Why do they only have SYSK in one category? That’s not fair, and I told them so. They should at least have a type-in option. Hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving Chuck..don’t work too hard.

I’m just happy to know that I’m finally, FINALLY, high man on the totem pole. I just won’t tell anyone why.

As far as town festivals go, I group up just outside of Sturgis, South Dakota where we have an annual motorcycle rally. On a good year the population of the state nearly doubles during the week’s festivities. If you are into scantily clad women that should have stopped being scantily clad about a generation earlier, then that is the place to be.

Also, I really hope Colbert bites.

Natalie says:

hey guys thanks for mentioning me! i had a rough week and it made it way better! the thing is, im not an 8 year old so why did you talk like i was one? and also, my roommate was very upset about dissing her, but whatever! (shes not the greatest roommate ever…)

Given the recent Northern Exposure reference, I was surprised there was no mention of the “Family Feud” episode that centered around a totem pole carving. Then again, it was the Anthony Edwards season – ugh.

paul from middlesbrough,england says:

Hi Charles and Josh.

the oddest festival I’ve heard of is from Reggiolo, Italy, where the current Chelsea football manager, Carlo Ancelotti, is from.

They hold an annual Burping Competition in the football stadium there.

Thousands attend every year…

The oddest in the UK is the annual Cheese Rolling event held in Gloucestershire. This is just nuts!

Hundreds of competitors roll cheeses down a very steep hill and then run after them trying to catch them.

This results in many injuries and broken bones. See YouTube for clips.

P.S.

just watched a TV series here ‘Andrew Marr’s – The Making of a Modern Britain’, broadcast 25 November.

During his summation of Oswald Mosley and the Blackshirts, your theme tune played throughout the piece… !

McCord Fancher says:

Hey Josh and Chuckers,

I have a quick correction that is irrelevant but nonetheless pretty interesting. In your totem pole podcast you mentioned Amish barnraising parties and poked fun at them because you said they will never ever hear your podcast. Well, that’s actually not true. There is a point in Amish coming-of-age called Rumspringa when the Amish teen is 16. They can go out and take part in “English” activities: drugs, t.v., radio, etc. So all of those young ammies in my school town of Lancaster, Pa can in fact be listening to you. And they might not be drinking just lemonade either…

Thought you’d be intersted in hearing about it. Here’s my line: If you would like to read more about the Amish and Rumspringa, check out your page on “How the Amish Work” on Howstuffworks.com by typing “Amish” into the handy search bar.

http://people.howstuffworks.com/amish5.htm (Freedom of Choice and the Amish)

-McCord

Sandra Aponte Salazar says:

Hi, Josh and Chuck-

Thought I sensed some disbelief when you mentioned menarche as one of the events to celebrate with a totem.

Being a Latina, it does not come to a surprise to me. Our Quinceañera celebration is actually a celebration of a girl’s menarche. Of course, we don’t say it that way, but instead parents take joy in the fact that a daughter is no longer a girl and is now a señorita. In our culture, señorita is no just the diminutive form of señora (Missus): it means it’s a young girl who has had her first menstrual period, and since she is now capable of reproducing, she is also eligible for courtship. That’s why no Quinceañera ceremony is complete without “Chambelanes” (or “Chamber Lords”) and Damas (Chamber Maids). The celebration concludes with the passing of the bouquet to the next girl expected to become a señorita.