Cool Weird Awesome carves out a few minutes each day for the great stuff. The stuff we all need so we don't think the world has gone completely crazy.
Today in 1905, the birthday of Bobby Pearce, an Olympic rowing champion who won fame and acclaim not just for winning but for the way he won… which was just ducky. Plus: for Extra Virgin Olive Oil Day, a visit to Monte Testacchio, a hill in Rome with an unusual olive oil connection. Bobby Pearce : The Gentleman's Gold (BBC)Mount OF AMPHORAE Duck on over to our Patreon page so you can support this show
For National Goose Day, the story of the goose barnacle myth, in which people who hadn't seen goose nests or goose eggs concluded that goose must be growing on trees or emerging out of barnacles on driftwood. Plus: today in 2020, a news report in the UK about a group of parrots who found an odd way to pass their time in quarantine. Science, Superstition and the Goose Barnacle (Shorelines)Parrots removed from UK family safari park after teaching each other to swear - and laughing about it (Manchester Evening News) Money doesn't grow on trees either, but you can use a little to back our show on Patreon
Today in 2024, Dr. Shane Naidoo finished a half marathon quite a bit after every other runner on the course. But, then, he had a really good reason for coming in after everybody else. Plus: today in 1935, another amazing rescue in New Jersey, involving a ten year old boy and a show dog. A doctor saved a runner's life during a Jersey City half marathon. Then he finished the race. (NJ.com)Champion Collie Saves Boy, Pulls Him From Jersey River (The Pawtucket Times) Help keep our show healthy as a backer on Patreon
Today in 1768, the birthday of Gottfried Mind, a Swiss artist who won acclaim for his drawings of cats. He probably would have done well here in the Internet age. Plus: tomorrow in Williamsburg, Virginia, it's the World Pancake Eating Championship. Gottfried Mind, The Raphael of Cats (Public Domain Review)World Pancake Eating Championship Do what Business Cat probably would have done, and back our show on Patreon
Around this time in 2013, Reader's Digest magazine published findings on a big question: if you accidentally dropped your wallet somewhere, would a typical person take what was inside, or would they try to get it back to you? Plus: today in 2019, an author and farmer tells the story of a lost item with the best and happiest ending. Most Honest Cities: The Reader's Digest “Lost Wallet” Test (Readers Digest via Archive.org)Fourteen years ago (Susan Wise Bauer on Twitter) How about opening your digital wallet and supporting this show on Patreon
Today in 1846, a German astronomer spotted a body orbiting the Sun that we now know as Neptune… and the reason he was looking for an eighth planet had a lot to do with the seventh planet. Plus: this Saturday in New York, it's the Saratoga Giant PumpkinFest. Planet Neptune is discovered (History.com)Saratoga Giant PumpkinFest Don't space out, back our podcast today on Patreon
Today in 1964, the birthday of the first person to ever win both an Olympic medal and Paralympic medals: fencing champion Pál Szekeres. Plus: ahead of World Rivers Day, we visit a river in northern China that's about as narrow as a river can get. “Maybe fencing and my accident made me a better person” – Szekeres (World Parafencing)The World's Narrowest River Is Only a Few Centimeters Wide (Oddity Central)Champion our podcast as a backer on Patreon
Today in 1897, the New York Sun newspaper published the "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" editorial. We'll explain who Virginia was. Plus: on the birthday of comedian and actor Dave Coulier, we celebrate the amazing Tumblr account “The Same Picture of Dave Coulier Every Day.” The Santa Letter That Made an Eight-Year-Old a Celebrity (New Yorker)The mad genius behind Tumblr's ‘The Same Picture of Dave Coulier Every Day' (Daily Dot)Yes, Virginia, you can back our show on Patreon today
Today in 1947, the birthday of the United States Air Force. It's had some pretty amazing pilots over the years, and some pretty amazing planes. Plus, one really, really loud one, known as the Republic XF-84H or "Thunderscreech." Plus: starting today in De Pere, Wisconsin, it's the Wisconsin Arborist Association Tree Climbing Championship. Republic XF-84H (National Museum of the United States Air Force) 2026 WAA Tree Climbing Championship Fly on over to our Patreon page so you can back this show
Today in 1800, the birthday of John Bentinck, 5th Duke of Portland and one of the 19th Century's true eccentrics, given his years of digging massive tunnels to his apparent need to avoid just about everyone he could. Plus: for National Pet Bird Day, the story of Puck, who set the world record for the largest vocabulary in bird history. Biography of William John Cavendish-Bentinck-Scott, 5th Duke of Portland (1800-1879) (University of Nottingham) Largest vocabulary for a bird ever (Guinness World Records)Dig our Patreon page, man, and back our show
Today in 1977, Billy Carter, the brother of then-president Jimmy Carter, told the world he was going to be the namesake of a new line of beer. We'll explain why this became a big deal for a little while. Plus: congrats to the two winners of a prestigious digging contest recently organized by the Hungarian Association of Cemetery Maintainers and Operators. Presidential sibling Billy Carter gets his own beer (History.com via Archive.org) Competitors dig deep in Hungarian grave-digging contest (ABC News)For less than the cost of a single beer a month, you can back our refreshing show on Patreon
Today in 2017, Port Allegany, Pennsylvania dedicated Serenity Glass Park, which pays tribute to the town's long history in making glass blocks. Plus: today in 2024, police in Bedford, Ohio responded to a call involving an eight year old and a car that she apparently took to the store (?) Serenity Glass Park sparkles with the ‘true character' of its community (Community Media Group) 8-year-old takes vehicle, drives herself 25 minutes to Target Sunday morning, police say (News 5 Cleveland)Shine on when you back our show today on Patreon
Today in 1787, in the closing days of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, George Washington attended a dinner party with 55 old war buddies and dozens and dozens of bottles of booze. Plus: today in 1716, the first lighting of the first lighthouse in what is now the United States.The epic bender to celebrate George Washington and the newly finished U.S. Constitution (Washington Post)Light Station Boston (US Coast Guard) Just a pound or two a month is all it takes to back our show on Patreon
Today many of us are paying tribute to those taken from us by that horrible tragedy 25 years ago. And we're saying thanks to those who worked so hard to help others at the time, including a group of city workers who managed to find and save a tree from the World Trade Center site that's now known as the “Survivor Tree.” Survivor Tree Seedling Program (9/11 Memorial)
Today in 1976, a memo at the White House that shows just how specific a request can get when it involves the President of the United States and/or jeans. Plus: starting today in Nevada, it's the Great Basin Astronomy Festival. Memo re Levi Jeans (Ford Library) Great Basin Astronomy Festival Our memo is a reminder that you can support this show for just $1 a month on Patreon
On this day in 1828, at least in the modern calendar, the birthday of Leo Tolstoy. He's become one of the biggest names in literature, but but his contribution to the food world deserves a little attention too, especially the Tolstoy family recipe for macaroni and cheese. Plus: starting Friday in Illinois, it's the Arcola Broomcorn Festival. Leo Tolstoy's Macaroni and Cheese Recipe (1874) (Flashbak)Arcola Broomcorn Festival For the cost of one box of mac and cheese a month you can support this show on Patreon!
Today is National Ants On A Log Day. Ants are famous for their dedication and perseverance, but research shows that some worker ants don't really do all that much work. Plus: this weekend in North Conway, New Hampshire, it's the Mud Bowl.40% of Worker Ants Are Actually Lazy Slackers, But They Have Their Reasons (Science Alert)Mud BowlBacking our show on Patreon makes a big difference but doesn't take too much work
If you're taking a break from your usual hard work today, well that's kind of the point. Though you could also mark Labor Day the way thousands of people in Michigan do, with a very long walk across a very large bridge. Plus: each Labor Day weekend, Crisfield, Maryland hosts the National Hard Crab Derby. The First Walk Across the Mackinac Bridge (Northern Michigan History)79th National Hard Crab Derby Back our show by walking over to our page on Patreon
We're replaying some of our favorite shows about astonishing rescues. In this episode from September 2021, a parent in Sweden rises to an unbelievable occasion when she runs into a burning house to save all six of her children. Plus: Princeton research shows hummingbirds can see a huge range of colors, including ultraviolet colors that human eyes can't spot. Emma, 30: I saved my six children from the flames (Expressen.se)Hummingbirds Can See Colors We Can't Even Imagine (Wired)Thanks to our Patreon backers who make all of our episodes possible!
We're replaying some of our favorite shows about astonishing rescues. In this episode from August 2023, when the luxury cruise ship Oceanos sank, the people who made sure everyone made it to safety were the ship's musicians. Plus: a guy with a record-long last name has a spelling complaint. The guitarist who saved hundreds of people on a sinking cruise liner (BBC)What's In A Name? 666 Letters, Plus 26 Given Names (The Free Lance-Star via Google News Archive)For just $1 a month on Patreon you can help keep this show afloat
We're replaying some of our favorite shows about astonishing rescues. In this episode from January 2021, Muhammad Ali, who had been a hero to millions inside the ring, became a hero outside it, by convincing a man on the side of building not to jump. If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, there is help: contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/, or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.When Muhammad Ali Met a Man on a Ledge (New York Times)The Time Muhammad Ali Stopped a Man From Leaping to His Death (Slate)
We're replaying some of our favorite shows about astonishing rescues. In this episode from December 2022, a British sailor competing in a race around the world decided that winning the race wasn't as important as helping a fellow sailor who was in trouble. Plus: a food writer announces that she has gustatory synesthesia, and essentially can taste what she sees. HOW WE MET: PETE GOSS AND RAPHAEL DINELLI (Independent.co.uk)Rival sails to rescue sinking sailor (Irish Times)What it's like to be a food writer when you can taste everything you see (Atlanta Magazine)We're always grateful for the help we get from our Patreon backers
We're replaying some of our favorite shows about astonishing rescues. In this episode from April 2023, skydiver Gregory Robertson saves a fellow skydiver's life with a high-speed free fall. Plus: Paul Revere made his famous midnight ride in Massachusetts, and then sent an expense report to local authorities.Man rescues fellow skydiver seconds before impact (UPI)Revere's expense account revealed (Bangor Daily News via Google News Archive)Keep our show flying high as a backer on Patreon
Today in 1988, one of the strangest fights in the history of pro baseball: on one side, one of the top managers in the game. On the other, one of the top mascots. Plus: starting today in New Hampshire, it's the North Country Moose Festival. 36 years ago, the Phillie Phanatic was beaten up by the Dodgers' Tommy Lasorda (WHYY)North Country Moose Festival If you're a fanatic about our show, why not back us on Patreon?
Today in 1865, the birthday of Charles G. Dawes, who made a difference on the world stage while serving as US Vice President… and who made a difference on the American pop charts. too. Plus: now underway in Taiwan, the Keelung Ghost Festival. The Vice President Who Wrote a Hit Song (Mental Floss)Keelung Ghost Festival Make our podcast a hit as a backer on Patreon
This week in 2015, a giant fast food chain decided to reach out to its biggest rival with an offer to join forces, and make one giant burger to rule them all. Plus: starting Saturday, it'll be the Dog Days of Kentucky. McDonald's Declines Burger King's 'McWhopper' Offer (NBC News)Dog Days of Kentucky You can back this show on Patreon for less than the cost of an extra value meal a month!
Today in 1845 may have been the birthday of Nellie Cashman, a woman whose life was one big and colorful story that played out all over the American West. Plus: today in 2018, the community of Mayo, Florida, decided to rebrand itself as the town of Miracle Whip. Nellie Cashman (Arizona Women's Hall of Fame) Mayo, Florida jokingly changes name to "Miracle Whip" (WCTV)From east to west, let's all back this podcast together on Patreon
Today in 1975, Queen began recording its classic track “Bohemian Rhapsody.” And depending on who you believe, the recording of this song has a connection with another long hit song from another massively popular group. Plus: a guy in Wisconsin decides an hour-long drive to Cabela's is "too long," but he has quite a Plan B. “I have never heard a better ‘rock' piano”: The famous Trident Studios piano used by The Beatles, Bowie, Queen and more (Yahoo! Entertainment)Wisconsin man flies helicopter to Cabela's because the drive was ‘too long' (NBC Chicago)Backing our show on Patreon really matters, anyone can see
Today in 1938, the birthday of Kenny Rogers. Few singers of his generation had as many hits as Rogers did, but apparently one guy was so into just one of those hit songs that he hired the singer to just do that one over and over. Plus: starting today, it's the Connecticut Pickle Festival. Galleon Hedge Fund Scandal: The Cursing, The Paranoia And $4 Million For Kenny Rogers On Auto-Repeat (HuffPost)Connecticut Pickle Festival Back our show on Patreon today, for just a dollar a month (or $4 million if you prefer)
Around this time in 1985, news reports were spreading about an unusual situation: two youngsters from Ireland, unbeknownst to pretty much all the adults, had hopped on a plane to the United States. Plus: starting tomorrow in Pennsylvania, it's the Pittston Tomato Festival. The story of the Dublin boys who ran away to New York (Irish Post)Pittston Tomato Festival Fly on over to our Patreon page and support this show
Sometimes the rise of a hot new technology comes with growing pains. In the case of TV, there was a risk of literal pains - which is why early sets came with “implosion guards." Plus: an airport group in India puzzles people with its choice for a customer satisfaction award. The Cover-Up (Tedium)No planes, no problem: India's 'no 1 airport' Khajuraho has zero flights (Times of India)Use whatever screen's in front of you now to support our podcast on Patreon
For decades, St. Mary's, Newfoundland, has been smelling decades-old tanks of fish sauce when the wind blew toward town. But at long last that's starting to change. Plus: a couple in Ohio welcomes two new babies into the world, on the perfect day. Decades in the making, work begins to remove rotten fish sauce from St. Mary's plant (CBC)Northeast Ohio twins born on the same day as both parents (Cleveland 19)Your support for our show on Patreon would be a breath of fresh air
Today in 1891, the US government gave an explosive idea a try: they wanted to bring rain by putting dynamite in the air and then blowing it up. Plus: today in 2023, the Los Angeles Times reported on the popularity of climbing Yosemite's Half Dome, including the park's black bears (!) When the U.S. Government Tried to Make It Rain by Exploding Dynamite in the Sky (Smithsonian)Black bears are also scaling Yosemite's Half Dome: What to do if you meet up (Los Angeles Times)Let's make it rain on this podcast by backing us on Patreon
Today in 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. When there's confusion about whose Social Security Number is whose, it can get messy. Just ask one Hilda Witcher. Plus: starting tomorrow in North Carolina, it's the Woodleaf Tomato Festival. Social Security Cards Issued by Woolworth (Social Security Administration)Woodleaf Tomato Festival Secure this show's future as a supporter on Patreon
Western New York has some extremely beloved culinary traditions, and one of the most beloved is in Rochester, New York, where it's known as the Garbage Plate. Plus: yodelers in Switzerland have come up with some clever and effective ways to beat the heat this summer. How the Garbage Plate surpassed Kodak as Rochester's signature thing (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle) Swiss yodellers rehearse in public fountains as Basel swelters (MSN) Keep this show strong and (mostly) garbage free as a backer on Patreon
Today in 1990, scientist Sue Hendrickson famously spotted several vertebrae on a bluff in South Dakota. The dinosaur found that day, named Sue in Hendrickson's honor, has become as one expert put it, the Rosetta Stone of Tyrannosaurus Rex. Plus: in the garden of physicist Erwin Schrödinger (born today in 1887) there's a cat-like feature. And depending on the way the light hits that feature, the cat looks alive or not so alive. SUE the T. rex (Field Museum)Schrödinger's Cat Zurich (Spotted By Locals)Make a dinosaur-sized contribution to support this show on Patreon (which size of dinosaur is up to you)
This month in 1817, residents of Gloucester, Massachusetts saw something quite out of the ordinary: a sea serpent who just hung around the coast for days and days. Plus: authorities in Colorado say they arrested a man for allegedly breaking into a locomotive and then, like, surfing on top while it was moving. Regaling tales of the Gloucester Sea Serpent, a forgotten legend of cryptozoology (GBH)Man arrested after surfing naked on top of moving locomotive (KDVR)Want more episodes about sea creature sightings? Back us on Patreon
Today in 1984, two athletes at the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles tried one of the oldest tricks in the book… they tried to pull a switcheroo. Plus: for World Lion Day, the story of one of the all time great lion photos, with six male lions all chillaxing together on a hill in Tanzania. In 1984, These Puerto Rican Twins Hatched an Insane Plan to Switch Places at the Olympics (Remezcla)The Story Behind the Perfectly Unposed Shot of Six Lions Relaxing Together in Tanzania (My Modern Met)You and/or your twin are invited to back our show today on Patreon
This week we're replaying our favorite shows about beating the heat. In this episode from March 2021, a surprising research finding: choosing a hot sandwich instead of a cold one might help keep you from ordering extra food. Plus: an unusual performance in 1912, of Guiseppi Verdi's opera Aida at the base of the Great Pyramid in Egypt! Consumers Buy More Food When They Order Cold Meals and Drinks, Reports Rutgers‒Camden Researcher (Rutgers-Camden)Today in 1912 ‘Aida' opens in open-air production beneath the Great Pyramid (Victorian Masculinity)It would be fun to go out for a hot sandwich, chips and a drink with our Patreon backers
This week we're replaying our favorite shows about beating the heat. In this episode from August 2020, a fabric with its own built-in cooling system suggests we maybe wouldn't need to cool rooms, if the people in those rooms were already cool. Plus: for National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, the story of the biggest chocolate chip cookie of all time, in Flat Rock, North Carolina. New fabric could help keep you cool in the summer, even without A/C (Science Daily)Largest biscuit / cookie (Guinness World Records)Nobody's cooler than the Cool Weird Awesome backers on Patreon
This week we're replaying our favorite shows about beating the heat. In this episode from September 2020, a discovery that may make the world a little better: a thermoelectric cooler that's so small, the naked eye can't see it. Plus: for the International Day of Sign Languages, a celebration of interpreters at heavy metal concerts. UCLA scientists create world's smallest ‘refrigerator' (UCLA)10 Epic Sign Language Interpreters at Metal Shows (YouTube)International Day of Sign Languages (United Nations)Rawk out as a Cool Weird Awesome backer on Patreon
This week we're replaying our favorite shows about beating the heat. In this episode from June 2022, the story of the yakhchāl, a storage building which could keep foods cold all year long. And they were used over 2,000 years ago. Plus: Munfordville, Kentucky has its own Stonehenge. Yakhchāls, Āb Anbārs, & Wind Catchers — Passive Cooling & Refrigeration Technologies Of Greater Iran (Persia) (Cleantechnica)Kentucky's Stonehenge is one man's rocky wonderland (FOX Lexington)Our Patreon backers are the coolest of the cool
This week we're replaying our favorite shows about beating the heat. In this episode from June 2023, a look at the history of air conditioning, in which you'll find quite a few times where people said, are we sure this is a good idea? Plus: a zoo in Japan holds a lion escape drill with some help from a human inside a lion costume. The Unexpected History of the Air Conditioner (Smithsonian)Japanese zoo staff chase furry fake lion in escape drillBacking this show on Patreon is really cool
It's National Avocado Day, so we're going to take a look at one of the most popular ways we use avocado, and how an actual pirate is part of that recipe's history. Plus: starting tomorrow in California, it's the World Dog Surfing Championships.We Can Thank A Pirate For Writing Down The Oldest Guacamole Recipe (The Takeout) WORLD DOG SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS Our backers on Patreon keep this podcast sounding delicious, join them today
Today in 2010, the Wall Street Journal reported on a lawsuit pitting two titans of toothpaste against each other over showing toothpaste on their packages. Plus: starting today in Idaho, it's the Yellow Pine Harmonica Festival. And May the Best Nurdle Win (Wall Street Journal)YELLOW PINE HARMONICA FESTIVALKeep this show clean and fresh as a backer on Patreon
It's National Lipstick Day. During World War II, lipstick became one way that women in Allied nations could show their true feelings about public enemy number one. Plus: the community of Luverne, Minnesota, has just installed the tallest nutcracker in the world. Why women in Allied countries wore red lipstick to protest Hitler during WWII (Snopes)Giant nutcracker, Verne the Patriot, introduced to Luverne (Yahoo! News)Keep this podcast colorful as a backer on Patreon
Today in 1887, the birthday of Marcel Duchamp. He was both an accomplished artist and an artistic provocateur, like the time he released a “new” work of art that was a reproduction of the Mona Lisa, on which he had painted a mustache. Plus: in January 1917, Duchamp and some fellow artists and performers declared the creation of the Free and Independent Republic of Greenwich Village. When Marcel Duchamp Drew a Mustache & Goatee on the Mona Lisa (1919) (Open Culture)When Greenwich Village Artists Partied On Top of the Washington Square Arch (Untapped New York)Back our podcast on Patreon; if you want to draw a mustache on us while you do, go ahead
This month in 1959, an expedition set out to clear up some of the confusion around Hannibal's legendary crossing of the Alps by recreating that journey, complete with an elephant. Plus: authorities in Maryland say they've apprehended a bank robber with a cat-themed MO you don't see very often. The British Alpine Hannibal Expedition (JohnHoyte.com)Cat burglar steals kitten, tries to rob bank in Maryland, gets caught instead (NBC News)Back our show on Patreon so we can create more episodes that are unforgettable for humans and elephants alike
Some obscure video games help shed light on the early days of the industry. But people who study those early days sometimes have to do a lot of digging. Plus: today in 2019, a news report on a guy who left quite a legacy for Iowans trying to go to college. Press ‘start' on '70s arcade history (University of Virginia)Iowa man used his secret fortune to send 33 strangers to college (CBS News)Insert coin on Patreon to support this show
Today in 1945, the Seattle Daily Times newspaper revealed a great wartime hoax: for several years, a key military factory had been cosplaying as a neighborhood! Plus: Hyve is an autonomous off-road rover that hosts a colony of live bees and lets them sort of go on a pollination tour. Boeing made an entire fake neighborhood to hide its bombers from potential WWII airstrikes (Seattle Times)nicolas nielsen designs self-driving HYVE beehive to pollinate cities (designboom)Join our neighborhood of backers on Patreon today
Today in 1966, a ground technician in the UK was doing some ground testing of an English Electric Lightning fighter jet… when suddenly the test was no longer on the ground. Plus: today is the start of The Great Montreal Poutine Fest. How a RAF Ground Engineer Accidentally Took Off in a Fighter Jet (Interesting Engineering)The Great Montréal PoutineFest (Tourisme Montreal)Help this show fly every day as a backer on Patreon
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