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9 Memorable Songs About the Chelsea Hotel
For over a century, New York City’s Hotel Chelsea—or, more commonly, the Chelsea Hotel—on West 23rd Street has played host to artists of all kinds and inspired art of all kinds, including, naturally, music. Some songs are widely mistaken to be about the Chelsea Hotel, like Joni...
7 Spots in Your Home You’re Probably Forgetting to Clean
Keeping a home completely spotless at all times is impossible, but there are plenty of ways to minimize the buildup of dust, debris, and germs—so long as you know where to clean, that is. Some spots are easy to overlook even if you have an established cleaning routine, which is why Mental Floss and Roborock have teamed up to highlight seven surprising spots in your home that you’re probably forgetting to clean, alongside tips you can use to make sure they’re sparkling.
11 Overlooked Fruits and Veggies to Try on the Grill This Year
Along with the burgers and brats usually thrown on the grill, a heavy serving of fruits and veggies is always a good idea. But this summer, think beyond the ears of corn and zucchini spears that have become mainstays. These sometimes-overlooked vegetables and fruits grill well and will liven up any of your summer barbecues.
Why is a ‘Square Deal’ Square?
This term for an equitable agreement is easy to define: a square deal is a fair deal. Perhaps that rhyme helped this expression succeed, but in any case, a square deal is the opposite of a deal that is bad, raw, or rough. This phrase emerged in the late 1800s....
‘Eat My Shorts’: How Bart Simpson’s Controversial Catchphrase Sparked a Pop Culture Sensation
When The Simpsons debuted in December 1989, it became an instant sensation, drawing an average of 27.8 million enraptured viewers to Fox every Sunday night during its first season. While there was (and remains) a lot to appreciate about the show, viewers quickly came to love and identify with Bart, the family’s spiky-haired oldest child. A skateboarding hellion who’s never met a prank call he didn’t want to make, Bart is part class clown and part problem child, with a razor-sharp wit and little respect for authority.
The Origins of 10 Presidential Campaign Slogans
In any election year, voters will be hit with an avalanche of campaign slogans meant to prop up the bona fides of the candidates. Let's revisit some slogans from elections past that helped the candidate move into the White House. Are you better off than you were four years ago?
‘Jeopardy!’ Icon Alex Trebek Gets a Stamp of Approval From the Postal Service
As the host of Jeopardy! from 1984 until his death from pancreatic cancer in 2020, Alex Trebek was a frequent presence in the homes of game show and trivia enthusiasts. Among his eight Daytime Emmy wins and other awards, Trebek is now the recipient of another honor: his own postage stamp.
Neanderthals Cared for a Child with Down Syndrome
Archeological evidence has long indicated that Neanderthals cared for sick and injured members of their communities. But experts disagree on whether these close relatives of Homo sapiens did so altruistically or transactionally, under the expectation that they might receive reciprocal care from such members in the future. A new study...
9 Real-Life Sunken Cities
When you think about sunken cities, your mind probably jumps right to Atlantis, that super-advanced island nation mentioned in Plato’s works that became really wicked and hedonistic and was eventually relegated to the bottom of the ocean after getting hit with some earthquakes. Unfortunately for conspiracy theorists and fans...
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Mental Floss delivers smart, fun and shareable content in an upbeat and witty environment. An encyclopedia of everything, we answer life’s big questions and uncover stories so interesting our readers absolutely must share them.
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