365-Lateral Thinking Puzzles

Crossing the world in 1932, two German airmen ran out of fuel in a remote region of northwestern Australia. With no food and little water, they struggled to find their way to safety while rescuers fought to locate them. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll describe the airmen's ordeal, a dramatic story of perseverance and chance. We'll also survey some escalators and puzzle over a consequential crash. Intro: Winston Churchill had a confusing namesake in the United States. Shelley's friend Horace Smith wrote a competing version of "Ozymandias." Sources for our feature on the 1932 Kimberley rescue: Barbara Winter, Atlantis Is Missing: A Gripping True Story of Survival in the Australian Wilderness, 1979. Brian H. Hernan, Forgotten Flyer, 2007. Anthony Redmond, "Tracks and Shadows: Some Social Effects of the 1938 Frobenius Expedition to the North-West Kimberley," in Nicolas Peterson and Anna Kenny, eds., German Ethnography in Australia, 2017, 413-434. Frank Koehler, "Descriptions of New Species of the Diverse and Endemic Land Snail Amplirhagada Iredale, 1933 From Rainforest Patches Across the Kimberley, Western Australia (Pulmonata, Camaenidae)," Records of the Australian Museum 63:2 (2011), 163-202. Bridget Judd, "The Unexpected Rescue Mission That Inspired ABC Mini-Series Flight Into Hell -- And Other Survivalists," Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Jan. 16, 2021. Peter de Kruijff, "Survivalist Retraces Lost Aviators' Trek," Kimberley Echo, Jan. 29, 2018. Michael Atkinson, "Surviving the Kimberley," Australian Geographic, June 28, 2018. Erin Parke, "No Food, No Water, No Wi-Fi: Adventurer Tests Skills in One of Australia's Most Remote Places," ABC Premium News, Jan. 29, 2018. "Forgotten Territory," [Darwin, N.T.] Northern Territory News, Feb. 28, 2016. Graeme Westlake, "They Accepted Their Saviour's Fish and Ate It Raw," Canberra Times, May 15, 1982. "German Fliers Got Lost in Our Nor-West," [Perth] Mirror, June 2, 1956. "37 Days in a Torture Chamber," [Adelaide] News, April 21, 1954. "Air Passenger," [Grafton, N.S.W.] Examiner, July 18, 1938. "Hans Bertram," Sydney Morning Herald, July 16, 1938. "Aviation: Pilot Bertram," [Charters Towers, Qld.] Northern Miner, April 20, 1933. "Bertram Lands at Crawley," [Perth] Daily News, Sept. 24, 1932. "Bertram's Marooned 'Plane," Singleton [N.S.W.] Argus, Sept. 21, 1932. "Captain Bertram," Sydney Morning Herald, Sept. 20, 1932. "Fully Recovered," Sydney Morning Herald, Aug. 6, 1932. "The Search for the German Airmen," [Perth] Western Mail, July 21, 1932. "The German Airmen," Albany [W.A.] Advertiser, July 7, 1932. "Death Cheated," Cincinnati Enquirer, July 5, 1932. "Lost German Fliers," [Adelaide] Chronicle, June 30, 1932. "Search for Hans Bertram," [Carnarvon, W.A.] Northern Times, June 16, 1932. "Strangers on the Shore: Shipwreck Survivors and Their Contact With Aboriginal Groups in Western Australia 1628-1956," Department of Maritime Archaeology, Western Australian Maritime Museum, 1998. Listener mail: "Escalator Etiquette," Wikipedia (accessed Feb. 8, 2021). Brian Ashcraft, "It's Hard For Japan to Change Its Escalator Manners," Kotaku, June 20, 2019. Jack Malvern, "Mystery Over Tube Escalator Etiquette Cleared Up by Restored Film," Times, Oct. 21, 2009. Laura Reynolds, "11 Secrets of Harrods," Londonist (accessed Feb. 14, 2021). Adam Taylor, "A Japanese Campaign Wants to Rewrite the Global Rules of Escalator Etiquette," Washington Post, Aug. 26, 2015. Linda Poon, "Tokyo Wants People to Stand on Both Sides of the Escalator," Bloomberg City Lab, Dec. 20, 2018. Johan Gaume and Alexander M. Puzrin, "Mechanisms of Slab Avalanche Release and Impact in the Dyatlov Pass Incident in 1959," Communications Earth & Environment 2:10 (Jan. 28, 2021), 1-11. Robin George Andrews, "Has Science Solved One of History's Greatest Adventure Mysteries?", National Geographic, Jan. 28, 2021. Nature Video, "Explaining the Icy Mystery of the Dyatlov Pass Deaths" (video), Jan. 28, 2021. New Scientist, "The Dyatlov Pass incident, which saw nine Russian mountaineers die in mysterious circumstances in 1959, has been the subject of many conspiracy theories. Now researchers say an unusual avalanche was to blame," Twitter, Jan. 28, 2021. This week's lateral thinking puzzle was contributed by listener Alex Baumans. Here are two corroborating links (warning -- these spoil the puzzle). You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on Google Podcasts, on Apple Podcasts, or via the RSS feed at https://futilitycloset.libsyn.com/rss. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- you can choose the amount you want to pledge, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!

22 Helmi 202133min

In 1817 a young woman appeared in the English village of Almondsbury, speaking a strange language and seeking food and shelter. She revealed herself to be an Eastern princess, kidnapped by pirates from an exotic island. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll tell the story of Princess Caraboo, who was both more and less than she seemed. We'll also discover a June Christmas and puzzle over some monster soup. Intro: In 1988, Martine Tischer proposed wrapping gifts in uncut U.S. currency. In 1948, Ralph Alpher, Hans Bethe, and George Gamow seized the chance of an immortal byline. Sources for our feature on Princess Caraboo: John Matthew Gutch, Caraboo: A Narrative of a Singular Imposition, 1817. Sabine Baring-Gould, Devonshire Characters and Strange Events, 1908. Anonymous, Carraboo, Carraboo: The Singular Adventures of Mary Baker, Alias Princess of Javasu, 1817. John Timbs, English Eccentrics and Eccentricities, 1877. C.L. McCluer Stevens, Famous Crimes and Criminals, 1924. J.P. Jewett, Remarkable Women of Different Nations and Ages, 1858. The Lives and Portraits of Curious and Odd Characters, 1852. Mrs. John Farrar, Recollections of Seventy Years, 1869. Margaret Russett, "The 'Caraboo' Hoax: Romantic Woman as Mirror and Mirage," Discourse 17:2 (Winter 1994-1995), 26-47. Michael Keevak, "A World of Impostures," Eighteenth Century 53:2 (Summer 2012), 233-235. Shompa Lahiri, "Performing Identity: Colonial Migrants, Passing and Mimicry Between the Wars," Cultural Geographies 10:4 (October 2003), 408-423. "Top 10 Imposters," Time, May 26, 2009. "Local Legends: Bristol's Princess Caraboo," BBC (accessed Jan. 31, 2021). Corrie Bond-French, "The Tale of a Mysterious Princess," Gloucestershire Echo, June 7, 2018. "Story of Exotic Beauty Still Fascinates Us Today," Mid-Devon Gazette, May 3, 2016, 21. Nazar Iene Daan Kannibelle, "Servant Girl Hoaxed All Great Britain by Pose as Princess," Washington Times, November 6, 1921. "A Singular Imposture," Strand 9:52 (April 1895), 451-456. "The Pretended Princess Caraboo," Gloucestershire Notes and Queries 35 (July 1887), 627-629. "The Princess Caraboo," Curiosities of Bristol and Its Neighbourhood 7 (March 1884), 48. "Caraboo," Notes and Queries, June 3, 1865, 447. F.W. Fairholt, "The Curiosities of Eccentric Biography," Bentley's Miscellany 69 (Jan. 1, 1851), 180-193. "Princess Caraboo," Museum of Hoaxes (accessed Jan. 31, 2021). John Wells, "Baker [née Willcocks], Mary [alias Princess Caraboo]," Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Sept. 1, 2017. Listener mail: Wills Robinson, "For Once, a Good Excuse for Bad Handwriting: One of Admiral Nelson's First Letters Written Left-Handed After He Lost His Right Arm in Battle Is Unearthed," Daily Mail, Feb. 16, 2014. "Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson," Wikipedia (accessed Feb. 5, 2021). Maev Kennedy, "Nelson's Right and Left Hand: Wellcome Exhibit Reveals How Past Leaves Its Mark," Guardian, Nov. 24, 2010. "Peter Butterworth," Wikipedia (accessed Feb. 6, 2021). Lucy Thornton and Mark Branagan, "Carry On's Peter Butterworth Rejected to Play Himself in Role Because He Was 'Too Fat'," Mirror, Aug. 16, 2020. "Stray Cat With Shocking Facial Growth Rescued," Catcuddles, Aug. 10, 2020. Rae Gellel, "Catcuddles Cat Hodge to Follow in Doorkins Magnificat's Paw Prints," Catcuddles, Dec. 6, 2020. Andrew Nunn, "Welcome to Hodge by the Dean of Southwark," Southwark Cathedral (accessed Feb. 6, 2021). Jane Steen, "Southwark and Hodge and Dr Johnson," Southwark Cathedral (accessed Feb. 6, 2021). This week's lateral thinking puzzle was contributed by listener Lucie. Here's a corroborating link (warning -- this spoils the puzzle). You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on Google Podcasts, on Apple Podcasts, or via the RSS feed at https://futilitycloset.libsyn.com/rss. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- you can choose the amount you want to pledge, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!

15 Helmi 202130min

In 1911 English sisters Claire and Dora Williamson began consulting a Seattle "fasting specialist" named Linda Burfield Hazzard. As they underwent her brutal treatments, the sisters found themselves caught in a web of manipulation and deceit. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll tell the story of the Williamsons' ordeal and the scheme it brought to light. We'll also catch a criminal by the ear and puzzle over a prohibited pig. Intro: During World War II, the United States circulated specially printed currency in Hawaii. Reversing an artwork in a mirror alters its aesthetic effect. Sources for our feature on Linda Burfield Hazzard: Gregg Olsen, Starvation Heights: A True Story of Murder and Malice in the Woods of the Pacific Northwest, 1997. Linda Burfield Hazzard, Fasting for the Cure of Disease, 1908. Linda Burfield Hazzard, Scientific Fasting: The Ancient and Modern Key to Health, 1927. Steven Chermak and Frankie Y. Bailey, Crimes of the Centuries: Notorious Crimes, Criminals, and Criminal Trials in American History, 2016. Teresa Nordheim, Murder & Mayhem in Seattle, 2016. Bess Lovejoy, "The Doctor Who Starved Her Patients to Death," smithsonianmag.com, Oct. 28, 2014. Terence Hines, "A Gripping Story of Quackery and Death," Skeptical Inquirer 21:6 (November-December 1997), 55. Dorothy Grant, "Look Back Doctor," Medical Post 40:16 (April 20, 2004), 28. "The Hazzard Murder Trial," Northwest Medicine 4:3 (March 1912), 92. "Dr. Linda Hazzard Is Given Pardon," Oregon Daily Journal, June 4, 1916. "Woman Fast Doctor Released on Parole," Oakland [Calif.] Tribune, Dec. 21, 1915. "Glad She Is Going Says Mrs. Linda Hazzard," Tacoma [Wash.] Times, Jan. 6, 1914. "Starved to Death," [Sydney] Globe Pictorial, Feb. 14, 1914. "Dr. Linda Hazzard Must Serve Term in the Penitentiary," Seattle Star, Dec. 24, 1913. "Mrs. Linda Hazzard Must Go to Prison According to Supreme Court Ruling," Tacoma [Wash.] Times, Aug. 13, 1913. "Sister Describes Treatment," Washburn [N.D.] Leader, Jan. 26, 1912. "'Starvation Cure' Victim on the Stand," Wichita [Kan.] Daily Eagle, Jan. 21, 1912. "Tells How Mrs. Hazzard Treated Them at Ollala," Tacoma [Wash.] Times, Jan. 20, 1912. "Blames Doctors' Jealousy," New York Times, Aug. 7, 1911. "Starvation Cure Fatal," New York Times, Aug. 6, 1911. "Investigate Woman Doctor," New York Times, July 31, 1911. "The State of Washington, Respondent, v. Linda Burfield Hazzard, Appellant," Washington Reports, Volume 75: Cases Determined in the Supreme Court of Washington, August 12, 1913 - October 9, 1913, 1914. "Linda Burfield Hazzard: Healer or Murderess?", Washington State Archives, Digital Archives (accessed Jan. 24, 2021). Listener mail: Matt Hongoltz-Hetling, "United States of Climate Change: Missouri Under Water," Weather Channel, Nov. 9, 2017. "German Police Identify Burglar by His Earprints," Spiegel International, April 30, 2012. "Ear Print Analysis," Wikipedia, accessed Jan. 28, 2021. "Ear Print Analysis," Encyclopedia.com (accessed Jan. 28, 2021). Ayman Abaza et al., "A Survey on Ear Biometrics," ACM Computing Surveys, March 2013. Mit Katwala, "The Bonkers Plan to Foil Password Thieves Using Your Mouth," Wired, Dec. 13, 2020. Boxcar Willie, "Luther" (video), Jan. 30, 2012. "Luther," International Lyrics Playground (accessed Jan. 31, 2021). "Boxcar Willie," Wikipedia (accessed Jan. 31, 2021). This week's lateral thinking puzzle was contributed by listeners Paul Schoeps and Stuart Baker. Stuart sent this corroborating link, and Sharon found this related, gratuitously horrifying incident. You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on Google Podcasts, on Apple Podcasts, or via the RSS feed at https://futilitycloset.libsyn.com/rss. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- you can choose the amount you want to pledge, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!

8 Helmi 202131min

In 1909, Oklahoma brothers Bud and Temple Abernathy rode alone to New Mexico and back, though they were just 9 and 5 years old. In the years that followed they would become famous for cross-country trips totaling 10,000 miles. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll trace the journeys of the Abernathy brothers across a rapidly evolving nation. We'll also try to figure out whether we're in Belgium or the Netherlands and puzzle over an outstretched hand. Intro: Lytton Strachey's uncle William observed Calcutta time in England. John Dryden displayed a discerning discrimination in an impromptu poetry competition. Sources for our feature on Louis and Temple Abernathy: Alta Abernathy, Bud & Me: The True Adventures of the Abernathy Boys, 1998. Miles Abernathy, The Ride of the Abernathy Boys, 1911. John R. Abernathy, "Catch 'em Alive Jack": The Life and Adventures of an American Pioneer, 2006. Brian Spangle, Hidden History of Vincennes & Knox County, 2020. M.J. Alexander, "The Astounding Adventures of the Abernathy Boys," 405 Magazine, Aug. 25, 2015. "Abernathy Kids on Tour," Motorcycle Illustrated (May 29, 1930), 53. "Enterprising Boys," Advance 62:2392 (Sept. 7, 1911), 25. "Champion Company Films Abernathy Boys," Nickelodeon 4:2 (July 15, 1910), 42. Eliza McGraw, "Ultimate Free-Range Kids: Two Boys, 6 and 10, Rode Horses to New York — From Oklahoma," Washington Post, Oct. 19, 2019. John Governale, "What I've Learned/The Abernathy Boys," [Lewiston, Me.] Sun Journal, Aug. 15, 2019. Becky Orr, "Teachers Retrace Young Boys' Trek Across America," Wyoming Tribune-Eagle, Aug. 19, 2008. "Boy Rough Riders," [Parkes, N.S.W.] Western Champion, Sept. 18, 1913. "Abernathy Boys Tell Taft Their Troubles," Washington Times, Nov. 13, 1911. "Boy Rides 2300 Miles," Gundagai [N.S.W.] Times, Sept. 2, 1910. "Abernathy Boys Nearing Home," New York Times, July 26, 1910. "Abernathy Lads See Mayor," New York Times, June 14, 1910. "Abernathys Reach Goal," Lebanon [Pa.] Courier and Semi-Weekly Report, June 14, 1910. "Rockefeller Pew for Abernathy Boys," New York Times, June 13, 1910. "Abernathy Boys Put Ban on Kissing," New York Times, June 12, 1910. "Boys Complete 2,000 Mile Trip," Pensacola [Fla.] Journal, June 12, 1910. "Boy Riders in Delaware," New York Times, June 10, 1910. "'Hello, Dad!' Call Abernathy's Boys," New York Times, June 9, 1910. "Boy Horsemen on Way Here," New York Times, June 7, 1910. "Boy Riders Arrived at National Capitol," Bismarck [N.D.] Daily Tribune, May 28, 1910. "Boys to Meet Roosevelt," [Mont.] Daily Missoulian, May 22, 1910. "Abernathy Boys' Long Trip," New York Times, July 11, 1909. Listener mail: Two-side letter from John Hornby to Matt Murphy of Peace River, Alberta, 1925. "John Hornby: Letters & Articles," NWT Exhibits (accessed Jan. 23, 2021). Robin Weber, "Staff Pick: John Hornby, Introduction," NWT Exhibits (accessed Jan. 23, 2021). "Baarle-Nassau," Wikipedia (accessed Jan. 23, 2020). Graphic of Baarle and its enclaves in the Netherlands. Tesa Arcilla, "Dutch? Belgian? How Lockdown Works in a Town With One of the World's Most Complex Borders," NBC News, May 24, 2020. Andrew Eames, "Europe's Strange Border Anomaly," BBC, Dec. 11, 2017. This week's lateral thinking puzzle was contributed by listener Åke Malmgren. Last year it was nominated for puzzle of the year on lateralpuzzles.com. You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on Google Podcasts, on Apple Podcasts, or via the RSS feed at https://futilitycloset.libsyn.com/rss. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- you can choose the amount you want to pledge, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!

1 Helmi 202133min

In 1759, ghostly rappings started up in the house of a parish clerk in London. In the months that followed they would incite a scandal against one man, an accusation from beyond the grave. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll tell the story of the Cock Lane ghost, an enduring portrait of superstition and justice. We'll also see what you can get hit with at a sporting event and puzzle over some portentous soccer fields. Intro: In 1967 British artists Terry Atkinson and Michael Baldwin offered a map that charts its own area. In 1904 Henry Hayes suggested adding fake horses to real cars to avoid frightening real horses. Sources for our feature on the Cock Lane ghost: Douglas Grant, The Cock Lane Ghost, 1965. Oliver Goldsmith, "The Mystery Revealed," in The Works of Oliver Goldsmith, Volume 4, 1854. James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, LL.D., Volume 1, 1791. Charles MacKay, Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds, 1852. Andrew Lang, Cock Lane and Common-Sense, 1894. Roger Clarke, A Natural History of Ghosts: 500 Years of Hunting for Proof, 2012. Henry Addington Bruce, Historic Ghosts and Ghost Hunters, 1908. Jennifer Bann, "Ghostly Hands and Ghostly Agency: The Changing Figure of the Nineteenth-Century Specter," Victorian Studies 51:4 (Summer 2009), 663-685, 775. Gillian Bennett, "'Alas, Poor Ghost!': Case Studies in the History of Ghosts and Visitations," in Alas Poor Ghost, 1999, 139-172. Richard Whittington-Egan, "The Accusant Ghost of Cock Lane," New Law Journal 141:6487 (Jan. 18 1991), 74. Howard Pyle, "The Cock Lane Ghost," Harper's New Monthly Magazine 87:519 (August 1893), 327-338. María Losada Friend, "Ghosts or Frauds? Oliver Goldsmith and 'The Mystery Revealed,'" Eighteenth-Century Ireland / Iris an dá chultúr 13 (1998), 159-165. H. Addington Bruce, "The Cock Lane Ghost," New York Tribune, July 14, 1907. "The Cock Lane Ghost," Warwick [Queensland] Argus, Dec. 22, 1900. "The Ghosts of London," New York Times, Sept. 10, 1900. "The Cock-Lane Ghost," [Sydney] Evening News, Aug. 25, 1894. "The Cock Lane Ghost," Maitland [N.S.W.] Weekly Mercury, March 10, 1894. "The Rochester Ghost," Alexandria [Va.] Gazette, April 27, 1850. Thomas Seccombe, "Parsons, Elizabeth [called the Cock Lane Ghost], (1749–1807)," Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Sept. 23, 2004. Listener mail: "Death of Brittanie Cecil," Wikipedia (accessed Jan. 13, 2021). L. Jon Wertheim, "How She Died," Sports Illustrated, April 1, 2002. J. Winslow and A. Goldstein, "Spectator Risks at Sporting Events," Internet Journal of Law, Healthcare and Ethics 4:2 (2006). Steve Rosenbloom, "Hit by Puck, Girl Dies," Chicago Tribune, March 20, 2002. Tarik El-Bashir, "Girl Struck Puck Dies," Washington Post, March 20, 2002. Connor Read et al., "Spectator Injuries in Sports," Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness 59:3 (March 2019), 520-523. Bob Shepard, "Heads Up: UAB Does First-Ever Study of Spectator Injuries at Sporting Events," University Wire, Nov. 29, 2018. "Father of Girl Killed by His Errant Golf Ball Says: 'How It Happened, I Cannot Explain'," Associated Press, Sept. 21, 2019. Pat Ralph, "What Happens After 'Fore'? Injured Fans Face Legal Hurdles in Golf-Ball Lawsuits," Golf.com, Oct. 9, 2018. Marjorie Hunter, "Ford, Teeing Off Like Agnew, Hits Spectator in Head With Golf Ball," New York Times, June 25, 1974. "'First Off the Tee': White House Golf Tales," NPR, May 1, 2003. Todd S. Purdum, "Caution: Presidents at Play. Three of Them," New York Times, Feb. 16, 1995. "Ford, Bush Tee Off on Golf Spectators," Los Angeles Daily News, Feb. 16, 1995. Kevin Underhill, "Missouri Supreme Court Hears Hot-Dog-Flinging Case," Lowering the Bar, Nov. 13, 2013. Kevin Underhill, "Bad News for Dog-Flinging Mascots," Lowering the Bar, Jan. 16, 2013. Kevin Underhill, "Jury Clears Mascot in Hot-Dog-Flinging Case," Lowering the Bar, June 24, 2015. Listener Tim Ellis, his daughter, and an errant puck. This week's lateral thinking puzzle was contributed by listener Jesse Onland. Here's a corroborating link (warning -- this spoils the puzzle). You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on Google Podcasts, on Apple Podcasts, or via the RSS feed at https://futilitycloset.libsyn.com/rss. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- you can choose the amount you want to pledge, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!

25 Tammi 202130min

In 1944, British captives of the Japanese in Sumatra drew morale from an unlikely source: a purebred English pointer who cheered the men, challenged the guards, and served as a model of patient fortitude. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll tell the story of Judy, the canine POW of World War II. We'll also consider the frequency of different birthdays and puzzle over a little sun. Intro: Sherlock Holmes wrote 20 monographs. In 1863, Charles Dickens' hall clock stopped sounding. Sources for our feature on Judy: Robert Weintraub, No Better Friend: One Man, One Dog, and Their Incredible Story of Courage and Survival in World War II, 2016. S.L. Hoffman, "Judy: The Unforgettable Story of the Dog Who Went to War and Became a True Hero," Military History 32:1 (May 2015), 72-72. Rebecca Frankel, "Dogs at War: Judy, Canine Prisoner of War," National Geographic, May 18, 2014. Robert Weintraub, "The True Story of Judy, the Dog Who Inspired Her Fellow Prisoners of War to Survive," Irish Times, June 2, 2015. Jane Dalton, "Judy, the Life-Saving PoW Who Beat the Japanese," Sunday Telegraph, May 31, 2015. "Heroine Dog's Medal Goes on Display," [Cardiff] Western Mail, Aug. 26, 2006. "Medal Awarded to Dog Prisoner of War Goes on Public Display," Yorkshire Post, Aug. 23, 2006. Amber Turnau, "The Incredible Tale of Frank Williams," Burnaby [B.C.] Now, March 19, 2003. Nicholas Read, "Prison Camp Heroine Judy Was History's Only Bow-Wow PoW," Vancouver Sun, March 12, 2003. "London Salutes Animal Veterans," Charlotte Observer, May 28, 1983. Frank G. Williams, "The Dog That Went to War," Vancouver Sun, April 6, 1974. "Judy, Dog VC, Dies," [Montreal] Gazette, March 23, 1950. "Judy, British War Dog, Dies; to Get Memorial," [Wilmington, Del.] Morning News, March 21, 1950. "The Tale of a V.C. Dog," [Adelaide] Chronicle, Jan. 30, 1947. "Judy to Receive Dogs' V.C.," The Age, May 2, 1946. "Judy: The Dog Who Became a Prisoner of War," gov.uk, July 24, 2015. "Prisoner of War Dog Judy -- PDSA Dickin Medal and Collar to Be Presented to the Imperial War Museum," People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, Aug. 21, 2006. "PDSA Dickin Medal Stories: Judy," PDSA Schools (accessed Jan. 3, 2021). Listener mail: Andrew Gelman et al., "Bayesian Data Analysis (Third Edition)," 1995-2020. "Keynote: Andrew Gelman - Data Science Workflow" (video), Dec. 21, 2017. Becca R. Levy, Pil H. Chung, and Martin D. Slade, "Influence of Valentine's Day and Halloween on Birth Timing," Social Science & Medicine 73:8 (2011), 1246-1248. "Tony Meléndez," Wikipedia (accessed Dec. 24, 2020). "Thalidomide," Wikipedia (accessed Jan. 9, 2020). Neil Vargesson, "Thalidomide-Induced Teratogenesis: History and Mechanisms," Birth Defects Research Part C: Embryo Today: Reviews 105:2 (2015), 140-156. "Biography," tonymelendez.com (accessed Jan. 10, 2021). "Tony Melendez Sings for Pope John Paul II - 1987" (video), Heart of the Nation, Sept. 27, 2016. This week's lateral thinking puzzle was contributed by listener Lucie. Here's a corroborating link (warning -- this spoils the puzzle). You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on Google Podcasts, on Apple Podcasts, or via the RSS feed at https://futilitycloset.libsyn.com/rss. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- you can choose the amount you want to pledge, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!

18 Tammi 202130min

In 1977, West German tourist Erwin Kreuz spent three days enjoying the sights, sounds, and hospitality of Bangor, Maine. Unfortunately, he thought he was in San Francisco, on the other side of the continent. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast, we'll describe Kreuz's unlikely adventure, which made him a local hero in his adopted city. We'll also consider an invisible killer and puzzle over a momentous measurement. Intro: In 1712, Sweden observed a February 30. In 1898, J.W. Dunne dreamed correctly that his watch had stopped. Sources for our feature on Erwin Kreuz: Geoffrey Wolff, The Edge of Maine, 2011. William Langewiesche, "Reporting Points," Flying Magazine 102:1 (January 1978), 29-32. Joseph Owen, "On This Date in Maine History: Oct. 20," Portland [Me.] Press Herald, Oct. 20, 2020. Emily Burnham, "The Story of How a German Tourist Ended Up Mistaking Bangor for San Francisco," Bangor Daily News, Oct. 17, 2020. Kent Ward, "A Feel-Good Story From the Archives," Bangor Daily News, Dec. 4, 2009. Sara Kehaulani Goo, "Bangor Is Used to Surprise Landings," Washington Post, Oct. 17, 2004. Joshua Weinstein, "Bangor International Familiar With Hosting Unexpected Guests," Portland [Me.] Press Herald, Sept. 23, 2004. Tom Weber, "Mall Man," Bangor Daily News, Oct. 18, 1997. John S. Day, "City of Bangor Urged to Hold Fire on I-Man," Bangor Daily News, July 26, 1997. Kim Strosnider, "An Accidental Tourist Put Bangor on Map," Portland [Me.] Press Herald, July 7, 1996. Richard Haitch, "Follow-Up on the News: California in Maine," New York Times, July 15, 1984. Ed Lion, "A Look Back at the Saga of Erwin Kreuz," United Press International, July 8, 1984. "New England News Briefs; Payments Never Late From W. Germany," Boston Globe, July 4, 1984. "Wrong-Way German Tourist Still Paying Maine Taxes," United Press International, July 3, 1984. Maureen Williams, "Future in Bangor Pales, Erwin Kreuz Returns to Germany," Bangor Daily News, March 16, 1979. "Superstar Attractions to Highlight Bangor Mall's Supergrand Opening," Bangor Daily News, Oct. 4, 1978. "Instant Celebrity to Revisit Bangor," Associated Press, Sept. 18, 1978. "German Tourist Misses Maine," United Press International, Sept. 15, 1978. "Bangor, Me., Family in Temporary Limelight," New York Times, Feb. 18, 1978. Jeanne Bolstridge, "Not Political," Bangor Daily News, Nov. 15, 1977. "So riesig," Der Spiegel, Nov. 7, 1977. "Lives It Up Wild West Frisco Style," The [Fairfield County, Conn.] Hour, Nov. 1, 1977. "It's Wong for Kreuz in Frisco," Miami Herald, Nov. 1, 1977. "Ja, Erwin Kreuz ist ein 'Bangor,'" Minneapolis Star, Nov. 1, 1977. "People," Chicago Tribune, Nov. 1, 1977. "Wrong-Way Tourist's Weekend Fit for King," United Press International, Oct. 31, 1977. "In San Francisco: Lost German Partial to Maine," Quad-City [Iowa] Times, Oct. 30, 1977. Ted Sylvester, "Andre Tries to Kiss Kreuz," Bangor Daily News, Oct. 28, 1977. "Famed Figures," [Pittsfield, Mass.] Berkshire Eagle, Oct. 28, 1977. "San Francisco Paper Lays Red Carpet for Kreuz," Bangor Daily News, Oct. 28, 1977. "Erwin Kreuz," Bangor Daily News, Oct. 28, 1977. David Platt, "Column One," Bangor Daily News, Oct. 28, 1977. "Land for Erwin Kreuz," Bangor Daily News, Oct. 27, 1977. "That'd Be a Long Taxi Ride," Kingsport [Tenn.] Daily News, Oct. 26, 1977. "German Tourist Ready to Stay in Maine," Associated Press, Oct. 26, 1977. "3,000-Mile Error Ends With a Pleasant Visit," United Press International, Oct. 25, 1977. "Airline Puts Out Call for Errant Passenger," Bangor Daily News, Oct. 21, 1977. "A Big Mac Blitz," Bangor Daily News, Oct. 21, 1977. Nancy Remsen, "Golden Gate-Bound German Visits Bangor by Mistake," Bangor Daily News, Oct. 20, 1977. (Five unheadlined Associated Press wire reports, dated Oct. 29, 1977; Oct. 31, 1977; Sept. 25, 1978; Oct. 4, 1978; and March 19, 1979.) Listener mail: Wikipedia, "Lake Nyos Disaster" (accessed Dec. 29, 2020). Wikipedia, "Limnic Eruption" (accessed Dec. 29, 2020). Kevin Krajick, "Defusing Africa's Killer Lakes," smithsonianmag.com, September 2003. "Falklands Cleared of Landmines Following 1982 Conflict," Forces.net, Nov. 10, 2020. Matthew Teller, "The Falklands Penguins That Would Not Explode," BBC News, May 6, 2017. "Japanese Town Deploys Monster Wolf Robots to Deter Bears," Reuters, Nov. 11, 2020. This week's lateral thinking puzzle was contributed by listener Nick Claus. Here are three corroborating links (warning -- these spoil the puzzle). You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on Google Podcasts, on Apple Podcasts, or via the RSS feed at https://futilitycloset.libsyn.com/rss. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- you can choose the amount you want to pledge, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!

11 Tammi 202129min

In 1931, a 93-year-old widow was discovered to be hoarding great wealth in New York's Herald Square Hotel. Her death touched off an inquiry that revealed a glittering past -- and a great secret. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast, we'll tell the story of Ida Wood, which has been called "one of the most sensational inheritance cases in American history." We'll also revisit the Candy Bomber and puzzle over some excessive travel. Intro: Lyndon Johnson's family shared initials. In 1915, Arthur Guiterman sparred with Arthur Conan Doyle over Sherlock Holmes' antecedents. Sources for our feature on Ida Wood: Joseph A. Cox, The Recluse of Herald Square: The Mystery of Ida E. Wood, 1964. Robert H. Sitkoff and Jesse Dukeminier, Wills, Trusts, and Estates, 10th edition, 2017. Renee M. Winters, The Hoarding Impulse: Suffocation of the Soul, 2015. John V. Orth, "'The Laughing Heir': What's So Funny?", Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Journal 48:2 (Fall 2013), 321-326. St. Clair McKelway, "Annals of Law: The Rich Recluse of Herald Square," New Yorker, Oct. 24, 1953. Karen Abbott, "Everything Was Fake but Her Wealth," smithsonianmag.com, Jan. 23, 2013. Phil Gustafson, "Who'll Pick up the Pieces?", Nation's Business 38:3 (March 1950), 56. LJ Charleston, "The Story of the Rich New York Socialite Who Hid in a Hotel Room for 24 Years," news.com.au, July 29, 2019. Frank McNally, "Fascinating Ida," Irish Times, Oct. 17, 2019. "Hibernian Chronicle: The Mayfield Mystery Solved," Irish Echo, Feb. 17, 2011. Joseph A. Cox, "She Hid Her Wealth -- And a Strange Past," Australian Women's Weekly, July 6, 1966, 28. Peter Lyon, "Mrs. Wood's Rubbish Pile," New York Times, Oct. 4, 1964. "Finds Heirs, Gets $30,000," New York Times, July 2, 1941. "Meets Ida Wood 'Heirs'," New York Times, March 6, 1938. "Ida Wood Estate Hearing Dec. 20," New York Times, Nov. 18, 1937. "Fortune Fight Bares Name Hoax," Associated Press, Sept. 16, 1937. "406 Claimants Out as Ida Wood Heirs," New York Times, Sept. 1, 1937. "She Carried a Fortune Around Her Waist," St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Jan. 5, 1936, 59. "$92,293 Estate Left by Mrs. F.E. Whistler," New York Times, Dec. 14, 1932. "Reports Locating Ida Wood's Heirs," Associated Press, Dec. 7, 1932. "Mrs. Ida Wood Dies at 93 of Pneumonia," New York Times, March 13, 1932. "Recluse to Seek 'Rest of Money,'" [Washington D.C.] Evening Star, Oct. 14, 1931. "Old Lady's Kin Vie at Law for Her Fortune," Associated Press, Oct. 13, 1931. "Benjamin Wood Dead," New-York Tribune, Feb. 22, 1900. Listener mail: Cathy Free, "World War II-Era 'Candy Bomber' Turns 100. Those Who Caught His Candy -- Now in Their 80s -- Say Thanks," Washington Post, Oct. 13, 2020. Lee Benson, "As Utah's Candy Bomber Turns 100, His Sweet Story Remains Timeless," Deseret News, Oct 4, 2020. "Gov. Gary Herbert Declares October 10th as Gail S. Halvorsen Recognition Day," Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs, Oct. 10, 2020. Safe-T-Pull. "Safe-T-Pull™ Pro -- Muddy Sugar Beet Harvest," (video), Safe-T-Pull, Jan. 21, 2014. "Will cold temperatures damage my refrigerator," Garage Journal, March 2, 2012. "What to Wear in the Winter Conditions," Hôtel de Glace (accessed Dec. 25, 2020). This week's lateral thinking puzzle was devised by Greg. Here's a corroborating link (warning -- this spoils the puzzle). You can listen using the player above, download this episode directly, or subscribe on Google Podcasts, on Apple Podcasts, or via the RSS feed at https://futilitycloset.libsyn.com/rss. Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- you can choose the amount you want to pledge, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support. You can also make a one-time donation on the Support Us page of the Futility Closet website. Many thanks to Doug Ross for the music in this episode. If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at podcast@futilitycloset.com. Thanks for listening!

4 Tammi 202131min