Here's a strange one:
Where do you go for your holidays if you live in beautiful, sunny San Francisco?
The answer - if you're Katie - appears to be Minnesota.
Minnesota?
Weird or what?
I only know four things about Minnesota.
1) Lake Wobegon isn't there.
2) Bob Dylan isn't there.
3) The Minnesota accent is cute.
4) Winters there suck ass big time.
I can't afford air conditioning so I watch Fargo in the summer to keep nicely chilled.
Brrr …
Anyhoo … If any of you were awake you might remember me chuntering on about Radio 3's "The Verb" a few days back.
I confessed to liking some Colonial wireless programmes, too; namely:
News From Lake Wobegon;
Car Talk;
This American Life;
all of which I get as podcasts from NPR with all the annoying ads taken out.
I asked for any more recommendations and Katie gave me a splendid NPR list:
Fresh Air;
Humankind;
On the Media;
Wait Wait Don't Tell Me;
To the Best of Our Knowledge.
Check 'em out.
I've been listening to Fresh Air and To The Best Of Our Knowledge, but mostly I must confess I've been enjoying a raucous chortle at "Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me", NPR's gigglesome version of our own beloved "News Quiz".
In particular I snorted my lunch out through my nose at Jessie Ventura being interrogated about the minutiæ of international mini-golf tournaments and some hilarious Karl Rove and Dick Cheney jokes the week before.
So …
The point of today's little post:
In reply to Katie and to any other Colonials who share my preference for the crystal set over the idiot box, here are some Beeb links worthy of perusal.
First up, here's a link to Radio 3's website.
You can pick and choose from Dive regulars like "The Verb", "Jazz on 3" and "Late Junction" and the incomparably splendid yet appallingly titled "Hear and Now" (all the latest noises from the klinky-klanky-land of Dive's favourite avant-garde classical music) and listen to each programme for up to a week after broadcast.
Or if - like me with my interminable train journeys - you prefer podcasts, head on over to Radio 3 and Radio 4's podcast sites (or you can get 'em on iTunes) and subscribe to whatever you like.
I heartily recommend Radio 4's "The News Quiz", especially last Friday's episode where they tore Cherie Blair apart mercilessly and stomped all over her bloody remains.
Now that our Humph has gone to play his celestial trumpet in Jazz Heaven it is the funniest thing on radio.
God bless miniature lesbian Sandi Toksvig and all who sail in her.
My other favourite poddie is "In Our Time" with good old Melvyn Bragg, which is aired while I'm in my Japanese class and I hate to miss it.
Sorry to be so boring but I really do recommend ditching your televisions (they look great when you hurl them off really tall buildings) and exploring the world of the wireless.
Download Van Morrison's "In The Days Before Rock'n'Roll" from iTunes (if they've got it … they're crap with rarities) if you want more reasons why radio rules.
I love that song.
It reminds me of when I was a kid, staying awake all night under the blanket with an old Bush wireless set, listening to pirate radio and constantly having to retune the interference whine to the same pitch as the song.
Sigh …
Happy days.
And what the hell is Hibbing? How precisely does one hib?
27 comments:
Ah, you've found some of my favorite NPR programs. And NPR doesn't have ads, Dive, accept when they are in the middle of a pledge drive. That's the joy of public radio.
I have seen footage of people hurling things on a giant catapult—it might be fun to fling a big TV.
Of all the myriad things one can do with a TV, Robyn, watching the stupid thing must surely be the most boring.
And yaay for NPR for having no ads.
Minnesota Mining & Machinery was the company which became 3M....for the obvious reason.
So that's 5 things.
Apparently, it is also the land of 10,000 lakes, according to Katie's postcard.
I thought that was Finland, but hey … they both talk like the Swedish Chef so perhaps there's a link.
And I'm still no wiser as to how to hib.
Oh, and I think Leo Kottke comes from there.
Actually, how the hell do you pronounce Kottke?
The downside of PUBIC Radio is that it is radically Liberal. So, Dive, I would recommend a good dose of Rush Limbaugh to offset the disease which is Public Radio.
Love,
your Righty Friend
What is up with all the comas? Geeze...
Hee hee hee, Prudence.
Even liberal America seems quite right wing to me but then I'm Mister Marx's mate.
I confess to liking Ann Coulter's website but only for the comedy value (OW!), but I will check out Rush's site, too.
And of course you have your own antidote to liberal Pubic Radio; you must have been laughing for months at the shit-slinging tragi-comedy that is the Clinton and Obama Show.
We've been shaking our heads in disbelief. Sheesh!
moderation in all things, including moderation, sugar! ;-) xoxo
Moderation in moderation.
Hee hee, Savannah!
Loved your post this morning, by the way.
xoxox.
I have heard the mosquito is the state bird of Minnesota, so that's six things.
And Prudence, I have been having that debate this last week or so with husband. He listens to that douche bag Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity and all the others and has been telling me that I have listened to NPR for so long and have been lulled into following their liberal belief system because they are so good at presenting their views couched in things like humor and classical music. YAY for NPR!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just checking in from Minnesota; I can't believe you're so interested in this quirky state (and you're so sweet to link)! Must run, but FYI, my friend's great aunt taught math to Bob Zimmerman at Hibbing High School. I'll get all the details over breakfast at the Chatterbox Cafe!
The mosquito? Hee hee hee. Robyn! That's just delicious.
And WOOHOO!
Robyn called Rush Limbaugh a douche-bag!
This is becoming so much fun!
I think we ought to settle this with a custard pie fight.
Hi, Katie! How's the vacation going?
Wow! A Dylan link! Fantastic!
Perhaps your friend can enlighten me on how to "hib".
Does Dorothy still have any rhubarb pie left down at the Chatterbox? If so, please save me some.
I've been bed-bound this evening: no TV, no radio and when I tried to read, the page was swimming. M.B brought home nice Pizza though. Feeling a bit better now but back to bed in a mo.
I think it snows a lot in Minnesota but probably not at this time of year.
Katie says the weather's lovely and all the lilacs are out, Mme.
So sorry to hear you're feeling bad. I do hope you feel better soon.
xox
Well, I was just going to come on and start singing unintelligibly like the Swedish Chef from the Muppets because I DO so enjoy doing that.
But, it's interesting that you guys bring up the NPR political stuff.
Jamey(husby) and I were just talking last night how we never want to make friends with the people at our church because we have nothing in common with them socially.
Instead, the people we enjoy and would find interesting to hang with are those who listen to NPR and are also those who tend to get saturated by their liberal slantings.
I adore IRA GLASS and he seems like someone we would be friends with until our views on particular religious/political topic come up.
Rush Limbaugh(I'm a listener to him as well)says things I TOTALLY agree with but says them so obnoxiously some times he is off putting. I see through his act and like him actually, sorry Robyn, but I can also see why people listening to snippets of him in action would be disgusted by his haughty style.
And look at me over here enjoying Dive the Marxist (you say?) liberal, Atheist(really?) going about his blog in a hilarious and entertaining way. And underneath it all of course he/you is/are a sweet and fun well meaning person.
I don't get it. I just don't.
I'll just keep taking it all in and coming out with my own slightly center of Right stance and try to appreciate our differences on those days where I scratch my head and wonder what the heck is happening in this world where we must choose sides continually.
Speaking of choosing sides Dive. (And other readers may want to skip to the next comment here) I'm learning right now that the Bible's Antichrist (the Beast, the desolator, Man of Lawlessness etc.) has the same exact characteristics of The Mahdi who is Islams great hero who will wreak havoc on Jews and Christians(in the end) and kill all( holy wars) who will not choose Allah over the God of the Bible.
Satan is known for mirroring Gods actions and this is an amazing comparison to me. I think the Muslim nation is growing just as the Bible suggests Satan's empire on earth will. And the deceiver is getting more confusing by the moment. In the end God will win and that is why I have chosen His side on this much larger issue. ;)
Hadn't thrown in my ramblings for a while and thought you would miss it. Heeheehee I'm reading 'Antichrist: Islams Awaited Messiah' but have not gotten too far in yet. It is very interesting.
And the theme to this comment shall be called 'Wait, wait, don't tell me.' to lamely tie it all together. bahha
Right on Shan! I have also chosen HIS side and I shall see you there!
(I know, first the comas and now the exclaimations) Deal with it!!!
Robyn, Rush is very accurate and does a lot of research to find the truths behind what is is speaking of. If he were not right you know as well as I do that the "media" would be all over him. They seldom speak of him as not to draw any attention to him lest they be found out that what they are really doing to the average American is brainwashing.
Don Henley said "Dirty little secrets
Dirty little lies
We got our dirty little fingers in everybodys pie
We love to cut you down to size
We love dirty laundry
We can do the innuendo
We can dance and sing
When its said and done we havent told you a thing
We all know that crap is king
Give us dirty laundry!"
glad you enjoyed the post, you spoilsport! ( i KNEW you'd be the one to cut&pate&translate!)
i don't normally get into discussions on religion, but i would like to add that the religion of islam must NOT be confused with the anti-religious practices of fundamentalist extremists. the one thing that i feel we need to remember is that, respect for other religions, or lack thereof, is a fundamental part of our american system. my favorite saying and it is exemplified in all of the major religious and spiritual texts is: "just not, lest you be judged accordingly."
i truly believe that civility and gentility can overcome all divisions and unite humanity in peace.
damn, i meant JUDGE not...
I'm totally with you, Savvy.
Hey, kids.
This is a biggie, so please see the next post.
Prudence, I think there is as much spin on Limbaugh's "research" as there is in my front loader, just as there is spin on the blabberings of the far left.
I also think if he isn't getting attention from the media it isn't because they are afraid of him and his "truth" or afraid he'll expose their brainwashing of the American public. He has been somewhat overshadowed lately by the likes of Sean Hannity and Mike Church. Limbaugh gets attention any time he pulls a stunt, as he likes to do now and then.
Hey, kids!
Stop arguing or Old Dive will get spanky!
Hee hee.
WOO-HOOOOO! Prudence and I are like Thelma and Louise holding hands and hitting the gas pedal toward the cliff! LET'S GOOOOOOoooooo :D
I'm so glad you were here to support Prudence today, Shan.
I often feel she gets ganged-up on by the liberals and I respect her views so it's good to have some back-up.
I'm late to the party, but here's my two cents:
Most broadcasting in the US is a commercial enterprise. Those right-leaning radio personalities are part of the "big media" they often deride.
Rush Limbaugh is distributed by a division of Clear Channel Communications. Sean Hannity is part of the ABC/Disney empire. They are on the air because they make money for their syndicators.
The ultimate "product" that commercial broadcasters offer is not their programming; it is their listeners/viewers. The on-air content is merely a means to deliver bodies to the advertisers.
While some personalities may be true believers, you have to consider the possibility that their on-air personas are just that...roles they assume for public consumption.
Must confess - don't listen to the radio. I do - only when I'm in Manila coz I get to drive my car.
However, as you know, I only present a show or sit in one as a guest :-)
Leo Kottke is indeed from Minnesota and it is pronounced "KOT KEY." We actually have more than 12,000 lakes in MN. Winters are terrible here but the other 3 seasons are fantastic. Bob Dylan was actually born in Duluth, MN but he grew up in Hibbing, MN which is in the Iron Mining part of the state. Robert Mondovi also came from that area. Other famous people from MN. include Charles Lindbergh, Judy Garland, Jane Russell, the Coen Brothers, James Arness, Robert Vaughn, John Madden, Yanni, Gary Puckett, Josh Hartnett, and Martin Zellar.
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