The Expletive Cairn

According to legend, a bored weatherman stationed in the far north of Canada during the 1950s used a bulldozer to move earth and rocks to spell out a massive, four-letter expletive that was visible to planes passing overhead.

Is there any truth to the legend?

Well, the story traces back to some correspondence from anthropologist Edmund Carpenter that was printed in The Realist magazine in November 1964. Carpenter had lived for years in the Canadian Arctic. So he was a knowledgeable source of info about the region.

However, if the expletive cairn does exist, then, to date, no one has been able to locate it.

More info: Straight Dope message board

The Realist - Nov 1964

Posted By: Alex - Thu Mar 11, 2021 - Comments (2)
Category: Landscaping, Swears

Business name causes controversy

Right in the middle of charming little St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin (population 2000), Geoff Gorres and his business partners opened a gun store. Their choice of name: F-Bomb Ordnance.

Local residents aren't too happy about it, thinking it lowers the standards of the community to have the f-bomb "displayed prominently" on Main Street.

In response to the controversy, the owner says he may be willing to consider other options for signage, but he's definitely keeping the f-bomb name. More info: CBS (WCCO); The Sun.

Posted By: Alex - Fri Aug 07, 2015 - Comments (5)
Category: Odd Names, Signage, Slang, Swears

Truth in Advertising

Caution: many, many swears.

Posted By: Paul - Thu Sep 04, 2014 - Comments (8)
Category: Business, Advertising, Television, 1960s, Cars, Swears