Mental Floss

MUSIC









The pattern is named after the European dance craze, but what exactly the dots have to do with polka is a bit of a mystery.

Shaunacy Ferro








From left: Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickson, Dolly Parton, Jimmy Buffett, and Gil Scott-Heron.

Jimmy Buffett—yeah, the “Margaritaville” guy—is one of just a few authors to have books that topped both the fiction and non-fiction ‘New York Times’ bestsellers lists. Other authors that have that distinction include Hemingway and Steinbeck.

Anastasia Rose Hyden