Q: "Do you have what it takes to be public radio's next great host?"

A: You mean, do I have leftist tendencies, an air of manchildish solipsism, a Downy-soft heart and an arousingly nasal voice? Why yes, yes I do!

Will it be enough to thrust me into the winners' circle in the Public Radio Quest — for a $10K grand prize and the chance to develop an NPR pilot? I have five words for you.


Think you've got what it takes to become a D-level celebrity? Just record a two-minute sample in one of the three categories — news, music or entertainment — and let America several hundred geeks be the judge. Check the FAQ for detes.

And we'd better come up with ideas quick, because the deadline's next Monday. [via Gawker Weekend Edition, who thinks it's gross, but whatever]

RELATEDISH: This American Life Completes Documentation Of Liberal, Upper-Middle-Class Existence [The Onion]

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In other news, there is nothing else interesting happening anywhere. Oh, except @ the Q. Also, up there I used the word "detes."

Q: Where's the rent? You pay now!

A: Maybe everyone's already seen this by now, but whatever, it's funny: Will Ferrell, Adam McKay and "Pearl" in The Landlord. [via Sydney]


Funny people should do more with digital video online. That's my nugget of wisdom for the day.

Speaking of Will Ferrell and things that have been around, have you heard his interview with Terry Gross from last November? It's worth checking out — not because it's side-splittingly hilarious or anything, but just in that it presents a side of Ferrell we don't see very often (that of the earnest, dedicated comic craftsman).

Q: Can I die now?

A: Yes. After three months of futility, one of my story submissions finally made it to Digg's front page. I read those little heathens like a book! Meanwhile, there haven't been so many teenagers on npr.com since Terry Gross interviewed the dude from Franz Ferdinand.

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In other, awesomer news, I recently noticed that Uncle Grambo'd updated his sidebar blogroll — and there amongst the veritable who's who of bloggerati is...T.A.M.S.Y.!?!

Heyzeus Christmas!!! This is an achievement so towering that it requires its own post; I'm going to need room for a Sally Field-esque emotional breakdown. But my original reaction was this:

Q: When did I become an old person?

A: The early '90s — if "old person" can be defined as "anyone who regularly enjoys Car Talk." And I'm sure we can agree it can.

Which brings me to my actual Q: Who do Click and Clack think they are, trying to charge me actual American cents for their fricking podcast?

A: Apparently, being National Public Radio's most popular show¹ has gone to their heads. While the "Clip of the Week" is offered for free via iTunes, the full show will set you back $.95 per episode. That's like fifty bucks a year, and it doesn't even come with a stylish tote bag!

How can a public radio show charge me for a download of something I'm already (theoretically) funding to be broadcast on my local station? Isn't public radio already owned by the public? By which I mean me? Because you're fired, the Tappet brothers!

Click, Clack: I paid for those tuxes, you Bostonian bastards.

The good news is that This American Life is now a free podcast. And you don't even have to be an old person to enjoy it.

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¹ I can't find citation of this, nor can Wikipedia (see: 2nd graf), but Ira Glass made that claim on TAL, so I'm going to go ahead and assume it's true.

Q: Is it too late to be posting about Election 2006?

A: Not if I say it's not!

I subscribe to approximately three hundred thousand of National Public Radio's podcasts, which -- like all of the podcasts I subscribe to -- I almost never listen to (probably because I spend so little time on the Cleveland subway). I just like all the space they take up on my hard drive.

Anyway, a few days ago, I was trying to catch up on one of the more interesting of these podcasts, NPR's Driveway Moments, (i.e., segments so compelling, theoretically, you can't bear to leave the car), and I came across one I found particularly hilarious: Dire Predictions & Disastrous Votes, Melissa Block's interview with two of the country's premier campaign-ad voice-over guys, Dennis Steele and Scott Sanders, whose voices you will likely recognize.

The best part is when they re-imagine nursery rhymes as melodramatic attack ads (John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt / His name is my name too / Whenever we go out / The people always shout / "Hey, what about Iraq!?"). Really, it's very funny. Check it out.

Q: Why hate the Drake?

A: Because he's the worst curse ever. From the childhood diary of Will Nolan:



The audio was recorded at Mortified, a traveling carnival of adolescent embarrassment that showcases excerpts from the earliest written works of its cast (as featured on This American Life).

The official book, Mortified: Real Words. Real People. Real Pathetic., was released last week. It'd make a fine Christmas gift for anyone still haunted by the demons of their youth. Which is everyone.