Welcome to Calm History. I'm Harris, and this podcast is my quirky mix of education with sedation.

So go ahead, lean back, put up your feet, and settle into my time machine of tranquility.

I hope this episode distracts and relaxes your overactive brain squirrels.

In bonus episode number 11, you heard the true crime story about oil wells and a missing

ton of nitroglycerin. In this episode, I'll share more historical facts and curious stories

all about oil wells and nitroglycerin.

I'll begin with the history of Vaseline

and the story of a man who loved it so much

that he ate it every day.

I'll explain the basics of crude oil,

including the differences and similarities between

oil and coal.

I'll tell you about the substance that clogged oil wells and frustrated many oil workers.

And I'll finish with a heartwarming story of two lads who strengthen their bond of

friendship by blowing stuff up. In the near future, I'll stitch together this episode and the

episode about the missing ton of nitroglycerin, so you can have a super long Sok Plus bonus episode about the history of oil wells. The history of Vaseline, petroleum jelly, oil wells, and oil torpedoes.

I recently had a small cyst removed from my chest.

Nothing worrisome.

It was benign and only the size of a tiny BB pellet.

The clinician closed up the site with a couple of stitches,

put a blob of vassaline on a bandage,

and then put that bandage over my fresh wound.

...