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.”
Fark.com RSS » France declares state of emergency after dozens killed [News]
[link] [1167 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » UK May Ban Homeopathic Prescriptions Because They Don't Work
The UK Parliament is seriously reconsidering whether the country’s National Health Services should continue spending over $6 million per year on homeopathic treatments. [Link]
Fark.com RSS » They would have gotten away with it, too, if it wasn't for those meddling art lovers [Amusing]
[link] [9 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » Using Apple Booze to Make Delicious Cold-Weather Cocktails
Dating back to colonial times, apple brandy is more versatile than you may think. [Link]
Fark.com RSS » And the least likely headline of the day: "Twerk-off ends in tragedy " [Strange]
[link] [32 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » CIA in summer 2001: "There will be significant terrorist attacks against the United States in the coming weeks or months. The attacks will be spectacular. They may be multiple." Bush Admin: "Meh" [Fail]
[link] [119 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Another group of students erupts in protest of an administration they have lost all respect for, including a staged walkout and assault of at least one member of the faculty [Amusing]
[link] [15 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » The Strange Story of Thomas Edison’s Last Breath
When he died, Edison left a test tube containing his final breath to Henry Ford. [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Cleveland Clinic to begin offering experimental rent-a-uterus service [Interesting]
[link] [27 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » 25 Peachy Facts About Georgia
From pirates to monster pigs, here are a few things you might not have heard about the Empire State of the South. [Link]
Mental Floss » The Missing Links: How Roaches With Backpacks Might Someday Save You
Intriguing Headline of the Day: Roaches Wearing Tiny Backpacks Could One Day Rescue Disaster Survivors. * You’ll likely never ride along in a jet with a member of the Blue Angels, but this 360-degree cockpit footage gives you a good idea what it's like. * I’m sure you've seen the exploding whale video before. It’s been called the first viral … [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Activist group 100% sure that either Jihadi John or Ali G was killed in targeted airstrike [Followup]
[link] [35 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » And here's what NOT to do when you're drunk and craving cigarettes and chicken wings [Florida]
[link] [23 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Explosion and at least one mass shooting directed at bars in Paris. Multiple casualties reported [NewsFlash]
[link] [1034 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Some motorists are so terrified of driving across Maryland's Bay Bridge that they'll hire someone to do it for them [Scary]
[link] [83 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » The Fart That Started a Revolution
When Egyptian rebel Amasis was confronted by a king's messenger, he said he had a message of his own—and then farted. [Link]
Fark.com RSS » The world lost a sweet, funny man yesterday. Rest in peace, RobertBruce [Sad]
[link] [156 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Photoshop these Penny Farthings [Photoshop]
[link] [16 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » Humans Have Used Honeybees for 9000 Years
Researchers have found chemical evidence indicating that Europe's early farmers exploited bees for their wax and honey. [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Surf's up, dude[exclamation point] Difficulty: Lake Michigan in November [Interesting]
[link] [48 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » 15 Salacious Facts About John Singer Sargent’s 'Portrait of Madame X'
Today, John Singer Sargent's 'Portrait of Madame X' is regarded as a brilliant and tasteful depiction of classical beauty and femininity. So it might shock you to learn that when the American artist first unveiled this painting in 1884, all hell broke loose. [Link]
The Onion » American Voices: Report: 1 in 5 NYC Adults Suffers Mental Health Issues
In response to a new report that as many as one in five adult residents of New York City suffers from mental health issues, Mayor Bill de Blasio has unveiled a new initiative called NYC Thrive, allocating $386 million to the prevention and treatment of psychological disorders. What do you think?
[Link]
Fark.com RSS » A fresh dose of the Friday Fark Weird News Quiz. The only antidote is your mind. Wait, that doesn't sound right [Survey]
[link] [16 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » Water on Earth Can Be Traced Back to Our Planet's Creation
Geological evidence suggests Earth's water is as old as the planet itself. [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Try not to spray at the news, but it seems Protein Cheerios, which have come to a store near you, aren't exploding with as much of a protein climax as advertised [Obvious]
[link] [51 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » Coin-Operated Car Vending Machine Opens in Nashville
Customers just drop in a their coin, and watch as a robotic arm grabs their car. [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Bad: Dog causes fire which almost burns down house. Worse: In an attempt to steal pizza [Interesting]
[link] [64 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » The Weird Week in Review
Odd news stories from all over. [Link]
The Onion » News in Photos: Chili’s Customer Who Just Finished Ribs Platter Given Complimentary Hose-Down
[Link]
Fark.com RSS » PSA: When traveling to Angkor Wat Cambodia please be aware of the new code of tourist conduct that bans stripping naked, smoking and taking selfies with monks. Article is not clear if this means all at once or not [Interesting]
[link] [61 comments] [Link]
Futility Closet » Twice Indeed
In Ian Fleming’s novel You Only Live Twice, a head injury gives James Bond amnesia, and the world briefly thinks him dead. An obituary appears in the London Times: To serve the confidential nature of his work, he was accorded the rank of lieutenant in the Special Branch of the RNVR, and it is a measure of the satisfaction his … [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Rape suspect hit in face with frying pan, and now has a mugshot that leaves a lasting impression [Dumbass]
[link] [138 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » The Past and Future of Magnetic Poetry, the Populist Product that Began With a Sneeze
The inventor of Magnetic Poetry was thrust into his life's work by one well-timed sneeze. [Link]
Mental Floss » 10 Things You Might Not Know About Denny's
America's diner is open and ready to serve up some bacon. [Link]
Mental Floss » 8 Hybrid Animals with Awesome Portmanteau Names
Everyone knows what a liger is—but there are a few crossed creatures you might not be aware of. [Link]
Mental Floss » 5 Questions: Potato – (blank)
[Link]
Fark.com RSS » Before swallowing 115 cocaine pellets, a smuggler told police he'd been practicing his swallowing skills for months before his big attempt went awry [Florida]
[link] [38 comments] [Link]
FMyLife » nothowscienceworks says FML
Today, I had the mother of a five year old come in for parent teacher conferences. When I told her that her son was very smart, but he often made up fantastical stories about his home life, she burst into tears. She then ran out of my office crying, "I knew it! I knew he was a sociopath!" FML [Link]
FMyLife » fryebaby623 says FML
Today, I was so tired when I got home from work, I took off my bra without removing my shirt which I've done so often it is second nature. I successfully removed the bra, then snagged the clasp on a loose shirt thread, causing my bra to take on a life of its own and slap me in the face. … [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Laser strikes on airplanes hit a record high. FAA warns that those responsible will eventually be caught by process of illumination [Scary]
[link] [105 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » 10 States with Fossil-Hunting Sites for the Public
There are a number of well-known fossil beds within a few hours' drive of a some of the country's largest cities. Here are just a few of them. [Link]
Mental Floss » In a League of Her Own: The Girl Who Fought to Play Baseball With the Boys
In the 1970s, 12-year-old Maria Pepe changed the face of Little League forever. [Link]
The Onion » News in Brief: Man Searching For Part Of Chicken Tender Thin Enough To Fit Into Plastic Dipping Sauce Cup
CHESTER, PA—Slowly rotating the deep-fried strip of white meat to consider every possible angle from which it could be dunked, local man Brian Oakley is, according to sources, currently searching for a part of his chicken tender thin enough to fit into the plastic dipping sauce cup. “The end fit in the cup pretty easily, but now that I’ve taken … [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Speed limit enforced by snipers. Don't mess with Texas [Scary]
[link] [234 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » In a perfect complement to the jackass meteorologist on your local news, NASA is now using mules to help monitor rainfall [Asinine]
[link] [24 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » How a Wombat Became a Famous Art Muse
Pre-Raphaelite artist Dante Gabriel Rossettiwas talented, tempestuous, and completely obsessed with wombats. [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Today is Friday the 13th. Beware of black cats, be-bop jazz musicians [Obvious]
[link] [59 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » With two weeks to go until Black Friday, here's a handy list of store sales and hours, so you can easily find out who's ruining Thanksgiving for their employees again this year [Stupid]
[link] [189 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » 10 Magical Facts About ‘Jumanji’
Flash floods. Rabid monkeys. Blood-thirsty tigers. 'Jumanji' left no terror to the imagination. [Link]
Mental Floss » Why Do Sports Teams Give Out Bobbleheads?
Silly as they are, some bobbleheads have been sold for crazy amounts of money. The tchotchkes are a signature piece of sports memorabilia, but their history dates back far beyond the world of athletics. An early reference to the figurines we know as "bobbleheads" appeared in Nikolai Gogol’s 1842 short story “The Overcoat.” According to Bobblehead.com, the tale features a … [Link]
The Onion » Sports News in Brief: Defensive Tackle’s Innocence Shattered By Play-Action Pass
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ—Saying the eye-opening experience has forever altered his worldview, Buffalo Bills defensive tackle Marcell Dareus admitted to reporters Friday that a play-action pass play by the New York Jets had totally shattered his youthful innocence. “I saw Ryan [Fitzpatrick] complete the handoff, so I immediately tackled the running back, only to find out that he didn’t even have … [Link]
Mental Floss » Behold the Glory of Laser-Cooked Bacon
Preparing breakfast supervillain-style. [Link]
The Onion » Graphical Feature: Socialism Vs. Capitalism
[Link]
The Onion » American Voices: Darker Sense Of Humor Could Be Early Sign Of Dementia
A new study found that a common early symptom among dementia patients was an increasingly dark sense of humor that favored slapstick over satire and caused them to laugh at socially inappropriate times, findings that can aid in earlier and more accurate diagnoses. What do you think?
[Link]
Fark.com RSS » Cocaine farmers switch to growing chocolate as money is better [Ironic]
[link] [72 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » Reminisce About the Days of Film With This 1958 Kodak Documentary
Your chance to see how the film gets made. [Link]
Fark.com RSS » FBI arrest Akron man for fomenting jihad on social media. In his defense, it's not like there's anything else to do in Akron [Interesting]
[link] [73 comments] [Link]
FMyLife » MeAgainDr… says FML
Today, I finally got to a point where I could ask my mother about how enthusiastically she used to beat me. First sentence out of her mouth was, "It didn't change your behaviour, but it did make me feel better." FML [Link]
FMyLife » doggylove says FML
Today, I realized my boyfriend's dog is more excited to see me than he is. FML [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Photoshop this hexagonal stroll [Photoshop]
[link] [27 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » You Really Can See Russia From Your House (Plus 9 Other Surprising Distances)
If you own binoculars and live on Little Diomede Island, that is. [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Readers of Fark, "Boylesque" (probably not safe for work because pasties on a guy) [Giggity]
[link] [67 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Protip: Just keep in mind that Greyhound buses are equipped with GPS the next time you get the urge to hijack one. Also, who the hell hijacks a Greyhound bus? [Stupid]
[link] [64 comments] [Link]
Weird Universe » Condom Hut
Back in 1992, Emanuelle Del Vecchio had an idea for a great new business — a drive-through condom store. She called it "Condom Hut" and set up shop in a former Fotomat booth.
Unfortunately the booth was located in an area of Cranston, Rhode Island populated by very Catholic Italian-Americans, many of whom took great offense at the idea of … [Link]
Mental Floss » Clowns Without Borders Brings Laughter to Refugee Camps
The non-profit performing arts group brings clowns to crisis areas. [Link]
Mental Floss » This New Online Company Offers Break-Up Services on Your Behalf
Pay someone else to do your dirty work when ending a relationship. [Link]
Weird Universe » The Varitone Sax
A more-or-less failed and forgotten 1960s experiment in electrifying the saxophone.
Two good articles here and here. [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Here are the drunkest cities by state, so drink up as you read this article. Most Farkers will approve [Murica]
[link] [98 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » Potato – (blank)
[Link]
Mental Floss » Explore Fictional Space With This Cool Poster
How many can you identify? [Link]
Mental Floss » 15 Things You Might Not Know About Big Ben
You may have snapped a photo of England’s most iconic clock or seen it in footage of London, but how well do you really know the United Kingdom’s towering timepiece? [Link]
Mental Floss » Morning Cup of Links: Meet 'Victor Frankenstein'
Wew've got your hot links right here! [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Former peace officer arrested for cattle rustling. This is not repeat from 1873 [Florida]
[link] [27 comments] [Link]
FMyLife » 4lphab3t4 says FML
Today, I yawned so hard that I dislocated my jaw completely, then had to ask to be excused from class in front of 30 people with my mouth hanging open. FML [Link]
FMyLife » anonymous says FML
Today, my boyfriend rather stupidly assumed that because my vagina is no longer in use after giving birth, we would automatically start having anal sex. After I loudly explained how that wasn't happening, he then had the nerve to ask for a blowjob before we'd even left the hospital. FML [Link]
Mental Floss » A Look Back at When Thanksgiving Was Basically Halloween
How the fall holiday wires got crossed. [Link]
Mental Floss » 10 DIY Harry Potter Projects That Muggles Should Try
Recreate the magic of the iconic series with these fun crafts. [Link]
Mental Floss » A Brand-New National Historic Park Will Remember the Manhattan Project
Seventy years after World War II's end, three project sites where the atomic bombs were made will be preserved for the public. [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Jack Yufe just died at age 82. He had an identical twin who was like him in almost every single way right down to the peculiar way they flushed the toilet with one small exception: he was a Jew and his twin was a Kraut in the Hitler Youth [Strange]
[link] [91 comments] [Link]
GraphJam » Number of times hands washed daily
LoL by: nitrokitty Tagged: clean , fast food , hands , ocd , wash Share on Facebook [Link]
GraphJam » Priest and a Rabbi
Graph by: Shecter Tagged: diversity , jokes , priest , rabbi , religion , sin Share on Facebook [Link]
GraphJam » Price of the exact same candy bar vs. location
Graph by: MasterKitteh Tagged: arcade , Bar Graph , candy bar , events , free , gas station , grocery store , location , movies , sports Share on Facebook [Link]
GraphJam » What's Taking So Long?
Graph by: Unknown Tagged: bathroom , infographic , men , sex , urination , washing hands , women Share on Facebook [Link]
GraphJam » Internet + Explorer = Rage
Graph by: the_cheat420 Tagged: accurate , dora , infographic , internet explorer , rage guy Share on Facebook [Link]
GraphJam » How The US feels about Ghana
How The US feels about Ghana Graph by: Unknown Tagged: Ghana , soccer , sports , usa , vuvuzela , world cup Share on Facebook [Link]
GraphJam » The Moods of a Cat
Graph by: (via The Humane Society of Indianapolis) Tagged: Cats , feels , moods Share on Facebook [Link]
GraphJam » Finding Out When Class Has Been Cancelled
LoL by: theraven5805 Tagged: class , education , school Share on Facebook [Link]
Mental Floss » 7 Unusual Genomes Sequenced by Scientists
Among the things we've learned from sequencing these genomes: While humans have but two sex chromosomes (x or y), the platypus has 10—five of each kind. [Link]
Mental Floss » The 1879 Cartoon That Predicted Skype
“Edison’s Telephonoscope” is an imagined invention that would allow families to talk from across the world. [Link]
Futility Closet » Prince Rupert’s Drops
Drop a bit of molten glass into a bucket of cold water and you’ll produce a teardrop-shaped bauble with a long tail. Surprisingly, you can pound on the bulbous end with a hammer without breaking it, but snipping the delicate tail causes the whole drop to explode. The water hardens the outer shell before the interior has cooled and contracted, … [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Nailed it [Fail]
[link] [76 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » How an 81-Year-Old Woman Is Trying to Preserve Her Vanishing Native Tongue
Marie Wilcox hopes that the project will keep the Wukchumni language alive. [Link]
Mental Floss » Happy "Odd Day!" (It's the Last One of the Century)
Do you feel that holiday magic in the air? The contagious festive cheer that blesses everyone, young and old? "Odd Day" is upon us, that special time when the calendar features three consecutive uneven numbers: 11/13/15. Odd Day is the brain child of retired California teacher Ron Gordon, who gets a kick out of finding patterns in dates. His first … [Link]
The Onion » News in Brief: Relationship Experts Recommend Single Women Try Bathing In Open Stream Until Suitor Glimpses Them Through Trees
NEW YORK—Saying the strategy was certain to attract the most eligible men of the highest repute, relationship experts recommended Friday that single women frustrated with their current romantic options try bathing in an open stream until the ideal suitor glimpses them through the trees. “Finding a suitable partner can be very difficult for women, but we’ve learned that one of … [Link]
Mental Floss » 8 Hybrid Animals with Awesome Portmanteaux Names
Everyone knows what a liger is—but there are a few crossed creatures you might not be aware of. [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Google Maps – helping you find dead bodies since 2006 [Sick]
[link] [82 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » The Game Show That Could Have Killed Its Contestants
How far would you go to win $100,000? [Link]
Mental Floss » In the Future, Sewage Samples Could Be Used to Prevent the Next Viral Outbreak
Researchers at MIT are gathering city data from an unusual source. [Link]
Mental Floss » A New Plan to Build a Bigger—and Better—Colossus of Rhodes
A new proposed version of the giant ancient statue would stand nearly five times as high as the original structure. [Link]
Fark.com RSS » The strangest spillages on British roads: Come for the salmon, yeast and lager. Stay for the live chickens, animal blood and raw sewage [Fail]
[link] [24 comments] [Link]
FMyLife » Nora says FML
Today, I went to the doctor for the second time, because I've had a cough for about six weeks. In my first appointment, the nurse said it was just allergies and condescendingly gave me a brochure with a recipe for salt water. Turns out it's pneumonia. FML [Link]
FMyLife » friendless1004 says FML
Today, I gave a group presentation. Because I didn't know the last names of my group members, I'd put fake ones in, intending to replace them later. I forgot to change them and I ended up giving a presentation alongside a very angry Greg Penishead and Josh Acne. FML [Link]
FMyLife » Porche says FML
Today, my boyfriend called me at work and said, "I hate to do this over the phone…" I burst into tears, thinking he was going to break up with me. Turns out he only ate my last doughnut. Now my co-workers think I'm a weirdo. FML [Link]
Mental Floss » This Alarm Clock Slaps You Awake
For those of us who need an extreme wake-up call [Link]
Fark.com RSS » You don't need eight hours of sleep. You need eleven [PSA]
[link] [171 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » A 'Star Wars' Game Designed to Teach Kids to Code
Code.org launches a Princess Leia-themed tutorial to encourage kids to build their own games. [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Drew's visit to Saudi Arabia abruptly cancelled when customs authorities discover 48,000 cans of Heineken disguised as Pepsi [Awkward]
[link] [57 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » Mars Is Slowly Breaking Apart Its Largest Moon, Says NASA
The gravity on Mars pulls Phobos closer every year, and the brittle moon is barely holding itself together. [Link]
Mental Floss » 8 Extreme Disney Princess Mashups
This is getting ridiculous. [Link]
Fark.com RSS » "Seriously. It's a hole in the ground" and "Very strenuous hike for beginners and people from Florida." are just two of the hilarious bad TripAdvisor reviews from the U.S. National Park Service [Amusing]
[link] [76 comments] [Link]
Fark.com RSS » Photoshop theme: Create your own Goofus and Gallant comic strip [Photoshop]
[link] [36 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » See Voyager 1’s Luminous Pictures of Saturn
Thirty-five years ago today, the spacecraft reported back to Earth with data and images of the ringed planet’s unique beauty. [Link]
Fark.com RSS » British Member of Parliament calls for hedgehog to replace lion as national symbol. Parliament puzzled by entity with all the pricks on the outside [Cool]
[link] [72 comments] [Link]
Mental Floss » How Filmmakers of the Past Imagined The Future
A century of shiny robots, spaceships, and laser guns. [Link]
Mental Floss » Check Out the Winners of Google's Driverless Car Design Contest
Google's self-driving cars are getting a colorful upgrade. [Link]
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