We apologize for doing this on Christmas morning, but it's time someone spilled the dirt on the Three Kings, and just how wise they really were. While the story of the cheersome threesome is oft-repeated through manger scenes and Christmas carols, only one of the four Gospels (Matthew) makes mention of visitors from the East. And while scripture does list the three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, Matthew doesn't specify how many people brought them. In fact, based on the writings of early... READ ON
McSweeney's writer and former mental_floss intern Hari Raghavan used to write a morbid little column called Vocab Rehab, where we tried to help people remember impressive words through tricks and memorable sentences. We canned the column because it got so many complaints. This one from April 17th seems to have two lessons from Hari: the definition of the word saguaro, and the importance of practicing plant safety on holidays. saguaro (n.) a tall, columnar cactus of dry areas of the southwestern U.S.... READ ON
From a MediaBistro blog post titled "You Too Can Make Ridiculous Money Writing": As far as we know, Michael Lewis' rumored $12 per word from Portfolio is the highest rate in the magazine universe. Not anymore. mental_floss magazine is giving away five $10,000 scholarships to essayists who best answer the question "Why are you the most deserving person on the planet to win a scholarship?" In 750 words. That's more than $13 per word. Suck it, Lewis. [Learn more about our $50,000 Tuition... READ ON
We've gotten so many requests to bring back the mental_floss t-shirt sale that we're doing just that. Through Sunday, every t-shirt is just $14.90. Head over to our store, fill up your cart, and enter the super secret password "holidayteeparty" during checkout. Mangesh's new favorite is the Hokey Pokey shirt ("Hokey Pokey Anonymous: A Place to Turn Yourself Around"); I'm a big Veni Vidi Wiki fan ("I came. I saw. I edited collaboratively.") No matter your favorite, the sale ends Sunday at 11:59pm, so... READ ON
Tonight we're excited to announce our first foray into the iPhone Application world. Big Fat Lies! is a trivia challenge that presents you with two statements "“ one is true, the other is blatantly false. Your job is to spot the big fat lie. There are over 1,000 statements across several categories, covering history, science, business, entertainment and more. So if you've got an iPhone and $2.99, head on over to the iTunes Store and let us know what you think. (That link should open up your iTunes... READ ON
Our Holiday Tee Party ends at midnight tonight. So if your holiday shopping plans include loading up on mental_floss t-shirts, now's the time to place your order. Head on over to the mental_floss store and cross a few names off your gift list. All t-shirts are $14.90—just use the code "holidayteeparty" during checkout. Here's a sampling of what's... READ ON
Sick of giving out the same old boring presents? This year, why don't you ditch the fruit cakes and hand-made ashtrays, and give them a gift they really want: a year's worth of mental_floss! We're making it super easy with our Super Special Holiday Subscription Deal. For just $27.97, you'll receive a copy of the current issue along with a snazzy greeting card (to give to the lucky recipient on the big day). Plus, they'll be getting a full year of mental_floss, delivered right to their doorstep! It's a... READ ON
If you're sitting at your desk anxiously awaiting a company-wide "we're closing early!" email, we've got a productive way to kill some time. Head on over to the mental_floss store and do a little pre-Black Friday holiday shopping. All t-shirts are $14.90—just use the code "holidayteeparty" during checkout. Happy Thanksgiving,... READ ON
While sorting through the economic crisis t-shirt submissions, we've been arguing like members of Congress. So, we've narrowed the field to six candidates and decided to hold a referendum. Leave your vote in the comments—one vote per person. (We've invested heavily in technology to prevent t-shirt contest voter fraud.) The winner gets a $125 bailout. a. "Bernanke Say Relax" "“Rob b. "D'ow!" "“Terence Mcginnis c. "Go Directly to Bailout: Collect $700 Billion Dollars"... READ ON
In the spirit of all good things coming to an end, today is the last day you'll get six free months of mental_floss magazine when you pre-order The Mental Floss History of the World from Amazon. If you already subscribe to the magazine, Amazon will just add six free months to your current subscription. Or you can even give the free subscription to a friend. Think of the holiday shopping implications! So, click here to preorder your copy and get your free subscription today. (But only today!) For... READ ON
5 Questions: Great "Scott"!
Troy McClure Film or Actual Terrible Movie?
One of Prince Charles's Secret Service code names was "Unicorn."
