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Duke Ellington with members of his orchestra in New York, 1946.

Time to press play on “Take the ‘A’ Train” and find out how Edward Ellington became the Duke.

Ellen Gutoskey








Zora Neale Hurston in a portrait by Carl Van Vechten.

Writer and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston’s literary legacy is a class apart. Here are some facts you might not have known about the author of “Their Eyes Were Watching God.”

Sohel Sarkar
One more spin could land you in the slammer.

You go about your day trying to be a good citizen. Little did you know that your bingo game can't last more than five hours.

mentalfloss .com
Don't save this list for a dreich day.

English might be Scotland’s official language, but the country also has distinct dialects and regional nuances. And understanding Scottish slang? That’s a whole other ballgame.

Louise Slyth








One proud peacock.

With their massive tails and iridescent colors, peacocks have long fascinated their human observers—and we’re still learning their secrets.

Jessica Hullinger
Escapologist

As host Justin Dodd discusses in this episode of The History of Fun, magic has transformed from a little-respected sideshow to a multimillion-dollar industry.

Jon Mayer
Alexander Hamilton.

Learn about the life, legacy, and devastating death of Alexander Hamilton, the man who inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda's hit Broadway musical.

Ellen Gutoskey


Quisby is just one insult from this list that you might want to start using.

Next time you need to win an argument, try dropping one of these old-fashioned English insults.

Paul Anthony Jones






Get groovy with “/octodisco.”

Ready to up your chat game? Use these 10 handy tricks to unveil the fun Easter eggs hidden in Google Chat.

Rudie Obias
A fox in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

Researchers thought the site of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster was unable to support life. But a bunch of wolves, deer, wild boars, bears, and foxes disagreed.

Claudia Dimuro, Jon Mayer