Cool Weird Awesome With Brady Carlson

This week we're re-delivering some of our favorite episodes about letters, packages and deliveries. In this episode from July 2019, the story of Owney, the dog who loved the mail so much that he helped deliver it all over the world. Plus: Freeman, South Dakota holds its annual Chislic Festival, a two day celebration of cubed meat on a stick. (Sorry, dogs aren't allowed.)  ⁠The National Postal Museum tells the history of America through moon mail, rare stamps, and one taxidermy dog⁠ (Roadtrippers)  ⁠The History of Owney the Postal Dog, Mascot of the Railway Mail Service⁠ (USPS Blog)  ⁠South Dakota Chislic Festival⁠  ⁠Patreon backers are Cool Weird Awesome's best friends! --- 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 re-delivering some of our favorite episodes about letters, packages and deliveries. In this episode from March 2021, the story of Mary Fields, the first Black woman to receive a Post Office contract to deliver the mail, and in the Wild West, no less. Plus: the story of a sibling who found a practical use for her identical twin.  ⁠The Life and Legend of Mary Fields⁠ (Montana Women's History) ⁠Stagecoach Mary Fields⁠ (National Postal Museum) ⁠Fields, Mary – aka Stagecoach Mary⁠ (Amazing Black History) ⁠More women’s history on Cool Weird Awesome⁠ --- 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 re-delivering some of our favorite episodes about letters, packages and deliveries. In this episode from February 2020, a family in Grangeville, Idaho sends a four year old through the mail to her grandmother in Lewiston, 73 miles away. And she wasn’t the only kid to travel this way after the US Postal Service began the parcel post. Plus: the group Electronicos Fantasticos makes some fascinating music with bar code scanners. ⁠A Brief History of Children Sent Through the Mail⁠ (Smithsonian) ⁠We Used to be Able to Send Children in the Mail⁠ (KQED) ⁠Barcoders Jamming⁠ (Electronicos Fantasticos on YouTube) ⁠Backing Cool Weird Awesome on Patreon is just as great as getting a birthday check in the mail! --- 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 1847, the state of Missouri put a significant obstacle in front of a civil rights activist's efforts to educate Black students in St. Louis. But he found a way around it. Plus: starting tomorrow in Wisconsin, the Waupun IceFest gets underway. How a floating school bypassed racist laws in pre-Civil War St. Louis  (FOX 2)  Waupun IceFest  Help our show cover all the best stories from land, sky and sea 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

For Black History Month, the story of the Blackwell Family Tree, a genealogy project that traces on Black family's history back through thousands of people and hundreds of years. Plus: starting this Saturday in Fairbanks, Alaska, it’s the World Ice Art Championships. A family reaches back to reclaim its history  (QCity Metro)  Blackwell-Ashe Family Tree to Take Root in Richmond (Richmond Magazine) World Ice Art Championships Help us tell more stories like this one 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

The whole idea of Valentine's Day is to show a little love, right? Not always. In the old days, some people sent out nasty-grams known as "vinegar valentines" to their least favorite people. Plus: today in 2014, a news report on a guy in China who tried something unusual to keep couples from enjoying a romantic movie together. When Valentines Were Really, Really Mean (Slate) Happy Valentine's Day, I Hate You (Collectors Weekly) Single Chinese man spoils couples' Valentine's plans by preventing them from sitting together in the cinema (The Independent) Share the love today 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 1988 the Winter Olympics began in Calgary, Alberta. There were plenty of eyes that year on the demonstration sport known as ski ballet. Plus: an archeologist has found evidence in Kenya of an ancient form of a classic board game dug into the ground. Cool Down and Reminisce over the Wonders of Ski Ballet (Messy Nessy Chic) Ancient 'Arcade' of Games Played for Thousands of Years Discovered (Newsweek) It doesn’t take a lot of gold to back this show on Patreon, support us for just $1 a month! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

It's Abe Lincoln's birthday, and if you want to see a small bit of the man himself, you could try heading to Syracuse, New York, where there’s a bit of Abe Lincoln’s hair in a very unusual decoration known as the Hairy Eagle. Plus: a website took all the clips of WKRP's Dr. Johnny Fever as a DJ, and turned them into a single three hour radio show. Hair (Amusing Planet) Guest DJ: Dr. Johnny Fever (Aw Phooey) Thanks to support from our Patreon backers, we don’t have to weave prominent people’s hair into art to raise money for the show --- 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 1865, the birthday of Wilson "Snowflake" Bentley, who gave the world a close-up view of the beauty and variety in snowflakes. Plus: a moment in 1959 that could have used a little more attention to detail. How a Vermont farmer proved no snowflakes are alike (CNN) Miscellany, Feb. 9, 1959 (TIME) Shine a light on our 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

For all the talk these days about the potential of generative AI, the systems still have a long way to go. For example, some recent research finds that some human users think ChatGPT comes off as less realistic than a famous chatbot from the 60s known as ELIZA. Plus: with the Super Bowl just days away, a look at how Gaulladet University helped give football the huddle. Before ChatGPT, There Was ELIZA: Watch the 1960s Chatbot in Action (Open Culture) When Gallaudet University Football Invented the Huddle (Gallaudet University)  Join our backers on Patreon for just $1 a month --- 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 1943, the US announced it would start rationing shoes to save rubber and leather for the troops in World War II. People on the home front found ways to make shoes out of alternative materials. Plus: today in 1915, the New York Philharmonic included a special note in its program asking members of the audience to stop knitting during the performances. Rationing of Non-Food Items on the World War II Home Front (National Park Service) 1915 Feb 07 / Subscription Season / Stransky (ID: 6287) (New York Philharmonic) You don’t need to give up your shoes to back this show on Patreon, you can give just one dollar a month! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

We're in the shortest month of the year, but how did that happen? The answer starts with the Romans, who had reasons. Plus: a choir in Canada wanted to sing "Never Gonna Give You Up" with Rick Astley, and of course he didn't give them up. Why does February have 28 days? (BBC Sky At Night) Rick Astley performs 'Never Gonna Give You Up' with 200 people in a Toronto basement and it's awesome (CBC) Keep this show coming month after month 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 week in 1897, lawmakers in the state of Indiana almost added a mathematical shortcut to state law, with a bill that would have set the wrong value for the number pi. Plus: Listen To The Clouds lets you choose radio traffic from dozens of airports around the world, and plays them alongside ambient music tracks. Feb. 5, 1897: Indiana Pols Forced to Eat Humble Pi (Wired) LISTEN TO THE CLOUDS  It would be cool if we had a backer on Patreon who gave pi dollars a month --- 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 1983, the birthday of Jessica Cox, the first person born without arms to become a licensed pilot. And that’s just one of her many accomplishments. Plus: this weekend, the Quebec Winter Carnival brings back ice canoe races on the St. Lawrence River. New feat with her feet: Tucsonan, born minus arms, earns pilot’s license (Tucson Citizen) Armless pilot gives students a look at first foot-controlled plane: ‘Disability does not mean inability’ (Chicago Sun-Times) Québec Winter Carnival  Come fly with 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

Today in 1964, Billboard Magazine reported that the governor of Indiana had called on the state’s broadcasters to stop playing the song “Louie, Louie” by the Kingsmen because of its allegedly dirty lyrics. We'll explain what happened. Plus: tomorrow in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, the ICE ART FEST gets underway.  That time Indiana teens ratted out dirty ‘Louie Louie’ lyrics, and the FBI got involved (Indianapolis Star) The 8th Annual ICE ART FEST  Our Patreon backers rock, join them today for just $1 a month! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

A partnership between university researchers and a startup in British Columbia is testing out a new wearable device that can track arm and hand movements from people recovering from strokes to help improve their rehab exercises. Plus: starting this Friday in Camden, Maine, it’s the U.S. National Toboggan Championships.  ‘Smart glove’ can boost hand mobility of stroke patients (University of British Columbia) U.S. National Toboggan Championships  Backing our show on Patreon is smart --- 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 1949, a first for American network TV: a female comedian did a standup routine on the air. Here's the story of comic Jean Carroll. Plus: Greensburg, Kansas is home to the world's largest hand-dug well. The First Mrs. Maisel (Emmys.com) ‘A hole in the ground' and other quirky curiosities mean money and pride for small Kansas towns (KAKE) Backing our show on Patreon is easy and there’s no funny business --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

To clear snow and ice, some of us use shovels, others use snowblowers. Holland, Michigan uses a long series of tubes under the streets and sidewalks in its downtown district to melt any winter accumulation. Plus: now underway in Arizona, it’s the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase. Snowmelt: A Snow-Free Holland (Discover Holland Michigan)  TUCSON GEM, MINERAL & FOSSIL SHOWCASE (Visit Tucson) Our podcast would be frozen in place without our Patreon backers, join 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

This week we’re replaying some of our favorite feline-themed episodes. In this episode from September 2022, a news story with one heck of a headline: “Kitten Scales Matterhorn: Veteran Mountain Climbers Are Astonished”! Here's how the cat, later nicknamed Matt, got there. Plus: a small plaque in Denmark marks a big moment in rock music history.  ⁠The cat that climbed the Matterhorn⁠ (Weird Universe) ⁠Commemorating the debut of Led Zeppelin in 1968⁠ ⁠Help this show reach new heights 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 week we’re replaying some of our favorite feline-themed episodes. In this episode from September 2022, the story of Room 8, a stray cat turned classroom cat turned legend. Plus: the Michigan State Fair gets underway today, and hopefully goes better than the botched attempt at a fair back in 1839.  ⁠Room 8, The Cat That Adopted An Echo Park School, Died 50 Years Ago Today⁠ (LAist) ⁠The Michigan State Fair⁠ (LostStory.net) ⁠Join our Patreon backers and keep this show moving forward every day --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support