# Things you think are awesome and other dopers should know about **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 19, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-think-are-awesome-and-other-dopers-should-know-about/568208 "2011-01-19T16:21:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-think-are-awesome-and-other-dopers-should-know-about/568208/1 "2011-01-19T16:21:53Z")
There are lots of awesome things in the world, but what things make you think “people on the dope would eat that shit up”? For me I’d have to say it’s BBC Radio 4 - a station dedicated to arts, culture and current affairs programs. It ranges from simple news to modern life to radio plays and comedy to philosophical discussions (the last one I listened to was on the concept of Utopia, fantastic talk). You can listen to it live [here](http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/bbc_radio_fourfm) or listen to individual programs broadcast in the last seven days [here](http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/radio/bbc_radio_four). Give it a go, I think you’d all like it. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-think-are-awesome-and-other-dopers-should-know-about/568208/2 "2011-01-19T17:49:18Z")
You’re preaching to the choir here. [QUOTE=Illuminatiprimus] …philosophical discussions (the last one I listened to was on the concept of Utopia, fantastic talk). [/QUOTE] That was Mervin\* Bragg’s _In Our Time_ wasn’t it? See (or rather hear) also, The News Quiz, The Now Show, Just a Minute, More or Less, I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue\*\*, Ed Readon’s Week, Loose Ends and most shows in the six-thirty comedy slot. But not The Archers. Or god help us… Thought for the day :eek: If all this wasn’t enough, Radio 4 was where The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy started. - I know this is wrong, it’s a _Fry & Laurie_ reference. \*\* I would love to hear an American’s take on this show. ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-think-are-awesome-and-other-dopers-should-know-about/568208/3 "2011-01-19T18:31:39Z")
Mmmm… [Bacon Salt](http://www.baconsalt.com/). Hey. Someone was going to say it. ---
**Author:** ![Illuminatiprimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/illuminatiprimus/32/11520_2.png) [@Illuminatiprimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Illuminatiprimus)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-think-are-awesome-and-other-dopers-should-know-about/568208/4 "2011-01-19T19:28:21Z")
> [@Small\_Clanger](#): > > But not The Archers. Or god help us… Thought for the day :eek: No, not the Archers, and definitely NOT thought for the day. Two I definitely recommend though are the News Quiz which is on every Friday evening - hi-larious, and PM ever 5 oclock during the week. Admittedly it’s very slanted to British news but I think it’s level of analysis and commentary is something I have yet to hear rivalled on radio. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-think-are-awesome-and-other-dopers-should-know-about/568208/5 "2011-01-19T21:20:39Z")
[Tom Bihn](http://www.tombihn.com) bags. I used to be a dedicated shove-crap-into-my-pockets kind of gal, and my choice of suitcase was determined by what was on sale at Target. I wasn’t ever gonna carry a freakin’ purse. Then I got one of their travel bags for a week-long, one-bag vacation to Italy and Greece. It was possibly the most well-made _thing_ I’d ever owned (well, I still _do_ own it). I’ve since gotten a laptop bag, a backpack, and a side bag from them. They’re all fantastic, they come in awesome colors, and their pockets and construction bring out the geek in me. The bags are awesome. I have to recommend them. ---
**Author:** ![longPath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bb73d2/32.png) [@longPath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/longPath)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2011, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-think-are-awesome-and-other-dopers-should-know-about/568208/6 "2011-01-19T23:06:25Z")
I love Terry O’Reilly’s “[Age of Persuassion](http://www.cbc.ca/ageofpersuasion/)” on CBC Radio. A well produced, entertaining look into advertising by an industry insider. It’s been running since early 2008. It might be on PRI but I’m not sure. It is on CBC radio and recently has been made available via podcast. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-think-are-awesome-and-other-dopers-should-know-about/568208/7 "2011-01-20T03:43:01Z")
> [@Small\_Clanger](#): > > \*\* I would love to hear an American’s take on this show. I’m an American, and I’ve listened to all fifty-something series, right from the start. It’s amazing what’s out there on the internet. Anyway, I (clearly) think it’s brilliant, and it was even better to go in order and watch all the myriads of inside jokes gradually evolve into their present form. Very few things make me laugh more regularly or harder than ISIHAC. I was genuinely distraught when Humph died. ---
**Author:** ![Meme\_Chose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Meme\_Chose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meme_Chose)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-think-are-awesome-and-other-dopers-should-know-about/568208/8 "2011-01-20T03:57:03Z")
One-handed pepper grinder, something like [this](http://www.amazon.com/Chefn-PB-300-Pepper-Ball-Clear/dp/B00006431F). It makes so much sense, it’s hard to believe they didn’t start out this way. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-think-are-awesome-and-other-dopers-should-know-about/568208/9 "2011-01-20T06:58:07Z")
One of my favorite bands recently released a song (called _Half of the People_) that seems like it ought to be a doper anthem. Some sample lyrics: \*And half of the people in the world Think that their God Is a sports fan Roots for the home team And only the home team And half of the half of the people in the world Thinks that fumbles Are a sign from above Half of the people in the world Know they’re going straight to heaven With all of their pets and with no questions asked But half of the people in the world Would make heaven really crowded Which is not really heavenly is it? Not a heaven that one wants to visit Kinda like Gideon You know, that planet in Star Trek 'Cept without a transporter And no hope of disease\* (Full lyrics [here](http://www.yellowtailrecords.com/lyrics/lyr_misc.html#half)) > [@Small\_Clanger](#): > > \*\* I would love to hear an American’s take on this show. I’d love to hear it sometime, but for the time being I’m on a computer where even streaming audio is kinda iffy. I watched all of _QI_ on youtube and loved it. ---
**Author:** ![Small\_Clanger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@Small\_Clanger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Small_Clanger)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-think-are-awesome-and-other-dopers-should-know-about/568208/10 "2011-01-20T10:10:44Z")
[QUOTE=Smeghead] I was genuinely distraught when Humph died. [/QUOTE] You know people left flowers at Mornington Crescent? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-think-are-awesome-and-other-dopers-should-know-about/568208/11 "2011-01-20T11:54:32Z")
Awesome. I love the fact that that game is essentially a nationwide inside joke that’s been going on for thirty years, and yet I’ve never heard anybody acknowledge the joke. Everybody takes it totally seriously. That would never in a million years work in the US. ---
**Author:** ![velvetjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@velvetjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velvetjones)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-think-are-awesome-and-other-dopers-should-know-about/568208/12 "2011-01-20T12:24:04Z")
[Radiolab](http://www.radiolab.org/) which is a radio program on NPR that I listen to via Podcast. I’ve been listening through their archives and have hear some of the most fascinating stuff. It’s entertaining too. That and [This American Life](http://thisamericanlife.org) which is another funny, fascinating, entertaining, educational radio show on NPR that I listen to on podcast. But I’m an NPR junky. The Tom Bihn bags look interesting, I may have to get one. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-think-are-awesome-and-other-dopers-should-know-about/568208/13 "2011-01-20T15:39:09Z")
I still can’t believe the number of hot sauce or spicy food lovers that don’t know about these products: [http://www.huyfong.com/no\_frames/sriracha.htm](http://www.huyfong.com/no_frames/sriracha.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Meatros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Meatros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meatros)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-think-are-awesome-and-other-dopers-should-know-about/568208/14 "2011-01-20T17:32:19Z")
I have to go with the two things that popped into my head instantly when I read the OP. I’m sure a lot of dopers already know though: 1. [Skeptoid](http://skeptoid.com/) 2. [Common Sense Atheism](http://commonsenseatheism.com/) ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-think-are-awesome-and-other-dopers-should-know-about/568208/15 "2011-01-20T18:05:19Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > I still can’t believe the number of hot sauce or spicy food lovers that don’t know about these products: > > [http://www.huyfong.com/no\_frames/sriracha.htm](http://www.huyfong.com/no_frames/sriracha.htm) Yup, we call it “cock sauce” (because of the rooster) and always have a bottle handy. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-think-are-awesome-and-other-dopers-should-know-about/568208/16 "2011-01-20T18:31:17Z")
> [@Smeghead](#): > > Awesome. > > I love the fact that that game is essentially a nationwide inside joke that’s been going on for thirty years, and yet I’ve never heard anybody acknowledge the joke. Everybody takes it totally seriously. That would never in a million years work in the US. I’m going to start on the extended playscape, Reith 1947 rules, Broadcasting House upshunts: Grange Hill ---
**Author:** ![Any\_Other\_Name](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f17d59/32.png) [@Any\_Other\_Name](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Any_Other_Name)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-think-are-awesome-and-other-dopers-should-know-about/568208/17 "2011-01-20T18:37:09Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > I still can’t believe the number of hot sauce or spicy food lovers that don’t know about these products: > > [http://www.huyfong.com/no\_frames/sriracha.htm](http://www.huyfong.com/no_frames/sriracha.htm) How hot is it? Obviously it’s well flavored, but is it fairly hot too? ---
**Author:** ![rjk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@rjk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjk)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-think-are-awesome-and-other-dopers-should-know-about/568208/18 "2011-01-20T18:58:53Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > I still can’t believe the number of hot sauce or spicy food lovers that don’t know about these products: > > [http://www.huyfong.com/no\_frames/sriracha.htm](http://www.huyfong.com/no_frames/sriracha.htm) I tend to buy whichever hot sauce looks good to me when I’m in the store, but Sriracha seems to be the one pretty often. There’s a big bottle in the fridge right now. Back on topic, see [_The Singing Detective_](http://www.amazon.com/Singing-Detective-Michael-Gambon/dp/B00007HGIJ/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1295548423&sr=1-1) with Michael Gambon. (That’s the original BBC production. I don’t feel any need to see the Robert Downey remake.) I remembered it from its PBS showing over twenty years ago, and got the DVDs for Christmas. It’s even more impressive now than it was then! ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-think-are-awesome-and-other-dopers-should-know-about/568208/19 "2011-01-20T19:23:35Z")
> [@Any\_Other\_Name](#): > > How hot is it? Obviously it’s well flavored, but is it fairly hot too? A heat level close to Tabasco. Equal parts flavor and heat, and makes a great condiment that you can squirt on a hot dog, dip fries in, squirt in your soup, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2011, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-think-are-awesome-and-other-dopers-should-know-about/568208/20 "2011-01-20T20:43:23Z")
> [@Any\_Other\_Name](#): > > How hot is it? Obviously it’s well flavored, but is it fairly hot too? The answer is very relative. It’s so hard to rate how hot something is. Slightly hotter than Tabasco, and maybe a touch hotter than Tapatio. Since the texture is more apt to cling to one’s taste buds, the heat builds up – a cumulative effect. It’s respectably hot (Thai restaurants love it), but the joy is in the consistency and flavors. It’s very much like a paste and must be squeezed onto food. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-you-think-are-awesome-and-other-dopers-should-know-about/568208.md?page=2)