swift birds

Don’t call Collin a hero. Brandon enjoys Backdraft. PLUS a discussion on the most recent Grand Tour: Sand Job.

  • Forest fires 

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A VERY ROUGH TRANSCRIPT OF THE EPISODE

PROVIDED BY OTTER.AI

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

books, people, sand, elvis, call, weird, feel, car, movie, kurt russell, talk, contrived, random, good, love, forest fire, library, kids, guess, years

SPEAKERS

Collin Funkhouser, Brandon

Collin Funkhouser  00:04

Welcome to Oh, brother, a podcast where we kind of figure it all out. It's your host, Brandon, and Colin. On this week show swift birds. Oh, boy.

Brandon  00:17

Oh, boy, here we are, indeed doing the thing with the stuff. thing got them

Collin Funkhouser  00:28

every night?

Brandon  00:32

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh.

Collin Funkhouser  00:36

It's been a week, let me tell you. It has, it has been a very robust.

Brandon  00:45

No, you know.

Collin Funkhouser  00:48

It's just, you know, little things, little things and they kind of add up and I do that I have a very hard time, like disconnecting the first little thing to the second level thing. And the second I have it and then I then once I have a hard time disconnecting the first thing from the second little thing, when there's a third thing, right and then all of a sudden just snowballs. So that's called snowballing. snowballing. Right? And then there's a fourth thing you're like, Oh, no. And it's just like, seriously, I mean, I don't know. I think it's just, I don't know what it is. But like, you know, Mondays have their proclivities for being Mondays, right, because the week's getting started. And it's like, boy, howdy, this has been everybody's awake and ready for chaos. And then usually we're like, so I try and keep our might like my Monday, I try and keep it pretty much just like, not, not filled. Because it gets filled really fast with a lot of other stuff. So I was like, that's fine. Just but then and then I was like, okay, Monday is done. We'll just, we'll just go into Tuesday. And then it was like, Oh my gosh, wouldn't will Tuesday be dive is Tuesday Dawn yet, or we, we don't Tuesday, and then it was Wednesday. And then you're like, Oh,

Brandon  02:03

my goodness. So it's just been kind of

Collin Funkhouser  02:07

one of those weeks where just like, little things every day. And then you've got to co process through the problems of like, I've talked to this person about this. And I've got to talk to this person about this. But also the same person has seven different things that I need to discuss with them. I can't overload the discussion, because then they're gonna fall through the cracks. So I got to prioritize what's the one thing I can need to talk to them about?

Brandon  02:31

Ah, so, you know, yeah, you need to Yeah. But I'm having trouble processing that. And that's not even me dealing with it.

Collin Funkhouser  02:46

But it's been one of those weeks where it's like, like, from an OB, like, objectively, it's been a pretty good week, like, been feeling a lot of time with family. So it's been great, like, perfect, wonderful, like, some headaches during their night and I went and we've been able to, to hike a nearby trail twice, twice this week. And we hiked three miles in under an hour. So we were really hoping it. Night. Yes, you were Yes. Yes. Well, whenever you need to go like, get out some like, like, anger and frustration. Just go pound the trail. Right? That's what you do. Just

Brandon  03:25

have it. And look, I I'm

Collin Funkhouser  03:29

not going to take the title of Hero. If people want to bestow that upon me. They can I walk I well, you're so

Brandon  03:35

you're just so benevolence, right. And so but we

Collin Funkhouser  03:40

were walking along the second time we're at this. And it was crazy, because we were at this trail, and it's it has two different trail heads that you can get on and they're only like, like, two tenths of a mile apart. So the whole trail is technically 3.2 miles if you just you know, whatever. Well, we always hike one direction. And then this week, we were like, You know what we're gonna do? We're gonna hike it backwards, or oh my god, or or forwards if that's what other people hike, but we always take it one way so it's backwards for us. And we really start hiking, and all of a sudden Megan goes off. What's that smell? I was like, oh, and someone's burning stuff out here. Oh, that's gross. And smells like a bunch of leaves.

Brandon  04:29

Hiking, hiking, compared. There's a

Collin Funkhouser  04:33

lot of smoke back here. Like there's a ton of smoke and it's getting thick. And you look through the trees. There's like a scorched field and what is going on? And then we come upon flames in the Fulkerson.

Brandon  04:51

Naoto, they are not they're not beat high, but they're

Collin Funkhouser  04:57

pretty big. And they are moving at a very brisk pace through the undergrowth. Climbing vines and consuming bushes and just to brew. Megan, we stop, and you go, Oh, well, we're, what do what do we do? So we kind of look around and we like see if anybody's there. But it's like moving through. And I see some people coming towards us and I walked towards them and they're just two hikers out enjoying a hike with their dog and they're like, Oh, are you with them? They asked us, are you with the fire? And we're like, no, are you? And they're like, oh, no, that's kind of weird. Anyway, we got an appointment to get to and they just like, awesome.

Brandon  05:50

So I'm sure and I'm like, who do I call?

Collin Funkhouser  05:54

I'm on a state park. So I figure I'm going to call the State Park. Right. So I call the number for the, the parks our local park. And they were closed. So then, of course, then I was like, I need to call I guess the non emergency number because like, I don't know how to report a wildfire. And I'm just like standing on the trail there watching as the fires just like coming towards us. Like, well, it's I get on the phone, I'm calling and she's like, where are you? And I'm trying to tell her and she's like, can you buy the lake? And I was like, There's a lake out here what's

Brandon  06:34

going on? So no, definitely not.

Collin Funkhouser  06:37

They're definitely not there. And she was like, well, could you just could you just call 911 and I can pay you for your phone? I was like, Sure. So I got it. I hang up. And I call back the operating system. You know, number one, she doesn't say state your emergency. They say state your address, which I thought was interesting. Like very interesting. Like,

Brandon  06:58

I don't know, that's why I called.

Collin Funkhouser  07:00

I said, Hi, I'm Colin, I met Bob. And before I could say it, she goes Oh, are you at the forest fire? And I was like, yeah. Hold on.

Brandon  07:13

Nice. I like how this implies that the emergency services and the non emergency services are just the same building there and you're

07:22

in the same room.

Brandon  07:26

The lady just turn around and goes, Hey, this fire dudes gonna call you're just like, okay, got it.

Collin Funkhouser  07:32

That is exactly what happened. I guarantee you. This is exactly what happened. And she like takes some more information. And she was like, Well, are you guys safe? And I was like, yeah, and she was like anybody that you can see. I was like, not that I can

Brandon  07:47

meeting you. There was another hiker, but they ran away. So yeah,

Collin Funkhouser  07:51

I said, we passed with people, but there's nobody else here. That's why I'm calling you. And she's like, Okay, well, thanks. Appreciate it. And I said, Do I need to hang around? And she goes, Oh, God, no, no, get out of the like, no,

Brandon  08:04

there's a forest fire going on.

Collin Funkhouser  08:07

Like oh, right, right. Right, right. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, I'll um, I'll just move up. What was nice about this is that because it was scorching the first half of the trail that we can take to the rest of the trail without you know, without a political problem. I go

Brandon  08:31

a little smoke lungs from my, from your heroic deeds, forest fighting endeavor I definitely

Collin Funkhouser  08:37

make it definitely has a picture of me standing there with my hand on my hip and my phone to my ear. While I'm staring at these flames coming through the

Brandon  08:46

forest. Just like Smokey Bear would have wanted. Right? That's really I gotta say,

Collin Funkhouser  08:54

I'm no fire forensic biologist. But the pasture to the North was definitely bird. Like, on the other landowners property. So it and we have

Brandon  09:09

like, oh, the fires burning out. I'm gonna go get some tea. Wait, farmers don't drink tea. Hold on. I'm gonna go get some. I'm gonna go grab some beers there go. And then like all of a sudden is lit for so far.

Collin Funkhouser  09:23

Yes, this is what I believe this is what I believe happened. They definitely had because we've had red flag warnings out. And it's also that time of year where people are burning leaves that didn't you know, because it's good weather or whatever. So I think that they definitely had a fire for their public property. And then it it spread and because the wind was out of the north, blowing south and it wasn't blowing like it wasn't so the smoke couldn't rise, and it was being blown out. To the forest. Right? So let's see it right. So nobody could see it. Right? Yes. So it was being obscured, and then making Lego Jump, jump to jump. So we'll get those flames burning up that little tree. I guess we should call somebody. And I realized that I don't I don't I reporting forest fires, I don't have training on that. So

Brandon  10:26

I had to miss smokey tells you how to prevent them not what to do. If you encounter one exactly like we've encountered a hole in this ad campaign. Please let us know what to do. I mean, I guess it just makes sense to do online online. Like, because it is if a forest is on fire, I think that constitutes an emergency. Right? Yeah, maybe not like an emergency, in this case, not like an imminent threat to your own personal self. Right. All right, large swathes of the surrounding area, in peril. Well, and especially

Collin Funkhouser  11:05

since we were like, not too far from a very historic, old building, you know, and on a property of that kind. So I was like, ah, yeah, this is, you know, buildings and structures are potentially going to be impacted here. So, but it was so weird how my brain just immediately was like, oh, you can't? You can't, we can't call 911 Nobody's bleeding. Right? That was literally what my brain was like, when there's not having a car accident there. Right? There's just a fire here, where it's not a

Brandon  11:41

fire where there's not. But I mean, if there's a fire where there's not supposed to be a fire, yes. It is. An emergency situation. Right. Right. It is concerned with your thought twice if the fire was in building ready, right? Also not a place where fires are supposed to be. So like it? Yes. Yep. So we

Collin Funkhouser  12:08

Yeah. Yeah, it was just I was I was reflecting on that for the rest of the hike. And I was like, Yeah, that was so weird how my brain was just like, oh, no, don't call 911. Like, they'll yell at you, because nobody's bleeding. But

Brandon  12:21

turns out, they were like, I like how the exact opposite is what happened now? Like, no call 911. So

Collin Funkhouser  12:27

what are you doing? Call? 911? Yeah,

Brandon  12:30

sorry, not. It's also weird that two people taking a phone call in the same room don't share the same capability to paying phone call. That's a very interesting thing, right? Like it's, yes.

Collin Funkhouser  12:45

Well, and I think that's just because of the it's got to be for like funding structures or something like that to match capabilities of like,

Brandon  12:56

there's got to be for some really obnoxious reason. That's not a real reason. Right? Oh, yes. Yeah. That has to be why some, like a bureaucratic nonsense about like, oh, this has to go here. Because then we can, yeah, do the funding in this way. Blah, blah. Like, man, I have been reading and thinking about John Paul Sartre a little too much to deal with beer bureaucracy, right. Because like, wow, everything is meaningless. And there's no point so no

13:28

cares where this goes.

Brandon  13:32

Well, anyway. Yeah. Things just are. Yes. So here's where the money goes. Right? Like, just yeah, like, oh, no, too much.

Collin Funkhouser  13:46

I understand. Like, maybe because what the non emergency is supposed to be like, what? Like, there's a tree in my yard or like, a, a trash can blew over and it's in the road or like, I don't know, but like, but so I can see how somebody would mean I literally don't know what

Brandon  14:09

the difference is. I mean, I we I'm trying to think because we have called like non emergency before but I cannot for the life of me remember why we did that. Yeah. Right. Like we call the city like it's not an emergency number. Sometimes

Collin Funkhouser  14:28

it's I don't like the water a nuisance call. Or like, or like a hey, FYI, like this doesn't have really in the like, any partner information, but I found this wallet over here or something. But it is so I can see how an administrator would go well, they don't need the capabilities to trace your photo.

Brandon  14:50

But when you put them in the same room, but when they don't have it. The operator

Collin Funkhouser  14:57

said Hey, Catherine

Brandon  15:00

Calling is calling in just a moment. Yeah, it's about some guy talking about forest fire he's just rambling on about smoke jumping and bears. I don't really know what's happened. Yeah. Just mentioned Backdraft four times and I don't really know what's going on around here so I don't know.

Collin Funkhouser  15:17

It wasn't even that good of a movie. But really, really going also out

Brandon  15:22

of fire movie references I suppose right now, huh? Yep. Ah. I think that's a

Collin Funkhouser  15:32

did have Kurt Russell in it and that's

Brandon  15:34

it. Yeah, but is that a good thing? Like, I mean, we Internet where do we stand on Kurt Russell?

Collin Funkhouser  15:43

Okay, okay. Okay. Find my fight. It had Robert De Niro in it. How about that a okay, that's Donnie Sutherland. Donald Sutherland. Ah, yeah, I

Brandon  15:50

feel like Sutherland is a real hit or miss well, like Yeah, that's fine. I'm just like I'm so hung up on this Kurt Russell thing Okay, fine. I was like any Kurt Russell movies. I want

Collin Funkhouser  16:07

what I want it all right. Okay. Welfare. Okay. So so he was in Tombstone and I know that that okay to like tombstone

Brandon  16:15

Do you like to but I don't like tombstone because of Kurt Russell. Everyone only likes Oh, because of alquiler Well, is

Collin Funkhouser  16:21

this factor like I didn't look I didn't say like, because of it. I use this as was Did we like okay,

Brandon  16:27

and that's fair. That's fair. Right? Right. I think that's about it. Maybe? I am. As my IMDb is loading, I am not seeing a whole I'm gonna have to go back further. Why was Kurt Russell in the Fate of the Furious was also

Collin Funkhouser  16:50

Oh, okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. I'm gonna bring up a movie that we've talked about on this very show multiple times. Kurt Russell is in this though. The Fox and the Hound. He is. He is the voice of COPPA. The, the dog Frehley Yes. Wait copper. Wait, coppers. The coppers the sick dog? Yeah, yeah, yeah, he's the voice he was unaware of this. Adams REO until just now. Yeah, how name copper best friends. Now go. They go to their house like one night because of Kurt Russell. Boom.

Brandon  17:29

Kinda done. Even what movie is not great. Captain Ron. Let's just just just to sort of go with this. Right like yeah, like I would like to talk about just the early 90s Kurt Russell, extend here, right. We have Backdraft 91. Good one. I need to Okay, Captain Ron. Right like the best of times. I mean, what that is, for us. He wasn't forced go. In what? But apparently he plays Elvis in Forrest Gump. And he's in Stargate K. He is an escape from LA. Not great.

Collin Funkhouser  18:27

Right, reprising his role from Escape from New York in the 80s. Right where he already you could

Brandon  18:33

forget the 2001 masterpiece. So 1000 miles to Graceland. The dynamic duo that you didn't know you needed, because we don't You don't match it turns

Collin Funkhouser  18:45

out as a man, he really went through a rough patch here, didn't he? Oh my god. There's a lot of there's a lot of weird ones. Because the next the next one that I am seeing that I like that I know a lot of people really like. I'm going to probably jump all the way to Django Unchained, where people really liked that movie.

Brandon  19:10

I don't really like them very much. Now, like I really didn't know I really didn't vibe with that one. Maybe I've outgrown the Quentin Tarantino phase. Oh, so

Collin Funkhouser  19:24

you didn't like the Hateful Eight either?

Brandon  19:26

I really, yeah. Right. Not really. I didn't really love it. I was I was a big Tarantino fan when I was younger, right? But I think maybe it's cuz it's like, oh, it's edgy, blah, blah. And then you're kind of like actually not really that big a deal. Like it's fine. Like, I don't know. I just, I didn't really vibe with that. It's kind of it's fine, I guess but they're also not just a big fan of like It's like a, like the one room movies. Right? Oh, because like the whole movie is just in a room. That's kind of like, not really my jam. Because it's I don't know, I haven't really liked that very much. And so it could be that that is the genre of the Hateful Eight is that it is fact. Just a one room movie.

Collin Funkhouser  20:26

They took the concept, obviously from from plays, but what yeah, what's the what makes a play? So much better? Right, that the actors like, yeah, really, really have to have an Well, an amazing script that actors can deliver. And if it's not, it really falls flat because we forget just how visually we need to be engaged with stuff. Right. And then you take the one room play or the one Steena and go, Yeah, whatever. Oh, right. Like, there's nothing here because the actors aren't carrying it and the script isn't

Brandon  21:08

Boulud. So, yeah. And then, like, you know, Quentin Tarantino, like part of the reason some of his older scripts I like them is because they're very dialogue heavy, right? But I feel like Hateful Eight is just dialogue heavy. Just to be dialogue heavy, because there's nothing else happening. There's like nothing supporting the dialogue. So when there's nothing like, Kill Bill has a lot of dialogue. Yeah, but Kill Bill also has like wackiness because it's like, Kill Bill. Right? So it's kind of insane. And so it's also like, an homage to a lot of other movies that I like. And I like, like, you know, the samurai movie. And I like the Western, which is like the two parts of the Kill Bill kind of stick. But I don't like those single room movie. Right? And so it's just really, the source material is right. I also just can't really get over right now that Kurt Russell played Elvis in 1979 Elvis, and then apparently reprised the role of Elvis in Forrest Gump. I really am having a hard time dealing with this information right now. And I feel like this is the thing that no one else has mentioned ever. I just want to know why that canonically we've decided that Kurt Russell is just Elvis. I don't know. Right? I don't know what's going on here.

Collin Funkhouser  22:35

I don't really know when I to just saw that fact about 10 seconds before you mentioned that in my brain was really jamming going as in like nothing like it. Yeah, but I like I like what

Brandon  22:50

Yeah, it's like a wide opening out.

Collin Funkhouser  22:55

Did so I mean, obviously, Director obviously those working on Forrest Gump. Huge fan of the 1979 Elvis film, remember that I didn't even know existed until just right now. And just immediately course, like, who's going to label this with Russell Russell? Does he have experience in this? Yeah. Turns out I've got a two hours and 50 minutes. There was a two hour and 50 minute movie 1979 about Elvis. Two hours in 50 minutes, throws out a 1979 pace because let's remember people two hours and 15 minutes in 1979 Oh, those like three decades in a treasure to a two hour and 15 minute movie in 2024.

Brandon  23:45

Through moly, like coming, this is coming shortly off the heels of the death of Elvis because he died in 77. Right. So this must mean that it was like just like height of sort of mania, right? Like we were just jonesing for Elvis movies.

Collin Funkhouser  24:08

And it was a made for TV film.

Brandon  24:11

That's worse. Yes. Ah. Ah two. Oh, wait a minute. Are you telling me this is three hours of television movie that's like, oh, oh, that's That's painful. Right? That's painful. I don't know how to it man. Okay, this the rabbit hole here has just increased a lot. Right? Because here's what's just happened, right. Kurt Russell plays Elvis reprises the role of Elvis in Forrest Gump. In the 2022 Elvis biopic, which is scant two hours and 39 minutes so maybe one of the is just a remake of that movie. Tom Hanks is in there playing Colonel Parker. What in the world is happening? Ah, the universe has folded in on itself. Nothing makes sense at all. Having a hard time why is this? Why do all Elvis movies three hours long? What's going on? Understand? Oh, this is how many times can you handle the phrase taking care of business in three hours? Why?

Collin Funkhouser  25:35

Well, and that synopsis again I just saw. This is the 1979 film, Elvis This is the whole synopsis right? In July 1969 Elvis Presley, Kurt Russell is performing at his first live performance in eight years at the International Hotel in Las Vegas, while in his suite, Elvis worries about this, and remembers how he became the king of rock'n'roll. So it's all flash packs.

Brandon  26:03

Wow. Wow. That's like the most 70 thing ever though. Right? Just like a ton of flashbacks. Like, that is pretty rough. That's amazing. I don't know. Oh.

Collin Funkhouser  26:29

Oh. After its success on television, it was a shorter, a shorter, re edited version of Elvis was released theatrically throughout Europe and Australia.

Brandon  26:40

gasps now why were they jonesing for that in? I don't know. That's really weird. Yeah.

Collin Funkhouser  26:54

So we didn't, I didn't have that muscle moment and anything while we finished our walk, but I did. I did get to sit with Noah and in ask him, given his extensive knowledge of the inner workings of a fire station.

Brandon  27:13

I asked him what vehicles he thought would arrive at a forest fire. And he was

Collin Funkhouser  27:21

right. 100% right. Then well, there's got to be at least one taker drunk. Truck. Probably the because of again, because of where we live. The all of the grass trucks showed up. And there was and there was an airplane. So that was fun.

Brandon  27:43

Well, there you go. Wow, the airplane the spotter job spotter. Airplane.

Collin Funkhouser  27:47

Tell you what, no mess around.

Brandon  27:51

That is pretty official. Right? There probably wasn't like dumping water on the nose. No, no, no.

Collin Funkhouser  27:56

This was a little

Brandon  27:57

thing. Nice. Yeah, just a little Cessna. Just like checking out driving around saying like, well,

Collin Funkhouser  28:05

there's a little bit over there, Jim.

Brandon  28:07

Go back in the East. I think that's probably exactly what happened. Right? A little bit.

Collin Funkhouser  28:14

It's headed that way. Yeah, exactly. I'm sure that was mentioned. For sure. Oh, my goodness. Yeah, we, we got to do let's do that. We went to the library book sale. Which is I have, look, I have mixed feelings about the library book sale. And I think that's because of my view of libraries. As in libraries should be repositories of knowledge.

Brandon  28:51

Meaning that's true.

Collin Funkhouser  28:56

But, but public libraries are have a different purpose. Right. They need to serve their public and have materials that the public wants. So yeah, they have like our current, right. That's the problem. Right? Yeah, like current information in there. Not

Brandon  29:15

books that no one's checked out in like 20 years and like, okay, I guess we'll get rid of it. Like I

Collin Funkhouser  29:21

writes, that that is, and that's tough, because I think libraries should just never get rid of a book. They should always have them on hand.

Brandon  29:30

When I first time. I felt like I feel like so I feel like it's not every library is the Library of Congress though. Right? Or like, Alexandria, you don't mean like, yeah, that would be you know, the thing, right, or that random building that they went to on their grand tour episode, by the way, not, not every build, not every library is like that right? And then think this is like a problem with vocabulary again, right? Because those are the same thing like Public Library is just like, oh, people need to come check out books. You know, they have reference books over in the corner. No one ever looks at them. They're like, I mean, some people do, obviously, but like, but the good thing about the library sale, right is that means that the library has vacated shelf space for new acquisitions. Right. And so they can then increase the number of like, newer, more relevant ebooks that people will check out and circulate. Right. Okay. They do look at that. They didn't look at that and go like, no one is no one has checked this book out in five years. So maybe we need to just like moving on down the road.

Collin Funkhouser  30:48

Yes. Well, and they have to figure out like, why do they have this book there? So to guess i, n and n for the reference books, like they're, they're kind of keep some encyclopedias from the 1970s. But they don't they don't want they have a book that's titled modern Europe. And it was written in 1952. It's like, yeah, huh. Probably not the reference we want to have for modern Europe, right? Like, like, right, things have changed a bit

Brandon  31:21

radically. I was doing this exact same thing today in my classroom, right? Oh, it's going through my classroom library. Okay, and looking with the help of some kids, right. And we were going through it, we're looking at these I have these like milk crates full of books on the shelf. Okay. It's like, the nonfiction section. And they were at one time sort of loosely categorized by like, genre, right? So like, science ebooks, like Earth science books, like animal science books, like things like that. But they that has, they had been mixed up. So we were going through there, and we were calling, right, and we were going like, okay, are these books? Like? A? Do we need them in a science and or social studies classroom? Right? At two? Are they current enough to be used? Or are they like, at appropriate grade level? Because some of the books are like, okay, but they were like, second grade books. Like, I don't really need that. Right, like, so. Maybe some of those can go find a new home. But I did find today, this book, it's like a, like a little mini reference book that like school libraries have and it's just like a little book about like a single topic. Right? Love these. Two for this one was about email. Oh, oh, yeah. Oh, uh huh. Current? Uh huh. Up to date, who did find a couple of books in his bookshelf from 1985. So I'm gonna put those on a different bookshelf for the lols because that's just funny, but we're not really gonna know. And I found one there was one about like, one of my kids found it she was like, this is about like science technology. And we opened it up and was like, Is this technology look current to you? And she goes, oh, oh, no. Oh, no. There's like, old like IBM like desktop computers like the real big ones right and yeah, it was a reel to reel in one of the pictures and point is like yeah, I don't really think we probably need it. So that's I think I think we can move on right like lower level books about like snakes we'll keep that one no not this one.

Collin Funkhouser  33:49

I was no that one on down the road like

Brandon  33:53

that when the price Canadian from the doctor yeah

Collin Funkhouser  34:00

yeah, and and that was the other good part about library sales is that cheap? So this was their This was their sale right? You refer their pricing? Every book is 50 cents. Yeah, every we go every book. So of course, I'm like, where are the reference books? Please? Yeah, I am needing to get beat of books. That's what I'm after people I need beat of books. And so

Brandon  34:26

do you just have a a like aesthetically pleasing bookshelf that you're trying to fill up? Because I would have no

Collin Funkhouser  34:33

no no, no, no, no. I'm looking for the reference books such as the one we did get called the lore of flight. The law of light the list for the Lor Lor e of like that, okay, yes.

Brandon  34:48

This thing? It's literally

Collin Funkhouser  34:50

seven pounds. It's a conqueror, isn't

Brandon  34:53

it? Like what's going on?

Collin Funkhouser  34:55

This, the guy walks through the entire history of flight with like, intricate diagrams of major components of innovation in flight, and like excruciating detail about airplanes. It's amazing. It's amazing. Sounds what that No, no, no, no, it is it is. It is absolutely insane. It's described as profusely illustrated. I love this. Okay, I want to I want a pro future illustrated book. We also grabbed the the National Museum of American History and pictures book that is also like a seven pound book where they walked around the National History of American National Museum of American History, and just took pictures of all the stuff that they have there. It's cool. Yes, yeah, here we go. I also love the we have one from like, it's called the way life was story of America and photos, going back to like, the Victorian times, and just a little like some of the earliest photos that they can find of life in America. And what was documented and telling it through these gorgeous, like, black and white photos and stuff. And then of course, we grab lots of science books, like The Secret Life of insects, which of course you have to find that oh, the one obviously people case. We did buy the the 100 years of America's firefighting apparatus book. Oh,

Brandon  36:35

well, luckily, that came in handy. Sooner than you thought it was.

Collin Funkhouser  36:40

Published in 1974. So the 100 year, you know, oh, yeah, we're

Brandon  36:45

a little Ooh, yeah.

Collin Funkhouser  36:48

It was it was current as of 1974 50 years. Exactly. But it's funny because even then you're like, Oh, is that? Is that a fire truck? I don't know.

Brandon  37:02

Well, it's a wagon with a bucket on it. So I

Collin Funkhouser  37:05

Right. Yeah. Found some really cool animal books like North American birds. That one classic the nature Atlas of America also great one neat bow and found the book, The about the couple of history books, the American Revolution. I did. We did grab the book The the ancient life in Mexico and Central America a book written in 1933. I write that I did start reading and then I shut it because I was like, Oh, this is a bit insensitive.

Brandon  37:46

I have a collection of books like that. Right? Like, like old school textbooks. Right? But from like the 40s. And so and so you read it you go. Oh

Collin Funkhouser  38:03

yes. Yeah. Like, I would not use that word at all. Okay, well, yeah.

38:10

Oh, my.

Collin Funkhouser  38:14

So but I did grab the book because it's also very interesting to, to think about, like, I was mostly interested, like, what did they What did what were their theories of their life back then? Oh, that's the other thing that I'm like, What were what was in people's heads of like, what the of what was ancient life? What did they what did they theorize certain things for for? And then obviously, I'm going to, in my free time thing, compare that to today? Any

Brandon  38:40

and all the free time that you have really? Oh. And so then we

Collin Funkhouser  38:49

we found a couple other books. I didn't look at any of the fiction books, because I was like I first but we did find some stuff for the kids that did find a time warp trio.

Brandon  38:58

Yeah.

Collin Funkhouser  39:02

And they were in hardback. And I was like, Yeah, ah, so that was killer.

Brandon  39:10

Very, very worth it is true that it's worth the classics, maybe half

Collin Funkhouser  39:18

newer versions, hopefully see this thing of like, man, like, hate to see that kind of stuff go but also I'm like, Well, you know, I understand what he's going through my house. But I guess because my house news data repository volume, and

Brandon  39:36

that's gotta go somewhere. Oh, yeah. You're right. Yeah.

Collin Funkhouser  39:44

So, yeah, that was fun. I mean, look, I mean, didn't go and being like, you know, they're just counting the books, like how many books you have. I'm like, Well, I've got 21 This time, be back later.

Brandon  39:58

For dirt.

Collin Funkhouser  39:58

So About the very end came by I was like, Colin, do you need a box? And I was like, yes. And please. Perhaps perhaps boxes and boxes in order? Yes, yes, yes indeed though. It's got lots of books too. That was a good good time had by all Canadians, they also

Brandon  40:18

got books and I'll just you you didn't just like wheel out the only cart like keep up like anyway,

Collin Funkhouser  40:25

let me tell you more we tell you how exciting it is to have these reference books come Come get the rest so then when we got home, we had to redo our entire book shelving. I mean, of course things, reorganize those I have in my office, I've got a little built in bookshelf that I have been keeping some books there, but I was like, Okay, well now we have like a big reference section. So I gotta bring some my reference books down all of my field guides for all the plants and animals and insects and birds and trees and stuff. Like those got to come down.

Brandon  40:59

And my

Collin Funkhouser  41:03

it's kind of like, the way I would encounter books on the bookshelf in dad's basement or in their room was like, you're just bored, and you're just like walking, and then just see a book. And you're like, what is that? And then you just write like, that's what I want. I just want all of these things just like, Look, these are here for you to fire on your coat. I'm not going to throw them on you. No, no, no, no, there you just discover them when you're bored. Right? That's like that is such such a weird like, long con. Like

Brandon  41:38

he's a bit yeah, that's true. But

Collin Funkhouser  41:39

also like Who else has a copy of the law of flight? I don't know. But I don't

Brandon  41:45

think anybody that's it's

Collin Funkhouser  41:49

not not not our Public Library. I'm telling you

Brandon  41:58

that's true. Like me. I got one you only

Collin Funkhouser  42:08

so yeah, that was our that in the finding the fire. Pretty big highlights this week.

Brandon  42:16

I mean, that is a pretty adventure filled week Right? Buying in firefighting. I mean, reporting. So I

Collin Funkhouser  42:24

know. No fighting was done. I just walked briskly away

Brandon  42:30

of dragging my heel in the leaves to start the firebreak as I was. Yes, I showed them where to dig. Here drug A stick behind me. Yes, here

Collin Funkhouser  42:48

so it was just weird encountering a fire like that the woods like it was very like, ah, it

Brandon  42:54

is weird for Maria. It's not like a normal thing, right? No,

Collin Funkhouser  42:57

it was it. Anyway, that's just like, I had had really this moment of like, something I have never encountered before. And again, it wasn't a huge fire. They weren't leaping across. It wasn't a crown fire. It wasn't being Yeah, but

Brandon  43:13

still, right. Like, what you're like, oh, gosh, that's not supposed to be there. What are you doing here?

Collin Funkhouser  43:20

Good. Leap. Yeah, it was a it was it's interest. And now it's now it's cold again. As it should be enough anyway.

Brandon  43:30

Yes. So strange. I don't know.

Collin Funkhouser  43:34

But are you are you are you surviving another another week?

Brandon  43:39

Just barely. This is a long one. I know. He long felt really long week. Right? Like, I was mildly annoyed because they were supposed to have our leg. end of quarter celebration thing. Tomorrow, right? Tomorrow, because ha quarter tomorrow in the stinkin like choir group is going to a contest or something. Like two of the teachers are like, we should actually be scheduled for Thursday. So the choir kids don't get to miss the celebration day. First of all, like 10 Kids are rescheduling a whole day. But what what? Now instead of missing, like, just random day, they're missing an instructional day where I have things for them to do. Oh, and they're not going to be there. Gregor. Right like it's just

Collin Funkhouser  44:46

it's really annoying. Wow. Yeah, that's, that is frustrating to work around that.

Brandon  44:56

Yeah. And I got what you're saying earlier about, like just the little things compound I mean, like, Wednesday, like, I got this email that was like, Oh yeah, by the way, we're gonna like totally participate in a national or in like Missouri tornado preparedness drill day. In 50 minutes cape, I was like not that I am. Like, it's not that I am not all for emergency preparedness. Right? I have that Mayor badge, right. So yes, but the fact that you just like are going to drop this ball on me. We're in for in less than an hour. By the way. You're gonna we're gonna have a tornado. See you later. Yeah, like, well,

Collin Funkhouser  45:48

in the real world, that's when the real one hits. You don't even have an hour. That's

Brandon  45:53

true. But you knew this this day has been planned. As the day of like, the Missouri day has been planned for a year. Since the last one was on somebody's calendar, you decided no, one hour. Before the time that we're going to this is where this is what irks me greatly. Yeah, this is where expediently like really, really. So again, not against emergency preparedness. But come on, like

Collin Funkhouser  46:49

know, especially, especially when it's like, because I had a lot of practicing, like, yeah, do you need to have, you do need to have wherewithal to, like, prepare for it. So that you can be like, you can actually do it as opposed to being distracted or thinking about other things or disrupting the kids. Because if they're in the middle of something, and now they're rushed, or they're, they're not going to get the most out of it. Like really, there's

Brandon  47:13

always slightly rash because I was trying to prepare for the fact that my days got mixed up already, because I had to move celebration day ahead. Right? And then I was like, Okay, I have a lot of stuff to do today to account for the fact that I don't have any class tomorrow. And then they're like, tornado drill Other than that, it's been fine. Okay, look, reorganization going well, sounds like a guy have a big pile of books, it needs to go away. Right. And so hopefully, I can consolidate some things, I may be able to turn one of these one of my bands into like, a material bucket, or like all of this like PVC pipe that I have now, or I am now in possession of 50 pounds of sand. So any place for that. Wait, I have a lot of sins. Well, well, when you're trying to buy sand for science projects. Did you know that the most cost effective way to do this is by this from the construction section of let's just hypothetically say Lowe's hashtag not sponsored. And so I needed some sand. So we're doing him. So my monthly Science Challenge for this month is about erosion prevention. So I am attempting to build mini stream tables. Oh, and so the kids are going to have to try to keep the sand from eroding. And this will thing I got like a ton of these like little tiny like baking tin things, right? Yeah, they're probably like four inches by like 10. Right? Like four by 10 inches, we'll think maybe 11. And that's what they're, that's what we're going to set them in. That's we're going to use for that our little mini stream table and I'm just going to run water, pour water on the side down and that they have to develop a erosion plan and work with a group to figure out what they're going to do to prevent erosion. That'd be cool. Yeah, but sand. If you want any amount of sand, right? It just comes at 50 pound bags. Right now. It is only like $5 Sure, come on to steal. But now I have a 50 pound bag that I have to like do, I'm going to probably, I need to start tomorrow probably. Because it's like the quick creep stuff hashtag not sponsored. And so like I have to the bag is not resealable. So I have to figure out what I'm going to do with this. So I'm going to try to like cut it open. And then like, I have a bunch of like real big gallon Ziploc the kind of like freezer bags, like the big thick ones. I'm probably going to portion, a bunch of sand into some of those. And then that way, I'll have like some more, it'll be a little bit more wieldy. Right.

Collin Funkhouser  50:51

It won't be. Yeah,

Brandon  50:52

you won't have to lug that entire thing around. Yeah, yes, yeah, then I can stash I can find a home for the big bag. And then I can put the little bags somewhere where I can access them a bit better. And then if I need more, I have the big one. Right? I have like a corner. Because it just has like a bunch of stuff in it right? And I might just stick it over there. Or I may potentially have a cabinet that I put them in. But still need. I need space. For this. I will stand I don't understand. So like, I have to sort that out. So that's my big quandary currently is what to do with all of this sand. Where does it need to go? Also, Lowe's Why do you store the sand as far away from the cash register as humanly possible? I don't really know what you're thinking there. But like

Collin Funkhouser  51:52

trying to get those people have a workout.

Brandon  51:56

If by those people you mean me the network because I just like I was like, well let's go for it. So I just have to do it. And it just like started walking to the counter. But it was very far. And the lady was like, Do you want like a cart or something? It's like, Listen, I've come this far. It's not really that part of the car. I got go for it. I don't even I can't. I cannot give up now. Here I am. Yeah, right. Can't give them now what were those world's strongest men think of me if they if I just put it down. Now I've come this far. Right now to make Brian Shaw proud of me. So I

Collin Funkhouser  52:35

guess Exactly. You're here. You're here to impress Brian Shaw is that otherwise,

Brandon  52:39

really literally. What is the point? Yeah, literally flex on him. So got to carry this random bag of sand around forever. So

Collin Funkhouser  52:53

as you've been doing all day, you've just been

Brandon  52:56

holding sand. Yeah. Yeah.

Collin Funkhouser  53:00

In very quickly, or very slowly as you drag it around. Yeah, the kids were like, Why did you buy the bag that was so big.

Brandon  53:09

I was like, Alright, look, here's here's how the economics of this breakdown. Yeah, I saw two things of sand at Lowe's. Okay, there was one that was like, in the decorative department. And it was in a, like a jar type situation. It was like a, like a plastic tub. And it was probably it was like, I don't really know the dimensions, but it wasn't very big. Right? It was probably like a tube type situation like a five inch diameter, and it's probably like eight or nine inches tall. That amount of sand. And the 50 pound bag of sand I bought we're roughly the same price. So I really think there's only a one responsible thing to do right and buy rice for sand that you could ever possibly need. 100% But it's only like $6 So like, like five something. Right? Come on. What are you not perfect? I think I mean, it's a great, a great choice, a choice.

Collin Funkhouser  54:25

And now Now it's but I mean, the thing is, is that your kids are going to catch on really quickly. If you're like, and we're gonna do this next activity. And to do that we're going to need to get some sand. And now just like everything you do, sand

Brandon  54:46

sand on the floor. Worry about Don't worry. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. It's okay. Don't worry. See, it's okay because well Two things right? Like, once you kind of lay that I operate, right? I think about, right speaking of like, recording things, right? When you think about like, just having like every conceivable random reference book ever, you just have a whole bunch of like really, really random stuff. Right? All of a sudden, right? You'll be like, if if all of a sudden us decide I should do this and you have the things available, do it like you have to like think about it. You have to go up like ah, I got this right. I feel like that's that's kind of the goal here of my science classroom right? I just need like random stuff. Right? Because I already know that people are looking at me weird I came in one day with just like bags of PVC pipe. Don't worry about it. Everything's fine. I brought them home. I find they were I bought a bunch of PVC pipe. They're selling them and like they were like six foot sections instead of like the 12 So that was handy. And then I just brought them home and cut them up into like big like a huge bundle of like PVC pipe and one foot pieces now you know what? You ever need to build stuff in science class? Wonderful. Got it right there like how you what that's for Yeah, right. So this is the goal here I just think more for random things which is why sometimes it's hard for the school to approve stuff for me sometimes like you don't want I really need like tea kettle and then if you go to like a school I'd be like yo, I need you to approve funds because I need an electric teakettle. What? Yeah.

Collin Funkhouser  56:59

Can you can you step over here for us just real quick, guys, guys. No, look, I need a heat lamp.

Brandon  57:10

Why? For science, of course,

Collin Funkhouser  57:14

obviously. Only ask you for things that I absolutely need. Now we go back to

Brandon  57:24

the just make sense. Yeah. Who doesn't need a helium? When you talk about Eve when you teach about evaporation? You know what you need sometimes? eat lamb. Boom. It's useful. Okay. Like it's nice to have. Well, the other day,

Collin Funkhouser  57:46

Lily came to me and said, Dad, do we have two lengths of rope that are about the same length? And I was like, Yeah, but why? Why before we get too far down this road? Can you tell me why this is necessary?

Brandon  58:01

Now what I have one really long length of rope and some scissors but go on.

Collin Funkhouser  58:06

Let me like the answers. Answers. Yes. Obvious, obviously. But I'll attempt before we do need to under Can you just tell me why? Oh, yeah, I want to practice doing like that. Jump rope there. That jumping thing? You remember where they did the two poles? The poles? Were what does that dance? Was there? Like pushing the poles together? Some? Yeah.

Brandon  58:35

Is it like a Filipino thing that

Collin Funkhouser  58:36

we talked about this before? Yes, we did. I think we have talked about this before. Yes, they're doing something along those lines at school. And there was a request that she wanted to practice with it and they're practicing with lengths of rope. And I was like, That is an amazing interview with we've really long piece of what is Am I right? Or would you know that was an inch thick or whatever. And I hurt my ankle a lot. And we could have been using rope all just like I thought about row. So many people to talk to. Yeah, cuz you're just you just have to keep it tight, obviously. But yeah,

Brandon  59:19

you could. I was like, Yeah, that would have been realized. According to Wikipedia. This is called okay, this is really hard to say. Technique. Ling is a I don't remember exactly. But apparently it originated during the Spanish colonial era. Which is why a lot of Filipino people have last names that are just random Spanish words. But oh, it's a great Based on a bird of some sort, interesting. imitates the movement of the tickling birds, is they walk between grass stems and run over bam, run over tree branches. Oh, apparently this is a very swift bird. Okay. Yeah, but yes, I have this picture is basically what we did in PE class for some reason. Yes. No, no. Ah. So anyway, so they're doing this kind of thing with with rope. So I haven't found too long piece.

Collin Funkhouser  1:00:47

Just when you were talking about having random things just around just to

Brandon  1:00:52

have was like, Yes,

Collin Funkhouser  1:00:54

I too. I too have this disease.

Brandon  1:01:01

Apparently, also, according to this Wikipedia article, we are not the only ones that have potentially done this in PE class because it says in grades K through 12, the dance is often used as a robic exercise in federal physical education classes. Such as Hand, hand coordination, foot speed and rhythm.

Collin Funkhouser  1:01:26

Okay, so that tells me when people people are at in there, when they're going to get their degree in PE or what coach or whatever it is, is there is last they there is a segment when they're talking about aerobic activities. There's a slide there's a PowerPoint slide. And there's a page in a book that has this in there. And people just write it down. They Okay, yeah, the oh, I'm absolutely using that. Yeah.

Brandon  1:01:55

That makes us even

Collin Funkhouser  1:01:57

better knowing that this is just

Brandon  1:02:01

knowing that it's like a PowerPoint somewhere. Yeah, yeah. That That is That is insane. Right. shares a cultural relationship with other bamboo dances performed through Southeast Asia. Right. Leading Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia. Oh, and the chin Bamboo Dance, which is where we talked about this last time because I went to the chin Festival last year is

Collin Funkhouser  1:02:29

right,

Brandon  1:02:30

but yes, indeed. And oh, Borneo. There we go. Ah and Adam

Collin Funkhouser  1:02:38

and AP classes all over the United States. Yeah. For

Brandon  1:02:43

the cultural tradition in Southeast Asian countries. And random PE classes in the US. So there we go. Yes. Oh, that's Oh, we saw that one coming. Not me. And her all this time I thought RPE teacher was just real random but no. nationwide craze of Filipino bamboo. It's and still going strong. I'm sorry. Filipino people. I'm gonna go into apologize. On behalf of our weirdness, right. Probably severely corrupted your beautiful dance. Oh, I know. I justice to be to be used as weird aerobic exercise for small children in elementary school. Yeah, I feel like I should apologize for that. I'm sorry. Sorry to the Philippines officially. is the official apology. Sorry guys. sanctioned by the US State Department. Yeah, for Yeah, right. Right. Like to make up for this going to have to visit there's a Filipino food truck here. Bro. I had some pork adobo the other day. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. As a way of official apology. I will have some more Adobo. Okay, I will do that. I will. I will force myself to eat some adobo from the super nice lady at the Filipino food

Collin Funkhouser  1:04:33

is that it isn't a new addition to the food trucks?

Brandon  1:04:35

Oh, yeah. Yeah, yeah. That we we went like it was open just like a random day. They were open. And so we went check it out. And it was one of those days it was like super mega cold a couple weeks ago. Yeah. So it felt kind of bad for them because with all the people there but Oh, they'd been open since like lunch, so it's fine, but Oh, yeah. Oh, he's really real good. Right. It was really good. And it's especially food truck because you order we ordered a medium. And that was like more food than I knew what to do with. Yes. What does? What does the big one look like home?

Collin Funkhouser  1:05:16

How many families is that? Yeah,

Brandon  1:05:19

I mean, literally Susan. I could have eaten a large and like had some for lunch probably. Oh my gosh. It was a gigantic Yeah, it's really good. So I will I will put that on the list as way of apologizing for not doing justice to the traditional stickbaits

Collin Funkhouser  1:05:52

Did you get a chance to watch the tour? Oh, you did? I

Brandon  1:06:00

was getting ready to bring it up. But I was too busy. I was trying to recover from my laughing my drinking. Yeah. Did you want it? I meant to text you and ask you for sure about it. Did you even did you actually finish it?

Collin Funkhouser  1:06:12

I did. I did finish it. Yes. Yes. All right.

Brandon  1:06:15

Well, then here's next part. Grand Tour. Discussion. That's what I feel like. Just to lift out of the bag here. I love this one's really good, actually. Nice. Yeah. Yeah. I think I don't know what it feels to me. Like, a lot of the best episodes come happen for some reason when they go to Africa. I don't know why that is. Right. But like, they all seem to be enjoying themselves. Yeah. Right. Like I feel like, although it is funny, when there is like some sort of catastrophe. Right? Like, when one of their cars is like so broken that they're just like, not there all the time. Like, it's not me they can't do anything about that obviously. Right. But it like just makes it not as great. Like, like in the last one when James died in the tunnel. Right. The one the stupid one was there go to Vietnam and they have the boats. Right. And like James just has like the slowest thing in the universe and he's like never there. No, like it's just like a whole it's like it really throws the vibe off. You know, I mean, really does Yeah, I'm just like really throws the whole thing off but like it appear It felt a bit like they were all enjoying themselves. Like they all were mostly together like bar the Hammond stuff. But that was like not too bad. Right. I also feel like for some reason, no offense, Hamster, but like, whenever Hammonds cars the one that's breaking down.

Collin Funkhouser  1:08:10

It is funnier. Right, like, Well, okay, so this is this is because Hammann of the three he is set up to be the one that is the most like, savvy at figuring stuff out. Right. And, like so for for that aspect. It is. It's it's more entertaining, because, yeah, you know, he's Jeremy, it breaks down and he's just gonna be like, Well, anyway, I hit it for a while back here.

Brandon  1:08:38

Yeah. James takes it like way too seriously. Right. But like when he, whenever it's Hammonds, it's just like, there's levity to it and you're like, Uh huh, right. So I didn't mind that I thought was good. Also, also I really enjoy they just at this point, decade long joke of they cannot be French at all, so and that's bad and like, I Yes, I'm here to save the day. You

Collin Funkhouser  1:09:31

left like us? Yes. Oh, it's so good. It's so yeah,

Brandon  1:09:37

like the most British thing ever, like, oh, I

Collin Funkhouser  1:09:39

can't speak French and why. Exactly. So this is very distasteful. I'm not happy about this. I don't want to be here

Brandon  1:09:50

just comes up all the time, that they just like don't speak French. And like it's just

Collin Funkhouser  1:09:57

no, they don't and they See? I it's it is it's bits like that, that that are just, like really funny for the long term, long term fans and they're even funny for people who haven't. They're friendly on a different levels, people who have like, watched everything these people will have done for the past 20 years. Before, but But yeah, it does. Those kinds of easter eggs are are nice.

Brandon  1:10:28

And it is.

Collin Funkhouser  1:10:32

Again, I watching this, I always have that question. I've brought it up before every time we talk about the grand tour or, or toptier of like, what, what's the angle that they're trying to get across for this? Is it really? You know, what they set it up with? Like, can we make DAC our level car, you know, versions of this road car and see if they work? Or is it? Is there another story behind this that they're trying to tell or point to get across? You know? Yeah,

Brandon  1:11:06

I think having the parry Decker tie in really helped. Like, because a lot of times yeah, it does feel kind of just like aimless, right. It's sort of like drifting around. Like, there's not a point like the last one, like the snow wind or whatever, it was just like me, right. And again, that one was kind of bogged down by the fact that James almost became dead. But like, the whole eight whole point behind it was there wasn't really a point behind it. It was I mean, it was kind of like Rally II but then like they had to shift gears. to it. They're in like the middle of it to try to make it some sort of like salvage it almost I guess. Right. Yeah. So. So that was kind of thing, but I think the Perry Decker Titan was pretty cool, because I think that's a interesting thing. We've talked about it a little more, maybe, but like, I have a little bit more tie in with that part. But they did highlight it enough that I think it kind of made everything else makes sense. And it was the whole main point to begin with. Right. So that was nice. Yeah,

Collin Funkhouser  1:12:11

I am. I like that day. That this is another example of at the end of the day, these three are absolutely are nuts. And what they've continued to do and everything that they're trying to do is really to show what a car is capable of. And they marvel, you know, they marvel at the high end hypercars and they just geek out over that and they love the really simple, basic cars, right? Can I interest you in a Dacia? Sandero, right? Like, they see the Mongolia episode? Exactly. Where it's like one of my favorite ones, actually, where they have distilled it down to like, what is and car? And yeah, that's why Jeff is in car exactly the way it is. And ultimately, when they're like, you know, what, where has it basically, you know, when they're like, where hasn't a car? Been? A lot of, you know, Mauritania? Right, let's take it there. See how this Doesn't this place? Let's, let's push these links. And I do like, the we're going to take this car that was built that was probably the most offers is going to be with some leaves in you know, off of a you know, where Yeah, right. Yeah. And now we're going to, we're going to break it, and there's no reason this should work. And I will say that, now that they have a lot of money, you know, the modifications that they make are, you're like, Okay, no, like engineers actually put this little bit together. And like, you know, it's

Brandon  1:13:51

like, you almost because that's like, your dry you. Okay, you can give a little slack though, because, like, in the past, when they've done it all by themselves, we've seen how it doesn't work

Collin Funkhouser  1:14:02

right now. Yes.

Brandon  1:14:03

And if you are if your goal is, yeah, we need you to drive 1000 miles across the Sahara. Okay. Yes, no. Right. Like,

Collin Funkhouser  1:14:18

I totally get that. And especially with this where, where with the modern cars that they're working on, like, you can't take to change these things just by yourself. Like as as Richard in many times, like just how everything broke, because it couldn't talk to itself. Yeah. So there is that need, but basically, you know, they took these cars that have no right to be working in this why do they have these big tires? Why did they make these alterations? What did they do to this? And we're gonna go do this thing, and we're going to see, and really, it's a testament to the engineers of the original cars, right? And the the robustness of that, so Sturm, um, for those that worked. But that's, it's, it's neat to see the love of cars taken to these beautiful areas. And that's why these these grand tours of our like, it's quasi, you know, travel blog. It's, you know, the history aspects. I do wish they would have had more historical films and have done a historical segment like they have done in previous Grand Tours going into the period and talking about that, like that, that was missed for me as well.

Brandon  1:15:33

Yeah, cuz I felt like, do you remember? Why one, I think it was a Top Gear episode about lancea. Right, where they were talking about, like the Stratos and the o 37. And like, the rally history stuff, and it was just like, like back then, like, really good at that, like super sincere, kind of like love letter to a motorsport thing. Yeah, I do. The only thing, the only thing about this one that I think would have made it better was if there was like, a little bit about that, about the Peridot car, right? Just like a little bit more, kind of about just that part of the race. Right. And then I think it would have been like, this A would have Elevate, because it was already good, right? I did like this one a lot. Right? Even though like it felt less like forced and contrived, like the weird bids like that. I'm gonna lower myself down the mountain on this thing, right? It felt like, a bit more. Normal, right? Like, not normal, but like, it didn't feel like courts will force you to mean like, sometimes they just like, there's like, there's like, Oh, we're gonna shoehorn this in here, because it'd be funny, like, and it just kind of doesn't work all the way. You know what I mean? Yeah, I didn't really feel that way. About this one. I like I liked the joke about like, the truck. Just having like the van just having like, infinite Bag of Holding just has like everything is just in this like broken down van. Like that was funny, though, right? Like, that's like a funny joke. It's not like, Oh, haha, like, I thought it landed. It was funny. I liked the I think I liked the stupid, we're gonna not blow up this truck, and then it got blown up by the snowmobile thing. That was kind of funny. Yeah.

Collin Funkhouser  1:17:29

Yeah. And that's again, this. You can see, with each one of these, they're like, look, we've been doing this for 20 years, or more, like, how do we, like everyone knows or is expecting something? So we're going to put it we're going to point at it. And we're going to say, Look, we're not going to blow up that thing. No, we're not going to do that. Because you expect us to, and then to have it still blow up. You're like, okay, like, I It's a joke. I'm a joke. And it's funny. It's funny, because they were obviously going to blow something up. Obviously, they worked into just hadn't been can't help it at this point. Right. So because you could you could just see how, five years ago, you know, there would have been some contrivance where they're getting towards the end and they're low on fuel and they've got to get to the spot before nighttime and and now they're going to do a challenge to see who can do it on the least amount of fuel the most fuel efficient thing. The thing runs off and thing explodes right now they have to have to do it like to this you can see that being written in there. But to have a snowmobile lasting across the desert from three scenes prior after a broken Yeah, crash, like you're like after, like, 30 minutes ago, right? Oh, yeah. And they went miles like, there's no way but like, that's so funny, though. It's funny. And, you know, I, again, the messaging that they do have, like, the whole scene of their like, contrived building a raft out of the plastic bottles everywhere, like,

Brandon  1:19:05

like

Collin Funkhouser  1:19:09

absolutely, absolutely. Pointing to the like, look at all of this wastes that's over here, right? Like, like this is being dumped by travelers people visiting. Like, it's not, this is not good. Like this is a problem. And to take that aspect of we, we shouldn't like this. This is not good to see all this plastic and this waste out here. There's so much of it. We could build rats to float cars on like, it's, again, this messaging of like, yeah, how they take that and they use it without without having a stern lecture about that. I guess. Like, it's like, yeah, oh, wow. That's a lot of flash bombs, right? I don't know. It's just seeing them bring that into it as pointing out problems at the low Colts are facing things that they're dealing with. And they're and the state of the economy, like how they bring that into what they do. It's because that's part of this. The that that is truly part of the documentary style that they bring to this and the production values that they have. Yeah, I agree. And I love the time where they go to that library. With that, yeah, that place that town is being consumed by sand, which is wild. Yeah,

Brandon  1:20:34

that's nuts. But that part was really cool. I like how they kind of highlighted some of that stuff. There was a lot of like, oh, yeah, here's this city. And here's like, it was kind of cool. Right? It was like traveling a little bit. Right. It was also interesting, because, like, slight crossover event, right? The YouTube series that I've been following, have the dude like running across Africa. Oh, yeah. All he was also in the same area. Yeah. Last few weeks, or are in Mauritius, right, or Mauritania? And that was? Yeah, that was that was a joke in the episode of flux there. But he was there and the thing. And so he was in the same area, like he was like, that big train, right? He was at that trade the other day, like it was. So that was really kind of funny. It's like, hey, these do this convergence of life here. Look at that.

Collin Funkhouser  1:21:32

Yeah. And how, again, just like, how globally connected, can we actually get, you know,

Brandon  1:21:41

two shows in the same, like, really obscure North African country like Oh, and this is interesting. Um, yeah, I

Collin Funkhouser  1:21:51

Well, just by I don't know, its final thoughts on this for me, or do you have any like, I have a I appreciated this one. I thought it was as far as I, I didn't intend to rank these at all. But I did think my favorite is still Scandi flick. And then this one's beautifully shot, well done. Not as contrived. And, unfortunately, because that is a bit weirdly paced. In times for me,

Brandon  1:22:21

like, the Well yeah,

Collin Funkhouser  1:22:24

I will say one of the weirdest shots and again, I know they're trying to get at a lot of this. They're trying to get out with these pictures. I feel like of scale. One of the shots that I saw that was a little like, okay, was when the train was coming in?

Brandon  1:22:38

Oh, yeah. Drones, like a little too long. But

Collin Funkhouser  1:22:41

it was. Yeah, it was just like, what when the, when the, when the drone turned around and started like chasing back the train. I was like, this was unnecessary, huge. Like, you just need to go up really, really, really high. So that we could with like, Look, you can't see the end of it. And now we're done. But instead like, shirt and chase the backing like, okay, that that was so there were times where it felt a little slow for that perspective. But overall, I really liked this one. It was just really, again, it's not as contrived. I don't know, if that's them. You know, obviously, you know, Jeremy is what 6364 during the filming, and so like getting older, they can't do all of the crazy things and that they would have done 10 years ago or 15 years ago. So it makes sense. And so it really was just three guys enjoying the drive some having more fun than others at times and on all three making it so you know, good

Brandon  1:23:50

Yeah, that's true. I Yeah. I think that the less contrived Enos right, and the fact that it was just I don't know, I think maybe I think maybe the one of the reasons the Africa episodes turned out so good, is because there's like, there's literally less distractions. Yeah, right. There's not like, all kinds of other stuff, right. And like the Euro crash, or whatever, it's just like a Raj just like randomness because they just have access to like so much stuff. Or like, the logistics of like shooting in the, you know, Northern Africa, or, and stuff like that. Like, it really sort of makes them have to, like really buckle down and focus on stuff. Because even in the old episodes, right, like, those are my favorite like the Botswana one is like one of the best Top Gear episodes ever. Right? Yeah. And so I feel like in the in the other one that's really good is like the original Colombia one again, for the same reason, because they're like, out in the middle of nowhere, right, like, and so I felt like that really kind of brings a lot of things into focus and you don't get a lot of the can you get less of that contrived nonsense just because it's not possible? No. Right? Like he can't do it. Like even in like the Scandi flick where there's like a lot of weird stuff like the ski slope thing. kind of lame, right? Like, yeah, but whatever. Like, there's a bunch of there's like little bits in there that you're like, why, like do that?

Collin Funkhouser  1:25:24

But well, which is why, which is I don't know, do you know, have you? Have you looked up anything about their last episode, their last special like so. So this is the penultimate special? Oh, no, that yeah, this, there's only one left. And this will be so like, this next one is going to be a tear jerker. For me, I just know it because it's going to be the last special of Grand Tour, there's no more. And then we'll add, there'll be the last people saying this, the last, this next one will be the last full fledged production with the three together. So and, and I think this all kind of comes around, because I have high hopes for this one. So this, I hope they don't get crushed. Because this last one ever is going to be in Zimbabwe. Ah, well, they go. Yeah, so So another African one. So it's going to be I think it'll be really good. But I hope so. Yeah. Just as you were talking about the I do, I completely agree that, like, the just you talked about knock out of the park like that Botswana one, just like, holy moly. That is up there in the pantheon of just like, greatest things on TV ever in my house. Like, just pure gold. And so I agree that this, like, it's this, it is very distilled very bare bones very no distractions, cars and places that they shouldn't be doing things they shouldn't do. And that, there's a lot more a lot more focus there. And I agree that that's really when they go to remote places.

Brandon  1:27:13

It really is some of the best best ones. Yeah, because I think like if I'm talking about like, best, like Top Gear trips ever, it's literally Botswana, the Columbia one and the Vietnam on the motorcycles. That's like that's it, that's the best thing. Yeah. Because I think that some of the best, those are the best trips they've ever done. I think, like, because it was enjoyable, there's gonna be interesting, they have the most like, sincere moments and all the stuff right. And that's what really balances it out. Right? Is some of those is the contrast between like levity and silliness. And then like the sincerity and stuff like that. I think that those balances when they're able to strike those balances and hit all of those emotions, right? I think yeah, that's what makes him the best. Right? As long as Hammond doesn't crash too badly. All the better, right? Yes. Yeah. And it's, or may I guess, oh, yeah, true. Yeah. True. trying to one up him as rude. Yes.

Collin Funkhouser  1:28:25

Oh, so yeah, I'm, I think this was a good one. Beautiful, beautiful shot. But uh, yeah, so that's what so man when this comes out when this next next one comes out later this year? We'll have to, then we'll have to do our full full ranking of all Top Gear specials.

Brandon  1:28:43

Yeah,

Collin Funkhouser  1:28:45

yeah, you said it was gonna be tough to watch. But to

Brandon  1:28:51

watch three hours of that and three hours of Elvis documentary I know that there's that at least. Yeah, you go. Yeah. Well, on that bombshell, I shall leave you right there go. As per last episode, here goes. This week's installment, right. Sensory assault, glazes, sprinkles jams and creams. Pastry paradise. ere we go.

Collin Funkhouser  1:29:52

Love it. Bay Street paradise. Yes

Brandon  1:29:58

indeed. Hang on. It's okay. Perfect. Well done it in the morning. Oh, there you go. Be me. Okay.

Collin Funkhouser  1:30:14

Love it. Well, we will do this again. All right. Love you.

1:30:20

Bye bye