Hello once again, dear listeners!  Unfortunately I didn't make it to Podcamp Toronto, despite my best efforts.  Indoor plumbing sure is nice....when it works....and pretty damn expensive when it don't.

Another tale for another time.

On this episode we get a little more back to normal after the Valloween episode.  Look for a really awesome tune from the Billy Bauer Band that will help take those winter blues away (assuming you live somewhere where it is cold and snowing and crappy out, like I do).  Check out their website for more info on them and to pick up their music, and also check em out at garageband as well.

I also feature a segment from another podcast that I really really enjoy called Decoder Ring Theatre.  They do a couple of different series there, both of them fan-freakin-tastic.  Whether you like the old-syle radio drama or not, they're definitely worth the listen.  Find em here.

Other then that, there's a Booze Review of a shooter that you definitely don't want to try, being attacked by pizza, a shout out to my peeps in China, and the usually meandering, babbling and pointless chatter that we've all come to know and love.  Okay, know at least.

Check out the promos for Steve's Mid Life Crisis, and blubrry.com as well.

Peace, Love and Paprika

Stevie Z

Hey all !   If you live in the Greater Toronto Area, and are in or thinking of getting into podcasting (which I don't recommend if you have Bengal Cats, by the way) then come on down to Podcamp Toronto this weekend.  There will be all sorts of seminars and such on an amazingly wide variety of topics.

If you're going to go, let me know and I'll keep an eye out for ya.

Here's a link to the website.

Peace, Love and Podcamps,

Stevie Z

Okay kiddies, here it is.  I think I'm going to change the motto of the show to "30 Minutes of Irrelevance and Irreverence.....and about a week late"

Better late then never though, eh?  Well, you be the judge of that.  This one's so twisted that maybe "never' would have been a better choice.  Listen to the podcast for details, but in a nutshell here's my concept:  because everyone and their hamster does the appropriate holiday podcast on said holiday I figured you'd be bored of Valentine's Day podcasts by now. That, and I hate Valentine's Day.  So, I decided to do a Halloween episode instead.  I'm sorry, but you'll just have to wait until Halloween to hear my Valentine's Day show.

The only tune on this show to speak of is Bandages by Fred Eaglesmith.   Check out his website here to pick up some awesome music.  Yeah, I know, I know. I already played a bunch of his stuff not too long ago.  Truth is, I had this song pegged for this episode before I even had my first show recorded.  So there.   Blpblpblpblpblpblpblp!

Also, check out the 2 promos at the very very end of the show - one for a great podcast called "Steve's Midlife Crisis" (different Steve, entirely unrelated to yours truly) and one for blubrry.com  Steve (the other one) has my promo on his, and I'm more then happy to return the favour, as I enjoy his show.  In fact, I'm willing to bet that if you like my show then you'll like his.  In fact, even if you don't like my show, you'll probably still really enjoy his. Stevie Z (that would be me) threw together the promo for blubrry.com.  Let me know what you think of each.  Also, check out blubrry.com for a list of other great podcasts available....but...um...keep listening to mine too, of course.

I'm going to be shortening my shows down to 15-20 mins each, and see how that goes over.  Lemme know what you think of that idea.

So, sit back with your chocolate hearts etc, and check out the show.

Oh yeah, you can blame my cat, Sake, for the long delay in the release of this particular show.  I've been in catsitter mode for most of the week.  Long story, for another day.

If you want you can drop me an email at badlybentpub@yahoo.ca, or just leave a comment below.  I'm actually working on getting a voice mail line so you can leave me an audio comment that way.  Neato, huh?  Of course, if you want, you can just email me an audio comment as well.

Peace, Love, and Puppies!

Stevie Z

Okay, here's the thing.  I normally record these podcasts over a 2-4 day period.  What can I say - Stevie Z is an in-demand kind of guy.  Actually, I'm just really busy doing stuff.  Between earning an income, working on my house, working around my house, working on my music and trying to be a doting husband (what the heck does "doting" mean anyways?) my dance card is pretty much full.  So, I work on my podcast when I can.  I know that all you kids out there salivate with anticipation over every new episode.  *cough cough*

Don't get me wrong, I'm not whining, and I do have a point.  Okay, maybe I'm whining just a little too.  But the reason that I'm going into all this is - I once again promised a couple of things in the intro that didn't end up in the podcast.  This time, though, I've got a really good reason.  The second day of recording this puppy I got a letter in the mail.  A letter that ticked me off so frickin' much that I had to bring it up in the Episode.  So I did.  For quite a while, as it turns out.  So, if you want to skip an "extended mix" of meandering rant, just press the "STOP" button at about the 15 minute mark.  You've been warned.....

Besides becoming unhinged in this episode, though, I also have an awesome tune from The Muckland Crooners.  you can check them out here, and I highly suggest that you do.

I also give my opinion (surprise!) on people that can't dress themselves,  FINALLY go into the recipe for El Pollo Z - also knows as Mexican-Texican-Canadexican chicken breasts, and give perhaps what is the worlds worst French accent.  Ever.  No, seriously.

I also apologize in advance for the audio quality on this podcast - it's not up to my usual (high?) standards.  I was trying some new settings, and I have too many damn buttons knobs switches and levers on my software.  That, and I need a new mic.  A nice shiny new condenser mic.  Please email my wife Michelle c/o me at badlybentpub@yahoo.ca and tell her that I need a new one and that she should let me buy it. 

Of course, and per usual, if you have anything else that you think I should know, or just want to say "howdy" please feel free to drop me a line at that above address as well, or you can leave a comment below.  If you do email or leave a comment though, please be sure to let me know where the piece of real estate you live on is located.  I'm always curious to know where my esteemed listeners call home.

Peace, Love, and Pigeons!

Stevie Z

"Oh, Canada, my Home and Native Land"

That's the opening line from the Canadian National Anthem.  Damn I love irony.

Today's show is all about this country which I call home.  Before I continue, just lemme say that I had some really great show notes typed out already.  They were staggeringly amazing.  They were frickin' awesome! Then Rogers dropped my internet connection and I lost em while I was publishing the podcast.  Then, Libsyn timed me out while I was uploading my podcast.....twice!!  So, third time was not a charm, and fourth time sucks.  So, here are the abbreviated (and less awesome and staggeringly amazing) show notes for Episode 5:

First of all, the music is provided by my favourite (note Canadian spelling) singer/songwriter, Canadian or otherwise, Fred Eaglesmith.  Check out his website at fredeaglesmith.com for more info, and to pick up some great music and unique merchandise.  (I'm still waiting to get my black Cumberland County Snowplow Toque.)

I've also covered a couple of uniquely Canadian things in this podcast - first of all, France has it's Escargot, Scotland has it's Haggis, and Canada?  Well, Canada has it's poutine.  Hey, don't knock it till you've tried it.  I also talk about Tim Horton's Donuts and Coffee.  Yeah, well, you know I kind of had to. And of course, what feature on this great country would be complete without some beaver noises?   I also give out a few fast and cold facts about the Great White North as well.

So, drop me a line and let me know what you think, what you thought, and if you have any more ideas for Canadiana as well.  I've already got a few lined up, but am always open for suggestions about things that are distinctly Canadian.  By the way, don't say "winter", because winter happens in a lot of places.  Canadians do, however, seem to have an apparently inherent way of complaining about winter, but refuse to do anything about it.  Also, why are so many people in this country so surprised when it gets really cold every year ???

You can contact me at badlybentpub@yahoo.ca or leave a comment on the bottom of this blawg.  (another Canadian spelling....no, seriously...that's how we spell it in Canada -Webbblawg.)

I Stand on Guard for Thee,

Stevie Z