This week we learn about how cartographers used to just make up stuff for fun and how Nikolai Vavilov's dream of ending famine with the world's largest seed vault put him at direct odds with soviet darling Trofim Lysenko . A listener email explains what happens to a solider after accidentally taking 30 doses of meth.

Throw Me in the Bog Sweatshirt Drop: https://www.bonfire.com/bogsweater/

Use Code 500OPENTABS at Kaveh's store for freebies: https://www.blacksmithfilms.com/store

Episode Tabs:

Phantom Island

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phantom_island

The Tragedy of the World’s First Seed Bank

https://www.sciencehistory.org/stories/magazine/the-tragedy-of-the-worlds-first-seed-bank/

Listener Tabs:

https://allthatsinteresting.com/aimo-koivunen

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Molasses_Flood

Email your closed tab submissions to: [email protected]

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/500OpenTabs

500 Open Roads (Google Maps episode guide): https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tg9g2HcUaFAzXGbw7

Continue the conversation by joining us on Discord! https://discord.gg/8px5RJHk7a

SUPPORT THE SHOW and get 40% off an annual subscription to Nebula by going to nebula.tv/500opentabs

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we're all about sports as we learn how a Ten Cent Beer Night promotion led to one of the MLB's most infamous games and the curious Welsh tradition of competitive Bog Snorkeling. A listener email informs us of the Great Emu War of 1932.

Episode Tabs:

Remembering 10-Cent Beer Night, one of baseball’s most infamous fiascos

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2024/06/04/10-cent-beer-night-1974-cleveland-indians-texas-rangers/

Is This The World's Weirdest Sporting Event?

https://youtu.be/uZcRBVkZSJ8

Listener Tabs:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emu_war

https://www.inventionandtech.com/content/bicycle-railroad-1

Email your closed tab submissions to: [email protected]

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/500OpenTabs

500 Open Roads (Google Maps episode guide): https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tg9g2HcUaFAzXGbw7

Continue the conversation by joining us on Discord! https://discord.gg/8px5RJHk7a

SUPPORT THE SHOW and get 40% off an annual subscription to Nebula by going to nebula.tv/500opentabs

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we learn about the life of Milicent Patrick, a pioneering artist in Hollywood who designed the Creature From the Black Lagoon and Casa Sanchez's notorious tacos-for-tattoos deal in San Francisco. A listener email tells us about that time that the government wanted to clear away some mountains with nuclear bombs.

Episode Tabs:

Milicent Patrick & Her Enduring Design of the Creature from the Black Lagoon

https://www.jahernandez.com/posts/milicent-patrick-her-enduring-design-of-the-creature-from-the-black-lagoon

In 1998, These SF Men Got a Tattoo to Snag Free Tacos for Life.

https://www.sfgate.com/food/article/casa-sanchez-tattoos-free-meal-promo-san-francisco-16465800.php

Listener Tabs:

https://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Ultrasonic_20Canine_20Musicals_20With_20Scent_20Organs#1503032938

https://www.frrandp.com/2022/10/project-carryall.html?m=1

Email your closed tab submissions to: [email protected]

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/500OpenTabs

500 Open Roads (Google Maps episode guide): https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tg9g2HcUaFAzXGbw7

Continue the conversation by joining us on Discord! https://discord.gg/8px5RJHk7a

SUPPORT THE SHOW and get 40% off an annual subscription to Nebula by going to nebula.tv/500opentabs

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this extra patriotic election themed episode we learn about Victoria Woodhull, the first woman who ran for president in 1872 and how Ronald Reagan's decision to deregulate children's programming paved the way for adult fandom culture. A listener email explains the origins of Scabby the Rat.

Episode Tabs:

Notorious Victoria: The First Woman to Run for President

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/jul/20/notorious-victoria-first-woman-run-for-us-president

The Great Marketing Deregulation

https://bettermarketing.pub/the-great-marketing-deregulation-2125a0efe094

Listener Tabs:

https://www.elections.ca/content.aspx?section=res&dir=his/chap1&document=index&lang=e

https://www.unionprogress.com/2023/03/19/a-look-at-scabbys-past-reveals-inflated-family-history/

Email your closed tab submissions to: [email protected]

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/500OpenTabs

500 Open Roads (Google Maps episode guide): https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tg9g2HcUaFAzXGbw7

Continue the conversation by joining us on Discord! https://discord.gg/8px5RJHk7a

SUPPORT THE SHOW and get 40% off an annual subscription to Nebula by going to nebula.tv/500opentabs

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this very spooky Halloween themed episode, we learn about the Irish origins of the Jack-o-Lantern and how Charles Schulz created another classic Peanuts holiday special. A listener email clues us into the Giant Atlantic Pumpkin Weigh Offs.

Episode Tabs:

The twisted transatlantic tale of American jack-o’-lanterns

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/the-twisted-transatlantic-tale-of-american-jack-o-lanterns

We Need a Blockbuster, Charlie Brown! The Making of The Great Pumpkin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qu8_pwQKHE

Listener Tabs:

https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/15985

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/ViewArticle.asp?id=205&gid=79

Email your closed tab submissions to: [email protected]

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/500OpenTabs

500 Open Roads (Google Maps episode guide): https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tg9g2HcUaFAzXGbw7

Continue the conversation by joining us on Discord! https://discord.gg/8px5RJHk7a

SUPPORT THE SHOW and get 40% off an annual subscription to Nebula by going to nebula.tv/500opentabs

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we are joined by special guests Kaveh Rastegar and Kaveh Hoda as we learn about the contributions of Chris Frantz to the Talking Heads, an infamous surgery that killed 3 people, and how Santa Monica was once a standoff point between the mob and a future Supreme Court justice. A listener email explains the explosive properties of Chlorine tri-fluoride.

Episode Tabs:

Talking Heads’ Original Lineup on Stop Making Sense, Their Early Days, and the Future

https://pitchfork.com/features/interview/talking-heads-reunion-2023-stop-making-sense/

The fastest knife in the West End’: The history of one of London’s most famous surgeons Robert Liston

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7326303/The-history-one-Londons-famous-surgeons-amputate-leg-30-seconds.html

California's coastline used to be covered with 'sin ships'

https://www.sfgate.com/la/article/los-angeles-gambling-ships-history-mob-prohibition-19612830.php

Listener Tabs:

https://www.science.org/content/blog-post/sand-won-t-save-you-time

Email your closed tab submissions to: [email protected]

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/500OpenTabs

500 Open Roads (Google Maps episode guide): https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tg9g2HcUaFAzXGbw7

Continue the conversation by joining us on Discord! https://discord.gg/8px5RJHk7a

SUPPORT THE SHOW and get 40% off an annual subscription to Nebula by going to https://nebula.tv/500opentabs

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we are in NYC for Comic Con and learn about the cow tunnels that once lied beneath the Javits Center and how Joseph Reginella was inspired to create a series of fake monuments throughout the Big Apple. A listener email explains how Nikola Jokic is the ultimate wife guy.

Episode Tabs:

The Lost Cow Tunnels of New York City

https://gizmodo.com/the-lost-cow-tunnels-of-new-york-city-1455215193

New York monument honors victims of giant octopus attack that never occurred

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/oct/01/new-york-staten-island-ferry-octopus-attack-fake-monument

Listener Tabs:

https://heavy.com/sports/nba/denver-nuggets/nikola-jokic-wife-natalija-macesic/amp/

https://alaskapublic.org/2021/02/18/haines-woman-braves-outhouse-encounter-with-black-bear/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/06/26/bear-falls-through-skylight-eats-cupcakes/11397795/

Email your closed tab submissions to: [email protected]

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/500OpenTabs

500 Open Roads (Google Maps episode guide): https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tg9g2HcUaFAzXGbw7

Continue the conversation by joining us on Discord! https://discord.gg/8px5RJHk7a

SUPPORT THE SHOW and get 40% off an annual subscription to Nebula by going to nebula.tv/500opentabs

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we are joined by special guest Kurosh Jozavi (@kujoprime) as we learn about Magic the Gathering Commander Decks, how wealthy British land owners used to populate their gardens with hermits, and a patent for a spooky police interrogation device. A listener email reveals the man who convinced Ghirardelli to set up chocolate shop in San Francisco.

Episode Tabs:

Rocco, the Iranian Street Chef

https://archidekt.com/decks/7553410/rocco_the_iranian_street_chef

Ornamental Hermits

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_hermit

The 1920s Lie Detector That Forced Suspected Criminals to Confess to a Skeleton

https://www.openculture.com/2023/05/the-1920s-lie-detector-that-forced-suspected-criminals-to-confess-to-a-skeleton.html

Listener Tabs:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Lick

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9o_Major

Email your closed tab submissions to: [email protected]

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/500OpenTabs

500 Open Roads (Google Maps episode guide): https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tg9g2HcUaFAzXGbw7

Continue the conversation by joining us on Discord! https://discord.gg/8px5RJHk7a

SUPPORT THE SHOW and get 40% off an annual subscription to Nebula by going to https://nebula.tv/500opentabs

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we're joined by special guest host Alyssa Cooper as we learn how the Dennison sisters revolutionized England’s penny arcades and how barrel rollers in Québec pulled off the maple syrup heist of the century. A listener email explains how to best pass a kidney stone at Disneyland.

Episode Tabs:

Penny Arcades Would Be Nothing Without the Pioneering Dennison Sisters

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/penny-arcade-dennison-sisters

https://pennymachines.co.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?p=39092

Inside Quebec’s Great, Multi-Million-Dollar Maple-Syrup Heist

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2016/12/maple-syrup-heist

Listener Tabs:

https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/roller-coaster-kidney-stones/

https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/florida-is-home-worst-taco-bell-location-us-report-says-take-gamble-you-wish

Email your closed tab submissions to: [email protected]

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/500OpenTabs

500 Open Roads (Google Maps episode guide): https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tg9g2HcUaFAzXGbw7

Continue the conversation by joining us on Discord! https://discord.gg/8px5RJHk7a

SUPPORT THE SHOW and get 40% off an annual subscription to Nebula by going to https://nebula.tv/500opentabs

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week we explore the short stories of Sci-Fi writer Cordwainer Smith and how a prop in the Stuart Little movie led to the rediscovery of a lost Hungarian masterpiece. A listener email explains how 9/11 ruined Disney World train tours forever.

Episode Tabs:

The Sci-Fi Writer who Invented Conspiracy Theory

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/04/science-fiction-conspiracy-theory-psyops/678195/

Stuart Little leads art historian to long-lost Hungarian masterpiece

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/27/stuart-little-art-historian-long-lost-hungarian-masterpiece

Listener Tabs:

https://www.medievalists.net/2023/06/bal-des-ardents/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_heritage_railroads_in_the_United_States

Email your closed tab submissions to: [email protected]

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/500OpenTabs

500 Open Roads (Google Maps episode guide): https://maps.app.goo.gl/Tg9g2HcUaFAzXGbw7

Continue the conversation by joining us on Discord! https://discord.gg/8px5RJHk7a

SUPPORT THE SHOW and get 40% off an annual subscription to Nebula by going to https://nebula.tv/500opentabs

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.