Today in 1945 was the beginning of curse, or at least that's how frustrated fans of the Chicago Cubs. Here's the story of the Curse of the Billy Goat. Plus: today in Ketchum, Idaho, the Trailing of the Sheep Festival is getting underway.

Are the Chicago Cubs Really Cursed? (LiveScience)

Come on Down for the Big Cozy Sheep Parade (Thrillist)

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International Astronomy Day is coming up this weekend, so we’re talking about Hisako Koyama, an astronomer who hand-drew tens of thousands of daily observations of the sun and its spots. Plus: there's a remote spot in the African country of Namibia where you can hear the Toto song "Africa" on an endless loop. 

This Japanese ‘hidden figure’ enlightened the world with her sunspot sketches (PBS NewsHour) 

Africa by Toto to play on eternal loop 'down in Africa' (BBC)

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Today in 1900, Margaret Abbott became the first American woman to win an Olympic title, even though she didn’t know she was in the Olympics. Plus: today in 2021, a woman in Canada got a very unexpected visitor. 

Margaret Abbott (New York Times)

B.C. woman awakes to a hole in her roof and a space rock on her pillow (Castlegar News)

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Today in 1926, America’s aunt made her debut on the airwaves. That would be Aunt Sammy, who gave cooking tips to millions of listeners in the early days of radio. Plus: today in 78 BC a graffiti artist got to work in ancient Pompeii. 

History of Aunt Sammy and Her Recipes (Quaint Cooking)

Pompeii’s Graffiti and the Ancient Origins of Social Media (The Atlantic)

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The Texas State Fair is getting underway, and if it's fried food you're after, you have Abel Gonzales Jr., aka "Fried Jesus," to thank. Plus: the Comedy Pet Photo Awards have announced this year’s winners.

I Believe I Can Fry (Texas Monthly)

Who is Fried Jesus, Dallas restaurant owner? Abel Gonzales’ new nickname is the Texican (Dallas Morning News)

Cats, Dogs, and a Smoking Alpaca Win Pet Photo Awards (Treehugger)

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Today in 1921, President Warren Harding issued an executive order that would finally protect the United States’ most important documents after decades of wear and tear. Plus: if you're celebrating National Coffee Day, you could do worse than following the lead of Avery Sisk. His house in Collettsville, North Carolina is covered in 30,000 coffee mugs. 

Constitution of the United States—A History (Archives.gov)

Case Closed (NOVA)

30,000 Coffee mugs COVER this house in North Carolina (Exploring the Obscure) 

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One hundred years ago today was the birthday of Mike Yurosek, the father of the baby carrot. Here's the story of how he came up with the idea. Plus: some communities in Europe are starting mini gardens on the roofs of bus stop shelters to give bees and butterflies a little help. 

Profiles in Doing Both: Mike Yurosek, Father of the 'Baby Carrot' (Forbes)

Digging the baby carrot (USA Today)

Buzz stops: bus shelter roofs turned into gardens for bees and butterflies (The Guardian)

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School is back in session, and fortunately teachers aren't using dunce caps to shame their students. How did a hat that was once worn by prominent thinkers end up as the hat of choice for teachers trying to brand students as dopes? Plus: an apartment building in Concord, New Hampshire turns itself into a classic video game.

What’s the origin of the dunce cap? (The Straight Dope)

NH gets a cool new monument to video games (GraniteGeek)

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Today in 1990, the premiere of one of the most bewildering TV experiments of all time: Cop Rock. We'll explain how the show happened and why it didn't quite catch on. Plus: it's the birthday of George William Crump, a guy Ray Stevens could’ve written a song about.

An oral history of Cop Rock, TV’s first and last musical police drama (AV Club)

University Chronology (Washington University via Archive.org)

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It's known as the House in the Loire, and it's a popular sight for those on Loire River boat tours. But it's not a house on a formerly dry site that later flooded; nor does anyone live there. We'll explain. Plus: this weekend in Baltimore, it’s the Big Dill, otherwise known as the “World’s Largest Pickle Party.”

The Famous House in the Middle of the Loire River (Oddity Central)

The Big Dill 

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