Mike Rampton

Joined: Jul 9, 2020

Mike Rampton is a freelance writer who lives in London next to a surprisingly uninteresting cemetery. If enough people buy his book, Open In Case of Emergency: 501 Games to Entertain and Keep You and the Kids Sane, perhaps one day he'll live next to a more interesting one.

Why Do Kids Eat Their Boogers?

Jeff Goldblum in body horror master David Cronenberg's 'The Fly' (1986).

10 Horror Subgenres to Know Before Planning Your Next Movie Marathon

Why Aren't There More Halloween Songs?

The Uncanny Rise of the Haunted Doll Market

Otto, Leslie Nielsen, and Robert Hays in 'Airplane!' (1980).

How the 1980s Became the Golden Age of Spoof Movies (And Why It Couldn’t Last)

The arrival of blockbuster movies like 'Jaws' and 'Star Wars' and the rise of the home video era allowed '80s comedies like 'Airplane!' and 'The Naked Gun' to define the spoof genre like no films before them ever could.

Back in 1997, studios couldn't imagine that comic book movies like 'Batman & Robin' would rule the box office a quarter-century later.

8 Ways The Movies Of Summer 1997 Changed Hollywood Forever

Twenty-five years later, how did the summer of 'Men In Black' and 'Steel' impact the movie industry?

A little lad relieving himself is the Renaissance-era version of the peeing Calvin bumper sticker.

Why Are There So Many Ancient Fountains Featuring Little Boys Peeing?

Modern guidebooks offer nearly a dozen different explanations for why Brussels' 'Mannekin Pis' statue is relieving himself.

30 Surprising Facts About Tom Hardy

It's hard for 'Venom' star Tom Hardy to cry on cue ... but watching 'Mr. Holland's Opus' makes him weepy.

30 Very Nice Facts About Borat (And Its Sequel)

Two words best describe 'Borat,' Sacha Baron Cohen's painfully funny pair of cringe comedies: great success!

The cast of Breaking Bad gathers for a photo shoot.

26 Actors Who Asked for Their Characters to Be Killed Off

Sometimes an actor’s relationship with a character just runs its course and the actor is anxious to say goodbye to the part forever. (Spoiler: They didn’t always get their wish.)

Why Do Dogs Spin Around Before They Poop?

Dogs have a tendency to preface their bowel movements with a bit of rotating before getting down to business. Is there evolution behind their revolution?

How to Poop in the Woods, According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

Embrace your inner ursine and learn how to foul the Adirondacks like a pro, courtesy of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

In Ireland, Little Christmas Is a Day for Women to Celebrate the End of the Holiday Season—at the Nearest Pub

On January 6, when Little Christmas—also known as Women's Christmas—rolls around, all bets are off in Ireland.

A still from George Albert Smith's Santa Clause (1898).

Behold George Albert Smith's Santa Clause—the World's First Christmas Movie

Nearly a century before there was 'Home Alone,' there was George Albert Smith's 'Santa Clause,' the world's first Christmas movie, which you can still watch online.

5 Tips on How To Escape An Erupting Volcano

What’s worse: Lava or ash? And what are these rocks plummeting from the sky? Volcanologist Dr. Janine Krippner shared her tips for how to escape an erupting volcano.

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Can an Average Passenger Actually Be Talked Through Landing a Plane in an Emergency?

It happens in movies—but can an average person actually be talked through landing a plane in an emergency?