Cool Weird Awesome With Brady Carlson

This week we're replaying some of our favorite monster-themed stories. In this episode from September 2019, researchers try to finally solve the long-running mystery of the Loch Ness Monster, though they can agree that whatever is in there isn't shown in the famous photo of "Nessie." Plus: a study finds T. Rex probably had a kind of air conditioner built into its head?!? The Legend of Loch Ness (Nova) Loch Ness monster might actually just be a giant eel, scientists say (USA Today) T. Rex had an air conditioner in its head, study suggests (Science Daily) Thanks to our backers on Patreon, Cool Weird Awesome, uh, finds a way --- 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 monster-themed stories. In this episode from June 2020, a look at one of the most important monster movies most people have never heard of. “Them!” (note the exclamation mark in the title) featured giant irradiated ants, James Arness, the Wilhelm Scream, Fess Parker, Leonard Nimoy and more! Plus: science has determined how to give  the perfect hug, so start practicing. 11 Fun Facts About Them! (Mental Floss) Hug me tender: scientists unlock the secret to the perfect cuddle (Yahoo! News) Protect yourself from giant movie monsters 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 monster-themed stories. In this episode from June 2020, a couple in Murphysboro, Illinois reports seeing a tall, hairy, extremely smelly creature that over time became known as The Big Muddy Monster. But what the heck was it? Plus: the anniversary of Elvis Presley’s final concert. And yes, there’s a historic marker on the site. Chasing Monsters: Big Muddy Monster still has Murphysboro residents wondering (The Southern Illinoisian) Big Muddy Monster Case File (Murphysboro.com) The King’s Final Bow: Elvis’s Last Concert in Indianapolis (Indiana History Blog) Don’t stand at the end of Lonely Street, join us 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

For some people, watching football is the best part of Thanksgiving weekend. Today in 1950, there was a football game that had to be seen to be believed: the Snow Bowl. Plus: today is known in some circles as Dine Over Your Kitchen Sink Day. Snow Bowl - November 25, 1950 (Weather.gov) How A Blizzard Made The 1950 Michigan/Ohio State ‘Snow Bowl’ Most Unusual Read More: A Blizzard Made The 1950 Michigan/Ohio State 'Snow Bowl' Unusual (WBCK) International Association of People Who Dine Over the Kitchen Sink (Weird Universe) Help keep things warm on this show as a backer on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

There aren't a lot of top-drawer Thanksgiving specials, but the "WKRP In Cincinnati" episode "Turkeys Away" may qualify. Here's some of the real life story that inspired the absolutely bonkers plot of the show.  Turkeys Away: An Oral History (Classic TV History) We give thanks today (and every day) for our Patreon backers, and for all our listeners and fans!  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1804, the birthday of President Franklin Pierce. He's not well known today, but in his time, people learned about the 14th president through a biography written by the acclaimed novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne. Plus: today in 1999, the area around Cape Canaveral, Florida gets a very appropriate area code.  Franklin Pierce: NH's Forgotten President (NH Magazine) Nathaniel Hawthorne, Party Hack (Slate) 3,2,1, Call Cape Canaveral (New York Times)  We win every time with our Patreon backers --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

This is maybe the most adorable scientific study of the year: researchers have been testing whether bumblebees like to play with toys… and they do! Plus: in Duluth, Minnesota, the famous Bentleyville Tour of Lights is underway. Bumblebees Like Playing With Toys, Study Finds (Treehugger) Bentleyville Tour of Lights  We all need to play, but thanks to our Patreon backers, working on this show is awfully fun, too --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

The World Cup is getting underway in Qatar. The Cup's official ball has a colorful and busy design, perfect for HDTVs. Here's the story of how the classic black and white ball got its design. Plus: this time in 1938, some TV viewers in New York were watching... the BBC? The Footballs during the FIFA World Cup™ (FIFA) BBC Television received in New York - November 1938 (Archive.org) Our Patreon backers score a goal with every episode of this show --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1923, the birthday of Alan Shepard. He was the first American in space, and the first person to ever play golf on the Moon. Plus: when night falls tonight in the northern Alaska town of Utqiaġvik, also known as Barrow, it’s going to linger. The Moon Club (USGA) America’s northern most town entered polar night Thursday (WHSV) Help us get to the green as a backer on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1858, the founding of the city of Denver, Colorado. The state capitol building in Denver features a kind of stone known as Colorado Rose Onyx, and so far it's the only one. Plus: for National Baklava Day, a look at the world's largest baklava.  Only in Denver: Rose Onyx at Colorado State Capitol (Denver.org) Largest baklava (Guinness) Our Patreon backers make each episode of this show shine like a rare stone --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

It's National Fast Food Day, and here's the story of an uncommon fast food restaurant: the Friendship 500, a floating McDonald's restaurant in the 80s nicknamed the "McBarge." Plus: in Germany, there's a fast food place with a paddle-thru lane for canoeists and kayakers.  The Creepiest McDonald’s In The World (LethbridgeNewsNow) The World’s Only Float-Through McDonald’s (Laughing Squid) Backing our show on Patreon is as quick and easy as getting a burger in the drive-thru lane --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1938, a California woman took a stand in court for the right to wear slacks instead of a dress in court. Here's the story of Helen Hulick and her campaign against "anti-slackism." Plus: today in 1929, the release of the film "Atlantic," which was actually the same film made multiple times in multiple languages.  California Retrospective: In 1938, L.A. woman went to jail for wearing slacks in courtroom (Los Angeles Times) Did a Woman Go To Jail for Wearing Slacks in 1938? (Snopes) ATLANTIC (1929) (BFI)   Not all heroes wear capes, some back our show on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1943, a US Navy ship almost caused a gigantic tragedy, by inadvertently launching a torpedo at the president of the United States. Plus: this month in 1932, the UK’s Home Office got a complaint about ancient drawing known as the Cerne Abbas Giant and his “impassioned obscenity.” This WWII Naval Ship Was So Unlucky, It Almost Killed FDR (Task and Purpose) To Whom It May Concern (Futility Closet) Help us hit our targets as a backer on Patreon! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

For Veterans Day, the story of the Comanche Code Talkers, 17 veterans of the second World War who created an unbroken code in their native language that saved lives and helped the US military effort.  Comanche language helped win World War II (US Army) Comanche Code Talkers (Comanche National Museum and Cultural Center) 124th Signal Battalion (ArmyHistory.org) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1958, the Hope Diamond became property of the Smithsonian Institution. Legend has it the giant blue diamond carries with it a centuries-old curse... even though some of its owners have actually done just fine for themselves. Plus: a statue in Spain pays tribute to a heavy metal enthusiast known as the Rocker Grandma.  History of the Hope Diamond (Smithsonian Institution) The Secret History Of The Hope Diamond: How Pierre Cartier Sold A Cursed Jewel (Forbes) This Granny Rocks! (Eye on Spain) The real gems are our Patreon backers --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

There's a new technique that could help people trying to fend off chronic nightmares - and it involves playing "neutral" piano chords at just the right times. Plus: an art museum in Germany discovers one of its Mondrian paintings has been on display upside down for decades! A piano chord helped reduce chronic nightmares, a study showed (Washington Post) Painting by Mondrian has been hanging upside down in German museum for decades (Paudal) Our Patreon backers keep this show sounding good every day --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

It's National Tongue Twister Day, and among those who practice tongue twisters as part of their training are auctioneers. Here's a look at how they do their work. Plus: a visit to Montana's famous Ringing Rocks.  What it takes to be an art auctioneer at the largest auction house in the world (Insider) Auctioneer Practice Drills & Exercises (Western College of Auctioneering)   Ringing Rocks Point of Interest (Visit MT) No need to bid, just back our show on Patreon for $1 a month! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

This day in 1916 was an important day in US Postal Service history - a rule change that came after the community of Vernal, Utah basically had a bank mailed to them, in installments of bricks. Plus: a developer in England tore down a pub that was considered a historic site, so they had to put the original pub back up in its original location with the original bricks. The Bank of Vernal: The "Parcel Post Bank" (US Postal Service) VERNAL'S PARCEL POST BANK (Utah Humanities) After Illegally Bulldozing Historic London Pub, Developers Were Ordered to Rebuild it ‘Brick by Brick’ (Good News Network) Our Patreon backers help us build every episode of the show --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1980, six counties in southern New Jersey voted on whether they should strike out on their own and become a separate state of South Jersey. And five of those counties actually voted yes! Plus: the Peace Tower on Canada's Parliament Hill has a giant clock that cannot ever be turned backwards. So how does it handle the end of Daylight Saving Time?  South Jersey voted to secede from NJ (App.) The 10 Most Iconic Clock Towers in the World (Architectural Digest) No matter which state you're in, you can help support this show as a backer on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support

It's National Sandwich Day, and there are lots of great ones out there. The worst sandwich has a pretty clear champion - the Raines sandwich. Though to be fair, it wasn’t ever really intended to be eaten. Plus: back in 1984, the number one song on the Billboard pop chart was “Caribbean Queen” by Billy Ocean. He actually recorded different versions of the song featuring queens from different parts of the world to have hits everywhere.  To Evade Pre-Prohibition Drinking Laws, New Yorkers Created the World’s Worst Sandwich (Atlas Obscura) Billy Ocean - European Queen (Discogs)  Our Patreon backers make this show the best --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/coolweirdawesome/support