What if we told you Bartholomew Columbus, Jerome Bonaparte and Kermit Roosevelt were all real people? Did you know that there is a direct link between Napoleon Bonaparte and tin cans? Thomas Jefferson and barbed wire? John Travolta and Forrest Gump? Dive into the rabbit hole of history's obscure facts and unique narratives with host Albort Einstone as he connects the dots between past and present. Join us for a hearty dose of Scattered Curiosities.
…
continue reading
Court jesters have been associated with positions of authority throughout time in memorial from the Pharoah Neferkere to the conquests of Atilla the Hun to the Battle of Hastings and through the Age of Discovery. These wisecracking wearers of the "cap and bells" have gone by various titles: minstrel, juggler, jolly, clown, comedian, joker, harlequi…
…
continue reading
1986 (a 365-day time frame fraught with discharge of toxic material, skyjackings, and espionage) was dubbed the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. And why not? The U.K. and Netherlands officially ended the 335-Years War, Hands Across America was raising funds for hunger and homelessness, the late Martin Luther King Jr. was honored w…
…
continue reading
Since The Simpsons debuted over three decades ago, Albort’s Jeopardy game has been embiggened exponentially. But for the Simpsons, he would never have known about Walt Whitman’s Leaves of Grass, Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose, or William Alton Carter’s Billy Beer; and that’s just scratching the surface. This episode celebrates the random factoids lear…
…
continue reading
How many movies have you seen that feature a wardrobe montage, a protagonist tearing out an IV to hastily leave the hospital, post-coital bed-sheets that magically only cover the woman’s chest, or characters uttering stale lines like, “We’ve got company”, “No time to explain”, or “He’s behind me, isn’t he?” All are examples of clichés but they aren…
…
continue reading
1
55 Magnetic Tape, Joysticks, and Pizza Theaters
1:00:01
1:00:01
Na później
Na później
Listy
Polub
Polubione
1:00:01
It's been fifty years since Atari’s revolutionary game, Pong, ushered in a Renaissance for video arcades in America and gave rise to the animatronic house bands of Chuck E. Cheese and Showbiz Pizza. Albort experienced it in real time and invites you to join him for a stroll down memory lane with detours at the 1982 World’s Fair, Blockbuster Video a…
…
continue reading
1
Better Half E4 - Pearls, Pants Suits, And The Golden Age Of Capitalism 1944 - 2022
1:57:11
1:57:11
Na później
Na później
Listy
Polub
Polubione
1:57:11
This is the final episode of our four-part Better Half mini-series containing six lectures apropos to the First Ladies from the Cold War up to the present time. What is known of the First Ladies of the United States we have covered up to this point comes down to us via the press, memoirs, what can be divined from letters, paintings, anecdotes, and …
…
continue reading
1
Better Half E3 - Amelia And Eleanor's Excellent Adventure 1933 - 1944
42:32
42:32
Na później
Na później
Listy
Polub
Polubione
42:32
This third installment of our four-part Better Half mini-series departs from the regular format as it is not focused solely on the First Lady of the United States of America and only features one of them. Today's narrative was built around the 1933 evening when Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt ducked out of a party at the White House to take a …
…
continue reading
1
Better Half E2 - Scalawags, Carpetbaggers, And The Gospel Of Wealth 1865 - 1933
1:14:29
1:14:29
Na później
Na później
Listy
Polub
Polubione
1:14:29
This is the second apportionment of our four-part Better Half mini-series containing four lectures regarding the First Ladies of the United States within the Reconstruction Era, the Gilded Age, through total global interwar, the Mad Decade, and up to the brink of the Dirty Thirties. The sixty-eight-year span features a shy First Lady entreating the…
…
continue reading
1
Better Half E1 - Remember The Ladies 1789 - 1865
1:10:31
1:10:31
Na później
Na później
Listy
Polub
Polubione
1:10:31
This is the inaugural episode of an introductory four-part mini-series regarding the First Ladies of the United States of America. The New Nation's inception thought nothing of what to call the President's wife as "First Lady" did not appear in print until thirty-six years after Martha Washington's death. Because women have been so thoroughly shaft…
…
continue reading
It has been eleven years since ABC’s smash drama LOST has been off the air, yet fans continue to debate and mythologize its doctrines via blogs and hundreds of podcasts devoted solely to dissecting the mysterious island series from multiple perspectives, delving deeper into the characters' connections to one another; this is not one of them. Instea…
…
continue reading
What happens when a paranormal consultant remembers an incarcerated Nelson Mandela dying in the 1980s instead of famously being released from his twenty-seven-year sentence in 1990, becoming the first Black President of South Africa and living an additional three decades? The rara avis known as False Memory Syndrome gets rebranded as The Mandela Ef…
…
continue reading
When did fashion dolls morph into America’s movable men? Why do unicorns and Pegasus get confused for one another? Who, among rock stars, would make the ugliest, but most talented, baby? What Golden Raspberry Award-winning actor and former BOP Boy are we infatuated with? How is it that Weebles wobble but do not fall down? And where does Albort drea…
…
continue reading
1
50 Amelia and Eleanor's Excellent Adventure
42:23
42:23
Na później
Na później
Listy
Polub
Polubione
42:23
Did President Franklin Delano Roosevelt have Amelia Earhart shot down over the Pacific during a “reconnaissance” mission in retaliation for her lesbian affairs with First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt? Probably not, but if you nit-picked your facts, you might be able to construct a plausible explanation to support that theory; we are not the first to sugg…
…
continue reading
1
49 Let's Talk About Secs Part II
1:01:54
1:01:54
Na później
Na później
Listy
Polub
Polubione
1:01:54
At long last, the conclusion to our series highlighting the men and women (finally) to hold the position of US Secretary of State has arrived. This installment brings us into and through the 20th Century, covering the annexation of Hawaii, the Spanish American War, the Treaty of Versailles, the concept of “Dollar Diplomacy”, the Marshall Plan, the …
…
continue reading
*WARNING: CONTENTS OF THIS EPISODE CONTAIN CHRISTMAS SPOILERS. NOT FOR CHILDREN* Join Albort as he explores the many incarnations of the most fantastical, generous, Coca-Cola loving character of the holiday season, Santa Claus; from Saint Nikolas of Myra to Sinterklaas of the Netherlands to Pere Noel of France to L. Frank Baum’s “Neclaus” and why t…
…
continue reading
It’s October and time for our most spooktacular episode yet. Get a lesson in the provenance of Halloween and the many names it goes by, from the Celtic festivities of Calan Gaef and Samhain to All Hallow’s Eve, Hallowmas, All Saint’s Day, Reformation Day, Founder’s Day and the Day of Seven Billion. Albort’s cauldron is brimming with vampires, witch…
…
continue reading
Having already covered Presidents and Vice Presidents, we are now continuing the tradition of an annual show dedicated to the men and women who have run the United States since its inception with the elusive position of Secretary of State, a job held by a few would-be presidents: Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Mar…
…
continue reading
Orville Redenbacher, Mario Puzo and James Brown walk into a podcast…don’t you wish that was the set up to a fantastic joke? It’s not (sorry) but a connection between the three can be found in the year 1969; as well as Ho Chi Minh/Dwight D. Eisenhower, Judy Garland/Sharon Tate, Jack Kerouac/Joseph Kennedy, Sr. and Boris Karloff/Frank Loesser. Join A…
…
continue reading
Capital cities are the center of government to nations states and provinces but are not always the most prominent, popular, populous or permanent (New York City and Philadelphia are NOT capital cities…anymore). Pensacola and Saint Augustine are also former heads of state that ceded to Tallahassee when East Florida and West Florida unified.Join Albo…
…
continue reading
It is time for this season’s language analyzing episode, featuring near miss accidents, poison versus venom, Judas Priest, Alzheimer’s Disease, The Pirates of Penzance, bald faced lies, Diphtheria, Contronyms, Malapropisms, Voiceless Labiodental Fricatives and Albort explaining the difference between amused/bemused, viable/feasible, ultimate/penult…
…
continue reading
1
42 Distinguished Despots And Enigmatic Eminences
45:19
45:19
Na później
Na później
Listy
Polub
Polubione
45:19
It’s the season three premiere and boy is it a scattered one, including little known factoids about some infamously ferocious historical redheads and a queen whose hair turned white overnight. Delve into the many loves of Cleopatra and Gaius Julius Caesar (along with each other), cross-dressing Romans, decisive beheadings, felinophobes, the tale of…
…
continue reading
1
41 TAMT Teenage Avant - Garde Master Talents
1:19:49
1:19:49
Na później
Na później
Listy
Polub
Polubione
1:19:49
It’s the Season Two Finale and Albort thinks the Renaissance names for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were not assigned properly and intends to make a case for it. Get the back story on the cold-blooded half-shelled vindicators of justice and their belletristic namesakes of antiquity Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Raphael.…
…
continue reading
Albort reflects on his fortieth year on this our fortieth episode. Travel back to the mystical year one thousand, nine-hundred ninety-eight to decide if Albort predicted the Bird Flu virus as he reads excerpts of his recently dusted off writing assignment book borne of his ten year old, pop-culture infected mind to discover how he and the world hav…
…
continue reading
1
39 Nickels, Bullets, Boats and the Pickle Man
1:27:17
1:27:17
Na później
Na później
Listy
Polub
Polubione
1:27:17
Snowmen, Alan Alda, Candy Canes, and Cherries are just some of the many nicknames for pairs in playing cards and the first two make up four fifths of the infamous Dead Man’s Hand. Join Albort for a lesson in poker tournaments, game strategy and learn the jargon that will have you talking like a pro in no time. Discover how the World Series of Poker…
…
continue reading
It’s the first Tinysode of the season, a lost relic from the series premiere of the Scattered Curiosities. Get a very brief overview of the Battle of the Downs, one of Albort’s favorite paintings at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, and find out what it has to do with the Caribbean islands of Aruba, Curacao and St. Maarten.…
…
continue reading
Take a trip down Saturday Morning Memory Lane with Albort Einstone as he recalls some favorite cereals, commercials, toys and mascots from the late 1800s to today. Learn the history behind some of the biggest companies in breakfast and how Battle Creek, Michigan became ground zero for the start of the unending mascot wars and cereal killers.…
…
continue reading
1
36 The Leaded Balloons That Ouched Humanity
46:32
46:32
Na później
Na później
Listy
Polub
Polubione
46:32
Albort knows a thing or two about being full of hot air and blows quite a bit of it in this episode surrounding the rigid airships of the early to mid-1900s and how hot air balloons used in the US Civil War helped to inspire the creation of the Luftschiff Zeppelin. Get to know the LZ129 Hindenburg, how it crashed and then wound up on the record jac…
…
continue reading
35 The Return of Bobby Fulton by Albort EinstoneAutor: Albort Einstone
…
continue reading
1
34 Chapter One of the Book That Never Was
31:19
31:19
Na później
Na później
Listy
Polub
Polubione
31:19
What happens when a podcaster is asked to turn the first season of his show into a book that does not get published? This episode happens. Chapter one sets the tone for Scattered Curiosities: The Book by utilizing material from our first “Tinysode” (New Yorkosities) and expanding it by a hexatruple and a Pizza Rat. A handy listen for navigating the…
…
continue reading
1
33 Lucky Leo and the WIzard of Floyd
40:38
40:38
Na później
Na później
Listy
Polub
Polubione
40:38
What is the connection between Pink Floyd, a cat named Jackie and the Wizard of Oz? Third roar synchronicity…or second…or NEITHER. Get to know the black & white, sepia-toned and Technicolor MGM “Felidae” that roared (or not) their way into Hollywood royalty to one day unveil The Dark Side of the Rainbow.…
…
continue reading
1
32 What the Dickens Came From the Pen of John Shakespeare's Son
1:09:17
1:09:17
Na później
Na później
Listy
Polub
Polubione
1:09:17
It is curious that our one hundred forty character, emoticon-centered, cell phone addicted, American society is not well-known for its ardency of reading, yet is so familiar with a doublet of British writers from 150-400 years ago that had so much in common: neologism, fame, reboots, fathers’ named John, and fantastic signatures. Enter the parallel…
…
continue reading
1
31 Rubes, Rubys, Rubies and Reubens
1:01:00
1:01:00
Na później
Na później
Listy
Polub
Polubione
1:01:00
Get to know Albort’s idol Rube Goldberg a little better in this episode through Pee Wee Herman, Mr. T and a slew of RGMs. You’ll also meet a train robbing Rube, a sandwich named Rueben, some heroic lady Rubys, along with some musically talented ones who are as precious and iconic as rubles, rubies and the Rubicon River.…
…
continue reading
Leftovers are the soup du jour today. Get into Albort’s scatter-brains and learn about Sadie Hawkins Day, Bandwagons, Diner Slang and King Og. This episode is especially interesting for those of you that love the year 1986.Autor: Albort Einstone
…
continue reading
It’s the first episode of Season Two! Albort explores the world of simple inventions and how they came to market. Did you know Twister was thought of as “Sex in a Box” when it debuted? Or that the Snuggie wasn’t the first sleeved blanket? How exactly did John Henderson benefit Mister Kite? And what do Wacky Wallwalkers have to do with Christmas? Al…
…
continue reading
PILOT: In this first episode of Scattered Curiosities, Albort Einstone takes you to the Netherlands and makes poignant connections between Amsterdam and New Amsterdam (New York City) all while weaving in and out of the Eighty Years War.Autor: Albort Einstone
…
continue reading
For the season one finale, Albort will explore the connections between Duct Tape, Swiss Army Knives, Matches, Springs, Lighters and the Boy Scouts of America. Learn about the Unknown Scout and how he was pivotal to the formation of the BSA. Discover what “Congreves” and “Lucifers” are, and the difference between “The Original Swiss Army Knife” and …
…
continue reading
Finding the right band name is one of the most pivotal moments in a musical group’s journey. Many notable bands went through more than one title before settling on a Rock Moniker. Discover which bands once went by names like: Naked Toddler; Wicked Lester; The Shrinky Dinks; Atomic Mass; and The Polka Tulk Blues Band.…
…
continue reading
Join us for one of the most infuriatingly extreme subway rides ever, and learn all about toe spreading, licking the sword, burning the giraffe, magic blankets and why Albort is worried about possums, zebras and woodpeckers plaguing the New York subway systems.Autor: Albort Einstone
…
continue reading
Widen your vocabulary with these words that sound dirty, but aren’t: Sack-But; Sack-ButT; Shuttlecock; Nicker-Picker; Nib lick; Logorrhea; Pissasphalt; and an Interrobang (?). Don’t be a lobcock or a nodgecock; be a fartlek and get fecund with Albort Einstone in today’s episode, Talking Dirty.Autor: Albort Einstone
…
continue reading
Did you know that Green Acres was a spinoff of Petticoat Junction? And Petticoat Junction was a spin off of The Beverly Hillbillies? And Good Times was a spinoff of Maude! Can you believe that Sheriff Lobo got his own series? And Magnum PI has crossed over with Simon & Simon and Murder, She Wrote. Learn some fascinating television trivia relating t…
…
continue reading
Explorer. Adventurer. Neurologist. Sailor. Stud. Diplomat. Scientist. Champion Ice Skater. Champion Skier. Nobel Peace Prize Winner. You need to know about this guy.Autor: Albort Einstone
…
continue reading
E06.3 That Ain't Right by Albort EinstoneAutor: Albort Einstone
…
continue reading
Albort jumps the shark in our 22nd episode, Idiomdom. Toeing the line between literal and figurative speaking he uncovers the stories behind such idioms as “it’s a cakewalk” “throwing in the towel” “costing and arm and a leg” and, of course, “jumping the shark”. Discover the origin of the words “bimbo” “pushover” and “scram”, find out why we call w…
…
continue reading
Jump into the Curiosity Winnebago as Albort takes you on a road trip across America, zigzagging north to south and south to north and from east to west to see the biggest ball of twine, the Paul Bunyan statue that comes alive in Stephen King’s novel “IT”, a UFO House, Jim the Wonder Dog Gardens, PT Barnum’s grave, the Fiji Merman, the Death Tiki of…
…
continue reading
American English can be one of the most confusing languages to comprehend as it is constantly evolving and including everyday slang into its lexicon. Even words that have been around for a while can be confusing to people who already speak English: flammable and inflammable mean the same thing. This week, Albort highlights some of the many instance…
…
continue reading
Where did the infinity symbol come from? What is the true meaning behind the barber pole? Does a little blue ribbon mean more that one thing? What common everyday gesture means “anus” south of the equator? Discover the answer to these and other symbols, logos and gestures that are recognizable worldwide. This is symbolically speaking.…
…
continue reading
1
E05.2 Triple D's: The Daffy Donald Dilemma
58:02
58:02
Na później
Na później
Listy
Polub
Polubione
58:02
After Saturday’s big boxing match, we decided to pit the Warner Brothers Duck against the Disney Duck to find out which is most Quacktastic. Which pantsless fowl do you prefer? After Albort makes his case, you may change your mind. And get to know some of the amazing voice talent that have entertained us for the past 80+ years from Silly Symphonies…
…
continue reading
To celebrate today’s rare Solar Eclipse, this episode is dedicated to the exploration of the heavens and the invention that opened the night sky to everyone, the telescope. And you have to go through Aristotle, Nicolaus Copernicus, Johannes Kepler and Galileo Galilei, just to name a few, to get to it. Learn about Halley’s Comet, the Hubble Telescop…
…
continue reading
In one of our tiniest “sodes” ever, Albort briefly analyzes the root origins of the names of colors. While he doesn’t cover all of the hues sewn into Joseph’s Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, he most definitely enlightens the origins of all of the chromatic tones of the rainbow, the three crayon colors they give your kid when you go to a family frien…
…
continue reading
Albort is cleaning out the file cabinet of spare curiosities that he was unable to include in past shows, so, these are kind of like the deleted scenes from materials found for our first 12 episodes, revealing Cookie Monster’s first name, the meaning of the phrase, “The Luck of the Irish” and you’ll meet a heavy metal singing parrot and Chinese Fir…
…
continue reading