Scattered Curiosities

Part II picks up where Albort left off, discussing the Monopolies of the late 1800s and early 1900s, which include the steel, railroad and barbed wire industries. Hear how Teddy Roosevelt went after corporate America, why Thomas Edison never patented the Kinetoscope internationally and discover why you have heard of Casey Jones.

Did you ever notice that football, soccer, volleyball and basketball all have coaches and referees but baseball has managers and umpires? Take ten to discover more ways the American pastime is unique. Albort is Taking You Out To The Ballgame.

This week Albort discusses some superstitions and superstitious customs we have adopted from our ancestors. Why do people cross their fingers when they lie? Why do people in mourning wear black? Why throw spilled salt over your left shoulder? And what’s wrong with black cats?!

Albort goes behind the meanings of the phrases, “Balls to the Wall”, “Get Your Goat”, “Let the Cat Out of the Bag” and much more.

Albort starts this first of two episodes with a half-hour long crash course introduction to Jerome, Joseph and Napoleon Bonaparte and their hand in giving us the tin can before illustrating how the French Indian War, The Rosetta Stone, The War of 1812, Thomas Jefferson, The Louisiana Purchase, Lewis and Clark, The Seminole Wars, Theatre Riots, The Pony Express, Oklahoma, John Deere, Scalawags and...

Albort gives you pointers for your first visit to New York City in the first Scattered Curiosities Tinysode. Tinysodes are short episodes that will be released between the full length episodes every month.

Albort shares with you some of the unbelievable laws that exist across America. For instance, did you know its illegal to give a fifty pound box of chocolate to someone in Idaho?

Did you know that John Travolta was almost Forrest Gump? And Molly Ringwald, Pretty Woman? Find out some others near miss film castings in this week's Tinysode.