In the airport (on the way back from TechEd) I picked up a pretty unique magazine that I never heard about before, called Mental_Floss. The picture of Einstein is what caught my eye, but the tag line “Where Knowledge Junkies Get Their Fix” is what got me to buy it. Turns out that they have been around for about 4 years, so I must be living under a rock (or just spending too much time coding). Here’s the magazine description (straight from the folks that publish this thing:
Here's a breakdown of the distinct sections of mental_floss, the magazine that dares to help people feel smart again:
scatter_brained:
Comprised of 10 straight pages of quirky facts, quick tidbits and juicy history, scatter_brained sets the tone for the magazine. Cheeky, clever and fun, the section keeps audiences grinning by delivering knowledge in a delightfully skim-able manner.
left_brain:
Too many people find science overwhelming. The left_brain section counters this feeling by presenting abstract ideas and highfalutin theories in easy-tounderstand English. By coupling lucid explanations of things like string theory or bioengineering with stories of discovery and the tales behind the equations, mental_floss provides easy access to the sciences.
right_brain:
There are certain artists, movements and masterpieces that have changed the world. right_brain eases the reader into the humanities by making art and literature accessible without trying to dumb it down. The section is characterized by vivid descriptions, lush explanations and experts who clearly tell you what makes a classic a classic.
feature:
The mental_floss feature takes one topic and turns it inside out. From Genius, to Spies, to Saints and Sinners, the feature playfully analyzes the subject from every possible perspective, then patches the cracks with interesting blurbs and facts.
spinning the_globe:
For a true sense of cultural literacy, people need to know about the world around them. This section introduces the reader to one region of the globe by exploring its religious, historical and cultural contributions to society.
critical_knowledge:
The critical_knowledge section of the magazine is packed with the sorts of things they'd never teach you in school. Comprised of fun-filled regulars like "The Quiz," "an Underground Education" and "Just the Facts, Ma'am," the section combs through history, pop culture and current events to deliver the juiciest trivia bits we can find.
I think that just about says it all. Pretty wacky, but cool magazine. Something Rory could probably whip up in a day or two, but since he is so busy, this is the next best thing.