A partnership between university researchers and a startup in British Columbia is testing out a new wearable device that can track arm and hand movements from people recovering from strokes to help improve their rehab exercises. Plus: starting this Friday in Camden, Maine, it’s the U.S. National Toboggan Championships. 

‘Smart glove’ can boost hand mobility of stroke patients (University of British Columbia)

U.S. National Toboggan Championships 

Backing our show on Patreon is smart

Today in 1949, a first for American network TV: a female comedian did a standup routine on the air. Here's the story of comic Jean Carroll. Plus: Greensburg, Kansas is home to the world's largest hand-dug well.

The First Mrs. Maisel (Emmys.com)

‘A hole in the ground' and other quirky curiosities mean money and pride for small Kansas towns (KAKE)

Backing our show on Patreon is easy and there’s no funny business

To clear snow and ice, some of us use shovels, others use snowblowers. Holland, Michigan uses a long series of tubes under the streets and sidewalks in its downtown district to melt any winter accumulation. Plus: now underway in Arizona, it’s the Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase.

Snowmelt: A Snow-Free Holland (Discover Holland Michigan) 

TUCSON GEM, MINERAL & FOSSIL SHOWCASE (Visit Tucson)

Our podcast would be frozen in place without our Patreon backers, join today

This week we’re replaying some of our favorite feline-themed episodes. In this episode from September 2022, a news story with one heck of a headline: “Kitten Scales Matterhorn: Veteran Mountain Climbers Are Astonished”! Here's how the cat, later nicknamed Matt, got there. Plus: a small plaque in Denmark marks a big moment in rock music history. 

⁠The cat that climbed the Matterhorn⁠ (Weird Universe)

⁠Commemorating the debut of Led Zeppelin in 1968⁠

⁠Help this show reach new heights as a backer on Patreon!

This week we’re replaying some of our favorite feline-themed episodes. In this episode from September 2022, the story of Room 8, a stray cat turned classroom cat turned legend. Plus: the Michigan State Fair gets underway today, and hopefully goes better than the botched attempt at a fair back in 1839. 

⁠Room 8, The Cat That Adopted An Echo Park School, Died 50 Years Ago Today⁠ (LAist)

⁠The Michigan State Fair⁠ (LostStory.net)

⁠Join our Patreon backers and keep this show moving forward every day

This week we’re replaying some of our favorite feline-themed episodes. In this episode from August 2019, Dean Nicholson leaves his job and started a bike trip across the world. While riding through Bosnia, he heard a “desperate meow." So, instead of riding solo, he decided the cat would come along. Plus: if a continental bike trip with a cat isn’t your cup of tea, how about a boat trip with a chicken?

⁠Cat travels the world on a bicycle after backpacker adopts the stray kitten and customises bike to take her with him⁠ (The Daily Mail)

⁠Boat trip with a chicken⁠ (The Guardian)

⁠Ride with Cool Weird Awesome as a backer on Patreon!

This week we’re replaying some of our favorite feline-themed episodes. In this episode from March 2020, we learn about how music can help cats relax during their visits to the vet. But would music specifically made for cats be even more helpful than music made for humans? Plus: a museum in Justin Bieber's hometown that features all the stuff from his career that his proud grandparents saved! 

⁠This music calms cats the best, study finds⁠ (Treehugger)

⁠How a small-town Canadian museum became a shrine to Justin Bieber⁠ (The Outline)

⁠Patreon backers are to Cool Weird Awesome as Beliebers are to Justin Bieber

This week we’re replaying some of our favorite feline-themed episodes. In this episode from October 2021, the story of a black and white cat from the streets of France became the first cat to go into space. She didn't choose to go, of course, but she's a pioneer just the same - and until a few years ago, a greatly underappreciated one. Plus: back in 1922, a girl in Illinois made it to school after being run over by a train?!? 

⁠Félicette, the First Feline in Space, Finally Got Her Due⁠ (How Stuff Works)

⁠Et si Félicette, le premier chat dans l'espace, avait bientôt sa statue ?⁠ (Le Parisien)  

⁠Today in 1922: a six year old in Illinois made it to school after being run over by a train (!!!!!!!)⁠ (New York Tribune via Twitter)

⁠Our Patreon backers are podcasting pioneers 

Today in 1907, the birthday of Callum deVillier, who once won a dance marathon with partner Vonnie Kuchinski after more than five months of steps. Plus: today in Indiana, the start of the Shipshewana Ice Festival and the Shipshewana Chili Cook-off.

The bleak story behind the birth of dance marathons (MPR News)

Shipshewana Ice Festival/Chili Cookoff

Backing us on Patreon is no marathon, it just takes a couple minutes

The auto industry is pleased to report that last year was the best year for new car sales since 2019. That means a lot of people are breathing in the scent we call new car smell, which… well, what the heck is that smell anyway? Plus: this weekend, Farmers Branch, Texas formally opens what is says will be the first glow in the dark playground in the US.

A Day in the Life of Nissan’s Smellmasters Who, Yep, Smell Nissans for a Living (The Drive)

The Science of the New-Car Smell (Car and Driver)

Texas city to open nation’s first glow-in-the-dark playground in the new year (KXAN)

Keep the new podcast smell coming as a backer on Patreon