Floss books
Joined: Nov 21, 2012
4 Famous Cases of Plagiarism
4 Utopian Communities That Didn't Pan Out
7 Super-Sized (And Somewhat Insane) Soviet Projects
Blimp vs. Zeppelin: What's the Difference?
The Dilemma: You're at a football game and there's a large, cigar-shaped object hovering suspiciously close to you. Question: Is it a blimp or a zeppelin? And more important, why didn't you get better seats?
7 Close Calls in the Nuclear Age
Here's a formula for fun: Arm two superpowers to the teeth with thousands of nuclear warheads. Make sure they are deeply hostile and suspicious of each other. Now, cut off diplomatic communication, stir in about 50 smaller countries with their own agendas
5 Infamous Female Spies
Behind every good war are many good women. Using their feminine (and in at least one case masculine) wiles, the following five spies would make James Bond proud.
6 of History's Greatest Art Heists and Scams
This past weekend, some daring criminals sauntered into the Marina del Rey Ritz-Carlton hotel and absconded with an original drawing by Rembrandt estimated to be worth $250,000. After a tip, the 17th-century sketch turned up in an Encino church about 20 m
6 Generals Who Switched Sides Hoping for Reward
Military turncoats come in all shapes and sizes, motivated by all sorts of considerations: power, revenge, disillusionment, and, most often, the sound of a little extra coin. But not every turncoat seems to bear the tarnished rep old Benedict Arnold came
Who Invented the Wheelchair?
The first wheelchairs didn't just transport the disabled. They were also good for toting dirt, stone and construction supplies around
6 Things Named After Napoleon
No matter what you think of him, Napoleon certainly did a number on this world. And whether it's as the savior of revolutionary France or the scourge of Western civilization, his name keeps on keeping on. Of course, not everything "Napoléon" adds luster
5 of History's Worst Perpetrators of Corruption
Power and corruption are old friends.
What's the Difference Between Art Deco and Art Nouveau?
The Quick Trick: It all comes down to "flowery" vs. "streamlined." Art Nouveau is the decorative one. Art Deco is sleeker.
5 Bodies Nobody Ever Found
The wreckage of Steve Fossett's plane was located last month, but it's still too early to say with absolute certainty that Fossett's body has been found. (Partial remains are currently undergoing DNA analysis.) Here are five bodies we still haven't stumbl
6 Crises That Keep Economists Up At Night
Thomas Carlyle once called economics "a dismal science." Indeed, economists tend to be cautious and pedestrian, but can you blame them? After all, in these troubled times, who could sleep easy knowing these scary stories? 1. The Irish Potato
5 Charming Episodes of Violence from Medieval Iceland
The sagas of early medieval Iceland (written down between 1100 and 1300) are some of the great works of Western literature. Heck, they've got it all: lust, envy, large-scale violence, widespread failures. Plus, these charming tales are all set in a time w