Omnibus

Explore the fascinating evolution of the NATO phonetic alphabet in this engaging discussion. Discover how early telecommunications spurred standardization and the significance of clear communication. Learn about quirky early alphabets and the amusing trials of word selection. Delve into scientific testing for intelligibility and the unique origins behind famous code words. Finally, ponder the alphabet’s enduring legacy and what digital communication could mean for the future of spoken spelling.

Dive into the world of Muzak and discover how gentle music transformed public spaces. Hear about General George Owen Squire’s innovations that led to wired radio. Learn how William Benton turned in-store music into a social tool, and the science behind Muzak’s carefully curated playlists aimed at boosting mood and productivity. Explore the Seattle firms that modernized retail music and the cultural backlash against Muzak, which even shaped the early grunge scene. It's a fascinating journey through sound and society!

In which television stations spend decades signing off every night after the national anthem, and John likes to keep a stiff upper lip during Mormon TV ads. Certificate #31942.

In which wheeler-dealers and Debbie Reynolds pillage a priceless trove of movie treasure for pennies on the dollar, and Ken has never been in his own conference room. Certificate #38661.

In which a Marine vet and NASA engineer changes the course of American public policy when he fails to get into medical school, and John has no pith. Certificate #29277.

In which a Detroit-area teen overachieves in Boy Scouts by trying to build a nuclear reactor in a potting shed, and Ken only wants capitalized toys. Certificate #50176.

In which a generation of English peers and their sons look to fix their leaky castle roofs by marrying wealthy American "buccaneers," and John has never kidnapped anyone in Bulgaria. Certificate #33143.

In which the dandyish vintage finds of postwar British teens set a blueprint for the rest of 20th-century youth fashion, and Ken keeps getting hit in the head by nose flutes on the bus. Certificate #13953.

In which a 700-year-old Venusian designs a mysterious whitewashed dome in the Mojave Desert, and John would like to change history at the mutiny on the Bounty. Certificate #13181.

In which internet-era conspiracy theorists become convinced that jet contrails are weather control masterminded from Fairbanks, Alaska, and Ken thinks John sounds like a Muppet for exactly one syllable. Certificate #52946.