Cool Weird Awesome With Brady Carlson

Happy Hanukkah! For this holiday we're replaying a show from 2019 about a growing sport in New York City. Major League Dreidel takes the Hanukkah favorite and turns the intensity way, way up. Plus: an agency in Nova Scotia decided people needed a break from ads during the holidays, and released some ad-free ads. Competitive Dreidel-Spinning Is a Thing. Here's How Major League Dreidel Got Started. (Civilized) Creative agency buys $10k of blank ad space to give everyone a break from ads (It's Nice That) Cool Weird Awesome is listener supported. Thanks to our Patreon backers! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1952, PEZ received a US patent for its famous dispensers, which, like the candies they contain, were first intended to help people quit smoking. Plus: researchers in Germany can now make eco-friendly, cost-effective insulation out of popcorn.  The History of PEZ (PEZ.com) Researchers Make Insulation Board Out of Popcorn (Treehugger) Our Patreon backers are so, so sweet  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

On or around this day in 1922, a pilot wrote the first skywriting message in the United States. It was a way to demonstrate an advertising technique that would be a big part of business for the next few decades. Plus: today in 2019, fans at a Hershey Bears’ hockey game set a record for most stuffed animals tossed onto the ice. How Skywriting Works (How Stuff Works) Watch: Hershey Bears’ teddy bear toss shatters world record as 45,650 stuffed animals hit the ice for charity (The Patriot-News)  Our Patreon backers set a record for coolest people ever --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1954, a woman in Alabama, Elizabeth Hodges, became the first person in modern history to be hit by a meteorite. Here's some of her story. Plus: for Mark Twain's birthday, the time he answered a very long question in a print column with just three words.  In 1954, an Extraterrestrial Bruiser Shocked This Alabama Woman (Smithsonian) Asked and Answered (Futility Closet) Our Patreon backers are stars --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1915, the birthday of an inventor who would change our viewing habits for the better: Eugene Polley, who created the first wireless remote control system for TVs. Plus: today in 2000, CNN reported on a hairstylist in Colombia who claimed he'd cured baldness by having cows lick his bald customers. Zenith Flash-Matic, the First Wireless TV Remote (Vintage Everyday) Eugene Polley, Conjuror of a Device That Changed TV Habits, Dies at 96 (New York Times) Colombian hairdresser says he can lick baldness (CNN) Our Patreon backers make this show happen, and they do it wirelessly, too --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1942 the landmark movie "Casablanca" was released. And once it became an unexpected hit, Hollywood tried a couple times to make a sequel. Plus: in the great city of Buffalo, New York, the Saturday after Thanksgiving is home to a one of a kind event called the World’s Largest Disco. Every Unmade Casablanca Sequel & Remake: Why They Didn't Happen (ScreenRant) World's Largest Disco  Our Patreon backers are outta sight --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

For some people it can be hard to think of anything to be thankful for in this screwy year. But maybe this can help: the story of Wanda Dench and Jamal Hinton, who accidentally ended up together on Thanksgiving and became good friends. Plus: a rainy Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade leads to a very weird situation for one of the iconic giant balloons.  Young man who was accidentally invited to 'grandma's' Thanksgiving as a teen keeps tradition going (CNN) Pair that went viral for Thanksgiving dinner reuniting for sixth celebration (WWL) Most infamous balloon accidents from Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (KOAM) We are very thankful for our Patreon backers today and every day!  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1868, at least on paper, Scott Joplin was born, though his actual birth date is probably a different day. He's best known for his groundbreaking ragtime works like "Maple Leaf Rag" and "The Entertainer," but Joplin also wrote two operas. Plus: today in 2013, musician Dave Mustaine of Megadeth composed an unforgettable tweet about a "cool building" in Wisconsin.  Scott Joplin wrote operas 'The Guest of Honor' and 'Treemonisha' as well as Ragtime (Africlassical) Cool building in Madison (Dave Mustaine on Twitter) Our Patreon backers help make every episode of our show unforgettable, join them for just $1 a month!  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Our wireless, hands-free, automatic, smart device era may be about to get even smarter, thanks to high-tech smart fabric that can send out signals to devices or turn itself into a health monitor. Plus: a trash barrel from the US goes on holiday, traveling all the way across the ocean to end up in Ireland.  Invention lets people pay for purchases with a high-five (Science Daily) Traveling Trash Can Visits Ireland From Myrtle Beach (City of Myrtle Beach, SC) Our Patreon backers are as smart and high-tech as they come --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

With a little help from a Chilean scientist, Leptospirillum ferriphilum can dissolve old iron nails in just a few days, a process that previously took months. That could help deal with the water pollution that comes from metal left over from old mines. Plus: a few Taylor Swift fans have been playing their 45 rpm LP versions of "Red (Taylor's Version)" at 33 rpm, and it sounds... different.  These Hungry Metal-Eating Bacteria Could Be the Solution to Mining Waste (Popular Mechanics) “The pressing is bad and it sounds like a man”: Taylor Swift fans confused by LPs pressed at 45rpm (The Line of Best Fit) We are never ever doing another episode without our Patreon backers. Like, ever  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Dance clubs can get hot when things are in full swing. So why not turn that extra heat into green energy? A nightclub in Glasgow is teaming up with a geothermal power company to use the energy dancers put out to heat and cool the place. Plus: when Apollo 12 reached the moon, astronaut Pete Conrad said some stirring words... that helped him win a bet.  This Glasgow nightclub is turning your dance moves into renewable energy (Dazed) NASA Honors Apollo 12 Commander Charles Conrad (NASA) We are powered by our backers on Patreon, though we could use some of that dance energy too  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

It's called the Intrepid Benthic Rover II, and its five year (or more) mission is to explore the deep ocean, most of the time by itself. Plus: in a new book artist Marina Luz paints the covers of books where people are trying to describe a book when they can’t remember the title. This deep-sea rover will autonomously explore the mysterious abyss for over five years (designboom) ‘A Library of Misremembered Books’ Is a Witty, Illustrated Compendium of Mistaken Titles (Colossal) This show can explore the most interesting stories in the world because of our Patreon backers, join them today --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1978, George Lucas's least favorite part of the Star Wars universe, "The Star Wars Holiday Special," aired on TV. It's not everyone's cup of tea, but it's the only one that has a Jefferson Starship video, a Bea Arthur-owned cantina and opening dialogue that's entirely in Wookiee. Plus: today in 1968, NBC cuts away from the final minutes of a nail-biter football game because it was time to show the movie "Heidi."  The Epically Terrible Star Wars Holiday Special: An Oral History (Lit Hub) The 'Heidi Game' (Pro Football Hall of Fame) We don't have to break away to talk about other stuff, thanks to our Patreon backers --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

It's Geography Awareness Week, so we wanted to find the furthest points in each direction that are part of the United States, along with the geographical center. Plus: the story of a boundary with Morocco that just sort of popped up one day.  The Surprising Easternmost Point in the US (Wendover Productions) Geographic Center of the United States (NOAA) The last remains of the Spanish empire (El Pais) Wherever our Patreon backers go, whatever they do, we will be right here waiting for them --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

There are countless efforts underway to bring more green energy into the world, and some of them are in some unusual places. Like a project in Massachusetts that’s going to try mounting solar panels on those sound-absorbing barriers on the sides of the highway. Plus: today in 1859, New York City is host to what's believed to be the first ever baseball game between two Black teams.  Massachusetts to test highway barriers that absorb sound and solar energy (Energy News Network) 10 Black Baseball Sites in NYC (Untapped New York) Our Patreon backers power our show every day, join them for just $1 a month! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

A University of Oregon study on what's called the “perceiver-elicited similarity effect" finds that when you’re nice, that can lead to more niceness around you! Plus: today in 1910, what’s believed to be the first movie stunt took place. And it was quite a stunt.  It's true: Be nice and others are more likely to be nice to you (University of Oregon) How Hollywood killed the movie stunt (Salon) Our Patreon backers are as nice as they come --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

For Veterans Day, we have the story of the "Left-Armed Corps," Civil War veterans who'd lost right arms in battle and were re-learning to write left-handed. Poet and newspaper publisher William Oland Bourne organized penmanship contests to encourage their writing, which he believed would help them find jobs and support themselves and their families as they returned to civilian life. Plus: you can learn about the veterans of World War II through a miniature golf course in Texas.  William Oland Bourne, "The Soldier’s Friend", and the Left-Handed Penmanship Contests, 1865-1867 (Library of Congress) One-of-a-kind mini-golf course, WWII museum now open in Buda (KXAN) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1987, the community of Gouverneur in northern New York placed on its town green, a giant roll of Pep-O-Mint Life Savers. It was a tribute to a local man, Edward John Noble, who ended up making Life Savers one of the best known candies in the world. Plus: a cat in Tokyo drops by a Buddhist temple garden, walks into the gravel patterns and takes a big old nap. 10 Things You Might Not Know about Life Savers (Mental Floss) Unique Items— The Life Savers® (Gouverneur Museum) Super Zen Cat Takes a Nap in the Middle of a Japanese Zen Garden (My Modern Met) Our Patreon backers are sweeter than candy --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Vox recently asked scientists what they thought Earth life might be like in a million years. And the answers are pretty wild. Plus: today's the first day of a City Climb at Edge, a program in New York City where thrillseekers can climb until they’re close to the top of a skyscraper, over 1,200 feet up. The animals that may exist in a million years, imagined by biologists (Vox) Now You Can Climb Outside a Skyscraper to the Top of New York City (Architectural Digest) Take this show to the top every day as a backer on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1978, the New Jersey Nets lost to the Philadelphia 76ers. But part of the game would be replayed the following March, and when it was, several of the players on each team had been traded to the other, and ended up playing in the game! Plus: two artists have built a "stairway to heaven" in Taiwan. Someone let Robert Plant know please.  In 1978-79 season, deal like no other happened at NBA trade deadline (NBA.com) Artists Build a ‘Stairway to Heaven’ Optical Illusion (Laughing Squid) We would never trade our Patreon backers --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support