Lateral with Tom Scott 172: A full glass of milk
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Jan 23, 2026 Iszi Lawrence, a writer and podcaster known for her historical children’s books, Abby Cox, a historian exploring corsets and social history, and Matt Gray, a YouTuber delving into technology and history, join the discussion. They delve into the quirky tale of John Paul I's unique name, explore the Parsi tradition of adding sugar to milk for assimilation, and uncover why Link Wray's hit 'Rumble' faced bans due to its perceived glamorization of violence. Plus, they navigate the fascinating use of nautical directions in text adventures!
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Parsis, Milk And Assimilation
- Izzy recounts the Parsi legend where a king gave fleeing Parsis a full glass of milk to show his land was full.
- The Parsis dissolved sugar into the milk and returned it to show they would assimilate, winning asylum.
Sound Can Be Politically Dangerous
- Link Wray's 1958 instrumental "Rumble" lacked lyrics but was banned because stations feared it glamorised gang violence.
- Distorted, gritty guitar sounds and cultural context made purely instrumental music objectionable then.
Nautical Directions In Text Games
- Some text-adventure games use nautical directions A (aft), F (fore), P (port), S (starboard) instead of compass points.
- This navigation suits ship-based puzzles because directions remain relative to the vessel.
