Charles W.

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Yeah. Have you ever walked along an old riverway that has those built-up banks for that purpose?

Yeah. Have you ever walked along an old riverway that has those built-up banks for that purpose?

Yeah, I had my experience doing that in Akron. So that may be an Ohio thing. I believe the waterway through Sand Run is where that was. And it was the same deal. And Emily or her mom or somebody, you know, because you're up higher and, you know, it's an obvious path. And they're like, yeah, this is where the donkeys and pack horses would pull these things.

Yeah, I had my experience doing that in Akron. So that may be an Ohio thing. I believe the waterway through Sand Run is where that was. And it was the same deal. And Emily or her mom or somebody, you know, because you're up higher and, you know, it's an obvious path. And they're like, yeah, this is where the donkeys and pack horses would pull these things.

There was a paddle steamer named Charlotte Dundas that was the first tugboat in operation towing for the very first trip, I think, two fully loaded sloops, 18 miles along the Fourth and Clyde Canal at Glasgow at a scorching two miles per hour.

There was a paddle steamer named Charlotte Dundas that was the first tugboat in operation towing for the very first trip, I think, two fully loaded sloops, 18 miles along the Fourth and Clyde Canal at Glasgow at a scorching two miles per hour.

That's all that mattered. Yeah, they had all the time in the world.

That's all that mattered. Yeah, they had all the time in the world.

He's bumping into people. They're like, dude.

He's bumping into people. They're like, dude.

That's right. 40 miles inland. So that was a huge boon for London at the time. There was a steamship called the Majestic that worked with the East India Company towing things back and forth up the Thames. And Liverpool had one as well. So they were they were getting in on the game there in the UK. They were.

That's right. 40 miles inland. So that was a huge boon for London at the time. There was a steamship called the Majestic that worked with the East India Company towing things back and forth up the Thames. And Liverpool had one as well. So they were they were getting in on the game there in the UK. They were.

Okay.

Okay.

I would say Dumbarton, but I don't know. I'm just guessing.

I would say Dumbarton, but I don't know. I'm just guessing.

Okay.

Okay.

Yeah. And, you know, earlier I was saying that they said, oh, this idea is so dumb. I don't know if it was that it was so dumb, but steam power and stuff that came along a little bit later, like they didn't have steam engines at the time, so they wouldn't have even known it was dangerous. But when they did come online, why do I keep saying that? I don't think it fits. Right.

Yeah. And, you know, earlier I was saying that they said, oh, this idea is so dumb. I don't know if it was that it was so dumb, but steam power and stuff that came along a little bit later, like they didn't have steam engines at the time, so they wouldn't have even known it was dangerous. But when they did come online, why do I keep saying that? I don't think it fits. Right.

I think so. But online doesn't mean just on the Internet. Online just means like it's beginning to function right as a thing.

I think so. But online doesn't mean just on the Internet. Online just means like it's beginning to function right as a thing.

That's a good line. Oh, boy, Lenny. It's locked onto my internet. Where was that? Oh, yeah. Steam engines were dangerous. They would blow up a lot. There was, you know, when tugboats first started using, you know, coming online, using that steam, they were like, I don't know. I mean, is it better to have this thing that might blow up a port?

That's a good line. Oh, boy, Lenny. It's locked onto my internet. Where was that? Oh, yeah. Steam engines were dangerous. They would blow up a lot. There was, you know, when tugboats first started using, you know, coming online, using that steam, they were like, I don't know. I mean, is it better to have this thing that might blow up a port?

Yeah.

Yeah.

That's right, because we're going to sing the unsung like we like to do on the show because no one ever thinks about tugboats. You see them all the time. If you live near a harbor or vacation or visit cities that have harbors, you see those tugboats and those big ships and barges get all the... All the sexy headlines. But those tugboats are doing the yeoman's work.

That's right, because we're going to sing the unsung like we like to do on the show because no one ever thinks about tugboats. You see them all the time. If you live near a harbor or vacation or visit cities that have harbors, you see those tugboats and those big ships and barges get all the... All the sexy headlines. But those tugboats are doing the yeoman's work.

Oh, man, you almost had it right out of the gate. So now you could get 400 ton ships because, you know, I don't know if we mentioned they were loading like railroad cars onto these things for the first time. So it was very, very heavy stuff. They could go to Newcastle for the first time. All of a sudden people in more distant places could get coal.

Oh, man, you almost had it right out of the gate. So now you could get 400 ton ships because, you know, I don't know if we mentioned they were loading like railroad cars onto these things for the first time. So it was very, very heavy stuff. They could go to Newcastle for the first time. All of a sudden people in more distant places could get coal.

So it wasn't just like, hey, it made, you know, make things cheaper and more efficient. It like was literally changing like lives all over the world.

So it wasn't just like, hey, it made, you know, make things cheaper and more efficient. It like was literally changing like lives all over the world.

Totally. Yeah.

Totally. Yeah.

Comet and Monkey. That'd be a fun cartoon. I'd watch that. Or drug. I'd also take that.

Comet and Monkey. That'd be a fun cartoon. I'd watch that. Or drug. I'd also take that.

Just kidding.

Just kidding.

Yeah. And these were paddle boats, by the way, up until the late 19th century. If you're picturing like your little friendly tugboat in your mind as we talk about all these stories, erase that. And now picture a tugboat with two paddles on both sides. It wasn't like the big paddle in the back, like the sort of fun things you ride around on at Stone Mountain Park here in Georgia.

Yeah. And these were paddle boats, by the way, up until the late 19th century. If you're picturing like your little friendly tugboat in your mind as we talk about all these stories, erase that. And now picture a tugboat with two paddles on both sides. It wasn't like the big paddle in the back, like the sort of fun things you ride around on at Stone Mountain Park here in Georgia.

They were paddle wheels on both sides, which seems a little wider and more cumbersome. But that really, really, really made them much more maneuverable and able to to steer in tighter places and to steer in two different directions. Like, right. I got one of those zero turn lawnmowers. You you. Put those things in two different directions and you're spinning like a top.

They were paddle wheels on both sides, which seems a little wider and more cumbersome. But that really, really, really made them much more maneuverable and able to to steer in tighter places and to steer in two different directions. Like, right. I got one of those zero turn lawnmowers. You you. Put those things in two different directions and you're spinning like a top.

That's right. Shall we take our second break?

That's right. Shall we take our second break?

All right. We took an early one, so we're going to take this one and we're going to come back and talk a little bit about, well, tugboats right after this.

All right. We took an early one, so we're going to take this one and we're going to come back and talk a little bit about, well, tugboats right after this.

That's why they call them nautical laborers early in their, I guess, mission when they first started coming online on sea.

That's why they call them nautical laborers early in their, I guess, mission when they first started coming online on sea.

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I didn't.

I didn't.

Yeah, they rationed food. They literally shut the lights down on Broadway. It was their backup plan of just, you know, using smaller boats to ferry stuff in and out. They were just like, Manhattan is far too big for this already.

Yeah, they rationed food. They literally shut the lights down on Broadway. It was their backup plan of just, you know, using smaller boats to ferry stuff in and out. They were just like, Manhattan is far too big for this already.

And the tugboat operators, I guess, I mean, what a moment to sit back and just sort of like say, yeah. Float? Now, yeah, gloat a little bit. Now, now who is important? The tugboat driver, Thomas, one day we'll be in Atlanta so we could get the word out about tugboats.

And the tugboat operators, I guess, I mean, what a moment to sit back and just sort of like say, yeah. Float? Now, yeah, gloat a little bit. Now, now who is important? The tugboat driver, Thomas, one day we'll be in Atlanta so we could get the word out about tugboats.

And New York Harbor was a great place to sort of make that point because, you know, if you didn't have tugboats, then those containers with all those goods and services are essentially useless.

And New York Harbor was a great place to sort of make that point because, you know, if you didn't have tugboats, then those containers with all those goods and services are essentially useless.

Oh, you said float?

Oh, you said float?

Yeah, for sure. You know, they've got electric tugs now.

Yeah, for sure. You know, they've got electric tugs now.

Yeah, it's a good-looking tug. I mean, it's interesting. I never really thought about electric boats, but that's becoming more and more of a thing, which is kind of awesome.

Yeah, it's a good-looking tug. I mean, it's interesting. I never really thought about electric boats, but that's becoming more and more of a thing, which is kind of awesome.

Yeah. I get it. You know, especially in a place like New York Harbor. Very busy, very busy. So you talked about.

Yeah. I get it. You know, especially in a place like New York Harbor. Very busy, very busy. So you talked about.

Yeah. What also you need to be is maneuverable because it's very busy, very busy. And you mentioned that a little bit earlier on that they need to be able to move really in any direction very accurately and as quickly as possible. And the asthma thruster was a big change in that because that is a –

Yeah. What also you need to be is maneuverable because it's very busy, very busy. And you mentioned that a little bit earlier on that they need to be able to move really in any direction very accurately and as quickly as possible. And the asthma thruster was a big change in that because that is a –

Imagine a propeller inside a housing sort of like a, you know, sort of like an E-fan or something like that. And it can just turn. That's exactly what it looks like.

Imagine a propeller inside a housing sort of like a, you know, sort of like an E-fan or something like that. And it can just turn. That's exactly what it looks like.

But it can turn 360 degrees, so it's not a fixed propeller and a rudder for steering, and it's not even a non-fixed propeller that can move left and right. It's a propeller that can spin in any direction, which means you've got one of those little joystick controllers as a tugboat pilot, and you can inch that thing in the most minute little ways with just a flick of the stick.

But it can turn 360 degrees, so it's not a fixed propeller and a rudder for steering, and it's not even a non-fixed propeller that can move left and right. It's a propeller that can spin in any direction, which means you've got one of those little joystick controllers as a tugboat pilot, and you can inch that thing in the most minute little ways with just a flick of the stick.

Pretty cool.

Pretty cool.

I bet.

I bet.

Uh, we did mention a lot. I mean, we've talked a lot about moving boats around. That's obviously what you think of when you think of a tugboat. Um, but they do a bunch of other stuff too. Um, salvage operations, uh, SNR, uh, or SAR or search and rescue ops that we've talked a lot about on the show.

Uh, we did mention a lot. I mean, we've talked a lot about moving boats around. That's obviously what you think of when you think of a tugboat. Um, but they do a bunch of other stuff too. Um, salvage operations, uh, SNR, uh, or SAR or search and rescue ops that we've talked a lot about on the show.

Uh, if there's ever a, you know, if there's a busy canal that's blocked or something, uh, or a ship that is gone offline, say that, uh,

Uh, if there's ever a, you know, if there's a busy canal that's blocked or something, uh, or a ship that is gone offline, say that, uh,

Was it in – did we do one on the Suez Canal or just the – No, I looked.

Was it in – did we do one on the Suez Canal or just the – No, I looked.

Which canal did we do the episode on?

Which canal did we do the episode on?

Oh, we did something on canals, right?

Oh, we did something on canals, right?

That seems very familiar to me.

That seems very familiar to me.

Yeah, we did Panama Canal.

Yeah, we did Panama Canal.

And Love Canal.

And Love Canal.

All right, what else? Firefighting tugboats, of course.

All right, what else? Firefighting tugboats, of course.

I bet it's FIFI.

I bet it's FIFI.

Well, I don't know, Captain. I don't have my sea legs, but Fifi is at least a cutesy name. Fifi is nothing.

Well, I don't know, Captain. I don't have my sea legs, but Fifi is at least a cutesy name. Fifi is nothing.

Icebreakers. And I don't mean that office parties either.

Icebreakers. And I don't mean that office parties either.

Yeah. He goes up to and says, if you could invite anyone from history to dinner, who would it be?

Yeah. He goes up to and says, if you could invite anyone from history to dinner, who would it be?

It's the worst.

It's the worst.

All right. I'm going to look that up and tell you what I think before the end of the episode. Okay, good. Line handling, too, like these tow ropes, if they're like, hey, we need to get this tow rope out to that ship. You don't just throw it on a guy's shoulder. Like these ropes, like those anchors are the most massive ropes you've ever seen in your life.

All right. I'm going to look that up and tell you what I think before the end of the episode. Okay, good. Line handling, too, like these tow ropes, if they're like, hey, we need to get this tow rope out to that ship. You don't just throw it on a guy's shoulder. Like these ropes, like those anchors are the most massive ropes you've ever seen in your life.

And so there's Thomas saying, just throw it on, guys. I got it. I'll take it out there.

And so there's Thomas saying, just throw it on, guys. I got it. I'll take it out there.

Yeah, I mean, not to undersell tugboats. They are dealing with things that are floating in water, which helps. But these are big, massive things floating in water. Like you could get in a lake, my friend, and you could pull a rope attached to a pontoon boat. What? And you could pull that thing around a little bit. You could swim that thing around a little bit because it's floating in water.

Yeah, I mean, not to undersell tugboats. They are dealing with things that are floating in water, which helps. But these are big, massive things floating in water. Like you could get in a lake, my friend, and you could pull a rope attached to a pontoon boat. What? And you could pull that thing around a little bit. You could swim that thing around a little bit because it's floating in water.

Yeah. You've also got engineers who, you know, they take care of those engines. They take care of all the getting things online, mechanical systems, electrical systems. You have your mate, your second in command and secondary pilot. And then you got that captain, the primary pilot that's running that ship.

Yeah. You've also got engineers who, you know, they take care of those engines. They take care of all the getting things online, mechanical systems, electrical systems. You have your mate, your second in command and secondary pilot. And then you got that captain, the primary pilot that's running that ship.

If you work in, let's just pick out New York City because people think about tugboats a lot there in New York Harbor. Do they? Yeah. Yeah, everyone does. Okay.

If you work in, let's just pick out New York City because people think about tugboats a lot there in New York Harbor. Do they? Yeah. Yeah, everyone does. Okay.

They work two-week shifts, two weeks on, two weeks off. You live on that boat full-time. And then on those days that you work, you work two six-hour shifts, six hours working, six hours off, six hours working, six hours off. And I'm sure Thomas would verify that this is tough, hard work.

They work two-week shifts, two weeks on, two weeks off. You live on that boat full-time. And then on those days that you work, you work two six-hour shifts, six hours working, six hours off, six hours working, six hours off. And I'm sure Thomas would verify that this is tough, hard work.

Would you have them work 12 hours straight and then 12 hours off?

Would you have them work 12 hours straight and then 12 hours off?

Yeah, it's whack, but I think it's one of those things with shift work, like you get used to sleeping all day and working at night. Those people probably get used to sleeping in two, four-hour sets.

Yeah, it's whack, but I think it's one of those things with shift work, like you get used to sleeping all day and working at night. Those people probably get used to sleeping in two, four-hour sets.

Yeah, but then they're at home for two weeks straight.

Yeah, but then they're at home for two weeks straight.

Can you get back to work?

Can you get back to work?

Oh yeah, for sure. There are push boats. These are pretty fun. A push tug. That's a tow boat that has a squared off front at the bow and these padded beams called push knees. And you basically push those knees against the stern and you even lash it together sometimes and you're just pushing something around. Yeah.

Oh yeah, for sure. There are push boats. These are pretty fun. A push tug. That's a tow boat that has a squared off front at the bow and these padded beams called push knees. And you basically push those knees against the stern and you even lash it together sometimes and you're just pushing something around. Yeah.

What universe do you live in? That may be where you max out. You are the tugboat of the lake, Josh, if you can do that to a pontoon boat, because these tugboats are little compared to these huge barges that are floating around. Is that making any sense at all?

What universe do you live in? That may be where you max out. You are the tugboat of the lake, Josh, if you can do that to a pontoon boat, because these tugboats are little compared to these huge barges that are floating around. Is that making any sense at all?

Well, it does sort of lend itself to the question of like, why don't these huge barges have a little secondary azimuth propeller system that can be deployed?

Well, it does sort of lend itself to the question of like, why don't these huge barges have a little secondary azimuth propeller system that can be deployed?

Well, maybe so. And the other thing that I also regret not investigating now is how the finances of this work. Is it a tugboat company that just says, all right, we're going to contract with this barge company for a certain set of time?

Well, maybe so. And the other thing that I also regret not investigating now is how the finances of this work. Is it a tugboat company that just says, all right, we're going to contract with this barge company for a certain set of time?

And we'll just handle all your tugging and pushing needs basically in this harbor?

And we'll just handle all your tugging and pushing needs basically in this harbor?

Surely it's an all-inclusive thing, though. And it's not just like... Oh, you need to get over there? 500 bucks. Right. You know?

Surely it's an all-inclusive thing, though. And it's not just like... Oh, you need to get over there? 500 bucks. Right. You know?

Yeah, of course.

Yeah, of course.

Yeah. That sounds like a new episode of The Wire, too.

Yeah. That sounds like a new episode of The Wire, too.

Okay.

Okay.

If you want to pick up your spirits, my friend, go to New York City and take a ride on the W.O. Decker because that's one of the fun things you can do in New York. I have not done it yet, but I'm going to make a point to go to the South Street Seaport Museum in New York where you can actually take a ride on the classic and beautiful W.O. Decker tugboat.

If you want to pick up your spirits, my friend, go to New York City and take a ride on the W.O. Decker because that's one of the fun things you can do in New York. I have not done it yet, but I'm going to make a point to go to the South Street Seaport Museum in New York where you can actually take a ride on the classic and beautiful W.O. Decker tugboat.

I'm going to do it.

I'm going to do it.

That's up to you.

That's up to you.

I got nothing. I just love these pictures. There's something about a tugboat. I like the way they look. Yeah. Got those tires hanging off of them, and there's something about the utilitarian aspect, and especially that W.O. Decker with that big old nose on the front. I don't even know what that is. That's the beard, right? Yeah, but it's not a beard that I've ever seen.

I got nothing. I just love these pictures. There's something about a tugboat. I like the way they look. Yeah. Got those tires hanging off of them, and there's something about the utilitarian aspect, and especially that W.O. Decker with that big old nose on the front. I don't even know what that is. That's the beard, right? Yeah, but it's not a beard that I've ever seen.

That'd be better swimming with two arms.

That'd be better swimming with two arms.

It really looks like a beard.

It really looks like a beard.

Yeah. Actually, some of these beers are very beardy, so I get it.

Yeah. Actually, some of these beers are very beardy, so I get it.

That's right. And it also conjures beetle beard.

That's right. And it also conjures beetle beard.

You know, you say beetle juice three times.

You know, you say beetle juice three times.

I saw that sequel last night.

I saw that sequel last night.

Did you see it? Yeah. You know, I enjoyed it. I thought it was fun. It's not some great movie, but none of Tim Burton's movies are great to me. Oh, I don't know about that. I mean, I think Ed Wood was great, but I think that's his only truly great film.

Did you see it? Yeah. You know, I enjoyed it. I thought it was fun. It's not some great movie, but none of Tim Burton's movies are great to me. Oh, I don't know about that. I mean, I think Ed Wood was great, but I think that's his only truly great film.

I mean, tell me another.

I mean, tell me another.

I enjoyed Edward Scissorhands. I don't think it's great. Sleepy Hollow I thought was mid at best.

I enjoyed Edward Scissorhands. I don't think it's great. Sleepy Hollow I thought was mid at best.

We should tell them what bollard pull is, too, because that's the other big sort of measurement when it comes to tugging and pushing. A bollard, first of all, is that big sort of chunky thing on a dock that you'll tie a boat to, the big daddies. And bollard pull is the total amount of towing force generated by a tugboat. And they measure that in kilonewtons.

We should tell them what bollard pull is, too, because that's the other big sort of measurement when it comes to tugging and pushing. A bollard, first of all, is that big sort of chunky thing on a dock that you'll tie a boat to, the big daddies. And bollard pull is the total amount of towing force generated by a tugboat. And they measure that in kilonewtons.

Yeah. Hey, I like I like most of his movies, but I just don't think they're great films.

Yeah. Hey, I like I like most of his movies, but I just don't think they're great films.

Yeah. But I mean, I like most of his movies.

Yeah. But I mean, I like most of his movies.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Anyway, I thought it was that was good. It was fun. It was good enough for what I wanted out of it, which was a bit of nostalgia. And I LOL quite a few times because I just think Michael Keaton is really funny. And Catherine O'Hara is really funny.

Anyway, I thought it was that was good. It was fun. It was good enough for what I wanted out of it, which was a bit of nostalgia. And I LOL quite a few times because I just think Michael Keaton is really funny. And Catherine O'Hara is really funny.

Yeah. But, you know, it was it was just OK.

Yeah. But, you know, it was it was just OK.

How do you find movies that no one else has ever heard of?

How do you find movies that no one else has ever heard of?

Uh, well, Ruby went as Megan for Halloween. So she's pretty into that stuff, but this sounds too dark.

Uh, well, Ruby went as Megan for Halloween. So she's pretty into that stuff, but this sounds too dark.

Uh, okay. And I'll also say this. Uh, I just looked up a dark song really quickly and there's a Reddit thread, a dark song. Is it real? So apparently it's pretty convincing.

Uh, okay. And I'll also say this. Uh, I just looked up a dark song really quickly and there's a Reddit thread, a dark song. Is it real? So apparently it's pretty convincing.

All right. So that's been movie minutes.

All right. So that's been movie minutes.

No, man, I'm waiting on the cue.

No, man, I'm waiting on the cue.

I got sidetracked. Hey, buddy, I don't jump unless you tell me to.

I got sidetracked. Hey, buddy, I don't jump unless you tell me to.

Oh, that means another lashing tonight.

Oh, that means another lashing tonight.

Yeah, put me up there with the beard.

Yeah, put me up there with the beard.

All right. Hey, guys. Love the show, especially the Unsolved Mystery episodes. Needless to say, I loved the one a couple of months ago about the mysteries of the Internet and the mysterious song that caught my attention.

All right. Hey, guys. Love the show, especially the Unsolved Mystery episodes. Needless to say, I loved the one a couple of months ago about the mysteries of the Internet and the mysterious song that caught my attention.

Boy, they came pouring in, and I have to say, the mystery seems to have been solved about the most mysterious song on the internet. It is not the one that people sent in right after we published that was not even the same song. Those people were lazy. But yeah, it broke, and we've gotten like 100 emails that that artist has been identified. There's a Reddit thread.

Boy, they came pouring in, and I have to say, the mystery seems to have been solved about the most mysterious song on the internet. It is not the one that people sent in right after we published that was not even the same song. Those people were lazy. But yeah, it broke, and we've gotten like 100 emails that that artist has been identified. There's a Reddit thread.

As a Reddit user tracked it down, the song is called Subways of Your Mind by the group, I don't know if it's Fex or F-E-X. Not sure how they pronounce it. The user found the band from an old newspaper article in the Nordwest Zeitung archive. Wow. While they were researching Hurfest bands, the band that performed at that music festival was a lead the subreddit was working on.

As a Reddit user tracked it down, the song is called Subways of Your Mind by the group, I don't know if it's Fex or F-E-X. Not sure how they pronounce it. The user found the band from an old newspaper article in the Nordwest Zeitung archive. Wow. While they were researching Hurfest bands, the band that performed at that music festival was a lead the subreddit was working on.

The article they found was about a band called FEX from Kiel. who won a talent contest in Bremen, September 1984. Their music was described as rock with wave and pop influences. The user managed to get in touch with a member of the band and they produced original tapes of the recorded song to prove they were the ones who recorded it. I read through the subreddit.

The article they found was about a band called FEX from Kiel. who won a talent contest in Bremen, September 1984. Their music was described as rock with wave and pop influences. The user managed to get in touch with a member of the band and they produced original tapes of the recorded song to prove they were the ones who recorded it. I read through the subreddit.

They said, wait a minute before you go wide with this, because I want to talk to the rest of the band first. Came back and said, I talked to the rest of the band. They're into it. And we want to like re-record it and, you know, get back together and re-record this thing. Now that it's got some fame. Yeah, they're going to do an acoustic country version.

They said, wait a minute before you go wide with this, because I want to talk to the rest of the band first. Came back and said, I talked to the rest of the band. They're into it. And we want to like re-record it and, you know, get back together and re-record this thing. Now that it's got some fame. Yeah, they're going to do an acoustic country version.

This is for Michael, but big thanks to everybody who wrote in because it's pretty exciting. You know, Somerton Man was found on our watch. On our watch. Right, thanks to us. Thanks to us, and this was solved on our watch. So the longer we do this show, the more these mysteries are kind of... Maybe they'll find that guy who disappeared from the airport. Remember that guy? Oh, yeah.

This is for Michael, but big thanks to everybody who wrote in because it's pretty exciting. You know, Somerton Man was found on our watch. On our watch. Right, thanks to us. Thanks to us, and this was solved on our watch. So the longer we do this show, the more these mysteries are kind of... Maybe they'll find that guy who disappeared from the airport. Remember that guy? Oh, yeah.

He was Swedish or something?

He was Swedish or something?

Yeah, so we're hoping to clear up all these mysteries. But yeah, the mystery song has been solved.

Yeah, so we're hoping to clear up all these mysteries. But yeah, the mystery song has been solved.

Yeah, and it's going to get worse because this isn't going to come out because we're front-loading for Christmas break, and so we're going to be getting these emails for weeks and weeks and weeks.

Yeah, and it's going to get worse because this isn't going to come out because we're front-loading for Christmas break, and so we're going to be getting these emails for weeks and weeks and weeks.

Oh, man. Wait till they hear about Jared from Subway and Hugh. Hugh Jackman. Hugh Jackman playing. P.T. Barnum. Who was it? P.T. Barnum.

Oh, man. Wait till they hear about Jared from Subway and Hugh. Hugh Jackman. Hugh Jackman playing. P.T. Barnum. Who was it? P.T. Barnum.

Anyway, that was from Michael.

Anyway, that was from Michael.

Yeah, we love it.

Yeah, we love it.

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Hey, everyone. We're brought to you today by the Capital One Quicksilver Card. Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase everywhere. Plus, there's no limit to the amount of cash back you can earn and rewards don't expire for the life of the account. It's that simple. The Capital One Quicksilver Card. What's in your wallet? Terms apply. See CapitalOne.com for details.

I think they're very attractive boats. You can tell a tugboat because it has, you know, they're built to tug and push. So they have a very wide beam, which is the widest point of the boat. They sit very low in the water, which is called a deep draft. And, you know, they're little short, stubby, wide guys that sit really low. I think they're adorable and cool looking. They're very, very stable.

I think they're very attractive boats. You can tell a tugboat because it has, you know, they're built to tug and push. So they have a very wide beam, which is the widest point of the boat. They sit very low in the water, which is called a deep draft. And, you know, they're little short, stubby, wide guys that sit really low. I think they're adorable and cool looking. They're very, very stable.

They're not tippy at all when, you know, they're bumping against other things. They're pushing other things. And so they have to be just super stable and also love that they have beards. That front bumper or a bow fender, they call it a beard in that lingo. And I think that's pretty great.

They're not tippy at all when, you know, they're bumping against other things. They're pushing other things. And so they have to be just super stable and also love that they have beards. That front bumper or a bow fender, they call it a beard in that lingo. And I think that's pretty great.

Yeah, I think those are additional. I think the front always has a built-in beard.

Yeah, I think those are additional. I think the front always has a built-in beard.

Yeah, exactly. And I say we take an earlier break. Oh, my gosh. Because we're at a great spot to break here before we talk about the history of these things. You want to do that? Let's break it. All right. Let's break on three.

Yeah, exactly. And I say we take an earlier break. Oh, my gosh. Because we're at a great spot to break here before we talk about the history of these things. You want to do that? Let's break it. All right. Let's break on three.

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That's right. Another listener request. These are just kind of pouring in now. Or rather, we're leaning on them more than we have before, I guess. Because they're great ideas. But this one came also from the live show in Atlanta. Yeah. And do you remember this guy? Do you remember his name?

That's right. Another listener request. These are just kind of pouring in now. Or rather, we're leaning on them more than we have before, I guess. Because they're great ideas. But this one came also from the live show in Atlanta. Yeah. And do you remember this guy? Do you remember his name?

All right, I promised talk of history, and here we go, because if you wanted to invent a tugboat, the 18th and 19th centuries was a pretty good time to do it because we were using sailing ships at the time for transporting people and goods and all kinds of things. And those things are gorgeous, beautiful on the water.

All right, I promised talk of history, and here we go, because if you wanted to invent a tugboat, the 18th and 19th centuries was a pretty good time to do it because we were using sailing ships at the time for transporting people and goods and all kinds of things. And those things are gorgeous, beautiful on the water.

They sailed great out on the high seas, but they did not do well, especially because they were just sailing ships when they got around land in small, tight spaces.

They sailed great out on the high seas, but they did not do well, especially because they were just sailing ships when they got around land in small, tight spaces.

So they would, you know, you've seen it in movies, they would dock, or not dock, but they would anchor, you know, a couple of hundred feet from shore and then start shuttling people and stuff in little tiny boats because that's about as close as they could safely get. And that's not efficient. Taylor would be rolling over in his grave.

So they would, you know, you've seen it in movies, they would dock, or not dock, but they would anchor, you know, a couple of hundred feet from shore and then start shuttling people and stuff in little tiny boats because that's about as close as they could safely get. And that's not efficient. Taylor would be rolling over in his grave.

Yeah, I think he was. He was from England, 18th century inventor. His name, no lie, was Jonathan Hulls. That's nuts. It is pretty nuts. And he thought it was like a helper vessel is what he called it. It was powered by a steam engine. But what he was talking about was tugboats. It could tow a sailboat in and out of port. This was in 1737 when he filed for a patent.

Yeah, I think he was. He was from England, 18th century inventor. His name, no lie, was Jonathan Hulls. That's nuts. It is pretty nuts. And he thought it was like a helper vessel is what he called it. It was powered by a steam engine. But what he was talking about was tugboats. It could tow a sailboat in and out of port. This was in 1737 when he filed for a patent.

It was called a description and draft of a new invented machine for carrying vessels or ships out of or into any harbor port or river against the wind in tide or in a calm. And it was totally genius. 30 years before James Watt's steam engine hit the scene. Yeah. And everyone was like, what a dumb idea.

It was called a description and draft of a new invented machine for carrying vessels or ships out of or into any harbor port or river against the wind in tide or in a calm. And it was totally genius. 30 years before James Watt's steam engine hit the scene. Yeah. And everyone was like, what a dumb idea.

Tugboats for Thomas. And Thomas, I believe, works on tugboats, suggested it. And this has turned out to be just a bread and butter stuff you should know episode.

Tugboats for Thomas. And Thomas, I believe, works on tugboats, suggested it. And this has turned out to be just a bread and butter stuff you should know episode.

I guess so. All I know is we're getting kicked out of this pub any second now.

I guess so. All I know is we're getting kicked out of this pub any second now.

Yeah.

Yeah.

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Yeah. Have you ever walked along an old riverway that has those built-up banks for that purpose?

Yeah, I had my experience doing that in Akron. So that may be an Ohio thing. I believe the waterway through Sand Run is where that was. And it was the same deal. And Emily or her mom or somebody, you know, because you're up higher and, you know, it's an obvious path. And they're like, yeah, this is where the donkeys and pack horses would pull these things.

There was a paddle steamer named Charlotte Dundas that was the first tugboat in operation towing for the very first trip, I think, two fully loaded sloops, 18 miles along the Fourth and Clyde Canal at Glasgow at a scorching two miles per hour.

That's all that mattered. Yeah, they had all the time in the world.

He's bumping into people. They're like, dude.

That's right. 40 miles inland. So that was a huge boon for London at the time. There was a steamship called the Majestic that worked with the East India Company towing things back and forth up the Thames. And Liverpool had one as well. So they were they were getting in on the game there in the UK. They were.

Okay.

I would say Dumbarton, but I don't know. I'm just guessing.

Okay.

Yeah. And, you know, earlier I was saying that they said, oh, this idea is so dumb. I don't know if it was that it was so dumb, but steam power and stuff that came along a little bit later, like they didn't have steam engines at the time, so they wouldn't have even known it was dangerous. But when they did come online, why do I keep saying that? I don't think it fits. Right.

I think so. But online doesn't mean just on the Internet. Online just means like it's beginning to function right as a thing.

That's a good line. Oh, boy, Lenny. It's locked onto my internet. Where was that? Oh, yeah. Steam engines were dangerous. They would blow up a lot. There was, you know, when tugboats first started using, you know, coming online, using that steam, they were like, I don't know. I mean, is it better to have this thing that might blow up a port?

Yeah.

That's right, because we're going to sing the unsung like we like to do on the show because no one ever thinks about tugboats. You see them all the time. If you live near a harbor or vacation or visit cities that have harbors, you see those tugboats and those big ships and barges get all the... All the sexy headlines. But those tugboats are doing the yeoman's work.

Oh, man, you almost had it right out of the gate. So now you could get 400 ton ships because, you know, I don't know if we mentioned they were loading like railroad cars onto these things for the first time. So it was very, very heavy stuff. They could go to Newcastle for the first time. All of a sudden people in more distant places could get coal.

So it wasn't just like, hey, it made, you know, make things cheaper and more efficient. It like was literally changing like lives all over the world.

Totally. Yeah.

Comet and Monkey. That'd be a fun cartoon. I'd watch that. Or drug. I'd also take that.

Just kidding.

Yeah. And these were paddle boats, by the way, up until the late 19th century. If you're picturing like your little friendly tugboat in your mind as we talk about all these stories, erase that. And now picture a tugboat with two paddles on both sides. It wasn't like the big paddle in the back, like the sort of fun things you ride around on at Stone Mountain Park here in Georgia.

They were paddle wheels on both sides, which seems a little wider and more cumbersome. But that really, really, really made them much more maneuverable and able to to steer in tighter places and to steer in two different directions. Like, right. I got one of those zero turn lawnmowers. You you. Put those things in two different directions and you're spinning like a top.

That's right. Shall we take our second break?

All right. We took an early one, so we're going to take this one and we're going to come back and talk a little bit about, well, tugboats right after this.

That's why they call them nautical laborers early in their, I guess, mission when they first started coming online on sea.

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I didn't.

Yeah, they rationed food. They literally shut the lights down on Broadway. It was their backup plan of just, you know, using smaller boats to ferry stuff in and out. They were just like, Manhattan is far too big for this already.

And the tugboat operators, I guess, I mean, what a moment to sit back and just sort of like say, yeah. Float? Now, yeah, gloat a little bit. Now, now who is important? The tugboat driver, Thomas, one day we'll be in Atlanta so we could get the word out about tugboats.

And New York Harbor was a great place to sort of make that point because, you know, if you didn't have tugboats, then those containers with all those goods and services are essentially useless.

Oh, you said float?

Yeah, for sure. You know, they've got electric tugs now.

Yeah, it's a good-looking tug. I mean, it's interesting. I never really thought about electric boats, but that's becoming more and more of a thing, which is kind of awesome.

Yeah. I get it. You know, especially in a place like New York Harbor. Very busy, very busy. So you talked about.

Yeah. What also you need to be is maneuverable because it's very busy, very busy. And you mentioned that a little bit earlier on that they need to be able to move really in any direction very accurately and as quickly as possible. And the asthma thruster was a big change in that because that is a –

Imagine a propeller inside a housing sort of like a, you know, sort of like an E-fan or something like that. And it can just turn. That's exactly what it looks like.

But it can turn 360 degrees, so it's not a fixed propeller and a rudder for steering, and it's not even a non-fixed propeller that can move left and right. It's a propeller that can spin in any direction, which means you've got one of those little joystick controllers as a tugboat pilot, and you can inch that thing in the most minute little ways with just a flick of the stick.

Pretty cool.

I bet.

Uh, we did mention a lot. I mean, we've talked a lot about moving boats around. That's obviously what you think of when you think of a tugboat. Um, but they do a bunch of other stuff too. Um, salvage operations, uh, SNR, uh, or SAR or search and rescue ops that we've talked a lot about on the show.

Uh, if there's ever a, you know, if there's a busy canal that's blocked or something, uh, or a ship that is gone offline, say that, uh,

Was it in – did we do one on the Suez Canal or just the – No, I looked.

Which canal did we do the episode on?

Oh, we did something on canals, right?

That seems very familiar to me.

Yeah, we did Panama Canal.

And Love Canal.

All right, what else? Firefighting tugboats, of course.

I bet it's FIFI.

Well, I don't know, Captain. I don't have my sea legs, but Fifi is at least a cutesy name. Fifi is nothing.

Icebreakers. And I don't mean that office parties either.

Yeah. He goes up to and says, if you could invite anyone from history to dinner, who would it be?

It's the worst.

All right. I'm going to look that up and tell you what I think before the end of the episode. Okay, good. Line handling, too, like these tow ropes, if they're like, hey, we need to get this tow rope out to that ship. You don't just throw it on a guy's shoulder. Like these ropes, like those anchors are the most massive ropes you've ever seen in your life.

And so there's Thomas saying, just throw it on, guys. I got it. I'll take it out there.

Yeah, I mean, not to undersell tugboats. They are dealing with things that are floating in water, which helps. But these are big, massive things floating in water. Like you could get in a lake, my friend, and you could pull a rope attached to a pontoon boat. What? And you could pull that thing around a little bit. You could swim that thing around a little bit because it's floating in water.

Yeah. You've also got engineers who, you know, they take care of those engines. They take care of all the getting things online, mechanical systems, electrical systems. You have your mate, your second in command and secondary pilot. And then you got that captain, the primary pilot that's running that ship.

If you work in, let's just pick out New York City because people think about tugboats a lot there in New York Harbor. Do they? Yeah. Yeah, everyone does. Okay.

They work two-week shifts, two weeks on, two weeks off. You live on that boat full-time. And then on those days that you work, you work two six-hour shifts, six hours working, six hours off, six hours working, six hours off. And I'm sure Thomas would verify that this is tough, hard work.

Would you have them work 12 hours straight and then 12 hours off?

Yeah, it's whack, but I think it's one of those things with shift work, like you get used to sleeping all day and working at night. Those people probably get used to sleeping in two, four-hour sets.

Yeah, but then they're at home for two weeks straight.

Can you get back to work?

Oh yeah, for sure. There are push boats. These are pretty fun. A push tug. That's a tow boat that has a squared off front at the bow and these padded beams called push knees. And you basically push those knees against the stern and you even lash it together sometimes and you're just pushing something around. Yeah.

What universe do you live in? That may be where you max out. You are the tugboat of the lake, Josh, if you can do that to a pontoon boat, because these tugboats are little compared to these huge barges that are floating around. Is that making any sense at all?

Well, it does sort of lend itself to the question of like, why don't these huge barges have a little secondary azimuth propeller system that can be deployed?

Well, maybe so. And the other thing that I also regret not investigating now is how the finances of this work. Is it a tugboat company that just says, all right, we're going to contract with this barge company for a certain set of time?

And we'll just handle all your tugging and pushing needs basically in this harbor?

Surely it's an all-inclusive thing, though. And it's not just like... Oh, you need to get over there? 500 bucks. Right. You know?

Yeah, of course.

Yeah. That sounds like a new episode of The Wire, too.

Okay.

If you want to pick up your spirits, my friend, go to New York City and take a ride on the W.O. Decker because that's one of the fun things you can do in New York. I have not done it yet, but I'm going to make a point to go to the South Street Seaport Museum in New York where you can actually take a ride on the classic and beautiful W.O. Decker tugboat.

I'm going to do it.

That's up to you.

I got nothing. I just love these pictures. There's something about a tugboat. I like the way they look. Yeah. Got those tires hanging off of them, and there's something about the utilitarian aspect, and especially that W.O. Decker with that big old nose on the front. I don't even know what that is. That's the beard, right? Yeah, but it's not a beard that I've ever seen.

That'd be better swimming with two arms.

It really looks like a beard.

Yeah. Actually, some of these beers are very beardy, so I get it.

That's right. And it also conjures beetle beard.

You know, you say beetle juice three times.

I saw that sequel last night.

Did you see it? Yeah. You know, I enjoyed it. I thought it was fun. It's not some great movie, but none of Tim Burton's movies are great to me. Oh, I don't know about that. I mean, I think Ed Wood was great, but I think that's his only truly great film.

I mean, tell me another.

I enjoyed Edward Scissorhands. I don't think it's great. Sleepy Hollow I thought was mid at best.

We should tell them what bollard pull is, too, because that's the other big sort of measurement when it comes to tugging and pushing. A bollard, first of all, is that big sort of chunky thing on a dock that you'll tie a boat to, the big daddies. And bollard pull is the total amount of towing force generated by a tugboat. And they measure that in kilonewtons.

Yeah. Hey, I like I like most of his movies, but I just don't think they're great films.

Yeah. But I mean, I like most of his movies.

Yeah.

Anyway, I thought it was that was good. It was fun. It was good enough for what I wanted out of it, which was a bit of nostalgia. And I LOL quite a few times because I just think Michael Keaton is really funny. And Catherine O'Hara is really funny.

Yeah. But, you know, it was it was just OK.

How do you find movies that no one else has ever heard of?

Uh, well, Ruby went as Megan for Halloween. So she's pretty into that stuff, but this sounds too dark.

Uh, okay. And I'll also say this. Uh, I just looked up a dark song really quickly and there's a Reddit thread, a dark song. Is it real? So apparently it's pretty convincing.

All right. So that's been movie minutes.

No, man, I'm waiting on the cue.

I got sidetracked. Hey, buddy, I don't jump unless you tell me to.

Oh, that means another lashing tonight.

Yeah, put me up there with the beard.

All right. Hey, guys. Love the show, especially the Unsolved Mystery episodes. Needless to say, I loved the one a couple of months ago about the mysteries of the Internet and the mysterious song that caught my attention.

Boy, they came pouring in, and I have to say, the mystery seems to have been solved about the most mysterious song on the internet. It is not the one that people sent in right after we published that was not even the same song. Those people were lazy. But yeah, it broke, and we've gotten like 100 emails that that artist has been identified. There's a Reddit thread.

As a Reddit user tracked it down, the song is called Subways of Your Mind by the group, I don't know if it's Fex or F-E-X. Not sure how they pronounce it. The user found the band from an old newspaper article in the Nordwest Zeitung archive. Wow. While they were researching Hurfest bands, the band that performed at that music festival was a lead the subreddit was working on.

The article they found was about a band called FEX from Kiel. who won a talent contest in Bremen, September 1984. Their music was described as rock with wave and pop influences. The user managed to get in touch with a member of the band and they produced original tapes of the recorded song to prove they were the ones who recorded it. I read through the subreddit.

They said, wait a minute before you go wide with this, because I want to talk to the rest of the band first. Came back and said, I talked to the rest of the band. They're into it. And we want to like re-record it and, you know, get back together and re-record this thing. Now that it's got some fame. Yeah, they're going to do an acoustic country version.

This is for Michael, but big thanks to everybody who wrote in because it's pretty exciting. You know, Somerton Man was found on our watch. On our watch. Right, thanks to us. Thanks to us, and this was solved on our watch. So the longer we do this show, the more these mysteries are kind of... Maybe they'll find that guy who disappeared from the airport. Remember that guy? Oh, yeah.

He was Swedish or something?

Yeah, so we're hoping to clear up all these mysteries. But yeah, the mystery song has been solved.

Yeah, and it's going to get worse because this isn't going to come out because we're front-loading for Christmas break, and so we're going to be getting these emails for weeks and weeks and weeks.

Oh, man. Wait till they hear about Jared from Subway and Hugh. Hugh Jackman. Hugh Jackman playing. P.T. Barnum. Who was it? P.T. Barnum.

Anyway, that was from Michael.

Yeah, we love it.

Hey, everyone. We're brought to you today by the Capital One Quicksilver Card. Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase everywhere. Plus, there's no limit to the amount of cash back you can earn and rewards don't expire for the life of the account. It's that simple. The Capital One Quicksilver Card. What's in your wallet? Terms apply. See CapitalOne.com for details.

I think they're very attractive boats. You can tell a tugboat because it has, you know, they're built to tug and push. So they have a very wide beam, which is the widest point of the boat. They sit very low in the water, which is called a deep draft. And, you know, they're little short, stubby, wide guys that sit really low. I think they're adorable and cool looking. They're very, very stable.

They're not tippy at all when, you know, they're bumping against other things. They're pushing other things. And so they have to be just super stable and also love that they have beards. That front bumper or a bow fender, they call it a beard in that lingo. And I think that's pretty great.

Yeah, I think those are additional. I think the front always has a built-in beard.

Yeah, exactly. And I say we take an earlier break. Oh, my gosh. Because we're at a great spot to break here before we talk about the history of these things. You want to do that? Let's break it. All right. Let's break on three.

Hey friends, are you looking for relief from cold and flu symptoms this winter? Well, with GoodRx, you can save an average of $34 on prescription cold and flu meds and feel better for less.

Just check GoodRx to save up to 80% of pharmacies near you, including Walmart, Walgreens, CVS, Publix, Albertsons, Kroger, and many more.

That's right. So for savings on cold and flu medications or any other prescriptions, check GoodRx. Just go to GoodRx.com slash stuff. That's GoodRx.com slash stuff.

That's right. Like your secret holiday helper, DoorDash has you covered on gifts, groceries, and dinner for tonight. DoorDash makes it so easy, you may even feel a little guilty. But, you know, no one needs to know your pie was really store-bought or that that thoughtful gift arrived just minutes before your guests did.

DoorDash, your door to more. Use code STUFFJOY24 for 50% off your first order. Maximum $10 off orders of $15 or more. The offer ends December 26, 2024. One promo per order. Not valid for orders containing alcohol and term supply.

That's right. Another listener request. These are just kind of pouring in now. Or rather, we're leaning on them more than we have before, I guess. Because they're great ideas. But this one came also from the live show in Atlanta. Yeah. And do you remember this guy? Do you remember his name?

All right, I promised talk of history, and here we go, because if you wanted to invent a tugboat, the 18th and 19th centuries was a pretty good time to do it because we were using sailing ships at the time for transporting people and goods and all kinds of things. And those things are gorgeous, beautiful on the water.

They sailed great out on the high seas, but they did not do well, especially because they were just sailing ships when they got around land in small, tight spaces.

So they would, you know, you've seen it in movies, they would dock, or not dock, but they would anchor, you know, a couple of hundred feet from shore and then start shuttling people and stuff in little tiny boats because that's about as close as they could safely get. And that's not efficient. Taylor would be rolling over in his grave.

Yeah, I think he was. He was from England, 18th century inventor. His name, no lie, was Jonathan Hulls. That's nuts. It is pretty nuts. And he thought it was like a helper vessel is what he called it. It was powered by a steam engine. But what he was talking about was tugboats. It could tow a sailboat in and out of port. This was in 1737 when he filed for a patent.

It was called a description and draft of a new invented machine for carrying vessels or ships out of or into any harbor port or river against the wind in tide or in a calm. And it was totally genius. 30 years before James Watt's steam engine hit the scene. Yeah. And everyone was like, what a dumb idea.

Tugboats for Thomas. And Thomas, I believe, works on tugboats, suggested it. And this has turned out to be just a bread and butter stuff you should know episode.

I guess so. All I know is we're getting kicked out of this pub any second now.

Yeah.