During these times of separation, exile, isolation and possible boredom interspersed with mild fear of the future, we have made available a short list of some new podcasts that might occupy your time, if you have run out of useful things to do.
Podcasts For Today
getsumsleep.com For those who have trouble at night falling to sleep, whether from having too much El Supremo Multi-Meat Pizza before retiring. Or maybe you worked your way through too many layers of a Pepridge Farm cake. It could be that you are dealing with an abnormal sense of guilt over some nefarious deeds that you have either done recently or are contemplating doing them in the not too distant future. Maybe you just have too many worries about work, your family, money, the end of the world which is around the corner, …you just can’t sleep. You are afraid to take drugs and warm milk and vanilla wafers in bed, just don’t seem right to you. What to do? Well that problem is solved when you dial up to getsumsleep.com. This peaceful and comfortable podcast will be sending you off to Slumberland, quicker than you can say Hey, Mr. Sandman? At this time you have your choice of either a soothing female or male voice. They will be reading from the complete manual for setting up and the proper use of a new stove, computer, or high efficiency washing machine. Each page is read slowly, with no drama, just a methodical plodding through the pages of the manual. You can even choose from English, French or Spanish and sometimes even German. You also have the ability to pick your appliance. The readings are accompanied by the gentle gongs and wind chimes of the Kenny Shostakovich Chime & Gong Philharmonic Orchestra. (audio only)
Another popular weekly podcast is now available. The All-Time greatest World Championships of Sumo Wrestling from Japan. Some of the most thrilling sumo wrestling bouts are now, at long last, going to be re-broadcast to the Sumo fans around the world who have been waiting for this moment. The bouts are broadcast in Japanese, but for the English speaking audiences they will be broadcast with an accompanying translation in English by long time American Sumo wrestler, Sammy ‘big thighs’ Yamamoto. Sammy who won his share of matches back in the golden days of Sumo, will also offer his expert commentary and explanations of the various holds and scoring to the novice Sumoite-ers. Sammy will also be offering his insights into the lives of the Sumo celebrities and discussion about some of the scandals over the years, including the use of PEDS by some of the past champions, which have kept them out of the Sumo Hall of Fame at this time. Tuning in to these podcasts will provide hours of entertainment for people across America. (audio mainly, with intermittent video.)
The History of Skipping, with Lulu Scaperfordette. In her podcasts, Lulu with discuss and enlighten her audience with everything you wanted to know about the art of Skipping, its long history, and the come back of the activity in recent times. Some of the highlights include the first recorded mentions of skipping by ancient Greeks, and how the Spartans skipped their way out of a number of battles, since they wanted to maintain their record of never running away. This development was used successfully for awhile, until they began a losing streak fighting against Thebes and Athens, and finally the Visigoths, who put an end to Sparta. Over the years the term ‘skipping’ began to take a very negative connotation. Skipping school, skipping out on debts, and spouses, and even by certain countries in Europe during wartime, skipping out on their allies. Trying to reverse all these negative connotations, Lulu, via these podcasts has been trying to revive the art of skipping and shows how it can be done in the home or backyard, with a minimum of equipment and can easily be accompanied by music genre. (audio and video available)
For the collectors out there, we can look forward to some very interesting and worthwhile podcasts from the world renowned couple Kevin and Fiona Dempsey-Dunstoner. Kev and Fiona will highlight and enlighten their audience with the wonders from their collections and how you can join in the fun. For example, the theme last week was — Antique Wooden Toothpick boxes of the Victorian Era. In that podcast it was revealed that these toothpick boxes are highly collectible and are increasing in value. The Duke of Windsor and Mrs. Simpson were avid collectors of these boxes and traveled around the work seeking new finds in their many journeys. According to Fiona, the pride of their collection was a box that they secured at a Sotheby auction, out-bidding everyone (including King Farouk of Egypt). This box was a little larger than normal (almost the size of a cigar box) but was highly valued because it was believed to have been made from the wood of the Wreck of the Hesperus. The most valuable boxes were made in the 17th century by word carvers in the Swiss village of Ricola, (originally a cough drop producer) and also in the Bavarian town of Giebelstadt. Over the years, the owners had used the boxes for cough drops, tobacco, loose change and bits of cocaine. Those boxes were not as valued since they were multi-use boxes. Those that were identified as strictly toothpick boxes, had the highest value. (In the collection at the International Toothpick Box Museum in Bath, England, there is a box that is said to contain a toothpick that was used by Queen Victoria, and even has a small piece of beef on it!) There were later knockoffs that were made in the south of France and eventually in New Jersey and are strictly to be avoided. Listening to Kevin and Fiona, we will learn how to determine which boxes are authentic and of highest value. We look forward to listening and watching future podcasts. A preview of the topic for next week, is Shoelace Collecting, for fun and profit. (audio and video)
There are a number of other new and exciting podcasts available for you and as time allows we will get those lists out to you as soon as possible. Times and dates are subject to change and to local censorship and Internet Police interventions.