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 » I'm guessing from the full facial tattoos that beating up his pregnant girlfriend is just one in a long line of bad choices [Stupid]

Wednesday 29 March 23:43:24 UTC 2017

Stupid [link] [64 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » What Is Math Anxiety?

Wednesday 29 March 23:30:00 UTC 2017

And how do you quell it? [Link]

Fark.com RSS » IBM says cybercriminals are just going farking crazy: spam has rebloomed 400% and ransomware has just gone nuts [Scary]

Wednesday 29 March 23:16:44 UTC 2017

Scary [link] [61 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » 12 Toys That Got Pulled From Store Shelves

Wednesday 29 March 22:30:00 UTC 2017

From Barbie's pregnant friend to some stubborn Flubber, here are 12 toys that got yanked from shelves. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » They be all like you need pants in Orlando [Florida]

Wednesday 29 March 22:16:44 UTC 2017

Florida [link] [42 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Five-year-old girl suspended from kindergarten because she played with a stick that looked like a gun. In other news, what the hell is wrong with people? [Facepalm]

Wednesday 29 March 21:46:45 UTC 2017

Facepalm [link] [159 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » The Code in a Dead Man’s Pocket That’s Stumped the FBI for Over 15 Years

Wednesday 29 March 21:30:00 UTC 2017

Cracking this code could solve a murder. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Standing high in a van to take the best selfies of incoming planes at the start of an active airstrip. What could possibly go wrong? [Fail]

Wednesday 29 March 21:16:44 UTC 2017

Fail [link] [102 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » Spiders Eat Hundreds of Millions of TONS of Bugs Every Year

Wednesday 29 March 21:14:06 UTC 2017

The next time you see a spider, maybe let it know you appreciate its hard work by leaving it be. [Link]

Mental Floss » 10 Everyday Innovations That Came From NASA Research

Wednesday 29 March 21:00:00 UTC 2017

Helping you clean up small messes since 1981, among other things. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Donna Betts, wife of founding Allman Brothers member, Dickie Betts, arrested on 18 counts of aggravated assault after pointing rifle at over 100 people from her dock [Dumbass]

Wednesday 29 March 20:44:05 UTC 2017

Dumbass [link] [89 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Yesterday, Congress killed internet privacy, so let's support a crowdfunding campaign that seeks to purchase and publish the search histories of all U.S. lawmakers responsible for this [Followup]

Wednesday 29 March 20:20:05 UTC 2017

Followup [link] [210 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Good news: craft brewery numbers are up. Bad news: some have 'tasting room ambassadors' instead of bartenders [Spiffy]

Wednesday 29 March 20:10:04 UTC 2017

Spiffy [link] [79 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Photoshop this pic of Paul Ryan announcing pulling of health care bill [Photoshop]

Wednesday 29 March 20:00:01 UTC 2017

Photoshop [link] [36 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » The California Raisins: How A Bunch of Dried Grapes Became A Hit Band

Wednesday 29 March 20:00:00 UTC 2017

The story behind how a bunch of dried grapes, burdened with the reputation of being a mediocre, boring snack, became synonymous with swagger. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » In Canada, milk comes in bags. Here is the history of our bags, jugs and snippets [Interesting]

Wednesday 29 March 19:50:04 UTC 2017

Interesting [link] [88 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » And because for some reason it didn't exist already, UK set to make a law to make police tell the truth in court or be jailed [Obvious]

Wednesday 29 March 19:40:05 UTC 2017

Obvious [link] [31 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Police do not have a right to search your house without a warrant if they find your toddler wandering around outside. Even if you're a motorcycle with a grow-op in your basement [Strange]

Wednesday 29 March 19:20:05 UTC 2017

Strange [link] [76 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » 10 Addictive British Reality Shows You Should Stream Right Now

Wednesday 29 March 19:00:00 UTC 2017

Because you couldn't say "spotted dick" on an American cooking show without a bit of snickering. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Brain implants help paralyzed man drink coffee on his own for 1st time in years. Still no cure for cancer, but hey coffee [Cool]

Wednesday 29 March 18:50:04 UTC 2017

Cool [link] [38 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Medical MJ bill in Florida says you can't smoke, vape, or eat it. There's always injecting like Becky. RIP Becky [Florida]

Wednesday 29 March 18:20:05 UTC 2017

Florida [link] [123 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » What an Interview Coach Can Teach You About Landing Your Dream Job

Wednesday 29 March 18:00:00 UTC 2017

Practice, practice, practice. And never say you're a perfectionist. [Link]

Mental Floss » You Can't Afford to Miss Amazon's Wednesday Deals

Wednesday 29 March 17:05:02 UTC 2017

From the Smart Shopping Team… [Link]

Mental Floss » 7 Common Symptoms That Can Be Signs of Depression

Wednesday 29 March 17:00:00 UTC 2017

If sorting your laundry is more than you can handle, it might be time to talk to your doctor. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » The fall of the 'Zion Curtain' has begun with new Utah liquor law [Spiffy]

Wednesday 29 March 16:50:04 UTC 2017

Spiffy [link] [117 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Akbar trapped [Scary]

Wednesday 29 March 16:20:04 UTC 2017

Scary [link] [87 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Remember the story about Trump's lawyers going after a 17-year-old girl who runs a cat website? Well, about that [Followup]

Wednesday 29 March 16:18:25 UTC 2017

Followup [link] [72 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Capitol Hill: Good guys with guns stop bad driver with car [News]

Wednesday 29 March 16:05:26 UTC 2017

News [link] [84 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Vogue model discovered in Vermont coffee shop. Not that she was missing, mind you [Unlikely]

Wednesday 29 March 15:50:04 UTC 2017

Unlikely [link] [65 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » 5 Questions: Airports

Wednesday 29 March 15:33:39 UTC 2017

[Link]

Mental Floss » The Skinny on Big Beef: Why Fast Food Burgers Don't Seem to Rot

Wednesday 29 March 15:30:00 UTC 2017

More than seven years after it was made, one burger from the Golden Arches is still well-preserved and on display in Iceland. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Outrage follows when a video is posted of a 13-year-old boy's excessive pat-down by what appears to be the TSA's chief pedophile [Sick]

Wednesday 29 March 15:20:04 UTC 2017

Sick [link] [269 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » What Is the Difference Between a Crevice and a Crevasse?

Wednesday 29 March 14:30:00 UTC 2017

One has to do with rocks, and another with glaciers. [Link]

Overheard In The Office » Okay Fine, It Was Paperwork, Okay?

Wednesday 29 March 14:08:16 UTC 2017

Delivery guy: When I got out of the Air Force I thought I was done with paperwork, but it looks like I’m destined to do paperwork.
Receptionist, uninterested: Oh, really?
Delivery guy: Yeah, but most of my time in the Air Force I can’t talk about.
Receptionist: Uh-huh.
Delivery guy: It’s top secret stuff.
Receptionist: Oh, okay.
Delivery guy: Can’t talk about it.
Receptionist: So don’t. Austin, Texas … [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Don't mind me, just letting a cobra drink water from my bottle [Weird]

Wednesday 29 March 13:52:57 UTC 2017

Weird [link] [75 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » In reasoned response to single hobo armed with an ice cream, Fresno Police deploy 50 cars, K9, 2 choppers, 2 ambulances, fire truck, robot, SWAT team, another SWAT team, crisis negotiating team, and destroyed some guy's home the hobo was hiding i

Wednesday 29 March 13:50:04 UTC 2017

Facepalm [link] [91 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » North Carolina bathroom bill could cost the state $3.7 billion. Or in other terms – 7.4 billion urinal cakes [Repeat]

Wednesday 29 March 13:20:05 UTC 2017

Repeat [link] [89 comments] [Link]

Weird Universe » Smart Socks

Wednesday 29 March 13:13:20 UTC 2017


"Imagine your phone could communicate with your socks," says the Blacksocks company. But imagine no more, because the company has now created "the smartest men's dress socks in the world." The company admits that, "This is something we dreamed about and we have made the dream come true."

The socks feature a "communication button" that allows the socks to speak … [Link]

Weird Universe » Gotta Get Over the Hump

Wednesday 29 March 13:13:19 UTC 2017

Your new theme song for Wednesdays.

Gotta get over da hump!

More on the creators. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Staffordshire Bull Terrier owner: "You see there are no bad Staffies, just bad Staffie owners and…..AAHHHHH, uhhhHHHh, hrghhhuuuu, HHHggrruhhhHHhh, AAAAHHHH, OH GOD, SOMEONE HELP ME, AAAAHH" [Obvious]

Wednesday 29 March 13:06:49 UTC 2017

Obvious [link] [128 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Photoshop these floating pears [Photoshop]

Wednesday 29 March 13:00:01 UTC 2017

Photoshop [link] [17 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » You know what goes great with raw oysters? Norovirus [Sick]

Wednesday 29 March 12:45:05 UTC 2017

Sick [link] [40 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » 10 Outrageous TV Show Fan Theories

Wednesday 29 March 12:30:00 UTC 2017

Serious television fans have a tendency to concoct all sorts of elaborate theories when it comes to their favorite TV series. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Helicopter hog hunting may be a thing in Oklahoma soon [Murica]

Wednesday 29 March 12:20:05 UTC 2017

Murica [link] [91 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Brexit begins. God save the Queen and all that bollocks [NewsFlash]

Wednesday 29 March 11:55:31 UTC 2017

NewsFlash [link] [310 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » Airports

Wednesday 29 March 11:15:00 UTC 2017

[Link]

Fark.com RSS » Not sayin anyone's at fault here or anything but the state of Michigan has to pay the city of Flint $87 million [Followup]

Wednesday 29 March 11:10:49 UTC 2017

Followup [link] [39 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » The Time a Ghost Had His Day in Court

Wednesday 29 March 10:30:00 UTC 2017

James Chaffin died before he could tell his family he had revised his will. He haunted his son until the mistake was corrected. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » IPA hater to the left. IPA hater hate to the right [Fail]

Wednesday 29 March 10:21:49 UTC 2017

Fail [link] [260 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss »  Morning Cup of Links: A Spider's Appetite

Wednesday 29 March 9:30:00 UTC 2017

Thanks for checking out the morning links! [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Teens aren't getting enough sleep, so let's blame the school bus drivers [Unlikely]

Wednesday 29 March 9:17:51 UTC 2017

Unlikely [link] [46 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » All Glory to the Hypnodog [Unlikely]

Wednesday 29 March 8:42:45 UTC 2017

Unlikely [link] [27 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » 10 of the Dirtiest Things You Touch Every Day

Wednesday 29 March 8:30:00 UTC 2017

Warning: If you're even a mild germaphobe, the following information may make you shudder. [Link]

Mental Floss » 10 Things We Learned From Neil deGrasse Tyson's "The Inexplicable Universe" Course

Wednesday 29 March 7:30:00 UTC 2017

Presented by The Great Courses Plus. [Link]

Futility Closet » Monte Kaolino

Wednesday 29 March 6:52:54 UTC 2017

When Hirschau, Bavaria starting mining kaolinite a century ago, it faced a problem — one of the byproducts of kaolinite is quartz sand, which began piling up in enormous quantities. Fortunately sand itself has multiple uses — in the early 1950s an enterprising skier tried slaloming down the mountain, and soon the dune had its own ski club. Today the … [Link]

Fark.com RSS » After asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs, life quickly, uh… found a way [Interesting]

Wednesday 29 March 6:43:00 UTC 2017

Interesting [link] [72 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » Syndrome K: The Fake Disease That Fooled the Nazis and Saved Lives

Wednesday 29 March 6:30:00 UTC 2017

A desperate group of doctors in Italy saved dozens of Jews during World War II by simply inventing a disease. [Link]

Mental Floss » 7 Characters That Didn’t Make It Into the Harry Potter Books

Wednesday 29 March 4:30:00 UTC 2017

A Weasley cousin in Slytherin never made it past the early drafts. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » When hunting tornadoes, you need to watch the skies, but keep an eye on the road, too [Sad]

Wednesday 29 March 4:03:00 UTC 2017

Sad [link] [87 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Dumbass spring breakers use shark to open beer can, because of course they do [Florida]

Wednesday 29 March 2:48:05 UTC 2017

Florida [link] [59 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Google rolls out new tool for the police [Spiffy]

Wednesday 29 March 2:40:44 UTC 2017

Spiffy [link] [33 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » The first rule of the Illuminati: Never admit that there is an Illuminati [Florida]

Wednesday 29 March 2:38:01 UTC 2017

Florida [link] [53 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » 8 Wonderfully Random Facts

Wednesday 29 March 2:34:32 UTC 2017

What do pugs, IKEA, Dolly Parton, and Q-Tips have in common? Nothing, which is what makes these facts so delightfully random. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Four years after introducing electronic tracking bracelets, Disney theme parks report 50 percent of guests wear them, making their experience better and helping Disney collect shiat-ton of maybe-anonymized, maybe-not data about you and your location

Wednesday 29 March 2:15:04 UTC 2017

Creepy [link] [99 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Terrorists invade English supermarket Asda. Just kidding, they were Japanese tourists who were wearing surgical masks, as is tradition. Never mind [Facepalm]

Wednesday 29 March 2:14:04 UTC 2017

Facepalm [link] [31 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » ‘Rogue One’ Trailer Gets a 1980s Makeover

Wednesday 29 March 2:00:00 UTC 2017

A long time ago in a decade far, far away, completing one’s VHS collection was a major triumph. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Former county employee accused of stealing $27,000 from 360 strippers, one at a time [Florida]

Wednesday 29 March 1:47:24 UTC 2017

Florida [link] [27 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » Crayola Is About to Kill Off One of Its Colors

Wednesday 29 March 1:45:00 UTC 2017

Color us intrigued. [Link]

Mental Floss » Researchers Make Progress on a Pill to Stop Type 2 Diabetes

Wednesday 29 March 1:30:00 UTC 2017

The drug reversed the symptoms of type 2 diabetes in obese mice. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Couple arrested for trying to sell baby on Craigslist. That is horrible. They'd have gotten a much better price on eBay [Asinine]

Wednesday 29 March 1:20:44 UTC 2017

Asinine [link] [55 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » I have no idea what you are talking about so here is a man walking a kangaroo down a Detroit street [Weird]

Wednesday 29 March 0:54:04 UTC 2017

Weird [link] [40 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » Rest Assured: Your Cat Really Does Like You

Wednesday 29 March 0:30:00 UTC 2017

Maybe even more than food. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Just as you suspected, beef taquitos may have rubber or plastic in them [Obvious]

Wednesday 29 March 0:27:24 UTC 2017

Obvious [link] [27 comments] [Link]

Futility Closet » Breath Control

Wednesday 29 March 0:11:16 UTC 2017

In 1999 the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern passed a law governing the labeling of beef; its short title was Rinderkennzeichnungs- und Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachun~ (PDF). The hyphen indicates that the first word would have the same ending as the second; thus the two words are Rinderkennzeichnungsüberwachungsauf~ and Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachun~ (The law’s formal long title is Gesetz zur Übertragung der Aufgaben für die Überwachung … [Link]

Fark.com RSS » The fake doctor behind the "toxic tush" death pleads no contest to charges, gets ten years in prison [Florida]

Wednesday 29 March 0:00:44 UTC 2017

Florida [link] [35 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Photoshop Tennis Match: Little House on the Glacier edition [Photoshop]

Wednesday 29 March 0:00:01 UTC 2017

Photoshop [link] [21 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » How Julius Caesar Won a Battle With a Bagpipe

Wednesday 29 March 0:00:00 UTC 2017

Hey, there's more than one way to torture your enemy. [Link]

Archive

29 Mar 2024  28 Mar 2024  27 Mar 2024  26 Mar 2024  25 Mar 2024  24 Mar 2024  23 Mar 2024  22 Mar 2024  21 Mar 2024  20 Mar 2024  19 Mar 2024  18 Mar 2024  17 Mar 2024  16 Mar 2024  15 Mar 2024  14 Mar 2024  13 Mar 2024  12 Mar 2024  11 Mar 2024  10 Mar 2024  09 Mar 2024  08 Mar 2024  07 Mar 2024  06 Mar 2024  05 Mar 2024  04 Mar 2024  03 Mar 2024  02 Mar 2024  01 Mar 2024  29 Feb 2024  28 Feb 2024  27 Feb 2024  

No Comments

0 responses so far ↓

  • There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.

You must log in to post a comment.