John Gordon Ross

A Man for All Reasons

John Gordon Ross header image 3

Whittle It a Little, It’ll Fit

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 » Family finds rattlesnake in toilet bowl, 23 more under the house. Don't sit down, Marie [Scary]

Thursday 2 February 23:50:06 UTC 2017

Scary [link] [43 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » These Cardboard Drones Are (Highly Useful) Paper Airplanes for the Military

Thursday 2 February 23:30:00 UTC 2017

They're part of an effort to design single-use drones that can disappear after a mission is complete. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Agency responsible for Seattle light rail seems to forget escalators are transportation too, and critically important when light rail station designers opt not to include stairs [Fail]

Thursday 2 February 23:20:07 UTC 2017

Fail [link] [76 comments] [Link]

Futility Closet » Shimon

Thursday 2 February 23:01:02 UTC 2017

You know the singularity has arrived when the robots start playing marimbas. Shimon, engineer Guy Hoffman’s robot musician, doesn’t play programmed music — it improvises in ensembles with human players, communicating with a “socially expressive head” and favoring musical ideas that are unlikely to be chosen by humans, so as to lead the performance in genuinely novel directions. “The project, … [Link]

Mental Floss » Plants Tailor Their Chemical Weapons to Match Their Opponent

Thursday 2 February 23:00:00 UTC 2017

Researchers say field mustard plants can identify their attackers and select offensive gases accordingly. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » That's one talented pecker [Hero]

Thursday 2 February 22:56:40 UTC 2017

Hero [link] [62 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Randy Christian probes corpse found by squirrel hunter [Strange]

Thursday 2 February 22:56:23 UTC 2017

Strange [link] [16 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » FL votes cast for Mickey Mouse exceed Trump's margin of victory over Clinton. Florida tag edges out, Strange, Unlikely, and Sad tags by a hanging chad [Florida]

Thursday 2 February 22:50:06 UTC 2017

Florida [link] [136 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » Hybrid Electric Bus Can Charge When It Pulls Up to a Stop

Thursday 2 February 22:30:00 UTC 2017

It takes seven minutes to fully charge the battery. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Topless women leave Buenos Aires beach peacefully but state "To make the tit-phobes happy, we're leaving this fascist beach, but we'll be back another day and there will be many more of us" (Not safe for work video in article) [Cool]

Thursday 2 February 22:20:07 UTC 2017

Cool [link] [79 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Caption Tiger Woods [Caption]

Thursday 2 February 22:00:01 UTC 2017

Caption [link] [63 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Fark Food Thread: Valentine's Day is coming soon.. Have a dish you love to make for the special occasion? [Interesting]

Thursday 2 February 22:00:00 UTC 2017

Interesting [link] [81 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » 11 People Who Turned Up Alive at Their Own Funeral

Thursday 2 February 22:00:00 UTC 2017

Sometimes, the most unexpected guest shows up. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » If the groundhog sees his shadow, six more weeks of winter, if he doesn't, an early spring. If he sees Mayor de Blasio, he rolls over and dies [Interesting]

Thursday 2 February 21:50:06 UTC 2017

Interesting [link] [21 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » Megabus Wants to Throw You a Free Wedding (on a Megabus)

Thursday 2 February 21:30:22 UTC 2017

Nothing says romance like double-decker seating and the open road. [Link]

Mental Floss » How a Deaf Signer Performs the Super Bowl Anthem in Time With the Singer

Thursday 2 February 21:30:00 UTC 2017

Comedian John Maucere describes what it was like to sign the anthem at the 2013 Super Bowl alongside Alicia Keys. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » What hath globalization wrought? Somali immigrants in America, homesick for a taste of the old country, take advantage of unwanted feral camels in Australia, and sell them as burgers and kebabs in the states. Capitalism, ta-da [Interesting]

Thursday 2 February 21:20:07 UTC 2017

Interesting [link] [78 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Photoshop this LEGO Porsche in its natural setting [Photoshop]

Thursday 2 February 21:00:01 UTC 2017

Photoshop [link] [31 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » The Library of Congress Sigmund Freud Collection Is Now Available Online

Thursday 2 February 21:00:00 UTC 2017

The collection includes printed publications and personal letters. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » It's official: Matt Drudge has aligned himself with Jar Jar Binks in an effort to destroy civilization [Fail]

Thursday 2 February 20:50:06 UTC 2017

Fail [link] [79 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » Scientists Make Progress Toward a Safe, Effective Zika Vaccine

Thursday 2 February 20:45:00 UTC 2017

Their findings were published today in the journal Nature. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Y'ever have one of those days where you feel like crashing your truck into your old workplace, beating up your ex-boss, then keeling over? [Strange]

Thursday 2 February 20:20:07 UTC 2017

Strange [link] [54 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Lessons learned from flying a B-17 over Italy include: Don't underestimate the Regia Aeronautica's fighter pilots, Texans are arrogant jerks, avoid French sausage [Interesting]

Thursday 2 February 19:50:06 UTC 2017

Interesting [link] [147 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Hitler phone up for auction, highest bid from anonymous bidder in Washington DC [Weird]

Thursday 2 February 19:20:07 UTC 2017

Weird [link] [84 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » The Controversy Behind "The Super Bowl Shuffle"

Thursday 2 February 18:57:55 UTC 2017

The Shuffle was billed as a song to "feed the needy." The Chicago Bears nearly fumbled it. [Link]

Mental Floss » Here's How to De-Politicize Your Facebook Feed

Thursday 2 February 18:57:54 UTC 2017

A guide to getting back to a steady stream of cute cat memes. [Link]

Mental Floss » Canadian Couple Successfully Sues Neighbors Over Giant Manure Pile

Thursday 2 February 18:57:53 UTC 2017

David and Joan Gallan claim that the poop was a passive aggressive move. [Link]

Mental Floss » Most Americans Support Vaccination

Thursday 2 February 18:57:52 UTC 2017

Nearly 90 percent of participants in a nationally representative survey felt that the benefits of vaccination outweigh any potential risks. [Link]

Mental Floss » 6 French and German Dialects That Are 100 Percent American

Thursday 2 February 18:57:51 UTC 2017

The history of the United States is multilingual, and many non-English speaking communities have managed to maintain their languages, sometimes for hundreds of years. These dialects of French and German that go back a long way. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Let's revisit the cautionary tale of The Leaning Tower of San Francisco and see how things are unfolding [Fail]

Thursday 2 February 18:50:06 UTC 2017

Fail [link] [121 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » Write a Stellar 200-Word Essay and You Could Win a North Carolina Farm

Thursday 2 February 18:30:00 UTC 2017

The property is valued at $450,000. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » "A seemingly-psychic Twitter account has appeared, apparently predicting Brexit, the Trump presidency and Beyoncé's baby news. Because we've got too much time on our hands, here's our theory how they're doing it" [Spiffy]

Thursday 2 February 18:20:07 UTC 2017

Spiffy [link] [54 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » Facebook’s ‘Customer Service Number’ Can Lead to a Scam

Thursday 2 February 18:15:00 UTC 2017

The phone number, which was found on Google, attempts to steal money and gift cards from users. [Link]

Mental Floss » This Robot Can Pick Up Fruit Without Squishing It

Thursday 2 February 18:00:00 UTC 2017

Grocery warehouses could one day be totally robotic. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Fearless praying mantis vs. the curious cat [Amusing]

Thursday 2 February 17:20:06 UTC 2017

Amusing [link] [40 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Dad of woman who had sex at courthouse and posted it on Facebook says he's NOT shocked [Florida]

Thursday 2 February 16:20:07 UTC 2017

Florida [link] [88 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Arnold Schwarzenegger responds to Trump: How about we switch jobs? Then people can sleep comfortably again [Followup]

Thursday 2 February 16:14:31 UTC 2017

Followup [link] [254 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » 27 rum and cokes in nine hours. Amateur [Obvious]

Thursday 2 February 15:50:05 UTC 2017

Obvious [link] [90 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Mayor accused of disturbing 14 graves, must now prepare for a zombie attack [Strange]

Thursday 2 February 15:20:07 UTC 2017

Strange [link] [34 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » This Gadget Lets You Check If You Left the Stove On From Your Phone

Thursday 2 February 15:01:51 UTC 2017

Instead of dropping everything to rush home, you can turn it off through the app. [Link]

Mental Floss » 5 Questions: It Lives by Night

Thursday 2 February 15:01:49 UTC 2017

[Link]

Weird Universe » Long Chess Game

Thursday 2 February 14:49:53 UTC 2017

Munro MacLennan and Lawrence Grant began a game of chess in 1926, while students at Aberdeen University in Scotland. However, it was an unusual game because they agreed to make only one move a year. Whoever's turn it was would write their move on a postcard and send it to their opponent at Christmas.

In 1961, 35 years later, they … [Link]

Weird Universe » Eunoia II by Lisa Park

Thursday 2 February 14:49:52 UTC 2017

Mana Spotlight: Lisa Park & Eunoia II from Mana Contemporary on Vimeo.

Article here. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Trump calls on National Prayer Breakfast attendees to pray for Arnold Schwarzenegger's Apprentice ratings [News]

Thursday 2 February 14:44:46 UTC 2017

News [link] [549 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Japanese antidote for overwork is taking "inemuri" naps in public. As opposed to the U.S. where it's called the Monday afternoon staff meeting [Strange]

Thursday 2 February 14:35:06 UTC 2017

Strange [link] [33 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » 11 Sweet Facts About Cadbury

Thursday 2 February 14:30:00 UTC 2017

The British chocolate company is beloved around the world. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Smokeless tobacco is believed to cause oral cancer, tooth loss, cheek shrapnel, gum damage…wait, what was that last one? [Sick]

Thursday 2 February 14:20:07 UTC 2017

Sick [link] [15 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Photoshop what this Slime gauge is attached to [Photoshop]

Thursday 2 February 14:00:01 UTC 2017

Photoshop [link] [28 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Punxsutawney Phil sees shadow, predicts 6 more weeks of winter [Sad]

Thursday 2 February 13:52:55 UTC 2017

Sad [link] [98 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Punxsutawney Phil sees shadow, predicts 6 more weeks of winter [Sad]

Thursday 2 February 13:52:55 UTC 2017

Sad [link] [15 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Punxsutawney Phil sees shadow, predicts 6 more weeks of winter [Sad]

Thursday 2 February 13:52:55 UTC 2017

Sad [link] [19 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » It Lives by Night

Thursday 2 February 13:15:00 UTC 2017

[Link]

Mental Floss » Give Your Favorite Astronomer a Heart Nebula Necklace or Cuff Links

Thursday 2 February 13:00:00 UTC 2017

Make Valentine's Day out of this world. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Let us all give a toast to the bartender's handshake [Obvious]

Thursday 2 February 12:20:06 UTC 2017

Obvious [link] [73 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » If the cops show up at your home to arrest you on child pornography charges, it never looks good when they find you chopping up your tablet with a hatchet [Strange]

Thursday 2 February 11:50:38 UTC 2017

Strange [link] [81 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » Morning Cup of Links: Twin Studies in Space

Thursday 2 February 11:30:00 UTC 2017

Starting another day with great morning links! [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Lawnmowers kill seven times more people than refugees from Islamic countries. Trumpy planning on deporting Kubota back to Japan for the safety of 'Murica [Murica]

Thursday 2 February 10:59:50 UTC 2017

Murica [link] [120 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Okay campers, rise and shine, and don't forget your booties 'cause it's cooooold out there today as America finds out whether there will be six more weeks of winter by pulling a rodent out of a hole on Groundhog Day. Live stream starting

Thursday 2 February 10:20:38 UTC 2017

Live [link] [57 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » This Valentine's Day, why not give your lover a bouquet of beef jerky formed to look like flowers? [Spiffy]

Thursday 2 February 9:31:38 UTC 2017

Spiffy [link] [23 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » People Waste More Food If They Have the Option to Compost It

Thursday 2 February 9:17:27 UTC 2017

Food waste is bad all around, even if it's handled in a responsible manner. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Researchers reveal Punxsutawney Phil doesn't care whether it's winter or not, he only comes out of his hole because he wants to get some [Interesting]

Thursday 2 February 8:42:29 UTC 2017

Interesting [link] [34 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » A Genius Theory for How Clifford's Owner Would Pick Up His Poop

Thursday 2 February 8:00:00 UTC 2017

No pooper scooper would be big enough, after all. [Link]

Futility Closet » Teaching by Example

Thursday 2 February 6:36:23 UTC 2017

“Two great duties, I think, we owe to posterity: one is progress, the other history. Only the former can we share in. The fruits of progress often apply to the generation which bears them. But the records of that progress come closer to being pure charity than any form of charity I know.” — Richard E. Byrd [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Theme of Farktography Contest No. 613: "Frickin' Laser Beams". Details and rules in first post. LGT next week's theme [Farktography]

Thursday 2 February 5:01:00 UTC 2017

Farktography [link] [29 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » The lesson here is: Don't hand over your valuables to a stranger while you head off to have sex in the park, and then claim to have been robbed [Dumbass]

Thursday 2 February 4:35:20 UTC 2017

Dumbass [link] [27 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Father reunites with daughter he never knew after discovering she lives in same town and drinks at the same pub [Sappy]

Thursday 2 February 3:57:27 UTC 2017

Sappy [link] [44 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Lego brick made of 14 carat solid gold sells for £12,000, still hurts like a mofo when you step on it [Silly]

Thursday 2 February 3:43:25 UTC 2017

Silly [link] [34 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Presenting the world's first magazine devoted to redheads. Because "redheads are one of the smallest minorities all over the world and they have this special look which almost everyone reacts to" [Spiffy]

Thursday 2 February 3:13:35 UTC 2017

Spiffy [link] [198 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Your problem is obvious, if we're gauging the situation correctly [Stupid]

Thursday 2 February 3:09:08 UTC 2017

Stupid [link] [32 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Before you call the police to report a strange drilling sound, make damn sure it's not your vibrator going wild in the bathtub [PSA]

Thursday 2 February 2:34:51 UTC 2017

PSA [link] [26 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Turns out that convoy that drove through Louisville flying a Trump flag on Sunday belonged to a Navy Special Warfare unit. No, that's not ominous at all [Scary]

Thursday 2 February 2:30:39 UTC 2017

Scary [link] [419 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » 11 Geeky Hats to Keep Your Noggin Warm This Winter

Thursday 2 February 2:24:35 UTC 2017

You may not lose half your body heat through your head, but it's still good to cover up. [Link]

Mental Floss » 10 Alternate Uses for Your Fondue Pot

Thursday 2 February 2:24:26 UTC 2017

Fondue pots can be used for much more than cheese and chocolate. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Teacher fired for working as porn actress more than 16 years ago says she didn't expect the district to shtupp so low [Sad]

Thursday 2 February 2:08:52 UTC 2017

Sad [link] [120 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Canadian billionaire denies he's been kidnapped by the Chinese secret police, the most professional, most polite, world-class secret police force in the world [Creepy]

Thursday 2 February 2:00:34 UTC 2017

Creepy [link] [18 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » Grammar Lessons From the Leaked CIA Style Book

Thursday 2 February 1:30:00 UTC 2017

In addition to hollow coins and decoder compact mirrors, it turns out government sleuths have a few grammar tricks up their sleeves. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Sure your dog wants steak, but this deer wants fresh baked cookies and buns [Strange]

Thursday 2 February 1:26:17 UTC 2017

Strange [link] [9 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Photoshop this human furball [Photoshop]

Thursday 2 February 1:00:01 UTC 2017

Photoshop [link] [23 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » US recalls smokeless tobacco for sharp metal objects, to be re-branded as "Skoal with Iron" [Scary]

Thursday 2 February 0:52:00 UTC 2017

Scary [link] [23 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » 9 Facts About the ACLU

Thursday 2 February 0:30:00 UTC 2017

It's actually two organizations. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Prison guards reportedly held hostage inside Delaware prison [News]

Thursday 2 February 0:27:40 UTC 2017

News [link] [80 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Dawwwwwwwwwww… Cute red panda cubs go exploring at the Lincoln Park Zoo. Yes Subby said 'cute' red panda cubs [Sappy]

Thursday 2 February 0:17:43 UTC 2017

Sappy [link] [21 comments] [Link]

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