Omnibus

Paul Winchell (Entry 1433.LU.0506)

Omnibus — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 07:10:00 +0000

In which Bohuš Blahut (RetroThing.com, Tech Hunters) and John discuss ventriloquist, the inventor of the artificial heart and the voice of Tigger too. Certificate #25379.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Omnibus Live at the Portland Book Festival - November 4th

Omnibus — Sat, 12 Sep 2026 04:12:03 +0000

(Live at the Library of Congress) Paper Prints (Entry 897.IS3404)

Omnibus — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 07:10:00 +0000

In which John and Ken record an entry at Library of Congress before a live audience, and Ken pitches the next hit reboot starring John Cena. Certificate #24597

Project Habakkuk (Entry 993.HA0105)

Omnibus — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 17:12:59 +0000

In which Futureling Faris Alikhan reveals an Allied plan to stop U-boats with a mix of ice and wood pulp, and John asks why everyone at SFO wears quarter-zip sweaters. Certificate #45325.

West Edmonton Mall (Entry 1422.JO0502)

Omnibus — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 16:43:14 +0000

In which Futureling Adam Wonderly discusses how a rug empire ended up creating a Canadian landmark, and John learns that Anchorage could have done better than an indoor ice rink. Certificate #43923.

The Carnegie Libraries (Entry 188.LU2101)

Omnibus — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 07:10:00 +0000

In which Futureling Jon Hannah discusses the origins of public libraries, labor exploitation and the uneasy bargain between wealth and the common good. Certificate #39770.

The Maury Island Incident (767.EZ0104)

Omnibus — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 19:30:55 +0000

In which Futureling Loren Skaggs and John discuss Tacoma, Cold War paranoia, the birth of flying saucer mythology, and the Katuga boat trote. Certificate #31561.

Jugglers, The Internet (Entry 667.EX0722)

Omnibus — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 07:10:00 +0000

In which Futureling Luke Burrage and John discuss the early history of the internet, Claude Shannon, information theory, and one of the least likely professions ever to be called "Sir". Certificate #28099.

The Bosnian War Camaro (Entry 144.MA0718)

Omnibus — Wed, 29 Jul 2026 15:47:33 +0000

In which Brendan McAleer explains how a 1979 Chevrolet Camaro became a lightly armored, smoke-blowing, night-vision-equipped humanitarian savior, which John insists is the coolest car an eleven-year-old could imagine. Certificate #21628.

Free to Be You & Me (Entry 499.1C1111)

Omnibus — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 01:27:37 +0000

In which we finally get a John show about growing up Gen X in front of the TV console watching Alan Alda, Rosey Grier, Cicely Tyson, Carol Channing, and Michael Jackson and Ken reminisces about what a stone-cold fox Marlo Thomas was. Certificate #36926.

The Bulldozing of Meigs Field (Entry 163.PS3508)

Omnibus — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 23:24:14 +0000

In which Futureling Rebecca unpacks the story of a mayor, a demolished airport, and the battle over who really gets to claim a city's waterfront, while John recalls discovering Chicago through a PC flight simulator. Certificate #32575.

The Ukrainian Interviews (Entry 1356.EC0918)

Omnibus — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 04:21:41 +0000

In which John travels to Ukraine and interviews Alisa Demina (Senior Lecturer in the Department of Archaeology at National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy), Kateryna Chuyeva (a Ukrainian cultural heritage expert and former Deputy Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine) and Oleksandra Ivanova (PhD student of Archaeology at NaUKMA and co-founder the NGO Scientific and Research lab Archaic). Certificate #25380.

Carob (Entry 188.MA0106)

Omnibus — Tue, 30 Jun 2026 07:10:00 +0000

In which Futureling Christa Dahlstrom and John enjoy a virtual taste test and discuss the lifelong trauma of discovering that what you were promised was, in fact, not chocolate. Certificate #22095.

The Tommy Westphal Universe (Entry 1315.JO0714)

Omnibus — Tue, 23 Jun 2026 07:09:00 +0000

In which Futureling Thomas Dolan-Gavitt traces how an offhand blog post gave rise to television’s greatest conspiracy theory, weaving together Hill Street Blues, St. Elsewhere, The X-Files, and a shared universe the shared-universe craze swept Hollywood. Certificate #6555.

Niagara Falls in a Barrel (Entry 836.PS4207)

Omnibus — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 16:14:00 +0000

In which a Yankee leaper and a long line of hucksters and daredevils take their chances over an American landmark, and John reveals he doesn't have Incognito Mode turned on in his browser. Certificate #54642

Nell Gwyn (Entry 557.GE2106)

Omnibus — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 07:09:00 +0000

In which cartoonist and writer Emily Flake discusses chance encounters with Dan Rather, being denied entry to Turks and Caicos, and the namesake of Emily's St. Nell's Humor Writing Residency for Ladies. Certificate #863.

The Astor Place Riot (Entry 76.PR2817)

Omnibus — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 07:10:00 +0000

In which David Hyde (Blue City Blues, Seattle Nice) meets John in the bunker to discuss the 1849 Astor Place Opera House Riot and the welcome return of the timeless Ken-era art of razzing Canadians. Certificate #26694.

The Dyatlov Pass Incident (Entry 389.1SA2314)

Omnibus — Tue, 26 May 2026 07:09:00 +0000

In which Futureling Ariela Silberstein gives John his Cold War fix while discussing the mysterious disappearance of nine Soviet hikers. Certificate #48070.

The Death of Mr. McMahon (Entry 319.MA0605)

Omnibus — Tue, 19 May 2026 07:15:00 +0000

In which Nick Butler (Sometimes Weekly) recalls exploding limos, kayfabe and a future President. Certificate #44697

Operation Columba (Entry 869.GE0810)

Omnibus — Tue, 12 May 2026 07:15:00 +0000

In which Futureling (and occasional magician’s assistant) Jennifer MacFarlane discusses pigeons and a family story from the southern Netherlands in the fall of 1944. Certificate #23861.

Doorbells (Entry 372.LU0207)

Omnibus — Tue, 05 May 2026 07:15:00 +0000

In which comedian Lisa Lane and John revisit late 20th-century nostalgia, and what technology has done to the delicate art of knocking on strangers’ doors. Certificate #12881

General Mills (Entry 520.GE0615)

Omnibus — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:08:37 +0000

In which comedian and writer Alex Falcone discusses weather balloons, broken arrows, and the most general of mills. Certificate #35593.

Nolan Bushnell (Entry 167.MA1323)

Omnibus — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 16:56:51 +0000

In which an Atari founder turns borrowed ideas into a gaming empire, makes a killing, and launches Rick Rat’s Pizza—guided by Futureling Keli Boucher. Certificate #48560.

The Cabinet of Doom (Entry 171.JE0814)

Omnibus — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 14:52:56 +0000

In which Bob Crawford, author of America’s Founding Son: John Quincy Adams, from President to Political Maverick and bass player for The Avett Brothers, waxes on William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, and an unfortunately named Peacemaker. Certificate #34343.

The World's Largest Drum (Entry 144.CO0807)

Omnibus — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:02:01 +0000

In which giant university marching drums, mythic African war drums, and even a Salvadoran bronze masterpiece take center stage — guided by Futureling Natalie Hudson. Certificate #31992.

The Filibuster War (Entry 468.RE0602)

Omnibus — Tue, 31 Mar 2026 23:03:21 +0000

In which Futureling Hugh Scott unpacks the saga of drifter, doctor, and self-declared president William Walker. Certificate #28903

"Champagne" in New Mexico (Entry 205.DA0201)

Omnibus — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 07:10:00 +0000

In which Futureling Katie Tarara uncovers the surprising rise of a symbol of French celebration in the American Southwest. Certificate #31308

The Pyramid of North Dakota (Entry 1014.IS1901)

Omnibus — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:00:00 +0000

In which a lonely concrete pyramid in North Dakota uncovers the story of America’s ambitious—and short-lived—Cold War missile defense system, with guest Michael Milner. Certificate #1502

Worcester Sauce (Entry 1442.NU1150)

Omnibus — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:00:00 +0000

In which comedian Saul Henry discusses the global reach of Worcestershire sauce and regional British accents. Certificate #37300.

Eurowesterns (Entry 431.EZ0902)

Omnibus — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In which Futureling Robert educates John about Germany's all-time best-selling author—and fraudster—Karl May. Special appearance by Einstein. Certificate #23821.

Surrealist Prank Calls (Entry 1258.OB0102)

Omnibus — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In which Erin Dawson, a trans black metal musician who goes by the moniker Genital Shame, explores the nature of prank calls, their cultural significance, and Longmont Potion Castle. Certificate #50858.

Candlestick Park (Entry 179.EX3937)

Omnibus — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In which writer and podcaster Grant Brisbee reveals the history of baseball's worst stadium. Special appearance by Richard Nixon and The Beatles. Certificate #31484.

The Phantom Time Hypothesis (Entry 928.PR1027)

Omnibus — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In which various crackpots and Russians decide that three hundred years of the European "dark ages" simply didn't happen, and Ken doesn't want his eulogy to be vague. Certificate #22651.

Tama Bell Brass (Entry 1275.PR2225)

Omnibus — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In which author, music executive and host of the Identified podcast Nabil Ayers discusses selling used CDs, The Terminator, The Drum Doctor and more. Certificate #48391.

Second Missouri Compromise (Entry 1122.MA0624)

Omnibus — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In which Linus Chan explores American citizenship, the law, and the long shadow of the Missouri Compromise. Certificate #24581.

Neopets (Entry 831.EC0904)

Omnibus — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 19:14:40 +0000

In which Futureling Kate tells John about the rise, fall, and attempted revival of a millennial obsession. Certificate #30063.

Thomas-Alexandre Dumas (Entry 386.DA1125)

Omnibus — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In which Futureling Richard Stephens tells of the rapid rise of a Revolutionary general through the military ranks, the challenges he faced as a person of color in a predominantly white society, and the decline of his legacy under Napoleon’s regime. Certificate #40773.

Glacier Girl (Entry 530.JB3822)

Omnibus — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 16:25:14 +0000

In which a WWII fighter plane crashes on a Greenland ice sheet in 1942 and is painstakingly recovered and restored by a pilot over two decades. Certificate #25573.

Exiled to Sentosa (Entry 438.LU2319)

Omnibus — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000

In which a politician is banished to Singapore’s theme-park island, recounted by Nathan Jennings. Certificate #41799

E.A. Wallis Budge (Entry 161.IS1901)

Omnibus — Fri, 26 Dec 2025 18:28:36 +0000

In which the illegitimate son of a Cornish housekeeper rises to the top of the British Museum Egyptology department. Featuring futureling and the host of the podcast Books of All Time Rose Judson. Certificate #43419.

Penn Cove Whale Capture (Entry 916.JB0712)

Omnibus — Thu, 18 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Wherein dozens of Orca were kidnapped in an unspeakable scene and Christopher didn’t bring a laptop (and John didn’t have a camera yet). Certificate #41344.

Grit (Entry 551.PR1004)

Omnibus — Thu, 11 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000

In which a plucky immigrant "printer's devil" creates a newspaper that puzzles and pays off generations of young American boys, and John avoids a chainsaw duel. Certificate #31682.

The Grand DARPA Challenge (Entry 543.PS5507)

Omnibus — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 11:00:00 +0000

In which a government-backed desert race for unmanned vehicles ignites the technologies driving the autonomous future now creeping into our cities - with guest Andrew Miller. Certificate #49327

Jack Kirby’s Lost Art (Entry 688.DE2203)

Omnibus — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 16:21:52 +0000

In which Jack Kirby, a titan of American pop culture, confronts the disappearance of thousands of pages of his original comic art—and the battle over his place in creating modern pop culture guided by guest host Joseph J. Darowski. Certificate #43383

New York to Nome (Entry 835.AC2710)

Omnibus — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 02:27:30 +0000

In which two young Depression-era clerks break from their dull routines and embark on a canoe trip. Certificate #44688

(LIVE) New Coke (Entry 835.LK0538)

Omnibus — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 11:00:00 +0000

In which three well-meaning Atlanta executives accidentally announce their surrender in the cola wars, and Ken reads a letter. Certificate #38738.

Pneumatic Tubes (Entry 955.JN0308)

Omnibus — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 11:00:00 +0000

In which mail, cash, trash, passengers, burgers, and cats are sent zipping through vast networks on puffs of compressed air, and John would like to be sent a horny landscaper. Certificate #46257.

Management by Wandering Around (Entry 754.PS10740)

Omnibus — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 15:08:57 +0000

In which a Wyoming-educated economist gets big in Japan by inventing modern business theory, and Ken wants to be able to wince on a call. Certificate #36485.

The Spirit of Australia (Entry 1203.PS7716)

Omnibus — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 20:06:03 +0000

In which an power tools salesman builds the world's fastest boat in his Sydney backyard and somehow survives the experience, and John thinks it's funny to be accordion-shaped in the past. Certificate #16230.

Spam (Entry 1195.JB0607)

Omnibus — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In which a Minnesota meat concern changes the face of world cuisine by passing their surplus pork shoulder off on hungry soldiers, and Ken imagines a pre-war Sir Mix-a-Lot. Certificate #53117.

The False Dmitrys (Entry 451.2K0428)

Omnibus — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In which three or four pretenders decide to pass themselves off as a very convincingly killed Russian prince, and John realizes some jobs have dripping access. Certificate #51533.

Laugh Tracks (Entry 704.EC0202)

Omnibus — Thu, 02 Oct 2025 15:32:51 +0000

In which a mystery of Nazi propaganda, once solved, powers television sitcoms for decades to come, and Ken wonders about the least talented part of a guitarist. Certificate #37919.

The NATO Phonetic Alphabet (Entry 826.RV2213)

Omnibus — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In which post-war science finally develops the perfect system for spelling things over radio and telephones, and John learns he has been misspelling a pretty famous play. Certificate #50168.

Muzak (Entry 820.1S1616)

Omnibus — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 18:09:53 +0000

In which a series of engineers, entrepreneurs, and classic TV producers discover that America wants gentle music piped into its public spaces, and Ken likes piña coladas and getting caught in the rain. Certificate #54082.

We Now Conclude Our Broadcast Day (Entry 1422.PS0305)

Omnibus — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In which television stations spend decades signing off every night after the national anthem, and John likes to keep a stiff upper lip during Mormon TV ads. Certificate #31942.

The MGM Auction (Entry 783.JB2813)

Omnibus — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In which wheeler-dealers and Debbie Reynolds pillage a priceless trove of movie treasure for pennies on the dollar, and Ken has never been in his own conference room. Certificate #38661.

Allan Bakke, M.D. (Entry 093.SS0510)

Omnibus — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 00:35:20 +0000

In which a Marine vet and NASA engineer changes the course of American public policy when he fails to get into medical school, and John has no pith. Certificate #29277.

Radioactive Boy (Entry 1026.JB4132)

Omnibus — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In which a Detroit-area teen overachieves in Boy Scouts by trying to build a nuclear reactor in a potting shed, and Ken only wants capitalized toys. Certificate #50176.

Dollar Princesses (Entry 370.NU3603)

Omnibus — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In which a generation of English peers and their sons look to fix their leaky castle roofs by marrying wealthy American "buccaneers," and John has never kidnapped anyone in Bulgaria. Certificate #33143.

Teddy Girls (Entry 1283.PR3122)

Omnibus — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In which the dandyish vintage finds of postwar British teens set a blueprint for the rest of 20th-century youth fashion, and Ken keeps getting hit in the head by nose flutes on the bus. Certificate #13953.

The Integratron (Entry 650.SS0117)

Omnibus — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In which a 700-year-old Venusian designs a mysterious whitewashed dome in the Mojave Desert, and John would like to change history at the mutiny on the Bounty. Certificate #13181.

Chemtrails (Entry 212.AM0407)

Omnibus — Thu, 24 Jul 2025 18:31:19 +0000

In which internet-era conspiracy theorists become convinced that jet contrails are weather control masterminded from Fairbanks, Alaska, and Ken thinks John sounds like a Muppet for exactly one syllable. Certificate #52946.

Ex-Millionaires (Entry 438.EC0514)

Omnibus — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 18:17:13 +0000

In which some of the bankers who lost their shirts in the Great Depression find a cushy retirement in the Bronx instead of jumping out windows, and John will never say anyone isn't gay. Certificate #35727.

Margarine (Entry 759.JU0525)

Omnibus — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In which butter substitutes have to overcome scientific hurdles, dairy-friendly laws, and bad news about trans fats, and Ken thinks Germany is trying to control olive oil. Certificate #34384.

Chopin's Heart (Entry 218.JB4124)

Omnibus — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 21:47:59 +0000

In which Poland's most famous exile partially returns to Warsaw to posthumously annoy both tsars and Nazis, and John's restaurant idea has some light cannibalism. Certificate #31277.

Hostile Architecture (Entry 601.PR2907)

Omnibus — Thu, 26 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In which today's cities face tough choices on how to guide urban behavior with incredibly uncomfortable-looking design features, and Ken would pee on a fly but not a bee. Certificate #19421.

The War Between the States (Entry 1409.IS1902)

Omnibus — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In which it takes decades for America to decide whether its civil war was an insurrection or an invasion, nomenclature-wise, and John walks very erratically on his orange shag carpet. Certificate #26478.

The Dreadnought Hoax (Entry 380.PS6831)

Omnibus — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 16:08:09 +0000

In which six bored, Cambridge-connected bohemians con their way onto the British Empire's naval flagship by dressing as African royalty, and Ken thinks John is either Batman or a Karen. Certificate #19722.

The Comics Code Authority (Entry 248.2CH2115)

Omnibus — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In which a crusading social psychiatrist drums up the moral panic that gets two mega-popular comic book genres banned from America's newsstands, and John agrees that punching Hitler is unmissable. Certificate #44894.

Gorillas, Discovery of (Entry 540.PS10420)

Omnibus — Thu, 29 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In which it takes Europe over two thousand years to figure out that the greatest of the great apes is not just Carthaginian folklore, and Ken would like to be considered merciful. Certificate #46468.

Victorian Hairwork (Entry 1394.LK2118)

Omnibus — Thu, 22 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In which the popularity of "mourning bequeathments" and the death of the Prince Consort lead to an explosion of morbid family handicrafts, and John gives away the same piano twice. Certificate #50902.

Hawaiian Guitar (Entry 572.PS14409)

Omnibus — Thu, 15 May 2025 17:11:09 +0000

In which a Honolulu teenager discovers a rusty bolt by the side of the road and changes the face of 20th-century music across multiple genres, and Ken is surprised to learn what Aerosmith, Paul Shaffer, and Harvard have in common. Certificate #35281.

Vows of Silence (Entry 1403.PS10730)

Omnibus — Thu, 08 May 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In which a famed monastic tradition is revealed to be a modern misunderstanding of the chattiness of religious life, and Ken does not want to know what a Robot Guitar really is. Certificate #38497.

Rock Paper Scissors (Entry 1079.1CH2613)

Omnibus — Thu, 01 May 2025 14:24:29 +0000

In which an ancient Chinese game of intransitive balance changes the world as both a children's pastime and a decision-making method, and John has the candy tastes of a pioneer child. Certificate #23611.

Lemmings (Entry 711.MK1503)

Omnibus — Thu, 24 Apr 2025 18:00:59 +0000

In which the documentary films of the Arctic are revealed to be full of lies, leading to one misunderstood rodent, and John thinks about a vole in a bowl. Certificate #25575.

Pulgasari (Entry 1007.IS4602)

Omnibus — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 15:16:07 +0000

In which North Korea jump-starts its fledgeling monster movie industry by literally kidnapping talent from across the DMZ, and Ken was distracted by skateboarding. Certificate #37139

The World's Tallest Building (Entry 1444.GE1104)

Omnibus — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 18:24:23 +0000

In which the measurement of spires and skyscrapers becomes a source of architectural squabbles and global prestige, and John hides in the forest with a guitar. Certificate #51591.

Anthropology Days (Entry 053.NU1516)

Omnibus — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 21:16:31 +0000

In which the planners of the third modern Olympics scour the globe hoping to populate a human zoo and maybe make the exhibits do sports, and Ken thinks the periodic table needs some work. Certificate #53289.

The Mona Lisa Heist (Entry 800.JN1206)

Omnibus — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In which an Italian workman creates a cultural icon when he attempts to repatriate a Renaissance masterpiece from the laxly secured Louvre, and John upstages Ken's sturgeon. Certificate #35100.

Genuine Leather (Entry 522.GE0321)

Omnibus — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In which the tanning industry invents a fancy-sounding term for one of its worst grades of leather, and Ken learns his childhood jacket may have had epaulets. Certificate #46978.

The Dionne Quintuplets (Entry 352.JB0525)

Omnibus — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 10:00:00 +0000

In which five adorable and identical Franco-Ontarians become an international sensation and then wards of the state, and John doesn't know what to call the bulb of Canada. Certificate #31042.

Pedestrianism (Entry 913.PS1833)

Omnibus — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In which the first great sporting fad of the 19th century springs from great feats of British walking, and Ken isn't sure how to use protozoa as a metaphor for time. Certificate #21218.

The Battle of the Sisters (Entry 104.GE3008)

Omnibus — Thu, 27 Feb 2025 11:00:00 +0000

In which Hollywood's greatest case of sibling rivalry begins with a swimming pool injury and ends at the Oscars, and John rediscovers pop music thanks to the Queeb. Certificate #30747.

The Golden Age of Porn (Entry 537.1C0618)

Omnibus — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 11:00:00 +0000

In which we celebrate the post-Valentine's season by looking back at the sleazy 1970s when adult films briefly became mainstream chic, and Ken avoids a Y2K for his marriage. Certificate #25369.

The Oracle of Delphi (Entry 872.1S0911)

Omnibus — Thu, 13 Feb 2025 20:57:19 +0000

In which a veiled, fume-huffing priestess tells the ancient world what to do for over a millennium, and John only knows what time it is from his truck clock. Certificate #25192.

Balloon Man (Entry 094.DE1501)

Omnibus — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 11:00:00 +0000

In which a Disneyland-trained dreamer invents a new art form with the help of a cookie entrepreneur and a jellybean innovator, and Ken has a theory about the worst balloon vendors. Certificate #32691.

The EGOT (Entry 398.AC2810)

Omnibus — Thu, 30 Jan 2025 11:00:00 +0000

In which an inescapable awards-season acronym is jump-started twenty-five years earlier by an eccentric TV cop actor and a pop reference book, and John's family would like to kick in hotel room doors. Certificate #42952.

Martin Luther King, Sr. (Entry 688.PR1301)

Omnibus — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 11:00:00 +0000

In which an Atlanta pastor changes his name after a very inspiring visit to Germany and begins an American civil rights dynasty, and Ken gets to make a chart. Certificate #45274.

Spontaneous Combustion (Entry 1206.PR0627)

Omnibus — Thu, 16 Jan 2025 16:01:37 +0000

In which scientists and paranormal investigators puzzle over a string of mysterious deaths beginning with a "dull and heavy" Italian countess, and John learns about the peat of the Maldives. Certificate #40714.

Canal Mania (Entry 178.PR0516)

Omnibus — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 11:00:00 +0000

In which British investors power the Industrial Revolution with arguably too many waterways for the nation's barges, and Ken thinks escalators are not cheating. Certificate #27217.

The Carrington Event (Entry 189.2P0312)

Omnibus — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 11:00:00 +0000

In which a solar storm in 1859 leads to eye-popping auroras and a harboring of technological doom, and John compares gold pan and pizza sizes. Certificate #54094.

Elf on the Shelf (Entry 404.PR1503)

Omnibus — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 16:55:01 +0000

In which the childhood Christmas tradition of two Georgia twins becomes a cultural tug-of-war over surveillance psychology, and Ken is going to buy a light blue tree. Certificate #45509.

Space Contraband (Entry 1194.JB1312)

Omnibus — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 11:00:00 +0000

In which astronauts and cosmonauts smuggle sandwiches, golf clubs, harmonicas, collectibles, and ashes into orbit, and John wants to blow bubbles on the Moon. Certificate #54825.

Lazy Susans (Entry 706.LK1237)

Omnibus — Thu, 12 Dec 2024 11:00:00 +0000

In which a Cantonese restaurant in San Franciscos's Chinatown spreads American revolving-table technology worldwide, and Ken wonders how long it takes to get sick of a musician in your spare bedroom. Certificate #43576.

The Tooth Fairy (Entry 1317.SS0606)

Omnibus — Thu, 05 Dec 2024 11:00:00 +0000

In which ancient sorcery, changeling myths, and Edwardian fads combine to create America's only homegrown childhood rite of passage, and John's dentist turns teeth into boats. Certificate #19230.

411 (Entry 495.LK2003)

Omnibus — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 11:00:00 +0000

In which telephone users once had access to a surprising array of helpful and informative services, and Ken got rid of his landline to spite Al-Qaeda. Certificate #26038.

Whistling (Entry 1427.DE2323)

Omnibus — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 13:00:00 +0000

In which an ancient linguistic and religious practice becomes a jaunty, ambulatory musical form before falling into decline, and John does not want to see condors in a hospital. Certificate #45133.

The Population Bomb (Entry 966.GE2803)

Omnibus — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 11:00:00 +0000

In which centuries of sterilization-happy doomsayers fail to predict a game-changing revolution in wheat, and Ken thinks Pakistan wants John to clean out his fridge. Certificate #2037.

The King Under the Mountain (Entry 688.RO1311)

Omnibus — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 11:00:00 +0000

In which dozens of national sleeping guys with long beards wait in caves for their countries to need them again, and John thinks Tom Cruise should not be in a courtyard. Certificate #53610.

New Urbanism (Entry 835.SS0711)

Omnibus — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which conservative Sun Belt retirees and progressive urbanists agree on a nostalgic but radical revolution in city design, and Ken does a Norman Rockwell impression. Certificate #34959.

Soviet Spartacus (Entry 1194.EX2116)

Omnibus — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which a Thracian slave from two thousand years earlier becomes a proletarian role model and Communist sports hero, and John prefers action stars with boogers. Certificate #37084.

Electrical Sockets (Entry 400.JS0215)

Omnibus — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which the long war between alternating and direct current produces power outlets that multiply nto a dizzying world of configurations, and Ken needs a grounding prong. Certificate #29673.

Tartans (Entry 1279.DE2230)

Omnibus — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which Scottish clans each choose a distinctive plaid based on a romantic Highland history that didn't really happen, and John takes a hard hit while playing Frisbee in a skirt. Certificate #26624.

The Twenty-Seventh Amendment (Entry 1352.GE3028)

Omnibus — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which a constitutional change finally happens after a two-hundred-year delay just to spite one Texas poli sci professor, and Ken likes it when scriveners get away scot-free. Certificate #43079.

The Teddy Bear Shipwreck (Entry 1283.PR2433)

Omnibus — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which the toy market is revolutionized by a faddish stuffed animal that would be priceless today if it hadn't disappeared, and John buys the concept of a rabbit. Certificate #24398.

Sea Peoples (Entry 1120.1K2248)

Omnibus — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which the great Mediterranean civilizations of the late Bronze Age collapse virtually overnight due to some mysterious visitors, and Ken knows a lot about white broccoli. Certificate #9795.

The Coconut Revolution (Entry 239.JE0207)

Omnibus — Thu, 12 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which Melanesian eco-revolutionaries fight off helicopter gunships with literal slingshots and homemade diesel, and John makes a shocking announcement about all scientists. Certificate #54146.

Poutine (Entry 973.PS10709)

Omnibus — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which a curd-heavy side from central Quebec belatedly becomes the national dish of a land with no real national cuisine, and Ken learns so much about Sacramento culture. Certificate #30037.

The Fenian Raids (Entry 461.DE2849)

Omnibus — Thu, 29 Aug 2024 18:27:11 +0000

In which a secret society of plucky Civil War veterans hatches a plan to return Ireland to the Irish by—wait for it—invading Canada, and John doesn't think the people who sold him wine coolers actually exist. Certificate #12129.

Comic Sans (Entry 248.2C1009)

Omnibus — Thu, 22 Aug 2024 13:15:00 +0000

In which even the most hated typeface in the history of desktop publishing has its defenders, and Ken isn't sure why he owns cargo shorts. Certificate #54861.

Oh, You Kid! (Entry 862.GA0519)

Omnibus — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which a flirty but forgotten Tin Pan Alley song leads to the first great moral panic in pop music history, and John sneakily borrows someone else's shanty town. Certificate #12960.

Pickleball (Entry 937.EZ4621)

Omnibus — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which a state politician's lack of badminton equipment leads to the invention of the hottest sport of the 21st century, and Ken is slightly present. Certificate #42131.

Stradivarius Violins (Entry 1231.PS9203)

Omnibus — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which researchers squabble for centuries about the secret ingredient that made one Cremonese craftsman the greatest musical instrument-maker of all time, and John seasons guitars under a bus. Certificate #36611.

The Forbidden Island (Entry 489.LV2523)

Omnibus — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which a king agrees to hand over his seventh-best island in the hopes of creating a haven for his native Hawaiian language and culture, and Ken does not want to greet Zach. Certificate #43273.

Fermi Problems (Entry 462.MK0819)

Omnibus — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which the last universal physicist demonstrates to his students that ballpark estimates in math can be as powerful as precision, and John isn't sure if Romanians can count tomatoes. Certificate #46480.

Love Canal (Entry 737.PR2526)

Omnibus — Thu, 11 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which an ill-advised utopian scheme to bypass Niagara Falls becomes America's first toxic waste catastrophe, and Ken knows the main thing that water does. Certificate #42025.

Turtle Soup (Entry 1351.SS0212)

Omnibus — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which the great gourmet food of 19th-century "frolics" suddenly disappears from American menus, and John thinks humankind often looks to weasels. Certificate #32793.

Harambe (Entry 567.JM0506)

Omnibus — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which the tragic death of a gorilla at the Cincinnati Zoo launches a tidal wave of viral content on social media, and Ken explains bad table manners as an accident of birth. Certificate #23616.

The Brushy Mountain Prison Breakout (Entry 159.AC0523)

Omnibus — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which the most notorious convict in America attempts no fewer than four separate escapes from the Alcatraz of the Cumberland Mountains, and John would never disparage the banjo. Certificate #1746.

The Western Washington Windshield Epidemic (Entry 1422.RV0613)

Omnibus — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which a mysterious outbreak of "glass pox," possibly a result of nuclear testing, hits the Pacific Northwest, and Ken doesn't think Sherlock Holmes knows any teenagers. Certificate #40197.

Talking Drums (Entry 1275.1C1407)

Omnibus — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which the Yoruba people of Nigeria create a new kind of "speech surrogacy" for news and storytelling using a versatile percussion section, and John only needs two pedals to get to Sounds-Like-Garbage-Land. Certificate #51913.

The Antarctic Snow Cruiser (Entry 052.1K0732)

Omnibus — Thu, 30 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which a polar expedition builds a massive RV to road-trip around Antarctica but brings the wrong tires, and Ken wonders if admirals like sexy calendars. Certificate #23408.

Electroculture (Entry 401.MT1308)

Omnibus — Thu, 23 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which the earliest discoverers of electricity disagree on whether it helps flowers, turnips, and myrtle shrubs to grow, and John punishes himself with sprouts. Certificate #27338.

Somerton Man (Entry 1189.PS7902)

Omnibus — Thu, 16 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which a clue-filled dead body appears on a beach in Adelaide, Australia, sparking a tantalizing 75-year mystery, and Ken is not a team of seventh graders. Certificate #35821.

Kim's Video (Entry 687.MT0542)

Omnibus — Thu, 09 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which the collapse of the video rental industry sends one valuable and eccentric archive to an obscure and disaster-plagued town in western Sicily, and E. coli is no match for John. Certificate #43318.

Kilroy Was Here (Entry 687.EZ0810)

Omnibus — Thu, 02 May 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which a mysterious World War II inscription marries image and text to create the modern meme, and Ken does not think gangrenous limbs are a meme. Certificate #25622.

The Rainbow Bridge (Entry 1028.EC0319)

Omnibus — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which the bountiful gifts of American advice columnists include a now-ubiquitious happy afterlife for pets, and John might lose a swordfight because he's too heavy for a chandelier. Certificate #29810.

The Principality of Sealand (Entry 987.IS6022)

Omnibus — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which a self-crowned prince founds his own nation on a tiny piece of concrete in the North Sea, complete with commando raids, and Ken is only in favor of 3-D awards. Certificate #6611.

Stickball (Entry 1225.MK0608)

Omnibus — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which a village pastime for Sussex dairymaids gets urbanized into an exciting neighborhood pick-up sport in American inner cities, and John wants to pick the bittle up. Certificate #13472.

Bioplastics (Entry 124.EZ3629)

Omnibus — Thu, 04 Apr 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which attempts to replace petrochemical plastic with corn and sawdust face fatal challenges of scale and efficiency, and Ken has never made a Prius. Certificate #32944.

The Push Button (Entry 1012.DE0611)

Omnibus — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which the influence of spinet pianos and telegraph keys produces a satisfying new device interface for the electric age, and John thinks aliens just want a cuddle. Certificate #42007.

Jersey Barriers (Entry 671.IS5714)

Omnibus — Thu, 21 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which the development of guardrail and concrete divider technology makes highway driving massively safer over the decades, and Ken lies under oath in a deposition. Certificate #40991.

Joanna Southcott's Box (Entry 673.GN4910)

Omnibus — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which twenty-four bishops refuse to open the secret prophecies that will save Britain from war and banditry, and John wants to be called "Dicebox." Certificate #49596.

Vanity Plates (Entry 1383.EC1208)

Omnibus — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 11:00:00 +0000

In which car registration numbers become modes for personalized creative expression and eventually a multimillion-dollar commodity, and Ken does not say "auto." Certificate #37808.

The Earth from Space (Entry 391.GN0115)

Omnibus — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which centuries of inaccurate illustrations of our planet are abruptly upended by satellites and awestruck astronauts, and John never drew spaceships, just Japanese fighter planes. Certificate #35817.

The Food Pyramid (Entry 487.MT0611)

Omnibus — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which budget-conscious Swedes rearrange American ideas about nutritious eating, and Ken is pretty sure M&Ms are not getting smaller. Certificate #54063.

The Guano Islands Act (Entry 554.PS10407)

Omnibus — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which we celebrate 167 years of Americans being able to claim any island they like as long as it has enough bird poop on it, and John thinks you can dip a pole in liberty. Certificate #39867.

The Great Idaho Beaver Drop (Entry 548.JL0202)

Omnibus — Thu, 08 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which a remote part of Idaho solves its beaver dam problem with some surplus parachutes and an even more remote part of Idaho, and Ken applies the transitive property to mules and culverts. Certificate #31297.

Naturism (Entry 827.GE0225)

Omnibus — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which German health nuts give the world the idea of social nude recreation before the Nazis can tell them not to, and John thinks of something that is better than itching. Certificate #53668.

The Ice Trade (Entry 615.PS14717)

Omnibus — Thu, 25 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which the ponds of New England become the wellspring of a new worldwide web of perishable foods, and Ken learns that gum is a forest treat. Certificate #23725.

Einstein's Brain (Entry 399.JB1909)

Omnibus — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which the estate of the century's greatest scientist becomes a $200 million enterprise even as his brain tissue languishes in a cider box, and John compares it to pastrami. Certificate #21917.

Warren Miller (Entry 789.IS5707)

Omnibus — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which a ski bum with dad jokes explores new frontiers of film distribution and extreme sports, and Ken is a water machine. Certificate #48941.

Yu-Mex (Entry 1455.1C1408)

Omnibus — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 10:00:00 +0000

In which the rift between two Communist dictators leads to a blooming of mariachi culture in the fertile soil of the Balkans, and John is baffled by Vietnamese karaoke. Certificate #46465.

Prodigies, Failed (Entry 990.LK0240)

Omnibus — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In which the smartest people in the world bloom early but often struggle to live up that promise later in life, and Ken's phone thinks he lives at the zoo. Certificate #50285.

The Eggnog Riot (Entry 398.RO1313)

Omnibus — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In which a late-night Christmas party in a West Point barracks gets out of hand, almost changing the course of the Civil War, and John is not anti-Julius. Certificate #32683.

The Caning of Charles Sumner (Entry 180.PR2314)

Omnibus — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In which tensions over slavery and its westward expansion boil over into an assault on the floor of the United States Senate, and Ken does not have a single cloak. Certificate #46116.

Legal Baby Names (Entry 710.LK0160)

Omnibus — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In which governments around the world deliberate on how creatively parents may name their children, and John thinks "Tilden" sounds like a kind of cheese. Certificate #26934.

Jellyfish Blooms (Entry 671.PS10425)

Omnibus — Thu, 30 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In which the world's overfished oceans begin to teem with a sudden surplus of ancient and puzzling invertebrates, and Ken just wants sex tourists not to pee on his bunion. Certificate #23757.

Winamp (Entry 1433.PR2603)

Omnibus — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In which a teenaged slacker from Sedona with a love for llamas jump-starts the digital music age, and John explains why large people prefer old things. Certificate #38550.

London Bridge (Entry 733.LK1626)

Omnibus — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In which the successor to one of the great medieval bridges is shipped to the Arizona desert by an American tycoon, and Ken is skeptical about product placement in slasher movies. Certificate #28472.

Cryonics (Entry 302.1C1535)

Omnibus — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In which a science fiction-loving professor dreams of conquering death with the cold, hard science of low-temperature preservation, and John just wants to be a brain with a nose. Certificate #48643.

Christian Rock (Entry 220.EP0519)

Omnibus — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which evangelical Christians wrestle with the problem of whether rock music is inherently good, evil, or neither. and Ken wonders about angel monkeys. Certificate #34822.

Lodge Night (Entry 731.GN2922)

Omnibus — Thu, 26 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which the rituals of Masonry and its more casual offshoots produce a "golden age of fraternalism" for American men, and John is discomfited by noisy day care teachers. Certificate #35320.

Uranium Cubes (Entry 1376.1K0710)

Omnibus — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which the remains of a useless Nazi "chandelier" unexpectedly emerge in Maryland and Washington, and Ken thinks about Bilbo Baggins too late. Certificate #35410.

Raised by Wolves (Entry 1028.GE4927)

Omnibus — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which the legend of feral children is traced from ancient mythology all the way up to Smurfs and Russian street dogs, and John cannot recommend the Madrid Zoo. Certificate #22714.

Tom of Finland (Entry 1315.EX0402)

Omnibus — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which an adman who survived Nazi and Soviet invasions goes on to reinvent gay eroticism, and Ken wonders which Founding Father looked best naked. Certificate #7136.

The Magic Gang (Entry 747.EX0722)

Omnibus — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which a ghost-written memoir explains how a great British stage magician defeated Rommel in North Africa with his trickery, and John considers saying "Abracadabra" as a swear. Certificate #37883.

The Traffic Jam of the Century (Entry 1325.EZ1704)

Omnibus — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which a perfect storm of construction, coal mining, and Communist commemoration creates twelve days of gridlock in central China, and Ken imagines an ancient Roman in a stadium parking garage. Certificate #34985.

One Glass of Red Wine (Entry 866.DE3233)

Omnibus — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which one Canadian newsman convinces America for several decades that daily drinking is the key to solving the "French Paradox," and John thinks Ken looks inhibited holding a spatula. Certificate #13766.

(LIVE) Hiroo Onoda (Entry 867.1C1526)

Omnibus — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which Japanese soldiers, unwilling to believe that World War II is over, hold out for decades on islands all over the Pacific, and Ken will never give up on bar soap. Certificate #44164.

Kids on Milk Cartons (Entry 686.DE2407)

Omnibus — Thu, 31 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which a nationwide panic over "stranger danger" turns regional dairies into activists for missing children, and John likes when things are "de minimis." Certificate #25468.

The NS Savannah (Entry 849.MK0436)

Omnibus — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which the world's first nuclear-powered merchant vessel is launched in all its modernist glory, and Ken wants an infinitely long ship. Certificate #26615.

The DuMont Network (Entry 386.LK2417)

Omnibus — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which the three nascent American broadcast networks face a challenge from a scrappy engineering lab, and John thinks gadgeteers should be certified. Certificate #28450.

Universe 25 (Entry 1350.GE0907)

Omnibus — Thu, 10 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which the "behavioral sink" of rodent utopias is discovered in a Maryland barn, and Ken sings about a urinal trough. Certificate #38792.

Enneagrams (Entry 415.JM0124)

Omnibus — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which Sufi mysticism inspires a Bolivian philosopher to divide all of humanity into nine personality types, and Ken visualizes the ur-cow. Certificate #25935.

The Doomsday Clock (Entry 372.1P0407)

Omnibus — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which a panel of concerned atomic scientists quantify the dangers of the nuclear age with a timely visual aid, and John's mother has a favorite fact about Benjamin Franklin. Certificate #26973.

Foundling Wheels (Entry 495.IS4915)

Omnibus — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which a medieval pope's disturbing nightmare leads to the addition of "baby doors" at convents and hospitals across Europe, and John thinks robots could replace orphans. Certificate #43431.

The Sanaa Manuscript (Entry 1100.2T0316)

Omnibus — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which a Yemeni construction crew finds a priceless trove of Quranic literature and promptly stuff it into potato sacks, and Ken would like to burn some French translators at the stake. Certificate #24503.

The Sarajevo Haggadah (Entry 1102.EX1243)

Omnibus — Thu, 06 Jul 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which a unique piece of Jewish medieval art barely survives two European wars, and John imagines that the Venetian papal censor was a chill guy. Certificate #48606.

Salton Sea (Entry 1098.GN1403)

Omnibus — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which California's largest lake, created by accident in 1905, teeters on the brink of collapse, and Ken complains about a hotel sink. Certificate #44008.

101 Uses for a Dead Cat (Entry 606.LV0724)

Omnibus — Thu, 22 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which an asthmatic British cartoonist sells two million copies of his books of non-jokes for cat skeptics, and John knows what the handle of a gun is called. Certificate #29573.

Crackers (Entry 290.NA0302)

Omnibus — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which a Shakespearean insult for an obnoxious blowhard comes to be used as an anti-white slur, and Ken wants to test the Appalachians for testosterone. Certificate #38163.

The Tartarian Empire (Entry 1279.NA0206)

Omnibus — Thu, 08 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which a QAnon-like conspiracy theory insists that fancy 19th-century architecture was all built by a mysterious, long-lost superstate, and John is concerned about neighborhood dogs with heads the size of pumpkins. Certificate #20354.

The Kruger Millions (Entry 693.JB2801)

Omnibus — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which a vast hoard of gold and diamonds disppears near the Mozambique border during the Boer War, and Ken thinks most penguin species look like hoboes. Certificate #15845.

Project Cybersyn (Entry 993.AC0245)

Omnibus — Thu, 25 May 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which Latin America's first Marxist democracy tries to collectivize the means of production by inventing a proto-internet in 1970, and John just hopes it was orange and brown. Certificate #53432.

The Gimli Glider (Entry 528.PS6104)

Omnibus — Thu, 18 May 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which the pilots of a Canadian commercial jetliner abruptly realize over Ontario that they're entirely out of fuel, and Ken likes sad character licensing attempts at amusement parks. Certificate #41746.

Dueling Scars (Entry 385.PR0633)

Omnibus — Thu, 11 May 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which German university students create a new status symbol when they add swordplay to their drinking society meetings, and John's closet skeletons are all bar fights. Certificate #36857.

Alligators in the Sewers (Entry 033.LV1142)

Omnibus — Thu, 04 May 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which generations of New Yorkers read about, and lasso, a series of not-legendary-at-all interlopers beneath their city, and Ken doesn't think you should trim a reptile like a bonsai tree. Certificate #36161.

Magic Alex (Entry 747.JE0708)

Omnibus — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which a self-proclaimed electronics prodigy from Greece wows the credulous Beatles with five years of inventions he will never invent, and John insists that his recursive t-shirt feature Wil Wheaton. Certificate #45939.

Saul Zaentz (Entry 1455.1S1435)

Omnibus — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which a future three-time Oscar winner becomes the nemesis of America's favorite fake swamp-rocker, and Ken has prepared a little skit about the death of Stalin. Certificate #42240.

The Green River Ordinance (Entry 549.RV0320)

Omnibus — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which underslept Wyoming railroad workers strike back against a tide of pushy brush and encyclopedia salesmen, and John appreciates the Jehovah's Witnesses. Certificate #12881.

Mad Cow Disease (Entry 746.GE4120)

Omnibus — Thu, 06 Apr 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which the unsavory feeding practices of British dairy farms introduce Europe to a new degenerative brain disease, and Ken believes Prince Edward is not necessarily human. Certificate #41602.

The Amazing Randi (Entry 038.EX0711)

Omnibus — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which mediums and other charlatans wage a 150-year war with their sworn enemy, elite stage magicians, and John would never yell at a lake or birdbath. Certificate #44722.

Kevlar (Entry 684.EX2822)

Omnibus — Thu, 23 Mar 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which a pioneering chemist never sees a cent of the billions of dollars that her tough new polymer earns for her employer, and Ken wonders how many Alaskans fake their own deaths. Certificate #34836.

The Defector General (Entry 326.IS3301)

Omnibus — Thu, 16 Mar 2023 09:00:00 +0000

In which the greatest turncoat in Chinese history betrays every single warlord or government he ever serves, and John had the 4chan version of the '90s. Certificate #40824.

The Devils Hole Pupfish (Entry 342.PS10529)

Omnibus — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In which a playful-looking but delicate little species is unable to thrive anywhere but its 11-foot wide home near Death Valley, and Ken witnesses a jellyfish tragedy. Certificate #41036.

The Sight and Sound Poll (Entry 1158.DE0413)

Omnibus — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In which a British magazine very gradually takes over film culture with its once-every-decade top ten list, and John is careful not to endorse an invasion of the Sudetenland. Certificate #51403.

The Bhopal Disaster (Entry 118.JE2106)

Omnibus — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In which a series of lapses at a Union Carbide India chemical plant leads to the worst industrial accident in history, and Ken can't get behind a midnight tea break. Certificate #52760.

The Osage Headrights (Entry 877.MT2508)

Omnibus — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In which an Oklahoma tribe becomes the world's richest people before the swindling and the murders start, and John enjoys a web of intrigue. Certificate #47911.

The Voynich Manuscript (Entry 1403.DA0515)

Omnibus — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In which a bizarrely illustrated codex baffles codebreakers for almost four hundred years, and Ken should not have sent that text about the collected works of Dickens. Certificate #42634.

Rhinos in Europe (Entry 1069.JB3910)

Omnibus — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In which Europe is so besotted with exotic ungulates that Roman emperors battle them, artists engrave them badly, and salons honor them in wig form, and John asks about Ken's milk bags. Certificate #27983.

Cannikin (Entry 180.IS0219)

Omnibus — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 10:15:00 +0000

In which underground nuclear testing in Alaska leads two Jewish Quakers into a new age of direct action in environmental activism, and Ken is grateful for the air fryer. Certificate #53211.

The Royal Touch (Entry 1087.MT1902)

Omnibus — Thu, 19 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In which the divine right of kings, along with golden amulets, is considered the only cure for a disfiguring disease, and John considers which celebrities might be carved from wood. Certificate #22347.

Blue Fugates (Entry 137.DA1006)

Omnibus — Thu, 12 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In which a rare oxidized form of hemoglobin changes the skin color of a whole holler full of Kentuckians, and Ken wonders when elves got plastic surgery. Certificate #26015.

Korean Age (Entry 692.JB1117)

Omnibus — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 10:00:00 +0000

In which the world's first cultural superpower decides to make all its citizens a year or two younger overnight, and John could not have been a better baby. Certificate #38756.

Emperor Norton (Entry 408.MT2221)

Omnibus — Thu, 29 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which a colorful newcomer to San Francisco loses a fortune on Peruvian rice and declares himself American royalty, and Ken would have pixelized Kiss. Certificate #42631.

The Grey Album (Entry 550.MT1906)

Omnibus — Tue, 27 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which a future music megastar bridges the gap between rock and hip-hop with one ambitious, illegal remix album, and John is such a good ally that he listened to Suzanne Vega. Certificate #19205.

Christmas KFC (Entry 220.DE1411)

Omnibus — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which a western religious holiday becomes a romantic poultry-eating occasion in modern Japan, and Ken destroys all his Hard Rock Cafe t-shirts. Certificate #24940.

The First Council of Nicaea (Entry 472.AC1502)

Omnibus — Tue, 20 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which an emperor convenes the first ever ecumenical council to figure out just whom Christians have been worshiping all this time, and John thinks the invention of the wheel led to mass depravity. Certificate #23027.

Custer the Wolf (Entry 308.JN1012)

Omnibus — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which a national campaign to eradicate a misunderstood predator from the United States very nearly succeeds, and Ken would like to see John James Audubon burning in a pit. Certificate #52363.

The Phone Book (Entry 931.RV2015)

Omnibus — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which utility companies take it upon themselves to provide the informational staple of every 20th-century household, and John is looking for a missing Jordanian. Certificate #48730.

The Futuro House (Entry 510.1K0609)

Omnibus — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which a Finnish architect upgrades the prefab, modular homes of the 1960s by turning them into flying saucers, and Ken wants to know his table's name. Certificate #49729.

The Red Ghost (Entry 1042.LV1104)

Omnibus — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which southeastern Arizona is menaced by a giant, murderous cryptid with a macabre rider, and John conjures up Mr. Clickety-Clack. Certificate #45334.

The Quadro Tracker (Entry 1016.LK1202)

Omnibus — Thu, 01 Dec 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which a man who can't find his golf balls solves every law enforcement problem known to man, and Ken has some bad news about parking tickets. Certificate #21137.

The Johnstown Flood (Entry 674.NA0108)

Omnibus — Tue, 29 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which an earthenwork dam enjoyed by millionaires fails and a town of steelworkers disppears from the map, and John is terrified by the menace of West Virginia. Certificate #33180.

The Last Solviet Citizen (Entry 702.LA0417)

Omnibus — Thu, 24 Nov 2022 23:00:00 +0000

In which one lonely cosmonaut is left in space while his nation disappears from under him, and Ken thinks couples therapy should be about Mars. Certificate #35916.

Twilight (Entry 1352.DE1223)

Omnibus — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which a bored Phoenix mom has a sparkly dream that ends up changing both teen literature and Washington State tourism, and John explains that his virginity had little to do with vampires. Certificate #18573.

Mother Trees (Entry 810.LK2129)

Omnibus — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which forests and their fungi form such close relationships that they essentially become a giant leafy brain, and Ken is excited about pre-Wil Wheaton science. Certificate #46162.

The Goodwill Moon Rocks (Entry 539.JB1804)

Omnibus — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which a space detective learns that hundreds of Richard Nixon's tiny gifts to the world have gone missing over the years, and John wonders if religious sacraments are more effective in space. Certificate #25614.

Up with People (Entry 1376.MT0715)

Omnibus — Thu, 10 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which the counterculture of the 1960s encourages powerful institutions to create a square but multiracial song-and-dance troupe that takes the world by storm, and Ken imagines President Eisenhower as a stern ad executive. Certificate #53773

Loyalists (Entry 738.1S0819)

Omnibus — Tue, 08 Nov 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which half a million colonists decide the American Revolution isn't really their thing, and John needs to know how many lanterns there were, just in case. Certificate #13747.

The Stone of Scone (Entry 1229.PS11822)

Omnibus — Thu, 03 Nov 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a medieval legend about a chunk of sandstone means that Scottish cooperation is necessary for Charles III to be crowned king, and Ken passes a Bible quiz. Certificate #42504.

The Popemobile (Entry 965.JE4615)

Omnibus — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which the history of papal transportation is traced from sedan chairs to Hyundai sedans, and John has been researching the care and upkeep of Catholic moms. Certificate #15163.

The Dempster Dumpster (Entry 332.LA0345)

Omnibus — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which cities, over the centuries, gradually discover the most efficient way to collect garbage for disposal, and Ken hasn't looked in his pocket since Christmas. Certificate #28712.

Modernist Cuisine (Entry 798.PR2303)

Omnibus — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a computer millionaire takes early retirement to self-publish a 50-pound reference work about the chemistry of food, and John discovers a surprise cherry tomato. Certificate #24537.

The Batavia (Entry 103.AC2741)

Omnibus — Thu, 20 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which one eventful Dutch voyage to Indonesia leads to a mutiny, a shipwreck, and a massacre off the coast of Australia, and Ken claims he has a bed in a port somewhere. Certificate #20229.

The Last Train Robbery (Entry 702.EZ0722)

Omnibus — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which two Depression-era "drugstore cowboys" let their Wild West outlaw fantasies lead them into a life of crime, and John breaks the news to Ken about pirates. Certificate #26056.

The Thanh Hoa Bridge (Entry 1293.2C0409)

Omnibus — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which the "Dragon's Jaw" across the Song Ma River in North Vietnam proves a challenge for the most advanced air weaponry on earth, and Ken thinks teens should be in parking lots. Certificate #22691.

Dissociative Fugues (Entry 363.HE1017)

Omnibus — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which human memory and identity are so fragile that a series of people simply walk away from them, and John wishes more things were the movie Tron. Certificate #28975.

Lem Billings (Entry 121.PR2705)

Omnibus — Thu, 06 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a high school Kennedy confidante becomes an influential White House voice while hiding a delicate secret, and Ken wants to blur some of John Lithgow's wrinkles. Certificate #36906.

The Murder of Herbert Lee (Entry 817.EX2307)

Omnibus — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a racist Mississippi state legislator kills his childhood friend, a civil rights organizer, in broad daylight with no consequences whatsoever, and John thinks Ken pronounces "Montgomery" like a Southern belle. Certificate #34239.

Adbusters (Entry 014.HG0105)

Omnibus — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a pair of outraged Canadians, kept off the TV airwaves, change the world with their anti-consumerist art magazine instead, and Ken thinks Mr. Ed should have had pop-up ads. Certificate #29414.

Luke and Laura (Entry 739.MT2210)

Omnibus — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which the first daytime "supercouple" briefly makes soap operas a part of 1980s mass culture, and John wonders if a bride is "zaftig." Certificate #32511.

Bitcoin Pizza Day (Entry 126.JB1304)

Omnibus — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which $300 million in 2022 money is unwisely spent on the world's first real-world cryptocurrency transaction, and Ken explains why a bro should not have an army. Certificate #11904.

Exclaves (Entry 436.NU2021)

Omnibus — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which we explore life in parts of the map that are bizarrely separated from the rest of their nations, and John thinks Alaska looks like a very fertile octopus. Certificate #51829.

The Boots Theory (Entry 143.LK2104)

Omnibus — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a British fantasy writer reframes cost-of-living calculations for future economists, and Ken doesn't notice cobblers. Certificate #28114.

Farmer Burns (Entry 166.GN3224)

Omnibus — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a gifted grappler with Iowa's biggest neck becomes America's first national wrestling celebrity, and pro wrestling reminds John of many of his past relationships. Certificate #29766.

Tom Thumb (Entry 1315.PR2131)

Omnibus — Thu, 08 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which America's first locomotive faces its greatest challenge, a group of angry teamsters, and Ken decides horses are his Sammy Hagar. Certificate #17918.

The Winchester Geese (Entry 1434.JG1601)

Omnibus — Tue, 06 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a church bishop's sanction makes the London borough of Southwark a haven for sex workers and other outcasts for centuries, and John would like to pay someone to chide him. Certificate #49605.

Hobby Tunneling (Entry 591.JB2416)

Omnibus — Thu, 01 Sep 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a series of largely male and largely odd people over the centuries start digging something and just don't stop, and Ken explains how Canadian lakes are named. Certificate #39623.

Gillian Hills (Entry 588.PS12101)

Omnibus — Tue, 30 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which the daughter of a famous adventurer and hostage does landmark work in 20th-century music, film, and art, and John wonders whom he has talked to for the most hours. Certificate #39582.

O'Shaughnessy Dam (Entry 877.EX1508)

Omnibus — Thu, 25 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a great American city got its water rights by illegally flooding John Muir's favorite valley, and Ken has opinions on where egrets should poop. Certificate #53464.

The Placebo Effect (Entry 946.IS3821)

Omnibus — Tue, 23 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which people find they can feel better about almost any ailment while taking nothing at all, and many of John's friends are Batman villains. Certificate #42734.

The Dingo Fence (Entry 351.EZ1415)

Omnibus — Thu, 18 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which 3,500 miles of wire mesh are intended to keep the southeast corner of Australia dingo-free, and Ken thinks his dogs are choosing not to do jazz hands. Certificate #51283.

The Battle of Bamber Bridge (Entry 104.HE1302)

Omnibus — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which wartime Britain reacts skeptically to American racial segregation, leading to a firefight in the village streets of Lancashire, and John ponders the post-apocalyptic looting of opticians. Certificate #53093.

Be Here Now (Entry 111.JM0414)

Omnibus — Thu, 11 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which an LSD-loving psychologist is fired from Harvard and reborn in India, and Ken would like to be in a control group. Certificate #30296.

The Swamp Dragons (Entry 1261.MK0118)

Omnibus — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which one of the most hapless teams in NBA history has a rebranding brainstorm, and John is mistaken about Jesus riding a dinosaur. Certificate #27789.

Jobbers Canyon (Entry 673.LK1218)

Omnibus — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which one of America's most historic warehouse districts is threatened by urban renewal, and Ken wants only the best rutabagas in his body. Certificate #48481.

Twee (Entry 1352.1TH0207)

Omnibus — Tue, 02 Aug 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which an achingly innocent, gentle, and earnest new aesthetic spawns a decade of music, art, bangs, and Etsy stores, and John has forgotten every band except Kajagoogoo. Certificate #16065.

The Mother Sauces (Entry 810.PS7825)

Omnibus — Thu, 28 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a taxonomy of five simple French recipes are used to define haute cuisine for generations, and Ken wants noodles named for Drake. Certificate #48504.

Roller Derby (Entry 1080.NA0302)

Omnibus — Tue, 26 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a Broadway legend retools a Depression-era endurance contest into a thrilling contact sport, and John wants Portland to succeed. Certificate #26834.

Blackout '77 (Entry 129.PS1828)

Omnibus — Thu, 21 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a crippling power outage strikes New York City during the worst summer in its history, and Ken receives strange wisdom from Nikola Tesla's severed head. Certificate #50165.

A Message to Garcia (Entry 779.PR2513)

Omnibus — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which fake news from the Spanish-American War inspires a self-proclaimed socialist to write a pro-employer business classic, and John believes sadness can sink ships. Certificate #42914.

The Hand of God (Entry 565.JB1921)

Omnibus — Thu, 14 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which long-simmering resentments over the Falklands War boil over on the soccer pitch, and Ken thinks that Margaret Thatcher was actually a giant marionette. Certificate #38221.

Facilitated Communication (Entry 447.MK0737)

Omnibus — Tue, 12 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a discredited pseudoscience from the 1980s makes a modern resurgence in the autism community, and John never wants to hear a second record by one of his favorite bands. Certificate #25222.

Slag (Entry 1170.EZ2218)

Omnibus — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which the waste byproducts of smelting iron become an annoyance and then a hotly contested resource, and Ken wants some aquarium gravel. Certificate #24789.

The Princeton Incident (Entry 987.RU0310)

Omnibus — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which the worst naval accident in U.S. government history almost kills a president but inspires romance instead, and John doesn't love the coquetteish head-tilting in old photos. Certificate #52488.

The Appaloosa (Entry 059.ZC0603)

Omnibus — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which the indigenous people of the Columbia River Plateau breed a new horse with a "leopard complex," and Ken notes you can't milk an emu. Certificate #36454.

The Chronofile (Entry 221.ES0601)

Omnibus — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a great American futurist spends decades experimentally recording his own personal data every fifteen minutes, and John wants to know if Ken is a good kisser. Certificate #49146.

Ice Capades (Entry 614.PR0322)

Omnibus — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which figure skating produces the biggest movie star in the world and then a half-century of traveling live entertainment, and Ken believes in promoting peanut vendors. Certificate #43376.

Riot Dogs (Entry 1075.MK0728)

Omnibus — Tue, 21 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which some tail-wagging strays become mascots on the frontlines of social protest, and John has an idea for treating arthritic cows. Certificate #53229.

The Viking (Entry 1395.IS3321)

Omnibus — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a proud Norwegian sea captain decides to one-up the fleet of Spanish boats at the Chicago World's Fair, and Ken wonders how well Elvis knew Nixon. Certificate #21995.

The Babalon Working (Entry 088.RV1703)

Omnibus — Tue, 14 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which an American rocketry pioneer gets over a breakup by trying to summon an ancient sex goddess into our dimension, and John has a modest proposal on school prayer. Certificate #36297.

The Video Game Crash of 1983 (Entry 1394.GE4130)

Omnibus — Thu, 09 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which the biggest segment of America's entertainment economy almost disappears in a single year due to lousy product, and Ken is too shy to play Zaxxon in public. Certificate #24180.

Why Is a Mouse When It Spins? (Entry 1431.JG1414)

Omnibus — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a great Victorian master of nonsense creates a world of riddles that aren't really riddles, and John thinks a roast chicken has definitely caused a murder. Certificate #35725.

Waterbeds (Entry 1413.IS5720)

Omnibus — Thu, 02 Jun 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which the history of water mattresses is traced from ancient goatskins up to 1970s hedonism and even science fiction, and Ken's bed is not moving his butt. Certificate #40450.

Safety Coffins (Entry 1095.LK0852)

Omnibus — Tue, 31 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a series of questionable legends about premature burial lead to an inventors' boom of escapable caskets, and John has been handcuffed at least seven times. Certificate #35676.

Sovereign Citizens (Entry 1194.1C0612)

Omnibus — Thu, 26 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a surprisingly broad spectrum of conspiracists discovers a secret set of rules for outsmarting the U.S. government, and Ken wishes some of his enemies could be flogged more. Certificate #29113.

The Goodwill Games (Entry 539.EP0607)

Omnibus — Tue, 24 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which an upstart media mogul hatches a plan with Moscow to challenge the Olympics and end the Cold War, and John looks for the sexiest pictures of a former First Lady. Certificate #21182.

Moose Cheese (Entry 806.JB1010)

Omnibus — Thu, 19 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which brave souls from Siberia to Zimbabwe try riding and milking some rarely domesticated animals, with mixed results, and Ken wants to put a newborn baby on an ostrich. Certificate #52260.

Billy Jack (Entry 122.LV1933)

Omnibus — Tue, 17 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which one low-budget action flick forever rewrites the rules of how movies are marketed, and John thinks Spider-Man's aunt is the only real movie star. Certificate #33734.

The Milgram Experiment (Entry 788.GE2708)

Omnibus — Thu, 12 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a Yale psychologist attempts to explain the Holocaust using research techniques considered unethical today, and Ken has a theory about the origins of Jeopardy! Certificate #20495.

Potsdamer Platz (Entry 972.NE0406)

Omnibus — Tue, 10 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which the "Times Square of Europe" is bombed into 150 acres of rubble and eventually the greatest real estate opportunity of the post-Cold War world, and John lists the only three places in Germany. Certificate #38531.

The Holy Prepuce (Entry 594.JS0503)

Omnibus — Thu, 05 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which Apocrypha gospel adventures and medieval miracles are ascribed to the sacred foreskin of Jesus of Nazareth, and Ken disapproves of hand magic in our schools. Certificate #52348.

Missing in Action (Entry 795.2CH2811)

Omnibus — Tue, 03 May 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which the majority of Americans become convinced that U.S. POWs are still being held captive decades after the Vietnam War ends, and John assumes those dancing inflatable tube men enjoy Primus. Certificate #49382.

Sleng Teng Riddim (Entry 1172.PS3303)

Omnibus — Thu, 28 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which the first ever all-electronic groove revolutionizes Jamaican music, and Ken thinks there should be more songs about baptism. Certificate #52239.

Point Nemo (Entry 958.JB3826)

Omnibus — Tue, 26 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which the dead center of the Pacific Ocean is revealed to be the home of microplastics, sunken spacecraft, and possibly giant sea monsters, and John refuses to leave his keyboard player in the desert. Certificate #49394.

The Titanic II (Entry 1311.PR1618)

Omnibus — Thu, 21 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which an Australian national treasure and a Chinese resort race to revive the most disastrous brand in maritime history, and Ken is fed up with the sulfurous steel of Belfast. Certificate #50231.

Ranz-des-Vaches (Entry 1030.PS5010)

Omnibus — Tue, 19 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which Swiss mercenaries will desert their post if you whistle a folk song about cows, and John wishes you many goods and cheese. Certficate #26419.

Solidarnosc (Entry 1187.EC0409)

Omnibus — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a well-mustached electrician starts a labor movement that even Ronald Reagan can get behind, and Ken is working on a chess novel. Certificate #26170.

The Presidential Fitness Test (Entry 983.PR3117)

Omnibus — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which terror of falling behind the Swiss leads the White House to introduce America's children to a new and tramautic form of physical education, and John wants to landscape the top of Mount Rainier. Certificate #39398.

The Torch Lady (Entry 1319.MT2507)

Omnibus — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a multitude of actresses and one journalist remember being the model for the Columbia Pictures logo, and Ken's fuse box is in the wrong place. Certificate #28564.

Minitel (Entry 791.IS4209)

Omnibus — Tue, 05 Apr 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a French-only precursor to the World Wide Web appears in the late 1970s in a wave of Gallic futurist fervor, and John may have been making long distance calls from a Parisian prison. Certificate #23054.

Camel Beauty Pageants (Entry 177.MT2324)

Omnibus — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a Bedouin cultural revival in modern-day Arabia leads to a thriving circuit of competitive camel events, and Ken thinks Brazil is acting a little desperate. Certificate #37337.

Eyebrows (Entry 446.IS4804)

Omnibus — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which we follow the evolution of the human brow from prehistoric man up through the Kardashians, and John looks into Sanskrit. Certificate #22352.

Hang In There, Baby (Entry 566.MT2413)

Omnibus — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a Beverly Hills celeb photographer, a Siamese kitten named Sassy, and a Broadway legend collaborate to create modern poster culture, and Ken hates the ticking of a giant Garfield watch. Certificate #19046.

Winnipeg the Bear (Entry 1436.PR1712)

Omnibus — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a Canadian veterinarian saves an orphaned cub on his way to France, unwittingly giving the world a great literary gift, and John thinks there should be a railway car just for thrash metal. Certificate #51029.

The Hudson Brothers (Entry 604.1J0210)

Omnibus — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which an Oregon pop trio become near-stars of record, TV, and screen in the mid-1970s, and Ken wonders who the Bee Gees are romancing in the afterlife. Certificate #37614.

The Great Lisbon Earthquake (Entry 548.1S1415)

Omnibus — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 09:00:00 +0000

In which a new breed of Portuguese statesman rebuilds his capital after the worst natural disaster in European memory, and John thinks a rainbow would never hold up in court. Certificate #30150.

Fanta (Entry 453.EX1524)

Omnibus — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which a wartime shortage of secret ingredient 7x gives the world its second favorite soda brand, and Ken pronounces beverages like an Okie. Certificate #25939.

The Royal Anus of Louis XIV (Entry 1086.2CH2118)

Omnibus — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which modern surgery begins at Versailles inside the most beloved bottom in all of France, and John has Moroccan gravel in his foot for years. Certificate #52937.

Nadia's Theme (Entry 823.PS5707)

Omnibus — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which a minor bit of a movie score improbably becomes a chart-topping hit thanks to daytime soaps and Olympic gymnastics, and Ken doesn't enjoy the bongo as a lead instrument. Certificate #25729.

Lisztomania (Entry 726.MT0908)

Omnibus — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 12:00:00 +0000

In which a Hungarian composer and virtuoso pianist becomes Europe's first rock star, and John is looking for a German countess with the right braids. Certificate #39341.

The Megavitamin Craze (Entry 772.PR2516)

Omnibus — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which a two-time Nobel Prize winner believes he has discovered the cure for the common cold, and Ken wants cilantro to tell him what to do. Certificate #31531.

The Mill (Entry 788.MK1242)

Omnibus — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which a coinage act officially defines American currency much smaller than a penny, and John has an important question about a shrimp restaurant. Certificate #40326

Beanie Babies (Entry 106.PR2105)

Omnibus — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which 1990s America becomes convinced that the world's least cuddly stuffed animals are the road to financial freedom, and Ken's very valuable comic book gets covered with jelly. Certificate #47159.

Vinegar Valentines (Entry 1396.PS10105)

Omnibus — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which Victorians use February 14 to woo their sweethearts but also to insult all their enemies, and John reveals the best night of the year to play a concert. Certificate #36155.

The Hays Code (Entry 572.MT2325)

Omnibus — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which scandal-plagued Hollywood hires a Harding Administration official to clean up suggestive movies, and John is a student of kissing. Certificate #29282.

The Anarchy (Entry 024.DA1106)

Omnibus — Tue, 08 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which a German empress comes within a whisker of the English crown during a bloody civil war, and Ken discovers history's most fateful case of diarrhea. Certificate #45359.

Trofim Lysenko (Entry 743.MT1325)

Omnibus — Thu, 03 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which a Soviet agronomist misunderstands genetics so badly that millions of people die, and John finds giraffes to have the sexiest eyelashes. Certificate #27832.

Chindogu (Entry 215.PR0812)

Omnibus — Tue, 01 Feb 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which a Japanese college dropout invents a new kind of not-entirely-useless invention, and Ken enjoys a tidy sum. Certificate #36799.

Ledger Art (Entry 709.2P0115)

Omnibus — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which accounting records become the basis for an important new genre of Native American painting, and Ken gets nostalgic for his childhood dog food invoices. Certificate #25974.

Penguin Classics (Entry 915.EC1212)

Omnibus — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which a boring train ride from Devon leads to the creation of the modern paperback library, and John's daughter is a snob about sans serif typefaces. Certificate #41769.

Roxas v. Marcos (Entry 1086.PR1506)

Omnibus — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which a humble locksmith sues the dictator who stole his golden Buddha, and Ken thinks teaching multiplication to juries was a mistake. Certificate #46804.

Welsh Patagonia (Entry 1421.DE2609)

Omnibus — Tue, 18 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which a small group of nationalists leave Wales for the prairies of Argentina, and John explains why he pronounces "Nazi" to rhyme with "snazzy." Certificate #53240.

The Fastest Bicyclist (Entry 445.IS0526)

Omnibus — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which the world land speed cycling record reaches incredible heights using the power of the slipstream, and Ken doesn't need to hear the word "torque" so much. Certificate #43944.

Damascus Steel (Entry 314.PS4503)

Omnibus — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which the technology used to make the world's strongest and most beautiful swords is lost to time, and John is suspicious of redheads. Certificate #26207.

Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death (Entry 853.PS13709)

Omnibus — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which an American heiress leverages her dollhouse enthusiasm to invent a new scientific discipline, and Ken's aunt knows more about cyanide than his uncle. Certificate #34368.

The Law of the Tongue (Entry 705.JB0712)

Omnibus — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +0000

In which an Australian whaling village learns to hunt cooperatively with the local apex predators, and John identifies the "ferrets of the sea." Certificate #46594.

Der Grosser (Entry 551.EX1407)

Omnibus — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which an ultra-luxury Mercedes becomes the car of choice for rock stars and despots worldwide, and Ken wants to buy the least fascist doorbell. Certificate #49472.

The Public Universal Friend (Entry 1006.JE3122)

Omnibus — Tue, 28 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which a Rhode Island Quaker emerges from a coma rebranded as a nameless, genderless prophet, and John predicts the Temptations will get boils. Certificate #29297.

The Halifax Explosion (Entry 562.JB0409)

Omnibus — Thu, 23 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which a maritime comedy of errors in a Nova Scotia harbor leads to the biggest non-nuclear explosion in human history, and Ken learns why you should never buy an old yellow shirt. Certificate #21795.

The Jefferson Bible (Entry 671.LK2270)

Omnibus — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which the President of the United States secretly produces his own version of Jesus without any miracles or narrative incident at all, and John produces a healthy, nutritious bowl full of Kurt Cobains. Certificate #30782.

Cask 263 (Entry 191.PR2321)

Omnibus — Thu, 16 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which a forgotten barrel of single malt whiskey becomes a multimillion dollar collector's item, and Ken refuses to drink beer out of a squirrel's butt. Certificate #13321.

Vortex I (Entry 1403.JM0318)

Omnibus — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which the governor of Oregon keeps the peace by throwing the country's only state-sponsored rock festival, and John refuses to introduce two celebrities to each other. Certificate #21362.

The Amargosa Opera House (Entry 038.JE1543)

Omnibus — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which a borax ghost town improbably becomes the performing arts center of Death Valley, and Ken is somewhat hazy on mules. Certificate #26351.

Single Taxers (Entry 1164.LV2716)

Omnibus — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which a forgotten Gilded Age celebrity suggests reinventing the tax code so that landowners pay their fair share, and John is discomfited by the city of Altoona. Certificate #41467.

Bothered About Dungeons & Dragons (Entry 145.1T0515)

Omnibus — Thu, 02 Dec 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which a national hysteria erupts over the Satanists controlling your children's role-playing games, and Ken is just a big thimble. Certificate #38501.

The Phantom of New Guinea (Entry 928.IS0117)

Omnibus — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which a purple-clad comic strip hero becomes a warrior totem in the western highlands of Papua New Guinea, and John locates the Dominican Republic of Asia. Certificate #24126.

The Ma Bell Breakup (Entry 744.LK1214)

Omnibus — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which the U.S. government finally succeeds, after decades, in breaking up a massive telephone monopoly, and John is unfamiliar with a funny poem about an elephant. Certificate #22481.

The Longest Prizefight (Entry 733.HE1032)

Omnibus — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which a seven-hour boxing match tests the patience of New Orleans crowds and changes the rules of the sport, and Ken thinks straws should be made of cornstarch. Certificate #26215.

The Smiley Face Killer(s) (Entry 1177.JB2414)

Omnibus — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which investigators differ on whether binge-drinking or a homicidal conspiracy is killing American college students, and John plays Frogger to get to the East River. Certificate #23582.

The Great Bell of Dhammazedi (Entry 548.EX3925)

Omnibus — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which the largest bell ever cast spends four centuries in the mud at the bottom of a Burmese river, and Ken makes a terrible grandfather clock decision. Certificate #50855.

The Kalakala (Entry 681.2S1918)

Omnibus — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which a burned-out ferry becomes an art deco American icon of the future and then a derelict eyesore, and Ken blames Seattle for the great San Francisco fire of 1906. Certificate #19361.

The All-Americans Go to Japan (Entry 032.1K0728)

Omnibus — Tue, 09 Nov 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which a Tokyo newspaperman with big dreams lures Babe Ruth onto a pre-war baseball barnstorming tour, and John regrets that fancy lounges are mostly for drinking. Certificate #36360.

Eternal September (Entry 428.1C1533)

Omnibus — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which the 1993 back-to-school week that never ended kills an early outpost of the internet, and Ken annoys online Winnie-the-Pooh fans. Certificate #47957.

Salmon Chaos (Entry 1098.LK0506)

Omnibus — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a viral craze inspires hundreds of young Taiwanese folks to put a fish in their names, and John hits a cement wall in his attempts to mate. Certificate #50920.

Myers-Briggs (Entry 821.2T0223)

Omnibus — Thu, 28 Oct 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which two pioneering women and amateur Jungians devise a way to classify sixteen different types of human personality, and Ken explains his Star Trek slash fiction. Certificate #36282.

Bloody Mose (Entry 134.EZ1106)

Omnibus — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which America's first city for free Black people rises from the salt marshes of Spanish Florida, and John regrets quoting a Monty Python sketch. Certificate #31305.

Ramtha (Entry 1029.AC1616)

Omnibus — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which the discovery of quantum mechanics leads inevitably to the reappearance of a 30,000-year-old warrior god from a lost continent, and Ken proposes missionaries for silverware. Certificate #27324.

The Cahokia Mounds (Entry 173.IS2502)

Omnibus — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a complex of massive earthworks in southern Illinois is assumed to have been built by Vikings, Hindus, or Welshmen, and John is fascinated by sexy voodoo. Certificate #34924.

The Cheapside Hoard (Entry 210.MT0620)

Omnibus — Thu, 14 Oct 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a mysterious treasure is founded in a central London basement, and Ken has a question about the various beads and bangles of Aerosmith. Certificate #7089.

Potsdam Giants (Entry 972.1S1704)

Omnibus — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which the "soldier king" of Prussia recruits and kidnaps Europe's tallest men to serve as his grenadiers, and John admires "merry" people of every height. Certificate #10109.

Merkins (Entry 777.1C1115)

Omnibus — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which we trace the surprisingly long and eventful history of body hair grooming, and Ken wonders if Brad Pitt will be hot forever. Certificate #33732.

Laetrile (Entry 696.MK1618)

Omnibus — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which apricot pits are discovered to be a cause of cyanide toxicicity rather than a cure for cancer, and John wanders Europe under the protection of a United States Senator. Certificate #527.

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (Entry 182.PS4303)

Omnibus — Thu, 30 Sep 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which erosion on North Carolina's Outer Banks prompts the government to move a twelve-story lighthouse half a mile inland, and Ken is in favor of shipwrecks when the ships are bad. Certificate #6374.

The Cotsworth Calendar (Entry 283.JB0306)

Omnibus — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a gifted Yorkshire boy fails to talk the League of Nations into a thirteen-month year, and John thinks autumn gets short shrift. Certificate #25901.

The Erie War (Entry 424.PR2822)

Omnibus — Thu, 23 Sep 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which America's richest men invent many, many types of securities fraud while tussling over a New York State railroad, and Ken imagines a zoo full of cows. Certificate #32641.

Kennewick Man (Entry 683.GN2304)

Omnibus — Tue, 21 Sep 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a prehistoric nomad becomes the center of a heated legal battle nine thousand years after his death, and John announces a hydroplane race. Certificate #17567.

The Town of Bent Necks (Entry 1323.SS0701)

Omnibus — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which two Nazi brothers divide a German town into rival athletic shoe factions, and Ken plans a hotel heist. Certificate #31961.

The Prince Philip Movement (Entry 987.PS8207)

Omnibus — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which one Melanesian village decides, sight unseen, to worship the Duke of Edinburgh, and the gods imprison John in a small ravine. Certificate #50227.

The Wave (Entry 1415.1K0814)

Omnibus — Thu, 09 Sep 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which the invention of a Bay Area cheerleader becomes science's most exhaustively studied stadium ritual, and Ken doesn't think harbor seals come in different colors. Certificate #4418.

Middle Initials (Entry 786.LK0161)

Omnibus — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which twentieth-century America becomes the only time and place in history when people drop letters into their names, and John renames himself in the phone book. Certificate #21831.

The Great Diamond Hoax (Entry 548.MT1344)

Omnibus — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a clever drillbit company accountant cons banking bigwigs into believing an acre of Wyoming is covered in precious gems, and Ken suggests a touching tribute to Paul Anka. Certificate #52348.

The Chicago Seekers (Entry 213.RV0103)

Omnibus — Tue, 31 Aug 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a failed Chicago flying saucer cult leads to a landmark study in social psychology, and John blames religious fervor on diet pills. Certificate #17854.

The Fresnel Lens (Entry 501.1C1312)

Omnibus — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which an efficient new piece of French glassware changes the history of lighthouses, and Ken learns the exact age of Discovery. Certificate #52246.

Goodnight Moon (Entry 539.PR0324)

Omnibus — Tue, 24 Aug 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a modernist Manhattan bohemian accidentally writes the great American bedtime story, and John regrets making his professor voice Austrian. Certificate #44141.

The Mpemba Effect (Entry 813.JB3829)

Omnibus — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which scientists from Aristotle up to modern-day Tanzania try to understand the paradoxical way water seems to freeze, and Ken thinks baseball should have cheerleaders. Certificate #25481.

The Mafeking Cadet Corps (Entry 746.IS2903)

Omnibus — Tue, 17 Aug 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a hero of the Second Boer War turns an ill-advised siege into a worldwide youth movement, and John isn't sure if one can tell time with a cannon. Certificate #31247.

The Cuyahoga River Fire(s) (Entry 309.IS4302)

Omnibus — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which the American government only gets serious about environmental cleanup after a river in Cleveland bursts into flame well over a dozen times, and Ken believes he could manufacture gravel. Certificate #12398.

Fiji's Declaration of Independence (Entry 467.EC0306)

Omnibus — Tue, 10 Aug 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a Pacific nation loses its founding document and has to ask nicely for a photocopy replacement, and John missed his chance at an assumed identity. Certificate #23621.

The Oosik (Entry 868.GN0223)

Omnibus — Thu, 05 Aug 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which walrus genitals supply an important element to Alaskan folk art, and Ken will not inspect the underside of a wallaby. Certificate #45999.

The Next Dalai Lama (Entry 836.MT0208)

Omnibus — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which the uninterrupted 600-year succession of Tibetan Buddhist leadership is threatened by political oppression, and John admires a hat that looks like a banana. Certificate #32762.

The Fulda Gap (Entry 505.2K0316)

Omnibus — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a series of valleys in central Germany become the focus of Cold War military strategy for generals "fighting the last war," and Ken orders a baby online. Certificate #51668.

Lieutenant Nun (Entry 718.2C1102)

Omnibus — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a "Basque transvestite" leaves her San Sebastian convent in 1607 to become one of the most dangerous men in South America, and John thinks an Italian pope would be a little naughtier than a Spanish one. Certificate #11658.

Games Buddha Wouldn't Play (Entry 514.PP0203)

Omnibus — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a great spiritual leader lists all the kinds of dice and pick-up sticks and toy windmills that are off-limits to the enlightened, and Ken wants to lick a tetherball pole. Certificate #25968.

Union Dixie (Entry 1368.EZ2046)

Omnibus — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which the same folk song is embraced by both sides of the U.S. Civil War, albeit with different lyrics, and John accuses a Supreme Court justice of having a racist ringtone. Certificate #27330.

Mulberry Mania (Entry 815.2S0523)

Omnibus — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which early America, hoping to keep up with the Chinese, is caught up in an obsession with white mulberry trees, and Ken marvels at the hanky-panky that must go on in every Olympic Village. Certificate #26780.

An African in Greenland (Entry 022.JB3132)

Omnibus — Tue, 13 Jul 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a young man from French Togoland survives a snake attack and embarks on a lifelong quest to see the Arctic, and John loses a large rooster. Certificate #36809.

Wuppertal Schwebebahn (Entry 1448.DE0227)

Omnibus — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a German industrial town builds a unique new type of suspension railway that fails to catch on worldwide, and Ken disses the Eiffel Tower. Certificate #36460.

Goat Glands (Entry 536.AC0409)

Omnibus — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a Midwestern quack becomes a radio tycoon (and almost governor of Kansas) by extolling the virtues of animal testicles, and John eats cheese out of a pocket. Certificate #42674.

Erdos-Bacon-Sabbath (Entry 423.JB3104)

Omnibus — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which we are introduced to the most exclusive cinema-musico-academic club on earth, and Ken volunteers to provide a guest rap. Certificate #32655.

The Zaire Space Program (Entry 1455.PS11516)

Omnibus — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a maverick German engineer tries to give an African dictator his very own space program, and John reminds us that astronauts are often quite short. Certificate #48059.

The 1871 Whaling Disaster (Entry 399.1T0119)

Omnibus — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a city-sized segment of the world's whaling fleet is trapped together in Arctic ice off Alaska, and Ken blames the horrors of the industrial world on whale ghosts. Certificate #31403.

James Frazier Reed (Entry 1044.EZ0510)

Omnibus — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which one pioneer's midlife crisis leads him to a brush with Donner Party death and then prosperity in gold rush California, and John is tempted to murder a bassist with a whip handle. Certificate #51638.

The Erika Typewriter (Entry 424.JB0412)

Omnibus — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which contraband East German equipment helps create an underground publishing movement in the Soviet Union, and Ken's favorite typeface is now tainted. Certificate #37914.

Four-Leaf Clovers (Entry 495.JE3623)

Omnibus — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a rare recessive plant gene produces a persistent superstition and a cutthroat collectors' competition, and John will never mock Allah. Certificate #12598.

The Panorama of the Monumental Grandeur of the Mississippi Valley (Entry 895.NU2406)

Omnibus — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which very, very large oil paintings become the 19th-century precursor of the modern movie theater, and Ken has never seen the sun rise by choice. Certificate #14751.

Left Behind (Entry 709.1T0416)

Omnibus — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which some controversial Bible theology sells 65 million apocalypse thriller books and even shapes American foreign policy, and John can identify sinners on a plane. Certificate #40618.

Nudie Suits (Entry 850.EX2631)

Omnibus — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a Ukrainian-born tailor brings the first outrageous stage wear to the American music scene--but in country and western, not glam rock--and Ken is unsure about his sky-blue pants. Certificate #27201.

Officials General (Entry 861.MK0640)

Omnibus — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which English inherits some "postpositive adjectives" from the Norman Conquest that continue to confuse high-ranking federal officials to this day, and John thinks companies should have one vice president tops. Certificate #18999.

Interrobang (Entry 655.LK2040)

Omnibus — Thu, 27 May 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a series of typographic attempts to improve on the exclamation point and question mark are doomed to failure, and Ken is unable to justify the existence of the backslash. Certificate #22311.

Mister Rogers's Operas (Entry 795.RO1502)

Omnibus — Tue, 25 May 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which America's most beloved television host and moral exemplar composes a series of now-mostly-forgotten children's operas, and John thinks Star Wars is what ends childhood. Certificate #29242.

Concordski (Entry 258.JE4606)

Omnibus — Thu, 20 May 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which the Soviet Union attempts to close its "Concorde gap" with the West by developing its own terrible supersonic passenger jet, and John is okay with pilots showing off as long as they're in a bar. Certificate #36689.

Olestra (Entry 864.LV0723)

Omnibus — Tue, 18 May 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which Procter & Gamble spends almost thirty years trying to bring its fat substitute to market, only to see it vanish from the public memory almost immediately, and Ken just wants to eat devil's food cake. Certificate #51232.

The Worst Poet in History (Entry 1445.PR2622)

Omnibus — Thu, 13 May 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which Scottish mill-worker William McGonagall becomes notorious for his utterly sincere but terrible poetry, and John plans to instigate a sex riot. Certificate #44448.

The Back of a Napkin (Entry 090.LK1920)

Omnibus — Tue, 11 May 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which we study the long history of inspirations getting jotted down on scrap paper, and Ken learns he's too lively to be a rock musician. Certificate #44181.

Dagen H (Entry 313.EZ2116)

Omnibus — Thu, 06 May 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which Sweden literally changes directions overnight, and John feels that the samurai spirit is all in the details. Certificate #30932.

Cholitas (Entry 218.1C1110)

Omnibus — Tue, 04 May 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a poltitical revolution in Bolivia produces a new wave of visibility for the nation's hat-wearing indigenous women, and Ken wonders which communist dictators were cuddly. Certificate #16179.

Drywall (Entry 384.LV1442)

Omnibus — Thu, 29 Apr 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a new gypsum miracle product takes more than a century to replace lath-and-plaster walls in home construction, and John thinks lizards have ears. Certificate #35059.

America's Joan of Arc (Entry 040.2S1412)

Omnibus — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a now-forgotten Quaker teenager becomes the most fiery and most famous woman orator of her time, and Ken has no idea if Norman Schwarzkopf is alive or dead. Certificate #44568.

The Bottle Conjuror (Entry 145.PS11983)

Omnibus — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which an aristocrat's private bet about gullible audiences leads to a 1749 theater riot, and John thinks Dick Cheney should have a podcast. Certificate #16793.

Mother Earth's Plantasia (Entry 810.1CH1633)

Omnibus — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which the Moog synthesizer and the "plant consciousness" movement of the 1970s produce a rare collector's item for lovers of weird music, and Ken refuses to buy his children reptiles. Certificate #27581.

The Tan Suit Controversy (Entry 1277.EZ3403)

Omnibus — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which the president wears beige to an August 2014 press conference, suddenly creating three or four new kinds of political discourse, each worse than the last. Certificate #35844.

Magic Eye (Entry 747.PR0425)

Omnibus — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which we trace two centuries of people being briefly interested in three-dimensional images, and John gets a bad case of "Intellivision thumb." Certificate #27012.

Rasputin (Entry 1031.MT2411)

Omnibus — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a Siberian mystic gets so cozy with Russian royals that he ensures the success of the Bolshevik Revolution, and Ken wonders if he blinks the normal amount of times. Certificate #38899.

The Crash at Crush (Entry 292.ZP0110)

Omnibus — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which the American love affair with demolition-based entertainment is born near Waco, Texas in an explosion of iron and steam, and John believes some flight attendants are aliens. Certificate #34659.

Figwit (Entry 467.JE2402)

Omnibus — Thu, 01 Apr 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which we follow the arc of nerd culture to the Council of Elrond where a certain kind of fan service is born, and Ken explains why people fight about Frodo and Jesus. Certificate #40170.

The Cadaver Synod (Entry 172.HE0927)

Omnibus — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a zombie pope is forced to stand trial in 9th-century Rome, and Ken discovers a generation of people with strong opinions about the word "zoology." Certificate #28349.

Roady Bill and Tony the Pony (Entry 1077.PR0719)

Omnibus — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which an online covered wagon auction unearths an almost-forgotten genre of itinerant performer, and John refuses to identify the Tijuana of Europe. Certificate #46962.

The Underarm Bowling Incident (Entry 1363.JB2602)

Omnibus — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which an Australian cricket team creates an international controversy with an unorthodox but legal strategy, and Ken accidentally does a Boston accent. Certificate #30080.

The Lost Spitfires of Burma (Entry 736.AC0219)

Omnibus — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which a modern-day treasure hunter becomes convinced that a priceless trove of British fighter jets is buried at the end of an airport runway, and John becomes a realtor for Myanmar. Certificate #34112.

The Memex (Entry 774.EX3607)

Omnibus — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 09:00:00 +0000

In which the Internet is born in 1945 when a radar technician in a bamboo hut reads a Life magazine article about a futuristic desk, and Ken wonders if anyone smoked weed at Los Alamos. Certificate #18461.

English as She Is Spoke (Entry 414.GE1107)

Omnibus — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which an inept attempt at a Portuguese-English phrasebook becomes an enduring comedy classic, and John celebrates the invention of the stirrup. Certificate #29469.

Rosa Luxemburg's Body (Entry 1082.NU1911)

Omnibus — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which the most famous socialist rabble-rouser of her time returns from her 1919 execution (maybe) as a headless mummy, and Ken wonders if ancient Irish peasants had combination skin. Certificate #27337.

Mobile Jubilees (Entry 797.LV2512)

Omnibus — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which a set of rare ocean and weather conditions in Alabama can lead to periodic seafood explosions, and Ken and John agree that Muscle Shoals must be in the wrong place. Certificate #38099.

Henry Cavendish (Entry 197.JB2825)

Omnibus — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 10:30:00 +0000

In which the wealthiest and most socially awkward British thinker of his time revolutionizes science, mostly in secret, and John wants to harvest clones at Packers games. Certificate #47447.

The Beatles' Lord of the Rings (Entry 107.EX2512)

Omnibus — Thu, 25 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which we consider an alternate timeline where the Beatles' third movie was a psychedelic Tolkien adaptation instead of a bummer documentary, and Ken sticks up for sanitation. Certificate #51290.

Sergeant Stubby (Entry 1136.PS1848)

Omnibus — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which a mutt from the mean streets of Connecticut becomes a decorated hero in the trenches of World War I, and John is only good at half of rugby. Certificate #26161.

Beaver Castoreum (Entry 108.EX3035)

Omnibus — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which the gross gunk from the back end of a rodent is discovered to be an invaluable perfume ingredient and even flavor enhancer, and Ken's Sunday school teacher does not want a high-five. Certificate #36682.

Flying Through the Gateway Arch (Entry 484.EZ4030)

Omnibus — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which Midwestern pilots are unable to resist the gaping maw of the St. Louis skyline, and John watches a Wim Wenders movie fourteen times without ever seeing the beginning. Certificate #30320.

The Whole Earth Catalog (Entry 1430.IS1426)

Omnibus — Thu, 11 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which an acid trip and a NASA space photo inspire a new guide of counterculture "tools" for living, and Ken helps John get his Nixon back. Certificate #51410.

Lego Minifigures (Entry 711.EX0508)

Omnibus — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which we learn how a "system" of Scandinavian minimalism put on a happy face and became the most popular toy in the world, and John tries the art of the deal with Ken's kids. Certificate #50469.

The Universal Studios Fire (Entry 1370.PS10618)

Omnibus — Thu, 04 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which a series of corporate mergers and one amusement park fire conspire to rob the world of a priceless musical heritage, and Ken regrets renting a fancy car. Certificate #43485.

The Great Tea Race (Entry 548.JM0304)

Omnibus — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which four clipper ships race to London in the most exciting contest of the 19th century, and John thinks race cars should deliver cocaine. Certificate #38646.

Bigfoot Hoaxers (Entry 120.2K0108)

Omnibus — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which southwest Washington State becomes the epicenter for lazy Sasquatch fakes, and Ken explains how the Jersey Devil probably reproduces. Certificate #17742.

Operation Ajax (Entry 869.PR2904)

Omnibus — Tue, 26 Jan 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which a presidential grandchild with a reasonable CIA departmental budget is all it takes to overthrow Iran, and John reveals the only downside of firing a howitzer. Certificate #39131.

The River of Doubt (Entry 1076.PS7208)

Omnibus — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which Teddy Roosevelt and his son celebrate the end of his manly presidency by almost dying in South America, and Ken is tricked into discussing Mato Grosso. Certificate #27531.

Allegheny Time (Entry 032.MT2436)

Omnibus — Tue, 19 Jan 2021 10:00:00 +0000

In which a series of traumatic train accidents and a broke astronomer conspire to re-invent time as a flat circle, and John accidentally attends a clock unveiling. Certificate #13818.

Otokichi (Entry 879.2C1125)

Omnibus — Thu, 31 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which a freak Pacific storm in 1832 makes one young castaway an unusual ambassador for the Empire of Japan, and Ken is unable to justify the Gospel of John. Certificate #37850.

Woodstock '99 (Entry 1441.IS2808)

Omnibus — Tue, 29 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which a fiery apocalypse outside Rome, New York marks the cultural endpoint of the 1990s, and John spends his whole childhood reading about armaments in Janes publications. Certificate #27287.

Kon-Tiki (Entry 692.MT1424)

Omnibus — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which a Norwegian amateur anthropologist sails a raft from Peru to Polynesia to push a pet theory, and Ken covets ink and gold. Certificate #18688.

The War Before This One (Entry 1409.NH0109)

Omnibus — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which we follow the long, strange journey that finally got World War I and World War II their names, and John goes for drinks with his high school principal. Certificate #24737.

Slab City (Entry 1170.IS3501)

Omnibus — Thu, 17 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which itinerant snowbirds turn an abandoned desert naval base into a trash-mountain utopia, and Ken hopes a nuke lands on his head. Certificate #33204.

Carlo Gesualdo (Entry 526.HE1304)

Omnibus — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which modernity discovers a late Renaissance composer with a history of ahead-of-his-time harmonies and lurid murder, and John scats like Cab Calloway after midnight. Certificate #39859.

The Guardian Angels (Entry 554.EX2320)

Omnibus — Thu, 10 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which a Brooklyn-born fast food manager slaps some paramilitary berets on local kids and starts a new community policing movement, and Ken wonders how to allocate the stripes on the American flag. Certificate #25639.

B. Traven (Entry 1332.PR2502)

Omnibus — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which we trace at least four secret identities of the most reclusive novelist in literary history, and John gets a terrible fake ID from the fake ID store. Certificate #39453.

Dingbat Apartments (Entry 351.AC2830)

Omnibus — Thu, 03 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which we learn why Los Angeles and other post-war American cities have tens of thousands of the same apartment complex, and Ken wonders where Philip Johnson's water heater is. Certificate #25380.

Ultrarunning (Entry 1357.IS4031)

Omnibus — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which a throwback British baronet (sort of) completes seven marathons on seven continents in seven consecutive days, and John runs like a rhinoceros. Certificate #20800.

The DeLorean Cocaine Bust (Entry 330.JB1810)

Omnibus — Thu, 26 Nov 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which Detroit's first "cool" car executive almost goes to jail in an attempt to save his weird car and foundering company, and Ken says it's okay for kids to climb into refrigerators now. Certificate #36728.

Elizabeth Nietzsche (Entry 837.EX0204)

Omnibus — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which a Prussian schoolteacher's wife founds a failed anti-Semitic utopia in Paraguay and creates fascism's favorite philosopher, and John wants to keep Nazis off the Moon at all costs. Certificate #42582.

Cottagecore (Entry 283.ZP0206)

Omnibus — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which we look at the long history of romanticizing rural life, from the Enlightenment all the way up to today's Instagram lesbians, and Ken accuses Thoreau of "glamping." Certificate #45989.

The Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon (Entry 088.MK1472)

Omnibus — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which we learn what causes the "frequency illusion" of recently learned facts immediately reappearing into view, and John has too many books on his bed for romance. Certificate #36846.

The Baader-Meinhof Gang (Entry 088.EZ2736)

Omnibus — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which far-left European terrorism of the 1970s produces West Germany's own Marxist-Leninist "Bonnie and Clyde," and Ken feels bad for that kissing nurse in Times Square. Certificate #26524.

The Cavendish Banana (Entry 197.JU0112)

Omnibus — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which we learn that the massive global banana export market is a precarious monoculture doomed to disaster because of a tiny fungus, and John thinks Sean Young might be a time traveler. Certificate #26039.

Wampum (Entry 1408.DE0206)

Omnibus — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which the intricate bead culture of the Eastern Woodlands tribes confuses new British and Dutch arrivals, and Ken refuses to let Thomas Jefferson make him be a farmer. Certificate #31448.

Election Ties (Entry 400.1CH2508)

Omnibus — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which we learn what governments do when election results come back exactly tied, and John swings a Seattle mayoral election by asking for directions. Certificate #30371.

Mensa (Entry 775.PR1320)

Omnibus — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which the era of intelligence testing produces an Oxford-based society for smarty-pants who, it turns out, mostly want to solve puzzles, and Ken is shamed for identifying an antelope. Certificate #43519.

C-Day (Entry 198.MT2527)

Omnibus — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which the U.S. military battles black marketing and currency destabilization by paying Korea- and Vietnam-era servicemembers in play money, and John learns about a 1990s fad for the first time. Certificate #46965.

The Day the Clown Cried (Entry 317.PS12605)

Omnibus — Thu, 22 Oct 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which an unfinished Holocaust "dramedy" gains a reputation as the worst movie ever made even though no one has ever seen it, and Ken thinks a lot about dog poop. Certificate #46512.

Eliza (Entry 404.LK0247)

Omnibus — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which an MIT professor worried about a digital future accidentally creates the field of human-machine conversation, and John flirts with a 54-year-old computer program. Certificate #36441.

Cynthia Plaster Caster (Entry 949.JE4817)

Omnibus — Thu, 15 Oct 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which a shy Chicago student becomes one of the most famous rock fans in America by virtue of her anatomically correct artwork, and John offers Ken an unwanted present. Certificate #30889.

Washington, CSA (Entry 1412.MT1225)

Omnibus — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which a doddering general saves America from an alarming alternate history in which the Confederacy takes over the nation instead of seceding, and Ken objurgates against several things (but especially slavery). Certificate #15899.

Seawise Giant (Entry 1121.AC2718)

Omnibus — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which an unnamed Greek shipping magnate "jumbo-izes" an oil tanker so big that it can't even navigate the English Channel, and John ponders digging a canal between Seattle and Omaha. Certificate #36640.

Aztec Death Whistles (Entry 088.PS5502)

Omnibus — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which thousands of Mesoamerican "toys" in museums around the world turn out to be terrifying vessels for the screams of wind and death, and Ken dreams of wearing "Bespin fatigues." Certificate #34995.

White Trains (Entry 1429.IS1305)

Omnibus — Thu, 01 Oct 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which the Department of Energy decides upon a bizarre way to transport nuclear warheads, and Ken applauds the conservation of Cold War consonants. Certificate #25154.

Mary Kay Pink Cadillacs (Entry 762.2K0930)

Omnibus — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which a feisty Texan single mom comes up with the gimmick that puts a friendly face on the appalling direct sales industry, and John recommends kicking a bear. Certificate #29266.

Take Ivy (Entry 1274.LK1619)

Omnibus — Thu, 24 Sep 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which the Platonic ideal of American "prep" fashion catches on with Japanese hipsters before it does back home, and Ken finds someone to blame for his short Uniqlo pants. Certificate #21125.

The Three Governors (Entry 1302.MK0934)

Omnibus — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which a 1946 election in George results in chaos, fraud, public drunkenness, and broken furniture, and John decides to become a potato-hating beekeeper in retirement. Certificate #27176.

Article the First (Entry 070.JE0705)

Omnibus — Thu, 17 Sep 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which the very first amendment to the Bill of Rights, outlining the future of U.S. government, gets forgotten on its path to ratification, and Ken insults Delaware. Certificate #21125.

Generic Food (Entry 521.JB1817)

Omnibus — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which a hilariously minimalistic grocery ghetto blooms in no-frills Carter-era America, and John chases a memory of uniformed women plying him with cheese cubes. Certificate #34402.

Joe Meek (Entry 771.PS2509)

Omnibus — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which the art of music recording is revolutionized by a troubled British record producer who doesn't read or play music, and Ken can't really think of any guitar pedals. Certificate #37241.

The Garbage Barge (Entry 515.LA0345)

Omnibus — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which our modern recycling fervor is shaped by a mob boss who can't find a port for three thousand tons of Long Island garbage, and John has a dining room full of tin. Certificate #26561.

Change of Gauge (Entry 206.LV2733)

Omnibus — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which the nightmarish complexity of the world's non-standardized rail systems is marveled at, and Ken hatches a zeppelin-related plan to resurrect Dame Agatha Christie. Certificate #48966.

Dragnet (Entry 378.TI0301)

Omnibus — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which a single TV series builds the modern image of American police as righteous and efficient, despite much evidence to the contrary, and John uses its theme song in the bedroom. Certificate #35498.

The Duke of Anjou (Entry 386.EC0804)

Omnibus — Thu, 27 Aug 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which we trace the convoluted, "kooky-wawa" genealogy that identifies the Spanish playboy banker who should be sitting the French throne, and John wants to be a ski-town sheriff. Certificate #24409.

Billboards (Entry 121.DA0403)

Omnibus — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which we study the history of oversized roadside advertising all the way from ancient Egypt to Blade Runner, and Ken is skeptical about yellow-and-green election posters. Certificate #50861.

German Telegrams (Entry 525.PR2606)

Omnibus — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which a century of German diplomacy is repeatedly hamstrung by their inept telegraphy-related decisions, and Ken has some notes about the poster for Jaws 2. Certificate #51969.

Marilyn vos Savant (Entry 1403.PR1401)

Omnibus — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which the dark days of the 1980s are brightened by the sudden appearance in Sunday newspaper supplements of the world's smartest person, and John tries to buy a mean t-shirt about Ken. Certificate #51993.

George Washington's Teeth (Entry 524.JB4114)

Omnibus — Thu, 13 Aug 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which the we learn that that story of America's most famous false teeth is upsetting for reasons that go way beyond dental pain, and Ken calls George Washington the ultimate NIMBY. Certificate #35120.

Lilith (Entry 721.LK1420)

Omnibus — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which puzzled medieval rabbis decide that it's not Adam and Eve—it's Adam and Lilith and Eve and Eve, and John wonders if anyone ate beets in the Garden of Eden. Certificate #14309.

Ronco (Entry 1081.MI0303)

Omnibus — Thu, 06 Aug 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which a kitchen gadgeteer harnesses the power of late-night television to create a new American art form, the infomercial--but wait, there's more! Ken thinks music shouldn't come from a scarf. Certificate #32041.

Vesna Vulovic (Entry 1404.EC0410)

Omnibus — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which a stubborn Yugoslavian air hostess sets a world record by surviving a six-mile fall from the sky, and John misplaces the Carpathians. Certificate #33008.

Dutch Elm Disease (Entry 388.JL0112)

Omnibus — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which America's forests and suburbs are ravaged by a strange invader brought by bark beetles, and Ken insists on comparing tree sap to mucus even though no one wants that. Certificate #27612.

Sister Cities (Entry 1165.AM0408)

Omnibus — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which post-war trauma and idealism inspire world cities to try a new kind of diplomacy, and John has big plans for Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Certificate #39656.

Project MK-Ultra (Entry 993.HB0111)

Omnibus — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which the CIA becomes convinced that acid-laced cocktails are the solution to all our Cold War intelligence problems, and Ken suggests a new variant of foosball. Certificate #28598.

The Tibetan Memory Trick (Entry 1306.NU0774)

Omnibus — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which a Victorian parlor game about poultry and tweezers blossoms into a tongue twister, a comedy act, and a broadcasting test, and John tunes a guitar because Frank Zappa isn't available. Certificate #34596.

The Phoebus Cartel (Entry 931.JN0905)

Omnibus — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which an evil cabal of lightbulb manufacturers realizes they can sell more product if bulbs burn out faster, and Ken decides he invented Teddy Ruxpin. Certificate #24473..

The Guru Letters (Entry 557.PR0513)

Omnibus — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which a Siberia-obsessed Russian mystic counts a future U.S. vice president among his acolytes, and John offers up our softest poets to the mosquitoes of Alaska. Certificate #43738.

Hanky Codes (Entry 566.EZ1321)

Omnibus — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which we look back at the complex and clandestine history of sexual signaling in gay culture, and Ken thinks a lot of decades have the wrong adjectives. Certificate #34366.

Fletcherizing (Entry 478.AC0754)

Omnibus — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which a Victorian food faddist persuades America and Europe to chew each bite of onion over seven hundred times, and John discovers what Woodrow Wilson would look like if he were an embezzler. Certificate #32596.

Deborah Sampson (Entry 1100.JG0512)

Omnibus — Thu, 02 Jul 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which a patriotic young colonist serves bravely in the American Revolution without anyone realizing she's secretly a woman, and Ken accuses a lot of deadbeat dads of doing murders in Maine. Certificate #37232.

Thomas the Tank Engine (Entry 1300.TI0209)

Omnibus — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which children's love of model trains is reinvigorated in our era by an odd British TV property with an odd British ideology, and John thinks helicopters are probably hippies. Certificate #49600.

Sea Silk (Entry 1120.EX3816)

Omnibus — Thu, 25 Jun 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which surprisingly large mussels provide the world's finest cloth to a shrinking number of old Mediterranean women, and Ken wonders what a Tibetan antelope smells like. Certificate #29379.

The 504 Sit-In (Entry 473.LK1413)

Omnibus — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which the Carter Administration waffles so long on a groundbreaking civil rights law that disabled protestors take over a federal building for almost a month, and John considers building a maze full of wolverines. Certificate #30708.

Le Pétomane (Entry 926.IS0324)

Omnibus — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which a French baker discovers an unusual muscular ability that makes him an international star, and Ken works on his Kegels mid-recording. Certificate #22584.

Pulsars, Discovery of (Entry 1008.IS4713)

Omnibus — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which the discoverer of neutron stars is largely ignored for her achievement, and John wonders about the precise verbiage to summon "Beetlejuice." Certificate #52246.

TV Detection Vans (Entry 1351.MT1828)

Omnibus — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which the BBC employs a high-tech surveillance fleet to find out if Britons are seeing Doctor Who illegally, and Ken watches Monday Night Football on Tuesday nights. Certificate #48968.

Roald Amundsen's Airship (Entry 1077.JE0113)

Omnibus — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which fifteen men in a dirigible, to say nothing of the dog, conquer the North Pole while arguing all the way, and John wonders if there are Italians on the Moon. Certificate #23607.

Jesse Owens, Gold Medals of (Entry 887.LV2525)

Omnibus — Thu, 04 Jun 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which we examine the secondary market for Olympic medals, Nobel Prizes, game show trophies, and other awards, and Ken and John struggle to remember if Watson or Crick is the bad one. Certificate #2504.

The Hero of Camperdown (Entry 583.IS3323)

Omnibus — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which one press-ganged sailor's quick thinking and bravery ends an invasion of Ireland and changes the course of history, while John and Ken disagree over the meaning of Elton John lyrics. Certificate #50975.

Soapy Smith (Entry 1178.2T0313)

Omnibus — Thu, 28 May 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which Alaska chooses to make a cheerfully lawless gold rush villain into a beloved folk hero, and Ken wonders if he's married to a dice-rolling confidence artist. Certificate #35570.

Chick Tracts (Entry 214.RO0116)

Omnibus — Tue, 26 May 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which history's most widely read theologian is revealed to be an eccentric Los Angeles cartoonist and conspiracy theorist who looks like Slim Pickens, and John notices that religious pamphlets mostly appear in places where bad things happen. Certificate #31387.

The Joy of Cooking (Entry 676.EZ2410)

Omnibus — Thu, 21 May 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which a Listerine label-printing company publishes what goes on to become the most popular cookbook in American history, and Ken imagines Wall Street Journal portraits of seafood. Certificate #38738.

Love (Entry 737.GA0514)

Omnibus — Tue, 19 May 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which one of the great Pop Art geniuses of his century accidentally becomes a one-hit wonder with an iconic bit of typography, and John regrets never entering into an arranged marriage. Certificate #37350.

The International Cable Protection Committee (Entry 654.IS4316)

Omnibus — Thu, 14 May 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which we are reminded that the modern global communication network still relies on unwiedly physical cables running along the sea-floor, tempting Russian spies and itchy whales, and Ken enjoys the word "gutta-percha." Certificate #34332.

Grade Inflation (Entry 542.JB0807)

Omnibus — Tue, 12 May 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which the phenomenon of "illusory superiority" causes a gradual creep of ratings and reputations in every field, from maple syrup to dunks to dress sizes, and John is universally praised by his rideshare drivers. Certificate #45417.

Tanzanite (Entry 1277.IS5411)

Omnibus — Thu, 07 May 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which a consortium of gemologists tries to persuade vacationers of the hottest new thing in jewelry, which Ken considers to be the Sammy Hagar of birthstones. Certificate #48596.

Etchings (Entry 428.GN3907)

Omnibus — Tue, 05 May 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which filthy Restoration comedy, Horatio Alger, and a sensational murder trial conspire to create a very odd pick-up line, and John requires an extra syllable in "Tijuana." Certificate #2793.

The Wild Goose (Entry 1432.MT0823)

Omnibus — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which John Wayne buys a decommissioned minesweeper as his luxury yacht and it outlasts its more famous French sister ship, which is probably now full of slugs. Certificate #28232.

(LIVE) The Wreck of the Titan (Entry 1446.EZ2734)

Omnibus — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which a failed periscope inventor predicts the greatest disaster of his time with apparently paranormal accuracy, and special guest Aimee Mann is warned away from the supernatural in no uncertain terms. Certificate #27264.

Prairie Schooners (Entry 975.NU0703)

Omnibus — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which the west is won by long fleets of covered wagons "sailing" on to the Oregon Territory, and Ken thinks it was mistake to capitalize the Northwest Passage. Certificate #18089.

Ferdinandea (Entry 461.RV1620)

Omnibus — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which the European powers scramble to claim an infant pile of basalt in the Mediterranean, and John wonders how steampunk the Libyan submarine fleet might be. Certificate #50204.

Green Funerals (Entry 549.1S3113)

Omnibus — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which John describes environmentally friendly modern alternatives to burial, and refuses to apologize for leaving an urn full of ashes under his piano for a decade. Certificate #37628.

Bode's Law (Entry 138.JB2212)

Omnibus — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which amateur algebra experts figure out where the planets in the solar system should be, and are (briefly) proven right, and Ken gets his hair cut by a ghost. Certificate #36737.

Genoan Insurance (Entry 522.MT0634)

Omnibus — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which the modern insurance industry is born when medieval Italian merchants form syndicates to manage risk, and Ken manages risk by making people order pancakes. Certificate #46598.

Streaking (Entry 1234.RV1615)

Omnibus — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which dumb campus fads return to the American spotlight in 1973 thanks to a mild winter and legions of nude undergrads, and John gradually remembers his own complicated streaking history. Certificate #41916.

The De Havilland Beaver (Entry 328.DE0203)

Omnibus — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which the Great White North is serviced and explored by the greatest bush plane of all time, and Ken decides that aircraft shouldn't be named after bugs. Certificate #35435.

Mesoamerican Ball Game (Entry 778.JB3122)

Omnibus — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which pre-Columbian civilizations spend thousands of years banging each other up with heavy rubber balls, and John tries to replace professional sports with stick-fighting. Certificate #28586.

Naked Came the Stranger (Entry 823.MT2538)

Omnibus — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which a droll Long Island reporter and his newsroom buddies accidentally create one of the all-time great dirty books, and Ken is skeptical of the nudist lifestyle. Certificate #50150.

Sadie Hawkins Day (Entry 1094.GN3912)

Omnibus — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which a hippie-hating cartoonist accidentally creates a (slightly) gender-equalizing campus tradition, and John spends hours poring over newspaper bridge columns. Certificate #44390.

Chinook Jargon (Entry 215.1C1413)

Omnibus — Thu, 19 Mar 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which a very old Native American trading pidgin becomes a regional language and 20th-century slang, and Ken goes to a movie theater that basically confessed to genocide. Certificate #5725.

Patagonian Giants (Entry 907.MT0627)

Omnibus — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which the world's tallest tribe, if they even exist, are enslaved by Ferdinand Magellan and downsized by subsequent visitors, and John reminds us of the importance of good posture. Certificate #33392.

Bill W. (Entry 122.NU0603)

Omnibus — Thu, 12 Mar 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which one rough night for a traveling salesman in Akron, Ohio births a new spiritual approach to addiction recovery, and Ken suggests some interesting anagrams for post-human Presbyterian listeners. Certificate #19544.

Hikikomori (Entry 587.1K2225)

Omnibus — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 09:00:00 +0000

In which a generation of traumatized Japanese young people increasingly decide never to come out of their bedrooms, whereas John insists on dying alone. Certificate #50644.

Cow Magnets (Entry 289.JL0118)

Omnibus — Thu, 05 Mar 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which we learn that ruminants are eating a lot more metal nowadays than they used to, and that Ken would like to have a gravel spoon at dinner. Certificate #28929

Longitudinal Film (Entry 734.PS9010)

Omnibus — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which British documentarians and Austin slackers alike use the movies to unveil the mysteries of aging and mortality, and John leaves a series of women waiting for him at train stations in Spain. Certificate #48149

Hands Across America (Entry 565.PR1121)

Omnibus — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which the 1980s fad for charity pop singles inspires an ambitious geographic stunt, and Ken plans a foolproof way to assassinate Jamie Farr. Certificate #26004

Operation Just Cause (Entry 869.EZ4510)

Omnibus — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which the bizarre 1989 American invasion of Panama kicks off our modern era of on-the-nose Pentagon naming conventions, and John is reminded of a dominatrix, as usual. Certificate #19345.

Trafalgar vs. Carmania (Entry 1325.IS2314)

Omnibus — Thu, 20 Feb 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which the First World War begins in an unexpected fashion, with two ocean liners blowing holes in each other off the coast of Brazil, and Ken gets gaslit into buying a tuxedo. Certificate #32056.

The Dogon (Entry 369.DE0419)

Omnibus — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which an African tribe proves so eager to please that they convince generations of ethnographers that alien visitors from Sirius are real, and John gets annoyed that ancient astronauts never invented baseball. Certificate #26731.

Cincinnati Chili (Entry 223.2K0440)

Omnibus — Thu, 13 Feb 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which an early fast food boom, Greek immigration, and (of course) the World's Fair conspire to trick Ohioans into redefining "chili," and John gets justifiably upset about bananas on spaghetti. Certificate #24598.

Snow Valley, Oklahoma (Entry 1182.JB2419)

Omnibus — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which a Vermonter with an ill-conceived dream brings skiiing very briefly to the Sooner State, and Ken attempts to secure his family some very rare Pokemon cards. Certificate #17398.

The Tootsie Pop Indian (Entry 1317.LA0312)

Omnibus — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which an American candy company refuses to honor a longstanding bit of playground lollipop lore, and Ken tries to calculate the homeopathic healing power of Tootsie Rolls. Certificate #33486.

Chastity Belts (Entry 209.LV2113)

Omnibus — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which Renaissance satirists and modern amateur historians accidentally create a physiologically impossible medieval device, and John has a theory about locksmiths and cocaine. Certificate #49406.

Coppicing (Entry 276.PS8015)

Omnibus — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which a forgotten medieval art of tree-harvesting is revived by the sustainability movement, and Ken blames the coming environmental catastrophe on "sugar energy." Certificate #22560.

Harry Dexter White (Entry 1428.LK0817)

Omnibus — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which the American architect of post-World War II global capitalism turns out to have a dark and traitorous secret, and John imagines he would be a huge hassle for his spy handlers. Certificate #25923.

The Death of Trolleys (Entry 320.GN4519)

Omnibus — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which we find General Motors and its corporate co-conspirators not guilty on the charge of killing American streetcar lines, and Ken gets very excited about funicular railways. Certificate #14871.

George Bush's Crack Dealer (Entry 524.JB1808)

Omnibus — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which the president of the United States lies to the nation about how he got three ounces of crack cocaine into the Oval Office, and John is asked to leave a crime scene. Certificate #34620.

Backgammon (Entry 090.EX2816)

Omnibus — Thu, 16 Jan 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which an ancient Mesopotamian board game briefly becomes a 1970s signifier for glamour and sophistication, and Ken's life is changed by an intense childhood game of Clue. Certificate #31179.

Masquerade (Entry 763.PS10424)

Omnibus — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which an outsider artist hides a rabbit by a statue and thereby gets a million people to start digging up the English countryside, and John "man-solves" a Satanic temple. Certificate #14162.

The Tech Model Railroad Club (Entry 1282.1C1220)

Omnibus — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 10:00:00 +0000

In which a room full of MIT train nerds becomes ground zero for modern American hacker culture and computer architecture, and Ken blames Star Wars for ruining children's toys. Certificate #33564.

Byzantine Rhinokopia (Entry 170.JB4102)

Omnibus — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 11:00:00 +0000

In which the Byzantine throne is contested by various Machiavellian schemes willing to mutilate the noses of their political rivals, and John reveals which Marx brother he is most sexually attracted to. Certificate #34954.

Fort Knox (Entry 493.2CH0913)

Omnibus — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 11:00:00 +0000

In which a World War I army camp in northern Kentucky is chosen to house over $200 billion in gold bullion, and Ken proposes nationalizing America's safety deposit boxes. Certificate #2504.

Induced Demand (Entry 637.EZ1704)

Omnibus — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which we learn why new highway lanes, no matter how spacious, tend to fill to capacity within weeks of opening, and John takes on a hypothetical megacorporation called Goober. Certificate #38938.

The Leafblower (Entry 707.DA0414)

Omnibus — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which ecologically problematic outdoor power tools accidentally become an official part of the Omnibus, all because John's neighbor refuses to call "Leafbusters." Certificate #25458.

The Christmas Pickle (Entry 220.IS0108)

Omnibus — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which a Spokane antique store creates a fake Bavarian holiday tradition from scratch, and John's beard makes him look bigger. Certificate #31503.

The Max Headroom Intrusion (Entry 767.JB2415)

Omnibus — Thu, 19 Dec 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which we examine the broadcast-jamming fad of the 1980s, including a puzzling incident involving a masked Chicago prankster, and Ken wants to be a font cop. Certificate #29692.

Interferon (Entry 652.PS10303)

Omnibus — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which a strange, sticky new protein is declared—on the basis of very little evidence—to be a cure-all in the war against cancer, and Ken refuses to make the necessary sacrifices to become a skateboarding star. Certificate #40478.

Ada Lovelace (Entry ADA737PR3118)

Omnibus — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which a 19th-century countess overcomes her father's scandalous celebrity and her mother's love of parallelograms to become the world's first computer programmer, and John comes to regret renaming Alexa. Certificate #46507.

Square Dancing (Entry 1211.JB2111)

Omnibus — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which we learn that America's love affair with do-si-dos is a relatively recent and artificial form of nostalgia jump-started by Henry Ford's hatred for jazz, and Ken misremembers "krumping." Certificate #42537.

The Toyota Hilux (Entry 1323.JG0119)

Omnibus — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which an oddly named model of Toyota pickup becomes the truck of choice for Marty McFly, Top Gear fans, polar explorers, and ISIS. Certificate #16197

The Duchess of Bedford (Entry 383.PR2301)

Omnibus — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which one of Queen Victoria's ladies-in-waiting atones for her gossip scandals at court by inventing a brand new meal, and John blames museum docents for all his schedule problems. Certificate #48479.

Mother Jones (Entry 675.MK0333)

Omnibus — Thu, 28 Nov 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which an Irish immigrant pretending to be an old lady becomes a star of the American labor movement, and Ken ponders the death of middle initials. Certificate #12952.

The Rite of Spring Riot (Entry 1076.EZ2613)

Omnibus — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which Ken blames the weirdest ballet premiere of all time on class warfare, bad hair and costuming choices, and anti-Russian xenophobia, and John renames the sport of gymnastics. Certificate #31616.

The Ambassador Bridge (Entry 039.EZ4705)

Omnibus — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which one canny Detroit billionaire manages to gain sole control of the linchpin of American foreign trade, and John repeatedly insists he is not giving advice to terrorists. Certificate #36634.

Grass (Entry 546.MK0639)

Omnibus — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which lawns are revealed to be covering three times as much of America as any other crop, and Ken explains why the tallgrass prairies of the 19th century produced no great tennis players. Certificate #31632.

Fern Fever (Entry 462.JB0816)

Omnibus — Thu, 14 Nov 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which Victorian England becomes obsessed with the beautiful fronds and sexy lifestyle of ferns, and John brings the Arts and Crafts movement to the grunge era. Certificate #31358.

Porfirio Rubirosa (Entry 1087.1K1210)

Omnibus — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which a Dominican diplomat cozies up to one of history's worst dictators, marries the two richest women in the world, and creates our modern image of the macho "Latin lover," and Ken tries to revive some slang from 1980s sex comedies. Certificate #41003.

No-Fault Divorce (Entry 840.MK1009)

Omnibus — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which Ronald Reagan, of all people, introduces a new legal philosophy of marriage and divorce to America in 1970, though it takes New York forty years to catch up. Certificate #27256.

Earth-Two (Entry 391.RV2101)

Omnibus — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which a single 1961 comic book births a multiverse and reshapes our modern understanding of parallel dimensions in art as well as life, and John wistfully fantasizes about an honest Hitler. Certificate #46819.

Faces of Death (Entry 447.JB1616)

Omnibus — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which the "mondo" shock movie craze of the 1960s inspires a morbid megahit that turns out to be more hoax than documentary, and monkey brains make their big-screen debut. Certificate #41907.

Haitian Zombies (Entry 561.ZC1412)

Omnibus — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which the origins of America's favorite 21st-century horror trope are traced back to the miseries of Caribbean plantation slavery, which is a huge bummer, and John ponders the role of squash in the afterlife. Certificate #49964.

Government Cheese (Entry 541.1S1718)

Omnibus — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which an American dairy surplus and some dubious policy decisions creates a processed welfare staple of the Reagan era, and Ken reveals his favorite lunchmeat. Certificate #24553.

Johnny Appleseed (Entry 060.SS0203)

Omnibus — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which one of America's great folk heroes is revealed as a Swedenborgian mystic, a land baron, and⁠—to John's mind⁠—a 19th-century weed dealer. Certificate #36692.

The Gossamer Albatross (Entry 540.PS5506)

Omnibus — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which humankind's dream of flying with the birds leads through all manner of weird ornithopters and flying bikes to a very low-altitude crossing of the English Channel, and John aces the Pepsi Challenge on a boat. Certificate #20913.

The Texas Zombies (Entry 1292.MT2424)

Omnibus — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which an unscrupulous Michigan music promoter dispatches fake versions of one of the great bands of rock's British Invasion, and John wages his own copyright battle against a legendary pioneer woman. Certificate #51274.

The Protocols of the Elders of Zion (Entry 1000.ES0905)

Omnibus — Thu, 10 Oct 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which the chaos of Europe around 1900 produces a literary hoax that powers a century of anti-Semitism and conspiracy theories, and Ken shares his distrust of sports stadiums. Certificate #42869.

How Many Angels Can Dance on the Head of a Pin? (Entry 603.RV0511)

Omnibus — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which scholasticism gets roasted for its obsession with thorny, possibly pointless theological questions, and John explains the difference between escalator angels and hobo angels. Certificate #39095.

Oblique Strategies (Entry 856.RO1202)

Omnibus — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which music legend Brian Eno and an artist friend develop a tarot deck for beating writer's block, and Ken uses lateral thinking to determine that John and Mary were goldfish. Certificate #26638.

Fritz Stammberger (Entry 1215.NU1317)

Omnibus — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which a mountaineering legend disappears in Pakistan, his game show icon widow becomes convinced he's secretly a spy, and John dresses like the worst kind of CIA agent. Certificate #31997.

Ticker Tape Parades (Entry 1306.ES0609)

Omnibus — Thu, 26 Sep 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which America's love for French celebrity guests and her abundance of corporate litter combine to create an iconic New York tradition, and Ken ponders what to do with a giant Styrofoam version of his head. Certificate #9509.

Icelandic Incest (Entry 615.DE2722)

Omnibus — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which a helpful new phone app is developed to prevent Icelanders from dating their cousins, which may tragically keep them outside of the "Goldilocks Zone" of inbreeding. Certificate #20625.

Sliced Bread (Entry 1172.MK0652)

Omnibus — Thu, 19 Sep 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which the canonical greatest innovation of modern life turns out to be a result of uneven toaster technology, and John builds the worst soapbox racer of all time. Certificate #50925.

As Slow as Possible (Entry 075.2P0308)

Omnibus — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which a German church organ perform a John Cage composition so slowly that the concert will last 639 years, and Ken has an opinion on who the horniest characters are in Middle-earth. Certificate #24524.

Juggalos (Entry 677.IS6015)

Omnibus — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which a horrorcore rap-rock duo from Detroit accidentally creates a global army of misfits and outcasts, and Pearl Jam gets John thrown in jail five times. Certificate #32373.

MSG (Entry 813.LK1434)

Omnibus — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which a combination of Cold War paranoia and good old-fashioned racism convince America that deliciously "umami" Asian food is actually killing them, and Ken eats kelp in a kayak. Certificate #21879.

The Battle of Palmdale (Entry 104.EZ2047)

Omnibus — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which two overeager fighter pilots chase down a runaway drone over Southern California, accidentally lighting much of the state on fire, and John wants to be a marshal of some kind. Certificate #31303.

Alexander von Humboldt (Entry 605.CO0203)

Omnibus — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which an adventurous Prussian polymath single-handedly revolutionizes modern science, and even helps kick-start the liberation of South America and the environmental movement, and John and Ken ponder their own inevitable disappearance down the memory hole. Certificate #41705.

Florence Lawrence (Entry 705.MT0210)

Omnibus — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which a vaudeville baby whistler becomes the world's first movie star and goes on to invent the electric windshield wiper, and Ken's knowledge of Ogden Nash insults finally comes in handy. Certificate #52050.

Miss Thistlebottom's Hobgoblins (Entry 795.PS1912)

Omnibus — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which many of the most commonly taught grammar and usage rules in English are revealed to be arbitrary, made-up, out-of-date, or all three, and John explains why Miss Manners should be in charge of the Internet. Certificate #41607.

Biosphere 2 (Entry 124.IS6517)

Omnibus — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which an eccentric metallurgist with a theater troupe begins one of the strangest science experiments in history and learns that humankind might not be ready for Mars yet, and Ken watches Jeff Bezos injure a fig tree. Certificate #34308.

Lottery Winners (Entry 736.HE1305)

Omnibus — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which we follow the history of government games of chance from ancient China to today's bankrupt Powerball millionaires, and John grifts his elementary school out of a side of beef. Certificate #32943.

Fotomats (Entry 494.LV2342)

Omnibus — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which a bygone errand, developing vacation snapshots, becomes so widespread that it gets its own chain of drive-thru kiosks, and Ken's mom looks great in a red knit jumper and gold polyester turtleneck. Certificate #38597.

Gold Hats (Entry 537.PS2103)

Omnibus — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 22:00:00 +0000

In which four mysterious cones are unearthed from proto-Celtic Europe, perhaps holding untold secrets of the calendar and cosmos, and John is surrounded by the happy nudists of the Danube. Certificate #23490

ARkStorm (Entry 067.PS9303)

Omnibus — Thu, 08 Aug 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which a periodic "atmospheric river" from the Pacific Ocean threatens to put a quarter of Californians underwater in the very near future, which scares Ken so much that he decides to drill holes in his couch. Certificate #23973.

The Monkey Selfie (Entry 803.MT2220)

Omnibus — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 16:00:00 +0000

In which the legal and creative rights of a crested macaque are debated on the world stage, and we learn Ken wants to look like Popeye. Certificate #2720.

The Onion Futures Act (Entry 867.NU1105)

Omnibus — Thu, 01 Aug 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which two savvy farmers try to corner the market on onions by buying up the whole Midwestern supply, and John compares Gerald Ford to a Jesuit. Certificate #25671.

Bob Dylan's Christian Period (Entry 138.AC1631)

Omnibus — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 20:00:00 +0000

In which rock's most cryptic genius shocks the world by being "born again," releasing three uneven gospel albums and annoying a lot of concertgoers. Certificate #39323.

Canning (Entry 180.LK1219)

Omnibus — Thu, 25 Jul 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which doomed Arctic explorers and a spiritualist's vacuum sealer help revolutionize the science of food storage, and John reveals that his "dueling scars" are actually from drinking cold canned pasta. Certificate #42072.

The Four-Color Map Problem (Entry 495.NU2653)

Omnibus — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which over a century of mathematicians are unable to solve a geometry problem straight out of a coloring book, computers provide their first ever math "proof," and Ken challenges John to map a donut. Certificate #28876.

The Church of the SubGenius (Entry 222.AC1605)

Omnibus — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which a fictional pipe-smoking salesman invents a new quasi-religion for ironists, Discordians, and weirdos, and Ken believes he could have prevented the Trojan War. Certificate #31147.

The Rural Purge (Entry 1091.PS6503)

Omnibus — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 22:15:00 +0000

In which CBS cancels a full slate of country-fried programming, reinventing TV and marginalizing rural America, and John somehow watches an awful lot of Hee Haw. Certificate #36841.

Peak Phosphorus (Entry 911.PS9703)

Omnibus — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which one of the key nutrients for all life on Earth washes inexorably into the ocean all day every day, which really stresses Ken out. Certificate #52178

John Dee (Entry 325.DA0202)

Omnibus — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 21:00:00 +0000

In which Queen Elizabeth's top astrologer dreams up the British Empire, solar power, and possibly even James Bond, and then loses his whole reputation to a charlatan with no earlobes, leading John to create a list of scientists who should have stayed in their lane. Certificate #44269

Quonset Huts (Entry 1023.PS6103)

Omnibus — Thu, 04 Jul 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which the U.S. military builds hundreds of thousands of weird half-cylindrical shelters out of corrugated steel, and Ken reports on what they would look like with stained-glass windows. Certificate #35704

Droodles (Entry 382.AC0212)

Omnibus — Tue, 02 Jul 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which we remember Frank Zappa's favorite 1950s fad, brought to you by the inventor of Mad Libs, and John remembers why people actually thought a Sasquatch lived on top of the Space Needle back in foggier times. Certificate #48261.

Furries (Entry 508.GN2716)

Omnibus — Thu, 27 Jun 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which hundreds of thousands of people dress in big plush animal suits as a hobby, identity, or fetish, and Ken explains the secret Family Feud notebooks of his childhood. Certificate #26505

Town Line, New York (Entry 1323.2C0617)

Omnibus — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which a tiny village secedes from the United States to join the Confederacy and forgets to rejoin for almost a century--even though it's in upstate New York just miles from the Canadian border. Certificate #42052.

Cold Fusion (Entry 242.PR2004)

Omnibus — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 03:45:00 +0000

In which two of the world's smartest electrochemists get fooled by a botched experiment and the promise of fame, and John reveals that GPS mysticism is his pseudoscience. Certificate #19668.

The Kamehameha Colonists (Entry 681.IS4204)

Omnibus — Wed, 19 Jun 2019 01:30:00 +0000

In which over a hundred of Honolulu's elite private school students are shipped off to some of the world's most remote islands on a top-secret government mission, and Ken wonders if sea turtles can feel dread. Certificate #22194.

Maraschino Cherries (Entry 758.PR0819)

Omnibus — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which we learn how a historical delicacy of Croatia got bastardized into a staple of American cocktails and sundaes, and John is upset when his third grade teacher pays him in ice cream instead of cash. Certificate #28197.

Cursive (Entry 307.DA0508)

Omnibus — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 19:30:00 +0000

In which we trace script handwriting from ancient Egypt all the way up to the modern culture wars, and John and Ken argue over the ugliest cursive capital letter: is it J or Q? Certificate #32892.

Lilly Pulitzer (Entry 1007.LK1227)

Omnibus — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which the messy orange-eating of a runaway heiress creates a colorful new summer look for American women, and Ken goes way too far with his Kennedy assassination theories. Certificate #12306.

Bone Wars (Entry 141.PS14107)

Omnibus — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which America's two greatest dinosaur hunters ruin their lives in an unhinged battle of spite and revenge, which John finds extremely romantic. Certificate #24269.

Pattie Boyd (Entry 148.DE2402)

Omnibus — Thu, 30 May 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which two of the greatest rock guitarists of all time pine after the same woman, each marry her in turn, and somehow stay friends. Certificate #42401.

The Reindeer Wizards (Entry 1049.DE1811)

Omnibus — Tue, 28 May 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which we remember the 1950s charity drive to raise reindeer funds for a tribe of Scandinavian telepaths--a problem they really should have seen coming. Certificate #37239.

Trapper Keepers (Entry 1331.IS0816)

Omnibus — Thu, 23 May 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which a re-designed school binder becomes a mandatory school accessory and one of the great marketing successes of the 1980s, and Ken spends hours looking at erasers shaped like sushi. Certificate #31310.

Winifred Sackville Stoner Jr. (Entry 1229.MT1125)

Omnibus — Tue, 21 May 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which an Esperanto-loving stage mom raises America's first celebrity child prodigy, who writes one of history's most famous poems before vanishing into a cloud of bigamy and scandal. Certificate #35551.

Plymouth Rock (Entry 955.EX3321)

Omnibus — Thu, 16 May 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which John visits one of the most underwhelming (and breakable) landmarks in American history, and explains why its entire history is almost certainly made up. Certificate #33004.

Tortilla Chips (Entry 1320.GN4226)

Omnibus — Tue, 14 May 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which America discovers Tex-Mex food at Disneyland, leading to the invention of Doritos and "extreme" snack foods, and Ken has clam chowder in his car. Certificate #42729.

Private Wojtek the Bear (Entry 988.HO1308)

Omnibus — Thu, 09 May 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which we follow an army of exiled Polish soldiers from Siberia to Iran to Scotland, and learn why they taught a Syrian brown bear to carry ammo and eat cigarettes. Certificate #41871.

Hotel Detectives (Entry 601.GN4321)

Omnibus — Tue, 07 May 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which we learn about palming doorknobs, spotting bunco artists and fornicators, and other old tricks of the "hotel dick" trade, and John steals some room service pizza. Certificate #51720.

The Charge of the Light Brigade (Entry 208.GN5009)

Omnibus — Thu, 02 May 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which a series of underqualified officers and vague, sweeping gestures lead to a terrible military debacle, a good sweater, and a catchy poem, and Ken expresses some skepticism about Captain von Trapp. Certificate #38694.

The French Revolutionary Calendar (Entry 500.EX1202)

Omnibus — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which the freethinkers of the Enlightenment take a stab at designing a 100% secular timekeeping system from the ground up, and John wants to be called "Goldenrod." Certificate #44270.

Killer Rabbit (Entry 686.LV1106)

Omnibus — Thu, 25 Apr 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which we go through the weird list of things glimpsed by noted paranormal researcher Jimmy Carter, including a hissing marsh rabbit and a UFO that the Air Force wants you to think is barium. Certificate #21432.

Ted Danson in Blackface (Entry 1283.JB2317)

Omnibus — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 22:00:00 +0000

In which one of the most beloved sitcom stars in America tries out the worst comedy idea of all time, and John has a theory about anti-Semitism in the Aliens movies. Certificate #22400.

Breastaurants (Entry 152.IS1321)

Omnibus — Thu, 18 Apr 2019 23:30:00 +0000

In which we explain the squeaky-clean tawdriness of casual dining chains that put all the servers in tank tops, and Ken wonders if you can eat hot wings ironically. Certificate #37739.

Mussolini's Nose (Entry 819.PR3033)

Omnibus — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which a chronically ill British woman decides that God wants her to kill a fascist dictator, and Ken and John argue over whether or not an assassination plot needs a chalkboard. Certificate #16114.

Wide Skis (Entry 1431.LK0429)

Omnibus — Thu, 11 Apr 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which, after centuries of stagnation, the sport of skiing is revolutionized in a matter of three years, and John is forced to sign a hand-written waiver. Certificate #34056.

Cocaine Hippos (Entry 238.JB4021)

Omnibus — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which the rivers of Colombia teem with African hippos due to the excesses of a long-dead drug lord, and Ken suggests introducing Welsh corgis to the Amazon rainforest. Certificate #37768.

The Smoot (Entry 1178.1K0626)

Omnibus — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which an MIT fraternity prank creates a new unit of measurement and annoys Boston police, and John wins a million dollars on an imaginary quiz show about Maine. Certificate #50326.

The Garden of Earthly Delights (Entry 515.SS0611)

Omnibus — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which a Dutch painter creates surreal hellscapes so mysterious and full of butts that no one knows what he was even thinking, and Ken explains why bagpipes are very, very erotic. Certificate #17086.

Breezewood, Pennsylvania (Entry 153.JG0506)

Omnibus — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which a funding impasse and clever fast food franchises put a one-of-a-kind stoplight right in the middle of a Pennsylvania interstate, and Ken misremembers who built the Lincoln Highway. Certificate #31424.

Indigo (Entry 634.GE0913)

Omnibus — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which Sir Isaac Newton adds an extra color to the rainbow to make his mystical, musical math come out right, and John has strong feelings about Satan's marital status. Certificate #26015.

Egg-Cracking Machines (Entry 398.JE1711)

Omnibus — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which John goes to the Caribbean, learns how cruise ships crack 20,000 eggs in a week, and begins to comparison-shop the amazing Rube Goldberg inventions involved. Certificate #27021.

Jeanne Calment (Entry 176.2C0416)

Omnibus — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 15:00:00 +0000

In which an indomitable woman from Provence defies actuaries by living to be 122 years old, shadowy Russian forces try to discredit her, and Ken predicts which Saturday Night Live cast members will be centenarians. Certificate #43762.

Anything Into Oil (Entry 056.EX3729)

Omnibus — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which one tech company's fondest dream—to turn Butterball turkey offal into light crude oil—remains tantalizingly out of reach, and John and Ken worry about whether they're recycling waxed paper correctly. Certificate #26207.

Tippi Hedren's Fingernails (Entry 1311.DE2112)

Omnibus — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which a Hollywood ingenue survives her encounters with birds, angry lions, and creepy directors, and survives to become the godmother of one of America's great immigrant business empires. Certificate #28046.

The Cheesesteak War (Entry 211.PR2306)

Omnibus — Thu, 07 Mar 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which a hot dog vendor and an anonymous cabbie invent one of the all-time great American foods, giving Philadelphians classic choices like "Whiz or provolone," "wit' onions or wit'out," and "xenophobia or not." Certificate #6594.

Geomagnetic Reversal (Entry 524.JB3709)

Omnibus — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which the Earth's magnetic field turns the North Pole into the South Pole every few hundred thousand years, and John and Ken discuss what effect this might have on the aurora borealis, ski-bum turtles, and North Dakota tourism. Certificate #41220.

Mike the Headless Chicken (Entry 787.MK0616)

Omnibus — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which one seemingly doomed Colorado rooster lucks into a kind of zombie Charlotte's Web scenario, and Ken and John disagree over whether a "meat puppet" is a kind of food. Certificate #21086.

Honest Dick (Entry 596.EX2208)

Omnibus — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which the most trusted man in the state of Kentucky disappears with tobacco sacks full of the state treasury, and John and Ken discover which prominent U.S. government official is almost always a Latina. Certificate #23421.

Freighthopping (Entry 500.AM0812)

Omnibus — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which the American railroad provides a semi-legal travel network for millions of migrant laborers, and John explains how a sufficiently blond mustache on a young hobo can ward off evil. Certificate #14946.

The Foreign Legion (Entry 490.2S1519)

Omnibus — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which the French army accepts thousands of rogues and ne'er-do-wells from all over the world, giving them white helmets and a whole lot of wine, and Ken suggests a new method for reheating Hot Pockets. Certificate #36749.

Jacqueline Cochran (Entry 238.RV1214)

Omnibus — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which one driven girl from the backwoods of Georgia changes the face of aviation, Ken roasts astronaut Scott Carpenter, and John skips class to judge an essay contest. Certificate #39584.

The Bodies of Mount Everest (Entry 138.JE1316)

Omnibus — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which travelers to one of the most dangerous places on earth leave so many casualties behind in the "Death Zone" that they literally become part of the map. Certificate #7505.

(LIVE) Yngwie Malmsteen (Entry 753.JE1022)

Omnibus — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which a skilled but self-absorbed Swedish musician leaves his homeland to become a guitar god, and John explains his theory about how neoclassicism ruined rock. Certificate #26394.

(LIVE) Extremely Overdue Library Books (Entry 445.2T0413)

Omnibus — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which countless scofflaws, including George Washington, rack up hundreds of thousands of dollars in library fines, and Ken takes home a "spite book." Certificate #29342.

Flagpole Sitters (Entry 474.1S1013)

Omnibus — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which Syrian ascetics and American steeplejacks alike enjoy the weirdest fad of all time, and Ken angers marathon runners. Certificate #45561.

Samantha Smith (Entry 1178.IS1106)

Omnibus — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which a fifth-grader from Maine becomes a diplomatic sensation after writing a nervous letter to Moscow, and John remembers the only fan letter he ever wrote. Certificate #35519.

The Twins of Benin (Entry 1353.GN2524)

Omnibus — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which we learn that one very specific region of West Africa produces more twins than anywhere else on earth, which could be due to heredity, yams, or, in Ken's mind, a mysterious glowing meteorite. Certificate #29437.

The Kilogram (Entry 686.DE2513)

Omnibus — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which the dreams of the French Revolution are finally fulfilled by modern physicists eager to re-define science itself from scratch, which probably triggered the alien landing in May 2019. Certificate #37545.

Trucker Culture (Entry 1343.MT2514)

Omnibus — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 09:00:00 +0000

In which a gas crisis and an early social media network conspire to make long-haul truck drivers national heroes, and Ken gives a big 10-4 to a heroic trucker named "Fuzzy." Certificate #25007.

Vice Versa (Entry 1393.EP0423)

Omnibus — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which we read the Victorian novel that, a century later, would start an avalanche of body-swapping movie comedies, and John tries to debunk the blind prophet Tiresias. Certificate #30972.

Queen Victoria's Grandchildren (Entry 1020.IS1418)

Omnibus — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which we follow up on the forty-two offspring of the "grandmother of Europe," including the one who led Germany into World War I and the one who might have been Jack the Ripper. Certificate #26374.

Cumberland vs. Georgia Tech (Entry 305.RM1219)

Omnibus — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 08:00:00 +0000

In which a revenge-crazed football coach runs up a 222-0 score against a squad of random law students and townies, and John explains why his go-to comedy move is dropping his pants. Certificate #26347.

Track 61 (Entry 1324.EZ0808)

Omnibus — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which Franklin Roosevelt builds a secret, private train station under the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, and John almost defects to East Germany in a gaily colored ski jacket. Certificate #33725.

Snowflakes (Entry 1181.PS14716)

Omnibus — Tue, 01 Jan 2019 10:00:00 +0000

In which a Vermont farmer unveils to the world a natural beauty of crystalline perfection that's been hiding in plain sight, and Ken and John decide to slander Buzz Aldrin for some reason. Certificate #16919.

The Turboencabulator (Entry 1348.IS2811)

Omnibus — Thu, 27 Dec 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which we study the spurving bearings and hydrocoptic marzlevanes of the made-up machine that brought technobabble to the masses, and John actually encourages Ken to talk about Star Trek for a change. Certificate #45305.

Thomas Nast (Entry 825.JB1534)

Omnibus — Tue, 25 Dec 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which one Gilded Age influencer puts Santa at the North Pole because he hates slavery so much and runs New York's most powerful man out of town on a rail because he hates the Irish so much. Certificate #33423.

The Christmas Truce (Entry 220.LK0214)

Omnibus — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which peace and holiday good will break out on the western front in 1914, partly due to the work of suffragettes, and it changes the tourism industry forever. Also, Ken defends fruitcake. Certificate #31405.

Telling the Bees (Entry 1285.PR2413)

Omnibus — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 20:00:00 +0000

In which we explore one of the weirdest funeral superstitions of pagan Europe, and John explains why he likes to retell Aesop's Fables from the bad guys' point of view. Certificate #44411.

Patrick Nagel (Entry 823.SS0115)

Omnibus — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which one artist redefines eroticism for the MTV generation, and John gets stuck with a very overpriced piece of Duran Duran memorabilia. Certificate #31513.

Robert Smalls (Entry 1176.DE2315)

Omnibus — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 22:00:00 +0000

In which a South Carolina slave seizes a heavily armed Confederate ship and sails it to freedom and instant celebrity, whereas Ken doesn't even own a hatchet. Certificate #38760.

Marmorated Stink Bugs (Entry 761.LV1120)

Omnibus — Thu, 06 Dec 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which a hard-to-kill Asian insect arrives in America and discovers a delightful new predator-free life eating our produce, hiding behind our picture frames, and making everything smell like cilantro-infused sewage. Certificate #30979.

Ghost Forests (Entry 527.EZ1724)

Omnibus — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 20:30:00 +0000

In which Ken accidentally goes on vacation to a long submerged, 2,000-year-old forest, and John explains the value he can add to a rugby game or campfire. Certificate #1751.

Scrappy Doo (Entry 1115.PP0302)

Omnibus — Thu, 29 Nov 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which 1970s and 1980s TV is overrun by an avalanche of orphans, runaways, and other wisecracking moppets, and John reveals that Oscar the Grouch is a witch in a "fursuit." Certificate #37500.

The Qibla (Entry 1016.PS5517)

Omnibus — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which the Islamic practice of facing Mecca in prayer becomes a thorny theological and geographical question, particularly for Muslims in Alaska, French Polynesia, or low-earth orbit. Certificate #2405.

Pumpkin Pie (Entry 1008.JH0406)

Omnibus — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which we consider America's favorite gourd as a botanical mystery, a symbol of autumn, a Civil War flashpoint, an Illinois monoculture, a delivery vehicle for condensed milk, and an instrument of Starbucks-related misogyny and class warfare. Certificate #36525.

Deep-Fried Turkeys (Entry 325.JN0432)

Omnibus — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which the Cajun cooking fad of the 1980s spawns a hazardous new holiday favorite, and Ken's wife flips us the bird. Certificate #30269.

The Cagot (Entry 173.2K0527)

Omnibus — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which a tiny French minority in the Pyrenees is shunned and hated for reasons no one can quite remember, and John pronounces the words "goose foot" more capably than Ken. Certificate #28287.

Jennens v. Jennens (Entry 671.NU2711)

Omnibus — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which the notorious "Miser of Acton" forgets to sign his will, and for over a century thousands of people--including Ken's family--become convinced they are rightful heirs to his $300 million fortune. Certificate #23502.

Wild Man Fischer (Entry 472.GE1612)

Omnibus — Thu, 08 Nov 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which a troubled street performer becomes a beloved musician and helps found a landmark record label, Ken buys a booby-trapped painting, and John critiques the storytelling of celebrity children. Certificate #49895.

The Doomsday Flight (Entry 372.AM0214)

Omnibus — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which the U.S. government tries to ban a Rod Serling TV movie for inspiring too many mid-air extortions, all of which can be foiled by knowing the right trivia fact about Denver. Certificate #41961.

Albert Pierrepoint (Entry 938.ES0914)

Omnibus — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 09:00:00 +0000

In which a Lancashire grocer and pub landlord becomes the most skilled executioner of all time, and John explains the best part of being guillotined. Certificate #21776.

Bridey Murphy (Entry 818.JB1414)

Omnibus — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 09:00:00 +0000

In which a Colorado housewife and her tractor dealer friend jump-start the 1950s "reincarnation" fad, and Ken ponders whether or not he was "Endora" in a past life. Certificate #29314.

The Letter J (Entry 714.1CH0910)

Omnibus — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 09:00:00 +0000

In which a 16th-century jack-of-all-trades judiciously joins a jaunty new Johnny-come-lately to our jargon because he's just so jazzed about Jesus. Juxtaposed with John's jumbled jeremiads and Jennings's juvenile jokes. Certificate #23082.

The Ballads of Ossian (Entry 094.PR2017)

Omnibus — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 09:00:00 +0000

In which Thomas Jefferson, Napoleon, and Goethe go nuts about a best-selling blind Celtic bard who might not even exist, and John writes his first Tolkien fanfic. Certificate #28002

Brown Sound (Entry 158.MT1517)

Omnibus — Thu, 18 Oct 2018 09:00:00 +0000

In which military scientists, flush from their success annoying Manuel Noriega with Doors music, try to find that one elusive noise that will liquefy their enemies' bowels. Certificate #42964.

Second Sleep (Entry 1122.ZC0401)

Omnibus — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 09:00:00 +0000

In which John and Ken learn that they share a "chronotype," but disagree over whether it's natural to spend an hour or two every night sitting naked in a chair. Certificate #38846.

The Hollow Earth (Entry 593.JB2607)

Omnibus — Thu, 11 Oct 2018 09:00:00 +0000

In which we ponder two questions: are we living on the inside of a concave sphere? Or is someone else down there, possibly with skimpy outfits and pet dinosaurs? Certificate #19429.

Pokemon Go (Entry 958.GE0702)

Omnibus — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 09:00:00 +0000

In which the biggest media franchise and the biggest augmented reality game of all time cause us to consider Zionist trading cards, the allure of wooden boats, and the feng shui of construction workers. Certificate #41843.

Tsar Bomba (Entry 1345.MI0104)

Omnibus — Thu, 04 Oct 2018 09:00:00 +0000

In which the Soviet Union detonates the biggest bomb in human history, and Ken imagines Nikita Khrushchev as a pro wrestler and a Bond villain. Certificate #20568.

The Blue Men of the Sahara (Entry 136.PS10704)

Omnibus — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which we meet one of the last nomadic people on the planet and admire their dress code, and John identifies strongly with a camel that roars when loaded heavily. Certificate #42973

Dancing Mania (Entry 315.LA0515)

Omnibus — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which mass hysteria strikes the town squares of medieval Europe, John imagines the rigors of jute underwear, and Ken wonders if aliens ever start orgies. Certificate #21161.

Mail Trucks (Entry 749.2S1114)

Omnibus — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which the world's largest, boxiest truck fleet ages into its fourth decade, and John hunts for an elusive postal mascot from his childhood. Certificate #35752

Albanian Bunkers (Entry 029.RV0615)

Omnibus — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 16:00:00 +0000

In which we learn why one of Europe's most isolated countries is dotted with hundreds of thousands of domed concrete pillboxes, and also why zombie movies are thinly veiled racism. Certificate #46673

(LIVE) Disco Demolition Night (Entry 356.AC1919)

Omnibus — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which the war between album-oriented rock and its mortal enemy disco boils over into the worst baseball promotion in history, and Ken reveals what 1970s music they play in heaven. Certificate #25815.

Jefferson, State of (Entry 671.NU2655)

Omnibus — Thu, 13 Sep 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which a huckster and meteorite-hunter, facing a business disaster, starts a still-brewing secession movement on the Oregon-California border, and also we contemplate who all the Looney Tunes characters voted for. Certificate #26085.

The Hilbert Hotel (Entry 587.LK0207)

Omnibus — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 16:00:00 +0000

In which we learn what happens when an infinite number of tour buses arrive at an infinite hotel with no vacancies, and decide whether or not this is worse than the guest services at the Eagles' Hotel California. Certificate #44261.

Anita Bryant (Entry 159.PR0913)

Omnibus — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 20:30:00 +0000

In which a minor 1950s celebrity births America's modern cultural war, and Ken gets to complain about his two least favorite things: bigotry, and orange juice. Certificate #31531

The Fourth Crusade (Entry 495.2T0203)

Omnibus — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which a medieval crusade to Jerusalem goes off the rails and ends up sacking the world's greatest Christian city instead. Certificate #11758.

The Anarchist Cookbook (Entry 045.RV2210)

Omnibus — Thu, 30 Aug 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which an angry teenager in his local library produces a counterculture classic of booby-trap design, leading to John being suspended from junior high for anarcho-capitalism. Certificate #33047.

The Saint Helena Submarine Plot (Entry 1096.PS7719)

Omnibus — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which Napoleon Bonaparte is disrespected by John's mom, but almost rescued by an English smuggler in a steampunk submarine. Certificate #37796.

The Berkeley Pit (Entry 115.PS8806)

Omnibus — Thu, 23 Aug 2018 15:00:00 +0000

In which John welcomes the microbes from a Montana copper sludge pit who will surely inherit the earth, and Ken announces how many syllables a dog's name should have. Certificate #50365.

Inversion Goggles (Entry 659.IS2916)

Omnibus — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 19:00:00 +0000

In which we study the human brain's terrifying capacity for adaptation, via upside-down cigarette lighting, weird-smelling houses, and "stoner" voice. Certificate #37104.

The '59 Les Paul Standard (Entry 466.PS3302)

Omnibus — Thu, 16 Aug 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which John explains why there are only 643 of the greatest guitar ever made, and Kirk Hammett of Metallica pays $2 million for a Fleetwood Mac hand-me-down. Certificate #30784.

Ea-Nasir (Entry 390.LV1913)

Omnibus — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which Sumeria's shiftiest businessman keeps all his hate mail around for four thousand years, and Ken gets accused of counterfeiting by a local bookstore. Certificate #27107.

Michael Rockefeller (Entry 1078.MI0303)

Omnibus — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which one of America's richest young men gets really into New Guinean tribal art, and ends up getting really into a New Guinean tribe. Certificate #7628.

The D-Day Crosswords (Entry 318.PR2019)

Omnibus — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which a British newspaper mysteriously spends June 1944 printing top-secret World War II spoilers, and Ken fails to amuse John with a lengthy anagram about a sex scandal. Certificate #29294.

The Barefoot Bandit (Entry 098.DE2510)

Omnibus — Thu, 02 Aug 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which John runs down the history of serial burglary, beginning with gentleman jewel thieves and ending with a plane crash in the Bahamas. Certificate #39409.

Greek Fire (Entry 548.IS6402)

Omnibus — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which the Byzantines save their empire by inventing the flamethrower, John clears up a misconception re: how many roads go to Rome, and Ken clears up a misconception re: how many herbs and spices are in KFC. Certificate #10403.

Skyscraper Helipads (Entry 1170.IS6008)

Omnibus — Thu, 26 Jul 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which John blames the boring skyline of Los Angeles on Regulation Number 10, an ill-conceived attempt at making every building in the city accessible by helicopter. Certificate #38095.

The Voyager Golden Records (Entry 1403.JU0113)

Omnibus — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which NASA gives aliens a weird gift basket (opera arias, a welcome from a Nazi war criminal, a lousy map, and absolutely no nipples!) and Ken gossips about wife-swapping astronomers. Certificate #34914.

The Truman Reconstruction (Entry 1343.LK1428)

Omnibus — Thu, 19 Jul 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which a piano starts to fall right through the floor of a second-story dining room, and as a result, the White House gets a balcony, a bunker, and a bowling alley. Certificate #47967.

(02:15) The White House

Watch the K Foundation Burn a Million Quid (Entry 1412.JM0503)

Omnibus — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which two art-world provocateurs fly to Scotland and burn through a record amount of cash in just two hours, and John sings his least favorite novelty song of the 1980s for us. (Hey!) Certificate #5888.

The Washing Bear (Entry 1411.LV2025)

Omnibus — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which John explains the secrets of raccoon hygiene, Ken mistakenly shows up with a ukulele, a straw hat, and a football pennant, and ferret lovers unsubscribe in mass numbers. Certificate #29158.

The Transcontinental Airway System (Entry 1327.PS4304)

Omnibus — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which the post office builds a path of giant yellow concrete arrows stretching across the continent, and John questions the sobriety of the pilots of Montana. Certificate #34096.

The Tri-State Tornado (Entry 1339.JE3023)

Omnibus — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 17:00:00 +0000

In which the most devastating twister in American history tears through 235 miles of the Midwest, tossing around trees, railroad tracks, and popcorn stands. Certificate #9101.

Christian Science Reading Rooms (Entry 220.HB0202)

Omnibus — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 18:00:00 +0000

In which a Boston woman falls on an icy sidewalk and discovers the secret of the universe, and listeners are encouraged to seek out the most heretical book in their local metaphysical lending library. Certificate #51449.

War Rugs (Entry 1411.SS0604)

Omnibus — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which we travel to the "graveyard of empires" to witness the birth of an exciting Soviet-era art form, and Ken learns he should have saved the satin bomber jackets of his childhood. Certificate #39950.

The Koryo Saram (Entry 692.JE2907)

Omnibus — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which tens of thousands of Koreans are forcibly relocated to the deserts of Central Asia and ordered to grow rice, and John refuses to relocate to Kotzebue or Yakutat even though he has a free plane ticket. Certificate #16823.

Billy the Pygmy Hippo (Entry 122.JB4024)

Omnibus — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which Calvin Coolidge gets a frisky gift from Liberia that ushers zoos into the modern age, and John and Ken fantasize about being president and still sleeping all day. Certificate #47159.

The Boysenberry (Entry 148.LV2519)

Omnibus — Tue, 19 Jun 2018 15:00:00 +0000

In which a California backyard botanist creates a mysterious new fruit, resulting in one of the century's biggest food fads and reinventing the American vacation. Certificate #36525.

Prisencolinensinainciusol (Entry 988.1C1423)

Omnibus — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 19:00:00 +0000

In which the world's catchiest song teaches us how English sounds to overseas ears, and Ken mispronounces the French word for "slithy." Certificate #35645.

The Conqueror (Entry 264.LK1255)

Omnibus — Tue, 12 Jun 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which an eccentric billionaire has the terrible idea to cast John Wayne as Genghis Khan, and a "who's who" of Hollywood gets showered with both bad reviews and radioactive fallout. Certificate #17145.

The Bugatti Chiron (Entry 162.EC0911)

Omnibus — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which a Volkswagen marque invents the super-car, new acceleration and deceleration records are set, and Ken asks where John was conceived. Certificate #24968.

The St. Martin Fistula (Entry 1227.PR2027)

Omnibus — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 17:00:00 +0000

In which a French-Canadian "voyageur" suffers three indignities: being blasted with buckshot at point-blank range, becoming a full-time medical guinea pig, and having John call him the world's first "human fondue set." Certificate #42453.

The Preppy Handbook (Entry 981.DE2211)

Omnibus — Thu, 31 May 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which John traces "preppy" fashion from Buckingham Palace to Hyannis Port to Kinko's, and Ken wonders if everyone on post-collapse Earth owns a navy blazer. Certificate #31310.

Duchenne Smiles (Entry 385.PR1513)

Omnibus — Tue, 29 May 2018 21:00:00 +0000

In which we examine how flight attendants smile, baby chimps play, botox treats mental illness, and Oscar the Grouch was a harsh wake-up call for Gen X kids. Certificate #42013.

The Port Chicago Disaster (Entry 967.AC1940)

Omnibus — Thu, 24 May 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which a Victory ship full of ammunition ignites a three-mile fireball, which in turn ignites the biggest mutiny trial in American history. Certificate #32844.

Gordon Lish (Entry 726.2C0113)

Omnibus — Tue, 22 May 2018 18:00:00 +0000

In which Raymond Carver becomes a literary superstar largely thanks to one brilliant, heavy-handed editor, and Ken and John share a very controversial Blade Runner take. Certificate #24875.

Spanish Fly (Entry 1195.SS0713)

Omnibus — Thu, 17 May 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which a poison made from dried beetles becomes a schoolyard legend as an alleged aphrodisiac, foreshadowing our modern age of creepy predator celebrities and erectile dysfunction infomercials. Certificate #31327.

The Moon Illusion (Entry 806.JB3126)

Omnibus — Tue, 15 May 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which we learn why the moon looks so much larger at the horizon, whether your fingernails can out-race Portugal, and whether Ken or John has the better Axl Rose impression. Certificate #18042.

Tylenol Murders (Entry 1354.IS2915)

Omnibus — Thu, 10 May 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which John runs down the disturbing history of product tampering, from Bromo-Seltzer to baby food, and listeners are strongly discouraged from committing murder. Certificate #27765.

William Rufus King (Entry 688.LK1734)

Omnibus — Tue, 08 May 2018 19:00:00 +0000

In which a U.S. vice-president spends his entire six-week term dying in Cuba, and Ken reads some fun, flirty letters from future president James Buchanan. Certificate #39087.

Backyard Blast Furnaces (Entry 091.EZ2220)

Omnibus — Thu, 03 May 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which John explains why it's a bad idea to smelt iron on your deck or patio, a seemingly obvious life tip that seems to have escaped Chairman Mao. Certificate #30148.

The Washington Generals (Entry 1411.HE1212)

Omnibus — Tue, 01 May 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which we celebrate a basketball team that never gets to celebrate, because they've lost to their rivals 17,000 times. Certificate #46102.

Checkerboarding (Entry 210.NU2653)

Omnibus — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 18:00:00 +0000

In which the U.S. government pixelates the American West with land grants to railroads. Certificate #6798.

Bir Tawil (Entry 126.EZ2010)

Omnibus — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 15:00:00 +0000

In which Ken confesses that he might have caused a land grab in the middle of the Nubian Desert. Certificate #50204.

Hypercolor (Entry 611.GE3703)

Omnibus — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 09:00:00 +0000

In which we revisit 1991's briefest, brightest fashion fad, and John ponders what to do with our nation's biggest problem: awkward middle-schoolers. Certificate #26275.

The Angels of Mons (Entry 047.PS9111)

Omnibus — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 09:00:00 +0000

In which an unsuccessful horror writer accidentally rewrites the history of the Western Front, and Ken is clearly annoyed at having to learn the history of the Western Front. Certificate #21873.

Canadian Floating Feet (Entry 178.RV2013)

Omnibus — Thu, 12 Apr 2018 09:00:00 +0000

In which sneakers keep washing onto the beaches of British Columbia with the feet of mystery people still inside, may God rest their soles. Certificate #27174.

Vending Machines (Entry 1387.DE0228)

Omnibus — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 09:00:00 +0000

In which Ken runs down the list of everything that could ever be bought by putting coins in slots, from religious awe to banned books to pancake mix. Certificate #16697.

Call Signs (Entry 176.1S1007)

Omnibus — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 19:00:00 +0000

In which we learn why US radio stations start with a K or a W, and how to get hold of Ken's dad in case of a national emergency. Certificate #28337.

Hachiko (Entry 559.PR2006)

Omnibus — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 20:00:00 +0000

In which a Scottish policeman, a Tokyo professor, and Mary Queen of Scots have very loyal dogs, but a young John Roderick does not. Certificate #24139.

(LIVE) Lake Missoula (Entry 697.GN0710)

Omnibus — Thu, 29 Mar 2018 10:00:00 +0000

In which a prehistoric ice dam breaks and 500 cubic miles of water reshape the Pacific Northwest. Certificate #17528

(LIVE) Tuvan Throat Singers (Entry 1351.PS13704)

Omnibus — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 18:00:00 +0000

In which Ken attempts to teach a new superpower--Central Asian overtone singing--to John and a live audience. Certificate #40632.

Milli Vanilli (Entry 789.JB2704)

Omnibus — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 19:00:00 +0000

In which a German record producer hires two male models to lip-sync his hits, leading to--girl, you know it's true!--one Grammy, one class-action lawsuit, and one tragic death. Certificate #35145.

Mary Anning (Entry 050.PS3420)

Omnibus — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 12:00:00 +0000

In which a working-class woman becomes one of the greatest scientists of her age, discovers dinosaur poop, and sells seashells by the seashore. Certificate #36073.

S.S. United States (Entry 1213.JB0926)

Omnibus — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 14:00:00 +0000

In which an aluminum-heavy cruise liner falls on hard times, and John and Ken can't decide if "Blue Riband" is actually French or not. Certificate #39390.

Rubber Barons (Entry 1087.EZ1613)

Omnibus — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 15:00:00 +0000

In which Ken describes the nouveau riche of the Amazon rainforest, and John has a conspiracy theory about scarecrows. Certificate #25284.

Father Coughlin (Entry 284.MT2309)

Omnibus — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 12:00:00 +0000

In which a fiery Canadian gets 30 million Depression-era listeners for his little fascist radio show, and Ken and John pledge fealty to Martian invaders. Certificate #29423

The Noid (Entry 840.PR0415)

Omnibus — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 16:00:00 +0000

In which a claymation terrorist with inexplicable bunny ears disrupts pizza, takes hostages, and wins America's heart. Certificate #29250

The Zuider Zee (Entry 1458.NA0104)

Omnibus — Thu, 01 Mar 2018 21:00:00 +0000

In which the Dutch battle their oldest enemy: the Waterwolf. Almost certainly the Omnibus's last entry (alphabetically). Certificate #31078.

London Bridge Is Down (Entry 733.2K0934)

Omnibus — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 12:00:00 +0000

In which we make plans for the longest-awaited death in human history, and wonder how many Welsh corgis it takes to pull a gun carriage. Certificate #34884.

Back Masking (Entry 091.EP0427)

Omnibus — Thu, 22 Feb 2018 11:30:00 +0000

In which John investigates whether or not segassem terces naitnoc sgnos kcor, and Ken wonders why Satan would own a toolshed. Certificate #30148.

Megafauna (Entry 772.JB4015)

Omnibus — Tue, 20 Feb 2018 12:30:00 +0000

In which we learn which Ice Age animal is named after the human nipple, and which modern animal fills John's soul with bloodlust. Certificate #47448.

Oneida (Entry 866.MT2230)

Omnibus — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 11:30:00 +0000

In which a socialist preacher invents a tricky birth control technique he calls "male continence," leading directly to the lazy Susan and the assassination of an American president. Certificate #34322.