Ellen Gutoskey
Joined: Jun 24, 2019
Ellen Gutoskey is a Mental Floss staff writer who especially loves covering pop culture, not-so-popular culture, literature, really tiny things, really giant things, and anything that was previously thought to be lost. She used to work in publishing, she's usually laughing, and you can follow her on Twitter @ellengutoskey.
Why Do Truck Drivers Say “10-4”?
6 Misconceptions About the ’90s
Alex Trebek’s Favorite Jeopardy! Interview Was With a 1987 Teen Who Played the Bagpipes and Wrote Bad Poetry
Take Your Journal to the Next Level with This Bullet Journal Expansion Card
Bullet journaling is all about clarity and organization, and this bookmark-shaped stencil card makes it easy.
The Real Reason Water Polo Players Wear Those Caps
Spend a few minutes watching Olympic water polo, and you’ll realize the players' bonnets have holes in them. If they’re not keeping water out, what are they for?
10 Frightening Facts about Henry James’s ‘The Turn of the Screw’
Learn about Henry James’s ‘The Turn of the Screw’—the classic ghost story that inspired (among many other things) Netflix’s ‘The Haunting of Bly Manor.’
Jawns and Shower Oranges: See 30 of Dictionary.com’s Newly Added Terms
Non-Philadelphians can finally look up the meaning of ‘jawn’ in the dictionary.
Visit Any National Park Property for Free on September 23—or Volunteer to Help Maintain Them
On September 23, 2023, you can visit the Statue of Liberty, Alcatraz Island, or any of the 400-plus other monuments, parks, and historical sites overseen by the National Park Service for free.
The Iconic Concorde Airplane Is Getting the LEGO Treatment
LEGO’s Concorde plane is as sleek as its real-life counterpart.
This Searchable Database Shows All 8291 License Plate Designs in the U.S.
America has no shortage of cool license plate designs—and plenty of weird ones, too.
How Old Is Barbie Supposed to Be, Anyway?
It’s often said that Barbie is 19 years old, but the answer is a little more nuanced than that.
Get Paid $600 to Eat Cake and Watch ‘The Great British Baking Show’
What better way to celebrate a new season of 'The Great British Bake Off' than by sampling 12 classic British baked goods for cash?
The 33 Best TV Shows to Stream on Max Right Now
‘The White Lotus,’ ‘The Last of Us,’ ‘Abbott Elementary,’ ‘Succession’ ... Max has all that and more.
The Origins of 6 Classic Curse Words
Many bad words come and go, but these six have withstood the tests of time. Here’s how they came to be.
Why Are Tennis Tournaments Called “Opens”?
Tennis’s U.S. Open has only been an “open” since 1968. Here’s why.