087-A Sleuthing Cabbie, Edward VI's Homework, and a Self-Aware Crow




Futility Closet show

Summary: <p></p> <p>In this week's episode of the Futility Closet podcast we'll share seven oddities from Greg's research, from Arthur Conan Doyle's encounter with a perceptive Boston cabbie to a computer's failed attempts to rewrite Aesop's fables.</p> <p>We'll also hear boxer Gene Tunney's thoughts on Shakespeare and puzzle over how a man on a park bench can recognize a murder at sea.</p> <p><em>Please consider becoming a patron of Futility Closet -- on our <a href="http://www.patreon.com/futilitycloset">Patreon page</a> you can pledge any amount per episode, and all contributions are greatly appreciated. You can change or cancel your pledge at any time, and we've set up some rewards to help thank you for your support.</em></p> <p><em>You can also make a one-time donation via the Donate button in the sidebar of the Futility Closet website.</em></p> <p>Sources for the items in this week's episode:</p> <p>Joseph Hatton, <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=961MAAAAMAAJ&amp;pg=PA294">"Revelations of an Album,"</a> in <em>The Idler</em>, April 1897.</p> <p>Charles Dickens mentioned "MOOR EEFFOC" in an abandoned autobiography. Michael Quinion has a bit more at <a href="http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-mor2.htm">World Wide Words</a>.</p> <p>Albert Pierce Taylor, <em><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=_2CmsAMr75wC&amp;pg=PA366">Under Hawaiian Skies</a></em>, 1922.</p> <p><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001030/bio">"John Cazale,"</a> IMDb (accessed 12/23/2015).</p> <p>Ed Zern <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=LC0s5bRdjFUC&amp;pg=PA148">reviewed</a> <em>Lady Chatterley's Lover</em> for <em>Field &amp; Stream</em> in November 1959.</p> <p>John Strype, <em><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=IXUqAAAAYAAJ&amp;pg=155">Ecclesiastical Memorials, Relating Chiefly to Religion, and the Reformation of It</a></em>, 1822.</p> <p>Noel Williams and Patrik Holt, <em><a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=GkAKUQgMWi8C&amp;pg=131">Computers and Writing: Models and Tools</a></em>, 1989.</p> <p>Listener mail:</p> <p><a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2194&amp;dat=19280424&amp;id=M3MuAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=ntkFAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=4347,5129267&amp;hl=en">"Yale Students Hear Tunney,"</a><em> Ottawa Citizen</em>, April 24, 1928.</p> <p><a href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Qx4gAAAAIBAJ&amp;sjid=n2YFAAAAIBAJ&amp;pg=983%2C835769">"Lauds Gene Tunney,"</a> <em>Lewiston</em> [Maine] <em>Daily Sun</em>, July 11, 1929.</p> <p>This week's lateral thinking puzzle is from <a href="http://www.kith.org/logos/things/sitpuz/situations.html">Jed's List of Situation Puzzles</a>.</p> <p>You can listen using the player above, <a href="http://traffic.libsyn.com/futilitycloset/Futility_Closet_podcast_-_Episode_87.mp3">download this episode directly</a>, or subscribe <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast?id=842593579">on iTunes</a> or via the RSS feed at <a href="http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset">http://feedpress.me/futilitycloset</a>.</p> <p>Many thanks to <a href="http://dougross.net/">Doug Ross</a> for the music in this episode.</p> <p>If you have any questions or comments you can reach us at <a href="mailto:podcast@futilitycloset.com">podcast@futilitycloset.com</a>. Thanks for listening!</p>