From The Archive

8 Creative Ways People Went Over the Berlin Wall

Although the East German government fortified the barrier with everything from watchtowers to guard dogs to beds of nails, a few people managed to slip over the border in amazing ways.

11 Broadway Musicals Featuring Characters in the U.S. Military

Not only have the men and women of the United States Armed Forces served their country, they have also served as inspiration for the Great White Way. 1. Carmelina

11 Famous People Who Started as Lowly TV Writers

Becoming a comedic icon doesn't happen overnight. It takes years and years of hard work. In some cases, this means paying your dues as the low-level member of a sitcom writing staff - a rite of passage for many successful comics, actors and directors. Her

11 Wars That Led to Natural Disasters

We've discussed 11 Natural Disasters That Led to Wars. Let's switch that around.

11 Natural Disasters That Led to Wars

11 Antiquated "P" Words From the American Slang Dictionary

As you might guess, we’ve got a lot of books here at the mental_floss New York office. One stands above the rest in terms of usefulness and pure entertainment value: the second supplemented edition of Harold Wentworth and Stuart Berg Flexner’s Dictionary

11 Women Warriors of World War II

There are more stories of heroism out of World War II than can ever fit in a school textbook, but hundreds of those stories are written down somewhere for those who want to find them. Over 100 million military personnel participated in the war, including

The Case of the Missing Gordon from Sesame Street

Whether you’re watching Sesame Street with a toddler now or were a big fan of Big Bird and friends back when you were a little shaver, no doubt you’re familiar with Gordon. In one form or another, Gordon Robinson has been around since the show began in

7 Giant Fences Dividing Good Neighbors

The existing 650-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexican border has been a hot political topic in the States for the last few years, and with the Republican primary campaign in full swing, it’s making headlines again. Already, Michele Bachmann has promised to

7 Secret Passageways & Hidden Doors

1. Wardrobe Hidden

10 Facebook Status Updates Gone Horribly Wrong

Facebook is usually just a running feed of pictures, talk about the weather and inspirational quotes. (Mine is, anyway; maybe your friends are more exciting.) But sometimes Facebook status updates are a little more interesting. And by “interesting,” we me

Paying the Piper a Little Something Extra: A Short History of Payola

© Bettmann/CORBIS Payola became a household word in 1959, thanks to a high-profile trial that made examples of two legendary disc jockeys – Alan Freed and Dick Clark (above). In 1959, Alan Freed, the most popular disc jockey in the country, was fired fr

The "Lyrical Embarrassment" that is the Sesame Street Theme Song

My 17-month-old daughter is just getting into Sesame Street, and I have to say, I think I’m enjoying it even more than she is. But while I’m totally into the guest appearances by Andy Samberg and Will Arnett, her main thing right now is getting her groove

The Flashy Girl From La Florida: The Nanny's Global Success

In its six seasons on CBS, The Nanny never broke into the Top 10 in ratings, peaking at #16 in season three. And this was before it was nearly canceled after a dismal first season. It was not a critical darling, nor an award-winner, garnering only one Emm

What Happened When Turkmenistan's President for Life Died?

© Tim Brakemeier/dpa/Corbis When Saparmurat Niyazov died in 2006, Turkmenistan lost its so-called “President for Life.” During his 16-year reign over this impoverished Central Asian country, Niyazov built a formidable cult of personality around himself,

Dietribes: Celery (or, "I'm Being Stalked!")

• When someone mentions "celery" as an eating option to me my first response is to scoff and say "boring." But maybe boring's not so bad - after all, a celery tonic was once prescribed as a nerve tonic. Boring is best when you're over excited! • "At the

What Defects the FDA Allows in 11 Types of Food

10 Cool Underground Hotels

My husband and I were watching some apocalyptic group building an underground shelter on TV, and I remarked that living underground is quite cozy and pleasant -as long as you have ready access to the outside (of course, being trapped is a nightmare). My f

4 BR, 2 BA, 1 Ghost: What the Law Says About Selling Haunted Houses

If you’re buying a haunted house, does anyone really have to tell you?

The Making of Michael Jackson's Thriller

When the 14-minute long short film known simply as Michael Jackson’s Thriller came out back in 1983, it forever revolutionized the music video industry. And, while you’ve likely seen it dozens of times in the 28 years since its release, you may never have

3 Famous Fires and the Lessons They Taught Us

October is Fire Prevention Month, and just because it's at an end is no reason to forget the related dangers. The mental_floss staff would like to take a few moments at this time to remind our readers of the importance of fire safety all year long. To emp

Pulled From the Rubble: 4 Amazing Stories of Survival

A Turkish rescuer searches for earthquake survivors in Van province of Turkey. © Ma Yan/Xinhua Press/Corbis When two-week-old Azra Karaduman was pulled from what was left of a seven-story apartment building 47 hours after a devastating earthquake levele

A Yodel Worth Millions

The name Wylie Gustafson might not ring any bells for you, but trust me, you know him. Back in the mid ‘90s, Gustafson was just your average, everyday yodeler making a living in Los Angeles. He sang with his band, Wylie and the Wild West, and occasional

Horror Movies For Holidays Other Than Halloween

With only a week left until Halloween, the window for prime horror movie season is closing. Luckily, you don't have to confine your horror movie viewing only to October -- Hollywood has ensured that almost every holiday, no matter how mundane, has gotten

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