ‘Jaws 3, People 0.’

Roger Ebert sparred with numerous rivals over the years.

7 Notorious Roger Ebert Feuds

The late film critic once had a curse put on him by a vengeful filmmaker.

‘Bruce’ menaces the ‘Orca II’ on the set of ‘Jaws.’

The Bizarre Tale of the ‘Orca II,’ the Stunt Boat from ‘Jaws’

The replica boat ‘Orca II’ was the unsung star of 1975's ‘Jaws.’ But what happened after filming ended was worse than any shark attack.

The Animal Most Likely to Kill You in Each State

Being bitten or kicked by a large, hoofed animal is most likely to spell the end in many states.

Why Do Gas Stations Charge for Air?

Air is a free resource—unless you need it for your tires.

Steven Spielberg Wanted ‘Jaws 2’ to Be a Prequel

For a single weekend, the director seriously considered taking over the sequel—and he was going to take a page from history.

Where Did the Term ‘Brownie Points’ Come From?

We know brownie points are something we can earn with spouses or superiors. But where did the term come from?

When Tampa, Florida, Banned ‘Jaws’ From Bookshelves

Tampa’s mayor wanted Peter Benchley’s bestseller off store shelves. The cover had been deemed obscene by authorities.

Why You Should Never Leave Your Dog in a Hot Car—Even For Just a Few Minutes

Sad but true: Your pet can die in a shockingly short amount of time.

Staffers have a legitimate reason to do it.

The Real Reason Costco Employees Check Receipts at Exits

If shoppers have one complaint about Costco, it’s that the employees posted at the exits to take a marker to customers’ receipts seem vaguely insulting. Here’s the real reason behind why it happens.