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Today in 1959, Ohio officially adopted its first state motto in close to a century. And it only shed its motto-less form because of a very determined ten year old. Today in 2008, Maryland declared walking to be its official state exercise. New Ohio Motto From The New Testament (The Tablet via Newspapers.com)  Maryland State Exercise - Walking Ask listeners for support on Patreon and they’ll provide it, that’s our podcast’s motto

Today in 1905, the birthday of Bobby Pearce, an Olympic rowing champion who won fame and acclaim not just for winning but for the way he won… which was just ducky. Plus: for Extra Virgin Olive Oil Day, a visit to Monte Testacchio, a hill in Rome with an unusual olive oil connection.  Bobby Pearce : The Gentleman's Gold (BBC) Mount OF AMPHORAE   Duck on over to our Patreon page so you can support this show

For National Goose Day, the story of the goose barnacle myth, in which people who hadn't seen goose nests or goose eggs concluded that goose must be growing on trees or emerging out of barnacles on driftwood. Plus: today in 2020, a news report in the UK about a group of parrots who found an odd way to pass their time in quarantine. Science, Superstition and the Goose Barnacle (Shorelines) Parrots removed from UK family safari park after teaching each other to swear - and laughing about it (Manchester Evening News)  Money doesn’t grow on trees either, but you can use a little to back our show on Patreon

Today in 2024, Dr. Shane Naidoo finished a half marathon quite a bit after every other runner on the course. But, then, he had a really good reason for coming in after everybody else. Plus: today in 1935, another amazing rescue in New Jersey, involving a ten year old boy and a show dog. A doctor saved a runner’s life during a Jersey City half marathon. Then he finished the race. (NJ.com) Champion Collie Saves Boy, Pulls Him From Jersey River (The Pawtucket Times)  Help keep our show healthy as a backer on Patreon

Today in 1768, the birthday of Gottfried Mind, a Swiss artist who won acclaim for his drawings of cats. He probably would have done well here in the Internet age. Plus: tomorrow in Williamsburg, Virginia, it’s the World Pancake Eating Championship. Gottfried Mind, The Raphael of Cats (Public Domain Review) World Pancake Eating Championship  Do what Business Cat probably would have done, and back our show on Patreon

Around this time in 2013, Reader’s Digest magazine published findings on a big question: if you accidentally dropped your wallet somewhere, would a typical person take what was inside, or would they try to get it back to you? Plus: today in 2019, an author and farmer tells the story of a lost item with the best and happiest ending. Most Honest Cities: The Reader’s Digest “Lost Wallet” Test (Readers Digest via Archive.org) Fourteen years ago (Susan Wise Bauer on Twitter)  How about opening your digital wallet and supporting this show on Patreon

Today in 1846, a German astronomer spotted a body orbiting the Sun that we now know as Neptune… and the reason he was looking for an eighth planet had a lot to do with the seventh planet. Plus: this Saturday in New York, it’s the Saratoga Giant PumpkinFest.  Planet Neptune is discovered (History.com) Saratoga Giant PumpkinFest  Don’t space out, back our podcast today on Patreon

Today in 1964, the birthday of the first person to ever win both an Olympic medal and Paralympic medals: fencing champion Pál Szekeres. Plus: ahead of World Rivers Day, we visit a river in northern China that's about as narrow as a river can get. “Maybe fencing and my accident made me a better person” – Szekeres (World Parafencing) The World’s Narrowest River Is Only a Few Centimeters Wide (Oddity Central) Champion our podcast as a backer on Patreon

Today in 1897, the New York Sun newspaper published the "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" editorial. We'll explain who Virginia was. Plus: on the birthday of comedian and actor Dave Coulier, we celebrate the amazing Tumblr account “The Same Picture of Dave Coulier Every Day.”  The Santa Letter That Made an Eight-Year-Old a Celebrity (New Yorker) The mad genius behind Tumblr’s ‘The Same Picture of Dave Coulier Every Day’ (Daily Dot) Yes, Virginia, you can back our show on Patreon today

Today in 1947, the birthday of the United States Air Force. It’s had some pretty amazing pilots over the years, and some pretty amazing planes. Plus, one really, really loud one, known as the Republic XF-84H or "Thunderscreech." Plus: starting today in De Pere, Wisconsin, it’s the Wisconsin Arborist Association Tree Climbing Championship.  Republic XF-84H (National Museum of the United States Air Force)  2026 WAA Tree Climbing Championship  Fly on over to our Patreon page so you can back this show

Today in 1800, the birthday of John Bentinck, 5th Duke of Portland and one of the 19th Century’s true eccentrics, given his years of digging massive tunnels to his apparent need to avoid just about everyone he could. Plus: for National Pet Bird Day, the story of Puck, who set the world record for the largest vocabulary in bird history. Biography of William John Cavendish-Bentinck-Scott, 5th Duke of Portland (1800-1879) (University of Nottingham)  Largest vocabulary for a bird ever (Guinness World Records) Dig our Patreon page, man, and back our show

Today in 1977, Billy Carter, the brother of then-president Jimmy Carter, told the world he was going to be the namesake of a new line of beer. We'll explain why this became a big deal for a little while. Plus: congrats to the two winners of a prestigious digging contest recently organized by the Hungarian Association of Cemetery Maintainers and Operators. Presidential sibling Billy Carter gets his own beer (History.com via Archive.org)  Competitors dig deep in Hungarian grave-digging contest (ABC News) For less than the cost of a single beer a month, you can back our refreshing show on Patreon

Today in 2017, Port Allegany, Pennsylvania dedicated Serenity Glass Park, which pays tribute to the town's long history in making glass blocks. Plus: today in 2024, police in Bedford, Ohio responded to a call involving an eight year old and a car that she apparently took to the store (?) Serenity Glass Park sparkles with the ‘true character’ of its community (Community Media Group)  8-year-old takes vehicle, drives herself 25 minutes to Target Sunday morning, police say (News 5 Cleveland) Shine on when you back our show today on Patreon

Today in 1787, in the closing days of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, George Washington attended a dinner party with 55 old war buddies and dozens and dozens of bottles of booze. Plus: today in 1716, the first lighting of the first lighthouse in what is now the United States. The epic bender to celebrate George Washington and the newly finished U.S. Constitution (Washington Post) Light Station Boston (US Coast Guard)  Just a pound or two a month is all it takes to back our show on Patreon

Today many of us are paying tribute to those taken from us by that horrible tragedy 25 years ago. And we’re saying thanks to those who worked so hard to help others at the time, including a group of city workers who managed to find and save a tree from the World Trade Center site that’s now known as the “Survivor Tree.”  Survivor Tree Seedling Program (9/11 Memorial)