CLASSIC: The Bizarre Origin of the Oxford English Dictionary

CLASSIC: The Bizarre Origin of the Oxford English Dictionary

With 600,000 words and 3 million quotations, the Oxford English Dictionary is a massive tome. Work began on the dictionary in 1857, but the first edition wasn't published until 1884. Compiling the dictionary was a Herculean task, and James Murray, the editor of the dictionary, put out a call for assistance. This early crowdsourcing strategy worked surprisingly well. Murray was particularly impressed by his most prolific and consistent contributor, an enigmatic fellow named Dr. W.C. Minor. So impressed, in fact, that Murray decided he had to meet the man in person. It's safe to say the meeting didn't go as expected.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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CLASSIC: The Statue of Liberty Almost Lived in Egypt

CLASSIC: The Statue of Liberty Almost Lived in Egypt

Today the Statue of Liberty is one of the most famous landmarks in the United States -- but it almost didn't make it to Ellis Island. Join the Ben and Noel as they explore the strange story of Frédéri...

28 Feb 33min

Vacuum Cleaners are Ridiculous!

Vacuum Cleaners are Ridiculous!

Did you know over 90% of US households own a vacuum cleaner? These handy-dandy descendents of the carpet sweeper revolutionized the cleaning game... but where did they come from? As Ben, Noel and Max ...

26 Feb 35min

The Ridiculously Adorable, Feminist History of Kewpie Dolls

The Ridiculously Adorable, Feminist History of Kewpie Dolls

When illustrator and novelist Rose O'Neill first debuted the Kewpie cartoons in 1909, these loveable little characters took the world by storm. Yet O'Neill didn't stop there. In today's episode, Ben, ...

24 Feb 33min

CLASSIC: Agent Garbo: The Strange Tale of the Man Who Saved D-Day

CLASSIC: Agent Garbo: The Strange Tale of the Man Who Saved D-Day

When Juan Pujol first volunteered to spy for the British during World War II, they didn’t take him seriously. That all changed when he got a gig spying for the German government. Listen to learn the s...

21 Feb 40min

The Most-hated Condiment? A Ridiculous History of Mayonnaise

The Most-hated Condiment? A Ridiculous History of Mayonnaise

Often called "the thick, creamy bastard child of oil and eggs" (well, called that at least once by Ben), mayonnaise remains one of the world's most divisive condiment. But where did it come from? In t...

19 Feb 47min

The Gang Goes To Waffle House

The Gang Goes To Waffle House

In a small suburb of Atlanta back in the 1950s, two men hatched an amazing concept: a restaurant that never closes. In today's episode, the guys explore the origin story of Georgia's most mythical res...

17 Feb 43min

CLASSIC: The War of the Stray Dog: How Far Would You Go For Your Pet?

CLASSIC: The War of the Stray Dog: How Far Would You Go For Your Pet?

After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, it didn't take the newly-independent nations of Greece and Bulgaria long to begin bickering over their borders. Throughout the early 1920s, small bands of peasant...

14 Feb 37min

Ancient Wonders of the Modern World: the Lighthouse of Alexandria

Ancient Wonders of the Modern World: the Lighthouse of Alexandria

Ptolemy II was known for a lot of things, none of which involved being humble. In the newest installment of this continuing series, Ben, Noel and Max explore the ridiculous story of the Lighthouse of ...

12 Feb 27min

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