This Being Groundhog Day and All: Some of the 'Hogs

Well, the predictions are in.  Punxsutawney Phil says six more week s of winter out in Pennsylvania.  More locally to here in northeast Illinois, Woodstock Willie says it will be an early winter.

From the February 1, 2022, ListVerse "10 Weather-Forecasting rodents not named Punxsutawney Phil" by Jaycee Miller.  I am just listing and telling the location.  For more information, go to the site.

Here are the names of other furry weather prognosticators who are having their day today:

10.  Buckeye Chuck--  Marion, Ohio

9.  Chattanooga Chuck

8.  Concord Charlie--  West Virginia

7.  General Beauregard Lee--  Jackson, Georgia     Reckon this name will have to be changed as it might offend certain folks.

6.  Jimmy the Groundhog--  San Prairie, Wisconsin

5.  Mount Joy Millie--  Central Pennsylvania

4.  Octararo Orphie--  Quarryville, Pennsylvania

3.  Shubenacadie Sam--  Nova Scotia, Canada

2.  Unadilla Bill--  Nebraska

1.  Wiarton Willie--  Canada

What?  No Woodstock Willie?  --RoadHog

The Ten Weirdest Professional Sports: Kabaddi and Face Slapping

From the May12, 2021, ListVerse  by Steve Etherwood.

I'm just listing them (well, some comments), but you'll get a hoot reading about them at the source.

10.  Arm Wrestling 

9.  Tug of War  (Especially the tug of war across the Mississippi River between Illinois and Iowa.)

8.  Croquet

7.  Tandem Racing  (Two guys on a bike bent over.  I sure wouldn't want to be the back guy.)

6.  Polo  (On horses)

5.  Solo Synchronized Swimming

4.  Kabaddi    (You'll have to read about this one.)

3.  Equestrian Dressage  (Dressing up horses and riders.)

2.  Race Walking  (We did this in the Marines essentially called a "forced hike."  And, believe me it wasn't a hike.  I'd rather run the course.)

1.  Face Slapping.  (Moe Howard used to be champ.)

Here's Your List.  --RoadCroquetChamp

TEENAGERS AND CATS:  No cat or teenager shares your taste in music.

Ten Body Parts We Lost to Evolution

From the February 28, 2021, ListVerse by Jade Bell.

I'm just listing them.  For more information and even pictures, go to the site.

10.  Brow ridges

9.  Claws

8.  Prehensile feet

7.  Canine teeth

6.  Long arms

5.  Big stomachs

4.  Large eyes.

3.  Tails

2.  Fur

1.  Whiskers  (As in cat whiskers)

--RoadWhat?

STUDENT TEST ANSWERS:  Name the three races of man.  Answer:  Foot Race, Horse Race and Automobile Race.

Do You Have One of These Phobias?

From the May 10, 2020, ListVerse  "10 More Bizarre Phobias and Their Treatments" by Alicia Richardson.

I am going to regret trying to spell these words correctly.  Maybe you didn't have it before the "V" but now do have it.

For more information (and to find out what they are) and pictures, go to the site.

10.  Ergophobia

9.  Chaetophobia

8.  Daemonophobia

7.  Hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia

6.  Allodoxaphobia

5.  Genuphobia

4.  Geniophobia

3.  Arachibutyrophobia

2.  Hippopotomonstrosesequippedaliophobia.

1.  Phobophobia

After Typing This Up, I Definitely have #2.  --RoadStress

LAUGHTER HELPS WITH THE "V":  I've found the best way to enforce social distancing is o ask people if they want to see a magic trick.

Top Ten Historic Ways to Beat Plagues

From the April 18, 2020, ListVerse  by Ben Gazur.

Photos and information accompany this.  I'm just listing them.

10.  Smells

9.  Masks

8.  Fires

7.  Kill cats

6.  Bloodletting

5.  Quarantine

4.  Cordon Sanitaire

3.  Whipping yourself

2.  Mercury, unicorns and goat stones

Well worth a read.  A lot of these "cures" are extremely interesting.

1.  Live chickens

Read 'Em and Weep.  --RoadDog

Top Ten Iconic Places Pictured from Behind

From the May 6, 2020, ListVerse "Top 10 Iconic Places Pictured from Behind" by Jamie Frater.

You've often seen them from the front, but what do they look like from behind.  Here's your chance to see them.  Photos and information at the site, I'm just listing them:

10.  Taj Mahal  (You won't believe what the back looks like.)

9.  Pyramids of Giza

8.  Petra

7.  Hollywood Sign

6.  The Colosseum

5.  Mt. Rushmore

4.  Easter Island Moai

3.  Venice

2.  Buckingham palace

1.  The Moon

Veeerrryyy  Interesting.  --RoadDog

LAUGHTER HELPS WITH THE "V":  A capitalist is just a socialist who hasn't been through a pandemic yet.

10 Uncomfortable Problems in the United States-- Part 2: Guns, Kids and Women

5.  The U.S. has refused to ratify some widely accepted international treaties.

4.  American guns kill a lot of kids...A Lot.

3,  The well-being of kids in the United States is declining.

2.  American Freedom of the Press isn't as free as most think.

1.  Equal rights for women have yet to fully manifest.

--RoadGuns

DID YOU KNOW:  Los Angeles' full name is "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reinade los Angeles de Porciuuncula" and can be abbreviated to 3.63% of its size:  L.A..   Well, I sure wouldn't want to write that down on the envelope.  I'll stick with L.A., thank you very much.

10 Uncomfortable Facts About the U.S.A.-- Part 1: Debt and Health Care

From the November 23, 2019, Listverse  by Jonathan  H. Kantor.

Again, go to the source to read what he said about each one.

10.  Most Americans are up to their eyeballs in debt.

9.  Homelessness and wealth distribution is a serious problem.

8.  The United States has a crumbling infrastructure.

7.  The United States has the largest prisoner population in the world.

6.  The country's health care system is a nightmare.

I'm Agreeing.  --RoadProblems

DID YOU KNOW:  The longest word in the English language is pneumonoultramiscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis.    Really?

Ten Weird Jobs You Never Knew Existed

From  the May 28, 2019, ListVerse by Himanshu Sharma.  I am just listing them.  Go to the site to find out more.

10.  Professional sleeper
9.  Parabolic expert
8.  Professional mourner

7.  White Hat hacker
6.  Iceberg mover
5.  Futurist
4.  Foodstylist  (Are these the guys who get the burgers on TV commercials looking so big?)

3.  Lego Master Bulder  (Nah, I just step on 'em.  I guess I qualify for Lego Stepper Oner.)
2.  Shark tank cleaner
1.  Odor judge.

I'd like to add one.  How about Fast Commercial Talker. You know, those guys at the end of a commercial who give you five minutes worth of information in a few seconds.

There You Go.  --RoadBerg

RANDOM ANIMAL THOUGHTS:  PARROT:  "Tease, tease, tease!  But to those greedy clowns ever give me a cracker"  HECK, NO!!!!"

Okay, You Millennials, Okay You Boomers-- Part 2: Who's the Richest?

5.  Millennials would rather keep the jobs they have.

4.  Boomers are accepting weed.

3.  Millennials aren't automatically tech wizards.

2.  Baby Boomers tip more often than Millennials.

1.  Millennials are projected to become the richest generation in US history.

Being a Millennial helps with the tech as they grew up with it.

--RoadTipping

DID YOU KNOW:  The muzzle of a lion is like a fingerprint -- no two lions have the same pattern of whiskers.

Okay, You Millennials, Okay You Boomers-- Part 1 Are Boomers Wrecking Social Security?

From the November 30, 2019, ListVerse  "10 studies proving everything you believe about Millennials and Boomers Is Wrong" by Anthony Sfarra.

First to clarify: Boomers are those born between the end of World War II and the mid-1960s.  Millennials were born between the early 1980s and either the mid-1990s or early 2000s depending upon who you believe.

These are based on recent studies.  You can get more information by going to the site.

10.  Baby Boomers aren't killing Social Security.

9.  Millennials read just as much as older generations.  (Books)

8.  Baby Boomers have embraced technology too.

7.  Millennials are more religious than you might think.

6.  Boomers aren't ready for retirement.

So, Take That Stereotypes.  --RoadBoomer

DID YOU KNOW:  Donald Duck's middle name is Fauntleroy.

10 Things Your Ancestors Did Better Than You-- Part 2: Manners and Learning

5.  Have manners  (I'll second that, maybe third it.)

4.  Build

3.  Teach and learn.

2.  Create art.

1.  Have fun.

Go to the site to find out why they listed these items.

You mean you can have fun without an internet device?  Holy Cow as Harry would say.

Manners, What Manners?  --RoadManners

DID YOU KNOW:  "Underground" is the only word in the English language that begins and ends with the letters "und."   Mind-boggling.

10 Things Your Ancestors Did Better Than You-- 1: Save the Planet and Live Within Their Means

From the November 20, 2019, Listverse by Jamie Frater.

I just listing them, but you can go to the site and see why they said what they did.

10.  Save the planet.   (Hint:  no plastic)

9.  Live within their means.  (Boy is that true. Charge, charge, charge, declare bankruptcy, then repeat.

8.  Improve their mind.  (Through books)

7.  Eat

6.  Exercise.

Well Worth a Read.  --RoadDog

DID YOU KNOW:  The word "set" has more definitions than any other word in the English language.

Top Ten Famous Songs With Unknown Originals-- Part 2: "Twist and Shout"

5.  TWIST AND SHOUT--  Top Notes and later Isley Brothers / Beatles

4.  HOUND DOG--  Big Mama Thornton / Elvis Presley

3.  KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG--  Lori Lieberman / Roberta Flack and then Lauryn Hill.

2.  KISS--  Mazarati / Prince

1.  THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT--  Solomon Linda & the Evening Birds / Tokens  The original title was "Mbube" and was recorded in 1939.  Pete Seger was the first to redo it.

Name That Tune:  "Strumming My Pain With His Fingers."  --RoadDog


"Killing Me Softly With His Song"

Top Ten Famous Songs With Unknown Originals-- Part 1: "Video Killed the Radio Star"

From the July 31, 2012, Listverse.

It was a big hit for someone else other than the orginal performers.

The unknowns first and people who had hits second.

10.  VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR--  Bruce Wooley & the Cameraz / Buggles

9.  SUZIE-Q--  Dale Hawkins / Creedence Clearwater Revival

8.  MOON OF ALABAMA--  Lotte Lenya / Doors   Became "The Alabama Song (Whiskey Bar).  Originally written in 1925 by Bertolt Brecht and set to music by Kurt Weill for the German operetta Mahogonny and sung by his wife, Lotte Lenya.

7.  THE CRYING GAME--  Dave Berry / Boy George

6.  PIECE OF MY HEART--  Emma Franklin / Janis Joplin

Name That Tune (from the above):  "I Like the Way You Talk, I Like the Way You Walk."  --RoadDog

YOU'RE OLD IF YOU REMEMBER: When a dime was a decent allowance and a quarter was a huge bonus.

"Suzie Q"

10 Great Cheesy Action Movies of the 90s

From October 19, 2012, Listverse.

Movies that manage to work despite bad acting, script, editing, effects and you-name-it.  Thanking Nicholas Cage who made the list three times.

10.  Armageddon (1998)
9.   Broken Arrow  (1996)
8.  Battlefield Earth

7.  Demolition Man (1993)
6.  Days of Thunder  (1990)
5.  Dragon Heart  (1996)
4.  Con Air  (1997)

3.  The Chase  (1994)
2.  Point Break  (1991)
1.  Face/Off  (1997)

Well, I Like Nicholas Cage.  --RoadDog

THE LAST KIDS SAY THE DARNDEST THINGS:
Teacher:  What do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?
Pupil:  A teacher.
RoadDog:  very Funny.

Top Ten Films for Special Effects

From the March 18, 2012, Listverse.

10.  Deep Impact
9.  Saving Private Ryan
8.  Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

7.  Transformers
6.  Independence Day
5.  District 9
4.  King Kong (the newest one)

3.  Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
2.  Inception
1.  Avatar

Go Ahead, Wow Me.  --RoadDog

HOW TO LIE TO THE BATHROOM SCALE:  Start out with just one foot on the scale, then, holding onto the towel rack in front of you, slowly let off the rack.  Admittedly, this takes time, but it's worth it.  You will weigh at least two pounds less than if you stepped on normally.  (But I broke the towel rack.)

10 Overused Restaurant Buzzwords: Artisinal What?

From the August 16, 2012, Listverse.

10.  Lite  and not just the beer either.
9.  Homemade  Very few restaurants are in somebody's home.
8.  Generous  As in portion, very subjective

7.  Healthy  All food will kill you if you eat it or not.
6.  Signature  I've never seen anybody's signature on the food.
5.  Premium  What, gas?
4.  Artisianal  What?

3.  Sun-grown  What isn't?
2.  Award-Winning
1.  Tuscan  What's so hot about Tuscan?

Bonus:  Made up words like McRibs or McDouble

And, then There Is Always Jumbo Shrimp.  What?  --RoadDog

Ten Disadvantages of Capitalism

From the Jan. 15, 2015, Listverse.

10.  Inequality
9.  Waste
8.  Starvation

7.  Anti-social--  profit motive way greater than altruism
6.  Danger--  cut corners and make more money
5.  Undemocratic--  The wealthy have greater influence on the government
4.  Pollution

3.  War
2.  Dictatorship--  CEOs get massive salaries and bonuses.  Workers receive essentially minimum wage.
1.  Propaganda--  advertising is everywhere

Good or Bad?  --RoadDog


HEADLINES FROM 2029:  Average height of NBA players now nine feet seven inches.

Ten Origins of Common Internet Terms

From the August 6, 2011, Listverse.  I am just listing them.  Go to the site to find out.

10.  Cookies
9.  HotMail/Google
8.  Bug

7.  Bit
6.  Wiki
5.  Ping
4.  Firewall

3.  Virus
2.  Spam
1.  Troll

--RoadDog