Mental Floss

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Ella Fitzgerald sings in New York City as Dizzy Gillespie looks on.

Signs of Christmastime are different all over the world, as are Christmas traditions. But, no matter where you are or how you celebrate the holiday, one thing that is universal during the holiday season: Christmas music.

Olivia Truffaut-Wong
Silver Buffalo/Toynk

Treat your Golden Girl to some fun toys, mugs, and accessories based on the classic show about four women living together. Any 'Golden Girls' fan would love all the items on this gift guide this holiday season.

Molly Gregory








If you love to watch the clouds, consider joining the Cloud Appreciation Society.

Did you know there's a club for people who have been ejected out of a plane, and an organization for people who are just ... happy? Read on to find out about those clubs and more.

Stacy Conradt
Seann William Scott and Ashton Kutcher star in Dude, Where's My Car? (2000).

There were many vital questions posed in 'Dude, Where's My Car?,' the 2000 stoner comedy that established Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott as two of their generation’s most lovable doofuses.

Jon O'Brien
Based on the trends, there's a pretty good chance this baby is named Oliver.

If you want to stay away from overused baby girl names, you should probably cross ‘Amelia’ off your list. For baby boy names, steer clear of ‘Oliver.’

Ellen Gutoskey


The World's Work, Wikimedia Commons // Public Domain

Today, F. Scott Fitzgerald is considered one of the most astute American novelists of the 20th century. But his best-known work, 'The Great Gatsby,' wasn't a bestseller.

Carla Delgado


John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson in Pulp Fiction (1994).

With 1992’s 'Reservoir Dogs,' Quentin Tarantino had established himself as a fascinating new director in a golden era for American indie filmmaking. But by his second feature, the Palme d’Or- and Oscar-winning and zeitgeist-hijacking Pulp Fiction (1994),

Paul Schrodt


Pooli the cat modeling her uniform on her 15th birthday.

Dogs and horses may rightfully claim their share of battlefield glory, but cats have proven themselves just as brave, cunning, and loyal.

Jackie Mead


Jay Leno once lost control of The Tonight Show thanks to Howard Stern.

Drunk guests, network censorship, and being preempted by tennis are just a few of the reasons some TV show hosts decided to walk off their own sets.

Jake Rossen
Selena live in concert in 1994.

By the time of her tragic death at the young age of 23, Selena Quintanilla—better known simply as Selena—was already an American icon.

Nili Blanck




SUHAIMI ABDULLAH/GETTY IMAGES

From Samuel L. Jackson's background as an activist to the origin of his R-rated catchphrase, here are some things you should know about the world's highest-grossing movie star.

Michele Debczak


Viggo Mortensen in David Cronenberg's Eastern Promises (2007).

Since the earliest days of cinema, gangsters have been the characters we’ve both loved and loved to hate. Here are 20 of the genre's best movies.

Todd Gilchrist


Janelle Monáe performs at the State Theatre in Minneapolis in 2018.

In music, there are artists, original artists, and then there’s Janelle Monáe. Since breaking out a decade ago with her debut album, 2010's 'The ArchAndroid,' Monáe has been unstoppable.

Mimi Kenny