You're The Worst Podcast Matt Johnston

At a time when most people still used computers to play Oregon Trail or create basic spreadsheets, a product called the Knowledge Navigator was to be an all-in-one solution for people who used computers for professional, daily use. It was going to be a tablet the size of an opened magazine, and it would have very sophisticated artificial intelligence. And by that, the developers meant that the device would be able to anticipate the users needs.

They made a mock up video that is pretty wild. One clip shows a college professor working with the device to simultaneously prepare a lecture while the computer creates useful graphics automatically. The problem was, none of this was actually possible. And the eventual product they put on shelves featured almost none of the features initially developed and also cost quite a bit of money. Various upgrades and new model releases followed, but it was a classic case of overpromising and under delivering. The Newton was the worst.

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By the time American circuses achieved their massive character in the 1870s, the menagerie was a major feature.  They were exhibits held in separate tents from the primary circus and audiences had to pass through them on the way to the “big top.”  At first, they featured unusual animals like elephants, camels and zebras. If you were really lucky you could see rhinoceroses or giraffes.  It was kind of like having the zoo brought right to your town.

Soon, these sideshows became a much bigger part of the circus.  And they shied away from zebras and elephants and instead focused on acts much more akin to the Elephant Man. 

Widely credited with coining the adage "There's a sucker born every minute" P.T. Barnum was a major influence in sideshow development, having demonstrated their popularity at his American Museum.   His Museum of oddities would mutate into something different and give birth to exhibitions of biological rarities for the amusement of the masses.  Once upon a time - Sideshows were the worst.


My name is Matt Johnston, and I just love a good underdog story. I'm fascinated with people who gave their best and didn't just come up short ...but came in dead last. If you'd like to share a story with me, email us at youretheworstpod@gmail.com

Speaking of sharing, if you like what I'm trying to do, please tell a friend. Telling even just one person can make a big difference. Thanks for listening!

Please follow the show on social media at @YTWpod For more information on the show, or a typed transcript of the episode visit halfmiledigital.com

Birds crap on everything.  Erect a beautiful, hand-chiseled, true work of art - a monument to a national hero and it'll be covered in excrement within the week.  Maybe a bird had crashed your airplane, maybe one has stolen your pet, maybe one's even poked your eye out (all of which are completely true things that have happened).  Depending on where you live, you might hate magpies, seagulls or pigeons.  But as for this episode, I want to tell you about one of the most offensive, aggressive, disease-spreading , vehicle damaging, child-attacking avairy nightmares across all species.  Crows are the worst!

My name is Matt Johnston, and I just love a good underdog story. I'm fascinated with people who gave their best and didn't just come up short ...but came in dead last. If you'd like to share a story with me, email us at youretheworstpod@gmail.com

Speaking of sharing, if you like what I'm trying to do, please tell a friend. Telling even just one person can make a big difference. Thanks for listening!

Please follow the show on social media at @YTWpod For more information on the show, or a typed transcript of the episode visit halfmiledigital.com

Richson Simeon competed in the 100m in the Rio olympics in 2016. And got last place with an 11.81. By comparison, the winner of that event was Usain Bolt with a 9.81.  Simeon was running for a country he wasn't even born in, in an event he had never competed in until that year.  Why would he even waste his time showing up, just to be embarrassed.  It's not like he pulled up with a hamstring injury, or gave up, either.  He ran his fastest and got smoked,
Richson Simeon was THE WORST.

My name is Matt Johnston, and I just love a good underdog story. I'm fascinated with people who gave their best and didn't just come up short ...but came in dead last. If you'd like to share a story with me, email us at youretheworstpod@gmail.com

Speaking of sharing, if you like what I'm trying to do, please tell a friend. Telling even just one person can make a big difference. Thanks for listening!

Please follow the show on social media at @YTWpod For more information on the show, or a typed transcript of the episode visit halfmiledigital.com