How Ford Put A Mustang High Up On The Empire State Building
Today in 1965, there was an unusual visitor high atop New York’s famous Empire State Building: a Ford Mustang. And it took some doing to get it up there.
It’s Hockey Week on Cool Weird Awesome
We’re replaying some of our favorite episodes on the ice this week.
The Hearing Car Is Testing Whether Self-Driving Vehicles Need More Senses On The Road
Autonomous vehicles have high-tech systems to see “see” what’s around them on the roads. A project in Germany asks if these cars also need to be listening to what’s around them too.
A Radio Show In Tennessee Told Listeners They Had To Recycle Their Old-Style $20 Bills
As a Halloween week prank in 1998, DJs in Tennessee said people had to exchange their old $20 bills for the new ones, or they would become worthless.
Otto The Octopus Was Really Good At Getting Into Mischief
For World Octopus Day, the story of Otto, who proved that not only is an octopus clever, it can be a little too clever.
The Soviet Union Put Out An Official Cookbook Of “Tasty And Healthy Food”
Sometimes a cookbook is more than a set of recipes: it’s a window into a culture.
The Benshi Were Japan’s Silent Movie Whisperers
In Japan, even silent films had voices, thanks to live performers known as benshi.
Times New Roman, A 1930s Typeface, Is Still A Top Font In The 21st Century
Today in 1932, the London newspaper The Times published its first edition with a brand new typeface: Times New Roman. And it's been a big deal ever since, even in the computer age.
The Furby Fad Of The 1990s Briefly Became A National Security Concern
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6fsgMxvlC4R9Zr4rKSCRJs?si=ef22d0f6d6ca479b Today in 1998, the debut of the Furby. This toy became a legit 90s phenomenon, one so popular that it actually raise some concerns in the national security [...]
Smith Island Cake Is Maryland’s Official State Dessert
Today in 2008, the state of Maryland formally recognized Smith Island Cake as its official state dessert. It’s yellow cake and chocolate frosting in layers and layers and layers.