Cool Weird Awesome With Brady Carlson

For many Native people in the U.S. and beyond, this is a time of year to tell stories with string. Here's a little about how they work, and why in many places they're only told in winter. Plus: Forest Grove, Oregon is home to the world’s tallest barber pole. 'String games' arrive with the snow (Indian Country Today) Forest Grove, Oregon: World's Tallest Barber Shop Pole (Roadside America) Help us share more stories as a backer on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today was the birthday in 1925 of actor and entrepreneur Paul Newman, who made some very popular and very acclaimed movies. But there was one movie he made that he loathed so much, he actually took out ads to convince people not to watch it. Plus: meet Hoss, the world’s largest ball of human hair. THE SILVER CHALICE, Paul Newman and a $1200 ad… (By The Gods) Meet Hoss, the World’s Largest Human Hair Ball (Oddity Central) Our Patreon backers are awesome on an epic scale --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1890, Nellie Bly finished her trip around the world. She was trying to do what Jules Verne's character Phineas Fogg had done in 80 days, and she took just 72. Plus: today in 2021, a butcher in Scotland marked Burns Night in a stellar way.  Nellie Bly: Around the World (Heinz History Center)  Haggis launched to the edge of space in celebration of Burns Night (Sky News) Our backers on Patreon keep this show's world turning --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1975, one of the best selling jazz albums of all time was recorded - a live concert in Cologne, Germany by pianist Keith Jarrett. And it almost didn't happen at all. Plus: the Instagram account Brik Font showcases some of the biggest and best typefaces, all in LEGO form. Keith Jarrett: The Cologne Concert (BBC For One Night Only) Typeface Studies by Designer Craig Ward Recreate Fonts and Iconic Logos in LEGO (Colossal) Our Patreon backers make every episode of our show sound just right  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1942 the city of New York decided to take on the scourge of the time, the invention that had been the ruin of so many people… pinball. Here's a look at why what's considered a pretty harmless hobby in our day was such a menace back then. Plus: this weekend in Minneapolis, it’s the Lake Harriet Winter Kite Festival. That Time America Outlawed Pinball (History.com) The War On Pinball (Slate) Lake Harriet Kite Festival We always get an extra ball with help from our Patreon backers --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

A team at the University of British Columbia has come up with a way to make durable, stretchy and waterproof batteries that could be useful in wearable devices. Plus: three crew members on the International Space Station try out what they call orbital badminton. Scientists create the first stretchable and washable battery (designboom) Video: Orbital badminton in 360 degrees (Phys.org) Our Patreon backers have come up with a way to make new episodes of our show, join them!  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1942 was the birthday of Bob Heft, who designed a 50-star US flag for a high school class project as Alaska and Hawaii were on their way to statehood. Plus: it's the birthday of Edgar Allan Poe, who was almost portrayed on the big screen by a pretty big Hollywood star.  A Boy Scout designed the 50-star American flag (Scouting Magazine) Robert G. Heft (Ohio History Central) Stallone Shows Why He Was Wrong for Edgar Allan Poe, But Vows to Finish Script (Movieweb) We salute our Patreon backers for making this show possible --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1882 author A.A. Milne was born. His most famous character, Winnie the Pooh, was named partly for a real bear who lived at the London Zoo. And yes, the real Winnie had a sweet tooth as well. Plus: the new book "Do Not Erase" features the artistic side of math professor's chalkboards.  The True Story of the Real-Life Winnie-the-Pooh (History.com) 90 weird and wonderful facts about Winnie-the-Pooh (CBC) Beauty on the blackboard: New book captures mathematicians’ chalk experiments (University of Chicago) Our Patreon backers are as sweet as honey --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

On this Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, we look at how music legend Stevie Wonder and his song "Happy Birthday" helped raise awareness in the effort to create a national holiday in Dr. King's honor.  Signed, Sealed, Delivered: How Stevie Wonder Fought—and Won—for MLK Day (VH1) Flashback: Stevie Wonder Sings ‘Happy Birthday’ at 1986 Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute (Rolling Stone) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Traffic jams are becoming more and more common on the roads heading to ski country. A new app called Treadshare could help people carpool to and from the mountains. Plus: this weekend in Ely, Nevada, the Fire & Ice Winter Festival brings fireworks to the coldest part of the year.  Can carpooling help congestion on I-70? (Vail Daily) Fire & Ice Winter Festival (Travel Nevada)  We'd ride anywhere with our Patreon backers --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1968 Johnny Cash recorded “At Folsom Prison." Today it's arguably his most acclaimed album ever, but it only came about as a last resort. Plus: musician Andy Thorn recently gave a concert to a very different kind of audience. Johnny Cash’s ‘At Folsom Prison’ at 50: An Oral History (Rolling Stone) The Fox and the Banjo (The Awesomer) Our Patreon backers are the ones who make all of our performances possible --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1961, the Chicago Cubs announced they wouldn't hire a manager for the new season, and would instead use a rotating "College" of coaches. You can probably guess how well that worked out. Plus: the Author Clock shows you the time not simply as a set of numbers, but as part of a quote from a well-known book. P.K. Wrigley and the College of Coaches (The Hardball Times) The literature clock tells you the current time using a literary snippet (Messy Nessy) Our college of Patreon supporters works pretty well, why not join us?  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1880 was the birthday of Washington Phillips, a musician who made some astonishing music in the 1920s, but we know very little about his life and his music - we aren't even completely sure what instrument he played. Plus: if you're looking for a new career path, why not become a pizza butler?  Exhuming the Legend of Washington Phillips (MinerMusic.com)  Some Of Us Are Haunted By Washington Phillips (The New Yorker) Sandals Resorts Now Have a 'Pizza Butler' to Make Your Vacation Memorable and Delicious (Travel + Leisure) We make sweet music together with our Patreon backers  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1992, the Pacific Ocean filled up with rubber duckies, thanks to a storm that knocked some shipping containers off a cargo boat. We'll explain how the Friendly Floatees went from accidental oceangoers to the stuff of movies and picture books. Plus: today in 1976, C.W. McCall's "Convoy" hit #1 on the Billboard chart, telling the story of a trucker with the CB handle Rubber Duck.  The great escape: the bath toys that swam the Pacific (The Guardian) What Can 28,000 Rubber Duckies Lost at Sea Teach Us About Our Oceans? (Treehugger) OTD in 1976 Convoy hits #1 (Songfacts) We should say 10-4 to our Patreon backers because they are definitely our good buddies --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

In early 1970 President Richard Nixon introduced new uniforms for the guards at the White House - European-style suits that Americans mocked as looking like they were better off for movie ushers or marching bands. Plus: today in 1978, the birthday of Emilio Marcos Palma, the first person born in Antarctica. Pomp and Circumstance (Nixon Library) A Brief History of Antarctica (TIME) Our Patreon backers are stylish wherever they go --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1706 was, at least by the old calendar, Benjamin Franklin's birthday. Here's the story of how he once invented his own musical instrument, one for which great composers wrote music. Plus: Ben Franklin invented lots of things but patented none of them.  Benjamin Franklin's Glass Armonica (Franklin Institute) Ben Franklin’s Killer Instrument: The Glass Armonica (Ripley's) 11 Surprising Facts About Benjamin Franklin (History.com) You don't have to throw Ben Franklins at us to support the show, join us on Patreon for just $1 a month! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

The start of a new year can be time for us to get going on our goals, start moving forward. Then again, maybe it’s better to wait a little. That was the attitude of the Procrastinators’ Club of America, a real organization that for decades promoted the benefits of putting things off. Plus: today in 1895, Jeannette Piccard was born, the first woman to fly to the stratosphere.  The art of keeping up with yesterday (The Globe and Mail) Les Waas did not go softly into that good night (WHYY) Jeannette Ridlon Piccard (New Mexico Museum of Space History) Don't put off backing this show, join us on Patreon today for just $1 a month! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

This daily podcast is like a study group for trivia players. So today we're going to give you some trivia about the word trivia! Plus: today in 2010, the opening of the Burj Khalifa, a building so tall that at the top you can see the sun even when it’s dark at the bottom. trivia (n.) (Online Etymology Dictionary) Where Does the Word 'Trivia' Come From? (Merriam-Webster) Dubai Burj Khalifa: Ramadan fast 'lasts longer high up' (BBC) Nothing trivial about our Patreon backers, they make this show possible! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Around this time in 2003, the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond introduced a new attraction: a 29 ton globe that people can push around. Here's a look at the mechanics behind Kugel Balls. Plus: an automaker adds a QR with a classic meme to one of its new vehicles.  Very Richmond #9: Grand Kugel at Science Museum of Virginia (Richmond on the James)  Toyota Literally Rickrolled the World During Its Huge EV Concept Reveal (The Drive) We hope we can be together forever with our Patreon backers --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

This was a bonus episode of Cool Weird Awesome for the people who make the show possible! It was exclusive to them until January 1,  2023.   One of the classic changes people try to make at this time of year,  for better or for worse, is trying to cut calories. But what are calories,  exactly, and where did the measurement come from? Plus: a new year’s  tradition that’s perfect for our show: Hustisford, Wisconsin’s New  Year’s toilet bowl parade. A Brief History of the Calorie (JSTOR) New Year’s tradition: Hustisford hosts annual ‘Toilet Bowl Parade and Winter Fest’  (FOX 6) Photo by Kevin Simmons via Flickr/Creative Commons --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support