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.”

Weird Universe » 7 Clicks (April 21, 2017)

Friday 21 April 23:47:00 UTC 2017

7 Clicks
A Weird Universe News Service
April 21, 2017

The Russell 2000 small-stock index does very well (since mid-2014 up, oh, around 18%), but not as well as one of the 2,000–the mysterious Chinese loan company called Wins Financial Holdings, which bafflingly gained 4,555 percent at one point before falling back. [Business Week (4-3-2017)] (paywall!)

Nor can anyone figure … [Link]

Mental Floss » 14 Deep Facts About ‘Valley of the Dolls’

Friday 21 April 23:30:00 UTC 2017

The campy, so-bad-it's-good classic is turning 50 years old this year. [Link]

Mental Floss » These New Earplugs Are Like a Volume Button for the World Around You

Friday 21 April 23:00:00 UTC 2017

Hear what you want, when you want. [Link]

Mental Floss » How Thomas Edison Jr. Shamed the Family Name

Friday 21 April 22:30:00 UTC 2017

Asked to evaluate his son's abilities as an intellectual, the elder Edison said that he was, "absolutely illiterate, scientifically and otherwise.” [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Great day for Trump III, bagging a buffalo, a cheetah, dozens of flamingos [Satire]

Friday 21 April 22:20:05 UTC 2017

Satire [link] [20 comments] [Link]

Futility Closet » Please Help!

Friday 21 April 21:59:24 UTC 2017

I spend hundreds of hours each month researching and writing Futility Closet, and that effort is supported entirely by the readers. If you value this site, please consider making a contribution to help keep it going. You can make a one-time donation on our Support Us page, or you can pledge a monthly contribution on Patreon to receive bonus posts … [Link]

Fark.com RSS » "What's that guy in the car behind me doing honking and waving? Go around, dude. Jeez" [Scary]

Friday 21 April 21:20:05 UTC 2017

Scary [link] [115 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » Social Media Can Push Runners to Improve Their Performance

Friday 21 April 21:00:00 UTC 2017

Sometimes peer pressure works in our favor. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Bay Area Fark Party – Oakland Beer Trail. Saturday, June 24, starting at Noon PT (probably ending with Sunday Brunch) [FarkParty]

Friday 21 April 20:50:04 UTC 2017

FarkParty [link] [77 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » Nintendo May Release an SNES Classic

Friday 21 April 20:45:00 UTC 2017

Nintendo may soon have you refreshing Amazon sales pages again. [Link]

Mental Floss » Why Are Dairy Queen Blizzards Served Upside Down?

Friday 21 April 20:30:00 UTC 2017

You can thank a cranky custard store owner and an annoying 14-year-old for this "tradition." [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Photoshop this mysterious train scene [Photoshop]

Friday 21 April 20:00:01 UTC 2017

Photoshop [link] [28 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » Hurry to Check Out Friday's Best Amazon Deals

Friday 21 April 19:31:08 UTC 2017

From the Smart Shopping team… [Link]

Mental Floss » The University of Tennessee Offers a Dolly Parton-Themed History Class

Friday 21 April 19:30:00 UTC 2017

“Dolly’s America” uses Parton's personal journey as a lens through which to examine modern Appalachian culture. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Churches don't normally get upset about anonymous donations. Normally [Weird]

Friday 21 April 19:20:04 UTC 2017

Weird [link] [49 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » North Korea's Western spokesman: 'No we definitely don't have any concentration camps, nope, not at all. This is a peaceful country.' What about prison camps? 'Oh yeah sure we got, like, a tonna those' [Dumbass]

Friday 21 April 18:50:04 UTC 2017

Dumbass [link] [103 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » A Blood Test May Help Pinpoint the Right Antidepressant for You

Friday 21 April 18:30:00 UTC 2017

A new study provides additional diagnostic information that could change the way depression is treated. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Apple has developed fake human sweat. Don't you idiots know that's the only way we could spot first generation terminators? [Scary]

Friday 21 April 18:20:04 UTC 2017

Scary [link] [42 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » Touchscreen-Controlled Chair Lets Disabled Toddlers Get Around

Friday 21 April 18:00:00 UTC 2017

The chair uses technology many kids are already familiar with. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » District of Columbia drivers' licenses are being revised to read "Washington, D.C.," instead of "District of Columbia" on news that the average Arby's reject who works for TSA doesn't know what "District of Columbia&#3

Friday 21 April 17:50:04 UTC 2017

Facepalm [link] [156 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » A Founder of Earth Day Looks Back on How It Began

Friday 21 April 17:30:00 UTC 2017

On April 22, 1970, Denis Hayes stood on a stage in Central Park, stunned by the number of people who'd come to honor the planet. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Tuck Frump? Jice nacket, umb dass [Dumbass]

Friday 21 April 17:20:05 UTC 2017

Dumbass [link] [167 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Man who doesn't use social media because "it gets people in trouble" surprised to learn a wanted fugitive has started a new life and posed as him on Facebook [Ironic]

Friday 21 April 16:50:04 UTC 2017

Ironic [link] [25 comments] [Link]

Futility Closet » Edifice Wrecks

Friday 21 April 16:07:34 UTC 2017

Between the 1950s and the 2000s, the Sicilian town of Giarre started a series of ambitious building projects as its politicians competed to create jobs and secure funds from the regional government. Unfortunately, there was no need for the buildings — Giarre’s population is only 27,000 — and today the seaside town hosts 25 half-built and abandoned constructions, including an … [Link]

Mental Floss » Look Up Tonight! The Lyrids Meteor Shower Is Set to Stun

Friday 21 April 16:00:00 UTC 2017

You can expect to see 10 meteors an hour tonight. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » This is why you don't watch porn while emailing out class assignments and copy/pasting links from your browser, Professor [Facepalm]

Friday 21 April 15:50:04 UTC 2017

Facepalm [link] [125 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » All National Parks Are Offering Free Admission This Weekend

Friday 21 April 15:30:00 UTC 2017

Celebrate National Park Week! [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Scientists may have found a "wonder-drug" that will stop all neurodegenerative brain diseases, including duh [Interesting]

Friday 21 April 15:20:04 UTC 2017

Interesting [link] [96 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Today's totally not a Mad Lib headline: "South Korean man dies after eating toads" [Sad]

Friday 21 April 14:50:04 UTC 2017

Sad [link] [42 comments] [Link]

Overheard In The Office » Yahoo!

Friday 21 April 14:42:10 UTC 2017

Older coworker: Lemme put it in your Google. Meridian Street
Indianapolis, Indiana Overheard by: Mine? [Link]

Weird Universe » Longest Sermon Ever

Friday 21 April 14:29:14 UTC 2017

Back in 1937, Rev. A. Earl Lee set a record for preaching the longest sermon ever, preaching continuously for 21 hours. "He ate regular meals, preaching between bites, changed his clothes, and even took a bath while continuing the sermon by talking into a portable microphone."

Bradford Evening Star – June 29, 1937

However, it seems that world's longest sermon has … [Link]

Weird Universe » Billie Carleton’s Death and the Birth of a Genre

Friday 21 April 14:29:13 UTC 2017

Original article here.

How did the hedonistic death of one minor actress lead to Fu Manchu and the Yellow Menace?

Read the whole story here. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Beat me, Whip me, Make me write checks [Scary]

Friday 21 April 14:20:05 UTC 2017

Scary [link] [75 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Why let the dog out, it only leads to being wrapped in a cable, hanging upside down, naked in a tree [Awkward]

Friday 21 April 13:50:04 UTC 2017

Awkward [link] [27 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » "It has been 50 years since we buried a time capsule, now we want to open it. Anyone know where the heck it is?" [Facepalm]

Friday 21 April 13:20:05 UTC 2017

Facepalm [link] [55 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Photoshop this spring bouquet [Photoshop]

Friday 21 April 13:00:01 UTC 2017

Photoshop [link] [34 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » This could very well be the ugliest city flag that nobody knows about [Florida]

Friday 21 April 12:50:04 UTC 2017

Florida [link] [179 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » California considers bill that would make it illegal for schools to start before 8:30 a.m. Apparently kids are getting up too early [Amusing]

Friday 21 April 12:20:07 UTC 2017

Amusing [link] [182 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » 5 Questions: A Good "Egg"

Friday 21 April 11:45:00 UTC 2017

[Link]

Fark.com RSS » Having a drink? Make it a shot, it's the healthier alternative [Interesting]

Friday 21 April 11:31:14 UTC 2017

Interesting [link] [50 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » 'Encyclopedia of Rainbows' Is the Perfect Book for Color Organizing Enthusiasts

Friday 21 April 11:30:00 UTC 2017

Each page offers readers a different selection of eye candy. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Supreme Court allows Arkansas to at least execute the black guys before lethal injection drug expires [Followup]

Friday 21 April 11:20:13 UTC 2017

Followup [link] [99 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Latest attorney tactic when defending client accused of rape: Women are good liars [Dumbass]

Friday 21 April 10:59:19 UTC 2017

Dumbass [link] [205 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » China has put their bombers on high alert and the rest of their military aircraft are being brought up to full readiness for what I'm sure is no reason whatsoever [Scary]

Friday 21 April 10:15:13 UTC 2017

Scary [link] [124 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » Morning Cup of Links: Lucky Chimney Sweeps

Friday 21 April 9:50:27 UTC 2017

Links to last you all weekend long! [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Trump: "Luciano Pavarotti's a friend of mine, great friend of mine". Fark; Pavarotti died in 2007 [Dumbass]

Friday 21 April 9:45:14 UTC 2017

Dumbass [link] [231 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » These Marble-Glazed Cakes Are Mesmerizing

Friday 21 April 9:30:00 UTC 2017

Watch and drool. [Link]

Mental Floss » What Makes Peregrine Falcons the Fastest Animals on Earth?

Friday 21 April 8:30:00 UTC 2017

Cruising at rates between 40 and 60 miles per hour, one might say that the predatory bird is the cheetah of the sky. [Link]

Mental Floss » You Can Chat With Albert Einstein’s Facebook Bot Alter-Ego

Friday 21 April 6:30:00 UTC 2017

Just prepare yourself for some physics puns. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Looks like the Dortmund bomb attack may have been less "True Lies" and more "Trading Places" [Followup]

Friday 21 April 6:17:59 UTC 2017

Followup [link] [34 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » All those sweeping generalizations you had about millennials are most likely true [Obvious]

Friday 21 April 4:28:39 UTC 2017

Obvious [link] [160 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » SeaWorld Texas celebrates the birth of what might be the last captive killer whale [Interesting]

Friday 21 April 4:16:44 UTC 2017

Interesting [link] [41 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Pigeons can build and pass on wisdom across generations. Which explains why they keep doing what they do to statues of politicians [Spiffy]

Friday 21 April 3:41:57 UTC 2017

Spiffy [link] [25 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Because Hans Delbrück's brain was unavailable [Weird]

Friday 21 April 2:46:44 UTC 2017

Weird [link] [30 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » *picks 3 random words from bag* … "California weed nuns" [Giggity]

Friday 21 April 2:26:07 UTC 2017

Giggity [link] [39 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » No quiero que los patitos [Amusing]

Friday 21 April 1:46:44 UTC 2017

Amusing [link] [26 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Bridge is closed. Moose out front shoulda toldya [Amusing]

Friday 21 April 1:21:31 UTC 2017

Amusing [link] [47 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » 150 years later, slavery is still killing the South [Sad]

Friday 21 April 1:16:44 UTC 2017

Sad [link] [124 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Looking at this guy's mugshot, we could have figured out the first part of the headline [Followup]

Friday 21 April 0:46:44 UTC 2017

Followup [link] [54 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » 10 Things We Learned About the Dictionary From Kory Stamper’s AMA

Friday 21 April 0:45:00 UTC 2017

She loves "grief bacon" too. [Link]

Mental Floss » Here's How British and American Spelling Parted Ways

Friday 21 April 0:30:00 UTC 2017

A colourful tale of dictionaries, politics, and national identity. [Link]

Fark.com RSS » How bad do you have to drive before people start a Facebook page warning other drivers of your whereabouts? [Dumbass]

Friday 21 April 0:16:44 UTC 2017

Dumbass [link] [69 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Solar-powered "Mr. Trash-Wheel" has now removed 1.1 million lbs of rubbish from Baltimore's Inner Harbor, including 8.9 million cigarette butts and half a million polystyrene containers. No word on how many condoms or dead bodies it's

Friday 21 April 0:03:44 UTC 2017

Spiffy [link] [77 comments] [Link]

Fark.com RSS » Photoshop this scary ceiling [Photoshop]

Friday 21 April 0:00:01 UTC 2017

Photoshop [link] [18 comments] [Link]

Mental Floss » Futuristic New Mastercard Includes a Built-In Fingerprint Scanner

Friday 21 April 0:00:00 UTC 2017

This new credit card eliminates the need for a PIN or signature. [Link]

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