A 24/7 Diner Chain Gave Its Workers Christmas Day Off, Then It Had To Figure Out How To Close

Today in 1988, a report in the New York Times noted that restaurant chain Denny's was shutting its doors for Christmas Day, only to run into a little hiccup around those doors.

By |2024-12-25T15:51:42-05:00December 20, 2024|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

The Great Naha Tug of War Gets Thousands Of People Pulling And Partying

This Sunday on Okinawa in Japan, it’s an event on a grand scale: the Naha Great Tug of War, with thousands of people pulling a 200 meter long rope.

By |2024-12-10T07:49:37-05:00October 9, 2024|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

A Town In Japan Built An Anne Of Green Gables-Themed Park

L.M. Montgomery's books have a lot of fans in Japan, which is why a community in northern Japan built a park called Canadian World, complete with a recreation of Anne's hometown of Avonlea.

By |2024-12-14T11:43:18-05:00June 27, 2024|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

A Study Says Everyone In Japan Could Have The Same Last Name Five Centuries From Now

A study from Japan's Tohoku University says that if current trends continue, everyone in the country will eventually end up with the same surname - though it might take a while to get there.

By |2024-12-13T07:41:54-05:00April 8, 2024|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

New York City’s 311 System Has Gotten Some Wild Calls Over The Years

This month in 2003, New York City launched its 311 service, a service that has helped residents with a wide range of non-emergency issues… and a few absolute head-scratchers. 

By |2024-12-15T15:25:56-05:00March 11, 2024|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

Teddy Roosevelt Tried To Change How We Spell Words

Today in 1906 a vote in Congress put an end to one of President Theodore Roosevelt’s top priorities: simplifying the way we spell words. Or, as he would have preferred, spel wurds.

By |2024-12-06T06:39:21-05:00December 12, 2023|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , , |

When Domino’s Tried To Have Reindeer Deliver Pizza

Domino's Japan once tried to send its pizzas out by reindeer, but they had to backtrack after a week because, well, you can probably figure out why.

By |2024-12-16T07:59:04-05:00November 24, 2023|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , |

The Key To Next-Generation Batteries Might Be In Crab Shells

The tech industry is always on the lookout for the next big thing in batteries. Scientists on the East Coast may have found it in crab shells. 

By |2024-12-10T09:19:40-05:00November 17, 2023|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

“Mr. Tornado” Ted Fujita Was The Original Severe Weather Detective

Today in 1920, the birthday of Ted Fujita, a pioneer in meteorology who was so revered by colleagues he became known as “Mr. Tornado.”

By |2024-12-02T08:23:09-05:00October 23, 2023|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , , , , |
Go to Top