Odds and sods I look at regularly, just because they amuse me. I hope they do the same for you. Incidentally, I found this page’s title on Greg Ross’s Futility Closet (it’s somewhere on this page) in a mini-article which also includes the delightful sentence in Icelandic: Barbara Ara bar Ara araba bara rabbabara. Ross points out that this, “besides being fun to say, is spelled with only three letters. It means “Barbara, daughter of Ari, brought only rhubarb to Ari the Arab.”
Mental Floss » 25 Things You Might Not Know About Harry Potter
John Green talks Harry Potter. [Link]
Fark.com RSS » "Your milk is not giving me the right kind of silkworm larva anymore," writes someone who is totally not a serial killer [Strange]
[link] [61 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » Why Did We Land on a Comet?
"It is like the difference between what you can learn taking pictures from an airplane versus a geologist digging directly into the ground.” [Link]
The Onion » American Voices: White Supremacist Founds New KKK Chapter Open To Black, Gay People
A self-described reformed white supremacist in Montana claims to have founded a new Ku Klux Klan chapter called the Rocky Mountain Knights that will promote diversity by accepting Jews, black people, and homosexuals.
[Link]
Mental Floss » Name the Districts' Industries in The Hunger Games
[Link]
Fark.com RSS » "The Alabama Securities Commission advises you against investing in marijuana companies or bitcoins" [Obvious]
[link] [61 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » The Missing Links: Here Lies Part of Stonewall Jackson
Here lies Stonewall Jackson. Well, part of him at least. The famous General has one of the oddest graves around. * And the most fist-clenching, anxiety-inducing video on the internet today is: this footage of a bus maneuvering a mountain road in the Himalayas. How are the passengers laughing??? * These 3D drawings are pretty cool. * Let’s get reel. … [Link]
The Onion » Infographic: Job Perks And Benefits That Companies Offer Employees
Here are some other perks and benefits employees enjoy at companies around the nation
[Link]
The Onion » God Unable To Remember What Year Humanity Goes Extinct
THE HEAVENS—Saying that He definitely knew the event was scheduled for some point within the vast expanse of time, the Lord God Almighty told reporters Wednesday that He was unable to remember exactly what year humanity goes extinct.
[Link]
Fark.com RSS » Photoshop this tree placement [Photoshop]
[link] [21 comments] [Link]
The Onion » Congress Passes Bill To Add Armed Patrol To U.S. Poverty Line
WASHINGTON—Stressing that current efforts to safeguard the boundary do not go far enough, Congress approved a landmark bill Wednesday that will deploy armed patrols along the U.S.
[Link]
The Onion » American Voices: Walmart Turning Black Friday Into 5-Day Event
Walmart has announced that it will extend the Black Friday shopping period into a five-day-long event, launching online deals Thanksgiving morning, opening its doors to shoppers at 6 p.m.
[Link]
Fark.com RSS » The Russian people are aware of the sanctions and aware they were triggered by Putin's actions but fail to see how their grocery bills going up are Putin's fault [Fail]
[link] [111 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » First picture from the comet [Scary]
[link] [127 comments] [Link]
The Onion » China Vows To Begin Aggressively Falsifying Air Pollution Numbers
BEIJING—Acknowledging the industrialized nation’s role in global climate change, China reportedly reached a landmark agreement with the United States Wednesday, pledging to significantly increase the rate at which it falsifies air pollution da…
[Link]
The Oatmeal – Comics, Quizzes, & Stories » Some folks just landed a spacecraft on the surface of a COMET
View [Link]
Mental Floss » The Most Interesting Comics of the Week
This week's comics include the all new African-American Captain America and more. [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Caption this historic moment [Caption]
[link] [53 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could ride in the back of a big truck [Sad]
[link] [36 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Dallas hospital quickly reaches undisclosed settlement with family of deceased ebola victim, confirming once and for all that their care of him was 100% appropriate and that they have absolutely nothing to hide [Followup]
[link] [98 comments] [Link]
The Onion » Man Trying To Enter Conversation Spends Few Minutes Smiling And Nodding At Edge Of Circle
BLOOMINGTON, IN—Having found himself without others to interact with at a house party Wednesday, guest Ben Weaver reportedly attempted to enter a conversation by spending a few minutes just smiling and nodding at the edge of a circle of people.
[Link]
Fark.com RSS » French government surrenders to the powerful "I want to poop while I'm cooking" lobby [Amusing]
[link] [63 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » Scientist Turns Peanut Butter into Diamonds
A researcher turned one of the most popular sandwich condiments into a substance even more valuable, if less tasty: diamond. [Link]
Futility Closet » Circle Ode
This love lyric was written by Shahin Ghiray (c. 1747-1787), the last sultan of the independent Crimea before its conquest by the Russians. It’s written in Turkish but in the Persian letter style of Arabic. The reader starts at the central letter and reads upward, which leads him into a series of arcs around the circle. Each arc forms a … [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Workers hanging from scaffolding 68 floors up on 1 World Trade Center. Link goes to live stream [News]
[link] [294 comments] [Link]
FMyLife » anonymous says FML
Today, my boyfriend bought us plane tickets to Mexico for our "Honeymoon". This would be nice if he had proposed and if we'd been dating for longer than 2 weeks. FML [Link]
The Onion » Report: Friend’s Dad Knows Someone With Season Tickets
GREENWOOD, IN—Fueling speculation that the seats could be available for one of the team’s remaining home games, reports surfaced Tuesday revealing that the father of local eighth-grader Anthony Canella knows someone who owns Indianapolis Colts…
[Link]
FMyLife » elsatheannoyed says FML
Today, like any other day since that stupid movie Frozen came out, people have been asking me if I want to build a snowman, like they're the funniest people on the planet. My name is Elsa. FML [Link]
Fark.com RSS » One good thing about Common Core? It's ruining the most useless class in school, gym [Spiffy]
[link] [157 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » 11 Beloved Movies That Were Box Office Flops
It's hard to believe that some beloved films didn't find immediate success when they were released, but sometimes movies are just ahead of their time. Here are 11 famous examples of celebrated classics that were box office bombs. 1. It's a Wonderful Life Budget: $3.18 million Box Office: $3.3 million While It's a Wonderful Life is a staple of the … [Link]
Fark.com RSS » School district decides 50 is the new 0 [Florida]
[link] [136 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Two incidents involving suspicious person at university were "cases of an individual being socially awkward" [Amusing]
[link] [84 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » New York great-great-grandmother celebrates her 100th birthday by sky diving. For her 101st, she says she plans to do something really daring and book a cruise with Carnival [Spiffy]
[link] [19 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » 15 Hilarious Newspaper Corrections
Newspapers work quickly, and mistakes can slip through the cracks—sometimes leading to epic corrections like the 15 listed below. To keep up with more typos and corrections (amusing or otherwise) bookmark Poynter’s Regret the Error. [Link]
Fark.com RSS » McDonald's, you should know not to taunt the Egg McMuffin ladies by telling them breakfast is over [Scary]
[link] [109 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Woman who used a box cutter to slice a teenager's penis avoids jail time after cutting a deal [Followup]
[link] [110 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Protip: If you steal a debit card in a store, try not to use it in front of the woman you just stole it from [Dumbass]
[link] [29 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » "I believe when the Second Amendment was written, that was more or less for when the British were coming" [Asinine]
[link] [454 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Man arrested after calling 911 operator "sexy as hell," trying to get her number. Well, at least he didn't tell her he had an emergency in his pants only she could handle [Dumbass]
[link] [30 comments] [Link]
The Onion » Senate Democrats Hoping To Go Out In Final Blaze Of Glory By Passing One Last Neutered Bill
WASHINGTON—With the party set to lose control of the chamber following defeats in the midterm elections, Senate Democrats announced Wednesday that they are prepared to go out in a final blaze of glory by passing one last completely neutered bill.
[Link]
Fark.com RSS » Historic landing on comet. No word on Cupid [NewsFlash]
[link] [301 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » California woman charged with fraud over hot coffee spill injury claim. Jackie Chiles to appeal [Followup]
[link] [45 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » There are as many as 120,000 innocent people serving prison time in the U.S [Stupid]
[link] [124 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » We figured, if they can add mint flavor to dental floss, why not add deer urine? [Strange]
[link] [10 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Ellis Island closed its doors 60 years ago today. Thankfully, someone was there to photograph the last wave of Scorsese extras to arrive in the New World [Interesting]
[link] [39 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » 8 Hacks for Your Next Big Roadtrip
Living out of your car on a long trip can be a challenge, but with a few hacks and a couple of emergency tricks up your sleeve, you’ll be a bona fide road warrior. [Link]
Mental Floss » 5 Questions: Musical Symbols
[Link]
Mental Floss » Morning Cup of Links: Turning Off the Pollution
Beijing managed to “turn off” the air pollution for the APEC economic summit. See photographs that show the amazing but temporary difference.
*
What’s a disruptive technology? My family manages to argue over the dishwasher, but that doesn’t really fit the definition.
*
StoryCorps produced animated versions of a couple of their stories for Veteran’s Day. In this one, Specialist Justin … [Link]
Mental Floss » WWI Centennial: Ypres, the Final Fury
Westernfront.gov.au The First World War was an unprecedented catastrophe that shaped our modern world. Erik Sass is covering the events of the war exactly 100 years after they happened. This is the 153rd installment in the series. November 11, 1914: Ypres, the Final Fury After their hard-won victories in October 1914, in early November the Allied commanders believed that the … [Link]
Mental Floss » Veterans Day And Armistice Day Celebrations Around the World
On the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" of 1918, hostilities on the Western Front of World War I ceased in response to the armistice signed by the Allies and Germany. Each year since, on the anniversary of that date, the allied nations honor members of their armed forces on the so-called Armistice Day. While we … [Link]
Mental Floss » 11 Extreme Toasters for Your Breakfast Pleasure
Who doesn’t love toast? Make your fresh bread all warm and crispy and ready to hold butter, jam, bacon lettuce and tomato, or even cream chipped beef. And with these high-tech, artistic, and even silly toasters, everyone will want to make toast in your kitchen! 1. V-shaped Toaster Zlil Lazarovich of Cargo Collective designed a toaster that makes v-shaped toast. … [Link]
Mental Floss » 11 Amusement Park Secrets From People Who Work There
Thanks to Reddit AMAs, or “Ask Me Anything,” we now know more about the behind-the-scenes of amusement parks than ever before. Here are 11 facts about working at an amusement park, straight from actual employees. [Link]
Mental Floss » 11 Versions of “Average Joe” from Other Countries
Every country needs a way to talk about just “some guy.” [Link]
Mental Floss » 11 Chemical Reaction Videos, Explained
Each minute, a whopping 100 hours worth of videos are uploaded to YouTube—and a small, yet endlessly fascinating number of those are chemical reaction videos. To explain what exactly is happening in some of these videos we reached out to an expert at the American Chemical Society, John M. Malin, Ph.D, to let us in on some of these awesome … [Link]
Mental Floss » "Crash Course" is Officially Heading to Classrooms!
Crash Course on YouTube is, in a word, awesome. It's a series of educational videos, well-researched and beautifully presented for free by brothers John and Hank Green (both of whom are former writers for mental_floss). Big news: Crash Course is coming to classrooms! Crash Course is partnering with PBS Digital Studios to create new series about U.S. government, astronomy, physiology, … [Link]
Mental Floss » 11 of Kurt Vonnegut's Most Memorable Quotes
Kurt Vonnegut would have been 92 this November 11. But the words of the free-thinking, veteran skeptic, humanist humorist live on. So it goes. 1. "I was taught that the human brain was the crowning glory of evolution so far, but I think it’s a very poor scheme for survival." — As quoted in The Observer, 1987 2. "A purpose … [Link]
Mental Floss » Do You Know the Last Names of These Harry Potter Characters?
[Link]
Mental Floss » Why Does Helium Make Your Voice Sound Funny?
Craig Benzine explains why your voice gets higher when you inhale helium. [Link]
Mental Floss » The Missing Links: An Oral History of 'Ghostbusters'
We came, we saw, we read this Entertainment Weekly oral history of Ghostbusters. * Many of these photographs are of beautiful, serene locales— but the pictures themselves are going to cause you anxiety. * Every good dad knows how to build a really killer pillow fort. * You’ll be hearing more and more about net neutrality. Here is why you … [Link]
Mental Floss » Is a Moonroof Different Than a Sunroof?
Let's say you're heading back from prom or you're a fast-living rock star who has the world in his hands but is about to throw it all away. Do you: A) Scream, "Whooo!" while standing out the sunroof.
B) Scream, "Whooo!" while standing out the moonroof.
C) All of the above.
D) None of the above. The answer is E: … [Link]
Fark.com RSS » For the first time in years Sheriff Joe Arpaio didn't get to ride through the streets of Phoenix in his military tank on Veteran's Day because the Feds took it back. "That's all right. I'll get another one" [Sad]
[link] [126 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Latest 2,000-calorie "heart attack on a plate" burger goes on sale with two beef patties, cheese, bacon and BBQ sauce nestled between donuts. "To me, this is simply ludicrous and irresponsible. I am no killjoy but why is this sort of food
[link] [109 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » This is your live feed for the Rosetta comet landing, scheduled for 11am ET (8am PT). First photos should arrive one hour later [Cool]
[link] [428 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Caption this important phone call [Caption]
[link] [55 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » 10 Crazy (and Some Not-So-Crazy) 'Serial' Theories
Who killed Hae Min Lee? [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Police find 30 pounds of pot mailed from California to North Carolina. "It was kind of funny. The dog kind of looked at us and said, do you really need me for this?" [Fail]
[link] [78 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Inventor of the internet jailed on drug charges [Strange]
[link] [49 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Some people are wondering why it's a federal crime to invade Mickey & Minnie's airspace [Florida]
[link] [121 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Photoshop this beary delicious treat [Photoshop]
[link] [10 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » The Most Popular Dogs in America
The best part about dogs (besides their unconditional love) is that they come in all shapes and sizes. With all this variety, who is the top dog? In honor of our furry friends, here's an interesting breakdown of some doggy data. Via Back to Basics Dog Food [Link]
Weird Universe » High School Fads of 1947
Just two of the reputed high school crazes of nearly seventy years ago.
Read more here. [Link]
Weird Universe » Cropdusting
Now that I know about this, I'll never view airplane travel in the same way again.
[Link]
Fark.com RSS » To raise money for her friend's cancer drug, 42-year-old woman lists her uterus on eBay. "For sale: The future rights to one worn-out but highly spirited, 1970s-model uterus" [Strange]
[link] [80 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » 11 Questions for 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid' Author Jeff Kinney
This month, Jeff Kinney releases The Long Haul, the ninth book in his Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. "It's a classic road trip story where Greg Heffley and his family head out on the open road and then everything turns sour and then there’s sort of a descent into hell," he says. "I’m actually really excited about it, because I … [Link]
Mental Floss » 15 Things You May Not Have Known About 'Fight Club'
There might be some hidden secrets you didn't know about Chuck Palahniuk and David Fincher's classic movie [Link]
Mental Floss » Where in the World is Kim Jong-nam?
We haven’t seen Kim Jong-un, the Supreme Leader of North Korea, since September 3, and people are alarmed. Why his absence matters versus, say, the president of Suriname (who no one has ever seen, probably) is that North Korea has nuclear weapons and a mighty desire to press the red button. If there’s been a coup d’état, we should probably know … [Link]
Fark.com RSS » The history of how the first wildcats living on the outskirts of human camps evolved into LOLcats is a fascinating story [Cool]
[link] [43 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Virginia woman turns 111 on 11/11 and the two cans of baked beans with faded labels, yeah, they're for exercise [Cool]
[link] [30 comments] [Link]
FMyLife » ugh says FML
Today, my boyfriend of four years broke up with me over some rumors he heard about me. These rumors are from high-school, seven years ago. FML [Link]
FMyLife » Xx_DEXIJOKER_xX says FML
Today, my father picked me up from the police academy I'm attending, and got caught speeding. The officer was my drill instructor, and I had to do push-ups on the side of the highway. FML [Link]
FMyLife » Anonymous says FML
Today, I went on my first date in over 3 months. About halfway through the date, the girl said she had to go to the bathroom. Ten minutes later she hadn't returned, so I also left. I got a text 15 minutes after I'd left asking why I had gone. She is now convinced that I hate her. FML [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Sure, we'll be closed on December 25, but it's definitely not because of Christmas [Asinine]
[link] [199 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » "A Council Bluffs elementary school student swapped a loaded round of ammunition for playing cards on a school bus" [Scary]
[link] [102 comments] [Link]
FMyLife » Anonymous says FML
Today, while shopping, a lady came up to me and asked if she could borrow my baby because, "Y'know, I'm in a hurry and they'll let me checkout first." FML [Link]
Fark.com RSS » 12-year-old boy finally rescued from IKEA after six-day search. No word on if any parts are missing [Followup]
[link] [31 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Woman arrested after her newborn was found fighting for his life due to malnourishment caused by her idiotic vegan belief system [Florida]
[link] [278 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Texas refuses to acknowledge one town's attempt to ban progress, says it will ignore the vote taken to ban fracking [Hero]
[link] [86 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Fishermen find human head and leg inside belly of massive shark, proclaim confidently, "This was no boating accident" [Obvious]
[link] [43 comments] [Link]
Futility Closet » Golomb Rulers
Image: Wikimedia Commons This conference room is 11 units long and has folding partitions at positions 2, 7, and 8. This gives it a curious property: For a meeting of any given size, the room can be configured in exactly one way. A meeting of size 6 must use partitions 2 and 8 — no other setup will work exactly. This … [Link]
FMyLife » Tyrez says FML
Today, I lost all hope on making my project high quality because of my partner's incompetence. My partner, AKA the company president. FML [Link]
Fark.com RSS » If you ever drop your keys down a well, just let 'em go, man, 'cause they're gone [Dumbass]
[link] [30 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Old and busted: Polar vortex. New hotness: Arctic haboob. (w/ pic) [Cool]
[link] [58 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Patent troll lawsuits are now so common that startups can buy insurance against them [Sad]
[link] [33 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Obama administration announces huge new climate change agreement with China, the result of months of secret negotiations. The landmark agreement could be the most important environmental agreement ever made [News]
[link] [620 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » NPR posts the one interview you want to make sure you take the time to hear this Veteran's Day. Give it the nine minutes it asks; you won't be sorry [Hero]
[link] [27 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Meet America's oldest living veteran. He owes his longevity to whiskey and cigars [Hero]
[link] [26 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » "A few minutes into the ceremony we noticed one student fell over. A second one fell and it sort of dominoed from there" [Scary]
[link] [36 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » On Veteran's day lets not forget the women of WWII. The WAC's, the WAVES, the Lumberjills [Hero]
[link] [27 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Hibachi at newly opened Japanese grill serves up fresh orders of singed eyebrows, flaming hair, and fully immolated diners [Scary]
[link] [40 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Everyone laughed at ol' man Bloomberg, but who's laughing now? [Interesting]
[link] [19 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Annual budget for one Philadelphia elementary school? $160. That figure is not missing one or two zeros [Asinine]
[link] [61 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Actual statement from malls that are opening at 6pm on Thanksgiving Day: "We recognize the importance of families, many of whom have started making it a tradition themselves to begin their holiday shopping on Thanksgiving" [Sick]
[link] [177 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Guys, it's time to stop using that word as a synonym for "people" [Stupid]
[link] [145 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Photoshop this pair in their own little Wonderland [Photoshop]
[link] [15 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » When you can't find your wallet, it's always in the last place you look. Like that shopping center in Switzerland you visited 18 years ago [Interesting]
[link] [8 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Welcome to Dillard's, where we have a fine selection of manufactured outrage for you today [Stupid]
[link] [55 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » The man who sees art in Cheetos. Never was there a mom more proud of the boy in her basement [Weird]
[link] [16 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Iran Photoshops replica of US drone captured in 2011 [Interesting]
[link] [38 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Chairman Mao, Nixon and Kim Jong-Il are all featured in the same museum, and if you guessed it was a the museum of roast duck you are both correct and probably insane [Amusing]
[link] [27 comments] [Link]
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