Lateral with Tom Scott 183: Dog watches
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Apr 10, 2026 Sophie Ward, cultural commentator offering sharp observations. Katie Steckles, mathematician and public-engagement writer. Lizzy Skipiak, comedian and performer who talks about her show. They discuss work watch rotations and why dog watches last two hours. They puzzle over cabin pressure readings, quirky rural mailbox solutions, and a supermarket’s X-size signage.
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Maxima Uses Xs To Signal Store Size
- Maxima supermarket in Lithuania labels stores with X marks to indicate size tiers.
- Signs show X, XX, XXX or XXXX so shoppers know whether it's a small local Maxima X or a big Maxima XXX store on the outskirts of Vilnius.
Rural Australia Puts Mailboxes On Microwaves And Anvils
- Rural Australians repurpose old metal objects as mailboxes by mounting microwaves, boilers or anvils on poles.
- The hollowed or modified objects protect mail from weather and animals and serve as quirky, reachable roadside post boxes.
Firefighters Wiggle To Satisfy Their PASS Devices
- Firefighters wiggle or move periodically while waiting to prevent their personal alert safety system (PASS) from alarming.
- If a firefighter stays motionless the PASS device beeps to signal incapacitation, and colleagues traditionally punish false alarms with push-ups.
