With Podcasts I Ride

I work for a courier service.  I drive almost 300 miles every workday.  I listen to music.  I listen to news radio during rush hour for the traffic reports.  I listen to nothing but the whistling wind.  I listen to podcasts.  These are the podcasts of my driving week.  Maybe you’d like to listen to them, too.

I listen to all of these via iTunes, but they are also streamed from their respective sites, which are linked within the images below. 

WTF with Marc Maron
Post Day: Monday and Thursday

Marc Maron is a comedian.  He is also an excellent conversationalist. After nearly 400 episodes, he has talked to most comics you can think of.  Old, new, some he has history with, some he’s only recently met.  Over the years, he has collected an oral history of what it’s like to be a working comedian. Whether you’ve heard of the person Marc is talking with or not, it will be worth your time.

As the podcast has grown in popularity (and possible exhaustion of the list of comics willing to talk), he has been speaking with more musicians, actors and directors.  All just as engaging as the conversations with his fellow comedians.  Marc has a natural fascination of how people get through life.

Every episode starts with an open monologue.  He uses this time to set some background to the particular interview and whatever else is on his mind.  He has an anxious and aggressive personality.  I've heard it’s not for everyone.  There is a fast forward button.  The talks are great.

Where to Start
Episode #398 - Danny Lobell.  Not only a great conversation with someone who had a comedians podcast before he did, but Marc greets new listeners in the opening and explains how to get the older episodes.  iTunes only has the last 50 episodes.  Here is a list of past guests. 

The Sign-Off
 “Boomer Lives!” One of Marc’s cats left and never came back.

The Firewall and Iceberg Podcast
Post Day: Monday or Tuesday. 

Dan Fienberg and Alan Sepinwall are the Siskel and Ebert of TV criticism. Every week they give you the straight poop on what's airing. They preview coming debuts and review finales.  Do you like Breaking Bad or Mad Men? You're in luck, because they talk about every episode as they air.  And, when the opportunity arises, they will analyze the business of television and the thinking behind programming.  

New content dries up during the summer, so they give themselves a summer project.  In the past, they have re-watched the entire series of Undeclared (episodes #19-26) and the first seasons of Twin Peaks (#77-79, #81-83, #85, #87) and Buffy: The Vampire Slayer (#131, #132-#137, #139-#142). 

This year, however, they are doing something different (and if you ask me, a lot of fun). They will be revisiting TV pilots. They will pick shows that can be found streaming online (Netflix, Hulu, TV.com, HBOGO, etc.) to make watching them a little easier.  The Sopranos kicked things off a few weeks ago (#185).  Taxi, Cheers (both #186) and Veronica Mars followed (#187).  Watch the pilots for The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show for next week's conversation.

Where to Start
It's a current events show, so the most recent. Or #185, if you want to get in on the pilot fun.

For in-depth discussions of Breaking Bad and Mad Men episodes:
Breaking Bad, season 4: #85-91, #92-94, #96-98
Breaking Bad, season 5, part 1: #139-142, #144-147
Mad Men, season 4: #27-31, #33-35, #37, #39-42
Mad Men, season 5: #121-128, #130-132, #134
Mad Men, season 6: #176-181, #183-present 

And, if for some reason, you still need more discussion of the final season of Lost, Dan and Alan can get you through that, too (#2a-13, #15-18)

The Sign-Off
 “See you in the next life, Jack.” Midnight Run is Alan favorite movie.

Fight for Comics
Post Day: Wednesday

I started reading comics about a year and a half ago.  I looked for podcasts that reviewed the weekly outpouring of product every week and could clue me in on the vast history of the world I was getting to know. There aren’t many weekly comics podcasts, and this is one of the few (that I found) without Comic Book Guy snark. Oh, they can be sarcastic and frustrated about the comics industry at times, but it’s done without the eye-rolling and attitude of someone who read it all and can’t be impressed anymore. They love comics and it shows.

It took a few episodes to “get to know” these four friends, to fall in line with their patterns. But now, I look forward to their blathering. They are funny guys.  The fact that one of them sounds like somebody I know makes it that much more entertaining.

Where to Start
The last two weeks have been particularly good. Episode #195 is a regularly structured show, while this week's show is all Superman, featuring discussions about Superman Unchained (the new comic series), Superman Unbound (the latest animated movie) and Man of Steel (the latest live-action/computer-animated motion picture).

I Seem Fun: The Diary of Jen Kirkman
Post Day: Wednesday

Jen Kirkman is a comedian. Her drunk history made me laugh. Her albums made me laugh.  Now her podcast makes me laugh every week with her daisy chain stream of consciousness and storytelling. 

(If you're one of those folks who like to read words without pictures, her book, I Can Barely Take Care of Myself: Tales from a Happy Life Without Kids, is very good. )

Where to Start
It’s just a few weeks old; start from the beginning.  But, if you want to jump to some great ghost stories and my new favorite expression, dovetail water slide, go straight to episode six.

Broken Projector
Post Day: Friday

This podcast for FilmSchoolRejects.com is hosted by Scott Beggs and Geoff LaTulippe (screenwriter of Going the Distance). They interview filmmakers, largely independent creators and veterans of the industry, and engage in lively debate on movie-related topics, like which sequel is better: Temple of Doom or The Last Crusade (episode #1)? 

Where to Start
 Hitchcock vs Spielberg (posted January 24, 2013)
What the Hell is Happening to VXF? (March 8, 2013)
Kickstarter for Millionaires (March 15, 2013) 
or the most recent one

And if you want more interviews of independent and veteran filmmakers, check out this podcast's predecessor, Reject Radio.

The Sign-Off
 "See you next Friday" is a riff on John Landis's recurring joke, See you next Wednesday. 

The Empire Podcast
Post Day: Friday

It's the movie magazine for your ears! Hosted by members of the Empire magazine staff, this is a weekly podcast full of answers to listener's questions, movie news, interviews and reviews of the latest releases. Once in a while there will be bonus episodes, which are either extended interviews or spoiler specials. They speak with British and Irish accents, making you a classier person for listening to them.

Where to Start 
The most recent regular podcast. As for the specials: 
The British Board of Film Classification Ratings Special (posted June 6, 2013) is a great look into the how films are rated in the UK with an interview of the BBFC’s executive director. 
The extended interview of Danny Boyle (March 27, 2013)
The extended interview of William Friedkin (June 29, 2012)

Doug Loves Movies
Post Day: Thursday or Friday (the regular show)

Doug Benson is a comedian. And he loves movies. Every week, he guides a group of guests (comedians, actors, directors) though a conversation that usually sticks to cinematic topics and a game or two. It's light-hearted and fun. If you take it too seriously, you are a shithead.

The Leonard Maltin Game is the star of the show for me.  It’s like Name That Tune but with actor’s names and movie titles instead of musical notes and song titles. Since it isn't always explained, here's how it's played:

Once a category is picked, Doug gives the panelists a few clues from Leonard’s review and the number of names listed in the cast. The panelists say how many names they need to guess the movie title. The number is whittled down until someone says “name that movie!” Then, the names are read from the bottom of the cast listing, up, so that the smallest roles are read first.

Panelists can also bid zero names or negative names. With zero names, only the movie title needs to be named.  With negative names,  the panelist must name the movie and the cast listing from the top, down, as Leonard has them listed.

If the panelist gets it right, he or she gets a point. If the panelist gets it wrong, the challenger gets the point. The first person to two points wins.

Where to Start
Scroll through past episode and find guests you've heard of then go from there. There are different lengths of episodes. Start with the ones in the 45-60 minute range.  Those are the regular, weekly shows. Last week's episode with Rory Scovel, Sarah Silverman and Zach Galifianakis is very good.  iTunes doesn’t have much before this year.  The rest can be purchased here. 

The Sign Off
The panelists play for members of the audience. The losing audience members get to have Doug call someone a shithead.

So concludes my podcast week.  

Kindergarden Karma

Wednesday’s may be “hump day” for Joe Lunchbox, porn stars and drive time radio DJs, but around our house it is known as “Daddy Owen Day”. The tradition started six weeks after the birth of our son, Owen when my wife went back to work. The combination of a desire to embrace a ‘hands on’ parenting experience along with a lack of sufficient funds to pay for daycare thrust me onto the frontlines of the battle to shape the youth of tomorrow. We would juggle the little man around our work schedules the other days of the week, but Wednesday was always my day to go solo. Open to close as it were.

Anyway, last Wednesday we were hanging out at the Columbus Zoo on a picture perfect fall afternoon when an interesting subject arose. Snacking on PB & Js, just a smell’s distance from the penguins, a ladybug landed on Owen’s shirt.

 He said, “Dad! A ladybug! This is good luck!”  I replied, “yup, it sure is” 

“What if I put it in a spider web for a spider to eat? Would that be bad luck?”

“Yeah, that would probably be bad karma” 

“What’s bad karma?”

“Well, if you do something bad, bad things will happen to you, if you do good things, one day something good will happen to you.”

Owen clarified: “So if I hit you in the arm, something bad will happen to me?”

“That’s the idea.”

Owen then reared back punched me in the arm. And said, “Let’s go smell the Komodo dragon’s breathe.”

The very next day we are driving somewhere listening to Judas Priest on Boneyard when he says from the back seat, “Dad, I hit you in the arm yesterday and nothing bad happened. Maybe Karma doesn’t exist”

Thinking on my feet, or seat in this case (snicker, snicker) I cleverly respond, “Sometimes you do a bunch of little bad things and eventually they add up and some big bad thing happens to you”

“Oh……” he ponders for a moment “so, I could punch you in the arm 10 days in a row, but, then one day,… someone will come up to me on the playground and punch me in the nuts”

Having never heard my six year old son use that particular expression, I blinked for a long second and said, “Excuse me?”   

He said, “Come on dad, you know what I mean” 

He had me there. I did know. 

 “Two things Owen. First, yes, that pretty much explains karma and second, please don’t use that expression around teachers, or grown-ups that don’t come over to our house to watch football with me"

“OK Dad. Can we stop for a milkshake at Old McDonald's?”

Colin Gawel is a Dad who plays music, sells coffee and writes at Pencilstorm. He will be spending Father's Day watching Owen play little league baseball trying not to have a nervous breakdown because it's just little league baseball after all. You can learn more about him and other Pencilstorm contributors here.

Your Life Is Closer To Over: The Occasional Week In Review by Brian Phillips

News 

The all seeing eye of our vast unchecked national security state was brought to the fore this week with a couple of fascinating pieces. U.S. based journallist Glenn Greenwald, writing for UK publication The Guardian, made international headlines with his article on a leaked top secret FISA court order.  Phone carrier Verizon was compelled by that court to turn over troves of "metadata" to the National Security Agency. Close behind, The Washington Post piled on with their reporting on the so called PRISM program. The NSA reportedly has back door access to the web. Sunday the stunning news broke that the Guardian's leaker outed himself while holed up in a hotel room in Hong Kong. 29 year old ex-CIA computer wiz Edward Snowden, under the employ of noted defense contractor Booz Allen, became perhaps the most famous leaker since Daniel Ellsburg. (Although Bradley Manning would probably take issue with that. Manning went on trial this week.) 

A Few Thoughts:

1. Is it just me, or does the NSA strategy seem like the Kevin Bacon Game. I'm just a dumb dj, but the idea behind efforts like the Verizon data dump (and believe me, all the  carriers are being compelled to give the feds the same shit) seems to be the use of complex algorithms to establish connections between people. In other words, how many degrees are you or I separated from each other, or a terrorist?  How many degrees and how many connections make a person interesting to them? Dangerous? Is this even efficient? (never mind the moral and constitutional issues.)

2. All this stuff costs billions.... off the books, black budget unaccountable billions. Is it even irony any more when we learn that Mr. Snowden's employer is Booz Allen? Former Booz Allen CEO James Clapper is.... wait for it.... President Obama's current director of National Intelligence. Our entire national security apparatus is a lot like the rest of our government: a revolving door. There's a lot of money on the table, and well connected contractors waiting to take it. All this scary shit the NSA is involved with may not even work. Maybe that's beside the point. Contractors like Booz Allen are making serious money regardless. 

3. It's instructive that outside the White House, the NSA, lawmaker lizards like Lindsay Graham and Diane Feinstein, and pliant beltway pundits, there seems to be little outrage on the part of the public that the NSA's secrets were made public. (And I'm sure the greatest majority of all is comprised of people who don't care either way). I get a sense that a sizable chunk of the population who pays attention is getting mighty tired of this Faustian Bargain we've made for our "safety." Some of us are generally frightened by this vast, unaccountable bureaucracy and we'd like to see it reigned in. Or maybe that's just my own little feedback loop. 

4. I could probably find a Myspace post or a recorded bar conversation or two from back in the day where I stated my concerns about the Patriot Act. No matter. Timing is everything and times being what they were a decade or so ago, we're left this. 

5. It's not enough for them to offer assurances. The founders never intended for our affairs to be carried out this manner. "Just Trust Us" is not printed on the dollar bill. At least not yet. 

Elsewhere 

Not widely reported last week was the arrest of the man responsible for the outing of people and information surrounding the Steubenville High School rape case. 26 year old Deric Lostutter will probably do more time than anyone else connected to the case. How did they find him? Perhaps the answer is above.

I'm not going to even try to explain to you all the angles in the story of alleged crack smoker Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. Gawker has been all over it, even going so far as to attempt to raise money to buy video of Ford sucking on a pipe. Use this as your launch point if you're so inclined and join me in asking how he got elected, and why he's still in office.  

Don't miss this article on theories that Queen Elizabeth I was a dude. Fascinating. 

It's storm season, and if you have a damaged tree don't try to remove it like these fellas.  

Hey look, I remember high school. Sometimes cheerleaders were mean.... not this mean though. Cheerleader pimps out class mate.  

 Sports

If ESPN could crap itself it would over news the Patriots have signed Tim Tebow. Scratch that. ESPN does crap itself everyday when Skip Bayless takes to the air.  

Hey I ain't proud, but I own Ryan Braun in three fantasy leagues. (I should also not be proud of how many leagues I'm in.) I think Braun will make it through the season unless his bad thumb gets him. That said MLB won't rest until they have his steroid bloated head on a stick.  

Indians closer Chris Perez is real bright. He's accused of having pot mailed to his house. There's a 4.20 ERA joke in there somewhere.

My Mariners played in one of the all time weirdest extra inning games last week. Of course they lost. That's a stupid question.  

 And Finally Tonight

  Update yourself on Anti Semitic Elmo. 

Brian Phillips is the afternoon DJ at the legendary FM Indi Rock Station CD102.5. You can learn more about him and other Pencilstorm contributors here. 

 

Your Life Is Closer To Over: The Week That Was by Brian Phillips

I missed last week, but for good reason. Friday it was the Mariners and Tribe with my brother in Cleveland. The M's are, including that night, 1-8 since. I feel privileged to have witnessed the beginning of the end of their season.

Saturday and Sunday I was taking in my youngest's soccer tournament in Hilliard. The Dragons successfully defended their MOSSL title and Izzy successfully passed her first concussion test. (The final was a rough affair to say the least). ​I was actually quite calm through the whole thing. I didn't think it would help to flip out, run on the field and push down the kid who crunched my daughter's head into the turf. Being a grown up is hard.

Sunday was weird in that I attended Rock On The Range with my 15 year old. I didn't embarrass her too much. I'm pretty sure I was way more into Soundgarden than she. On the way to Crew Stadium "Flower" came on my Ipod and I commented that there was no way they'd play this late 80's obscurity. Not only was a I wrong, but they opened with it!​

News

​It's Memorial Day and all across America we remember those who gave all, and thank those who serve or served.... as it should be. Unfortunately it's not enough. We have a growing epidemic of men and women suffering in silence, behind a facade of post traumatic stress syndrome and severe head trauma. Our military health system is woefully inadequate to treat the scores who used to die in such circumstances. Today improved emergency care and better protective equipment keep them alive only to be returned state side to indifference and neglect. Read this piece and get really angry. Is the military drumming young people out so they don't have to pay for their treatment? Draw your own conclusions. 

Meanwhile the Boston Bombing case continues to generate the weird on many fronts. A friend of the dead bomber was about to confess to role in a 2011 triple murder when he attacked law enforcement and was shot dead they say. It's been theorized that dead bomber was involved in the unsolved crime. 

Last week two FBI agents involved in the shoot out with the Boston Bombers fell out of a helicopter and died, and Alex Jones just shit his pants. ​

Speaking of Jones, he says the Oklahoma tornadoes could have been steered toward their target by the government. Of course they were Alex duh... 

This article on a Facebook page dedicated to reuniting tornado victims with lost mementos will restore some faith in humanity unless you're completely dead inside. Some pictures were found about 100 miles away. ​

When you read this remember that banks have been gently reminded to end such practices. "Oh well' says the government, 'we did all we could.' ​

Anyone living in Western Washington will tell you that losing this bridge really sucks. Welcome to America's crumbling infrastructure. ​Fortunately no one was killed. 

If you haven't been following the story, the singer for Christian metal band As I Lay Dying is accused of trying to hire a hit man to kill his estranged wife. Now we have his defense: Roid Rage. Perhaps it would work better if he attempted the crime himself, but 'steroids caused my client to methodically seek out and hire a professional killer' doesn't have the same ring to it. Good luck with that. (By the way the hired gun was actually an undercover cop. I know big surprise there.)

The death of Doors founding member Ray Manzarek reminds that all those guys are going fast now. Mazarek was a guest on the morning show I produced in Seattle back in the day. I remember him smoking in our lunch room and talking a lot about the Doors. I've always been more impressed by the fact that he produced their first four X albums. ​

​Sports

​​This is why many stadiums and arenas have you pour your beer in a cup. Orioles outfielder Nate McClouth was nearly killed by fan hurling full can out of upper deck. By the way check out the catch. 

A favorite pass time of mine since the NBA stole the Sonics from Seattle has been bashing the league. I'd like to thank Charles Barkley for this ammunition. 

And Finally Tonight​

A Minute Maid Park snow cone vendor has been fired. This after a fan captured the man on his cellphone enter a bathroom stall, set his snow cones on the floor, and take a dump. That's awesome!​

​And you can't go without reading this. Man runs out of gas, sets up drum set on freeway berm. 

A Blog About Losing a Mom, Trying to Become a Mom

          "I Should Have Had Ten of You"​

My sister Kellie has been writing this blog since August 2012 and it has gained quite a dedicated following. As a successful paralegal working in Atlanta, I have no idea how she churns out as much material as she does, but she updates constantly. In short, the blog concerns her struggling to overcome the death of her (and my) Mother from cancer while attempting, and often failing at becoming a mother herself. The writing at times is painfully personal and not for the weak of heart. But If you stick it out, it is a powerful testimonial that for some, Mother's Day isn't just May 12th, it is everyday of the year.

Click here for a link to the very first post where Kellie explains where has she came up with the title and what the blog is all about. ​

Colin Gawel is the brother of Kellie Caldwell and plays in the band Watershed and writes for Pencilstorm.  www.colingawel.com

Your Life Is Closer To Over: The Week That Was by Brian Phillips

In case you missed the first in our series last week, this is essentially a digest of various things I found interesting enough to pollute my Facebook feed with last week. Don't worry though, no Farm House game invites or whatever the hell that is. Farm House isn't correct. That was an ag major frat at Washington State. The only thing I can recall about Farm House was the Farm House Rodeo. I heard they put hay bales in the front yard and members would sit on the them and drink until they fell over. Last man on his bale won the rodeo. Sounds about right.​

News

​Speaking of bales.... The President Of The Graveyard of Empires says "hey America, thanks for the bales of cash!" In fairness Afghan President Karzai called the payments a "small amount," which is probably horseshit. What do we get for our C.I.A. funneled cash payments? I'm sure some of the money ended up with people who used the funds to kill American soldiers. And I can't imagine all that dough sloshing around Godforesaken Afghanistan without some of it washing up against the heroin trade, but I'm just spitballin' here.  

I found this backgrounder on the Boston Bomber's family interesting. ​Meanwhile The Daily Mail reports the Saudis warned the U.S. about the elder brother after they refused him entrance for a pilgrimage to Mecca. As we learned with 9-11 the Saudis like Jihadis best when their someone else's problem. We'll see if we ever get any satisfactory answers as to why this clown wasn't kicked out of the country. Also, what friends young brother had!

Want to read a really scary article about fracking? Read it anyway. ​

Rolling Stone's Matt Taibbi had yet another dispatch this week. This one is just as depressing as the others. The cleaning up of mortgage malpractice never really happened.

Did you read about this survey? An alarming number of Americans believe we may need an armed revolution soon. There are two problems with this. 1. At some point having a revolution involves effort. 2. What do you think is going to happen when you start said revolution? I know we can become frustrated when things don't seem to be right, but seriously calm the fuck down. Also of note a large minority of those surveyed believe they're being lied to on Sandy Hook. Again, seriously... calm the fuck down.

Sports

​Deadspin has it about right. The NBA is using Seattle just like the NFL uses L.A. Seattle is the league's arena boogeyman! "Build us a new joint or we're going to Seattle!" The Sacramento Kings will likely not be headed north after the NBA's relocation committee voted against recommending a Seattle ownership group. Here's the fun part! The chair of said committee is Oklahoma City Thunder owner and all around creep Clay Bennett. Watch this movie, it's pretty good.

Not to be outdone the owner of the Cubs has threatened to move his shitty team out of Wrigley if he doesn't get a new scoreboard. That's laughable on it's face. What this is really about is the 17% revenue share the Cubs cut with building owners across the street. The proposed scoreboard would kill their business. The Cubbies kind of painted themselves into a corner with this one. ​I smell Oklahoma City Cubs!

Even with Jason Collins dominating the news, perhaps you didn't take the time to read his self-penned Sport Illustrated cover story. Don't miss it. ​Years ago former major league journeyman Billy Bean (not the A's GM) wrote a great book about his life as a closeted athlete. 

Great piece in USA Today last week on the Braves' Evan Gattis. What a road for this 25 year old rookie. Clinically depressed, wandering America working a series a dead end jobs only to make the Braves out of spring training and rake. ​

​I'll be writing more soon on baseball and specifically the weird first month and change of the season. If you're wondering as I am about the collapse of Josh Hamilton read this. Yes it's filled with mind numbing sabermetrics, but the conclusion is unmistakable. Hamilton is swinging his bat like a lab rat pushing the cheese lever. 

Jet fan! Feeling great about Geno Smith? Everything about this kid is screaming head case. Perfect for Rex Ryan's "confused quarterback-centric" offense. ​Tim Tebow got the gas pipe of course and it didn't take the wise acres long to have their fun. 

And lastly in sports why was this kid wandering across an NBA court with his pants down? ​

And Finally Tonight

​A 14 year old Chicago teen learned a valuable life lesson when the prostitute he hired online stole his Ipad and Piggy Bank. She's been arrested. Yes I choose to believe he was going to pay her by cracking open his piggy bank.