1893-1963 American film director and screenwriter
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Hosted by Paul Sloane
Hosted by Paul Sloane
Hosted by Paul Sloane
21 episodes with Paul Sloane
2 episodes with Paul Sloane
3 episodes with Paul Sloane
Paul Sloane author of "Lateral Thinking for Every Day" by The Best Business Minds
Shay Grewal on BBC Radio London chats to Paul Sloane about 1001 Pieces of Absolutely Useless Advice (co-authored with Des MacHale) and lateral thinking topics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
A trip to Whitstable; Nature joins Spotify; Tasting whisky for money; No fast music please; Make it personal; Should you accept interview requests?; Don't change a winning team; A interview with Paul Sloane; Music from Simon Stanley Ward
Paul Sloane's always been interested in lateral thinking puzzles and has written international best sellers on the subject. He shares how he's translated those methods into solving problems in the business world. A professional who's helped busy executives with creativity and innovation in their companies for over fifteen years, he describes some of his methods to raise the bar for leadership and problem solving. Listen and learn How lateral thinking starts with approaching problems from the side, Examples of his 12 “great ways to innovate,” Why corporate culture provides little incentive to innovate and how he advises to change that, and Some of the most interesting puzzles he's faced in the corporate world. Author, speaker, and innovator Paul Sloane explains his cutting-edge approach to business problems and solutions for listeners with concrete examples and the philosophy behind what he does. It all starts with countering the staid habit of vertical thinking. That's where “you build block on block on block, and that's fine. But lateral means coming at the problem from the side. It means finding a new and fresh and different approach to the problem,” says Sloane. He says that's how great leaps, like our modern grocery shopping system, have evolved. Unfortunately, he says that corporate culture is often works against innovation, mostly at the middle level when goals are geared toward meeting one's numbers rather than risk taking that might not pan out. Sloane has numerous methods to address these, from brainstorming groups to creativity training. “Everyone can be more creative than they think. Everyone started out as creative. Kids are terrifically creative,” he says and he discusses how he helps to revive that creativity within corporate walls. Listen in to find out more about his effective ideas. Take advantage of a 5% discount on Ekster accessories by using the code FINDINGGENIUS. Enhance your style and functionality with premium accessories. Visit bit.ly/3uiVX9R to explore latest collection. Episode also available on Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/30PvU9C
Paul Sloane discusses how to become more innovative and effective by adopting different styles of thinking. — YOU'LL LEARN — 1) The top question to ask when problem-solving. 2_ The simple trick for improving your memory. 3) How to build rapport with anyone with one phrase. Subscribe or visit AwesomeAtYourJob.com/ep918 for clickable versions of the links below. — ABOUT PAUL — Paul Sloane is the author of many books on lateral thinking and the leadership of innovation. He graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in Engineering. He had a successful career in sales at IBM before becoming Marketing Director and then Managing Director at the database company, Ashton-Tate. He was subsequently the VP International and CEO of software companies. He now speaks and consults on lateral thinking and innovation with corporate clients. • Book: How to be a Brilliant Thinker: Exercise Your Mind and Find Creative Solutions • Website: DestinationInnovation.com • TEDx Talk: Are You Open Minded? Three Ways to Break Thinking Patterns | Paul Sloane | TEDxUniversityofBrighton • LinkedIn: Paul Sloane • Twitter: @PaulSloane — RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THE SHOW — • Book: How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie • Book: Six Thinking Hats by Edward de Bono • Book: The Innovator's Dilemma: The Revolutionary Book That Will Change the Way You Do Business by Clayton Christensen — THANK YOU SPONSORS! — • UpliftDesk.com. Build your dream workstation and get 5% off with promo code AWESOME • BetterHelp. Find your bright spot this season, with BetterHelp. Get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/awesome. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Thinking different every day. In this enlightening episode of the RebelRebel Podcast, Michael Dean Dargie explores the innovative world of lateral thinking with the articulate Paul Sloane, author of "Lateral Thinking for Every Day." Transitioning from a career in engineering and leading a software startup, to embarking on a mission to foster creativity in organizations, Paul's journey is nothing short of inspiring. Through engaging discussions, Paul unveils the essence of lateral thinking as a tool for radical problem-solving, rather than settling for incremental improvements. The conversation delves into Paul's daily regime of mental stimulation, the potential of AI in simulating creativity, and the critical need for ambitious thinking in solving global issues. Paul's insights on nurturing a successful marriage, his fond memories of Luxor's historical allure, and his earnest desire to inspire his grandchildren, add a personal touch to this intellectually stimulating discourse. With anecdotes and practical advice, this episode isn't just a peek into Paul's innovative mind, but a call to action for aspiring entrepreneurs and established organizations to think differently, act courageously, and ignite the spark of innovation in their endeavours. Links From This Episode: Paul Sloane on LinkedIn Paul Slone on Twitter "Lateral Thinking for Every Day" by Paul Sloane Paul Sloane's Workshops and Speaking Engagements "The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills" by Paul Sloan Test Your Business Idea "How to Win Friends and Influence People" by Dale Carnegie Eric Ries, author of "The Lean Startup" Killer Sudoku Puzzles Venice Travel Luxor, Egypt Travel Mention
Hello, Sales Leadership community! We've got something very special for you in our upcoming episode that will transform the way you approach problem-solving in sales. We've got the brilliant mind and the best-selling author of "Lateral Thinking for Every Day," Paul Sloane, joining us on the Sales Leadership Show.Paul Sloane is widely recognized for his thought-provoking insights into lateral thinking, a method that encourages indirect and creative problem-solving. It's about finding fresh perspectives, alternative routes, and challenging traditional assumptions. What could this mean for your sales strategies? We bet it could mean a lot.Hosted by our very own Phil Gerbyshak, this episode will be an exploration of the lateral thinking concept and its practical application in everyday sales situations. With Paul's expertise and Phil's knack for asking just the right questions, we're ready to delve into some mind-bending discussions. Are you ready to leave the linear path and embrace the abstract?We'll be discussing:- What exactly is lateral thinking and how can it redefine problem-solving for sales professionals?- How to cultivate a lateral thinking mindset and break free from traditional molds.- Real-life examples of lateral thinking that made a significant impact on sales strategy.- Practical ways to implement lateral thinking in your everyday sales challenges.Whether you're a sales newbie or a seasoned pro, this episode is guaranteed to give you a fresh perspective on problem-solving. You'll walk away with actionable insights that can redefine your approach to sales challenges and help you tap into the vast potential that lateral thinking offers.So, stay tuned for this insightful conversation. And remember, as Paul Sloane says, "Lateral thinking doesn't replace hard work; it adds a twist of creative genius to it." Let's embrace this twist together in the next episode of the Sales Leadership Show. Make sure to subscribe to our podcast and be the first to know when this exciting episode goes live. And if you find our content valuable, do share it with your colleagues and friends.Listen in for some inspiring lateral thinking! ★ Support this podcast ★ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit happyaf.substack.com/subscribe
Unlock the power of lateral thinking with our insightful conversation with Paul Sloane, a distinguished authority on innovation and creative thinking. This episode will guide you through the fascinating concept of lateral thinking, exploring its roots and its applications in diverse fields like business, public service, and the arts as well as our personal lives. We delve into real-world instances where lateral thinking has been employed, from innovative giants such as Uber and Airbnb, to more relatable everyday examples. Get ready to transform your thinking style and approach to problem-solving.Venturing further, we switch our focus to fostering creativity and lateral thinking. Hear about how the most ordinary situations, like Londoners adapting to a tube strike, can inspire unique solutions and new approaches to work and our private lives. Unearth the challenges and shortcomings in our education system's approach to creative thinking, and discover the immense potential of fostering creativity from a young age. As we draw on Paul's extensive experience with lateral thinking projects, we discuss the obstacles to innovation in the workplace and how to overcome them. Get set to spark fresh thinking and kindle innovation in your life and work.Paul is an experienced speaker, course leader and facilitator. A recognised authority on innovation and creative thinking, he speaks and gives workshops to leading corporations around the world. He is also the best-selling author of How to Be a Brilliant Thinker, The Innovative Leader, The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills and he has just brought out his latest book, Lateral Thinking For Every Day- Extraordinary Solutions to Everday Problems.Paul's links:https://www.destination-innovation.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsloane/https://twitter.com/PaulSloanePaul's latest book:https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lateral-Thinking-Every-Day-Extraordinary/dp/1398607940www.undercurrentstories.com
IN CLEAR FOCUS: Exploring the rapid adoption of Artificial Intelligence in marketing, we revisit conversations with recent guests, including Katie King, Renee Hartmann, Nick Wolny, Dave Kaye, Paul Sloane, Rohit Bhargava, and Martin Oxley. Conversations examine the ways in which AI is being used in sales and marketing, retail, consumer research, translation, and content creation with relevant examples and case studies. Links to the books mentioned in this episode are provided in the transcript.
20 times published author, international speaker and facilitator Paul Sloane is my guest on this episode of the Idea Time Innovation Podcast. Paul Sloane is an author and speaker on lateral thinking, creativity, and the leadership of innovation. He has written over 20 books on these subjects. The latest, published by Kogan Page, is Lateral Thinking for Every Day. He gives talks and workshops and his corporate clients include Nike, Microsoft, Bayer and Unilever. His most recent online course on Udemy is entitled, How to be a Brilliant Thinker. Topics we cover in the episode include: What lateral thinking is, and why it's important for business, even in challenging times How to avoid over-conformity and group think How to build and lead workplace innovation and build a more creative culture Strategies for low cost, low risk innovation Creative facilitation tools, activities and techniques that get teams thinking more innovatively in brainstorming sessions to generate more, even better ideas Real examples of lateral thinking and innovative growth in organizations For my articles and tips on Innovation Culture: Ten Steps to an Innovation Culture How to build an Innovative Culture in 2023 - 8 top tips Paul and I would love to hear what you think. Do please let us know in the comments. Follow Paul on Twitter @paulsloane; Contact Paul on Linkedin
There's a saying: “If you want a new idea, read a history book.” That might be true 95 percent of the time, but for the remaining five percent of the time, particularly when looking for problem-solving techniques, the solution might demand a completely new approach. Lateral thinking is the idea of entering from the side door, flipping the problem on its head, and spitballing completely new solutions. On this week's podcast, we discuss how to apply this technique to your life. Listen and learn: Why innovation seems to have reached a lull How to break free from your siloed information feed What if everything you assumed was wrong or misguided? What if the solution to your current problems was easy, obvious, and simple? Links Paul's Site ABOUT OUR GUEST Paul Sloane is a UK-based author, speaker, and consultant, specializing in innovation and creative thinking. He has written several books on these topics, including: Lateral Thinking Puzzlers, The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills, and De Bono's Thinking Course. Like the Show? Leave us a review Check out our YouTube channel Visit www.yogabody.com
Two bonus lateral thinking puzzles solved with Laura and Paul.Puzzle 1 by Lindy from TXPuzzle 2 from Outside-the-Box Lateral Thinking Puzzles by Paul Sloane and Des MachaleThe Halfling - A Middle-earth PodcastExplore Tolkien's writings and how they could fit into the "Rings of Power" showListen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify
Paul Sloane relates the stories of two influential innnovators who each took an idea from one field and applied it with great effect in another. Clarence Birdseye (1886 - 1956) was an American scientist who created the frozen food industry. Jorge Odon (born 1952) is an Argentinain car mechanic who invented a device which can help save the lives of mothers and babies.
Shownotes + resources: https://fellow.app/supermanagers/paul-sloane-are-you-a-lateral-or-vertical-thinker/ How do you think outside of the box and why is it a leadership superpower? Paul Sloane is a leading Innovation Consultant and author of over 20 books (including The Innovative Leader). In this episode, Paul tells us about being an open-minded leader and how open-mindedness can break thinking patterns in order to become more innovative. Paul shares how leaders can think laterally, rather than vertically, in order to keep up with a world that is constantly changing. And he even gives us some tips on how to run a successful brainstorming session with your team. Tune in to learn what the difference between a manager and a leader is and how transformative thinking will help problem-solving.
If you want your business to grow or your idea to take off, you've got to innovate. Paul Sloane is an Innovation Consultant that encourages leaders and teams to use “lateral thinking”. What's lateral thinking? It's approaching a problem from new directions. As a leader, are you empowering your team to experiment and take risks? Or have you become risk averse? In this Powerful at Work Radio podcast episode, learn why it's so important to show the destination but let your team choose the route... Episode Outline: [02:17] There's an element of risk and innovation in trying new things. [04:16] The cost associated with innovation and experimentation... [08:01] How to remove barriers to innovation and lateral thinking in the business today. [12:54] You want an attitude where people are allowed to fail, provided they share the experience, and we learn from it. [18:52] Why does your team need freedom and a budget? About Paul Sloane: Lateral thinking expert and pioneer of innovative leadership, Paul Sloane is a highly sought after motivational speaker. Blending puzzle challenges with authoritative business messages, Paul provides practical and memorable lessons. An innovative leader who specialises in creative challenges Paul can entertain an after-dinner audience, deliver a keynote speech, or facilitate. Website: https://www.destination-innovation.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paul.sloane1 Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaulSloane LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsloane/ Follow Rosa Ponce de Leon and Powerful at Work Radio: Website: https://rosaponcedeleon.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosa-ponce-de-leon/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rosa_PdL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosaponcedeleoncoach/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RosaPoncedeLeonCoach
Paul Sloane's always been interested in lateral thinking puzzles and has written international best sellers on the subject. He shares how he's translated those methods into solving problems in the business world. A professional who's helped busy executives with creativity and innovation in their companies for over fifteen years, he describes some of his methods to raise the bar for leadership and problem solving. Listen and learn How lateral thinking starts with approaching problems from the side, Examples of his 12 “great ways to innovate,” Why corporate culture provides little incentive to innovate and how he advises to change that, and Some of the most interesting puzzles he's faced in the corporate world. Author, speaker, and innovator Paul Sloane explains his cutting-edge approach to business problems and solutions for listeners with concrete examples and the philosophy behind what he does. It all starts with countering the staid habit of vertical thinking. That's where “you build block on block on block, and that's fine. But lateral means coming at the problem from the side. It means finding a new and fresh and different approach to the problem,” says Sloane. He says that's how great leaps, like our modern grocery shopping system, have evolved. Unfortunately, he says that corporate culture is often works against innovation, mostly at the middle level when goals are geared toward meeting one's numbers rather than risk taking that might not pan out. Sloane has numerous methods to address these, from brainstorming groups to creativity training. “Everyone can be more creative than they think. Everyone started out as creative. Kids are terrifically creative,” he says and he discusses how he helps to revive that creativity within corporate walls. Listen in to find out more about his effective ideas.
Derek Arden Chats With Author Paul Sloane Paul is writer of several books about lateral thinking and innovation - Puzzles Max Miller storyAlphabet historyEdward de Bone and car park idea for FordsChallenging Assumptions and dominant ideasDeliberately adopting a different point of viewAsking better questionsDisplacementTravis Kalanick - Taxis in Paris - UberHidden TigerSidney Bernstein - Granada TV - selected wetter parts of countryDavid Bowie - Turn and face the changes Wally Test 1 and 2 - What is YOUR Score?
Des MacHale and Paul Sloane discuss the joy of mathematics and review some puzzles from their popular book, Mathematical Lateral Thinking Puzzles, published by Sterling Publishing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Des MacHale and Paul Sloane talk about their new book, 1234 Wacky, Witty and Wonderful Words. It is a lexicon of funny and fascinating words and it helps raise money for the charity Step by Step which supports disadvantaged young people. Here the authors consider some of the words beginning with A. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Membahas tentang buku yang ditulis oleh praktisi berpikir lateral dunia yaitu Paul Sloane. Buku ini akan banyak membagikan insight menarik tentang cara para pemikir briliant dunia mengembangkan kemampuan berpikirnya. Pernah nggak sih rekan-rekan penasaran kok bisa ya ada pemikir keren banget yang cara berpikirnya beda dan bisa menyelesaikan berbagai permasalahan di dunia, nah buku ini akan membagikan tips dan trik dibalik kemampuan berpikir tersebut Silahkan disimak, semoga bermanfaat! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tentangbuku/support
Taking a fresh perspective and coming to the problem from a different side can help to boost innovation. Thus, today's guest in Expert Insight Interview is Paul Sloane, and he discusses lateral thinking for salespeople.
In 1890, French inventor Louis Le Prince vanished just as he was preparing to debut his early motion pictures. He was never seen again. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll consider the possible causes of Le Prince's disappearance and his place in the history of cinema. We'll also reflect on a murderous lawyer and puzzle over the vagaries of snake milking. Intro: In 1826, schoolteacher George Pocock proposed a carriage drawn by kites. George Sicherman discovered an alternate pair of six-sided dice that produce the same probability distribution as ordinary dice. Sources for our feature on Louis Le Prince: Christopher Rawlence, The Missing Reel: The Untold Story of the Lost Inventor of Moving Pictures, 1990. Thomas Deane Tucker, The Peripatetic Frame, 2020. Adam Hart-Davis, ed., Engineers: From the Great Pyramids to the Pioneers of Space Travel, 2012. Jenni Davis, Lost Bodies, 2017. Charles Musser, "When Did Cinema Become Cinema?: Technology, History, and the Moving Pictures," in Santiago Hidalgo, ed., Technology and Film Scholarship: Experience, Study, Theory, 2018. Richard Howells, "Louis Le Prince: The Body of Evidence," Screen 47:2 (Summer 2006), 179–200. John Gianvito, "Remembrance of Films Lost," Film Quarterly 53:2 (1999), 39-42. Irfan Shah, "Man With a Movie Camera," History Today 69:1 (January 2019) 18-20. Violeta María Martínez Alcañiz, "The Birth of Motion Pictures: Piracy, Patent Disputes and Other Anecdotes in the Race for Inventing Cinema," III Congreso Internacional Historia, Arte y Literatura en el Cine en Español y Portugués, 2015. Atreyee Gupta, "The Disappearance of Louis Le Prince," Materials Today 11:7-8 (July-August 2008), 56. Justin McKinney, "From Ephemera to Art: The Birth of Film Preservation and the Museum of Modern Art Film Library," Art Documentation: Journal of the Art Libraries Society of North America 33:2 (September 2014), 295-312. Denis Pellerin, "The Quest for Stereoscopic Movement: Was the First Film Ever in 3-D?", International Journal on Stereo & Immersive Media 1:1 (2017). Ian Youngs, "Louis Le Prince, Who Shot the World's First Film in Leeds," BBC News, June 23, 2015. Kevin Brownlow, "The Inventor Vanishes," New York Times, Nov. 18, 1990. "How Is the Technology That Was Used to Reconstruct the Oldest Film in History?", CE Noticias Financieras, English ed., May 13, 2020. Chris Bond, "Leeds Celebrates Its Film Pioneer," Yorkshire Post, Oct. 24, 2017. Adrian Lee, "Whatever Happened to the True Father of Film?", [London] Daily Express, June 29, 2015. "Louis Le Prince: Time to Honour Cinema's Forgotten Pioneer," Yorkshire Post, Sept. 16, 2013. Troy Lennon, "Movie Pioneer Caught in a Disappearing Act," [Surry Hills, N.S.W.] Daily Telegraph, Oct. 14, 2008, 38. Kieron Casey, "The Mystery of Louis Le Prince, the Father of Cinematography," Science+Media Museum, Aug. 29, 2013. Listener mail: Agnes Rogers, How Come? A Book of Riddles, 1953. Wikipedia, "Lateral Thinking" (accessed July 25, 2020). Edward de Bono's website. Wikipedia, "Situation Puzzle" (accessed July 25, 2020). Paul Sloane, Lateral Thinking Puzzlers, 1991. This week's lateral thinking puzzle was contributed by listener Eric Ridenour. You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on Google Podcasts, on Apple Podcasts, or via the RSS feed at https://futilitycloset.libsyn.com/rss. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- you can choose the amount you want to pledge, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!
Jim's a creative guy. He directs, consults, speaks and teaches on creativity. He can't get enough it. That's why I wanted him on the show. I wanted to talk about how agencies can be more creative and how they can nurture it. We did that. And we also had a chance to discuss how you can take time out (or step away during a crisis) to work on your creativity. Have a listen as we sit down with Jim Harrison from MetaVisual design studio. Be sure to subscribe! Do it here ► https://bit.ly/theclimbyoutube ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Show Notes: Jim's Studio ► www.Meta-Visual.com Unlocking creative potential videos ► https://vimeo.com/showcase/7019674 Jim's Recommended Books: Alchemy by Rory Sutherland ► https://amzn.to/2SkzBii Metaskills by Marty Neumeier ► https://amzn.to/2W6kABS Riding the Creative Rollercoaster by Dr. Nick Udall ► https://amzn.to/3cS3Bdg Design Thinking for Strategic Innovation by Idris Mootee ► https://amzn.to/3f26H0h Innovation for the Fatigued by Alf Rehn ► https://amzn.to/35hE5vi The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills by Paul Sloane ► https://amzn.to/2y24l0S Group Genius by Keith Sawyer ► https://amzn.to/3cX6zx9 In Your Creative Element by Claire Bridges ► https://amzn.to/2Sia3lT Brand Gap by Marty Neumeier ► https://amzn.to/2WaQWeK ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Join Digital Mastermind: Website ► https://www.digitalmastermind.com ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Connect w/Digital Mastermind Group Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/digmastermindgroup Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/digitalmastermindgroup/ LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/company/digital-mastermind-group/ Twitter ► https://twitter.com/dig_mastermind ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Connect with Jon Tsourakis: Facebook ► https://www.facebook.com/jon.tsourakis/ Instagram ► https://www.instagram.com/jontsourakis/ LinkedIn ► https://www.linkedin.com/in/jontsourakis/ Twitter ► https://twitter.com/jontsourakis ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Here are six new lateral thinking puzzles -- play along with us as we try to untangle some perplexing situations using yes-or-no questions. Intro: Ixonia, Wisconsin, was named at random. Ben Franklin harnessed the power of long-term interest to make large gifts to Boston and Philadelphia. The sources for this week's puzzles are below. In two places we've included links to further information -- these contain spoilers, so don't click until you've listened to the episode: Puzzle #1 is from listener Gabriel Bizcarra. Puzzle #2 is adapted from Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's 2014 book Remarkable Lateral Thinking Puzzles. Puzzle #3 is from Greg. Puzzle #4 is from listener Peter Quinn. Puzzle #5 is from Greg. Here are two links. Puzzle #6 is from Sharon. Two links. You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on Google Podcasts, on Apple Podcasts, or via the RSS feed at https://futilitycloset.libsyn.com/rss. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- you can choose the amount you want to pledge, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!
In 1978, two luminaries of South Korean cinema were abducted by Kim Jong-Il and forced to make films in North Korea in an outlandish plan to improve his country's fortunes. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll tell the story of Choi Eun-Hee and Shin Sang-Ok and their dramatic efforts to escape their captors. We'll also examine Napoleon's wallpaper and puzzle over an abandoned construction. Intro: In 1891, Robert Baden-Powell encoded the locations of Dalmatian forts in innocent drawings of butterflies. Legal scholar Mark V. Tushnet suggests how a 16-year-old might seek the presidency. Sources for our feature on Choi Eun-Hee and Shin Sang-Ok: Paul Fischer, A Kim Jong-Il Production, 2015. Johannes Schönherr, North Korean Cinema: A History, 2012. Steven Chung, Split Screen Korea: Shin Sang-ok and Postwar Cinema, 2014. Bradley K. Martin, Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader: North Korea and the Kim Dynasty, 2007. "Choi Eun-hee: South Korean Actress Who Was Kidnapped by North Dies," BBC, April 17, 2018. Martin Belam, "Choi Eun-hee, Actor Once Abducted by North Korea, Dies," Guardian, April 17, 2018. "A Hong Kong Kidnap: How Kim Jong-il Had South Korea's Top Actress Abducted From Repulse Bay," South China Morning Post, March 25, 2015. "Famed South Korean Actress Choi Eun-Hee, Who Was Abducted by North Korean Spies in Hong Kong for Film Fan Kim Jong-Il, Dies Aged 91," South China Morning Post, April 17, 2018. Olivier Holmey, "Remembering Choi Eun-hee, the South Korean Film Actor Once Abducted by Pyongyang," Independent, May 14, 2018. Ilana Kaplan, "Choi Eun-Hee Dead: South Korean Actress Once Kidnapped by North Korea Dies Aged 92," Independent, April 17, 2018. Barbara Demick, "Secret Tape Recordings of Kim Jong Il Provide Rare Insight Into the Psyche of His North Korean Regime," Los Angeles Times, Oct. 27, 2016. Euan McKirdy, "South Korean Actress and Former North Korean Abductee Choi Eun-Hee Dies," CNN, April 17, 2018. Julian Ryall, "The Incredible Life Story of Actress Choi Eun-Hee, Abducted by North Korea and Forced to Make Films for Kim Jong-il," Telegraph, April 17, 2018. Nicolas Levi, "Kim Jong Il: A Film Director Who Ran a Country," Journal of Modern Science 25:2 (2015), 155-166. Choe Sang-Hun, "Obituary: Shin Sang Ok, 80, Korean Film Director," New York Times, April 12, 2006. Douglas Martin, "Shin Sang Ok, 80, Korean Film Director Abducted by Dictator, Is Dead," New York Times, April 13, 2006. Alexandra Alter, "North Korea’s Love-Hate of Movies," New York Times, Dec. 31, 2014. Peter Maass, "The Last Emperor," New York Times, Oct. 19, 2003. Chris Knight, "Kim Jong-il's Bizarre Interlude in the Movies," Ottawa Citizen, Sept. 30, 2016, E.5. "A Memoir: Shin Sang-ok, Choi Eun-hee and I," Korea Times, Oct. 5, 2016. "Choi Eun-hee: Beautiful Actress and Doyenne of Postwar South Korean Films Before Her Kidnap by North Korea Where She Lived in a Gilded Cage," Times, June 4, 2018, 48. Ronald Bergan, "Obituary: Shin Sang-Ok: South Korean Film Director Whose Life Read Like the Plot of a Far-Fetched Thriller," Guardian, April 19, 2006, 34. Lawrence Levi, "Lights, Camera, Kidnap," Newsday, Feb. 8, 2015, C.17. "The Incredible Life Story of Actress Choi Eun-hee, Abducted by North Korea and Forced to Make Films for Kim Jong-il," Telegraph, April 17, 2018. An Hong-Kyoon, "More Dramatic Than Movie," Korea Times, Oct. 6, 2016. Hannah McGill, "Acting in the Dictator's Cut," Independent, March 14, 2015, 22. Olivier Holmey, "South Korean Film Actor Abducted by Pyongyang," Independent, May 16, 2018, 36. Peter Keough, "How Kim Jong-il Got What He Wanted," Boston Globe, Sept. 23, 2016, G.8. Peter Keough, "That Time Kim Jong-il Kidnapped His Favorite Movie Star and Director," Boston Globe, Sept. 21, 2016, G.8. Khang Hyun-sung, "Director's Colourful Life Competed With His Cinematic Creations," South China Morning Post, April 15, 2006, 11. Jennifer Hunter, "The Stranger-Than-Fiction Abduction of a Director and His Star," Toronto Star, Jan. 31, 2015, IN.3. "Obituary of Shin Sang-ok," Daily Telegraph, May 6, 2006. Tim Robey, "Losing the Plot: Kim Jong-il Was So Set on Film-Making He Kidnapped Two South Korean Stars," Daily Telegraph, Feb. 28, 2015, 30. Here's Pulgasari, the monster movie that got Shin and Choi to Vienna. In the West it's regarded as a dud. "Pulgasari marked a turn in Shin's career, the first time he had put all his energy into a picture and created a stinker," writes Paul Fischer. "It was a sudden, inexplicable transformation, after which Shin never recovered his magic touch." Listener mail: Ted Chamberlain, "Napoleon Death Mystery Solved, Experts Say," National Geographic, Jan. 17, 2007. "Napoleon Death: Arsenic Poisoning Ruled Out," Live Science, Feb. 12, 2008. "Was Napoleon Poisoned?", American Museum of Natural History, Jan. 21, 2014. J. Thomas Hindmarsh and John Savory, "The Death of Napoleon, Cancer or Arsenic?", Clinical Chemistry 54:12 (2008), 2092-2093. William J. Broad, "Hair Analysis Deflates Napoleon Poisoning Theories," New York Times, June 10, 2008. Max Finkel, "Instead of a Ticket, Some Speeders in Estonia Are Getting a Time Out," Jalopnik, Sept. 28, 2019. Jonathan Schultz, "Speed Camera Lottery Wins VW Fun Theory Contest," New York Times, Nov. 30, 2010. Elizabeth Haggarty, "Speed Camera Lottery Pays Drivers for Slowing Down," Toronto Star, Dec. 9, 2010. DDB, "DDB's Fun Theory for Volkswagen Takes Home Cannes Cyber Grand Prix," June 25, 2010. Wikipedia, "Radar Speed Sign: Effectiveness," (accessed Oct. 19, 2019). "The Speed Camera Lottery - The Fun Theory," Rolighetsteorin, Nov. 12, 2010. Volkswagen, "The Fun Theory 1 – Piano Staircase Initiative," Oct. 26, 2009. Elle Hunt, "Cash Converters: Could This Dutch Scheme Stop Drivers Speeding?", Guardian, May 25, 2018. This week's lateral thinking puzzle is from Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's 2014 book Remarkable Lateral Thinking Puzzles. Here's a corroborating link (warning -- this spoils the puzzle). You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on Google Podcasts, on Apple Podcasts, or via the RSS feed at https://futilitycloset.libsyn.com/rss. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- you can choose the amount you want to pledge, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!
Paul Sloane is an experienced speaker, course leader and facilitator. A recognised authority on innovation and creative speaking, he speaks and gives workshops to leading corporations around the world. He is also the best-selling author of How to Be a Brilliant Thinker, The Innovative Leader, The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills and editor of A Guide to Open Innovation and Crowdsourcing, all published by Kogan Page. Episode Overview: Do you want your team to generate great ideas and deliver successful innovations? I have been following Paul Sloane for awhile now, his tweets always made me giggle. He really is the Innovation King! We chat on this episode around numerous areas about Innovation: You’ll discover: The difference between creativity and innovation Different ways to measure Innovation How employees need to be idea generators Risk Takers vs Risk Avoiders – man versus women Innovation Audit and so much more About Destination Innovation: Destination Innovation is a consultancy service led by Paul Sloane to promote lateral thinking and innovation. We help improve the agility of your team. We help people improve leadership and innovation. We provide talks, workshops and facilitation. Related Links: What is the difference between creativity and innovation How can you measure your innovation? What are the best metrics? An innovative complaint – United breaks guitars LinkedIn Group: Lateral Thinking in Business Lateral Puzzles Recommended Books: Lateral Thinking Skills Lateral Thinking Puzzlers How to be a Brilliant Thinker The Innovation Leader Think Like an Innovators Connect with Paul: Destination-Innovation.com | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn
Off to Vancouver; The sub-editors and Brexit; Dalton Harris; Can you twerk?; Consider your language; No sleep for the media; Unique content can be priceless; An interview with Paul Sloane; Music form Mick Terry
Paul Sloane is the author 30 books on leadership topics and lateral thinking puzzles. He give talks and master classes on lateral thinking an innovation for corporate clients around the world. He recently gave a lecture tour in Iran. CONNECT with Paul HERE LISTEN to Paul's TEDx talk HERE BeTheTalk is a 7 day a week podcast where Nathan Eckel chats with talkers from TEDx & branded events. Tips tools and techniques that can help you give the talk to change the world at BeTheTalk.com !
Paul Sloane is the author 30 books on leadership topics and lateral thinking puzzles. He give talks and master classes on lateral thinking an innovation for corporate clients around the world. He recently gave a lecture tour in Iran. CONNECT with Paul HERE LISTEN to Paul's TEDx talk HERE BeTheTalk is a 7 day a week podcast where Nathan Eckel chats with talkers from TEDx & branded events. Tips tools and techniques that can help you give the talk to change the world at BeTheTalk.com !
Here are five new lateral thinking puzzles -- play along with us as we try to untangle some perplexing situations using yes-or-no questions. Here are the sources for this week's puzzles. In a few places we've included links to further information -- these contain spoilers, so don't click until you've listened to the episode: Puzzle #1 was contributed by listener Mary McNally. Puzzle #2 is from listeners Tay Moss and John Russell. Puzzle #3 is from Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's 2014 book Remarkable Lateral Thinking Puzzles, plus this article. Puzzle #4 was suggested by an item in Kevin McAleer's 2014 book Dueling: The Cult of Honor in Fin-de-Siècle Germany. Puzzle #5 was devised by Sharon. Here are three corroborating links. You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Google Play Music or via the RSS feed at http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- you can choose the amount you want to pledge, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!
In 1977, a young woman named Robyn Davidson set out to pursue what she called a "lunatic idea" -- to lead a group of camels 1,700 miles across western Australia, from the center of the continent to the Indian Ocean. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll follow Davidson's remarkable journey alone through the Outback and learn what it taught her. We'll also dive into the La Brea Tar Pits and puzzle over some striking workers. Intro: O.E. Young of Petersburg, Va., assembled a two-story house from the marble headstones of 2,000 Union soldiers. In 1946 Stan Bult began recording the faces of London clowns on eggshells. Sources for our feature on Robyn Davidson: Robyn Davidson, Tracks, 1980. Paul Smethurst, Travel Writing and the Natural World, 1768-1840, 2012. Robert Clarke, Travel Writing From Black Australia: Utopia, Melancholia, and Aboriginality, 2016. Amanda Hooton, "Travels of the Heart," Sydney Morning Herald, Feb. 8, 2014. Robyn Davidson, "Walk My Country," Mānoa 18:2 (Winter 2006), 7-17. "The Inspiration: Robyn Davidson," Australian Geographic 90 (April-June 2008), 112-112. Dea Birkett, "The Books Interview: Robyn Davidson -- Landmarks of an Accursed Art," Independent, Aug. 4, 2001, 9. Luke Slattery, "10 Questions: Robyn Davidson, Writer, Traveller, 59," Australian Magazine, Oct. 13, 2012, 10. Michele Field, "Robyn Davidson: A Literary Nomad," Publishers Weekly 243:46 (Nov. 11, 1996), 52-53. Cathy Pryor, "Tracks Author Robyn Davidson Reflects on a Changing Australia, 40 Years After Her Desert Trek," ABC News, Dec. 8, 2017. Richard Feloni, "16 Striking Photos of One Woman's 2,835km Trek Across the Australian Outback," Business Insider Australia, Feb. 15, 2015. Robyn Davidson, "Tracks: The True Story Behind the Film," Telegraph, April 19, 2014. Duncan Campbell, "Making Tracks: Robyn Davidson's Australian Camel Trip on the Big Screen," Guardian, April 21, 2014. "Indomitable Spirit," Canberra Times, Sept. 29, 2012, 8. Coburn Dukehart, "Rick Smolan's Trek With Tracks, From Australian Outback to Silver Screen," National Geographic, Sept. 19, 2014. Brad Wetzler, "Australian Camel Odyssey: A Voyage of Self Discovery," Kitchener-Waterloo Record, Jan. 2, 1993, E1. Eleanor Massey, "Women Who Discovered the World," Eureka Street 21:2 (Feb. 11, 2011), 1-2. Mary Warner Marien, "Desert Journeys With Women Are Anything But Dry," Christian Science Monitor, March 12, 1997. Jennifer H. Laing and Geoffrey I. Crouch, "Lone Wolves? Isolation and Solitude Within the Frontier Travel Experience," Geografiska Annaler, Series B, Human Geography 91:4 (December 2009), 325-342. Gary Krist, "Ironic Journeys: Travel Writing in the Age of Tourism," Hudson Review 45:4 (Winter 1993), 593-601. Robert Clarke, "Travel and Celebrity Culture: An Introduction," Postcolonial Studies 12:2 (June 2009), 145-152. Richard Snailham, "Tracks by Robyn Davidson," Geographical Journal 148:1 (March 1982), 116-117. Ihab Hassan, "Australian Journeys: A Personal Essay on Spirit," Religion & Literature 34:3 (Autumn, 2002), 75-90. Rachael Weaver, "Adaptation and Authorial Celebrity: Robyn Davidson and the Context of John Curran's Tracks (2013)," Adaptation 9:1 (March 2016), 12-21. Listener mail: Helen Lawson, "'My Job Stinks': The Diver Who Has to Swim Through Sewers to Unblock the Drains of Mexico City," Daily Mail, March 23, 2013. Michael Walsh, "It's A Dirty Job: Meet Mexico City’S Official Sewer Diver," New York Daily News, March 23, 2013. Eric Hodge, Phoebe Judge, and Rebecca Martinez, "Criminal: La Brea Dave's Deep Dive," WUNC, Dec. 18, 2015. Wikipedia, "La Brea Tar Pits" (accessed April 19, 2018). "FAQs," La Brea Tar Pits & Museum (accessed April 19, 2018). Andrew Blankstein, "Police Find Evidence Linked to Homicide in La Brea Tar Pits," Los Angeles Times, June 7, 2013. Wikipedia, "Grapheme-Color Synesthesia" (accessed April 19, 2018). Maggie Koerth-Baker, "Magnetic Letters Taught Us More Than How to Spell," National Geographic, March 9, 2016. "Synesthesia," Psychology Today (accessed April 19, 2018). Nathan Witthoft, Jonathan Winawer, and David M. Eagleman, "Prevalence of Learned Grapheme-Color Pairings in a Large Online Sample of Synesthetes," PLOS One 10:3 (March 4, 2015), e0118996. A.N. Rich, J.L. Bradshaw, and J.B. Mattingley, "A Systematic, Large-Scale Study of Synaesthesia: Implications for the Role of Early Experience in Lexical-Colour Associations," Cognition 98:1 (November 2005), 53-84. Wikipedia, "Synesthesia" (accessed April 19, 2018). Patricia Lynne Duffy, Blue Cats and Chartreuse Kittens: How Synesthetes Color Their Worlds, 2011. This week's lateral thinking puzzle is from Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's 2014 book Remarkable Lateral Thinking Puzzles. You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on iTunes or Google Play Music or via the RSS feed at http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- on our Patreon page you can pledge any amount per episode, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!
Idea to Value - Creativity and Innovation with Nick Skillicorn
In today's episode of the Idea to Value Podcast, we chat with Paul Sloane, one of Twitter's biggest innovation influencers and author of multiple books on the subject, including the third edition of The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills. https://www.ideatovalue.com/podc/nickskillicorn/2017/09/podcast-022-paul-sloane-leaders-need-courageous-innovate/ In this week's episode, we talk about why leader's need courage to actually try new things and innovate, and learn some case studies of inspiring leaders who have succeeded in doing just that. Topics covered in today's episode: * What stops most companies from innovating is not a lack of ideas but a lack of leadership (01:30) * Is lateral thinking just a new way to think of lots of new ideas? (03:30) * Approaching problems from a new direction will lead to novel new solutions which can't be found using a traditional academic way of solving a problem (04:45) * Leadership is about creating an environment where ideas can be turned into action (05:30) * Great leaders need to be both a firefighter and an arsonist (06:45) * Leaders need to give themselves time to focus on strategic activity and delegate other tasks (08:30) * Courageous leaders need to make decisions which could be difficult and potentially unpopular (09:30) * Why being innovative can be such a difficult decision because it can disrupt your own core business (10:30) * Great leaders realise they don't have all the answers about how their company will reach their future goals, and let other team members contribute to finding the solutions to reach that goal over time (13:00) Links mentioned in this episode: * Paul's Website: http://www.destination-innovation.com/ * Paul's new book: The Leader's Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills: Unlock the Creativity and Innovation in You and Your Team http://amzn.to/2f5cioH Bonus: This episode was made possible by our premium members and the Deep Creativity training system. Sign up now to get exclusive creativity exercises every single day and take your ability to generate ideas to the next level. Use coupon code PODCAST for 25% off your first month. Find out more at https://www.ideatovalue.com/deepcreativity/ https://www.ideatovalue.com/ * Subscribe on iTunes to the Idea to Value Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/idea-to-value-creativity-innovation/id1199964981?mt=2 * Subscribe on Stitcher to the Idea to Value Podcast: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=129437&refid=stpr
James Corrigan (born 1924) joined the Durham Light Infantry at the age of 17. He took part in the Sicily landing and the D-Day landing. He was mentioned in dispatches and was awarded the Legion d’Honneur and the Croix de Guerre. Here he recounts some of his memories to Paul Sloane.
Broadcaster, author and speaking coach, Jeremy Nicholas talks to Paul Sloane. He tells stories of some of his great interviews including when Brian Clough punched him and when he annoyed Christopher Lee. He explains why and how humour should be included in speeches.
Pam Warren became famous as the Lady in the Mask after she suffered horrific burns in the Paddington Train Crash. She tells Paul Sloane the story of how she recovered and became an eminent author and speaker.
Paul Sloane interviews Brigadier Mike Roycroft. In a 30 year career in the British Army Mike rose to the rank of Brigadier. He served in Germany and Northern Ireland. He shares stories and lessons from the major change programmes he led both in the army and in the charities sector. He is now CEO of the St Raphael's Hospice in London.
Paul Sloane interviews David Gurteen, creator of the Gurteen Knowledge Cafe. He is an expert on knowledge management and organisational learning. Here he explains exactly what a knowledge cafe is. He tells us why he thinks most people do not have effective conversations. He shares stories and learnings from cafes he has run around the world.
Paul Sloane interviews Cary Hobbs who as a teenager hosted Elvis Presley and Buddy Holly on his radio show. He went on to a successful career in IBM and Ashton-Tate. He is an accomplished musician and entertainer.
Paul Sloane interviews his co-author Des MacHale, formerly professor of Mathematics at Cork University. Des talks about his life-long love of humour, puzzles and Maths. And he reveals the infamous joke told to him by his hero, Marshall McLuhan.
Paul Sloane interviews Bob Archer, a former wrestling champion and music impresario. He ran music venues and nightclubs where he met the Beatles, the Who, Elton John and many others.
Paul Sloane interviews Brian McBride. He was the UK chief executive for Dell, T-Mobile and Amazon and a Director of Celtic FC. He is now chairman of ASOS and a popular speaker on Digital Marketing. He reveals the remarkable interview question which Jeff Bezos asked him.
Paul Sloane interviews John Spiers, founder of Best Invest, CEO of EQ Investors. He is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, motor racer and croquet champion.
Paul Sloane interviews Peter Black an eminent architect who designed many buildings, was arrested by Uday Hussein (son of Saddam Hussein) and met Mother Theresa.
Here are five new lateral thinking puzzles to test your wits and stump your friends -- play along with us as we try to untangle some perplexing situations using yes-or-no questions. Here are the sources for this week's puzzles. In a couple of places we've included links to further information -- these contain spoilers, so don't click until you've listened to the episode: Puzzle #1 was contributed by listener Dave Lawrence. Puzzle #2 is from listener Michael Berman. Puzzle #3 is from Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's Ingenious Lateral Thinking Puzzles, 1998. Puzzle #4 is from listener Paul Sophocleous. Here are two associated links. Puzzle #5 is from listener Noah Kurland. Here's an associated link. You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on iTunes or Google Play Music or via the RSS feed at http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- on our Patreon page you can pledge any amount per episode, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!
Here are six new lateral thinking puzzles to test your wits and stump your friends -- play along with us as we try to untangle some perplexing situations using yes-or-no questions. Below are the sources for this week's puzzles. In a few places we've included links to further information -- these contain spoilers, so don't click until you've listened to the episode: Puzzle #1 is from Dan Lewis' Now I Know newsletter of April 28, 2016. Puzzle #2 was contributed by listener Jon Sweitzer-Lamme, who sent these corroborating links. Puzzle #3 is from listener Jonathan Knoell. Puzzle #4 is from listener Nick Hare. Puzzle #5 is from Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's 2014 book Remarkable Lateral Thinking Puzzles. Puzzle #6 was devised by Greg. Here's a link. You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on iTunes or Google Play Music or via the RSS feed at http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- on our Patreon page you can pledge any amount per episode, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!
On this week's episode, we'll be learning how to think like innovators by exploring the importance of lateral thinking. Among the topics we'll discuss are how lateral thinking can be applied in a business context, what the famous Fosbury flop can teach us about thinking like an innovator, and much more. Joining us on this episode of the podcast is Paul Sloane, author of Think Like an Innovator: 76 Inspiring Business Lessons From the World's Greatest Thinkers & Innovators and How to Be a Brilliant Thinker, among others. Paul was a top salesman with IBM, as well as the Marketing Director, Managing Director, and CEO of various software companies like Ashton-Tate and Mathsoft. Among the many companies who have benefited from Paul's innovation workshops are Nike, Novartis, Microsoft, and Glaxo Smith Kline. Paul is the author of over 25 books on leadership, innovation, lateral thinking, and puzzles, and he specializes in speaking and teaching on lateral thinking and innovation in business. He blogs often on his website at www.destination-innovation.com, where you can also find information on the many books he has written and get your hands on a number of resources like lateral thinking puzzles, an innovation audit and more. Paul Tweets on innovation-related topics regularly at @PaulSloane. Show Notes Read Paul's blogs on his website: http://www.destination-innovation.com/ Buy Think Like an Innovator on Amazon Follow Paul on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PaulSloane
In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll explore some more curiosities and unanswered questions from Greg's research, including a pilot who saved Buckingham Palace, a ghost who confronted Arthur Conan Doyle, what Mark Twain learned from a palm reader, and a bedeviling superfluity of Norwegians. We'll also discover a language used only by women and puzzle over a gift that's best given sparingly. Intro: Horatio Nelson's coffin was fashioned from the mast of a French flagship that he had defeated. In 1994 the city council of Green River, Wyoming, designated an airstrip south of town as an "intergalactic spaceport." Sources for our feature on notes and queries: The story of the Singapore tiger shooting appears in this history of the Raffles hotel. Neil Kagan's 2013 book The Untold Civil War alleges that the 15th Wisconsin Volunteer Regiment was so thick with Norwegians that it contained dozens of men named Ole Olson. The Norwegian American Genealogical Center says that the Roster of Wisconsin Volunteers shows that the 15th had 128 men whose first name was Ole, 75 men whose last name was Olson, Olsen, or Oleson, but just 15 whose names were Ole Olson, Ole Olsen, or Ole Oleson. The anecdote about the Gettysburg ordinance is mentioned in Michael Sanders' 2006 More Strange Tales of the Civil War, which cites Gregory A. Coco's A Strange and Blighted Land, Gettysburg: The Aftermath of a Battle, 1995. I found it in Allen C. Guelzo's Gettysburg: The Last Invasion, 2013. Frances Wilson describes Titanic survivor Lawrence Beesley's visit to the set of A Night to Remember in her 2011 book How to Survive the Titanic, Or The Sinking of J. Bruce Ismay. The observation about John Ford's eye for camerawork appears in Robert L. Carringer's 1996 book The Making of Citizen Kane. Dan Murphy's Puritan name is spelled out in Willard R. Espy's An Almanac of Words at Play, 1975. (I first wrote about unusual Puritan names in 2009.) The two long names cited by H.L. Mencken appear in his 1921 study The American Language. Douglas Hofstadter describes Stanford art professor Matt Kahn's confetti illusion in his foreword to Al Seckel's 2004 book Masters of Deception. Mark Twain wrote about Cheiro's prophecy in his notebook in 1903. His affidavit regarding the palmist's insight into his character is described in Sarah E. Chinn's 2000 book Technology and the Logic of American Racism. Three sources regarding Georges Simenon's prolificity: Stanley G. Eskin, Simenon, A Critical Biography, 1987. Henry Anatole Grunwald, "World's Most Prolific Novelist," Life 45:18 (Nov. 3, 1958). Aubrey Dillon-Malone, Stranger Than Fiction: A Book of Literary Lists, 1999. Also in Stranger Than Fiction, Dillon-Malone says that Anthony Trollope's quota of seven pages a day would sometimes carry him out of one book and into the next. Dillon-Malone says he's quoting Malcolm Cowley, who indeed says as much in this Paris Review interview, but I'd like to confirm the anecdote. British fighter pilot Ray Holmes' severing of a Dornier bomber's tail is depicted in this painting. In his 2010 book Royal Prayer: A Surprising History, David Baldwin says "the whole engagement was captured on film," but I've never been able to find it. The best I've found is the opening moments of this National Geographic documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lACDhxSLbYQ The anecdote about Arthur Conan Doyle in Africa is from Russell Miller's 2008 book The Adventures of Arthur Conan Doyle: A Biography. Among other places, the story about Kant's soul appears in Arthur Stone Dewing's 1903 Introduction to the History of Modern Philosophy. And Cornelia Parker's comment about her conversation with Noam Chomsky appears in "Apocalypse Later," Guardian, Feb. 11, 2008. Listener mail: Noah Shachtman, "They Cracked This 250-Year-Old Code, and Found a Secret Society Inside," Wired, Nov. 16, 2012. Wikipedia, "Copiale cipher" (accessed Dec. 8, 2016). "Scientists Crack Mysterious 'Copiale Cipher,'" Guardian, Oct. 26, 2011. Jon Watts, "The Forbidden Tongue," Guardian, Sept. 23, 2005. Wikipedia, "Nüshu script" (accessed Dec. 8, 2016). David Kahn, The Codebreakers, 1967. This week's lateral thinking puzzle is from Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's 2014 book Remarkable Lateral Thinking Puzzles. You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on iTunes or Google Play Music or via the RSS feed at http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- on our Patreon page you can pledge any amount per episode, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!
When William Harrison disappeared from Campden, England, in 1660, his servant offered an incredible explanation: that he and his family had murdered him. The events that followed only proved the situation to be even more bizarre. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll describe "the Campden wonder," an enigma that has eluded explanation for more than 300 years. We'll also consider Vladimir Putin's dog and puzzle over a little girl's benefactor. Intro: In 1921, Pennsylvania surgeon Evan O'Neill Kane removed his own appendix. (Soviet physician Leonid Rogozov did the same 40 years later.) John Cowper Powys once promised to visit Theodore Dreiser "as a spirit or in some other astral form" -- and, according to Dreiser, did so. Sources for our feature on the Campden Wonder: Sir George Clark, ed., The Campden Wonder, 1959. "The Campden Wonder," Arminian Magazine, August 1787, 434. "Judicial Puzzles -- The Campden Wonder," Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, July 1860, 54-64. Andrew Lang, Historical Mysteries, 1904. J.A. Cannon, "Campden Wonder," in The Oxford Companion to British History, 2015. Bruce P. Smith, "The History of Wrongful Execution," Hastings Law Journal, June 2005. Frances E. Chapman, "Coerced Internalized False Confessions and Police Interrogations: The Power of Coercion," Law & Psychology Review 37 (2013), 159. Listener mail: Tim Hume, "Vladimir Putin: I Didn't Mean to Scare Angela Merkel With My Dog," CNN, Jan. 12, 2016. Roland Oliphant, "Vladimir Putin Denies Setting His Dog on Angela Merkel," Telegraph, Jan. 12, 2016. Stefan Kornelius, "Six Things You Didn't Know About Angela Merkel," Guardian, Sept. 10, 2013. Wikipedia, "Spall" (retrieved Oct. 7, 2016). Associated Press, "Boise City to Celebrate 1943 Bombing Misguided B-17 Crew Sought," Nov. 21, 1990. Owlcation, "The WWII Bombing of Boise City in Oklahoma," May 9, 2016. "World War II Air Force Bombers Blast Boise City," Boise City News, July 5, 1943. "County Gets Second Air Bombardment," Boise City News, April 5, 1945. Antony Beevor, D-Day, 2009. This week's lateral thinking puzzle is from Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's 2014 book Remarkable Lateral Thinking Puzzles. You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on iTunes or Google Play Music or via the RSS feed at http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- on our Patreon page you can pledge any amount per episode, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!
In 1917 a pair of Allied officers combined a homemade Ouija board, audacity, and imagination to hoax their way out of a remote prison camp in the mountains of Turkey. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll describe the remarkable escape of Harry Jones and Cedric Hill, which one observer called “the most colossal fake of modern times.” We'll also consider a cactus' role in World War II and puzzle over a cigar-smoking butler. Intro: A 1962 writer to the London Times contends that all thrushes "sooner or later sing the tune of the first subject of Mozart's G minor Symphony." The U.S. Senate maintains a tradition of hiding candy in a desk on the chamber floor. Sources for our feature on the Yozgad escape: E.H. Jones, The Road to En-dor, 1919. Tony Craven Walker's En-dor Unveiled (2014) (PDF) is a valuable source of background information, with descriptions of Harry Jones' early life; the siege of Kut-el-Amara, where he was captured; his punishing trek across Syria; the prison camp; and his life after the war. It includes many letters and postcards, including some hinting at his efforts toward an escape. S.P. MacKenzie, "The Ethics of Escape: British Officer POWs in the First World War," War in History 15:1 (January 2008), 1-16. "A Note for Spiritualists," The Field, March 27, 1920, 457. "Jones, Elias Henry," Dictionary of Welsh Biography (accessed 07/30/2016). "En-dor," in Rudyard Kipling's Verse, 1919. Listener mail: Associated Press, "Japanese Submarine Attack in California Unnerved U.S.," Feb. 23, 1992. William Scheck, "Japanese Submarine Commander Kozo Nishino Gained Personal Satisfaction From Shelling the California Coast," World War II 13:2 (July 1998), 16. Wikipedia, "Bombardment of Ellwood" (accessed Aug. 12, 2016). California Military Museum, "The Shelling of Ellwood" (accessed Aug. 12, 2016). This week's lateral thinking puzzle was adapted from Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's 1998 book Ingenious Lateral Thinking Puzzles. You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on iTunes or Google Play Music or via the RSS feed at http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- on our Patreon page you can pledge any amount per episode, and all contributions are greatly appreciated. You can change or cancel your pledge at any time, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!
The Grim Reaper is way too busy; That super-injunction; John Whittingdale; Victoria Wood; Prince Rogers Nelson; Five awkward problems for speakers; Three key facts about media releases; The Dunbar number; An interview with Paul Sloane; Music from Jim Boggia
Seemingly safe in northern New England, the residents of St. Albans, Vermont, were astonished in October 1864 when a group of Confederate soldiers appeared in their midst, terrorizing residents, robbing banks, and stealing horses. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll tell the story of the St. Albans raid, the northernmost land action of the Civil War. We'll also learn about Charles Darwin's misadventures at the equator and puzzle over a groundskeeper's strange method of tending grass. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- on our Patreon page you can pledge any amount per episode, and all contributions are greatly appreciated. You can change or cancel your pledge at any time, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation via the Donate button in the sidebar of the Futility Closet website. Sources for our feature on the St. Albans raid: Dennis K. Wilson, Justice Under Pressure: The Saint Albans Raid and Its Aftermath, 1992. Robin W. Winks, The Civil War Years: Canada and the United States, 1998. Stuart Lutz, "Terror in St. Albans," Civil War Times Illustrated 40:3 (June 2001). Rick Beard, "When the Rebels Invaded Vermont," New York Times, Oct. 17, 2014. "A Reminiscence of the St. Albans Raid," Montreal Daily Witness, April 5, 1878. "Confederate Raid on St. Albans, Vt.," Pittsburgh Gazette Times, Oct 21, 1914. "Leader of Raid on St. Albans, Vermont, Centre of Controversy at Champlain Celebration," Boston Evening Transcript, May 9, 1912. Edgar Andrew Collard, "Of Many Things ...," Montreal Gazette, March 28, 1969. "English View of the St. Albans Raid Case," Halifax Morning Chronicle, Jan. 24, 1865. Listener mail: Wikipedia, "Line-Crossing Ceremony" (accessed March 18, 2016). R.D. Keynes, ed., Charles Darwin's Beagle Diary, 2001. Jacqueline Klimas, "Navy Leaders Try to Stamp Out Hazing, But Many Sailors Question the Rules," Military Times, July 2, 2013. Wikipedia, "Plimsoll Shoe" (accessed March 18, 2016). This week's lateral thinking puzzle is from Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's 1998 book Ingenious Lateral Thinking Puzzles. You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on iTunes or via the RSS feed at http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!
Here are six new lateral thinking puzzles to test your wits and stump your friends -- play along with us as we try to untangle some strange situations using only yes-or-no questions. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- on our Patreon page you can pledge any amount per episode, and all contributions are greatly appreciated. You can change or cancel your pledge at any time, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation via the Donate button in the sidebar of the Futility Closet website. This episode's puzzles were contributed by listeners David White and Sean Gilbertson and drawn from the following books: Edward J. Harshman, Fantastic Lateral Thinking Puzzles, 1996. Kyle Hendrickson, Mental Fitness Puzzles, 1998. Paul Sloane and Des MacHale, Intriguing Lateral Thinking Puzzles, 1996. David White sent two links to corroborate the third puzzle -- these contain spoilers, so listen to the episode before clicking. You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on iTunes or via the RSS feed at http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!
If you opened a box of Quaker Oats in 1955, you'd find a deed to one square inch of land in northwestern Canada. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll tell the story behind the Klondike Big Inch land giveaway, whose bizarre consequences are still being felt today. We'll also hear about a time traveler who visited the British Museum in 1997 and puzzle over why a prizewinning farmer gives away his best seed to his competitors. Sources for our feature on the Klondike Big Inch land promotion: Jack McIver, "The Great Klondike Big Inch Land Caper," Ottawa Citizen, March 27, 1975. "The Great Klondike Rush of '55," Ottawa Citizen, Dec. 8, 1955. "Sgt. Preston Inspired Great Yukon Land Deals," Reading (Pa.) Eagle, Jan. 1, 1987. Dave White, "Quaker Oats Klondike Deed Scam Still Sizzling," Yukon News, Jan. 26, 1990. "Cereal Giveaway Now a Pain," Montreal Gazette, May 12, 1971. "The Klondike Big Inch," yukoninfo, accessed 10/23/2015. John Robert Colombo, Canadian Literary Landmarks, 1984. Big Inch deeds can sometimes be found on eBay -- here are two that sold in March. Sources for our feature on Enoch Soames, time travel, and literary memory: Max Beerbohm, "Enoch Soames: A Memory of the Eighteen-Nineties," 1916. Teller, "A Memory of the Nineteen-Nineties," Atlantic, November 1997. Chris Jones, "The Honor System," Esquire, October 2012. The Flickr photo of Soames is here, and there's a bit more background here. This week's lateral thinking puzzles are from Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's 1996 book Intriguing Lateral Thinking Puzzles. You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on iTunes or via the RSS feed at http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- on our Patreon page you can pledge any amount per episode, and all contributions are greatly appreciated. You can change or cancel your pledge at any time, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation via the Donate button in the sidebar of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!
In 1910, four Alaskan gold miners set out to climb Mount McKinley, the highest peak in North America, to win a two-cent bar bet. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll tell the surprising story of the Sourdough Expedition, a mountaineering effort that one modern climber calls "superhuman by today's standards." We'll also hear about a ghoulish tourist destination and puzzle over why a painter would blame himself for World War II. Sources for our feature on the Sourdough expedition: Bill Sherwonit, "The Sourdough Expedition," Alaska 68:4 (May/June 2002), 28. Jason Strykowski, "Impossible Heights: The Alaskan Miners Who Conquered Mount McKinley," Wild West 24:4 (December 2011), 20. Terrence Cole, ed., The Sourdough Expedition, 1985. W.F. Thompson, "First Account of Conquering Mt. McKinley," New York Times, June 5, 1910. Listener mail: The Telegraph has a photo of the mummies in the Capuchin catacombs in Palermo, Sicily. Wikipedia has a photo of Rosalia Lombardo, the immaculately preserved 2-year-old embalmed in 1920, and another appears here: Karen Lange, "Lost 'Sleeping Beauty' Mummy Formula Found," National Geographic News, Jan. 26, 2009 (accessed 10/10/2015). This week's lateral thinking puzzle is from Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's 2005 book Outstanding Lateral Thinking Puzzles. You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on iTunes or via the RSS feed at http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- on our Patreon page you can pledge any amount per episode, and all contributions are greatly appreciated. You can change or cancel your pledge at any time, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation via the Donate button in the sidebar of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!
In 1854, English aristocrat Roger Tichborne disappeared at sea. Twelve years later, a butcher from Wagga Wagga, Australia, claimed he was the long-lost heir. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast, we'll tell the sensational story of the Tichborne claimant, which Mark Twain called "the most intricate and fascinating and marvelous real-life romance that has ever been played upon the world's stage." We'll also puzzle over why family businesses are often more successful in Japan than in other countries. Sources for our feature on the Tichborne claimant: Rohan McWilliam, The Tichborne Claimant: A Victorian Sensation, 2007. Robyn Annear, The Man Who Lost Himself: The Unbelievable Story of the Tichborne Claimant, 2011. This week's lateral thinking puzzle is from Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's 2014 book Remarkable Lateral Thinking Puzzles. There's a fuller explanation (with spoilers!) in Dan Lewis' Now I Know newsletter. You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on iTunes or via the RSS feed at http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- on our Patreon page you can pledge any amount per episode, and all contributions are greatly appreciated. You can change or cancel your pledge at any time, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation via the Donate button in the sidebar of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!
Do you know the answer to this puzzle? A man took off his shirt to go to bed and hundreds of people lost their jobs. Why? Paul Sloane is a world renowned expert on lateral thinking. He’s written fifteen books on the subject as well as five more on innovation. He travels across the world […] The post Moving Voices – Paul Sloane – lateral thinking expert appeared first on Professional Speaking Association.
In 1925, Nome, Alaska, was struck by an outbreak of diphtheria, and only a relay of dogsleds could deliver the life-saving serum in time. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll follow the dogs' desperate race through arctic blizzards to save the town from epidemic. We'll also hear a song about S.A. Andree's balloon expedition to the North Pole and puzzle over a lost accomplishment of ancient civilizations. Our segment on the 1925 serum run to Nome was based chiefly on Gay Salisbury and Laney Salisbury's excellent 2003 book The Cruelest Miles. Here's the statue of Balto, who led the final sled into Nome, in Central Park: The inscription reads "Dedicated to the indomitable spirit of the sled dogs that relayed antitoxin 600 miles over rough ice, across treacherous waters, through arctic blizzards, from Nenona to the relief of stricken Nome." "The Ballad of Knut and Nils," Yann and Cory Seznec's song honoring S.A. Andrée's disastrous 1897 attempt to reach the North Pole by balloon, is on Yann's blog. You can find more of the brothers' music here. This week's lateral thinking puzzle is from Paul Sloane and Des McHale's 1998 book Ingenious Lateral Thinking Puzzles. Sloane invites interested readers to his Lateral Puzzles Forum, where visitors can set and solve these puzzles interactively. This week's episode is sponsored by our patrons and by Harry's -- go to Harrys.com now and they'll give you $5 off if you use the coupon code CLOSET with your first purchase. You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on iTunes or via the RSS feed at http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- on our Patreon page you can pledge any amount per episode, and all contributions are greatly appreciated. You can change or cancel your pledge at any time, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation via the Donate button in the sidebar of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!
In 1768, Catherine the Great ordered her subjects to move a 3-million-pound granite boulder intact into Saint Petersburg to serve as the pedestal for a statue of Peter the Great. In this episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll learn how some inspired engineering moved the Thunder Stone 13 miles from its forest home to Senate Square, making it the largest stone ever moved by man. We'll also learn whether mutant squid are attacking Indiana and puzzle over why a stamp collector would be angry at finding a good bargain. Our segment on the Thunder Stone is based on Yale linguist Alexander M. Schenker's impeccably researched 2003 history The Bronze Horseman: Falconet's Monument to Peter the Great. Here's an engraving by Louis-Nicolas van Blarenberghe, The Barge With the Thunder Rock Steadied by Two Cutters of the Imperial Navy En Route to St. Petersburg: Listener mail: Intrepid listener Dan Noland has found five newspaper articles on Indiana's oil pit squids -- his page includes background information and commentary. Wikipedia has an article on Lucian's early satirical science fiction story, which can be found in Greek and English here. This week's lateral thinking puzzle is from Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's 1994 book Great Lateral Thinking Puzzles. Please keep sending puzzles -- Sharon's becoming impossible to stump. Please consider becoming a patron of the Futility Closet podcast -- you can pledge any amount per episode, and all contributions are greatly appreciated. You can change or cancel your pledge at any time, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can listen to this episode using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on iTunes or via the RSS feed at http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!
Abraham Lincoln's eldest son, Robert, is the subject of a grim coincidence in American history: He's the only person known to have been present or nearby at the assassinations of three American presidents. In this episode of the Futility Closet podcast we describe the circumstances of each misfortune and explore some further coincidences regarding Robert's brushes with fatality. We also consider whether a chimpanzee deserves a day in court and puzzle over why Australia would demolish a perfectly good building. Sources for our segment on Robert Todd Lincoln: Jason Emerson, Giant in the Shadows: The Life of Robert T. Lincoln, 2012. Charles Lachman, The Last Lincolns: The Rise and Fall of a Great American Family, 2008. Merrill D. Peterson, Lincoln in American Memory, 1994. Ralph Gary, Following in Lincoln's Footsteps, 2002. Sources for the listener mail segment: "Lyman Dillon and the Military Road," Tri-County Historical Society (accessed 11/06/2014). Charles Siebert, "Should a Chimp Be Able to Sue Its Owner?", New York Times Magazine, April 23, 2014. This week's lateral thinking puzzle is from Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's 1994 book Great Lateral Thinking Puzzles. Some corroboration is here (warning: this spoils the puzzle). You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on iTunes or via the RSS feed at http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!
In August 1977, Ohio astronomer Jerry Ehman discovered a radio signal so exciting that he wrote "Wow!" in the margin of its computer printout. Arriving from the direction of the constellation Sagittarius, the signal bore all the characteristics of an alien transmission. But despite decades of eager listening, astronomers have never heard it repeated. In this episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll review the story of the "Wow! signal," which remains an intriguing, unexplained anomaly in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. We'll also share some more nuggets from Greg's database of oddities and puzzle over why a man chooses to drive a long distance at only 15 mph. Sources for our segment on the Wow! signal: Robert H. Gray, The Elusive Wow, 2012. Giuseppe Cocconi and Philip Morrison, "Searching for Interstellar Communication," Nature, Sept. 19, 1959. Frank White, The SETI Factor, 1990. David W. Swift, SETI Pioneers, 1990. David Darling, The Extraterrestrial Encyclopedia, 2000. Michael Brooks, 13 Things That Don't Make Sense, 2008. "Humanity Responds to 'Alien' Wow Signal, 35 Years Later," space.com, Aug. 17, 2012 (accessed Oct. 31, 2014). Notes and sources for our miscellany from Greg's notes: Iowa City's web page explains that Lyman Dillon plowed a furrow from Iowa City to Dubuque in 1839. The item on oil pit squids is from George Eberhart's 2002 book Mysterious Creatures. The squids were found in "oil-emulsion pits containing antifreeze, stripper, oil, and chemicals used in manufacturing plastic automobile bumpers." Eberhart cites Ken de la Bastide, "Creature in Plant 9 Pits," Anderson (Ind.) Herald Bulletin, March 5, 1997. Thanks to reader John McKenna for letter from the ancient Greek boy Theon to his father. It's from the Oxyrhynchus papyri, from the 2nd or 3rd century: Theon to his father Theon, greeting. It was a fine thing of you not to take me with you to the city! If you won't take me with you to Alexandria I won't write you a letter or speak to you or say goodbye to you; and if you go to Alexandria I won't take your hand nor ever greet you again. That is what will happen if you won't take me. Mother said to Archelaus, 'it quite upsets him to be left behind.' It was good of you to send me presents ... on the 12th, the day you sailed. Send me a lyre, I implore you. If you don't, I won't eat, I won't drink; there now! The item on William and Henry James is from Vincent Barry's 2007 book Philosophical Thinking About Dying. According to the Encyclopedia of Fictional and Fantastic Languages (2006), Gaff's command to Deckard in Blade Runner is Monsieur, azonnal kövessen engem bitte ("Sir, follow me immediately please"). The anecdote about Alfred Lunt and the green umbrella is from the Methuen Drama Dictionary of the Theatre (2013). This week's lateral thinking puzzle comes from Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's 1998 book Ingenious Lateral Thinking Puzzles. You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on iTunes or via the RSS feed at http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!
For 500 years of European history, animals were given criminal trials: Bulls, horses, dogs, and sheep were arrested, jailed, given lawyers, tried, and punished at community expense. In the latest Futility Closet podcast we'll explore this strange practice and try to understand its significance to the people of the time. We'll also rediscover the source of Futility Closet's name and puzzle over how a ringing bell relates to a man's death. Sources for our segment on animal trials: Anila Srivastava, "'Mean, Dangerous, and Uncontrollable Beasts': Mediaeval Animal Trials," Mosaic, March 2007. Jen Girgen, "The Historical and Contemporary Prosecution and Punishment of Animals," Animal Law Review, 2003. Esther Cohen, "Law, Folklore, and Animal Lore," Past & Present, February 1986. "Medieval Animal Trials," medievalists.net, Sept. 8, 2013 (accessed Oct. 20, 2014). James E. McWilliams, "Beastly Justice," Slate, Feb. 21, 2013. E.P. Evans, The Criminal Prosecution and Capital Punishment of Animals, 1906. The Hour of the Pig (released in the United States as The Advocate), BBC, 1993. Here's the original UTILITY sign from American University's administration building that inspired our name: (Thanks, Karl.) This week's lateral thinking puzzles come from Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's 1994 book Great Lateral Thinking Puzzles and from listener Meaghan Gerard Walsh. You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on iTunes or via the RSS feed at http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!
In 1828, a 16-year-old boy appeared in Nuremberg, claiming that he'd spent his whole life alone in a dark cell. In the latest Futility Closet podcast we'll follow the short, sad life of Kaspar Hauser and ponder who he might have been. We'll also revisit the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus, encounter some self-landing planes, and puzzle over why a man would bury 15 luxury cars in the desert. Sources for our segment on Kaspar Hauser: Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson, Lost Prince: The Unsolved Mystery of Kaspar Hauser, 1996. Martin Kitchen, Kaspar Hauser: Europe's Child, 2001. Links from listener mail: Being in the Shadow, Australian psychologist Kate Russo's site about the psychology of eclipse chasing. A 1997 NTSB report regarding a Piper PA-24 that "landed itself" after the pilot passed out due to a carbon monoxide leak. The "cornfield bomber," a Convair F-106 Delta Dart that landed in a Montana farmer's field in 1970 after the pilot ejected. When the local sheriff arrived, the jet's engine was still idling. This week's lateral thinking puzzle is from Paul Sloane and Des MacHale's 1994 book Great Lateral Thinking Puzzles. Corroborating links are here and here (warning -- they spoil the puzzle). You can listen using the player above, or subscribe on iTunes or via the RSS feed at http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. We're off next week -- Episode 30 will go up on Oct. 20. Thanks for listening!
The Professional Speaking Association; Sales Secrets; 5 Ways to Mentor and be Mentored; Do you have a networking strategy?; Paul Sloane on crowdsourcing for innovation; Southgate and Leigh; Why you shouldn't ask for referrals at meetings with clients
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