This week in 2019, the president of Turkmenistan got the world’s attention with a very unusual drive around a flaming gas crater that's become an attraction for some tourists as well as a big headache for environmental scientists. Plus: this week in 2018, a woman in Oklahoma asked if she could borrow an orange cat so her two kids could have a Garfield lasagna party. And it worked!

Turkmenistan's leader does doughnuts next to flaming crater to prove he's not dead (ABC Australia)

U.S. in serious talks to close Turkmenistan’s “Gates of Hell” (Mercury News) 

This mom needs to borrow an orange cat for the most hilarious reason (USA Today)

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Today in 1991, the luxury cruise ship Oceanos sank while traveling around the coast of South Africa. Fortunately everyone who was on that ship survived, and, surprisingly, the people who made sure everyone made it to safety were the ship’s musicians. Plus: today in 1914, the birthday of Hubert Blaine Wolfe­schlegel­stein­hausen­berger­dorff Sr., whose full name was a record 747 characters long.

The guitarist who saved hundreds of people on a sinking cruise liner (BBC) 

What's In A Name? 666 Letters, Plus 26 Given Names (The Free Lance-Star via Google News Archive)

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Some of us plan our trips so we can visit all 50 states. If you’re one of these travelers, the state of North Dakota has a club just for you. Plus: today in 1907, a woman in Paris, Madeleine Ravier, received a patent for what she called a "bicycle for animals."

Are we doing summer road trips again? If so, consider the Best For Last Club in North Dakota (Fargo-Moorhead Welcome Center)

Madeleine Ravier’s Bicycle for Animals (Weird Universe)

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Around this time in 1935, the US government was making a big decision about some small amounts of money: there was a push to create a kind of currency worth a tenth of a cent. Plus: the story of a silver certificate issued in 1899 that featured the likeness of Tȟatȟóka Íŋyaŋke, a Hunkpapa Lakota chief who is, to date, the only Native American to appear on US paper money.

What are Sales Tax Tokens? (Taxtoken.org)

Running Antelope and the 1899 $5 Silver Certificate (Coin Week)

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Today in 1911, the birthday of Jackie Ormes, the first Black woman to have syndicated comic strips in newspapers. Plus: today in 1935, the release of a Three Stooges short that has a scene where Moe crashes through a table and breaks three ribs. Probably goes without saying that injuries weren't in the script.

Found in the Collection: Jackie Ormes! (1911-1985) (Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum)  

Pardon My Scotch Trivia (IMDB)

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Today in 1935, singer Kitty Burke got up from the crowd at a major league game and took an at-bat. To date, she's the only woman to bat in the majors. Plus: it's SPAM Day, and if you're at one of the company's facilities, make sure that you don't call junk email "spam." They use a different term.

THE WOMAN WHO BATTED DURING A MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME (Today I Found Out)

How Spam Meat Has Survived Spam E-Mail (Bloomberg)

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Today in 2017, a news report in the Sunday Post about something known as the “League of Extraordinary Communities.” Its three members: the communities of Dull, Bland And Boring. Plus: today in Frankfort, Indiana, the Frankfort Hot Dog Festival begins.

‘Bland’, ‘Dull’ and ‘Boring’ team up to create ‘League of Extraordinary Communities’ (Sunday Post)

Boring, Oregon and Dull, Scotland: Sister Cities United in Tedium (Conde Nast Traveler)

Frankfort Hot Dog Festival

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Today in 1811,  the first known steamboat race takes place on the Hudson River. Yes, a couple centuries ago, racing steamboats was a thing. Plus: this month in 1377, a Buddhist monk in Korea published "Jikji," the oldest surviving book printed with movable metal type.

For Profit and Glory: Steamboat Racing on the Inland Rivers (Howard Steamboat Museum)

Jikji: An Invaluable Text of Buddhism (Korea Times)

Today in 1903 the conclusion of the first-ever car trip from one coast of the continental United States to the other. And this story starts, like so many other good stories have, with a bet. Plus: today in 1856, the birthday of playwright George Bernard Shaw, who had a unique way to keep unexpected visitors from interrupting his work.

Horatio's Drive (PBS)

INSIDE BERNARD SHAW’S WRITING SHED (Idler)

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Today is known in some parts of the American West as Colorado River Day, because of a measure passed in 1921 that redefined what and where the Colorado River was. Plus: a new art project called Human After All looks like a series of portraits of people seen only through their their circulatory systems. 

How The ‘Grand’ Became The ‘Colorado’ And What It Says About Our Relationship To Nature (KUNC)

Many years ago, the Colorado River was just Grand (Summit Daily) 

Uncanny Human Portraits Depict People Only Through Their Circulatory Systems (My Modern Met)

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