Bryan Dugan

Joined: Jan 23, 2013

MentalFloss.com freelancer and New York Times copy editor. Rose Nylund wannabe. Awkward runner. Keeper of GIFs.

A Drive Around London in 1926

There's a multitude of pencil types out there.

Are There No. 1 Pencils?

11 Illuminating Facts About Fireflies

What's the Origin of the Phrase "The Eleventh Hour"?

How Did Spring Break Get Its Start?

Thanks to MTV, we all know what Spring Break is about: Bikinis, debauchery, plenty of alcohol, and collegiates flocking to beaches en mass to work on their tans and run amok. Where did this tradition start?

11 Hit Songs Originally Intended for Other Artists

In the music world, songs get passed around like a hot potato. Demo songs are sent to one artist, turned down, and recorded by another. Tracks bend gender rules, with Aerosmith snatching a power ballad from Celine Dion and Chris Brown handing over one of

Why Do So Many Russian Drivers Have Dashboard Cams?

YouTube has become the depository for every lyric video, parody, and, apparently, copious amounts of shocking footage from dash-mounted cameras in Russia. But why? Dash cams aren’t completely foreign concepts to American drivers, but not everyone has one

The Top Rated Super Bowl Commercial Each Year

Since 1989, USA Today has asked viewers to vote on the best Super Bowl ads. Here's a look back at the winners.

8 Persnickety Rules From the Associated Press Stylebook

Careful where you put that hyphen—here are eight rules from the AP Stylebook that you might never know unless you looked them up.

15 Polarizing TV Plot Points

Sometimes TV shows take their plotlines too far; sometimes, they don't go far enough. Either way, viewers typically aren't afraid to voice their frustrations. Here are 18 plot points (and sometimes, major cliffhangers) that have elicited a strong reaction

6 Wacky International Reality TV Shows

America has Here Comes Honey Boo Boo and The Apprentice, but other countries have TV shows about burning wood, human Tetris, and Celine Dion gargling during a performance of "My Heart Will Go On." Obviously, the States just isn't competing on the same lev

10 More Lesser-Known Names for Baby Animals

We’ve already gathered up barely-heard-of names for newborn animals, but there are even more lesser-known monikers. "Look at that little squeaker" may not be the most perfect thing to coo at a baby pigeon, but it's accurate. Here are 10 more of the offbea

11 Titanic Movie Moments Tested Against History

One hundred and one years ago yesterday, the Titanic set sail for America. Although the ship never made it across the Atlantic, it’s an event that has been talked about, studied and made into a major motion picture. In James Cameron’s 1997 film of the sam

Why is Chicago Called the "Windy City"?

Travelers to Chicago may experience the wind gusts that come off Lake Michigan, get tossed around a bit and think, “So this is why it’s called the Windy City.” The nickname, which dates back to the late 1870s, is deceiving because, literally, Chicago is a

Anatomy of 14th Century Bubonic Plague Hazmat Suits

The Bubonic Plauge, also known as the Black Death, killed at least 75 million people on three continents. Described as the most lethal epidemic in history, the plague began in China in the 1330s and made its way through Europe from 1346 to 1353. In those

5 Unseen Parts of NYC's Subway System

First opened on October 27, 1904, the New York City Subway System now has more than 400 stations over the course of 842 miles of track. As one of the world’s oldest underground systems, things have changed since its grand opening more than a century ago.