# 1648: "Why Are Manhole Covers Round?" Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/interesting-things-with-jc-5049896/1648-why-are-manhole-covers-round Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/interesting-things-with-jc-5049896/1648-why-are-manhole-covers-round.md Podcast: [Interesting Things with JC](https://stenobird.com/podcast/interesting-things-with-jc-5049896) Published: 2026-05-10T07:00:47+00:00 Episode link: https://jimconnors.net/interesting-things-with-jc/2026/5/10/1648-why-manhole-covers-are-round Audio file: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5bba2d6fca525b3efa21591f/t/69ffc4a55375d140d88231f1/1778369707527/1648+-+Interesting+Things+-+Why+Are+Manhole+Covers+Round.mp3 Processing state: not_requested JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/interesting-things-with-jc-5049896/episodes/1648-why-are-manhole-covers-round Duration seconds: 147 ## Resource Interesting Things with JC #1648: "Why Are Manhole Covers Round?" – A heavy cover sits over a city access hole, but its shape keeps it from dropping into the tunnel below; the same circle also spreads traffic force and lets workers roll 90-to-250-pound cast iron through the street. This episode is inspired by Mr. Paul. ## Actions - request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/interesting-things-with-jc-5049896/episodes/1648-why-are-manhole-covers-round/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode. - read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/interesting-things-with-jc-5049896/1648-why-are-manhole-covers-round.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource. A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed. ## Transcript Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.