Simon ,'Objects In Space'
Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, butt kicking, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.
JZ, I am a podcast addict, but most of the ones I listen to are 45 minutes or more to match my own commute.
Oh, yeah, Anne, I've got Night Vale. And I think I'm all caught up on RadioLab and The Gist, and I'm definitely looking for more shortish ones, or longer ones that aren't so harrowingly suspenseful that they'll play havoc with my focus for the entire rest of the day while I'm waiting to get back into the shuttle and hear the second half.
I am Team Olives On and In Everything But Coffee and Dessert. And WRT the Oxford comma, I am on Team Grammatical Situational Ethics. Sometimes you don't need it -- maybe even most times -- but every now and then there will be sentences that need it desperately, and a blanket ban will just harm these poor innocents.
eta: Jess, those are some great ones! I've been gulping down The Gist, which is usually 25-30 minutes, and should definitely look at the other Slate podcasts. I'm also a relentlessly fannish fan of Snap Judgment, which will probably work for a shortish commute because, like TAL, it's around an hour but usually 2-3 connected but discrete segments so it comes with built-in pause points that won't destroy my sanity with all the suspense.
Muffalettas, or Oxford commas?
EAT A MUFFIN, WHITEY!
No, the band's name is Vampire Weekend.
Ha, that's actually who I thought it was. Now I can't remember the other band I was confusing them with all the time.
The "Copenhagen!" post was responding to Jilli. Although now I kinda want to work up a reimagining of Oklahoma! set in Denmark.
I do have strong feelings about olive salad.
Sorry about the score difficulties, Kiba.
Random: Matilda has rediscovered her iPod and has been warbling along to her special mix (Schoolhouse Rock and Glee; right now she's singing "Don't Stop Believing"), with the classic earphone-listener total inability to gauge just how loud she is. It's equal parts irritating and adorable.
(Also reminds me of one of my favorite moments from GOTG, when Gamora reluctantly listens to the Walkman, starts bobbing her head, and yells, "THE MELODY IS QUITE PLEASING." Just a tiny little funny-because-it's-true moment, like Sharon in Wonderfalls wrestling with her seat belt in mid-rant.)
Gamora reluctantly listens to the Walkman, starts bobbing her head, and yells, "THE MELODY IS QUITE PLEASING."
I love that moment.
~ma for your friends, Anne.
Podcasts: Smartest Man in the World, Mental Health Happy Hour, The Read, On Being with Krista Tippett, JV Club, Girl on Guy. All of which are generally way longer than 1/2 hr. The Read is pretty hilarious and has ads scattered through which could be pause points.
T and I realize that that is the key, contempt for the prize
That is too funny! Glad you had a good time.
Kiba, I hope you get the score situation figured out.
Oxford comma yes, cilantro yes, don't like olives and therefore don't eat muffalettas. I do enjoy the Muffalottas, though. [link]
Muffalettas, or Oxford commas?
This, this, and cilantro.
Oh, you people. I do still love you all despite your wrong-headedness about the Oxford comma.
JZ, I listen to Start Up which I really love even though it makes me cringe. I definitely enjoy Reply All.
JZ, good luck on the move, I hope it's not too traumatic. My podcasts (in addition to some you already have) are:
Planet Money (entry-level economics/marketing, quite informative & entertaining)
Hardcore History (possibly the opposite of what you want, it's usually 4+ hours long)
Revolutions (currently doing a detailed history of the French Revolution in 25-minute chunks)
Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Missed in History Class (which I think you would like, they do lots of women's history and lots of literary history)
On the Media
Backstory (another history podcast, which I picked up from megan walker)
TLDR (which is basically Intro to Internet Wanks in 8 minutes)
NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour
I get a nice mix of more-and-less narrative, and more-and-less serious. I also listen to a ton of audiobooks, and if you have any interest in, say, the entire Lord Peter Wimsey oeuvre, LotR, Harry Potter (read by Stephen Fry), Patrick O'Brien, or Dorothy Dunnett's Lymond Chronicles on audio, let me know and I can hook you up.
A story about moving offices: They moved most of the folks in my division to our building from a leased space about 3 miles away last year; they've all settled down now and everyone seems fairly happy. It is a very nice office, with views of the bay and it's right near BART with lots of restaurants etc. Except the other day the Big Boss announced they're doing a study to see if we ALL can consolidate with other pieces of the agency on a nearby base, because the rent in the building we're in is about $2m/year. Argh! Although he didn't sound very optimistic about it happening, because the move itself would cost $6M or so, which they don't have. They would just rather not pay rent if they have the space on owned property. Which I get, but jesu christo, you just moved a division of 60+ people not 18 months ago, why wasn't this issue considered then?