It's amazing to me how many different types of Hindu ceremonies there are, and how many I'm not familiar with. This National Geographic video showcases an annual ceremony in Tamil Nadu, in Southern India, where priests break one coconut after another on people's heads as a way of thanking the goddess of wealth, Laxmi. Devotees-- who are required to be 18 years or older-- offer their skulls as a coconut cracker as thanks for having their prayers... READ ON
Jason, Stephanie, Ethan and I put out a daily newsletter called Watercooler Ammo. This weekend we'll be sharing a few recent editions. If you'd like this kind of thing delivered to your inbox each morning, subscribe here! Check out these design proposals for some of Washington D.C.'s most famous landmarks. From a giant chicken weather vane meant to adorn the federal building, to putting a George Washington statue on top of the monument, to a pyramid-style Lincoln Memorial, the designs and blueprints... READ ON
Jason, Stephanie, Ethan and I put out a daily newsletter called Watercooler Ammo. This weekend we'll be sharing a few recent editions. If you'd like this kind of thing delivered to your inbox each morning, subscribe here! I've been talking up celery flavored Jell-O for years. To be clear: I've never actually tried it; I just like the fact that it once existed. But this collection of ads from The Society Pages -- one of my favorite blogs -- shows just how versatile the jiggly food can be.... READ ON
One of the facts that we hear repeated with some frequency is that trumpeter Louis Armstrong got his first Christmas tree at age 40, and he loved it so much that he took it on tour with him for a month. While it's a great bit of trivia, I was curious enough to double-check it. Turns out, the story's even better the way his wife tells it: "We finally went to bed. And Louis was still laying up in the bed watching the tree, his eyes just like a baby's eyes would watch something... So finally I said, "Well,... READ ON
The good folks at Story Corps have recorded a series of touching -- and utterly heartbreaking-- stories from the families of 9/11 victims, and then animated the recordings to beautiful effect. (For full disclosure, my wife produced these shorts with the very talented Rausch brothers.) To me, these stories aren't just a reminder of how much heartbreak occurred on that horrific day, but they're also a wonderful reminder to appreciate all you have. See if you agree. More after the... READ ON
This year marks our 10th anniversary. To celebrate, Will and I are loading up the RV and taking the mental_floss Trivia Show on the road. We had a great time in Indianapolis last night, and on September 8th, we're coming to Memphis! Will there be party hats or a coloring contest with a ridiculously important prize? Maybe. There will also be pizza. We'd love to meet you so reserve your free tickets now. While you're at it you can pick out a free mental_floss t-shirt. See you in... READ ON
That's right... we're officially out of seats for the Trivia Show. If you didn't manage to snag a ticket, but you still want to come see us, Jason, Will and I will all be at the Chicago Toy Fair tomorrow debuting our new game Split Decision. Come on out and play a round! (We'll be the ones with the giant wheel, and the 80 boxes of Split Decision at our... READ ON
Today, 53 years and a day after Laika the Russian space mutt became the first dog to launch into orbit, mental_floss hopes to help dogkind take a giant leap backwards: with a new column we're calling Puppies Wearing Hats Eating Bacon Sharing Facts. Today's topic is ranch dressing, and we've consulted some of the wisest dogs around about the topic. The dogs are real. The facts are real. The bacon is photoshopped.... READ ON
A few months ago, Jason and I started a new Monday-Thursday newsletter called Watercooler Ammo. Here's some of the stuff that was left on the cutting room floor. The Same Mold Story If you're sick of people stealing your lunch from the company fridge, these innovative Anti-Theft Lunch Bags should do the trick. The bags are stained with green splotches to look like the food inside is moldy. If you want to get your hands on some bags, you'll have to move fast. At $8 for 25 bags, who... READ ON
5 Questions: Nervous "Rex"
Were They on The Wonder Years?
In 1991 Wayne Allwine, the voice of Mickey Mouse, married Russi Taylor—the voice of Minnie.
