Cool Weird Awesome With Brady Carlson

This week in 2019, the president of Turkmenistan got the world’s attention with a very unusual drive around a flaming gas crater that's become an attraction for some tourists as well as a big headache for environmental scientists. Plus: this week in 2018, a woman in Oklahoma asked if she could borrow an orange cat so her two kids could have a Garfield lasagna party. And it worked! Turkmenistan's leader does doughnuts next to flaming crater to prove he's not dead (ABC Australia) U.S. in serious talks to close Turkmenistan’s “Gates of Hell” (Mercury News)  This mom needs to borrow an orange cat for the most hilarious reason (USA Today) Keep this show hot as a backer on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1991, the luxury cruise ship Oceanos sank while traveling around the coast of South Africa. Fortunately everyone who was on that ship survived, and, surprisingly, the people who made sure everyone made it to safety were the ship’s musicians. Plus: today in 1914, the birthday of Hubert Blaine Wolfe­schlegel­stein­hausen­berger­dorff Sr., whose full name was a record 747 characters long. 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 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Some of us plan our trips so we can visit all 50 states. If you’re one of these travelers, the state of North Dakota has a club just for you. Plus: today in 1907, a woman in Paris, Madeleine Ravier, received a patent for what she called a "bicycle for animals." Are we doing summer road trips again? If so, consider the Best For Last Club in North Dakota (Fargo-Moorhead Welcome Center) Madeleine Ravier’s Bicycle for Animals (Weird Universe) Whether they show up first or last, our Patreon backers are always the best --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Around this time in 1935, the US government was making a big decision about some small amounts of money: there was a push to create a kind of currency worth a tenth of a cent. Plus: the story of a silver certificate issued in 1899 that featured the likeness of Tȟatȟóka Íŋyaŋke, a Hunkpapa Lakota chief who is, to date, the only Native American to appear on US paper money. What are Sales Tax Tokens? (Taxtoken.org) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1911, the birthday of Jackie Ormes, the first Black woman to have syndicated comic strips in newspapers. Plus: today in 1935, the release of a Three Stooges short that has a scene where Moe crashes through a table and breaks three ribs. Probably goes without saying that injuries weren't in the script. Found in the Collection: Jackie Ormes! (1911-1985) (Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum)   Pardon My Scotch Trivia (IMDB) Join our community on Patreon and we'll make something great together --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1935, singer Kitty Burke got up from the crowd at a major league game and took an at-bat. To date, she's the only woman to bat in the majors. Plus: it's SPAM Day, and if you're at one of the company's facilities, make sure that you don't call junk email "spam." They use a different term. THE WOMAN WHO BATTED DURING A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME (Today I Found Out) How Spam Meat Has Survived Spam E-Mail (Bloomberg) You can make this show a hit as a backer on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 2017, a news report in the Sunday Post about something known as the “League of Extraordinary Communities.” Its three members: the communities of Dull, Bland And Boring. Plus: today in Frankfort, Indiana, the Frankfort Hot Dog Festival begins. ‘Bland’, ‘Dull’ and ‘Boring’ team up to create ‘League of Extraordinary Communities’ (Sunday Post) Boring, Oregon and Dull, Scotland: Sister Cities United in Tedium (Conde Nast Traveler) Frankfort Hot Dog Festival It's never dull around here, and that's thanks to our backers on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1811,  the first known steamboat race takes place on the Hudson River. Yes, a couple centuries ago, racing steamboats was a thing. Plus: this month in 1377, a Buddhist monk in Korea published "Jikji," the oldest surviving book printed with movable metal type. For Profit and Glory: Steamboat Racing on the Inland Rivers (Howard Steamboat Museum) Jikji: An Invaluable Text of Buddhism (Korea Times) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1903 the conclusion of the first-ever car trip from one coast of the continental United States to the other. And this story starts, like so many other good stories have, with a bet. Plus: today in 1856, the birthday of playwright George Bernard Shaw, who had a unique way to keep unexpected visitors from interrupting his work. Horatio's Drive (PBS) INSIDE BERNARD SHAW’S WRITING SHED (Idler) Ride along with us on every episode as a backer on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today is known in some parts of the American West as Colorado River Day, because of a measure passed in 1921 that redefined what and where the Colorado River was. Plus: a new art project called Human After All looks like a series of portraits of people seen only through their their circulatory systems.  How The ‘Grand’ Became The ‘Colorado’ And What It Says About Our Relationship To Nature (KUNC) Many years ago, the Colorado River was just Grand (Summit Daily)  Uncanny Human Portraits Depict People Only Through Their Circulatory Systems (My Modern Met) Keep the show flowing with a contribution on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1701, the birthday of Detroit, Michigan. In the 20th Century it became the Motor City, but before that Detroit was known as a big-time stove manufacturer. Plus: today in 1897, the birthday of aviation great Amelia Earhart. The Library of Congress’s collection includes a set of the famous pilot’s palm prints! When stoves were the hot new thing (Detroit News) Exploring Amelia Earhart with Library of Congress Primary Sources (Library of Congress) Help make this show even hotter as a backer on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

This week in 1967, residents of Winneconne, Wisconsin launched a protest against being left out of the latest state road map by announcing they would strike out on their own. Plus: downtown Pittsburgh has a new name this weekend during the festival known as Picklesburgh. 50 Years Ago, Small Wisconsin Town Made Plans To Secede From The State (NPR)  History of the Sovereign State of Winneconne   Picklesburgh in Pittsburgh  Put this show on the map as a backer on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today is World Chess Day. Chess is a game of the mind, but there’s research that shows that high-level chess players can burn calories the way runners and other athletes do. Plus: today in Pulaski, Wisconsin, it’s the start of Pulaski Polka Days. The grandmaster diet: How to lose weight while barely moving (ESPN) Pulaski, WI Polka Days  It's your move: back this show on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Some experts are worried AI could undo human civilization, but some of it is trying to help people. Like a project that uses AI phone bots to keep phone scammers from scamming people. Plus: in 2020, a soccer team in Scotland tried livestreaming its matches with automated cameras, but AI had trouble figuring out what the ball was. People Hire Phone Bots to Torture Telemarketers (Wall Street Journal) AI Camera Ruins Soccer Game For Fans After Mistaking Referee's Bald Head For Ball (IFL Science) Keep the humans who make this podcast busy by backing them on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1938, a pilot named Douglas Corrigan was supposed to fly from New York to California, but ended up in Dublin. “Wrong Way” Corrigan became an international celebrity - even if the story he told was not necessarily what actually happened. Plus: today in 1966, the first space mission for Michael Collins, who piloted the command module for Apollo 11 and reportedly could have led Apollo 17. 'Wrong Way' Corrigan took infamous transatlantic flight (Amarillo Globe-News) Michael Collins, who piloted the Apollo 11 command module, has died (Ars Technica) Help this show fly (in the right direction) as a backer on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1948, an unusually sweet moment in the history of the Cold War: American servicemember Gail Halvorsen came up with a plan that would eventually earn him the nickname "the Berlin Candy Bomber." Plus: today in 1952, David Hasselhoff was born. He’s been a TV star, a movie star, a German music sensation and the namesake for a species of crab.  The Sweet Story of the Berlin Candy Bomber (Smithsonian) Candy bomber visits Saber family, imparts wisdom (Spangdahlem Air Base) Discovered in the deep: the mini cities of hairy-chested Hoff crabs (The Guardian) It would be so sweet if you backed our show on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 2013, the last traditional telegram message went out, decades after telephones and smartphones and text messages and so on. So why were there still telegrams here in the 21st Century? Plus: today in 1885, Sarah Goode became the first Black woman to receive a US patent for her cabinet bed. It's been 7 years since the last telegram was sent in India: Facts about the ancestor of telephone (India Today)  India Marks End of Era with Last Telegram (Voice of America) Sarah E. Goode (Biography.com) Backing our show on Patreon today is cheaper than telegrams were back in the day --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

100 years ago today, a land developer in southern California spent $21,000 on a sign to advertise a new housing project. The HOLLYWOOD sign has come a long way from that moment, but it hasn't always been easy. Plus: starting today at Iowa’s famous “world’s largest truck stop,” it’s the Wolcott Truckers Jamboree. The Hollywood Sign Was Torn Down 40 Years Ago And Completely Replaced (LAist) The many facelifts of the Hollywood sign (ABC 10) Wolcott Truckers Jamboree Sign on as a backer of this show on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1924, another one of these early Olympic events that went way off the rails: a very difficult and very strange mens’ cross country race. Plus: today in 1968, the Navy pays tribute to Dexter, its very last working horse. The Book of Olympic Lists by David Wallechinsky and ‎Jaime Loucky Dexter, the US Navy's last working horse, is buried in Philly (Philadelphia Inquirer) Help our show stay on course as a backer on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

It's National Swimming Pool Day, so here’s a story of a guy who had to get into the pool: Dick Roth, who won an Olympic gold medal while trying to fend off appendicitis. Plus: today in 1959, the birthday of Suzanne Vega. Her fans once parsed through the lyrics of the song "Tom's Diner" to figure out when the singer-songwriter actually sat in the cafe drinking coffee and reading the paper. At ISHOF, Body Part Is Piece of Memorabilia That Tells the Story of Dick Roth & Olympic Glory (Swimming World) "Tom's Diner Day" November 18th, 1981 (SuzanneVega.com via Archive.ph) Make a splash when you back this show on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support