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When you think, “medical treatments through history,” you probably think of some nightmarish stuff — bloodletting, shock therapy, and more. But as gross or absurd as some of the following medical practices of “bygone” days may seem, like fashion, what goes around comes around. Some of these seemingly archaic treatments have made a comeback in recent years, as science has caught up with what the ancients knew all along.

This summer, Austrian Felix Baumgartner will attempt the skydive to end all skydives. From the edge of space, 120,000 feet high, the 42-year-old will leap into free-fall, breaking the speed of sound before hopefully parachuting to safety. Baumgartner and other current thrill-seekers on this list are redefining what it means to be a daredevil. And unlike the daring figures famed for a singular death-defying stunt, such as pitching over Niagara Falls in a barrel, most of these individuals have devoted their lives to consistently pushing the limits of what’s mortally possible.

There are more than 17,500 museums in the U.S. The following dozen (or so) force you to dust off your conception of what makes a museum. Instead of glass-covered cases with historical artifacts and educational placards, imagine wall-to-wall animated dolls in one corner and wall-to-wall clowns in another, or a dizzying array of human organs in jars. Stop shuddering and start investigating history you didn’t even know existed.

Remember how your parents told you to never talk politics or religion in polite company? Well, many of the following TV shows didn’t take that advice, with a few adding taboo topics such as sex and race. Some shows are so controversial, they last only a few episodes before network executives bow to public pressure and cancel the series. Take The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer, which aired on UPN in 1998. Really, someone thought it would be a good idea to air a comedy about slavery, complete with jokes about hangings, cotton picking and so-called black dialect. That show aired only four times, the same number as the 2006 NBC show The Book of Daniel, which featured a pill-popping priest.

The following shows all attracted controversy, but for the most part, managed to survive longer than a few episodes. Some shows are now legendary for their jaw-dropping moments (South Park). Others, once seen as quite controversial, now seem almost tame given the passage of time (we’re talking about you, Married … with Children).

Think of your hometown. Even if it’s the smallest dot on the map, it’s probably known for something. Does it boast the biggest swing? Is it the home of Kool-Aid? Do people flock by the busload to see that giant ball of twine? The following represents a list of some of the strangest town mascots. Even if said mascot is bizarre or infamous, perhaps being known for something is better than not being known at all.

After celebrating its 60th anniversary a couple of years ago, it appears the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted Fugitives” list will reach another milestone in the not-so-distant future: 500 fugitives. So far, 495 people have earned this dubious distinction — from international terrorists like Ramzi Ahmed Yousef and Osama Bin Laden, to serial killers like Ted Bundy and assassins like James Earl Ray. What follows are some little-known facts about the FBI’s program and this well-known assortment of murderers, pedophiles, bank robbers, crime bosses and gang leaders.

You may not have heard them in years, but odds are you can finish each of these little ditties the way a couple might finish each other’s sentences: “Give me a break, give me a break …”; “I am stuck on Band-Aid …”; and “Plop, plop, fizz, fizz …” These jingles for the likes of Kit Kat and Alka-Seltzer may seem old school, but you can’t question their staying power. They have managed to replay over and over again in our heads, which is what makes them so effective. Only time will tell if any of today’s advertising campaigns, such as Geico’s revolving door of characters (the cavemen, lizard with distinguished accent, etc.) will one day be remembered so fondly. Here, for your listening and viewing pleasure, are the 10 best commercial jingles of all time.

Forty pounds in four months? Three dress sizes in three weeks? Two inches in 20 days? These are not the numbers you should be thinking about when it comes to a healthier “you” in the new year. If you want to get results, you need to set realistic goals and focus not on short-term gains, but a lifestyle change. To get started, here are some time-tested numbers to keep in mind to help in your quest. Instead of targeting an ideal “size,” go forth and shed bad habits and adopt a new lifestyle for lasting, positive change.

You could truly say that conspiracy theories are more American than apple pie. Some theories have gained such credence with the public that they’re almost accepted as fact. For instance, polls have shown that 80 percent of Americans believe that the government is hiding knowledge of aliens; the same percentage of the public believes that an assassination conspiracy killed JFK. Below are the 10 most prominent conspiracy theories to emerge in the U.S. in the past 70 years. At least one example listed here once again demonstrates that truth is stranger than fiction.

Remember the good ol’ days, when we only had addictions to booze, “hard drugs” and gambling to worry about? Our grandparents didn’t have “Crackberries” competing for their family time, and “Halo” was simply part of an angel’s attire — not a game played by teens until they drop dead. With all the conveniences provided by new technologies, many unexpected consequences arise because one thing is certain: Humans have always had a problem obeying the old adage, “Everything in moderation.”