Anne Levine Show
Funny, weekly, sugar free: Starring "Michael-over-there."
Anne Levine Show
Hobbit Holes & Space Farts
Hobbit holes present unique engineering challenges; Germans have a word for people who can only use the bathroom in their own homes; Bilabial fricatives: These are just a few of the delightfully random topics that make up this week's episode of The Anne Levine Show, broadcasting from WOMR/WFMR in Provincetown/Orleans.
Anne and Michael take listeners on an intellectual joyride through linguistics, architecture, animal trivia and space physics. The German language offers fascinating compound words that capture specific human experiences - like "Heimscheiße" for those who physically cannot use public restrooms, and "Kummerspeck" (literally "grief bacon") for the weight gained while emotional eating. These linguistic gems reflect the beautiful specificity possible in language that English speakers can only admire.
When the conversation shifts to television reviews, the hosts provide thoughtful criticism of documentary series "The Americas," lamenting its beautiful but superficial portrayal of natural phenomena like synchronized fireflies in Kentucky - a unique event that happens nowhere else on Earth but is never properly explained in the show. This leads to a passionate discussion about the importance of storytelling and depth in documentary filmmaking.
The educational highlights continue with revelations about capybaras - the world's largest rodents - which were classified as "fish" by the Catholic Church in the 16th century so they could be eaten during Lent. And did you know astronauts can't burp in space? Without gravity to separate gas from stomach contents, this everyday bodily function becomes impossible beyond our atmosphere.
The episode concludes with a heartfelt tribute to Vincent van Gogh, recognizing the often-overlooked role of Johanna Bonger in bringing his work to worldwide acclaim after his death, followed up by Don McLean's "Vincent." Join us for what might truly be "the most educational show broadcast anywhere on Cape Cod (Or maybe even the world)" - where random facts and thoughtful conversation create radio magic every Tuesday.
Find our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/447251562357065/
Hello, happy Tuesday. It's March 25th 2025. And this is the Ann Levine Show coming to you from WOMR 92.1 FM in Provincetown.
Speaker 3:And WFMR 91.3 FM Orleans, and streaming worldwide at WOMRorg. Welcome to the show, thank you, michael.
Speaker 2:How's your week been Eventful? Oh well, I hope we'll get to hear about some of those events as we make our way through this next wonderful hour of fun and radio with friends. Radio with friends what's the thing with friends?
Speaker 3:Words.
Speaker 2:Words.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Words and radio with friends. I'd like to say one more time, happy birthday To Artemis, even though we said Happy birthday already, but I got a message that just reminded me of how much I do Adore Artemis. That just reminded me of how much I do adore Rardemus. Rardemus, yeah, uh-huh yeah, who stayed in a Shire hotel Very fun.
Speaker 3:I know.
Speaker 1:And they had mini golf the day after.
Speaker 3:I posted that thing. It was so you know the thing in Springfield, massachusetts.
Speaker 2:Yeah, Well, the one that Rardemus was in had putt-putt golf. Okay, it sounded exactly like what I'm picturing.
Speaker 3:Well, mini golf for the Shire sounds about right, that's you know it would be like a full-size golf course for them, for a hobbit.
Speaker 2:Well, exactly, and so everything's hobbit sized right and sort of hobbit brained um. So anyway, it was just kind of hilarious to hear about it people do love those round doors and stuff like that I know know, they just love that stuff. Well, I'm sure there are plenty of people that are putting round doors in their home.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I wonder what the disadvantages of a round door are. What do you think they might be Sealing it?
Speaker 3:Right, I don't know. Yeah, I mean, like around the bottom you're going to have, the bottom part of your door is going to have to have some sort of curve going up to you know to seal the door when you close it.
Speaker 2:Well, maybe it would be round on the sides.
Speaker 3:Round on the sides and square in the middle.
Speaker 2:Well, no, like up at the top.
Speaker 3:Right, okay, yeah.
Speaker 2:And at the bottom. You know, I don't know what. I'm saying yeah.
Speaker 3:See, that would just be an arch.
Speaker 2:Okay, but all right, fine, but here's the story. Okay, but all right, fine, but here's the story. If you're staying in a hotel that has round doors, those are going to be. The door to your room is going to be unsealed.
Speaker 3:No, they have to have figured out some way to do it, but it's going to. It won't be as open a doorway, I don't think as a rectangular door.
Speaker 2:So how do you get in and out, do you?
Speaker 3:have to be careful. You might have to. If you're walking straight through the middle of the door, you wouldn't have to worry about it, but if you're walking near the edges, you might have to yeah, might have to pick up your feet.
Speaker 2:Yeah, see, this whole thing sounds like I mean that's what I would think from an engineering standpoint.
Speaker 3:That's what you'd have to do. I've got to call Sokolov or Morgan and Morgan or someone you know. There's got to be some other way to do it. I don't know. I don't know how hobbits did it?
Speaker 2:I'm thinking about calling— Maybe they used grommets of some kind giant grommets?
Speaker 3:I don't know. Yeah Well, giant grommets, I don't know.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, you know, hobbits have their own way of I don't know moving.
Speaker 1:I suppose, yeah well.
Speaker 2:And I think they're kind of like weebles, you know, like they might wobble over a door frame, but they wouldn't fall down Right.
Speaker 3:Well, they got very big feet so, yeah, so, although you would think the big feet might make it easier for them to trip, yeah, that would make it worse.
Speaker 2:But it helps them be weebles.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I agree.
Speaker 2:Do people born, say, after the year 2000 know what a weevil is?
Speaker 3:I wouldn't think so. Uh-huh, no, I wouldn't think so. I would think they would think you're saying weevil, right, they might have heard that word.
Speaker 2:And they'd correct you yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's, weevil Mom.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't like anyone that was born since the year 2000.
Speaker 3:I really don't.
Speaker 2:All right those are my enemies.
Speaker 3:Well, they are harder to understand.
Speaker 2:Yeah, there's some word I learned like two weeks ago that I hadn't heard, and I was speaking to one of my best friends from college and I used that word. She said what? One of my best friends from college and I used that word. She said what? And I said, oh, that's what that that means shoot, I can't remember. But okay, I said it's what the young people say nowadays and I said it's like cuffing season. And she said, oh, I've known that for ages. So she does have a daughter that's 28 years old.
Speaker 3:Yeah, so she's more— A little closer to it, maybe.
Speaker 2:She's more exposed to things like cuffing season.
Speaker 3:Right, yeah, do you know what cuffing season is Got no idea.
Speaker 2:Okay, okay, for you and our other old listeners, cuffing season is when it's like after New Year's and it's for, say, january through May or April, and it's a relationship you have just during those months to keep you cozy and to keep you from being lonely. I see that's cuffing season.
Speaker 3:I gotcha.
Speaker 2:Give me a freaking break.
Speaker 3:Seriously, I guess, I don't know. It doesn't make any sense word-wise, you know, language-wise, well, never mind that, but just in terms of the. I have to mind that my brain won't disallow me to ignore that.
Speaker 2:That's fine, let's call it cozy season. Okay, I don't care what it's called, but the whole idea of I'm gonna get into a relationship for three months yeah, you know what I'm.
Speaker 3:I'm gonna bet that there is a german word for this. I am just gonna lay it right out there. I know there must be a German word for this very thing.
Speaker 2:Well, speaking of German words for this very thing, as you know, I'm a fan of those words. Yeah, and my favorite one is Kummerspeck. Right, which is the weight you gain when you're in grief usually after someone's died, and you're overeating comfort food to cope. Yeah, that's a great one, kummerspeck.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So grief bacon, grief fat is really what it means, but people like to say grief bacon, those who've heard of grief bacon, which I think that's maybe like half a dozen people who know it that way, which is my fault. But anyway, I just heard a new one. Oh, okay, and I'm sure you'll know immediately what this word is, but you may not know why this word is. The word is Heimscheiße, heimscheiße. Yes, huh, I don't know what?
Speaker 3:Heimscheiße, heimscheiße.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 3:Huh. Okay well, I don't know, what heim in German would mean. I know, you don't yeah.
Speaker 2:So I'm going to tell everyone what that means.
Speaker 3:I mean if I was to sort of translate it to other words that I know that sound the same, then it would. It's a statement.
Speaker 2:Okay, it's not. It's an adjective, okay, and what it is is. It means someone or no, it's a noun. It's a noun, okay, it's someone who cannot poop unless they're in their home. So, yeah, yeah, and apparently particularly in Germany, which makes perfect sense to me that this is a German thing, you know, because they're all retentive and whatnot. That is awesome. Yeah, there are people.
Speaker 3:That is a real thing. I'm totally aware of that. Yeah, that's absolutely real.
Speaker 2:See, I was not aware of it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I didn't know, I mean, I've had friends who've had to leave parties because, hey, they got to go Because they're Heimscheissers.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they're Heimscheissers Exactly. Well now, I didn't know that, I didn't know that.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:That such a thing existed? I certainly yeah.
Speaker 3:You can't go to like a mall or something and suggest they use the bathroom there. No, no, no, no, no, no See, I can't. They got to go home at that point.
Speaker 2:Well see, that blows my mind. I mean, what do you do?
Speaker 3:I think I've known two people like that, by the way, yeah.
Speaker 2:Were you married to either one of them? No, okay. Did you give birth to either one of them? Okay, did you give birth to either one of them? No, no, okay. So not people you're related to just friends, no, just friends, yeah, I would. So what do they do? All right, now, I can understand when you go to someone's house, depending on the situation, that you would definitely not want to do that that that could be very awkward and uncomfortable, right, yeah. What I don't understand is, let's say, you're on a road trip.
Speaker 3:Yeah. That is a problem.
Speaker 2:Let's say you're driving from New England to Florida for the winter Right, I mean there have to be exceptions, yeah, but I think at that point the exception is like your hotel room.
Speaker 3:What if you're driving straight?
Speaker 2:through. I mean, these are people who literally can't poop in any pub in a public bathroom right I can understand in a in someone's house right or in a private no, they just can't.
Speaker 3:I mean it's, yeah, it is so. They're so weirded out by it that it has to be a place that they, that they can at least temporarily say this is my place, I'm safe in here, there's a, there's two doors and a lock.
Speaker 2:Yeah, oh yeah well, you might want to get in touch with them and let them know that there's an actual word in in. So from now on, if you find out that someone you know has that problem, yeah, I will know yeah, you'll have a, you'll say you're a heimscheisser.
Speaker 3:yeah, yeah, heimscheisser, yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, heim, heim. That's hilarious, I don't think it's Heim. I think it's probably Heim. No, I don't think it's. You know, there's no he in Germany.
Speaker 1:Heim.
Speaker 2:Yeah, heim, yeah. So it took me a really long time to learn how to make that sound. But now that I know how to make that sound, I can't use it. So it took me a really long time with a German person who didn't know how to teach someone how to make a particular sound.
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 2:Like there are some people that can teach a ha and some people who don't know how to teach someone to use a ha. Right, it's actually really easy, and people make that sound all the time. Yeah, they just don't know it, they don't realize it.
Speaker 3:Right, so deliberately making it is harder for them.
Speaker 2:Right. But once you say to them, say blech, or say you know what I mean, yep, like or ich, or something like that, then they realize, oh yeah, it's just where you're and you explain where in the throat You're putting it at the front of the word instead of the end. Well, I had this problem with. So I would say something like Ich lebe dich.
Speaker 3:Right too much.
Speaker 2:And I was told no, that's not how you say it, it's ich.
Speaker 3:I can't do it without like Right, because you've got a practice hooker.
Speaker 2:But even so, so it might be. So it might be, heim scheisse.
Speaker 3:Right. But I can't say it without sounding like I just had braces put on. Yeah, well, maybe you just need to practice calling people heim.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I don't think I'm going to See. You used to ha, but it's shh. It's the most annoying sound and it's the most annoying language. What can I say?
Speaker 3:It is a fascinating one, though, because if they don't have a word, they're just going to put 14 words together to describe something, and there's your word.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And they don't. So, in other words, instead of coming up with a different word for someone who's publicly retentive, that's how I'm going to put it. Okay, yeah, in English. Yeah, I'm going to put it in English. They put together, they make a, instead of making a word for that. Now. So I've got to look this up and see what it's called, how they refer to it in English, because if it's an actual thing or a syndrome which sounds like it is well anyway, enough of that.
Speaker 3:Yeah, we'll figure it out. So, and by the way, while we're here talking about things that are endlessly fascinating, I want to remind people that this is one of the most educational shows that you're ever going to hear on the radio. Already, you've learned something new, right A?
Speaker 2:couple things.
Speaker 3:And we've got more to go.
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah, we've got more.
Speaker 3:Yeah, we're here to teach you some new stuff.
Speaker 2:We've got so much learning.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's all about the learning.
Speaker 2:This might be the most educational show broadcast anywhere on Cape Cod.
Speaker 3:I think you're probably right. Maybe perhaps even the world.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm not going quite that far. But hey, you know what? You're probably right. I'm confident. Yeah, yeah, with good reason. All right, I'm going to quickly run down some television. It's all current and it's all I can handle at this time.
Speaker 3:Okay.
Speaker 2:So we are in the season of the following.
Speaker 3:Survivor. Oh right, yep. Season 48 Amazing Race. Right season, what 312? I don't know, maybe you could look that up.
Speaker 2:And a new one called the Americas Michael, and I watched the first episode. It's a. Is it National Geographic, or is it?
Speaker 3:Discovery. It's one of those, yeah.
Speaker 2:And it's about the animals and wildlife in North and South America, which is a tremendous undertaking.
Speaker 3:You know, they tell you at the beginning of it it was what? Eight years In the making, right Like 500 and some different locations across the world, and they tell you about how many people were. Yeah, it's just an astounding accomplishment, what they did, everything that they captured.
Speaker 2:It's astounding sounding. Well, that's the problem. Unfortunately, and Tom Hanks is the narrator, so it's great having Dad in charge.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You know that's a good feeling, but we watched season one, episode one, expecting to be astounded because it's astounding sounding Right, and we were completely underwhelmed.
Speaker 3:It was beautiful, yeah, but they didn't spend enough time on really anything to any really fascinating things that were. You know where they were. They just glossed over a lot of things. Yeah, over a lot of things, yeah. If you want to know what the Americas look like, sort of in general, this might be a really good show. If you want to really learn something about them, I'm not sure. So far that this is it.
Speaker 2:I mean something's missing. It's missing, I think it's missing storytelling.
Speaker 3:It's not. I agree, I totally agree with you.
Speaker 2:And so the part of it that I found the most fascinating was the description of the uh, the leaves in new england, the changing of the colors of the of the foliage, and how and why it happens, and how and why it happens every year, that incredible transformation yeah. And they showed photographs from way out.
Speaker 3:They were saying that even from space, at the right time of year you can see this like red and gold section lots of people have maples that turn these fat, which is what we're talking about, but in the UK they never turn red, they only turn yellow yeah, that's why it's and here though, oh my goodness that's why it's just in the Americas right it's so gorgeous. The Americas, right, it's so gorgeous, oh my. If you've ever seen it in person, you will still be in awe, I'm sure.
Speaker 2:Well, I think most Americans have seen it Well. Photos, yeah, seen it. Or photos, yeah, well, or even, you know, driven by at least one maple tree at some point. But anyway, we should watch more.
Speaker 3:But frankly, I was disappointed in the first episode. The fact that they just kind of glossed over so much.
Speaker 2:They did. What did they do, eagles?
Speaker 3:Yeah. They were talking about the Atlantic coast Of the United States. That was the first episode.
Speaker 2:The wild horses of the Outer Banks Right, but I felt like they didn't spend enough time on that. No. And the wild horses of the Outer Banks Right, but I felt like they didn't spend enough time on that, no.
Speaker 3:Like how did they get there? What are they about?
Speaker 2:You know, I don't know they said you know, it's believed that they were brought from Spain on Spanish galleons Right and decided to stick around on Cape Fear. I don't know. My question is why do they stay there?
Speaker 3:Well, yeah, that's a good point. I mean, other than the fact that that's where they were born and everything that's where they live, I mean I don't know.
Speaker 2:I mean, I would think that there would have to be a horse or two that was like you know what?
Speaker 3:Yeah, I'm out of here. I'm tired of wading up to my chin when the tide comes in.
Speaker 2:I want to go to Denny's. I'm tired of living on seaweed. Yeah, you know what do on seaweed. What do they eat? I don't know. I just felt like yes, as soon as they showed horses frolicking in the water. I knew exactly what they were. I knew they were the North Carolina wild horses.
Speaker 3:Yep, you did. You called that right away, you know. I think I told you when we were watching it they need to.
Speaker 2:Ken Burns this thing it needs to be more in-depth. Yeah, it needs to be more story here's the story of the wild horses.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and I agree with you. People need to be involved, because not only are these places to see in North and South America, in the Americas, there are people, billions of people, and you know they're interesting too. Well, yeah, and they are affecting, you know a lot of the other beautiful things. So I mean you really should be seen as a whole rather than just hey, look, here's some horses. Oh, look, here's a river in Tennessee. Hey, up here we're going to say the Appalachian Mountains, but we're not really going to look at anything in them.
Speaker 2:Michael of course with his defining exactitude, pointed out that they did show I don't remember what. Oh, in Kentucky and I've described this before on the show there are fireflies that light up simultaneously.
Speaker 3:That's so cool they synchronize and it's only in one place, in Kentucky that this happens.
Speaker 2:Well, they showed that. Now Michael, again, with his exactitude, pointed out that that's not part of the Atlantic coast.
Speaker 3:That is correct. We are well inland with both Kentucky and Tennessee from the coast.
Speaker 2:But what I found because I just found out about these fireflies about six months ago, and what I found frustrating is that they didn't go into at all why that happens. You know why fireflies anything. You know why there are flies that light up, right, yeah, except it's a mating like come hither Romeo or come hither Juliet. Whoever, yeah, is putting on the red light as it were.
Speaker 3:Yeah, they're putting the light on.
Speaker 2:But why do they synchronize in this one place on Earth?
Speaker 3:Yeah. I don't know, it's so cool, and why didn't?
Speaker 2:they describe and explain how. What a phenomena that is like, how completely singular that is. Yes, all right.
Speaker 3:And I agree with you, and the fact that they showed it to us is fascinating.
Speaker 2:But it's not enough.
Speaker 3:I want to know what I'm looking at, right, I mean, tell me something about it. Yeah, and that's the problem, I think, with this particular show is that we're going to get to see a very surface level, look at some cool stuff, but nothing in depth at all.
Speaker 2:I mean, if I hadn't just learned about this and I was watching this show, I might know or excuse me, I might assume that this is something that happens wherever there are fireflies.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:That they all line up occasionally.
Speaker 3:So cool.
Speaker 2:Anyhow.
Speaker 3:I mean, and it's not even that they necessarily blink at the same time. They will blink like in order, so like in a line. So it would be, you know, down a line of fireflies. They're still flying around and they will go off one after another like a little line.
Speaker 2:It's so crazy. And that happens in other places, but the simultaneous thing only happens in one part of Kentucky.
Speaker 3:It's so weird, but it's very cool. I just wish, like I said.
Speaker 2:So I wish they had explained that? Yeah, and also, why not mention, oh, and while we're at it, this isn't near the coast.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's a good point yeah.
Speaker 2:All right. So that's our scintillating review of the Americas.
Speaker 3:Okay, well, that was a good one.
Speaker 2:Amazing Race and Survivor are what they always are.
Speaker 3:Season 37 of Amazing Race, by the way.
Speaker 2:Thank you for that. And another thing that Michael and I have I don't know if I'm going to say addicted, but that we have become attracted to I'm not sure how to put this and it's a guilty pleasure, it's embarrassing, it's deal or no deal. Island.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And.
Speaker 3:I don't know why I watch it. I do, though, and yeah, same with me.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I know why I started watching it. I started watching it because Parvati, who is someone that Michael loves to hate.
Speaker 3:From Survivor.
Speaker 2:yeah, Right, and how many seasons?
Speaker 3:Two seasons yeah, I think she was on a couple and did she win twice or something? I don't know, I don't think so, but I could so.
Speaker 2:But anyway, and who became famous, and then who was on that show? Treason that, alan Cumming, is it called.
Speaker 3:Treason. Oh yeah, some I don't know what it's called the Traitor or something like that Traitors? Yeah, I don't know what it's called.
Speaker 2:The Traitor or something like that. Traitors or Traitor or I don't know, but it's this show with Alan Cumming that is actually pretty fascinating. Fascinating because you've got a group of yeah, it's called the Traitors, yeah, and there have been. It's in its third season, or the third season just ended, yeah, and so Parvati was also on the first season of that.
Speaker 3:She was in four seasons of Survivor, by the way.
Speaker 2:Okay, and then a season of Traitors, and now a season of Deal or no Deal Island. Now she is getting to the point where she's too recognizable that she's not going to be able to go.
Speaker 3:So she's going to be on the Australian Survivor. It's going to air this year.
Speaker 2:Well, this guy, one of the sort of the superstar of Australian Survivor, was on this season of Deal or no Deal. And he's this big sort of. He's got a, I mean, except he's a million times more gorgeous, but he's got a Fabio thing. Like you can see him on the cover of a gothic bodice ripper. Oh sure, yeah, jennifer lopez. Those are the two things I could say. Anyway, I wanted to get to why I'm a fan of parvati shallow. Did you know that her last name is shallow?
Speaker 2:yes, I do which I think is appropriate well, see, I really like parvati, and I'll tell you why, as know if you listen to me at all, which God knows probably. Well, anyway, I'm an absolute fan of Handsome Podcast. Yes, podcast, yes, and the handsome podcast, which, if you haven't listened to yet, you still can do it, new ones are coming out every week and it's fantastic. And it is tig, notaro, fortune feimster, both of whom you've probably heard of, and Mae Martin. Right, mae Martin is the least known of the three.
Speaker 3:Right, yeah, she doesn't have at least as big a career, Although you know what? To be honest, Fortune's career has really just started taking off. I mean, she's been around for a while and not gotten a lot of notice, but now it's really rolling.
Speaker 2:Yeah, she's everywhere. Yeah, well, you know she did a series with Arnold Schwarzenegger called FUBAR, and she's been. She's starting to get spots in a lot of films, in a lot of films, yep, and I'm guessing she will, and she should get a film, maybe like a Melissa McCarthy type, you know where it's a comedy, but based on her brand of funny, I mean, I think Fortune could carry a film very easily. At any rate, fortune is all over the place, and so is Tig.
Speaker 2:You know I think people forget that or don't know that. Like don't make the crossover, Tig is on Star Trek.
Speaker 3:Uh-huh.
Speaker 2:Yep Tig has been in.
Speaker 3:I mean as a regular yeah.
Speaker 2:Every week or every whatever there's Tig. This year they have yellow suits, last year they had blue suits, things I know you gotta mix it up, you do. She liked the blue better, so did I. What can I say?
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:But I've also seen her on Hollywood Squares. Recently she and the gang were on After Midnight, which was one of the funniest things I've ever seen was the episode of After Midnight. Which was one of the funniest things I've ever seen was the episode of after midnight. Taylor Tomlinson's, the host, and Fortune Tig and May were the guests and they had them at like SNL Jeopardy thing where each one had a little podium and they had a buzzer and Taylor would ask questions.
Speaker 3:Okay, all right, sounds all legit to me. It was hilarious.
Speaker 2:Anyway, mae Martin refers to themselves as non-gender Right. So Mae Martin was born female and quote transitioned, had top surgery and enough about that. Really Refers to themselves as they them and when asked anyone's gender, says May Martin went on date recently and Fortune and Tig asked the gender of the person because Mae dates men and women said gender is fluid and it's on a spectrum. Okay, that was their answer to that question. So, anyway, however, Mae Martin and Parvati Shallow were together.
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 2:Living together for a year and change with Parvati's five-year-old daughter I guess she's six or seven now. Guess she's six or seven now but I heard about parvati every week, um, when I listened to handsome podcast and to parvati's partner in life, may martin. So I learned a lot of things about parvati, very private things. I'll tell you one of them, michael, because I think it might make you laugh. Okay, may, who disclosed. One of the reasons they broke up, I'm pretty sure, is that May would disclose anything and everything on this podcast.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that could be a problem if you want to be kind of private about some things. Yeah.
Speaker 2:You're the mother of a five-year-old.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And May said that the first time they met it was at a resort in Mexico Okay, Some very expensive, whatever resort. They got together and they did a role play their first or second night together the captain and the cabin boy and Parvati was the captain, uh-huh okay so now, everywhere parvati goes, people shout out captain, hey, captain, oh there you go, okay. So I can totally understand why there was a breakup there and May didn't stop there. They had another role play, that was the caveman and the cavewoman.
Speaker 3:Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:And just really and I'm just telling you the details of what then ensued, the actual act that ensued. Anyway, that's why I kind of love Parv.
Speaker 3:So Parvati has won Survivor one time. Okay, that was the fans versus favorites in Micronesia in 2008.
Speaker 2:But has been on four times.
Speaker 3:She's been on four times and she's going to be on the Australian Survivor. She's been on the Traders once, deal or no Deal Island and she's going to be on the Traders again for season three, but not as a contestant. She's going to be a co-host of one of the missions with Kate Chastain.
Speaker 2:That's what I was going to say, because you can't possibly be on Traders if anyone knows who you are? Yeah, I mean that's part of the whole whole thing is that no one has any clue who the other contestants are. Anyway, parvati Shallow is someone that I really really like because I got to know her as.
Speaker 3:John Lovitz would say I can't stand her. Hey, I want to get back to some educational things if you don't mind.
Speaker 2:No, this is what I wait for.
Speaker 3:Well, you told me to tell people this, so yeah, you should be waiting for it. You know what a capybara is?
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm.
Speaker 3:Yep, they're like big, uh giant. They should be called guinea pigs. They're like giant guinea pigs, uh-huh. They're over four feet long, they weigh over a hundred pounds and they live in South America. It's the largest rodent in the world, and in the 16th century, so in the 1500s, the Catholic Church classified the capybara as a fish, so people could eat it during Lent.
Speaker 2:Okay, I have a few questions. Of course it is Lent. Okay, I have a few questions, of course it is Lent currently.
Speaker 3:It certainly is. It's a very timely education.
Speaker 2:I'd like everyone out there to tell me what they've given up for Lent. I'll tell you what I've given up for Lent. I've just given up.
Speaker 3:Oh yeah, oh well, that's. You mean a general sort of yeah Well, that's hardcore, that is as hard as you can go.
Speaker 2:This Lent is very hardcore, yeah, and it came a little late, but you know, I'm just a Christian.
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 2:And so I'm assuming Jesus can forgive me for not. You know, I should have had this Ready to Rock by Mardi Gras, by Ash Wednesday True true. But I didn't have it together yet. But I've still got a couple weeks to go. Yeah, About three weeks to go until Easter.
Speaker 3:Well, do some penance or something you know.
Speaker 2:Oh, I am.
Speaker 3:Hit yourself with a stick or something.
Speaker 2:I am I'm self-flagellating.
Speaker 3:All right.
Speaker 2:Good yeah, good for me yeah. So what else Okay?
Speaker 3:Okay.
Speaker 2:So now wait a minute.
Speaker 3:So capybaras Yep.
Speaker 2:Okay, now aren't capybaras just native to Australia, or something?
Speaker 3:South America.
Speaker 2:South America yeah. So when you say the Catholic Church, yeah, and this was when the Catholic Church— yeah. And this was when this happened In the 1500s. Okay.
Speaker 3:Just after the conquistadors went out there and started kicking butt and they're turning everybody Catholic that they can force into it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and that was everyone yeah, and that was everyone, yeah. Having been to the Dominican Republic, where Christopher Columbus's first. They call it a cathedral.
Speaker 3:But that's where his first Catholic he thought he was in India, right.
Speaker 2:Oh, I don't know where he thought he was. I mean personally, I think Christopher Columbus. That's why they got called Indians. No, I know that, but they didn't get called Indians.
Speaker 3:No, Christopher didn't.
Speaker 2:Native. All right, anyway, sorry. So Christopher Columbus would have been maybe someone who couldn't stand to eat a fish.
Speaker 1:I mean, was this?
Speaker 2:done and why the capybara? I mean I have questions about this.
Speaker 3:You know when you think about it. If you're on a boat like all day, every day, forever, you're probably going to be tired of some fish.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but I'm curious as to why. Why wouldn't they just say okay, you know what Cows are now fish?
Speaker 3:Well, I don't know.
Speaker 2:I I mean, why a capybara?
Speaker 3:oh, because it's, uh, because they're not everywhere in the world, so you can limit it to just, you know, limit it to just one place, so it doesn't get it doesn't get spread doesn't get around doesn't get across the whole world that you don't really have to pay attention to Lent because you can eat a guinea pig.
Speaker 2:Wow. Well, there's again. I feel like there's a lot to unpack there, Like how do they taste? Let's start with that.
Speaker 3:Yeah, that's a good question, and how?
Speaker 2:much meat. I mean, they're big guinea pigs.
Speaker 3:How big 100 pounds.
Speaker 2:Oh, so you can get a sizable amount of meat off one, I guess.
Speaker 3:And guinea pigs themselves are eaten all the time In Peru. It's a big deal.
Speaker 2:Well, yeah, but they're the little tender ones, Right?
Speaker 3:the little guinea pigs. But yeah, these guys are.
Speaker 2:And they're on a stick right.
Speaker 3:I don't know about the guinea pigs on a stick, can't you?
Speaker 2:buy guinea pigs on a stick.
Speaker 3:I think you can. I think it is street food in Peru. Yeah.
Speaker 2:So they're on a stick and it's totally nasty looking.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I don't want to eat a guinea pig.
Speaker 2:I don't want to eat any animal on a stick.
Speaker 3:Okay, good point.
Speaker 2:I don't want to eat any animal except chicken. Now, if there is some chicken on a stick.
Speaker 3:Yeah, chicken on a stick can be pretty good. That I'll have Like chicken saute.
Speaker 2:But an entire. Oh yeah, I like it when you make that yummy noise.
Speaker 3:Yeah, well, that's good stuff.
Speaker 2:But when there's an entire chicken on a stick.
Speaker 3:Right, that's different too.
Speaker 2:Beak and all Right, yeah, no Feet, no, no, no Feet, no, no. Yeah, chicken feet is a major component of the Jewish diaspora, the Ashkenazi menu, because chicken are kosher, but most people threw away the feet. Ah, and that's what a Jew could afford? Yeah, well, I mean, it wouldn't be the Ann Levine show if I didn't mention poor, beleaguered Jews. That is true, that is true.
Speaker 3:So Do you want another super interesting fact? Oh, I do, I want them all.
Speaker 2:Give them to me, Michael.
Speaker 3:This is it Because we've got to save it for other shows. We are the number one educational show playing right now. You cannot burp when you are in space. Okay, it's impossible because gas requires gravity to separate from the liquid in your stomach.
Speaker 2:So tell me other things.
Speaker 3:So in space you don't have gas.
Speaker 2:So in space you don't have gas.
Speaker 3:So I'm assuming you also can't have a bilabial fricative? Well, you can do it, but I'm not sure what kind of sound it's going to make.
Speaker 2:All right, I'm confused. You can burp in space, but you can't fart in space.
Speaker 3:Well, a bilabial fricative is just a raspberry.
Speaker 2:No, no, no, it's a fart no it's Okay, that's your lips Labial yeah. I apologize, all right.
Speaker 3:So you can, but you probably won't fart in space because the gas doesn't get separated, see Right Because there's no gravity to do it.
Speaker 2:So now, why can't Describe to me again?
Speaker 3:Okay, you can't fart in space because there's no gravity. Gravity is required to separate the contents in your stomach from the gas, from the other contents of your stomach.
Speaker 1:If you don't have that gravity.
Speaker 3:It's all going to stay together, it's never going to separate, so you won't have gas. Yeah, going to stay together, it's never going to separate, so you won't have gas In the sense that we experience it here. So it's education for you folks. Now you know. Now you know. That's what I'm saying. That's all you need to know something.
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, we're going to need a need a.
Speaker 3:Well, we need something obviously.
Speaker 2:Yeah, raspberry, but it's most often used to mean a fart.
Speaker 3:Okay so all right.
Speaker 2:The more you know people, the more you know we need to get that. I'll get that.
Speaker 3:Yeah, Okay, I want to talk about— and we need to get that.
Speaker 2:I'll get that.
Speaker 3:yeah, Okay, I want to talk about— and assign it to a button.
Speaker 2:Yeah, precisely yeah, I want to talk about Vincent van Gogh. I read a book called the Secret Life of Sunflowers, written partly in the voice of Johanna Bonger, who was the sister-in-law of Vincent.
Speaker 3:Right Teddy's wife.
Speaker 2:She was married to Theo Van Gogh and was written by Maria Moldauer. Maria Moldauer, yes, hey.
Speaker 3:Midnight at the Oasis she's got a new tour going on.
Speaker 2:And the Secret of Sunflowers, and I'm not even kidding about that.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I'm, sure you're not.
Speaker 2:It's probably at the Melody Tent. I don't think so, but that would be the kind of place for her.
Speaker 3:Do you remember when we were going up to see Ming and we saw signs? She when we were going up to see Ming and we saw signs she was playing at the place, kind of like right across the street.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, that was a little shocking, it was, wasn't it? Yeah, anyway, it's Myrta Molnar. Okay, myrta Molnar. So quickly about that book, and I think I mentioned it one other time. I don't recommend that book. It is not well written and let me just leave it at that. It is not well written and let me just leave it at that. I could tell you more about it, but let me just leave it at that it did get you kind of on a kick.
Speaker 2:Well, there's a tremendous amount of information in it and stuff I didn't know anything about. Primarily, that the person responsible for bringing Van Gogh to the eyes and minds of a great audience was Theo's wife. Yeah, theo and Vincent died within a year of each other. Vincent killed himself and Theo died of syphilis. That's a fun way to go back then.
Speaker 3:Well, I mean, doesn't it actually make you go literally crazy after a while? I mean it gets to your brain and it just tears yeah. So, he actually died of.
Speaker 2:He was a stark, raving, mad lunatic himself.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Not unlike his brother, but from syphilis, and it also does things like make it impossible to urinate right?
Speaker 3:oh yeah, I mean other than the physical.
Speaker 2:So horrible, I mean the whole thing is, you know, I'm gonna say it's not worth having sex. It's not worth paying for sex with someone who has syphilis.
Speaker 3:No, oh Lord no.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I would say, he would.
Speaker 3:You keep on paying, you do.
Speaker 2:Yeah, until you die a horrendous death.
Speaker 3:I think, Al Capone died of syphilis, didn't he? I believe he did.
Speaker 2:In prison? Yeah, I think so All right. Well, theo didn't do a whole lot to deserve dying that way, but he kind of did. I mean, once Vincent died he didn't really want to do anything. He banished his son and wife from his sight, but she was determined to fulfill Vincent and Theo's dream of making Vincent a famous painter whose work had value. And she did it. She did the whole damn thing.
Speaker 2:And so if I hadn't read this book, this not very good book, I wouldn't have known any of that and I wouldn't have gone on to read more and to find out more. So I'm going to tell you the books that you should read if you're interested in reading about Van Gogh. Okay, number one, above and beyond, is the Yellow House. Number two, the Letters of Van Gogh. Number three Van Gogh Complete Works, vincent, which is a graphic novel by Barbara Stoke. I really recommend that one. And Van Gogh the Life. And of course we Are Hearing Vincent. That one and Van Gogh the life. And of course we are hearing Vincent by Don McLean, often known as Starry Starry Night. Van Gogh will be in exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston from March 30th to September 7th. March 30th is Vincent Van Gogh's birthday. He was born on March 30th 1853. So for Vincent Van Gogh, please put a light on.
Speaker 1:Starry, starry night. Flaming flowers that brightly blaze, swirling clouds in violet haze Reflect in Vincent's eyes of china. Blue Colors changing hue, morning fields of amber grain Weathered faces lined in pain Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand. Now I understand what you tried to say to me and how you suffered for your sanity and how you tried to set them free. They would not listen. They did not know how. Perhaps they'll listen now, for they could not love you. But still your love was true. And when no hope was left inside, on that starry starry night, you took your life, as lovers often do. But I could have told you, vincent, this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you.
Speaker 1:Starry starry night portraits Starry starry night Portraits, hung in empty halls, frameless heads on nameless walls, with eyes that watch the world and can't forget, like the strangers that you've met, the ragged men in ragged clothes, a silver thorn, a bloody rose, lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow. Now I think I know what you tried to say to me, how you suffered for your sanity, how you tried to set them free. They would not listen. They're not listening still. Perhaps they never will.
