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  • Futility Closet
    6:31 am Tue, Jan 26, 2021
    In London in 1762, a ghost accused a man of murder

    In 1759, ghostly rappings started up in the house of a parish clerk in London. In the months that followed they would incite a scandal against one man, an accusation from beyond the grave. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll tell the story of the Cock Lane ghost, an enduring portrait of superstition and justice.

    We'll also see what you can get hit with at a sporting event and puzzle over some portentous soccer fields.

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  • Futility Closet
    8:05 am Wed, Jan 20, 2021
    In 1944, an English pointer gave heart to an Allied prison camp in Sumatra

    In 1944, British captives of the Japanese in Sumatra drew morale from an unlikely source: a purebred English pointer who cheered the men, challenged the guards, and served as a model of patient fortitude. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll tell the story of Judy, the canine POW of World War II.

    We'll also consider the frequency of different birthdays and puzzle over a little sun.

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  • Futility Closet
    11:51 am Tue, Jan 12, 2021
    In 1977, a German tourist spent three days in Bangor, Maine, thinking it was San Francisco

    In 1977, West German tourist Erwin Kreuz spent three days enjoying the sights, sounds, and hospitality of Bangor, Maine. Unfortunately, he thought he was in San Francisco, on the other side of the continent. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast, we'll describe Kreuz's unlikely adventure, which made him a local hero in his adopted city.

    We'll also consider an invisible killer and puzzle over a momentous measurement.

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  • Futility Closet
    8:19 am Tue, Jan 5, 2021
    In 1931, Ida Wood died hoarding a great fortune — and a great secret

    In 1931, a 93-year-old widow was discovered to be hoarding great wealth in New York's Herald Square Hotel. Her death touched off an inquiry that revealed a glittering past — and a great secret. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast, we'll tell the story of Ida Wood, which has been called "one of the most sensational inheritance cases in American history."

    We'll also revisit the Candy Bomber and puzzle over some excessive travel.

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  • Futility Closet
    6:16 am Tue, Dec 29, 2020
    Eight lateral thinking puzzles

    Here are eight new lateral thinking puzzles to test your wits and stump your friends — play along with us as we try to untangle some perplexing situations using yes-or-no questions.

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  • Futility Closet
    5:46 am Tue, Dec 22, 2020
    In 1928, the world's third-richest man inexplicably fell from an airplane

    In 1928, Belgian financier Alfred Loewenstein fell to his death from a private plane over the English Channel. How it happened has never been explained. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast, we'll describe the bizarre incident, which has been called "one of the strangest fatalities in the history of commercial aviation."

    We'll also consider whether people can be eaten by pythons and puzzle over an enigmatic horseman.

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  • Futility Closet
    7:50 am Wed, Dec 16, 2020
    After losing his sight at age 25, James Holman became the most prolific traveler of his day

    When a mysterious illness blinded him at age 25, British naval officer James Holman took up a new pursuit: travel. For the next 40 years he roamed the world alone, describing his adventures in a series of popular books. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast, we'll describe Holman's remarkable career and his unique perspective on his experiences.

    We'll also remember some separating trains and puzzle over an oddly drawn battle plan.

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  • Futility Closet
    10:09 am Thu, Dec 10, 2020
    Joseph Medicine Crow fulfilled four traditional war deeds during World War II

    Joseph Medicine Crow was raised on a Montana reservation in the warrior tradition of his Crow forefathers. But during World War II he found himself applying those lessons in very different circumstances. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast, we'll describe Joseph's exploits in the war and how they helped to shape his future.

    We'll also consider how to distinguish identical twins and puzzle over a physicist's beer.

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  • Futility Closet
    5:09 am Wed, Dec 2, 2020
    George Parker Bidder could do stupendously difficult arithmetic in his head

    George Parker Bidder was born with a surprising gift: He could do complex arithmetic in his head. His feats of calculation would earn for him a university education, a distinguished career in engineering, and fame throughout 19th-century England. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast, we'll describe his remarkable ability and the stunning displays he made with it.

    We'll also try to dodge some foul balls and puzzle over a leaky ship.

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  • Futility Closet
    7:48 am Thu, Nov 26, 2020
    Eccentric adventurer John Hornby clawed a living from the inhospitable tundra of northern Canada

    John Hornby left a privileged background in England to roam the vast subarctic tundra of northern Canada. There he became known as "the hermit of the north," famous for staying alive in a land with very few resources. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast, we'll spend a winter with Hornby, who's been called "one of the most colorful adventurers in modern history."

    We'll also consider an anthropologist's reputation and puzzle over an unreachable safe.

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    • 3 COMMENTS
  • Futility Closet
    6:24 am Tue, Nov 17, 2020
    Friedrich Kellner kept a secret diary to record the crimes of the Third Reich

    In the 1930s, German civil servant Friedrich Kellner was outraged by the increasing brutality of the Nazi party and the complicity of his fellow citizens. He began to keep a secret diary to record the crimes of the Third Reich and his condemnations of his countrymen. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast, we'll tell the story of Friedrich's diary and his outspoken warnings to future generations.

    We'll also ponder the problem with tardigrades and puzzle over a seemingly foolish choice.

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    • 10 COMMENTS
  • Futility Closet
    11:35 am Tue, Nov 3, 2020
    Mildred Norman gave away her possessions to walk North America in the cause of peace

    In 1953 Mildred Norman renounced "an empty life of money and things" and dedicated herself to promoting peace. She spent the next three decades walking through the United States to spread a message of simplicity and harmony. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll describe her unusual life as a peace pilgrim.

    We'll also admire Wellington's Mittens and puzzle over a barren Christmas.

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    • 3 COMMENTS
  • Futility Closet
    9:14 am Tue, Oct 27, 2020
    Six lateral thinking puzzles

    Here are six new lateral thinking puzzles to test your wits and stump your friends — play along with us as we try to untangle some perplexing situations using yes-or-no questions.

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    • 1 COMMENTS
  • Futility Closet
    4:55 am Wed, Oct 21, 2020
    In 1967, American businessman Jim Thompson disappeared from a cottage in Malaysia

    In 1967, Jim Thompson left his silk business in Thailand for a Malaysian holiday with three friends. On the last day, he disappeared from the cottage in which they were staying. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll review the many theories behind Thompson's disappearance, which has never been explained.

    We'll also borrow John Barrymore's corpse and puzzle over a teddy bear's significance.

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  • Futility Closet
    6:00 am Tue, Oct 13, 2020
    Beryl Markham trained racehorses, flew across the Atlantic, and wrote a book that impressed Hemingway

    Beryl Markham managed to fit three extraordinary careers into one lifetime: She was a champion racehorse trainer, a pioneering bush pilot, and a best-selling author. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll review her eventful life, including her historic solo flight across the Atlantic in 1936.

    We'll also portray some Canadian snakes and puzzle over a deadly car.

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    • 2 COMMENTS
  • Futility Closet
    5:30 am Tue, Oct 6, 2020
    In 1914, a series of horrific murders unfolded at Frank Lloyd Wright's Wisconsin estate

    By 1914 Frank Lloyd Wright had become one of America's most influential architects. But that August a violent tragedy unfolded at his Midwestern residence and studio. In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll describe the shocking attack of Julian Carlton, which has been called "the most horrific single act of mass murder in Wisconsin history."

    We'll also admire some helpful dogs and puzzle over some freezing heat.

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    • 1 COMMENTS
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