We’re No Angels

This week, something a little different: a totally free-form, no-topics-agreed-on-prior-to-the-show, take it where you will episode. Full disclosure: this is not the big deal it appears to be as even when we do agree on topics before the show, they are often abandoned, ignored, or disappear down a deep GLoP rabbit hole. Such is life in the GLoP Audio-phonic Universe®. So, in the spirit of improvisation, we’re not going to tell you in this show description what they discussed. You’ll just have to listen.

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There are 57 comments.

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  1. WilliamDean Coolidge
    WilliamDean
    @WilliamDean

    I say whoever does those graphics copped out on a real opportunity on this one.

    • #1
  2. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    It was going great until Rob said how great it was not talking about impeachment.

    • #2
  3. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Victoria was 1837.

    • #3
  4. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Global war was a creation of the Eighteenth Century.

    • #4
  5. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Augh! Jon, Alternative History goes back at least as far as the Fourth Century BC/BCE.

    • #5
  6. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    WilliamDean (View Comment):

    I say whoever does those graphics copped out on a real opportunity on this one.

    @ejhill, I think he’s right.

    • #6
  7. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    So far, the Democrats don’t seem to have come up with anyone who actually has “first-hand knowledge” of anything.  Doesn’t it seem likely that they would have done so, if it were possible?  What sense does it make to supposedly bring up hearsay after hearsay, to… what, “pave the way” or “soften the target” for those who have do first-hand knowledge?  Please.

    • #7
  8. Old Bathos Member
    Old Bathos
    @OldBathos

    Really enjoyable episode until needless impeachment babble. 

    I don’t mind rank punditry as long as the pundits have made an effort to know more than their audience. Kinda seemed like our pundits formed an impression back when call transcript was released, took a vague NeverTrump but not pro-impeachment take back then and have missed everything afterward that has provided a significantly different context. It was really stale. Waste of talk talent there.

    • #8
  9. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    I found what comedian/writer John Cleese says about his mother’s lifespan, far more interesting than what the guys had to say about various royalty, famous writers, etc.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UefOyRQF7fw

    These are also enjoyable versions:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f74L2hRZE1Y

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnJGXOSDUfQ

     

    • #9
  10. Blue Yeti Admin
    Blue Yeti
    @BlueYeti

    Old Bathos (View Comment):

    Really enjoyable episode until needless impeachment babble.

    I don’t mind rank punditry as long as the pundits have made an effort to know more than their audience. Kinda seemed like our pundits formed an impression back when call transcript was released, took a vague NeverTrump but not pro-impeachment take back then and have missed everything afterward that has provided a significantly different context. It was really stale. Waste of talk talent there.

    Just a heads up: this show was recorded on mid-day Tuesday 11/19 before Sondland had testified.

    • #10
  11. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):
    Just a heads up: this show was recorded on mid-day Tuesday 11/19 before Sondland had testified.

    Wouldn’t have mattered.

    Edited to Add: I would rather hear about Philip K. Dick and his work than this impeachment nonsense, and I don’t particularly like PKD or his work. Can’t we stick to important topics like Der Sechs-Millionen-Dollar-Mann?

    • #11
  12. Belt Inactive
    Belt
    @Belt

    It was Arthur C. Clark who postulated that ‘Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.’  (I really don’t like Clark.  Respect, sure, but no affection or him.)

    Belt’s corollary: Any sufficiently explained magic is just technology.

    • #12
  13. Blue Yeti Admin
    Blue Yeti
    @BlueYeti

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):
    Just a heads up: this show was recorded on mid-day Tuesday 11/19 before Sondland had testified.

    Wouldn’t have mattered.

    Edited to Add: I would rather hear about Philip K. Dick and his work than this impeachment nonsense, and I don’t particularly like PKD or his work. Can’t we stick to important topics like Der Sechs-Millionen-Dollar-Mann?

    I will weigh in on this against my better judgement.

    As noted in the description, there were no agreed upon topics in this show. It’s pure, unfiltered GLoP, for better or for worse.

    The guys are pundits and their natural habitat is commenting on politics. Yes, all four of us are well aware of the original concept of this show. And most of the time we are pretty disciplined about that. But this is —shall we say— a unique moment in time and they want to talk about it, especially amongst themselves which they generally only get to do when they are on the show together (work, family, geography, etc prevents a lot of real world contact).

    The guys and I are very cognizant that many in our audience do not agree with them on the President. That’s fine and on this show, the Rank Punditry® segment only goes for 5 minutes or so and includes a lot of jokes. And perhaps that’s why God invented the fast forward button?

    • #13
  14. EJHill Podcaster
    EJHill
    @EJHill

    WilliamDean: I say whoever does those graphics copped out on a real opportunity on this one.

    I’m still reigning MVP (Most Vapid Photoshopper.)

    • #14
  15. kylez Member
    kylez
    @kylez

    Maybe Janos Prohaska should have been the title.

    • #15
  16. The Cloaked Gaijin Member
    The Cloaked Gaijin
    @TheCloakedGaijin

    Old Bathos (View Comment):

    Really enjoyable episode until needless impeachment babble.

    I don’t mind rank punditry as long as the pundits have made an effort to know more than their audience. Kinda seemed like our pundits formed an impression back when call transcript was released, took a vague NeverTrump but not pro-impeachment take back then and have missed everything afterward that has provided a significantly different context. It was really stale. Waste of talk talent there.

    Jonah might have been wrong about everything … except for the part about Cheryl Ladd.

    She’s also a bit of a Republican:

    “In 1988, my husband Brian and I attended the Republican National Convention in New Orleans as guests of George H. W. Bush and his wife Barbara. We’d become friends over the years and had been their guests in the White House…”

    Jonah won’t vote for Trump, but Cheryl might.

    • #16
  17. The Gold Tooth (human scum) Member
    The Gold Tooth (human scum)
    @

    An excellent episode, so much fun. Thank you.

    1.  Regarding Churchill and the Royal Navy, you should know that the first of George Melly’s autobiographies, which covers his service in the Navy in the 1940s, was published under the title “Rum, Bum and Concertina.”

    2. Regarding headlines, the best I ever saw with my own eyes was published in The Jersey Journal on April 7 1980 over a story describing the ghastly traffic mess in New York the first day back to work after a strike of transit workers: “Sick transit gory on Monday.”

    I liked it so much I had a copy framed.

    • #17
  18. Bishop Wash Member
    Bishop Wash
    @BishopWash

    The Cloaked Gaijin (View Comment):

    Old Bathos (View Comment):

    Really enjoyable episode until needless impeachment babble.

    I don’t mind rank punditry as long as the pundits have made an effort to know more than their audience. Kinda seemed like our pundits formed an impression back when call transcript was released, took a vague NeverTrump but not pro-impeachment take back then and have missed everything afterward that has provided a significantly different context. It was really stale. Waste of talk talent there.

    Jonah might have been wrong about everything … except for the part about Cheryl Ladd.

    Interesting. Haven’t listened yet, but John’s the one who is usually always wrong. 

    • #18
  19. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Bishop Wash (View Comment):
    Haven’t listened yet, but John’s the one who is usually always wrong. 

    They took turns today.

    • #19
  20. Mendel Inactive
    Mendel
    @Mendel

    Old Bathos (View Comment):
    I don’t mind rank punditry as long as the pundits have made an effort to know more than their audience. Kinda seemed like our pundits formed an impression back when call transcript was released, took a vague NeverTrump but not pro-impeachment take back then and have missed everything afterward that has provided a significantly different context.

    Two responses:

    First, the hosts and producer(s) of the show probably know their audience better than we do. Not only do they see podcast stats we can’t, they probably get lots of private feedback from listeners. Considering they’ve maintained a fairly consistent line on the Trump administration for nearly three years now, if they were drastically out of touch with their intended audience they probably would have felt the effects and taken appropriate measures.

    Second, I consider myself to fairly abreast of the latest developments yet also share their general take on impeachment. Moreover, I would question how many people have genuinely had a change of opinion from their initial reaction on impeachment based on the developments since. Most of what people term a change in their opinion is really just becoming even more convinced of their initial gut reaction as time goes on.

    • #20
  21. Mendel Inactive
    Mendel
    @Mendel

    The Cloaked Gaijin (View Comment):
    Jonah might have been wrong about everything

    Bishop Wash (View Comment):
    Interesting. Haven’t listened yet, but John’s the one who is usually always wrong. 

    Arahant (View Comment):
    Interesting. Haven’t listened yet, but John’s the one who is usually always wrong. 

    I really don’t understand this phenomenon.

    You guys all know exactly what these hosts’ opinions are, you know well in advance that you strongly disagree with them, and yet you still listen to the podcast – and then complain about them.

    Stipulating the whole “it’s a free country” caveat: how is this a good use of your time?

    • #21
  22. Mendel Inactive
    Mendel
    @Mendel

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):
    The guys are pundits and their natural habitat is commenting on politics. Yes, all four of us are well aware of the original concept of this show.

    I thought the original concept was for them to talk about politics and pop culture (and whatever else came to their mind).

    Personally, I enjoy a little dash of politics/current events thrown into the mix. What I don’t like is when they get overly serious or sanctimonious about it (obviously a very subjective matter, but I digress).

    Frankly, it’s the banter more than the subject that I find entertaining. I’d rather hear them riff on impeachment with a few jokes thrown in than listen to another contrived JPod segment like “this week’s list is: who are your top five male film actors of the 1970s who first got their start doing TV commercials?” 

    • #22
  23. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Mendel (View Comment):
    You guys all know exactly what these hosts’ opinions are, you know well in advance that you strongly disagree with them, and yet you still listen to the podcast – and then complain about them.

    We put up with John to get Rob and Jonah. When they talk about culture, they are very interesting, even when John is wrong about everything. That whole riff about the Six Million Dollar Man and Rob’s story regarding it were well-worth the hour. There were many other gems in there, too.

    On the opinions about the President, if they said it and let it go, it would be fine. We do know what their opinions are. But going into it in depth in every podcast they are on? It becomes, “Oh no, not again!” It’s not like they talk about the Six Million Dollar Man every week. If they did, we would probably react the same way to that. (“Oh, Cod, Rob’s telling that same story about Les Moonves again!”) It’s like mentioning Reagan in front of my one cousin. Every time, she is going into the same rant about how Reagan was responsible for sending her husband off to Vietnam. I have no idea what Reagan had to do with Vietnam in her mind. But at this point, I don’t bother to listen. It’s, “Oh, this again.”

    When they are on culture, this podcast is worth its length in cruise ships and aircraft carriers, especially when they are hitting new ground they haven’t talked about before.

    • #23
  24. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Mendel (View Comment):
    Frankly, it’s the banter more than the subject that I find entertaining. I’d rather hear them riff on impeachment with a few jokes thrown in than listen to another contrived JPod segment like “this week’s list is: who are your top five male film actors of the 1970s who first got their start doing TV commercials?” 

    Can’t argue that. 😉

    • #24
  25. MISTER BITCOIN Inactive
    MISTER BITCOIN
    @MISTERBITCOIN

    jill was the hot blonde.

    sabrina was the smart one.

    kelly was the hot brunette.

    kris was also the hot blonde.

    among glop, who is the blonde? who is the brunette? who is the smart one? 

     

    • #25
  26. MISTER BITCOIN Inactive
    MISTER BITCOIN
    @MISTERBITCOIN

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):
    Just a heads up: this show was recorded on mid-day Tuesday 11/19 before Sondland had testified.

    Wouldn’t have mattered.

    Edited to Add: I would rather hear about Philip K. Dick and his work than this impeachment nonsense, and I don’t particularly like PKD or his work. Can’t we stick to important topics like Der Sechs-Millionen-Dollar-Mann?

    I will weigh in on this against my better judgement.

    As noted in the description, there were no agreed upon topics in this show. It’s pure, unfiltered GLoP, for better or for worse.

    The guys are pundits and their natural habitat is commenting on politics. Yes, all four of us are well aware of the original concept of this show. And most of the time we are pretty disciplined about that. But this is —shall we say— a unique moment in time and they want to talk about it, especially amongst themselves which they generally only get to do when they are on the show together (work, family, geography, etc prevents a lot of real world contact).

    The guys and I are very cognizant that many in our audience do not agree with them on the President. That’s fine and on this show, the Rank Punditry® segment only goes for 5 minutes or so and includes a lot of jokes. And perhaps that’s why God invented the fast forward button?

    thank you!

    my sentiments exactly!

     

    • #26
  27. MISTER BITCOIN Inactive
    MISTER BITCOIN
    @MISTERBITCOIN

    The Cloaked Gaijin (View Comment):

    Old Bathos (View Comment):

    Really enjoyable episode until needless impeachment babble.

    I don’t mind rank punditry as long as the pundits have made an effort to know more than their audience. Kinda seemed like our pundits formed an impression back when call transcript was released, took a vague NeverTrump but not pro-impeachment take back then and have missed everything afterward that has provided a significantly different context. It was really stale. Waste of talk talent there.

    Jonah might have been wrong about everything … except for the part about Cheryl Ladd.

    She’s also a bit of a Republican:

    “In 1988, my husband Brian and I attended the Republican National Convention in New Orleans as guests of George H. W. Bush and his wife Barbara. We’d become friends over the years and had been their guests in the White House…”

    Jonah won’t vote for Trump, but Cheryl might.

    cheryl ladd was the hottest angel.

    farrah was more famous but cheryl was better looking.

     

    • #27
  28. MISTER BITCOIN Inactive
    MISTER BITCOIN
    @MISTERBITCOIN

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Blue Yeti (View Comment):
    Just a heads up: this show was recorded on mid-day Tuesday 11/19 before Sondland had testified.

    Wouldn’t have mattered.

    Edited to Add: I would rather hear about Philip K. Dick and his work than this impeachment nonsense, and I don’t particularly like PKD or his work. Can’t we stick to important topics like Der Sechs-Millionen-Dollar-Mann?

    I will weigh in on this against my better judgement.

    As noted in the description, there were no agreed upon topics in this show. It’s pure, unfiltered GLoP, for better or for worse.

    The guys are pundits and their natural habitat is commenting on politics. Yes, all four of us are well aware of the original concept of this show. And most of the time we are pretty disciplined about that. But this is —shall we say— a unique moment in time and they want to talk about it, especially amongst themselves which they generally only get to do when they are on the show together (work, family, geography, etc prevents a lot of real world contact).

    The guys and I are very cognizant that many in our audience do not agree with them on the President. That’s fine and on this show, the Rank Punditry® segment only goes for 5 minutes or so and includes a lot of jokes. And perhaps that’s why God invented the fast forward button?

    one of my favorite segments was when they spoke about we work a couple months ago.

    hilarious and insightful

     

    • #28
  29. Bishop Wash Member
    Bishop Wash
    @BishopWash

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Mendel (View Comment):
    You guys all know exactly what these hosts’ opinions are, you know well in advance that you strongly disagree with them, and yet you still listen to the podcast – and then complain about them.

    We put up with John to get Rob and Jonah. When they talk about culture, they are very interesting, even when John is wrong about everything. That whole riff about the Six Million Dollar Man and Rob’s story regarding it were well-worth the hour. There were many other gems in there, too.

    On the opinions about the President, if they said it and let it go, it would be fine. We do know what their opinions are. But going into it in depth in every podcast they are on? It becomes, “Oh no, not again!” It’s not like they talk about the Six Million Dollar Man every week. If they did, we would probably react the same way to that. (“Oh, Cod, Rob’s telling that same story about Les Moonves again!”) It’s like mentioning Reagan in front of my one cousin. Every time, she is going into the same rant about how Reagan was responsible for sending her husband off to Vietnam. I have no idea what Reagan had to do with Vietnam in her mind. But at this point, I don’t bother to listen. It’s, “Oh, this again.”

    When they are on culture, this podcast is worth its length in cruise ships and aircraft carriers, especially when they are hitting new ground they haven’t talked about before.

    This captures my sentiments as well and in better form. I also partially joke about John always being wrong as a counter to the Twitter joke that Sonny (Bunch) is always right. He might be the weakest of the group but without him the show title couldn’t rhyme with pop culture

    • #29
  30. kedavis Coolidge
    kedavis
    @kedavis

    Belt (View Comment):

    It was Arthur C. Clark who postulated that ‘Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.’ (I really don’t like Clark. Respect, sure, but no affection or him.)

    Belt’s corollary: Any sufficiently explained magic is just technology.

    It’s a cute line, but not very sensible.  If you “explain” that the “magical energy” just comes from nowhere – because it’s MAGIC! – that’s still not technology, because technology simply doesn’t allow for energy to come from nowhere.

    By the way, it’s Clarke.

    • #30
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