Smile, You’re on the BBC
Posted by John on April 16, 2010
As my faithful readers know, the sheer joy of being free from the evil and unscrupulous clutches of graduate school has given this young mortal the long-awaited opportunity to enjoy the finer things in life devoid of both guilt and stress. I cook (sometimes*). I’ve learned how to fix my own car like a man. I hacked my Playstation. I buy organic food. I joined Netflix. I even have a morning routine. I get up at 6:30 am and workout. That’s right. This former lazy, crabby, pissant now gets up chipper and early and, barring injury and sickness**, pumps some iron. With this guy.
After spending an hour attempting to do one wide-grip pull-up, I then follow up with some delicious breakfast while listening to the delightful BBC Global News podcast. You know, I don’t think I’ve ever used the word “delightful” before. But something about the BBC just makes me feel like using words like “delightful”, “biscuit”, and “scrumptious”.
But John!! You are an AMERICAN. What are you doing listening to the BBC?
I’ll give you three reasons.
If that didn’t convince you, would you ever, EVER deny yourself from getting news from guys named Reginald Bosanquet and Fergus Nicoll? I didn’t think so. And no, I didn’t make those names up. They are both newscasters for the BBC. Anyways, I have never been one to write or call radio shows, or really write or call anyone, but I wanted to show the BBC folks my appreciation for being upstanding, verbose, and mellow newscasters who check their opinion at the door so that I can make up my own mind. So I figured I’d shoot them a quick email-equivalent-of-a-high-five letting them know that I considered them my chums and that I have a bloody good time listening to them.
To my delight and surprise***, I got a shout out of my own.
On international radio. The following morning.
And they even called my comment “pithy”, which, as you know, is a quality that is synonymous with this blog.
If you are a faithful enough reader that you have come to this post soon after I have finished writing it, you may click the following link, find the “15 Apr 10 AM” podcast, and fast forward to 14:20 to hear. It should be available for a week or so.
Follow link to real, actual, news here.
The quote was just a snippet from the whole email. My entire letter to them is found below. Now if only the BBC had a ShoutOut Count….
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To the BBC Global News –
However sad it is that I have to reach across the ocean to get any sort of unbiased news reported with journalistic integrity, I would like to comment that the BBC global podcast is a breath of fresh air in a country whose overtly self-centered news that ignores the outside world is saturated with fear-instilling sensationalism and half-truths.
If I want drama, I can go to the movies. But if I want facts, I listen to the BBC. Every morning with my breakfast.
Keep it up.
John
Los Angeles, CA, USA
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* I hate to admit this, but I don’t cook as often as I like or this blog may imply. Pretty much every time I legitimately cook, I blog about it. Which means…..3 times in the last 2 years.
** Which have been two unwelcome guests to my body as of late
*** So surprising, in fact, that I nearly spit out my delicious Trader Joe’s raisin bran all over my freshly uncleaned kitchen floor
Candice said
AWESOME!!!
You shoulda said you were from Portland, though. Listeners would’ve respected you more.
I wish they’d read your WHOLE email.
Also, don’t you wish (after hearing it straight out of the mouths of Brits on the BBC) that it were masculine to say “lovely” while describing everyday things? Men in England do it all the time. Men in America? Never.
John said
So, I’ll just have you know I totally typed that I was from Portland without thinking initially….then spend a good 3 minutes deciding whether to change it to Los Angeles…..and did so only in the interest of accuracy. Since I just had to get Cali plates….I though I may as well fess up to where I actually live now.
But it was a tough decision.
Rick said
Congrats on the shout out — it was a little surreal to hear! And I totally get you with the wide-grip pull-ups. Though it was Plyo X that kicked my butt today.