

Floss books
Joined: Nov 21, 2012


7 Super-Sized (And Somewhat Insane) Soviet Projects

Blimp vs. Zeppelin: What's the Difference?

5 Inventions That Enhanced Laziness
Neanderthal vs. Cro-Magnon: What's the Difference?
The Dilemma: At a cocktail party, a nasty brute spills a drink on you. You'd like to compare his manners to those of a more primitive hominid. But which would be more insulting?
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
Debate Prep: A Brief History of American Political Debates
by Maggie
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.
A Little Bit of Lotto History (Including Thomas Jefferson's Take on Lotteries)
EPA/ERIK S. LESSER /LANDOV Tonight's Mega Millions jackpot is up over $500 million—the biggest lottery prize ever. Whether you call it the poor man’s dream, a casino without walls, or a tax on the stupid, the lottery has deep and widespread roots. Here’s
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
4 of History's Greatest Hoaxes
The Heene family's Balloon Boy hoax is still lingering in the news this week. Will charges be filed? Is a reality show in the works? Do you really care? We're guessing you don't. So instead, let's look back at four historical hoaxes. 1. The "Computer" T
4 Famous Cases of Plagiarism
With New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd's plagiarism scandal making headlines, we figured it was a good time to revisit a few other famous cases of word borrowing.
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.