David K. Israel

Joined: Nov 21, 2012

David was one of the founding bloggers of mentalfloss.com. He's also an author, multi-media journalist, composer, teacher and film maker. David's first novel, Behind Everyman, was put out by Random House in 2005. He is also the founder and CEO of the crowdsourced webcomics, Twaggies, which has been called "Favstar meets SouthPark." David's writing has appeared in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, as well as numerous magazines. At the age of 23, after undergrad studies, David was hired as an editor to work on Leonard Bernstein's music. He helped publish definitive editions of classics such as West Side Story and On the Town. If you're interested in knowing more and have nothing but time on your hands, you can put yourself to sleep reading his exceedingly long bio: www.davidisrael.net. You can also follow him on Twitter @resila.

8 Bands Named After People Not In The Band

7 Ways People Woke Up Before Alarm Clocks

The Origins of 10 Nicknames

What’s the Difference Between Scotch, Whiskey, and Bourbon?

Do Fire Stations Ever Catch Fire?

Of course, the answer is of course.

5 Composers Murdered by the Nazis

Theresienstadt concentration camp was an oddity, even by Nazi standards.

5 Film Transitions Worth Knowing

You see them every day, on TV shows, the news, and in movies, but how well do you know the most oft-used film transitions?

12 Strange, Yet Beautiful Fruits & Vegetables

Here's a fun roundup of odd fruits and veggies. If you have any experience eating any of them, we're all ears! The comments are open below...

7 Different Types of Pizza From Around the World

You handy guide to some of the different pizzas you'll come across in your foodie travels, from Chicago deep dish to the famous Margherita.

12 Beautiful Works of Tape Art

Artist Rebecca Ward constructs fun works of art that redefine the architectural space she's working in. Using nothing but electrical tape with vinyl adhesives, Ward has created works of art in a wide range of spaces, from a gallery in Texas to a Kate Spad

Do Little Half and Half Creamers Ever Go Bad?

So I'm up in Seattle this week, staying at a hotel some blocks from the original Starbucks (which, it turns out, isn't REALLY the original, but rather the second location, which was situated better for marketing purposes, but who's counting).

Why Do Jews Eat Potato Pancakes During Hanukkah?

Hanukkah started Tuesday night and runs the whole week, eight nights in total. During these nights, a helluva lot of latkes, or potato pancakes, are consumed. To understand why, you first have to understand the story of Hanukkah.

7 Things You Need to Know about the Torah

Today is Rosh HaShanah, which literally translates into "Head TheYear" or "head of the year." It marks the Jewish New Year and the period where Jews finish the Torah, or the Five Books of Moses and begin the Good Book all over again, reading a little bit

18 Metaphors and Analogies Found in Actual Student Papers (Or Not—But They're Still Hilarious)

We can't be 100 percent positive about the "actual" part.

Paul Castellano, boss of the Gambino Crime Family, in 1985.

7 Major Mafia Murders [Warning: Gruesome Photos]

Indulge your inner goodfella by reading about some of the most gruesome and infamous mafia-related murders of all time.

A Short History of Long-Haired Music: Amadeus, Part 1

If you missed our previous installments, check out A Short History of Long-Haired Music