Shed Dogs

By the time you read this, the Barbie Movie bandwagon we’re jumping on with two emphatic feet will probably be collecting dust on a Hollywood back lot, but in this episode we respond in a big way to Susinn of Vancouver’s challenge back in Episode 169: see the movie, give our thoughts. We also take time to enjoy another round of KJ’s Snappers, and PJ and RJ compare their starkly contrasting notes on economics instructors they had 50 or so years ago. But mostly: Barbie!

Links: Shed Dogs; gift card tampering; the pompatus of love; nonce words; trebuchet; stochastic; slaughter bots!; lede; Barbie (the film).

Theme music is Escaping like Indiana Jones by Komiku, by permission.

Podcasts are a lot like a stroll in the woods: one minute you’re wandering along soaking up the silence and sun, flowers and trees, and the next minute you’ve missed a step and find yourself worried about survival. In this episode, just like in the real world, we are going along enjoying Listener Mail after complaining about health care (as is our wont) when suddenly an idle reference to current politics leads us into the murky and dangerous waters of discussing racism. Walk with us here to see how we fare—you’ll be able to feel us concentrating. After we emerge from that swamp, we wash off in the cool clear waters of a conversation about PJ’s (as of this recording) upcoming trip to Portugal and KJ’s remarkable journey as an artist. All’s well that ends, they say, don’t they? Keep those feet moving!

Links: Shed Dogs; Urgent and Primary Care Centres; getting on a GP wait list; NASA worldwide fire map (zooming shows that the large orange parts are a series of smaller fires); BC’s fire and smoke forecast map courtesy of friend of the show Bowinn Ma (Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness); Vivek Ramaswamy; an attempt at defining “racialized”.

Theme music is Escaping like Indiana Jones by Komiku, with permission.

We are even more directionless than usual here, and we’re hoping the resulting unplanned conversations about the nature of light and heat, about the use of cookies and the practice of asking whether they’re acceptable, and about the concept of dark patterns in web design are both entertaining and educational. We also get to enjoy sharing listener mail with you, do a bunch of KJ’s Snappers, and talk about approaches to berry picking. Finally we receive a Barbie challenge from special Guest Susinn of Vancouver. So centre your chi, picture a limpid pool deep in a silent forest, and put on some bug spray: it’s the Shed Dogs! 

Links: Shed Dogs; the room temperature superconductor was not reproducible, alas; Fred Savage and Deadpool disagree over Nickelback; Vancouver’s Pride Parade; the Barbie trailer; Carlos of Podstatus.

Theme music is Escaping like Indiana Jones by Komiku, with permission.

We recorded our record 169th episode on the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima, and noting that fact led us to a conversation about the effects of nuclear bombing, levels of background radiation in several places, and the degree to which those effects are widely understood. But somehow we still managed to get to discussing the proposed Enhanced Games, the English Corner, and KJ’s very clever approach to an audition for a part in an animated series. After discussing another of PJ’s YouTube pastimes (“Vice Grip Garage”), RJ also proposes a rock solid theory on who drives which flavours of vintage North American cars. We look forward to responses from those of our audience that feel they fit the theory…or don’t. Get listening and start writing! 

Links: Shed Dogs; shooting in Clinton Park; English Corner; the Enhanced Games: official website and Wikipedia article; the demise of Gawker; Vice Grip Garage; OEM parts; beater sounds; why Hiroshima was not like Chernobyl; radon in BC.

Theme music is Escaping like Indiana Jones by Komiku, by permission.

Continuing our trademark quest to gather and share knowledge with faithful listeners, in this episode we get a first hand review of KJ’s quest for deep connection and insight via Golden Teacher mushrooms, and of Rich’s first hand observed report on how the shell game scam works, direct from the mean streets of Paris. We also talk a bit about eSIMs and AirTags for those of you soon to jet off to those mean streets yourself. On top of those chewy morsels, RJ gives us a surprisingly interesting and wholesome look at, of all things, a coffee maker repair shop, and PJ muses about human nature after a conversation with his dental hygienist. There should be something here for everyone, is what we’re saying, so dig in and fill up!

Links: Shed Dogs; AirTags; eSIMs; the shell game; somebody beat us to the automatic toilet shutoff; 2001 A Spaced-Out Odyssey.

Theme music is Escaping like Indiana Jones by Komiku, by permission.

This time around the Dogs provide an uplifting (not) view on the state of the world with respect to climate. But we cheered up while hearing that KJ’s “Beachcomber” work is still paying residuals, that PJ had fun on Canada Day, that a pastoral setting accentuates the Pops, how East Van’s own English Corner is going, and whether VanDusen Gardens gets it done (it does). So, come on along with us and see that it works out for you, too! 

Links: Shed Dogs, world fire map (NASA); the Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone; Florida is in hot water; Great Barrier Reef rebounds.

Theme music by Voodoo Jazz, with permission.

Rob of Saskatoon returns to join us on a gripping journey through RJ’s recent confrontation with his citizenship, and let’s face it, himself. We manage to make a couple of complete meals out of just the titles involved in that process before moving on to other things like what it was like for Rob and RJ and Mike of Rossland to come to Canada as Young Americans around 1970 (hint: discard the notion of Canada’s warm regard for our southern cousins), the results of KJ’s recent foray into expanding his consciousness even further, the Robson Zoo, and a hearty round of agreement on what a fine fellow Chroner of Duncan is (hear his visit with us in Episode 52). It’s a lot of good clean fun with four old good friends—join us! 

Links: Shed Dogs; the Robson Zoo; portrait mode; the Ascension of Jesus; the Assumption of Mary; the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin Mary; enunciation; Asunción (the capital of Paraguay, originally called Nuestra Señora Santa María de la Asunción (Our Lady Saint Mary of the Assumption); Sucre (the capital of Bolivia, named after Antonio José de Sucre and never confused with Asunción); besmirched; the Second Council of Constantinople, in which anathemas were declared against those who rejected the Perpetual Virginity of Mary; Asuncion (girl’s name); the Gospel of Mary; the Lost Gospel (in which Jesus marries Mary Magdalene); renunciation of citizenship; Shed Dogs episode 52, featuring Chroner and Deb.

RJ’s revered elder brother and serial listener Rob arrives from Saskatoon and his current listening position at about episode 61 (or put another way, about two years ago in Shed history), joins us in the Shed to the excited joy of all three Dogs. Mayhem ensues, and listeners will want to focus as a fast paced hour of chatter and laughs and coffee takes us through the recovery of an iPhone 14 from 30 feet of water, RJ’s long lost wallet, BC by-election results, happy news for Bowinn Ma, million dollar ideas, unusually ridiculous Snappers, memories of Charlie the Lonesome Cougar, and more, with constant cross talk and Buddy the actual dog participating the whole way. We really had a lot of fun on this afternoon and we’re really hoping you’re able to catch some along with us.

Links: Shed Dogs; a diver finds Jenna’s phone; Saskatoon; the MLB definition for a walk-off; implosion of the Titan; Nuytco (the North Van submersible suit company), slide whistle; visiting the B.C. legislature; Bowinn Ma is expecting; the June, 2023, B.C. by-elections; Call Me Caroline reacts to the Beatles’ first album; a car noise generator.

Today you’ll learn (and tomorrow you’ll tell your friends about) the shocking new news about dental hygiene, and you’ll never believe what we tell you about sitzpinklers! Remember, you heard it here first. As an antidote to that graphic conversation, KJ steers us into uncharted waters as he reveals to us his recent learning and future plans around Golden Teacher mushrooms. We get to share some fun listener mail, too, and along the way we hear about the perfect sandwich, an exploding gas station, and RJ’s homage to Mutual of Omaha as he tells us the latest news from the Robin Cam he set up under his deck. There are things to learn and things to dream of here, so close your eyes, centre your chi, and journey with us.

Links: Shed Dogs; Polestar; tooth brushing surprise; Golden Teacher therapy session; Merry Pranksters; MDMA for PTSD Treatment: Phase 3 Clinical Trial Results; Henry Youngman’s 128 Greatest Jokes; Bob Newhart on Johnny Carson; Comox gas station fire; whiskey stones.

Theme music is Escaping like Indiana Jones by Komiku, by permission.

Love, derision, amusement, anger, wonder, curiosity, satisfaction and many other emotions accompany a tour of snappers (with bonus words from Brett K. and RJ), medical news on Alzheimer’s and tooth brushing, robins nesting under RJ’s deck, and KJ’s fascinating recent stint in Ottawa. We get some positive news on Sun Life, which is PJ’s new friend with benefits, and tips, too, on how to decide which health facility to attend when your next Big Moment arises. There’s a lot here to take in, so if you’ve had a balanced breakfast after a good sleep, you’ll get a lot out of what was a really fun episode for us!

Links: Shed Dogs; stye; Metro Vancouver ER wait times page; Nahre Sol’s video on Erik Satie; Paul Gross is Lear; the National Gallery of Canada

Theme music is Escaping like Indiana Jones by Komiku, by permission.