Cool Stuff Daily

Latest Episodes:

Mon. 11/09 - What To Know About the Pfizer Vaccine Nov 09, 2020

Show notes

Pfizer has good news about a potential COVID-19 vaccine. Here’s what you need to know. Meet the man who went viral over the weekend for interrupting a French newscaster. And high fashion scratch-and-sniff t-shirts; plus a brief history of the technology that enabled them.

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Links:

Vaccine efficacy 101 (Natalie E. Dean, PhD, Twitter)
Biden's Plans for Halting the Unchecked Spread of Covid-19 in the US (Kottke)
Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine is more than 90 percent effective in first analysis, company reports (Washington Post)
Pfizer Vaccine Is 90% Effective, Study Says (Buzzfeed News)
Temper expectations re: vaccine (James Ball, Twitter)
Meet Meka Anyanetu, Aka 'Omelette Du Fromage' Man (Forbes)
What in the World Is a $590 Scratch-and-Sniff T-shirt Doing in 2020? (NY Times)
Kottke.Org
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 11/06 - The Most Extreme, Hellish Planet Yet Discovered Nov 06, 2020

Show notes

Scientists have discovered more information about an absolutely hellish, inhospitable planet. And it’s not the one you think. Colorado passed a first-ever of its kind ballot measure to reintroduce a species of animal to its state. An intriguing if not-yet-promising coronavirus deterrent in the form of a nasal spray. And the secret writing life of former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams.

Sponsors:

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Links:

Scientists discover bizarre hell planet where it rains rocks and oceans are made of lava (CBS News)
We’ve Found Oceans Of Molten Lava And ‘Rocky Rain’ On The Most Extreme Planet Yet, Say Scientists (Forbes)
Colorado Is Getting Its Wolves Back After Voters Approve Historic Referendum (Gizmodo)
A nasal spray blocked infection in lab animals, raising hopes for a new weapon against the virus. (NY Times)
All 8 Stacey Abrams Romance Novels - Selena Montgomery Books List (Oprah Magazine)
Chris Pine writing class (Dana Koster, Twitter)
Kottke.Org
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 11/05 - Why Nebraska Splits Its Electoral Votes Nov 05, 2020

Show notes

Remember, remember the fifth of November. Here are some thoughts on the complicated legacy of the Gunpowder Plot. Why Nebraska’s electoral votes are so weird, and the man responsible for keeping them weird. And, inspired by the Korean practice of nunchi, some tips on being a better communicator in virtual spaces.

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Links:

Guy Fawkes's Misunderstood Legacy (The Atlantic)
Thread on Senator Ernie Chambers (Dr. Andrew R. Schrock, Twitter)
Read the (Virtual) Room! How to Improve Your Digital Nunchi (Wired)
Kottke.Org
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 11/04 - Brian Eno & the Atomization of Society Nov 04, 2020

Show notes

Brian Eno’s thoughts on social media and the role of the artist in these trying times, as well as a related new finding that smartphones may actually be helping to pop people’s filter bubbles when it comes to news consumption. A new archaeological discovery that has upended previous conceptions about gender roles in ancient hunter-gatherer societies. And Belgium’s cuddle buddy mandate.

Sponsors:

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Links:

Brian Eno's Music for Anxious Times (NY Times)
Phones Actually Pop Skewed 'News Bubbles' (Futurity)
Wed. 10/14 - Can Virtual Public Parks Save Democracy? (Kottke Ride Home)
9,000-Year-Old Burial of Female Hunter Upends Beliefs About Prehistoric Gender Roles (Gizmodo)
Everyone Gets a Cuddle Buddy in Belgium's New Lockdown (Vice)
Why Counties Are Livestreaming Their Ballot Counts (Bloomberg)
Kottke.Org
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 11/3 - The Atheist Ban Nov 03, 2020

Show notes

It’s Election Day in the US. I’ve got some good and some weird tips for staying calm amidst the election storm. An AI that can tell if you have COVID-19 just by listening to your cough. And a deep dive on one type of U.S. citizen who can’t run for public office in eight states.

Sponsors:

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Links:

Activities to reduce stress waiting for 2020 Election Day results (CNBC)
How The Verge is coping with election anxiety (The Verge)
Softbody Tetris (Kottke)
Election Distractor (NY Times)
This AI Can Tell if You Have Covid-19 Just by Listening to Your Cough, Researchers Say (Gizmodo)
Anti-atheist statutes still foul 8 state constitutions in U.S. (Patheos)
In Seven States, Atheists Push to End Largely Forgotten Ban (NY Times)
Church of Universal Suffrage
You either have to vote or lie to visit Pornhub on Election Day (A/V Club)
Kottke.Org
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Mon. 11/02 - Debunking & Distracting From Election Coverage Nov 02, 2020

Show notes

Heading into the U.S. general election tomorrow, a refresher on why polls can be unreliable and how to read them responsibly. An opportunity to own the vintage spyware gadgets of your dreams. It’s 2020: platypuses glow in the dark now. And a new site that will distract you from the election.

Sponsors:

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Links:

How claims of voter fraud were supercharged by bad science (MIT Technology Review)
Why Pollsters Were Completely and Utterly Wrong (Harvard Business Review)
Opinion | This Election Map Will Be Everywhere. Don’t Let It Fool You. (New York Times)
2020 - Latest Election Polls (Real Clear Politics)
For Sale: The Entire Spycraft Collection of New York's KGB Museum (Atlas Obscura)
Scientists Just Discovered That Platypus Fur Glows Green Under UV Light (Vice)
Election Distractor (NY Times)
Kottke.Org
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Fri. 10/30 - Is the Pandemic Causing Prohibition-esque Ripple Effects? Oct 30, 2020

Show notes

Why you’re seeing more young Black students working the polls this year. How the pandemic might parallel Prohibition's effect on the American brewing industry. NASA followed up a viral tweet with a literal link to their Soundcloud, and it’s definitely worth listening to, especially this weekend. And Play-Doh has just introduced a new line for adults. Yes, really.

Sponsors:

Fundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/kottke
The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe

Links:

Why young Black students are stepping in as poll workers this election season (NBC News)
How a Beer Historian Is Documenting COVID-19's Impact on Brewing (Atlas Obscura)
NASA SoundCloud Playlist Features Sinister Sounds of Space (NASA)
Play-Doh for Adults May Be the Most 2020 Product Innovation Yet (Ad Week)
Kottke.Org
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Thu. 10/29 - Haunted Bathrooms & Lab-Grown Brains Oct 29, 2020

Show notes

Can lab-grown brains become conscious? And should we let them? Burger King’s latest creepy stunt to try to rile up McDonald’s. And why do we say trick-or-treat, and what is Mischief Night anyways?

Sponsors:

The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe
Fundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/kottke

Links:

Can lab-grown brains become conscious? (Nature)
Burger King Halloween stunt makes Ronald McDonald appear in restrooms (Business Insider)
Wonder Fair's Virtual Haunted Bathroom (Wonder Fair)
Mischief Night and Halloween: A Brief History of the Term (TIME)
Why Do We Say 'Trick or Treat' on Halloween? (Mental Floss)
Halloween: The History of America's Darkest Holiday by David J. Skal
Kottke.Org
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Wed. 10/28 - 2020's Best Game Is a Cursed Real Estate Listing Oct 28, 2020

Show notes

A look back at one hundred years ago when women ruled a notorious wild west town. Some thoughts on the effects of technology on our ability to remember our thoughts in the long-term. And the internet is calling it the best game of 2020, but it’s actually just a virtual 3D tour of a house for sale. What’s going on?

Sponsors:

Fundrise, Get your first 90 days of advisory fees waived at fundrise.com/kottke
The Jordan Harbinger Show, jordanharbinger.com/subscribe

Links:

Remembering When Women Ruled a Wild West Town (Atlas Obscura)
Gaining, Losing, and Winning Back the Vote: The Story of Utah Women's Suffrage - Better Days Curriculum (Utah Women’s History)
Are we losing our ability to remember? (Scott Taylor)
This 3D home tour is the best accidental video game of 2020 (A/V Club)
The House on Blue Lick Road (Waxy)
3D Tour of 880 Blue Lick Road
Kottke.Org
Jackson Bird on Twitter

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Tue. 10/27 - Kazakhstan Is Very Nice, But Venus Is Not Oct 27, 2020

Show notes

Throwing cold water on that whole signs-of-life-on-Venus news. A new travel guide to haunted hotels, based on bad Tripadvisor reviews. A study looking into why we don’t click or comment on certain posts online. And Kazakhstan changes their stance on Borat.

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