Pizza-ordering manners: the insider’s story

December 3, 2008 by

** Click here for Episode 77 **

In Episode 77, James from Royal Holloway University described the unfair ribbing he received from his ‘friends’ for his unbrutish telephone conduct when phoning for a pizza. Happily, Jack from Leeds has confirmed that James was very much in the right by not launching into his order straightaway, by giving the inside scoop on being the person on the other end of the phone:

Being a spotty 16 year old in need of some spending cash, I AM a pizza boy, and have a personal gripe about this. Here is Dr. Jack’s run down of ordering a pizza.

Pre-Call: Decide what you want. Nothing is worse than you ringing up to order six or seven pizzas, and I’ve got pizzas building up in the oven, chips burning and customers in store while you’re going round the room saying “Erm, Dave, what do you want?” Long pause… “What about Sandra?” The only exception to this rule is if you’ve looked at the menu and can’t choose, and want my professional opinion. In that case, I’m happy to help.

1) When the phone is answered, say in a clear voice one of the following:
a) I would like to place an order for collection
or
b) I would like to place an order for delivery.
Nothing else is allowed. In the case of delivery, have the house’s address and postcode on standby in case we don’t have you on the system.

2) Wait for the pizza boy/gal to ask for your order. When he/she does, all pizzas should be named with the following syntax:
[Name of Pizza (as on menu)] [Size in Inches] [Deep Pan or Thin Crust].
Pronounce ‘jalapeno’ correctly.
Any burger orders should be as follows:
[Name of Burger (as on menu)] [Single or Double (quarter or half pounder is also acceptable)] [Fries or No Fries].
Nothing else is allowed.

3)Shut up
and let me tell you how much it will cost and when it will be there.

Please, for pizza boys/gals’ sakes everywhere, adhere to these simple rules and life will be much easier.

Bam! Clear as Fox’s Glacier Mints. Consider this aspect of 21st-century etiquette established, like curtseying when you meet the Queen.

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Pubic transport

December 3, 2008 by

** Click here for Episode 77 **

Episode 77‘s anonymous question about stiffies on the bus has unsurprisingly invited an animated response, firstly from Chris from Cardiff:

I just thought I’d write in to tell you an interesting (though somewhat useless) nugget of information – yes it is caused by the vibrations on the bus, it is known as a ‘Bus Cock’, and that is where the band The Buzzcocks got their name from.

Good nugget, Chris! Then, the charmingly-named Slagtits got in touch with a rock-solid solution to the potentially embarrassing problem:

I recall long ago….well not that long ago really mind you…. when I had the same problem. No matter how hot it was, I would always be seen, on the way to work, wearing my overalls, just in case I had a visit in the downstairs area. If only I had the “Stiffies underwear”. This invention was on our national T.V. broadcaster A.B.C., a programme called “The new inventors”. It is of a pair of underpants that will “redirect” your sprouting wood.

Ingenious! If you’re keen to purchase a pair of tumescence-restraining underpants, head over to www.stiffiesunderwear.com. They’re the perfect Christmas gift for the reluctant Priapus in your life.

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Insects in sex

December 3, 2008 by

** Click here for Episode 77 **

Thanks to the discussion of bee sex in Episode 75, Will flagged us down through the AMT!P Facebook group to avail us of the existence of hot porny bee vids.

That’s right, it’s real bees, GOING AT IT!” cries Will excitedly. And he’s right:

NSFW! And also not safe for those who are traumatised by misplaced apostrophes; these delicate souls should just watch this saucy pair of boffing bees instead:

Or, if you prefer a bit of Lady-on-Lady action:

Once you’ve recovered from this fluster-inducing sexyfun, here’s a more serious bit of feedback from John from East Yorkshire:

I was disgusted, nay disappointed, nay disgustapointed to hear you talking rubbish about bees being mainly male. All worker bees are female as well as the queen, only the larger drones are male, and their sole purpose is for breeding. In winter the lady-bees kick the drones out of the hive so that they don’t have to feed them and all the males die. I’m surprised the multitude of bee-keepers who must listen to your podcast have not inundated you with this correction.

Jeepers. Lady bees sound an awful lot like Germaine Greer.

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Which lie did I tell?

December 3, 2008 by

pinocchio

Dave from Oxford has emailed us this magnificent story:

When driving a taxi in Didcot on Saturday night (just one of life’s little treats), my passengers were a couple who were having an argument about the possible infidelity of the man. He was insisting on his innocence having “stayed at Andy’s house” the night before. The young lady did not believe this as he had a large love bite on his neck.

His explanation of this was probably the least believable excuse I have ever heard. He said “I was playing pool with Andy and the winner had to give a bite to the loser”.

So answer me this: What is the worst excuse you have either used, or had used to you by someone else?

Well, since Olly and I have NEVER LIED ONCE IN ALL OUR LIVES, we’re not fit to answer this question – but seeing as you’re a bunch of fibbing nogoodniks, perhaps you’d care to share your finest porky pies in the comments below?

** Click here for Episode 77 **

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Namealikes

December 3, 2008 by

** Click here for Episode 77 **

In Episode 77 Geoff raised the notion of people who share your name but not your career path, and you lovely chaps have been in touch with your own examples of this phenomenon. Charles Firth says:

My job is as an IT consultant, but there are two much more famous Charles Firths out there – both in Australia, oddly enough. One is a conservative talking head, and the other stars in the very funny show Chaser’s War on Everything (watch it if you can).

I’m sure there are a bunch more out there as well, and wonder if Google ranking is the right way to determine relative worth? Maybe there’s another Charles Firth out there who saves hurt puppies or something….

Keep hoping, Charles Firth! Perhaps YOU will find a cure for cancer and prevent the icecaps from melting, without even lifting a finger!

Chris Stringer has also been self-googling:

I share my name with a Professor Chris Stringer, who is a British anthropologist, and ‘one of Britain’s foremost experts on human origins’. Wouldn’t it be funny if I was a devout Christian? I’m not.
BUT the most interesting part was that on wikipedia, I was asked if I meant Chris Stringer the football player, my complete opposite – I’m an acoustic singer songwriter! I decided to have a look, and imagine the shock I had when I saw that Chris Stringer, from Grimsby, a former English pro footballer who played for Sheffield Wednesday, has the same birthday as me! What a coincidence!

Spoooooky! As is this tale from Nicole in Santa Barbara:

When I googled my maiden name Nicole Pursell, I got me (a teacher in California) and a high school swimmer in Washington. This is really nothing of note, but it gets funky. One day I was mailing a package, and the person commented on my name. The conversation went something like this:
“Your name is Nicole Pursell.”
“yes.”
“My last name is also Pursell, spelled the same way.” (usually people spell it Purcell)
“Interesting. We’re probably long lost relatives.”
“Yeah, but the weird thing is that my sister is Nicole Pursell.”
“Is she a swimmer, and are you from Washington?”
“Yes, how did you know?”
“I googled myself and she came up.”
The conversation continued with him telling me his life story about how if he were born a girl, he would have been Michelle (his name was Michael), and his sister would have been Nicholas, but they weren’t.
I just wanted to mail my book, but it was odd to meet a relation of the other Nicole Pursell.

Coincidence – or do postal workers in California just habitually tell name-related lies to keep themselves entertained throughout the day?

Keep US entertained by sending in your own strange and spooky namealikes, people!

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EPISODE 77 – in the pudding club

November 27, 2008 by


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)

Hello champs,

To all our American listeners: Happy Thanksgiving! And to the rest of you – go and sit in the corner and think about what you’ve done.
Then listen to Episode 77, wherein dwell such topics as:

Phone Booth
the Vengabus
Dick van Dyke
‘The Owl and the Pussycat’
James Whittaker
Whitney Houston
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
levitation
fire-juggling
Jack Lemmon
the mirth of rats
King Lear
equality in the workplace – medieval style
Ulysses
and
the other Martin Austwick.

Furthermore, Olly misremembers hardboiled egg tricks; Helen becomes near incandescent with rage over snacks; and Martin the Sound Man is uncharacteristically quiet but click here if you want to hear more of him.

As ever, if you have a QUESTION for us, get in touch by Skypeing answermethis, phoning 0208 123 5877 or emailing answermethispodcast@googlemail.com. Also if you have a namealike with a rogue profession, like this week’s questioneer Geoff, leave a comment below telling us of the Shakespearean hilarity!

Helen and Olly

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Shiny boots, shiny bums

November 24, 2008 by

** Click here to hear Martin the Sound Man’s song on BBC6’s Introducing with Tom Robinson **

We’ve received a couple of ripostes to discussions held in Episode 76, first of all Emma from Blackpool in response to Tibi‘s question about shiny army boots:

I do CCF in school and we shine boots not only for respect but putting polish on boots can make them waterproof and also more comfy. In a camouflage situation you don’t want shiny boots as it will show you to the enemy.

Thanks for the tip, Emma; next time our mums tell us off for wearing scuffed shoes, we will tell them that we are just doing our best to avoid ambush.

Next, the lovely Rachele from Naples weighs in on the debate sparked by Amy from Essex‘s question:

Guys!! How could you diss the bidet in Ep 76?? We have them in Italy. In every house. You wash yourself with them. Front and back – not just when you’ve had a shit, but in the morning – for hygiene. And when you have your period (sorry to get graphic here, but you did start it…) they are great, and you can return to them more than once in the course of the day. Yes, you can have a shower, but these allow for better precision and thoroughness – and ease of access. Bidets are a gift to civilisation and wherever I end up living in the world, I will get one installed, if it means importing it from Italy…

Of course, Rachele is just trying to ensure her shares in Bidet After Tomorrow remain buoyant…

We’ve also had some emails regarding Episode 75, so if you can remember that far back, strap in and read what Beth from Cambridge has to say about our contemplation of famous last words:

I’m so glad Martin pointed out the ‘Kiss me Hardy’ error when you were discussing famous last words. My surname is Hardie. My music teacher insisted on yelling “Kiss me Hardy!” across the room in front of everyone whenever I turned up for a lesson. This started after my first lesson in my first year, which didn’t do much for my street cred as you can imagine. I also found it pretty irritating due to the fact that not only is it a misquote, but my name isn’t even spelt the same way. Furthermore, with hindsight, it’s a bit odd for a middle aged teacher to demand a kiss from an 11-year-old regardless of the educational value of the Nelson context…

Well, there’s mild dissent on the wall of the Answer Me This! Facebook Fanclub about the veracity of the whole Kismet/Kiss Me confusion, but I’m sure all our listeners would agree that a teacher publicly soliciting smooches from a child by alluding to dying naval captains is in altogether poor taste.

Lastly, following our mention of the recent charming-sounding film Donkey Punch in Episode 74, Jay has some advice for Olly:

It is with deep regret that I must inform you that, according to the official site for Donkey Punch the movie, one can read interviews with director Olly Blackburn. Is this your nom de video nasty? The usual way to disassociate yourself from a movie you don’t want to be part of is to call yourself Alan Smithee , not use your actual name and then add a fake last name.

Dammit! Rumbled, Olly, rumbled! Next time, be more subtle. Actually Olly has recently revealed what he does for a day job, and it doesn’t involve films about sexual practices that combine bumming and ABH. Although who knows – by Episode 12 it might.

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Sunday best

November 24, 2008 by

** Click here for Answer Me This! Episode 76 **

We implored you to send pictures of you in your most embarrassing or expensive outfits in Episode 76, and one plucky young man has stepped up with the goods:

My name is Richard from London and here is my “cool” clothes photo!

Fijian shirt, ladies' jimjams

Richard from London: Fijian shirt, ladies' jimjams

Hat I think was between £10-15 from a fair.

Shirt was given to me by my Fijian father so that’s free!

Trousers I do believe were from the ladies’ pajama section in Primark for somewhere below £10*.

I could make you a lot of different outfits with my wonderful clothes!

We bet you could, Richard! But we wouldn’t want to take them from you because you look so cheerful in them.

* Presumably by ‘somewhere below £10’ for his jimjams, he means ‘some £8-9 below £10’, seeing as a tenner would buy you a three-piece wool suit from Primark and a jar of whelks with the change.

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Help Helen’s holidays

November 24, 2008 by

** Click here for Episode 76 **

Attention, North American readers! And readers who have been to North America! Listener Helen has got in touch to ask our advice, but as we are insufficiently well travelled to provide a useful answer, we’re throwing it open to you lot, in the form of a poll. Helen says:

As part of my degree, I am spending next year somewhere in North America but am finding it hard to choose where to go.

We know how you all enjoy exercising your democratic rights, so get voting!

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If you like Martin the Sound Man…

November 23, 2008 by

…then:

1) listen out for his song ‘D.E.A.D’ on Introducing with Tom Robinson on BBC 6 Music on 23rd November (which you can hear HERE until 2am Sunday 30th November);

2) send an email to the Tom Robinson show saying how much you enjoyed that song ‘D.E.A.D’ and how they should play Martin’s music all the time.

Do perform step 2 even if you didn’t like the song, or didn’t actually hear the show – just out of pure love for Martin the Sound Man. Meanwhile if you’d like to hear more of Martin’s music, trot over to his website www.thesoundoftheladies.com, upon which there is plenty. That would make him happy. Don’t you want to see him happy? Like he is in this picture?

swinger

Martin the Sound Man: swinger

** Click here for Answer Me This! Episode 76 **

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EPISODE 76 – Toys’R’Anus

November 20, 2008 by


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)

Hello there, old-timers! And new-timers! And egg-timers. If you could just stop timing things for just two seconds (plus a further thirty minutes and twenty seconds), perhaps you could listen to Answer Me This! Episode 76. And just before you resume your stop-watches, here are some of the things under discussion this week:

Bergerac
Dawson’s Creek
the indefatigable constitution of Jack Bauer
Dutch cartographers
Abel Tasman
space-hoppers
Steve Guttenberg
Bilbo Baggins’s holiday home
Alan Fletcher
Holly Hunter’s jugs
and
fascinators.

Plus, Olly gets flag envy; Helen is thankful that she had no disposable income when she was five; and Martin the Sound Man is all rock’n’roll from the waist down. Ugh. We also celebrate the fact that someone finally fell for one of Olly’s get-rich-quick schemes! Well done, Mark from Essex, for taking Olly’s vision and making it reality.

If any of the rest of you fancy doing that, or merely want to send us a QUESTION as usual, get in touch by Skypeing answermethis, phoning 0208 123 5877 or emailing answermethispodcast@googlemail.com. Following our contemplation of one of David’s questions at the end of the episode, this week we’re particularly keen for you to leave a comment on the website detailing your most expensive and embarrassing piece of clothing. Preferably with pictorial evidence. Don’t be shy!

See you next week,

Helen and Olly

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Physicallyphysicallyphysically fit…

November 19, 2008 by

Sharp-eared Peter from Atherton clocked the reference in Episode 75 to 1994 popular masterpiece ‘I Like To Move It’ by Reel 2 Reel featuring the Mad Stuntmen. What’s more, he has kindly drawn our attention to a recent snazzified version of it:

While the original track was fairly forgettable, it’s probably fair to say that you’ve not lived until you’ve heard this track mashed up with The Ghostbusters theme by Ray Parker Jr.

And as Peter was decent enough to share the pleasure with us, so we share it with you – enjoy!

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