%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20id%3D%22Layer_1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%20684.6%2068.1%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%20684.6%2068.1%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cg%3E%0A%09%3Cpath%20d%3D%22M444.1%2C29.3h-17.4v14.5h17.4V29.3z%20M36.4%2C68.1l29.3-50.8V0H50.4L32.9%2C36.8L15.5%2C0H0v68.1h16.7V45.8l12.4%2C22.3H36.4z%0A%09%09%20M49.1%2C68.1h16.6V23.4L49.1%2C52.1V68.1z%20M76.6%2C68.1h45V53.8H93.3V41.6h21V27.1h-21V14.8h28.3V0.1h-45V68.1z%20M175.6%2C68.1h17.3v-68%0A%09%09h-16.5v40.3L150%2C0.1h-17.6v68h16.7V27.7L175.6%2C68.1z%20M235.8%2C14.8h15.4V0.1h-47.4v14.7H219v53.2h16.8V14.8z%20M290.3%2C45.9h-17.1%0A%09%09l7.5-15.6h2L290.3%2C45.9z%20M298.7%2C68.1h18l-32.2-68h-5.7l-32%2C68h18l3.3-7.1h27.1L298.7%2C68.1z%20M325.2%2C68.1h46.2V53.8h-29.6V0.1h-16.7%0A%09%09V68.1z%20M423.7%2C14.8h27.2V0.1H407v68h16.7V14.8z%20M462%2C68.1h46.2V53.8h-29.6V0.1H462V68.1z%20M564.8%2C34.1c0%2C10.7-7.2%2C19.2-18.5%2C19.2%0A%09%09c-11.4%2C0-18.5-8.5-18.5-19.2s7.1-19.2%2C18.5-19.2C557.6%2C14.9%2C564.8%2C23.4%2C564.8%2C34.1%20M580.6%2C34.1c0-19-14.2-34-34.3-34%0A%09%09c-20.2%2C0-34.3%2C15-34.3%2C34c0%2C19%2C14.1%2C34%2C34.3%2C34C566.4%2C68.1%2C580.6%2C53.1%2C580.6%2C34.1%20M604.8%2C20.5c0-4.1%2C3.3-6.2%2C6.7-6.2%0A%09%09c4.4%2C0%2C6.6%2C3%2C6.6%2C6.6h14.7C631.8%2C9.1%2C625.1%2C0.1%2C611%2C0.1c-12%2C0-21.7%2C9.3-21.7%2C20.6c0%2C10.9%2C5.9%2C15.9%2C16.7%2C19.8%0A%09%09c5.2%2C1.8%2C11.5%2C3.2%2C11.5%2C8c0%2C3.3-2.4%2C5.5-6.4%2C5.5c-3.6%2C0-6.6-3-6.6-6.7h-15.2c0%2C11.5%2C7.9%2C20.8%2C21.8%2C20.8c12%2C0%2C21.6-9.3%2C21.6-20.6%0A%09%09c0-10-5.3-16.4-16.7-19.8C610.6%2C26.1%2C604.8%2C25.3%2C604.8%2C20.5%20M670%2C20.9h14.7C683.8%2C9.1%2C677.1%2C0.1%2C663%2C0.1c-12%2C0-21.7%2C9.3-21.7%2C20.6%0A%09%09c0%2C10.9%2C5.9%2C15.9%2C16.7%2C19.8c5.2%2C1.8%2C11.5%2C3.2%2C11.5%2C8c0%2C3.3-2.4%2C5.5-6.4%2C5.5c-3.6%2C0-6.6-3-6.6-6.7h-15.2c0%2C11.5%2C7.9%2C20.8%2C21.8%2C20.8%0A%09%09c12%2C0%2C21.6-9.3%2C21.6-20.6c0-10-5.3-16.4-16.7-19.8c-5.4-1.6-11.3-2.4-11.3-7.2c0-4.1%2C3.3-6.2%2C6.7-6.2C667.7%2C14.4%2C670%2C17.3%2C670%2C20.9%0A%09%09%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
When Dr. Ruth Doled Out ‘80s-Era Sex Advice
The therapist gave advice about masturbation and contraception at a time those subjects were still taboo.
MEDIA
‘Colorizers’: When Ted Turner and Hollywood Clashed Over Colorizing Classic Movies
Media mogul Ted Turner didn’t hesitate to alter classic Hollywood movies, claiming: “The last time I checked, I owned the films.”
10 Interesting Facts About Connie Chung
Broadcast journalist Connie Chung was the first Asian American woman to co-anchor a major network newscast.
‘TIME’ Has Named Its 12 ‘Women of the Year’ for 2023
For the second year in a row, ‘TIME’ has singled out a dozen actors, sports figures, and activists making a difference in the world.
10 Incredible Facts About Oprah Winfrey
Since making her national TV debut with ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show,’ Oprah has become a global icon. Discover more fascinating facts about her life here.
Our 40 Favorite Stories of 2022
Mental Floss's writers and editors share their favorite stories from 2022.
A Brief History of Times Square’s New Year’s Eve Celebration
New Year’s Eve in Times Square is one of the most famous traditions in New York City. Learn how Manhattan's most colorful party came to be.
How Joyce Chopra Filmed the First Live Birth on Television — Hers
In 1972, filmmaker Joyce Chopra welcomed her daughter into the world—and invited all the world to see in her groundbreaking documentary, 'Joyce at 34.'
Alan Abel, History's Greatest Hoaxer
Before Nathan Fielder and Sacha Baron Cohen pushed the boundaries of performance art, Alan Abel was able to convince media and the public of just about anything, including his own death.
Internet Misinformation Is Giving Spiders a Bad Rap, Study Shows
Don’t let misguided media sources compound your arachnophobia.
This 'Sesame Street' Episode That Was Banned for Being “Too Scary” Just Resurfaced Online
The Wicked Witch episode of Sesame Street was pulled from syndication following complaints that it traumatized children.
'Give Readers Courage': When Grit Newspaper Sold Peace and Positivity
For a large part of the 20th century, 'Grit' was a newspaper that focused almost exclusively on positivity, with a mandate to "suggest peace and good will towards men."
20 of the Most Important Moments in Internet History
From its first steps out of the primordial sludge of the ARPANET days to its current role as a vessel for cat videos and Netflix, we're taking a look at just some of the most important moments in internet history.
Play Like It's 1988: This Subscription Service Will Deliver Retro Video Game Magazines to Your Door
The Video Game History Foundation is unloading duplicate copies from its magazine vault—including an issue of 'Nintendo Power' #1.
Are Magazines Recyclable?
The glossy pages of most catalogues and magazines can be recycled along with the rest of your paper products.
The Naked Gun: When Larry Flynt Allegedly Tried to Put a Hit Out On Hugh Hefner
Larry Flynt and Hugh Hefner—two titans of titillation—were never close. But a paper trail shows that Flynt may have wanted to see the 'Playboy' founder suffer a case of lead poisoning.
11 Retro Celebrity Magazines
Celebrities fade in and out of fashion, and so do the magazines that cover them. Here are 11 retro celebrity magazines that covered classic movie, music, radio, and television stars.
10 Facts About Amazon's Modern Love
"Modern Love," The New York Times's long-running column detailing real-life love stories, is also a podcast and a critically acclaimed, star-filled TV series that is awaiting its second season.
8 Notable Firsts From the History of Mental Floss
Mental Floss's first print cover featured Albert Einstein’s tongue, and our first Instagram post was about Rice-A-Roni. Would we do it differently today? Of course not.
Bat Boy Lives! An Oral History of Weekly World News
The pioneers of fake news reflect on nearly 30 years of Elvis, aliens, and a half-human, half-bat child that earned them a very angry phone call from the very real FBI.
15 Trailblazing Facts About Gloria Steinem
Gloria Steinem is so much more than the world’s most famous feminist—she’s also Christian Bale’s stepmother.
Why Do So Many News Anchors Sound Alike?
No matter where you are in the country, local and national news anchors have the same vocal delivery. There's a good reason why they learn it.
12 Things You Might Not Know About MAD Magazine
As fast as popular culture could erect wholesome depictions of American life in comics, television, or movies, MAD Magazine was there to tear them all down.
How Joseph Pulitzer Saved the Statue of Liberty
At one point in America's history, it seemed like the statue would end up in Philadelphia or San Francisco—or worse, be sent back to France. Then Pulitzer stepped in.