Cool Weird Awesome With Brady Carlson

This week we’re replaying some of our favorite episodes about our neighbors in the solar system. In this episode from July 2022, the story of Venetia Burney, who at age eleven did something few people have done: she named a planet! Plus: the people of Ripon, Wisconsin team up to make the world’s largest chocolate chip cookie. ⁠Venetia Burney Phair (1918-2009)⁠ (NASA) ⁠Ripon's signature Cookie Daze has been discontinued, chamber cites closure of cookie factory⁠ (Ripon Press) ⁠Our Patreon backers are so great, we should name planets after them --- 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 we’re replaying some of our favorite episodes about our neighbors in the solar system. In this episode from October 2021, we find out whether scientists who study Uranus think the many jokes humans make about the seventh planet are funny. Plus: a visit to a magic shop in Burnsville, Minnesota that's the oldest in the US.  ⁠Here’s What Uranus Scientists Think About Your Disgusting Jokes⁠ (Futurism) ⁠The Oldest Magic Shop In The U.S. Is Right Here In Minnesota, And It’s Full Of Enchanting Fun⁠ (Only in Minnesota) ⁠No joke, our Patreon backers are out of this world --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Ahead of World Baking Day, we look at the history of a baking and TV legend, the Pillsbury Doughboy. But did you know about his full name and his doughy relatives? Plus: today in Iowa, it’s day two of the three day Orange City Tulip Festival.  Meet the Pillsbury Doughboy’s Family! (Huffington Post) The Doughboy is 50! (General Mills) Orange City Tulip Festival  Help us open up a can of new podcast episodes by backing 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 1882 inventor Maria Beasley received the patent for what's probably her most well-known invention, a collapsible life raft. But Beasley was one of those inventors who came up with idea after idea in a bunch of fields, so there's lots more to her story. Plus: starting tomorrow in Nixa, Missouri, it’s Nixa Sucker Days. Maria Beasley: Engineering dynamo (Go! Magazine via Iowa State University Institute for Transportation)  NIXA SUCKER DAYS  Let’s invent more episodes of the show with help from 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

There's a little Spanish enclave in southwestern France, and in the 1980s a dispute over a road between that community and the rest of Spain became known as a "war of the stop signs." Plus: when Harriet Richardson emailed a local church with some punny ideas for their sign, the church gave her a sign of her own. The Spanish town that ended up in France (El Pais) PLEASE STOP EMAILING US HARRIET. The internet is still good, people are still good. (Kottke.org) Keep sending our show out all over the world 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 2005, test pilot Didier Delsalle took a helicopter where a helicopter had never gone before: the summit of Mount Everest. Plus: could cargo drones lug gear up and down the world's tallest mountain so that Sherpas and others climbers don't have to put themselves at risk to do it? Landing on Everest: Didier Delsalle Recalls his Record Flight (Vertical Magazine) Could Flying Drones Save Lives on Mount Everest? (Outside) Help this show fly high 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 month in 2014, the debut of Mr. Trash Wheel! He’s become a social media sensation for his giant googly eyes and his dedication to cleaning up Baltimore’s waterfront. Plus: this month in 1984, the first online grocery order, by a retiree using her TV remote control (!) Baltimore’s Trash Wheel family celebrating 10 years of cleaner water (WBAL) Mr. Trash Wheel cleans up Baltimore Harbor with a dash of humor (PBS Newshour) Online shopping: The pensioner who pioneered a home shopping revolution (BBC) Help us keep it clean every day when you back us 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 1907, the birthday of Finnish Olympic gold medalist Kalle Jalkanen. His relay team had a big come from behind victory in the 1936 Winter Games, but what legend says happened along the way is an even more unusual part of the story. Plus: If you’re celebrating Mother’s Day this Sunday, you could head to St. Petersburg, Florida, which is home to the Museum of Motherhood. The death of Finland's ski king was arcstained - Major executed four prisoners of war (Iltalehti)  Museum of Motherhood  You’ll feel like a champion when you back 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 2007, the New York Times published a feature story on Kool Aid pickles, a sweet and sour treat that found some diehard fans in the southern US. Plus: officials in North Yorkshire, England say that to avoid issues with their geographic computer systems, their street signs will henceforth have no apostrophes.  A Sweet So Sour: Kool-Aid Dills (New York Times) North Yorkshire Council to phase out apostrophe use on street signs (BBC) It would be so sweet if you backed our show on Patreon today --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

For National Have A Coke Day, a look at the time a few decades ago when Coke encouraged people not to drink something great, but to choose OK Soda. Plus: starting today in Homer, Alaska, it’s the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival. The Strange Story Of "OK Soda" (Buzzfeed) KACHEMAK BAY SHOREBIRD FESTIVAL  If you want to back our show on Patreon, that’s ok with us --- 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 1989, El Reno, Oklahoma held its first ever El Reno Burger Day. It was in honor of a local creation that's been popular for almost a century, the fried onion burger. Plus: for Tchaikovsky's birthday, the story of how a benefactor gave him a stipend that let him compose full time... with one very unusual string attached. El Reno’s Fried Onion Burger Packed With Flavor And Long History (News9.com) Tchaikovsky: Conflicted, Neurotic, Brilliant (California Symphony) Backing our show on Patreon makes life a little tastier --- 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 was the birthday in 1915 of Orson Welles, who created timeless films, radio shows and stage plays... and outtakes for a wine commercial that went viral before any of us were on the internet. Plus: today in 1931, the birthday of baseball legend Willie Mays, who was such a great hitter that the scouting report had no advice on how to pitch to him.  I WAS THE MAN AT THE CLAPPERBOARD FOR ORSON WELLES’ LEGENDARY DRUNK WINE COMMERCIAL (MEL Magazine) MAYS, WILLIE (N.Y. Outfielder) (Library of Congress) We know a remote podcast community on Patreon, where Mrs. Buckley lives; every July, peas grow there --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

One way you could celebrate National No Pants Day is to put on a Roman toga or tunic, though the ancient Romans actually did a 180 on the question of pants. Here's why they were for them after they were against them. Plus: tomorrow in Prague, Oklahoma, it’s the Kolache Festival. How Pants Went From Banned to Required in the Roman Empire (Atlas Obscura) KOLACHE FESTIVAL: PRAGUE, OKLAHOMA  Pants or no pants, you definitely want to join us 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

Yes, today is a day in the month of May, but that's not where the international distress call "Mayday" comes from. We'll fill you in on the actual backstory. Plus: this weekend in Las Cruces, it’s the 2024 New Mexico Tamale Fest.  Why Is 'Mayday' the International Distress Call? (How Stuff Works) The 2024 New Mexico Tamale Fest at Plaza De Las Cruces! (Cinco De Mayo)  Help us avoid distress 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 month in 2008, a high school athlete from a very small town competed as a team of one in the Texas track championships, and finished first two years in a row. Plus: starting this Friday in Hilliard, Ohio, it’s the Early Television Convention.  THE POWER OF ONE (Sports Illustrated) Early Television Convention (Early Television Museum) Join our team 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 1939, the opening of the World's Fair in New York. One of the inventions featured there was a way that newspapers could broadcast newspapers over the radio and have special receivers print out a copy of the paper for customers. Plus: Michigan State University's Abrams Planetarium is also home to the Moist Towelette Museum?!? A Look Back at the Radio Newspaper of the Air (Radio World) Moist Towelette Museum (Weird Universe) Back our show on Patreon and we promise not to use the money to try to broadcast our print edition over the radio (because we don’t even have a print edition!) --- 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 1933 the birthday of Willie Nelson, a country music legend who once put out an album so that he could send royalties to the IRS to pay some overdue taxes. Plus: today in 1970, the birthday of Andre Agassi, who once figured out how to read a rival's serve in an unusual way. Poor Willie (Texas Monthly)  WATCH: The amazing story of how Andre Agassi read Boris Becker’s serve by watching his tongue (Tennis365) Back our show today on Patreon so we can make new episodes (our taxes are already covered) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

For Arbor Day, the story of the Tree of 40 Fruit, a real tree in Syracuse, New York that shows just how many different fruit you can graft onto a single tree. Plus: starting tomorrow in Hawaii, it’s the Waikiki SPAM Jam. Sculptor Sam Van Aken’s Tree of 40 Fruit (Syracuse University) Waikiki Spam Jam  Back our show on Patreon and your gift will definitely bear fruit --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

On today's show we’re uncorking a new method to treat oil spills with cork and lasers, an unexpected and potentially greener combination. Plus: tomorrow is day one of the three day Vermont Maple Festival in St. Albans. Trash to titan: Scientists create laser-treated cork that absorbs oil spills (Interesting Engineering)  VERMONT MAPLE FESTIVAL  Uncork the potential of this show 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

Washington State University researchers have come up with another e-tongue, and this one can quickly sense the compounds that show up when wine is spoiling. Plus: this weekend in Mansfield, Indiana, it’s the Mansfield Mushroom Festival. E-tongue can detect white wine spoilage before humans can (Washington State University) Mansfield Mushroom Festival  Backing our show on Patreon will leave a good taste in your mouth --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support