My Dream Final

disclaimer: I wrote this while slightly intoxicated and I did not edit it. Everything is from the heart as it is said in stream of thought. Don't crucify me.

Yes, we've promised you news. It hasn't come about. That's my fault because quite frankly, I wasn't ready to give the news. My personal apologies.

Here's what it is as of this moment: there is a FIFA World Cup Final that I will likely never be able to live through again. I dreamt of this moment...in my dreams. I NEVER thought for a second that the USA would meet Japan in a final ever in my life. For obvious reasons, I never saw it in the men's game. That being said, I never thought that I would see the Japanese women's team in a final against my country.

I have only cheered against Japan twice in my life before. Once was in a men's friendly before the 2006 World Cup where I saw Taylor Twellman score one helluva goal. The other time was in the 2008 Olympics where the men beat the Japanese in group stages.

I have always wished well for the Japanese team. If I didn't, that's just not fair. To this day, I wish only the best for the Japanese teams as long as they are not playing mine.

That being said, I am American. American I am, and American I will be until the day that I am called to my end. I am an American who has chosen to be an immigrant in Japan, and I love this country.

I have suffered through trying to understand the cultural differences in the beginning, I met my wife here, I have built my life here, and I love this country more than any of my friends back home will ever understand. My old buddies who have spoken to me recently will attest to that. I miss my old country, but I can't complain because this is the life I have chosen.

I now find myself on a fence that I never thought I'd be on; Japan is in the final against my country.

My wife and I have been going back and forth for the past couple of days talking about how good our teams are and how our preferred team is going to pound the other into the ground. I love it - it's good banter and I love doing it, it's fun.

If i seem like I'm digressing I apologize, I am slightly entoxicated and I feel like my emotions are taking control of me, so I take out my aggressions out on my keyboard. Let me get to the point.

A) I cheered Japan as they beat the crap out of my most hated enemy late in the evening and my wife enjoyed it with me (probably not as much as I did)
B) As the time grew closer and closer, I prayed for a Japan-USA final because I knew that this is most likely the only time it would ever happen.
C) I'm not sure what you people were expecting, but when I go to watch this game, I will shake hands with all of the Japanese supporters there, and whoever wins, I will shake their hands afterwards.

I'm sure that there will be trash talked in the in-between time, but I hold nothing against this country outside of the 90 or 120 minutes of this game.

I love this country. It has taken great care of me in one of the darkest hours of my life and I have nothing but appreciation for it. I am more than sure that any other American who supports our Lady Yanks will say the same thing.

All in all, I am blessed to be a Yank having grown up as I have, and I am an even more blessed Yank for having the freedom, ability, and experience to come over to an equally blessed country to meet my wife and have my child here.

Thank you Japan, I will only go against you for the length of this game...USA!! USA!! USA!!

Bad Idea, kid...baaaaad idea.

So I was around the 2 kilometer mark on my run today and I saw a few kids notice me (the fat white guy) running from about some 30 odd meters away. They basically laughed their ass off at me and I knew that I was going to have to bear a bit of heckling at their hands. As I passed them the laughs grew even louder as they got a profile view of my protruding gut and my enlarged arse.

Not two seconds later, one of them started following me nice and quietly in order to show of to his boyz as kids that age tend to do. How do I know he was following me? For this unfortunate little shit, it was about 5 pm and the sun was just beginning to dip down, but just above the mountains and I was headed due east.

The prick's shadow betrayed him. I stopped dead in my tracks, bent down and watched his face in pure and utter shock as he fell head over heals sprawling onto the sidewalk his bag and water bottle landing a couple of meters ahead of him.

His face stunned and slightly angered as the fat gaijin had gotten the better of him, I stood up, pointed, laughed an evil little yeah-try-it-again kind of laugh, and continued my run to the sound of his friends pissing themselves laughing and screaming "Nice joke!" in approval in their broken English as I ran off around the corner checking over my shoulder with a snicker of victory on my face.

I hold no real grudge on this kid, he was just doing what boys naturally do at that age - being a little shit. All I have to say to him is this: if you're gonna mess with the bull, expect the horns.

And the moral of the story is this: Kids, never mess with a random foreigner on the streets - they probably know how to deal with little shits like you and make your friends turn against you.

Ponderings Of A Gaijin

I came to the realization the other day that a lot of great writers have a pen name.

For example:

Aapeli (Simo Puupponen) that wacky Finnish writer

Yulgok (Yi l) the 16^th century Korean Confucian scholar

Mark Twain (Samuel Langhorne Clemens) - The guy who wrote that…book…about…stuff. Haha! It was great!

Balāi Chānd Mukhopādhyāy (Игорь Всеволодович Можейко) - My favourite writer! If you ever get a chance to read Historia de una gaviota y del gato que le enseno a volar: Una novela para Jòvenes de 8 a 88 anos you will not be able to put it down.

As you can see I am in a prestigious class of writers. I too need a pen name so as to preserve my anonymity.

So as of today I will write as Ludwig P. Schleiermacher.

Now on vis zee blog!

How long have I been here??

If you’ve ever lived in a foreign country you know that people are interested in how long you’ve lived there. (Or at least they fake interest, in which case I fake being there.)

Living in Japan is no exception. I would like to add that the Japanese have a fondness for large numbers so when asked about height they use centimeters, when buying a beer at the local pub you’ll pay in the hundreds of yen and body weight is measured in yoctograms (yg, 10^-24g): 60% of a hydrogen atom. But of course, you knew that.

Keeping with Japanese culture, when asked I now respond with:

Hi I’m Ludwig P. Schleiermacher (paying off already!)

I’m 173.3 centimeters tall and 8.164662660000001e28 yoctograms.

I have been in Japan for 257,644,800* seconds.

Don’t forget to add seconds as you are standing there, people love that.

*the author acknowledges that since the writing of this blog, the time has changed.

Busy people

I love watching people on the train. Especially the lady people! Kidding aside, I often marvel at the routines people will go through so as to avoid making eye contact with anyone. In fact, they are often seen stapling their eyelids shut so as not to accidentally open them and see their reflection in the window.

One particular person that baffles me is the ‘Incredibly Busy’ person. This male or female (more often female) will take a schedule book from their bag and study it. And I mean study it like it contained the secrets of the universe. Problem is IT’S EMPTY! There is nary an appointment. Not a smudge. And as they carefully turn each blank page I try to imagine their thoughts.

Young lady – Hmm, what do I have to do today? Hmmm, nothing. Okay. How about tomorrow? Hmmm, nothing tomorrow too. How about the day after tomorrow? Hmmm, nothing as well. How about…..etc, etc, etc…*

But then! Just when I think they’ve managed to commit their schedule to memory, they enter some incredibly important, ground breaking, earth shaking information!

Young lady – (writing) Tuesday, May 10^th.

Don’t forget to check schedule tomorrow.

*this lasts as long as the commute. And once when I was traveling from Kobe to Tokyo, this young lady reached in her bag and…

Time Warp People

I love these people…in a root canal kinda way.

These people have special powers that enable them to manipulate time. I know this because when they board a train (in front of me) they slow waaaaaaaaaay down. See, they are stopping time. As soon as they cross the threshold of the train door, they stop moving. Then they look around the train as if they’ve never seen an ‘iron horse’ before.

I figure they must have stopped time or they’d realize that THEY ARE PISSING ME OFF!! GET MOVING YOU YAK HERDER!! Just get on the dam train, then take your meds, clear your head and figure out why you got on the train in the first place.

Seriously I should just start drinking Jack and smoke on the train. Anything to calm me down after putting up with this every day!

….

….

….

Okay, I feel better now.

Living in a foreign country is always interesting (except maybe North Korea) and I think I understand how aliens would feel if they existed and if they visited. That said I highly recommend living abroad..or even with a broad.

So in the immortal words of Sergeant Phil Esterhause: Hey, let's be careful out there.

MikeyB

No wait!

Ludwig P. Schleiermacher

Wew! That was close!

Enormous Breaking Flashing Board News Ticker In Times Square!!!

Gaijin For Life and the "Best F#cking Gaijin Blog Ever" is freaking BACK!!!!

I know I know! Mikey and I should feel terrible for ignoring all of our five readers for so long! Last time we posted we broke up with J-pop and we decided that England was terrible at...wait for it...SOCCERRRR!!

The fact is that since the last post, life has been a bit on the hectic side. I'm not using that as an excuse for not posting (sheer laziness can be blamed for that). However, I have been dealing with a pregnant wife (due in late July) and a life-threatening disease (I'm fine), record shattering earthquakes and subsequent tsunamis, tornadoes in the homeland that hit, Osama bin Laden sleeps with the fishes and got whacked by a SEAL (still happy about that) and Mikey has been possessed by something that crawled into his brain and squirmed around like a parasite. Mikey, I shit you not, has quit the beer.

Now be it as it may, it is a temporary lull. Three months to be exact. Ninety days. Five thousand four-hundred hours. Not that I'm counting.

Whereas I should in every way humanly possible be supporting my fellow author and partner for the "Best F#cking Gaijin Blog Ever," I must admit that this is tough.

I found out about this over Facebook (summabitch didn't even have the balls to tell me to my face) and I thought he was lying. There have been many a meatnight missed, many a balcony brews gone to waste, and Mikey, if you're reading this, I want you to know that I'm your friend and as such, I need to tell you this: You're hurting those close to you. You need help.

Seriously. Look at yourself in the mirror. You're eyes are clear, your shirt is ironed, you smell like Ivory soap, and what's this I hear about you eating a salad!? You disgust me!

Anyway, back to Japan. Has anyone ever seen roadkill in Japan before? I just saw Kitty Cat bloodied up and laying in the middle of the Flower Road/Yamate Kansen intersection today and it was a good fresh one. Let me know if anyone has seen this before.

Either way, welcome back, we hope to entertain you and make you giggle like a hyena. We'll post more soon.

Mikey, grab a beer! You're up!!

I know this hurts, but just hear me out.

Hey there! How are ya! The other night at karaoke was pretty fun, wasn't it. Man, we were both pretty drunk and I think we need to sit down and chat.

Listen, the other night. Yeah, I think we took our relationship too far and we need to take a step back. Remember when we met when I first got here six years ago and the cool thing for me to do as a new guy was to impress the co-workers with a Japanese song? We had a good time just jabbing each other in the shoulder as good friends. I know the language barrier was a bit of a big deal and it was tough to communicate. Maybe that's why we got along at first; I never really knew if you were laughing with me or at me. Truth be told? I didn't really care. I just enjoyed your company.

And then as time went on, you started dating some of my friends on and off as we became more able and more confident with our Japanese ability. Again, we had some good times at karaoke together, and sometimes in little standing bars, or sometimes, on TV when we were just curious.

But this last weekend, I think we both know, we took things a bit too far. We need to not see each other for awhile and see how things pan out.

Oh, come on now! Please don't be like that! Remember all the good times we had? Remember ringing ridiculous little bells with Kimura Kaela? Hell, we even went to the movies and watched Kill Bill just so I could learn some of your history! Turns out Kaji Meiko is not only pretty good BUT ONE OF THE MOST UNDERRATED JAPANESE SINGERS OF ALL TIME! But hey, I'm just saying! We even went to a couple of Ga Ga Ga Special concerts together and, as you know, they rocked!

I was just really hoping that we could get through this all civilly, and one day be able to just hang out in a bar with our friends English Punk Rock, Heavy Metal, and Ska. Yeah, I know that little whore American Pop shows up every now and then and ruins the night, but we can always go somewhere else. We normally run into our old buddies 80's and sometimes Grunge! Never a bad thing!

So is that cool? Can we just be friends for a bit until it's not awkward anymore?

WELL FUCK YOU THEN!! I never liked you anyway! You have done nothing but annoy me for the full six years that I have lived here and not onc...NOT ONCE!!!...have you ever done anything for me!! I have tried SOOOOOOO hard to understand you!! But do you care!? NO!! You keep putting forth the same goddamn cookie cutter effort that you have since the mid-90's! You haven't been able to keep a steady audience past high school kids, but hey! At least they like the same old crap!!!

Oh, and the whole time, I was cheating on you with Enka!!!

Now get the hell out of my way! I'm off to have a couple beers with the boys in Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra and Ska Flames! Yeah. Ska. It kicks ass and has far more originality than you!

Making Whine With Sour Grapes

I was perusing the Asahi shim-bun website, as I always do, when I stumbled upon this article
that made me want to jab a pointed stick in my eye!

INTERVIEW/ Yukio Tsuda: Stop being 'happy slaves' of English hegemony

I have posted the interview below with a few thoughts I had while reading it myself.
So grab a pointed stick and let's go!

INTERVIEW/ Yukio Tsuda: Stop being 'happy slaves' of English hegemony

BY MASAAKI TONEDACHI ASAHI SHIMBUN SENIOR STAFF WRITER

2010/10/16

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Yukio Tsuda (Photo by Yoshiyuki Suzuki/ The Asahi Shimbun)

People have different opinions on how English should be taught in Japanese schools, but few disagree on the importance of English as an international language that must be taught. Yukio Tsuda, a sociolinguist, is one of those few. He believes Japanese people should stop glorifying English and English speakers.

In a recent interview with The Asahi Shimbun, Tsuda asserted that English has become a pernicious "tool" of discrimination that does nothing but widen social disparities. Excerpts follow.

MikeyB: Whatchu talking bout Yukio?

* * *

Question: English is an international language. When you think of the future of Japanese children, don't you think English should be taught as a compulsory subject?

Answer: The way you just phrased your question is a perfect example of how positively the English language is perceived in Japan. Everybody seems to think it's not only so cool to be an English speaker, but it also enables you to communicate freely with people around the world. Many Japanese have yearned to become proficient in English, virtually worshipping it ever since it established its superior status among foreign languages in Japan at the dawn of the Meiji Era (1868-1912). But let me tell you this: English has its dark side that represents ruthless power.

MikeyB: "English has its dark side that represents ruthless power." So? Japanese does too. Just ask the Taiwanese or the Filipinos or any other group of South-East Asian peoples.

Please ask him to elaborate on that.

Q: Could you elaborate on that?

A: As a lingua franca, English gained unrivaled global supremacy over time. The result was that all other languages were phased out of the international scene and rendered useless. The most important corollary to this is that people's communication skills have come to be judged by their level of proficiency in English.

MikeyB: I bet if Japanese were the lingua franca, we wouldn't be conducting this interview.

Q: But still, isn't English just a tool or means of communication?

A: No, no, you've got to understand that English is no longer such a harmless thing. It is breeding discrimination and inequality because people are being "classed" into English speakers and non-speakers. Native speakers and people who have studied or lived for many years in

English-speaking countries have an advantage over everyone else in the work force and the international scene.

The situation we have is what I term "the hegemony of the English language." I urge everyone to look at the darker side of English, not only at its facade of an international language in the age of globalization.

MikeyB: Wow! English breeds discrimination and inequality! And all this time I thought bigots did that. I bet that if nary a soul spoke English in Japan, there would be no discrimination and inequality....and my house would be made of cake.

"...because people are being "classed" into English speakers and non-speakers."

MikeyB: ...really? They are? Could you provide some examples of this? What I do see is people being classed as Japanese and non-Japanese. Hmmmmmmmmm...

"Native speakers and people who have studied or lived for many years in English-speaking countries have an advantage over everyone else in the work force and the international scene."

MikeyB: Again...so? I have a funny feeling Mr Professor can't speak English.

Q: But if people are disadvantaged for their lack of proficiency in English, wouldn't that be

reason enough for them to try harder to become proficient?

A: You have a point, and I don't disagree. But what I worry most is that people who have worked hard to master English become its "worshippers" and unwittingly abet the perpetuation of the discrimination and unfairness I've mentioned before. In fact, not a few Japanese who have become fluent in English by sheer diligence are guilty of it. I especially want such people and English teachers to be more aware of the negative aspects of the "hegemony of the English language."

MikeyB: Who is 'worshiping'? Please provide an example of this 'worshiping'. If there's a temple or shrine, I'd like to check it out!

" In fact, not a few Japanese who have become fluent in English by sheer diligence are guilty of it."

MikeyB: Again, evidence please. Otherwise you're just talking out your ass.

Q: In the business community, Fast Retailing Co., the operator of the Uniqlo chain of casual clothing stores, and Rakuten Inc. (the nation's largest online shopping mall operator) created quite a stir when they announced they were making English their official in-house language. Wouldn't you think more Japanese companies may follow suit?

A: I wrote to the presidents of Fast Retailing and Rakuten, urging them to reconsider. There are three problems.

First, these two Japanese retail giants switching to English for in-house communication will have a huge impact on society. People will see this as proof of the importance of having English skills, and this in turn will reinforce the structure of domination by this language.

MikeyB: First, people can't peel their eyeballs away from their cellphones long enough to notice moving traffic! I doubt anyone knows or even cares what Fast Retailing and Rakuten do.

Second, native speakers of English will gain tremendous advantage over their colleagues in all areas of in-house communication, which is bound to breed a new type of language-based social disparity.

MikeyB: As opposed to the old type of language-based social disparity,

ie. Japanese speakers who already have an advantage.

Oh, status quo

(status quo)

please don't go

(baby please don't go).

And third, I understand that Rakuten and Fast Retailing are going to prioritize foreigners over Japanese in hiring, but if this becomes more common among Japanese firms, Japanese students with poor English skills won't even be able to hope for employment upon graduation. And what greater anomaly is there than to be unable to communicate in your native tongue in your own country?

MikeyB: Ooo! Ooo! Mr Tsuda! Mr Tsuda!

I have an idea. Stay awake in English class.

This country needs to treat its own people and language with more respect.

MikeyB: Finally! Something we can agree on. Let's celebrate! Let's go to a Soapland!

Q: But for any company that does business with overseas partners and wants to hire people from around the world, don't you think that's a legitimate corporate survival strategy and the company's employees will accept it as such?

A: I firmly believe that so long as a company is based in Japan, it ought to respect the Japanese language. A language is the basis of regional culture and tradition. No corporate activity should ever result in the destruction of regional culture and tradition.

MikeyB: Try telling that to the Ainu.

So if you do business in China and Germany and Mexico...I guess you better learn Chinese and German and Mexican. ...or...this will sound kinda nutty. What if we only had one business language that everyone could use? Then you wouldn't have to learn 75 kagillion languages.

Nah...that's a stupid idea.

Q: But even so, English will grow in importance and influence. Are you saying this has to be resisted?

A: Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying we should stop using English altogether. All I'm saying is that here in Japan, English should always play second fiddle to Japanese.

MikeyB: Is it the translation or is that a borrowed idiom. Shouldn't he be using Japanese idioms. I'm pretty sure the Fiddle is not Japanese. How about if English played second shamisen to Japanese.

I want the government to take the lead in protecting our language. The French parliament in 1994 passed the law on usage of the French language, known as the Toubon law, to protect the French language from being inundated by English words and expressions.

MikeyB: Mon Dieu! This just gets dumber by the minute.

So Mr Smart Guy, if the French ate slimy little sea creatures, would you?

Oh, wait...

The law mandated the use of French in official government publications and at international conferences. The law also aims to prevent overuse of foreign languages on television and radio. I believe the Japanese government should follow the French example and implement necessary policies. I want the government to protect the Japanese language and help it earn an "international status" by endeavoring to establish it as an international language. In this endeavor, however, the government must not be pushy with other nations.

MikeyB: "I want the government to protect the Japanese language and help it earn an "international status" by endeavoring to establish it as an international language."

In other words...Invade other countries, colonize and force them to adopt your language.

Hmmm....think I already saw that movie. How'd that work out for ya?

Q: We Japanese study English, but that's not because we are being "pushed" by the United States or Britain. It's the education ministry, or our own government, that requires all Japanese students to learn English. Also, I think a lot of people are working to brush up their English skills at their own initiative.

A: A slave who doesn't feel his enslavement is a "happy slave," a product of the ultimate form of domination. I see a parallel between him and Japan.

MikeyB: A moron who doesn't feel his moroness is a "happy moron," a product of the ultimate form of moronitude. I see a parallel between him and you.

People in non-English-speaking countries of Europe use English, but are on their guard against letting it overrun their turfs, so to speak. I think these Europeans are dealing with English with a certain degree of tension. But I sense no such tension among the people of Japan, and I want them to be less naive. Unless they are more careful, the day may come when they realize too late that even everyday Japanese is full of English words and expressions.

MikeyB: Care to provide examples? No, of course not. He'd rather make shit up to support his argument.

Umm, bad news buddy, Japanese is already full of English words and expressions.

Q: Then, how do you think English should be taught in junior and senior high schools?

A: English should be made an optional subject only for kids who want to learn the language.

MikeyB: Believe me bud. They already have that attitude.

It is a required subject at present, which means all pupils are forced to take it. But what practical need is there to force everyone to learn a foreign language? It is most important for Japanese citizens to fully master Japanese.

MikeyB: Actually I agree. They should not force everyone to learn English. But they should force everyone to learn basic logic and critical thinking skills. I think you could have benefited from that.

Today, the level of Japanese language skills is deteriorating not only among young Japanese, but in all age groups as well. Precisely for this reason, I believe Japanese should be made a compulsory subject from primary school to all the way through university, and the hours of classes must be increased so that everyone will learn to use proper Japanese.

MikeyB: A couple of thoughts.

1. If Japanese is THAT hard to learn, maybe it should be simplified.

2. Languages (like everything else) evolve. Too bad if YOU don't like it.

But a few years ago, the education ministry came up with its strategy to nurture Japanese with proficiency in English. And the ministry even established a set of targets of English skills for all the Japanese citizens to achieve by enumerating as criteria grades of the Eiken Test in Practical English Proficiency. This was a classic case of putting the cart before the horse.

MikeyB: Reality check: - English is THE international business language. - If you want to travel, English is your best bet for being understood (in any country). - Japanese will never be accepted as an international language because it is not spoken internationally. - If you don't want to learn English, I suggest you take up Chinese. That may be the future for Asia.

I can't help but picture this guy as a tiny, bitter, pock-marked, whiny little ultra-nationalist.

Fin

I have a headache. Could be the stick lodged in my head.

Anyway, I'm glad to know many people who are more well-rounded than Mr Professor here.

Oh man....can't think, can't write....I need a drink.

Let me know what you think.

Till next time....

MikeyB

Favourite Podcasts

While my most able partner delights with his informative and entertaining posts on that most wonderful of amber liquids, I shall serve up other delicious insights.

Today I shall bestow upon you some of my most cherished podcasts.

As we are all busy with work and other unnecessary mundane tasks, it is a real treat to break the monotony with a titillating taste of tasteful, tasty talk. The kind that not only makes you think but also educates and inspires!

One of my adulation's is settling in to a nice podcast whilst sailing around Osaka Bay on my private yacht.










Hmm...perhaps a little paint would help.

And so, without further adieu, I present a gourmet feast of the audible kind.


1. The Atheist Experience
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-atheist-experience/id118720919

For anyone who has ever questioned the religion they were brought up in, this podcast is for you.
I for one became an atheist after examing the teachings of the Bible and seeing how they match up with reality. This podcast will either help you make the difficult transition and set you free...or reaffirm your belief.
Give it a try.


2. The History of Rome - Mike Duncan
http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-history-of-rome/id261654474

Wonderfully organized and delivered in a way that is both easy to listen to and very informative.
Mr Duncan knows his subject very well and realizes that in order to digest such a voluminous piece of history, it needs to be divided up into bite sized pieces.
Not only does he succeed, he leaves the listener salivating for the next episode.


3. Ideas from CBC radio
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/ideas-from-cbc-radio-highlights/id151485663

I've always loved CBC radio (slight bias). Wonderfully intelligent and beautifully written programs. With a wide range of topics, one is sure to find something of interest.



4. Monster Talk
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/monstertalk/id325079170

Yes I know that's a picture of John Kerry. But don't worry, he doesn't really exist.

This is podcast for those interested in mythical creatures yet have a desire to dispell the myths with science and reason.
The podcast examines the monter folklore from it's origins to the possible existence or the what-if.
It's a light-hearted podcast but very informative.


5. CBC Quirks and Quarks
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/quirks-quarks-complete-show/id151485804

Again, bias. But hey, it's good!
My mom got me turned on to this gem as a kid. She'd have it on the radio while doing housework, every Sunday.
Quirks and Quarks examines everything from the largest bodies in the universe to the smallest quarks, and anything in between.
With special guest scientists from all over the world, this one hour program is a must listen for anyone who ever wondered 'why?'.


6. QuackCast - Dr Mark Crislip
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/quackcast/id156191063

Do vaccines cause autism?
Is Chiropractic science based medicine?
Why is homeopathy a ridiculous idea?
Will a watermelon really grow in my tummy if I eats da seeds!

This man will set the record straight.
He's funny too.


7. The Skeptics guide to the Universe
http://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-skeptics-guide-to-universe/id128859062

This is the creme de la creme.
From the site itself...

"The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe is a weekly Podcast talkshow discussing the latest news and topics from the world of the paranormal, fringe science, and controversial claims from a scientific point of view. -The Skeptics' Guide to the Universe: Your escape to reality"

This is a must listen podcast!

I have enjoyed many an hour sipping tea and listening to these delightful tidbits of erudition.
I invite you to do the same!
I also invite you to share your favourite podcasts with me.
Kindly post them in reply to this blog and if I can pull myself away from my other marvelous pasttimes, I'll give them a listen.
Or, I'll delete them.
They're probably rubbish anyway.



Until then, let me leave you with this.








Sir MikeyB