Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson

Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” was first published today in 1843. The character of Ebeneezer Scrooge is said to be based on a real life person, though which person it was that inspired the story depends on who’s telling the story. Plus: what exactly was it that Scrooge had for his Christmas Eve dinner?  Campaign To Honour Real-Life Ebenezer Scrooge John Elwes (Huffington Post) Revealed:...

Today in 1892, an engineering team working on Chicago’s Columbian Exposition approved a design for a giant metal wheel that could give rides to passengers. Here's the story of the Ferris wheel and how it was partly intended to one-up a certain iconic structure from the previous World's Fair. Plus: today in 1962, Nepal adopted its national flag, the only non-rectangular national flag in the world.&...

Today in 1930, the inventor of the computer cursor was born. It’s one of those creations that’s so small and common that it’s easy to forget what a big deal it really is. Plus: in Chicago, transportation workers keep ice and snow from building up on train tracks in cold weather by… lighting the tracks on fire. 54 YEARS AGO, A COMPUTER PROGRAMMER FIXED A MASSIVE BUG — AND CREATED AN EXISTENTIAL CRI...

Engineers and enthusiasts are finding all kinds of great uses for drones, but this one may top them all: there are now drones with edible wings that can reach and then feed people who are in need of rescue. Plus: an artist known as Sunday Nobody has taken a bag of Flamin' Hot Cheetos, covered it in resin and buried it in the Seattle area inside 3,000 pounds of concrete. Eat This Drone  With w...

It was around this time in 2006 that a Navy veteran named Don Karkos got headbutted by a horse… and it turned out great! Plus: today in 1938, the birthday of basketball great Gus "Honeycomb" Johnson, so we have a story about a mark he left on his old college town.  Knock on the head just what this paddock guard needed for Christmas (Seattle Times) The Monticello miracle: Freak racetrack accid...

Today in 1915, Frank Sinatra was born. He’s known today as The Chairman of the Board, Ol’ Blue Eyes… and he could have been known as New York Detective John McClane, the main character in the movie “Die Hard.” Plus: according to the Internet Movie Database, one of the actors the producers considered to play opposite John Travolta in "Saturday Night Fever" was... tune in and find out!  8 thing...

Today in 1965, something happened in the community of Kecksburg in southwestern Pennsylvania. That something has had plenty of names - UFO Crash, Great Fireball, second Roswell - so let’s explain what we do and don’t know about it. Plus: today in 2021, sixth grader Davyon Johnson saves the day. Twice.  Five decades later, the Kecksburg UFO is identified (probably) (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) &n...

Today in 1660, for the first time a woman took to the stage in England and performed a role in a production of Shakespeare’s Othello . We know she was a trailblazer. We know she was a pioneer. We don’t know who she was. Plus: today in 2013, Metallica became the first band to play on all seven continents with a concert in Antarctica.  Who was the first Shakespearean actress? (British Library)...

Today in 2018, the release of the album “Triumphant Hearts” by guitarist Jason Becker. Not many people in music know as much about triumph over adversity as Jason Becker, who found new ways to create and share music decades after being diagnosed with ALS. Plus: for the holidays, Springfield, Illinois has a city bus covered in tens of thousands of festive lights.  Jason Becker’s Bio (JasonBeck...

Today in 1897 is said to be the day that London first licensed motor vehicles as taxicabs. They were nicknamed "hummingbirds" and they were battery-powered. Plus: today in 1945 a US sergeant sends a letter home from the front, and it gets there... eventually.  THE SURPRISINGLY OLD STORY OF LONDON’S FIRST EVER ELECTRIC TAXI (Science Museum) Science Museum exhibits London's 1897 electric taxi (...

Today in 2019, the sale of a portrait by 19th Century English miniaturist Sarah Biffin, a renowned artist who was born without full arms or legs and whose life and work are the subject of an exhibition now running in London. Plus: British Columbia-based artist Elspeth McLean turns round stones from the ocean into colorful and extremely ornate mini mandalas. Who Was Sarah Biffin? (Philip Mould and...

This week we're replaying some of our favorite monster-themed stories. In this episode from July 2019, the story of the Hodag. This fearsome folk monster has shown up in the Harry Potter universe and tangled with the Scooby Gang, but it first "appeared" in a town in central Wisconsin. Plus: in the community of Joensuu, Finland: the first-ever World Heavy Metal Knitting Championships! The Legend Of...

This week we're replaying some of our favorite monster-themed stories. In this episode from February 2021, the story of Milicent Patrick, who designed the monster featured in the classic movie “Creature From The Black Lagoon.” Plus: in Japan, the Telecube gives remote employees a work space inside a phone booth.  Movie monster maker Milicent Patrick finally gets her due in ‘The Lady From the...

This week we're replaying some of our favorite monster-themed stories. In this episode from September 2019, researchers try to finally solve the long-running mystery of the Loch Ness Monster, though they can agree that whatever is in there isn't shown in the famous photo of "Nessie." Plus: a study finds T. Rex probably had a kind of air conditioner built into its head?!? The Legend of Loch Ness (N...

This week we're replaying some of our favorite monster-themed stories. In this episode from June 2020, a look at one of the most important monster movies most people have never heard of. “Them!” (note the exclamation mark in the title) featured giant irradiated ants, James Arness, the Wilhelm Scream, Fess Parker, Leonard Nimoy and more! Plus: science has determined how to give  the perfect hu...

This week we're replaying some of our favorite monster-themed stories. In this episode from June 2020, a couple in Murphysboro, Illinois reports seeing a tall, hairy, extremely smelly creature that over time became known as The Big Muddy Monster. But what the heck was it? Plus: the anniversary of Elvis Presley’s final concert. And yes, there’s a historic marker on the site. Chasing Monsters: Big M...

For some people, watching football is the best part of Thanksgiving weekend. Today in 1950, there was a football game that had to be seen to be believed: the Snow Bowl. Plus: today is known in some circles as Dine Over Your Kitchen Sink Day. Snow Bowl - November 25, 1950 (Weather.gov) How A Blizzard Made The 1950 Michigan/Ohio State ‘Snow Bowl’ Most Unusual Read More: A Blizzard Made The 1950 Mich...

There aren't a lot of top-drawer Thanksgiving specials, but the "WKRP In Cincinnati" episode "Turkeys Away" may qualify. Here's some of the real life story that inspired the absolutely bonkers plot of the show.  Turkeys Away: An Oral History (Classic TV History) We give thanks today (and every day) for our Patreon backers, and for all our listeners and fans! 

Today in 1804, the birthday of President Franklin Pierce. He's not well known today, but in his time, people learned about the 14th president through a biography written by the acclaimed novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne. Plus: today in 1999, the area around Cape Canaveral, Florida gets a very appropriate area code.  Franklin Pierce: NH's Forgotten President (NH Magazine) Nathaniel Hawthorne, Part...

This is maybe the most adorable scientific study of the year: researchers have been testing whether bumblebees like to play with toys… and they do! Plus: in Duluth, Minnesota, the famous Bentleyville Tour of Lights is underway. Bumblebees Like Playing With Toys, Study Finds (Treehugger) Bentleyville Tour of Lights   We all need to play, but thanks to our Patreon backers, working on this show...

The World Cup is getting underway in Qatar. The Cup's official ball has a colorful and busy design, perfect for HDTVs. Here's the story of how the classic black and white ball got its design. Plus: this time in 1938, some TV viewers in New York were watching... the BBC? The Footballs during the FIFA World Cup™ (FIFA) BBC Television received in New York - November 1938 (Archive.org) Our Patreon bac...

Today in 1923, the birthday of Alan Shepard. He was the first American in space, and the first person to ever play golf on the Moon. Plus: when night falls tonight in the northern Alaska town of Utqiaġvik, also known as Barrow, it’s going to linger. The Moon Club (USGA) America’s northern most town entered polar night Thursday (WHSV) Help us get to the green as a backer on Patreon

Today in 1858, the founding of the city of Denver, Colorado. The state capitol building in Denver features a kind of stone known as Colorado Rose Onyx, and so far it's the only one. Plus: for National Baklava Day, a look at the world's largest baklava.  Only in Denver: Rose Onyx at Colorado State Capitol (Denver.org) Largest baklava (Guinness) Our Patreon backers make each episode of this sho...

It's National Fast Food Day, and here's the story of an uncommon fast food restaurant: the Friendship 500, a floating McDonald's restaurant in the 80s nicknamed the "McBarge." Plus: in Germany, there's a fast food place with a paddle-thru lane for canoeists and kayakers.  The Creepiest McDonald’s In The World (LethbridgeNewsNow) The World’s Only Float-Through McDonald’s (Laughing Squid) Backi...

Today in 1938, a California woman took a stand in court for the right to wear slacks instead of a dress in court. Here's the story of Helen Hulick and her campaign against "anti-slackism." Plus: today in 1929, the release of the film "Atlantic," which was actually the same film made multiple times in multiple languages.  California Retrospective: In 1938, L.A. woman went to jail for wearing s...