Helen Zaltzman

Author Archive

New adventures on Sky

May 15, 2008

Yesterday Sky News broadcast the inaugural Sky News Unplugged, their new weekly talk show presented by Martin Stanford; and, along with UFO expert Nick Pope and MP Ian Cawsey, bassist in ‘the world’s only parliamentary rock group’ MP4, we were guests on it! You can WATCH IT HERE, or download it as a podcast; and if you’re keen to see more of us talking about stuff, then check out their Technofile podcast on Monday 19th, in which we reveal our top tips for making a podcast.

We’re also cropping up frequently on Sky News’s nightly Press Preview; you can catch Olly TONIGHT at 11.30pm, and Helen TOMORROW at 11.30pm. Tune in, if you’re not too absorbed by Jools Holland.

A regularly updated list of our exciting forthcoming telly appearances etc can be found here.

Subscribe with iTunes • Listen to previous episodes • Question Archive
FAQ • Facebook Fanclub • Merchandise Superstore • YouTube Channel

Posted in extracurricular activities | Leave a Comment »

Storm vs. Flash: the battle of the fancy middle names

May 15, 2008

The new series of Answer Me This! is mere hours away, yet there remains plenty of business still to be attended to from the previous series (yep, we’ve a bit lazy. We’ve had puzzles to complete, dammit!).

So let’s cut straight to the chase and take a look at the following email from Arianne, sent in response to Episode 51:

I’ve been amused recently by hearing about these people on your podcast who deliberately change their names to things like “Flash” and “Boom”. Unfortunately I was given at birth the middle name Storm (in addition to an already weird first name) – and bearing in mind the flak I received when I was younger and the horror that was my school years (partially thanks to the X-Men series of movies) I’m amazed that people actually choose to give themselves such names. But I suppose that when you get to adulthood names like this do seem to be more interesting to other people now they are older than they were when you were young. I don’t think people should be allowed to give themselves such “cool” sounding names once grown up without having gone through a childhood of misery first! You need to EARN it dammit!

So that’s you told, John Raspberry Clark and Eileen Flamingo Norris! Although, Arianne, you should feel a bit lucky; for if a middle name is not interesting, what’s the point of them at all? I would have much preferred mine to be something to do with weather systems, rather than just being given the moniker of whichever great-aunt had the least rubbish name. It was a pretty thin field. One of them is actually called ‘Toby’.

Subscribe with iTunes • Listen to previous episodes • Question Archive
FAQ • Facebook Fanclub • Merchandise Superstore • YouTube Channel

Posted in extracurricular questions | 1 Comment »

Help! Has anyone seen New Zealand?

May 9, 2008

** Answer Me This! returns on May 15th; meanwhile click HERE to listen to the back catalogue **

We’ve received a rather distressing missive from Paul from Paengaroa in New Zealand:

I made the mistake of looking at the CNN website (I am not sure that it is truly putting a world perspective spin on news) and I was distraught to find out that they do not currently acknowledge New Zealand as part of the world. In fact they appear to have missed all of Australasia/Oceania in their Geographically named user interfaces.

This troubles me as I believe that I may now be living on a different planet as my living place is not included in the world. Please can you answer me this….has New Zealand moved to another planet?

Yikes. Is it global warming? Continental drift? Another vanishing trick by David Copperfield? Unfortunately from my sofa in Crystal Palace I’m not well-positioned to check on the current whereabouts of New Zealand; but if any of you are larking about in or near the southern Pacific, please let us know if Australasia is all present and correct so that we can put Paul’s mind at rest. Wherever it is!

Subscribe with iTunes • Listen to previous episodes • Question Archive
FAQ • Facebook Fanclub • Merchandise Superstore • YouTube Channel

Posted in extracurricular questions, User-generated answers | 1 Comment »

Have you seen this question? If so, please return to…

May 2, 2008

** Answer Me This! returns on May 15th; meanwhile click HERE to listen to the back catalogue **

I’ve an apology and a plea to make to an unknown questioneer. The other day I was clearing our spam folder of the several hundred messages offering to ‘enlarge the thing between your legs’ (the inseam of my trousers? No thanks, it’s an entirely appropriate size already). In the brief seconds between me clicking ‘Delete Forever’ and the spams being flushed away into the internet’s sewer-pipe, I noticed a proper email nestled among the wang-embiggeners, from someone possibly called Jessica, asking a question about Ray Liotta.

But by that point it was too late, and poor Jessica(?)’s question was consigned to a purgatorial eternity along with the money-scams and Hot Rude Babes.

Jessica(?), if you’re out there, please send us your Ray Liotta question again. Or, if you know Ray Liotta-fan Jessica(?), do beseach her to email us again at answermethispodcast@googlemail.com and perhaps it’ll be not too late to make it right.

Here, as Jessica-bait, is a picture of Ray Liotta:

Subscribe with iTunes • Listen to previous episodes • Question Archive
FAQ • Facebook Fanclub • Merchandise Superstore • YouTube Channel

Posted in extracurricular questions | 1 Comment »

the Answer Me This! studios

April 30, 2008

** Answer Me This! returns on May 15th; meanwhile click HERE to listen to the back catalogue **

You listeners are endlessly wonderful. Not only do you send us all those questions we live to answer, but now pictures as well! Going straight onto the Answer Me This! fridge is this drawing by Alison from San Jose (click for a bigger image):

Alison writes:

As I listen to your podcast my mind makes up images of what the place you record in looks like. I decided to sketch out what I picture in my head. I have no idea if I’m right, though…what if your “recording studio” is really an old rec room or someone’s bedroom? What if you’re all just sitting around on a bed leaning over to share a computer microphone? I much prefer to picture you in a professional-type studio with fancy microphones, a laptop for quick research, and Martin in his own fancy sound booth. So Helen and Ollie, answer me this, what does your recording studio look like?

Alison, we hate to disappoint you, so let’s just say that our recording studio is even fancier than Mr Kipling’s French Fancies. It looks almost exactly like this, although you can’t quite see the 18-carat gold ceiling in this picture:

Oh, ok – our studio isn’t quite as snazzy as that one, but let’s keep Alison’s dream alive a little longer… Meanwhile, before we reveal the prosaic reality of Where The Magic Happens, if any of the rest of you feel like sending us a picture of what you think the studio looks like, we’d be quite delighted. Please email it to answermethispodcast@googlemail.com, and we’ll post it up here, just like Tony Hart might have done if he hadn’t retired.

Subscribe with iTunes • Listen to previous episodes • Question Archive
FAQ • Facebook Fanclub • Merchandise Superstore • YouTube Channel

Posted in AMT Gallery, extracurricular questions, User-generated answers, visuals | Leave a Comment »

Getting jig(saw)y with it…

April 30, 2008

** Answer Me This! returns on May 15th; meanwhile click HERE to listen to the back catalogue **

We may be off air for a month, but we’re still dedicated to helping you waste time. So, if you’re yearning for some pointless activity, go straight to our new Puzzle Page and have a nice doss around with our new Answer Me This! Jigsaws.

If jigsaws are not your thing, don’t worry – more sorts of games and puzzles will be added in the coming weeks, so fear not, all that nasty surplus time you’re burdened with will duly be taken care of.

Subscribe with iTunes • Listen to previous episodes • Question Archive
FAQ • Facebook Fanclub • Merchandise Superstore • YouTube Channel

Posted in frippery | Leave a Comment »

The Sound of Silence

April 24, 2008

** Answer Me This! is back from holiday on 15th May; meanwhile click here to browse the back catalogue **

If you’re having trouble listening to Answer Me This! today, panic not – our hosting company’s just having a spot of bother, but we’re assured that they’ll be back up and running before your ears even have time to shout, “What the hell am I supposed to do now, eh?”

Meantime, here’s a luvverly picture of something we saw in the supermarket the other day:

** Update: 25/04: This problem now seems to be solved. Huzzah!

Subscribe with iTunes • Listen to previous episodes • Question Archive
FAQ • Facebook Fanclub • Merchandise Superstore • YouTube Channel

Posted in News | Leave a Comment »

Salt: Nick answers back

April 14, 2008

** Answer Me This! is back from holiday on 15th May; meanwhile click here to browse the back catalogue **

So that knackered end-of-term feeling was running high in Episode 53. Mouth was already waiting out in the car park while Brain was still packing up its gym-kit. And that, dear listeners, is how mistakes get made.

But luckily, and not for the first time, the ever-assiduous Nick has been in touch to correct my error regarding Paul in Southend‘s question about adding salt to cooking water. Says Nick:

Putting salt in water raises, not lowers, the boiling point; the idea, of course, is that the water can be hotter, and thus cook your food (presumably rice or pasta) a bit quicker. And a bit saltier. Surprised Martin “Mr Scientist” didn’t pick you up on that one.

Yeah, Martin! Did you buy your doctorate off the internet? Pshaw!

Anyway, apologies for that, and thanks Nick. However the crux of my point remains true, that in order for salt to make a larger-than-infinitesimal difference to your cookery times, you would have to add so much of it that your alphabetti would be completely inedible. Not to mention that it would turn your supper into one of the greatest predators known to man! SALT KILLS, people!

Not this Salt, mind. She is, to our knowledge, perfectly innocent.

Subscribe with iTunes • Listen to episodes • Question Archive • FAQ
Facebook Fanclub • Twitter • Merch Superstore • YouTube Channel

Posted in Answer Us Back! Your time to opine | 1 Comment »

EPISODE 53 – has anyone seen my pus water?

April 10, 2008

This classic episode is available to BUY NOW for just 79p, through a secure PayPal server, without DRM restriction. CLICK HERE to find out more and support our podcast. (This helps keep our most recent episodes free)

‘Lo, listeners,

It’s been such a rip-roaring series of Answer Me This! that we can scarcely believe that it’s over… However, after all this talking we’ve been doing, we have to take a month off to have our jaws repaired at Dr Gargle’s Sanatorium For Withered Podcasters. But we’ll be back, good as new, on 15th May, and meanwhile, why not listen to Episode 53?

Tickling one’s eardrums this week are such subjects as:

Rock Profile
lazy lazy Delia’s late-night snacks
Legally Blonde
tears of a clown (not the song)
psychiatric sandwich boards
ukulele vs. banjolele
Answer Me This! vs. paintballing
George Dawes
the Pirates of the Caribbean ride
Dave
brine
and
Sun-In.

Plus: Olly emulates Kurt Cobain; Helen becomes completely blind to innuendo; and Martin the Sound Man is busy sprinkling his magic dream-sand everywhere he goes. Not on the carpet, Martin – it’s only just been hoovered! You big sandy divvy.

Also, if you enjoyed the musical interlude from questioneer Krabbers, then visit his myspace and youtube pages for more melodic funnery. And, seeing as we’re on the subject of nice music – have you subscribed to Martin the Sound Man’s spin-off podcast yet? What are you waiting for – dispensation from the Queen? Do it!

We’ll surely miss you while we’re off the air, so keep in touch by sending YOUR QUESTIONS for the new series to answermethispodcast@googlemail.com or our Question Line 0208 123 5877/Skype ID answermethis. Also, as over the course of this series you’ve sent us more excellent questions than ever – alas far too many to cover in the podcast – we’ll be tackling some of the backlog in written form, right here on this website. So do pop by every so often!

See you back here on May 14th, listeners!

Helen and Olly

Add this episode to:
Subscribe with iTunes • Listen to previous episodes • Question Archive
FAQ • Facebook Fanclub • Merchandise Superstore • YouTube Channel

Posted in PODCASTS | 4 Comments »

EPISODE 52 – mouthful of pubes

April 3, 2008

Stick or twist, listeners? Twist? Oh dear, it’s nine of clubs, which means you’re out. Too bad. House always wins.

Yup, it’s Episode 52 of Answer Me This!, which means that there are as many Answer Me This!es as there are cards in a pack, suggesting that Episode 53 next week will either be a joker, or that weird spare card with all the bridge values written on it. Let’s just hope it’s the former, eh?

This week we chitter-chatter about:

Susie Malin‘s theories of the face
swimming pools
Batman
Princess Margaret
Floella Benjamin
pigeons by post
Des’ree
Walter Mitty
dry cleaning
Elton John’s mum
gas-mask fetishists
and
kohlrabi.

Also: Olly’s childhood crush on Michael Jackson; Helen’s pathetic excuse for an existence; and Martin the Sound Man’s inexplicable enthusiasm for fan-fiction concerning him and Olly. However if these things have left you feeling a little sullied, cleanse your soul with a spot of charity – listener Jamie just emailed us to say:

I’m running the London Marathon next Sunday on behalf of Marie Curie Cancer Care. Could you tell your listeners about my justgiving page – www.justgiving.com/jamiet? I would say that making a donation would get you a place in heaven, but as neither you or I believe in God it would be pointless.

So if you’ve got a bit to spare in the family vault, listeners, give a bit to Jamie! Frankly, none of us lardybums are ever likely to raise any money through the medium of exercise, so we’re happy to pay Jamie off to do all that unpleasant sweating and yomping in our stead.

At this very moment, there’s a man standing in the car-park round the back of Answer Me This! Towers shouting, “Answer Me! Answer Me!!!” That‘s not how you get a question onto the podcast, silly! Try leaving a message on the Question Line 0208 123 5877/Skype ID answermethis, or emailing answermethispodcast@googlemail.com. Now run along and stop thumping your head against the fence, you madcap!

What a character.

See you next week!

Helen and Olly

Add this episode to:
Subscribe with iTunes • Listen to previous episodes • Question Archive
FAQ • Facebook Fanclub • Merchandise Superstore • YouTube Channel

Posted in PODCASTS | Leave a Comment »

Answer Us Back: agar gel and Primal Scream

April 2, 2008

** Click here to listen to EPISODE 51 **

We’ve had some delightful feedback regarding Episode 50, firstly from Dr Ruth:

After hearing of Jonathon Roberts’ lamentable predisposition to eating his hair gel, I felt compelled to reply with my own version of this affliction. I work in a lab, and we use agar gel for growing bacterial colonies. I LOVE the smell of agar gel (a sort of malty aroma), although others find it repulsive. I did once try some, and although it was really quite revolting to taste, I still find myself wanting to eat it whenever I smell the damned stuff, even though I now know that it would not satisfy my taste buds!

Don’t be frightened, kids – Dr Ruth’s not snacking on some mysterious ectoplasm. Agar is a derivative of seaweed, and is used instead of gelatine in various foodstuffs, so is quite edible and non-toxic. But it’s also a laxative, so watch out, Dr Ruth!

On another Episode 50-related matter, Flash from Dublin writes:

When I heard you talk about funny places to fall asleep I just had to share mine. I was at a music festival in Japan and at some point between Primal scream and New Order my friends found me asleep on a low branch of a tree. No Idea what Happened as I usually don’t even like going uphill, never mind the effort of tree climbing!

Gosh, the amazing adventures of the somnolent Flash! However I suspect that you were trying to escape the sound of Primal Scream by stuffing your ears with bark. Even when asleep, humans’ instincts for self-preservation are remarkable.

Subscribe with iTunes • Listen to previous episodes • Question Archive
FAQ • Facebook Fanclub • Merchandise Superstore • YouTube Channel

Posted in Answer Us Back! Your time to opine | Leave a Comment »

Technical Bulletin

March 31, 2008

** Click here to listen to EPISODE 51 **

Hello listeners!

We’re having a bit of a technological spring-clean this week, so if you notice anything odd, like your iTunes doing something uncharacteristic with your Answer Me This! collection, panic not. Normality shall be restored very soon. Promise!

Subscribe with iTunes • Listen to previous episodes • Question Archive
FAQ • Facebook Fanclub • Merchandise Superstore • YouTube Channel

Posted in News | Leave a Comment »