Cool Weird Awesome With Brady Carlson

Today Lionel Richie is receiving the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Not only has he sold millions of records, he’s become a home goods entrepreneur, an art enthusiast - and one time, personal clothes shopper for none other than Nelson Mandela. Plus: today in Northbrook, IL, it’s the 2022 World Clown Association convention - aka the Class Clown Reunion. Lionel Richie to Receive the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song (Library of Congress) Lionel Richie on being Nelson Mandela's stylist (CBC) World Clown Association 2022 Convention  Our Patreon backers keep us dancing on the ceiling --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

There were cold-like illnesses and sore throats long before there were humans to catch colds and to get sore throats. A research project has found another creature that got sniffles: dinosaurs. Plus: this month marks 200 years since the birth of Harriet Tubman, and there's a lot happening to celebrate her life and her legacy. Even dinosaurs couldn’t escape the sniffles (Popular Science) Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Scenic Byway (Visit Maryland) How Philadelphia Is Honoring Harriet Tubman’s Birthday in 2022 (Visit Philly) Our Patreon backers make great things happen every day  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1929, the start of one of the most outlandish stories in American political history: the time Louisiana Governor Huey Long had the governor's house torn down and a virtual replica of the White House built in its place, because (as it's said) he wanted to get used to living in the White House before he was elected president. Plus: meet the Flairdrum, a percussion instrument built out of recycled plastic drink bottles.  Strippers, Insane Asylums, Assassination, and Termites: Inside the Insane History of the World’s Greatest White House Replica (The Daily Beast)  Old Louisiana Governor's Mansion (National Park Service) Flairdrum, A Wonderful Percussion Instrument Made From Recycled Plastic Bottles (Laughing Squid) You don't have to build a mansion to help build our show! Just join us on Patreon for $1 a month --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1837 an act to incorporate the city of Chicago passed. A decade or two later, thousands of workers helped raise many of its buildings up 14 feet to make way for a badly needed wastewater and stormwater system. Plus: today in 1791, Vermont became a state, and one that's home to a 38 drawer tall filing cabinet. Chicago’s ‘sunken’ homes are remnants of a bold effort to raise the city out of the mud (WGN) Tallest Filing Cabinet on Earth (Atlas Obscura) Join our Patreon backers and help this show keep climbing higher and higher --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Researchers at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology took stem cells and treated them with high-frequency sound waves, which was enough to convert them into bone cells. Plus: today in 2018, runner Murielle Ahoure found an ingenious way to celebrate her country after a big win.  Sonic advance: How sound waves could help regrow bones (RMIT) World Indoor Championships: Ivory Coast's Ahoure celebrates 60m gold with Irish flag (BBC) Our Patreon backers always sound great ZjogEHWYjunepKbHomzO --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1962 one of the most stunning performances in the history of basketball, or really in all of pro sports: Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a game. Plus: today in 1935, the release of a short film called “Donkey Baseball," in which humans lead donkeys around in a baseball game (the donkeys aren't the ones playing baseball).  The Legacy Of Wilt Chamberlain's 100-Point Game (WBUR) Five things you didn't know about Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game (Sporting News) Donkey Baseball (YouTube) Our Patreon backers are all winners --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Mardi Gras, Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Tuesday, etc is typically the day a community in central Mexico has a somewhat notorious festival in which people put homemade explosives on top of sledge hammers and slam the hammers into stuff to make big explosions. If you go, don't blame us for anything that happens. Plus: a town in Kansas marks Pancake Day with a pancake flipping race.  The explosive festival of San Juan de la Vega (La Silla Rota Guanajuato)  Annual 'exploding hammer' festival might be the most dangerous event in Mexico (Mashable)  Liberal pancake race (Kansas Historical Society) We celebrate our Patreon backers every day --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Most years February is 28 days long. Every fourth year it has 29. But one time, in one country, for one year, there was a February 30th. Plus: today in 1903, the oldest sound recording made in Japan is made.  February 30th (Now I Know) 118 Years Later, Japan’s Earliest Sound Recordings Still Resonate (Atlas Obscura)  Our Patreon backers keep us going every day of the year  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

This week we're replaying some of our favorite episodes about presidents. In this show from February 2020, we remember the time in 1862 that President Abraham Lincoln said thanks, but no thanks, to an offer of elephants from the king of Siam, now Thailand. It was a gracious letter, which was appropriate because elephants themselves have lovely manners. Lincoln Rejects the King of Siam's Offer of Elephants (American Battlefield Trust) Elephant Emotions (PBS Nature) We graciously invite you to back Cool Weird Awesome on Patreon! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

This week we're replaying some of our favorite episodes about presidents. In this show from February 2020, we recall the time Lyndon Johnson visited the Pentagon on Leap Day 1968 - and became the first President of the United States to get stuck in an elevator. Plus: Graceland hosts the third annual Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Weekend. LBJ Stuck In An Elevator (Atlas Obscura) Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Weekend at Graceland (Memphis Travel) Take care of business as a Cool Weird Awesome backer on Patreon! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

This week we're replaying some of our favorite episodes about presidents. In this show from February 2020, we remember the time in 1974 that Gerald Ford became president, spending the first 10 days of his term living not at the White House but at his family home in Alexandria, Virginia.  Gerald R. Ford House (BradyCarlson.com) Thanks to Cool Weird Awesome backers on Patreon for supporting the show!  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

This week we're replaying some of our favorite episodes about presidents. In this show from January 2021, we tell the story of Rebecca the raccoon, who definitely left her mark on the White House during Calvin Coolidge's presidency. Plus: a company in the UK makes a 500-plus pound protein bar.  When Rebecca the Raccoon Ruled the White House (Library of Congress) Calvin Coolidge’s Reuben (Presidential Pet Museum) British company creates world's largest protein bar (UPI) Our Patreon backers deserve any pet they like, even a presidential raccoon --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

This week we're replaying some of our favorite episodes about presidents. In this show from April 2020, we mark a very odd anniversary in the history of the US presidency: the day in 1979 that Jimmy Carter got into a fight (of sorts) with a swamp rabbit. Plus: the annual Sechselauten brings on spring by blowing up a snowman! In 1979, Jimmy Carter was attacked by a giant swimming rabbit (AV Club) The History of Sechseläuten (Zuerich.com) Patreon backers are always welcome in Cool Weird Awesome's boat --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

A team at MIT has come up with a new substance that do-it-yourselfers will love: a surgical "duct tape" that can help seal up wounds and tears in the body's gastrointestinal system. Plus: a guy in Minnesota uses the snow in his front yard to build a life-size Tyrannosaurus Rex. As one does. Engineers develop surgical 'duct tape' as an alternative to sutures (Science Daily) Someone Built A Life-Sized Tyrannosaurus Rex Out Of Snow In His Front Yard And Won The Hearts Of The Internet (Digg) This show can roar thanks to our Patreon backers --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Taxiing accounts for about 5 percent of a jet's fuel consumption, so one way to make flying greener is making taxiing greener, like through an all-electric towing system. Plus: if you’re in the market for a new couch, Sara Hayat's Tetris Couch might help you put the pieces together, so to speak.  A Boeing 747 burns one ton of fuel while taxiing. This electric towing system could help (Fast Company) The Tetris Couch by Sarah Hayat (Cool Material) Our Patreon backers make this show fly --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1923, King Tut's tomb was opened and entered. That may not have been the afterlife the young pharaoh had hoped for, but it could have been worse: for centuries artists used a paint called Mummy Brown, which was made with actual mummy parts. Plus: the time musicians tried to play the trumpets found in Tut's burial chamber and almost ruined them.  Mummy Brown (Florida State University Department of Art History)  A Pigment from the Depths (Harvard Art Museums) Tutankhamun’s ‘cursed’ trumpet that stirs ‘deadly conflict’ has arrived in London (ClassicFM) Our Patreon backers will be hailed as heroes for centuries and centuries --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 2006, a high school basketball team put its manager into the game. Jason McElwain not only played, he stole the show. Plus: if you’re looking to slow life down a little in these hectic times, try a trip on the "world's slowest express train," the Glacier Express in Switzerland.  The game nobody could forget (ESPN) The World’s Slowest Express Train Has Panoramic Glass for Breathtaking Views (Thrillist) Our Patreon backers make this show a slam dunk every day  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today is the assumed birth date in 1817 or 1818 of Frederick Douglass, who is known for his powerful writing and speeches, but was also probably the most photographed person of his time. Plus: a cruise ship operator is offering couples the chance to get married in Antarctica. Picture This: Frederick Douglass Was The Most Photographed Man Of His Time (NPR) Be One of the First Couples to Get Married in Antarctica (Thrillist) Share the love with our Patreon backers  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

With Abraham Lincoln's birthday a day away, we look at one of the most timeless memorials to the 16th president - or at least the undercroft that's been out of public view for a long time. Plus: back in 1865 a man in Maryland carved a pretty unusual Lincoln memorial of his own into a beech tree.  Lincoln Memorial Undercroft (Atlas Obscura)  The Presidents' Tree (Friends of Sligo Creek) Party on with our Patreon backers, and keep our show growing --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1907, Charles Oldrieve finished walking from Cincinnati to New Orleans. The catch? He walked the whole way on special shoes that let him float in water. Plus: if you’re looking for some peace and quiet, try the website Sounds of Earth.  He Walked On Water From Cincinnati To New Orleans (The Waterways Journal) Sounds of Earth is an ambient audio player where you can listen to nature sounds from around the globe (Boing Boing) Our Patreon backers keep this show moving forward every day --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support