Latest / Strange Stuff Podcast / Episode 245: Crazy Cryptids
Transcript
- Andy: Hello everyone, I'm Andy. Mark: Mark? Andy: and I'm a little bit sick today. Mark: Yeah. Andy: But fear not, my voice has not gone completely. Mark: And you don't even have any grandchildren as an excuse to get sick. Andy: You don't need kids to get sick. Mark: Well need to meet people. Andy: What are you saying? Mark: If you get a cold you can't just catch it from nobody, you've got to catch it from somebody. Andy: Well who got the first cold then? Mark: That's a bit of a chicken and egg one isn't it? Andy: If you had to catch it from someone, someone must have had it first. Mark: or something. Maybe it was bovine coals that people caught it from and where did they get it from? Andy: So I might have. Mark: At least we don't have, Ebola. Andy: Honestly... You keep reading about these outbreaks of these allegedly eradicated diseases that no one can figure out why. Mark: Well, no, no, haven't ever claimed that Ebola's eradicated. But it's, you know, if you lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo, you know, I think 140 people have died so far. And the simple fact is even if you survive, it's a horrible, really horrible disease, Ebola. Isn't that the one where you start bleeding out of everywhere? Andy: Yeah, blood from the eyes and everything. It's like a Channel 4 horror documentary. Mark: Anyway, yep. No, quite literally. Anyway, we don't have that, luckily, to worry about in Sweden. But what else is going on in the world? This Donald Trump thing is getting out of hand. Did you hear what Todd Blanch did yesterday or the day before? Andy: ⁓ are they back in action? The Trump Gang. The Epstein Gang. Mark: Well it was just that... Todd Blanch is the Department of Justice, acting head of the Department of Justice. and he was able to simply issue a decree that said that Trump and his family historically none they will never be investigated for fraud or tax fraud and that in the future Trump and his family will never be investigated for fraud or tax fraud or whatever you can't surely Andy: I mean, let's just make believe. Mark: How can, no but that's because the Democrats are up in arms about it. How can a single individual who's been in the job three weeks and this all stems back from this when his ⁓ financial things were released by the IRS. Do you remember that? Andy: allegedly. Mark: Well no, that happened along with 400,000 other people's tax records. So why is Trump getting this 1.8 billion slush fund? I mean it's just ridiculous. Andy: Well because his trombies are fucking greedy money grabbing egomaniacs. Mark: it seems that there's still so many people that are willing to just completely ignore all of the stuff that's literally slapping them in the face every day anyway I thought that was quite amusing he can never be investigated or his family in the future or the past Andy: But that's just a word salad because as soon as someone else is in charge that will go right out the window. Mark: No, but the thing is that they have to go through the process in that case and that ultimately they will keep appealing and appealing, appealing until it gets to the Supreme Court and who is still in charge of the Supreme Court even if Trump gets voted out? Trump. Because he's got his, out of the nine he's got six of them or something. Andy: Yeah, the Supreme Court, but they've all they've all voted against him recently. Mark: yeah but ⁓ anyway so I thought that was sort of I you know I every every time I say it's a step too far people are going to come to their senses but they don't Andy: No, people won't come to their senses. It's like being a member of a sadomasochism club. Mark: Clearly not. Anyway, what else? Well that sounds like more fun actually. Andy: Sometimes it's fun. Mark: No, mean literally people, what is it? Turk is voting for Christmas. That's literally what it's like to be a cult member in America at the moment. Turk is voting for Christmas. Anyway, come on, let's have some good news. What's in the current bun today? Andy: Yes. Well, I don't know about good news, but Aston Villa, for our football fans, won their first European trophy in 40 years. Mark: So what's that? The UEFA Cup? Is that your European? Andy: I don't know, to be honest, I just heard something on the radio. I don't follow it. Mark: Aston Villa. happened to Manchester United? Obviously I'm not a football fan at all. What happened to Manchester United? Because it was Man City that won something big the other day, didn't they win the FA Cup? Andy: Yeah, that's right. The FA Cup. I told you they would beat Chelsea. Man United basically lost their impetus when Alex Ferguson retired. Mark: They've crashed and burned, have they? That was 20 years ago. Andy: Yes and that was the last time they actually played any or won anything. Yes they were dominating football for 30 fucking years up until that point. Mark: No. Andy: And then as soon as Alex Ferguson left, whole team just fell apart, which just goes to show what kind of influence a manager can actually have on a team. Mark: Yeah well as I say it's not something I follow but Man United is the name you know the only thing I know about football is Man United in Watford and that was only because I live next door Elton John Andy: Not to Manchester, by the way, anyone listening. You would never find Mark living next door to Manchester. Mark: you I... Sadly, and it is a bit sad, I don't think I've ever been to Manchester. I don't think I've been to Manchester or Liverpool. Andy: ⁓ man, if I wasn't born in London, I would have opted for Liverpool. Great city. Yep, had some wild times in Liverpool. Best city ever. Mark: Really? People say it's a very nice city and I had a niece who started in Liverpool University. Andy: ⁓ I she had fun. Hope she wasn't there when I was. Otherwise there's a good chance we might be related. Yeah, sounds about right. Mark: Luckily she's 30 years younger than you Andy, so I don't think... So yeah, so there's Trump going on and this FA Cup, not FA Cup, World Cup talking about football, I mean... Andy: more ridiculous stories. Mark: Well, no, it's just that the whole thing seems to be a little bit falling apart, because all the hotels are complaining, where are all the spectators, why are our hotels half empty? They've all tripled their prices. Andy: Uh, yeah. Plus there's a football tax on entering America. They're charging people like, um, something stupid, like $1,800. There's a one-off entry visa thing for the World Cup. I remember reading or hearing about it and thinking, oh, for fuck's sake, these cunts have got no idea. Mark: What's a football tax? Well. Andy: Hey, how can we rip people off to the extreme? Mark: Yes, yeah, you can imagine in fact all of the news reports when the World Cup kicks off is going to be how foreigners are being ripped off and denied entry at the airport because of social media posts and things or even shot. ⁓ Andy: Yeah, shot. I'd be surprised if not one player gets harassed. Mark: Well of course the players are going to get harassed. Andy: I mean by ice and Mark: ⁓ I see what you mean. Yeah, the Mexican team. Are Mexico in the world? They used to be good footballers, Mexico. And just deported. Funnily enough, some of them have ended up in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Andy: Yeah, they'll be rounded up. You guys better not... You guys better not score against the US of A. Be a one-way ticket to the other side of that damn wall you ain't paid for yet. Mark: Or you're going to be defaulted. In fact, hang on a second, no, we're getting confused. I think Mexico is hosting some of the, and Canada. Andy: Mexico is. Mexico is hosting a few games. ⁓ It's only like 5 % of it or something. But it would have been a much better option to have the whole tournament in Mexico because Mexico is a genuinely football loving nation and a genuinely talented football nation. They've got some great teams and some great players. Mark: ⁓ is it? Yeah, but I would be equally worried about going to watch matches in Mexico City. Isn't that the most violent city in the world? Andy: No, yes Mexico can be dangerous but it can also be wonderful. Mark: You've never been there. Andy: Of course I've been to Mexico. I've told you about my trips to Mexico and I've told you about, well, I can't do it on this podcast because everything about this story is illegal. But yeah, me and the Scouse Mick, we took a little trek into the rainforests with the DJ in our local hotel. Mark: ⁓ You'd get arrested. So you didn't take a guide into the rainforest, you took a DJ, you think that's useful, he's going to play bit of reggae or something. Andy: Honey. No, but he had all the contacts, you see. He took us fucking miles into this. Virgin terrain is the only way I can describe it. And we eventually pulled up outside this wooden cabin with horses parked outside and rifles leaning up against the wall. It was fucking surreal. Mark: ⁓ yes, you did tell me about this, Yep, that's right. But you survived. Andy: We had a great night. Fucking great night. Anyway, can't really talk about that. Mark: Hmm. ⁓ yeah, sorry. No, we can't. So sorry. Have we done the current button? Andy: I'm just looking now, but you keep distracting me. normally do this, but because I woke up late this morning, I say late, seven o'clock, which is quite late, but I was up late. was, my lights turned themselves off automatically at midnight and I remember them turning themselves off. Mark: What were you doing? No doubt you were playing some silly game. Andy: I was reading in bed. I couldn't really, I wasn't feeling tired. Mark: talking about reading you know i was talking about word all the other day because i actually downloaded the the new york times games app and my brain i mean you know i'm dyslexic so that that is not great for something like word all but i still struggle with thinking of five-letter words Andy: Yeah, the New York Times app. Yeah, you said it last time. Mark: I mean it is quite shocking like yesterday I tried I got no letters at all right or anything no no no well that's Andy: Yeah, but that can happen. But that in itself is a clue. If you get a word and it's all grey and you've used like two vowels at least, you can be then 60 % sure there's a double letter in that. Mark: Yeah. Alright, yeah, but you see to me it's just I'm completely and utterly frozen. Because I've got to think of a five-letter word without any of the letters above and it's just impossible for me. I just can't, I don't have that level of recall. And you know, when you listen to me you wouldn't think, ⁓ God, he's got the reading age of a five-year-old. Maybe you would, I don't know. But in terms of that ⁓ visual... memory of words is absolutely non-existent with me. It's like a complete blank. And I can read. I can, you know, can read a book and understand it. Sometimes I question you on your vocabulary but that's mainly to amuse you. Andy: My vocabulary is enormous. Mark: Er, yeah, I would say you have a pretty substantial vocabulary. Extensive. Andy: It's only because I read. But all the time. Mark: Yeah, yeah. Yes, yeah. Well, it makes a difference. Andy: I'm not, believe it or not, dear listeners, I am not the great intellectual I come across as. I just blag, I just blag my way through the words I read in a book yesterday and pretend I know what they mean. Mark: you just played your eyes out of it. Exactly. Yes, exactly. ⁓ dear. Current band for God's sake get going. What's the top story in the current band? Andy: ⁓ well, the top story's rubbish. It's all about scandal at channel four. Mark: What is it? Scandal at channel 4 why what's going on there? No, no, no, it's a married at first sight Andy: First dates is in crisis. Yes, that one has also got rape accusations and sexual assaults. But I mean, basically, of course, if you're just introduced to someone and then you marry them, you want to have the normal sex life of a married couple. And if she's not into it, it's rape. Mark: Three of them. No, no, no, I'm absolutely sorry. I thought you were going the other way there and I was preparing my response. No, no, no, I mean, if you... Andy: You're basically setting people up for a rape. Mark: Well this is clearly what they're talking about, that there weren't sufficient protections in place for the participants, if you can call them that. They weren't technically married. It wasn't a legal marriage. was the... Well, because it's just entertainment, it's Channel 4 entertainment. But clearly, some of the men... Andy: No condoms on set. So what's the point of the show then? Mark: were of dubious character, to put it mildly. Andy: Yeah, but mean, that's... You only have to look at those fucking reality shows and everyone on it is of dubious character. That's how you qualify to get on. Mark: ⁓ Well, yes, you're right to some extent. mean, you're 15 minutes of fame. You hope that you'll become an influencer if you do well or something like that, which is, you know, pretty suspect. But in this day and age, not that. unexpected really I mean that as part of the course I want to be an influencer how do you get visual influencer likes ⁓ I know I'm going to go on a TV reality show where I marry someone having only just met them Andy: You know what? hate this fucking new world that we live in. was listening to someone being interviewed on fucking LBC probably. I've got to stop listening again. I mean, I was off it for years and I just switched it on again just because. And I now know why I switched it off, but this guy was flogging his business. Mark: I have. Andy: to Nick Ferrari or someone. And basically his business model is we team your company up with an influencer who specializes in getting your profile out there, maximizing. And I was thinking, oh, you wankers, you're just inventing fucking jobs for nobodies. Mark: Hmm. Andy: Honestly, if I had a company and I wanted to raise my profile, I would invent something really good or lower my prices to a point where people went, wow, I would not be looking for a fucking influencer. Fuck it. I hate that word. I hate the people who use that word. ⁓ Mark: and let... What do you think these decades are going to be remembered for? The social media decades starting in not 2000 but 2010 was probably where social media really came from. I mean in a hundred years what is this era going to be remembered for? Andy: I think. It's going to be like the time that we went back to the stone age, basically, because we have turned into a bunch of fucking Neanderthal cavemen. We are stupid. We are knocking our heads against walls. We are behaving like fucking animals. We just, we're just rubbish. We're supposed to be the most advanced species on the planet. We're fucking rubbish. Mark: what is, if you look at it in big picture terms, what is mildly concerning, to put it mildly, is the fact that the education standards of real people, humans, is declining at the same time is the capability of artificial intelligence is rising quite dramatically almost exponentially and so you're going to get to the point in the not too distant future where intellect is going to be machine based and not human based. Andy: Well, we're already at the point where we are interviewed for jobs by AI. Yeah, it's ridiculous. You can't... Mark: Are we? ⁓ I know a lot of people rely on AI to put their applications in but we're being interviewed by AI, are we? Andy: Yeah, they, because employers can't be bothered. ⁓ this is great. We can just like weed out all the unsuitables by using this infallible AI, which will clearly give us the best candidates for the job based on an algorithm that checks whether or not you prefer rainy days or sunny days. Mark: Do you actually think that there are AI programs that read people's letters? I mean, I'm not talking about ⁓ box ticking and just getting a score. That I can understand, and it's not even AI. That's just basic algorithm. But do you actually think that there's AI programs that read people's application letters, analyze the text and the content, and then give it a score? Andy: Box ticking. I'm not sure people write letters anymore for applications. think people, because ⁓ you have to apply for so many different jobs now. It's like throwing shit at the wall and hoping something sticks. If you wrote an application letter tailored to every job, you wouldn't be able to have time to look for a job. You'd be writing letters all fucking day. Mark: ⁓ don't you? I see what you mean. Well I do know that reasonably senior roles within the public sector in Sweden you can't imagine the number of tests you have to take. There's handwriting tests, there's psychological profiling tests going on, there's any number of tests that you have to undertake as part of the standard interview process. Andy: Yeah. And it's ridiculous because all those tests prove is that someone is making money out of denying other people the right to be in a position where they could actually do a really good job. But because of the way their mind works, according to this algorithm, they're unsuitable for the post. Mark: I mean, you I think to be honest, it's that people abdicate the responsibility of making hiring decisions because in this day and age you have to you have to be able to defend positions in all sorts of circumstances further down the road and you never want to be in a position where you have to say, well, I like the guy or the girl or the woman I took the decision to hire him and at that time I think it was a good choice you never want to be in that position you want to say ⁓ well he he scored 97 out of 100 he was the top scorer in the application no it means that the management is bollocks if management can't make hiring decisions without resorting to Andy: Bye! Well then clearly that test is bollocks. Mark: bloody handwriting test, don't know what it was coming to. I mean you know what it was when I, well you know the work that I was doing when I was actually working. We would literally, and it, I mean... Andy: Yes. Yeah, your interview consisted of a bottle of wine. Mark: well it wasn't an old, what do they call it, wasn't an old boys club because I was absolutely nothing to do with the old boys club I didn't go to public school or anything but it was literally, I didn't, it was literally a bottle of wine over lunch and then if they liked you they'd take you back you'd meet the rest of the team and if they liked you Andy: You Start Monday. Mark: you know, and that was it, that was literally it. mean, you know, obviously the first job interview before you have any experience, there's an element of luck involved. And in fact, the only reason I got that job was because I claimed I spoke Swedish. Andy: You Mark: And the guy who was interviewing me was sort of South American Norwegian. But I don't, I mean he did speak Norwegian, but he didn't test my ability in Swedish and I don't think I ever spoke Swedish to any of my clients. So that was the reason I got a job. I had a suit and I could speak Swedish. And in those days, 1985 this was, to get into the city, it was just that one element of luck. Andy: You Mark: that you walked in, you know, it just doesn't happen these days. Well in fact two years after I started, we're talking about interview processes, I was interviewing people two years after I started and they had to have a minimum of an MBA, a masters. It was just insane. Andy: Yeah. Yeah, but what's, I mean, that's a nonsense as well, because I hate the idea that you need a degree because just because you've got a piece of paper that says you learned something from a book doesn't mean you're capable of doing the fucking job that requires doing. Mark: no, you know, completely agree with that but the thing is that if you're advertising a job, even today, I mean you know what it's like, you're going through the process yourself and six hundred people apply for one job, there has to be some sort of filtering mechanism I'm not defending it by the way, but I'm saying there has to be some sort of filtering mechanism Andy: First of all, you get rid of all the ugly people. You Mark: you ever get a job in that case? You get rid of all of the ugly people. don't think you're even submitting... I don't know, do you? When you apply for a job do you submit a photograph? ⁓ Andy: Good God night. No, but I mean... ⁓ I don't know, I just know that there are people who would be good in a role who will never ever get that role because they are on paper, unsuitable. Mark: Yeah, I completely agree, but I mean, know, ⁓ that in a way is unfair, but it's understandable because how would they ever get the chance to prove themselves? You can't give everybody the chance to prove themselves in a particular position. Andy: No, but I mean, if you're, if you're a good manager, you should be able to spot people's potential. Mark: only if you come across them you know you have to actually meet them to ⁓ Andy: Yeah, but that's the with putting AI in between you and the general populace. You can't trust the fucking AI, which cannot be trusted to drive a car in charge of putting people into your organization who are supposed to be able to run it. Mark: Yeah, I agree. Talking about driving a car, saw an amusing little video on YouTube the other day. Do remember James May who used to do Top Gear? So he's become a little bit of a cult figure on YouTube. He's got this gin. Andy: Yes, top gear. Mark: James' gin it's called and rather than doing sort of promotional videos per se he goes on little trips little adventures and occasionally cooks things so it's all pretty trivial anyway he was in Los Angeles the other day with Lucy Brown his young associate producer and he was driving a Tesla or not driving a Tesla Andy: Now do you think, hang on, hang on, do you think Lucy Brown got her job on merit or because she was not one of the ugly ones? Mark: uh oh i see what you mean no no no no no no lucy brown is not a glamour bunny at all she's a completely normal and and and as james may says she's got the straightest hair she's he's ever seen on a person it would doink uh no no i mean she's absolutely not she's a completely normal literally a completely normal person but the funny thing was that james may switch this tesla onto auto drive Andy: Is she now? Mark: and poor old Lucy Brown was basically bricking herself. She kept reaching for the steering wheel and putting, she was in the passenger seat, and putting her foot to the floor hoping it was a brake pedal. Andy: I would be the same. cannot, I don't trust things that I'm in charge of on my desk here. I wouldn't, I wouldn't trust anything and to actually let a car take control with my live body inside it. Nope, nope, nope. Because you've got to remember these things are programmed by fucking people and people are idiots. Mark: that is related to Elon Musk. most of them that's not true anyway they went to Elon Musk's diner the Tesla diner while charging they spent fifty dollars on a couple of hot dogs it was shite fifty dollars in the Tesla diner Andy: It is true. The Tesla Dynar. Mark: Anyway, what got us onto that for god's sake? You mentioned driving a car and my brain suddenly flits to... Anyway, so hang on, hang on a second, you've forgotten the one thing that you wanted to do on a regular basis this day in history. Andy: I haven't had a chance. Mark: what literally you haven't had a chance to look it up. Maybe nothing happened on this day. Do know what the date... Andy: No definitely it's made a 22nd and in it's Mark: sorry to interrupt here again. Shouldn't we do On This Day in History when the episode is released? Andy: No, because that involves maths and at seven o'clock in the morning, I'm going to get the day wrong. Mark: So mean better to have it for unknown while we are talking sort of thing. Andy: Yes, this is the day we are recording. It's May the 22nd. It's fucking ridiculous o'clock in the morning. OK, but on this day, in the year of your birth, actually, 1455, 1455, the War of the Roses began. Mark: Well actually it's quarter to eight now. 1961 ⁓ yes, who is that? The Tudors against the... Andy: The Tudors against the Yorks? Mark: could have been. Andy: It began with the Battle of St. Albans, which you're familiar with. Yes. Mark: I went to school there. It was the capital of the United Kingdom in Roman times. Andy: Ooh, there was no United Kingdom. Mark: in the Roman times. Andy: You mean the slave kingdom of Storbritannia? Mark: I don't think it was called Storbrittania, or is that the Latin name? Yeah, I think so as well. Andy: It was called Britannia, I think, in those days. But The War of the Roses was all about two families fighting over the right to the throne, basically. It's just a soap opera. It is. Mark: Not for the people who got cut up and died on the battlefield. wasn't a soap opera. Andy: So the York family, ⁓ bear in mind the Duchess of York. Mark: Maybe. Andy: and the formerly known as the Duke of York. Mark: had 10,000 men, he marched them up to the top of the hill and they never came down again. Andy: I loved it when there was that one very clever play on words when Prince Andrew at the time was going through all these accusations. Someone referred to him as the rapist formerly known as Prince. ⁓ I wish I'd thought of that one. Anyway, New York family whose badge, that emblem. was a white rose and the Lancaster family, the northern monkeys, whose badge was a red rose. So it was all about Henry Tudor, or Henry VII, I think he was. ⁓ Mark: Red Rose. Yeah. Andy: We bought the bloody civil war to an end in 1485 when he married Elizabeth of York. So they bought the two families together, uniting the two clans after 30 fucking years of war, of bloodshed. I mean, it's a bit like Trump's 10 minutes with Iran. Oh, it'll be over in a minute. We've already won. We're just finishing the winning. Mark: Hmm of war. it wouldn't have been so bad for me landed gentry in those days but you as a serf one of the proletariat it would have been pretty rough Andy: I would have been alright because... Some of the proletariat run circles around the ruling classes. They really do. You've got no idea. Mark: You mean you would be the court jester? Andy: No, I would let you think you're in charge. I would let you think you're in charge, but honestly, you wouldn't have a clue what was going on behind your back. Mark: You'd be some fixer. What do you... I'm absolutely certain you'd have your arse deep in mud trying to get yourself a glass of mead or whatever the peasant community in those days drank. Andy: Well, in 1843 on this day, the first major wagon train headed west on the Oregon Trail. Now that would have been a journey that you do not want to take. Mark: been a bit smoky in the carriage. Andy: No, this is a wagon train, not a train train. Mark: was a wagon train. Andy: horses and carriages. a wagon train. Wild West. Wild engines. Of course it is a wagon train. Have you never heard of that? No, a stagecoach is a single vehicle. I'm talking about hundreds of families all loaded up ready to start a new life in the West. Mark: ⁓ my g- That's not called a wagon train. Now that's not the right word. A stage coach you're talking about. ⁓ I see. You mean the pioneers heading out west. Alright. Andy: So although the pioneers had trickled through that way before, the party that left from Elm Grove in Missouri consisted of 1,000 men, women and children, 100 wagons and 5,000 oxen and cattle. Now for me, that's just showing the local starving native population that there is wealth out there. Mark: So, ⁓ right, well you've raised these things, you know what the obvious question is going to be now, how many of them made it? Andy: Well, I mean, we could actually do an episode on it one day because that was a perilous journey. Mark: Where is Missouri? Sorry, I'm so stupid. I can't I don't know where where I thought Missouri was sort of in the middle of America Andy: It's... I know less about the geography of America than Americans know about the geography of the rest of the world. Mark: I can't see Missouri on the map but it was obviously a fair old journey. But why would they leave Missouri if they're cattle folk? Isn't that perfect pasture land in somewhere like Missouri? Andy: Ahem. I don't know. mean, bear in mind, some of those states are three times the size of the United Kingdom. So you could have good pasture land and then you could have ski slopes. Mark: Hmm. It must have been pretty wild with the Native American aspect. And just all of the... ⁓ I don't know. Because there was no... Andy: There was rough terrain. mean, there was no roadways. There was no paths. And, you know, there's not much suspension on a wooden wagon. Mark: What was the year? Sorry. Andy: 1843. Mark: Okay, so there was a bit of civilisation activity going on. mean, Los Angeles existed as a city and all of that sort of stuff. Andy: You had your wagon train master, your chef and Smith and Wesson. And that was all you had to keep you safe on a journey that not many people have made before. Those that brave that journey faced very harsh and perilous conditions. Countless other parties. Mark: And what was the deal? What was the deal? You got free land when you got there. You got your parcel of land. Andy: Yeah, basically it was Squattler's rights, wasn't it? Mark: there was a film I think with Tom Cruise where they had a horse race to get to the best plots and you had to put your state, your flag in the plot and claim it as yours was that with Tom Cruise? Andy: It was homesteading. I bet Tom won. Mark: Well of he was the star of the show. He got... Andy: And I bet he did some amazing stunts that he performed himself on horseback to actually plant his flag. Mark: Yeah, he was probably one of the losers who got knocked off their horse at the start of the race. Andy: He's... He was only little. He couldn't even get on a horse without help. Anyway, yeah, of course. Mark: Have you ever sat on a horse? What do you mean, of course? Andy: I've... I had a full rounded childhood. Mark: ⁓ of course, we've touched on this. You probably rode bareback, didn't you? You had a horse in the back garden in Camden. Did you have a horse in your backyard? Can you imagine in Camden in the 60s just having a horse tied up at the back door? Andy: Yes! Yeah, just tied up to my gypsy caravan. Look, you laugh, but do know what? When in, and it was in the sixties, I had a little Saturday job for a while. Riding around Hackney on a horse and cart with a rag and bone man. Yeah. No, it's absolutely fucking true. Saturday job. It was like that. He just wanted to be accompanied the old boy. ⁓ Mark: No, that's bollocks. No. What is your surname, Steptoe and son? any old iron any old iron and i remember that i literally remember any old iron blokes on with horses and carriages this in the 60s for god's sake bollocks you were about four Andy: Yeah, I was part of that. It's absolutely true I was about seven, seven or eight. The guy just wanted to be a company. Mark: So your job was to jump off the wagon every time the horse had a poo and shovel it into a bag, was it? Andy: I don't think we bothered with that. We just, I don't, I can't even remember much about it, which is possibly a good thing because it might be traumatic. Mark: Yes, you and a rag and bone man and a horse. What could you possibly get up to? Andy: Yeah. Yeah. Just go and check, just go and check the harness for a minute, would you? Mark: All right, so what on earth got us onto that subject? My brain is all over the place. ⁓ yeah, that's right. We're still doing this day in history. Andy: I don't know, the War of the Roses apparently. ⁓ and this is now you think that the Americans are crazy today in politics. In 1856, Congressman Preston Brooks beat Senator Charles Sumner with a cane. Mark: Yep. Andy: So South Carolina against Massachusetts, and this is on the Senate floor. The attack came two days after Summer, an abolitionist and academic lawyer. ⁓ I would have beaten him with a cane just for having that title. Gave a provocative speech about whether or not to admit Kansas to the union as a free or slave state. Citing specific senators in his speech, Sumner argued that their support for slavery was to blame for increased violence in Kansas. And the pro-slavery Brooks insulted that Sumner singled out his relative, Senator Andrew Butler, stormed the Senate floor and beat Sumner with a metal-topped cane. We are not a violent people! Mark: Really? Crash! Andy: Ugh. Mark: I'm surprised they're not more fisticuffs. Andy: Well, they're all cowards aren't they? They're all draft dodgers so the last thing they want is an altercation. But more, this one is much nicer, 1859, one of our greatest and I think under-rated writers, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Mark: Yep. 80 leagues under the sea. Andy: Tau zan. Mark: Did you do 80 liters under the sea? Andy: No. Mark: but he did write that. Andy: It was 2000 leagues under the sea. No. Mark: The title was wrong and the author was wrong. Andy: He was born in Edinburgh, in Scotland. He became most famous of course for Sherlock Holmes. Mark: He's Sherlock Holmes, isn't he? Andy: Outside of writing fiction, was also a practising medical doctor, and he volunteered as a military doctor in the Second Boer War, or as Winston Churchill would like to call it, the cleansing. Mark: Why do they call it practicing? You thought they'd had enough practice and start actually working. No, exactly. I'm a practicing medical doctor. Well, when are you going to stop practicing and start working? Andy: Because they weren't very good at it. I mean, they're still not very good at it. Well, they can't because they can't stop practicing until they know everything and we know nothing about how the human body really works. Mark: That's a point, good point. Andy: Now in 1939, the outbreak of war, this is when the Pact of Steel treaty was signed between Italy and Germany, the Axis powers and solidifying their military alliance to fight against France and the dirty British Empire. Mark: So, with the steal, that must have been as a result of the surrender of Italy. Or did they not even surrender? Andy: In 1939? It's a bit early. I think Italy were an aggressor in that time. Mark: What? Andy: Yeah, when they joined up with Germany, they saw it as a way of becoming a more powerful nation. Mark: But Italy were fighting with the Allies at some stage, and when I say Allies I mean not the Germans. Andy: Italy changed sides more often than fucking Messi. Mark: Really? God, dear, that is a pretty blank bit of history in that case. Andy: Do not remember all the schoolboy jokes about the Italians invented the first tank that had five reverse gears? Mark: one forward, going five reverse. Well, I do remember those, but I didn't remember that they actually were allied with Germany in 1939. Then they must have joined the Allies, and then they surrendered. Andy: Well, that was the birth of the Axis forces, wasn't it? The Pact of Steel. Japan was also invited, but they declined to sign. Due to their insistence that the Soviet Union should be the focus of the pact, not Western Europe. So Japan wanted to eradicate Russia back then. The Axis would eventually include Japan in 1940 and they battled the Allied powers during World War II. Despite their alliance, however, the three powers surrendered at different times. Italy in September of 1943, Germany May 1945 and Japan September 1945. Mark: I'm going to have to read up on my Second World War history with Italy. Because you know there's loads of Italians where I used to live in England. There were some prisoner of war camps in Aylesbury or that area of Buckinghamshire and so there's a lot of Italians in the area who decided to stay after the war rather than going home to Italy. They stayed in England. Andy: Yeah, but I mean, you can imagine if you're a prisoner of war and they send you to the rural countryside and there's no there's no men because they're all the way at war and there's all these lonely women, it's fucking great. Isabella, let me see some more. Mark: work. What? ⁓ Andy: Shut up your face. Mark: You idiot! Just one cornetto, Isabella. Andy: So, the most powerful earthquake in human history hit Chile. That's a volcano. Mark: Krakatoa. Hmm. Andy: This is an earthquake and in 1960 it hit Chile and it measured 9.5 on the Richter scale. And that is almost as bad as it gets. I think it only goes up to 9.8. Mark: That is pretty bad, isn't it? And so where was that? It destroyed obviously a lot of stuff. Andy: Well, it struck luckily off the coast of Valdivia at 3.11 PM. In addition to the damage caused by the quake, the earthquake also triggered tsunamis that reached as far as Hawaii and Japan. An estimated 1655 people died. Mark: Tsunami. Yeah, but that's nothing compared to the tsunami in December 2004. Was it? Andy: ⁓ the Thai one. Mark: well, Ty, I mean, was bloody everywhere. Although all of those poor, it was hundreds of thousands of people that died, or certainly tens of thousands of people that died. Andy: Yeah, but we got a lot of news focused on the Thailand part of it because so many Swedes went to Thailand at the time. Mark: Ah, that's right, you're right actually, yes I remember that. That was the most powerful earthquake ever to be recorded. 9.5 in Chile. Andy: Yes. In Valdivia itself, nearly half of the buildings were rendered uninhabitable by the earthquake. Mark: Have you ever felt an earthquake? Andy: I've felt the earth move. Mark: I haven't. I've never experienced an earthquake. I've been to Japan a few times, but no, I've never... Andy: I haven't, no. That's basically all that's happened in history on this day. Mark: well it's quite a lot compared to some other days Andy: Yeah, it's actually been not a bad day in history. ⁓ my picture's frozen for some reason. ⁓ there we go. Mark: Oh dear. Oh no. Have you lost your... Well I don't know what we've got to do with the script. We've only got ten minutes to go. We've been talking for forty-six minutes. Andy: What? ⁓ my god. And this is me with a sore throat and losing my voice. Anyway. Mark: Well it's probably because you haven't been doing that much talking. Andy: Well, it might be a longer episode than normal, which doesn't help you with your roof. Well, you shouldn't, you shouldn't have bloody well spoke so much. Okay. We're going to talk. It's a lighthearted conversation today or discussion or story. ⁓ we're back on cryptids. Cryptids. You say every time we do an episode on cryptids. Mark: Yeah, but I've got to get out. Come on, get the bloody... Who? I can't. Andy: What? E cryptid? No, a cryptid is legendary creatures like Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. Mark: is that people who can change their shape. Andy: ⁓ you say, but you always enjoyed them. And you'll enjoy this one because this one is known as the Fresno Nightcrawler. And it's commonly described. Well, we'll get to that. It was first spotted in 2007 in Fresno, California. And this curious cryptid. has kind of taken the internet by storm. It's inspired t-shirts and car stickers, but the Fresno Nightcrawler has also sparked quite a fierce debate over its origins. Now, while some claim that this cryptid could be connected to aliens or even Native American law, others insist that purported video evidence of his existence is all fake. Now story of the Fresno Nightcrawler starts with a barking dog. In two? Oh, it's much better than that. Mark: is some lizard or something I assume. Andy: In 2007, a Fresno resident identified as Jose decided to mount a camera on his garage to see what made his dogs bark every night. To Jose's shock, his cameras didn't catch any wild animals or intruders, but something that seemed to defy explanation. The grainy footage Mark: you. Andy: appeared to sh- It's not real if it's full high definition. Mark: He couldn't afford bloody 4K camera, was grainy footage, yes. I want to see the pores on their skin. Andy: The grainy footage appeared to show a pair of white pants practically gliding across his front yard. Mark: When you say pence, we talking about y-fronts or we talking about trousers? That's trousers. Troses. Andy: American pants, we're talking tri-hesers. ⁓ Now baffled and terrified as you would be, Jose started sharing the footage in hopes of finding an explanation. He gave it to Univision, whoever they are, as well as to paranormal investigator Victor Camacho, the host of the Spanish speaking supernatural program. Las delvedoras and the sleepless ones. Now although nobody could explain what it was that had slunk across Jose's yard, it didn't take long before another Fresno Night Crawler sighting took place. In 2011, security cameras in Yosemite National Park also seemed to capture the same phenomenon. ⁓ Something that looked like pants creeping across the park. Mark: Are we talking about lying down trousers or are we talking about standing up trousers? Andy: standing up. These strange sightings looked a bit like something from Dr Zeus's pale green pants from his 1961 book, What Was I Scared Of? But many insist that the Fresno Nightcrawler is far from fictional. Indeed, theories abound about its origins. Mark: If these trousers were standing up, why are they called crawler? Andy: because they glide, they don't stroll. Mark: War. Andy: So theories about this California cryptid YouTube grainy footage, ⁓ appears to have captured the imagination, but is there a reasonable explanation behind the Fresno nightcrawler sightings? Although nobody knows for sure, many people have theories about this curious California cryptid. Alleged sightings of the Fresno nightcrawler have provided some clues. The cryptid appears to be somewhat humanoid, with two legs, as in most pants, and is often seen travelling in pairs, like trousers. Now this has led some to speculate. Mark: That's an interesting question. Why do you always refer to trousers as a pair of... It's not a pair of trousers. What's that got to do with... Trousers automatically have two legs. Have you ever seen a pair of trousers with only one leg? Andy: Because there's two legs. Well, do you know what a half a pair of trousers is called? It's a true... Yes. T-R-E-W. It's a true or a pair of trousers. Mark: You're just making shit up. Andy: You can check it out. It's fucking true. It's true is the true. Mark: No. Andy: Now, because of this evidence, that it appears somewhat humanoid with two legs and often seen travelling in bears, which is pretty conclusive, it's led some to speculate that the cryptid is obviously extraterrestrial. What? Mark: I'll tell you what, the name is quite impressive but the story is completely vacuous. mean the Fresno Nightcrawler, that does drum up a lot of imagery in one's head but the story is just completely void of any interesting elements or folk. Andy: No, no, no. No, no it's not. This is one of the best episodes ever. Now this has led some to speculate, as I say, that the cryptid is extraterrestrial, while others have drawn connections between the Fresno Nightcrawler and some Native American legends. There is, no strong evidence for either of these theories. Others have wondered if there's a simpler explanation for the bizarre footage. Mark: You're not going to tell me it's just a paper bag drifting across this camera in the wind or something. Andy: God no. The cryptid wiki, there is such a thing, proposes that the Fresno Nightcrawler could be some kind of primate, a deer or a bird, a puppet or just a person in loose pants. Mark: Prime 8, Prime 8. That's right, because when I think of the shape of a bird, I immediately think of deer. I mean, what's the connection between the form of a bird and a deer? You literally couldn't get more different. Andy: and pair of trousers walking across the yard on their own. Well, now someone came up with the plausible explanation that sightings of the Fresno Nightcrawler could be explained by simply a deer eating on its hind legs. Mark: But deers don't have white legs. Andy: That's what you're going to take away from that fucking sentence? When was the last time you saw a deer strolling across the garden on its hind legs? Mark: Why would deer eat... eat? Maybe it was an ex-circus deer. Andy: Of course, there could also be a perfectly reasonable explanation behind the Fresno Nightcrawler sightings. ⁓ but wait. ⁓ but wait, because that is our next little bit. Because ever since the footage started to circulate on the internet, many naysayers like yourself have insisted that the purported images are faked. To date, many have tried to debunk the myth. YouTuber Mark: Yes, it's all bollocks is the reasonable explanation. Andy: Captain Disillusion made video in 2012 showing how the cryptid sightings could have been faked, and they showed how video editing could make it seem like a pair of pants was walking across the ground. Now, I'm pretty talented. Mark: Yep, he's a real person. I think the story would have been funnier if it was a pair of Y-Fronts as opposed to a pair of trousers. Andy: Yeah, but you've got less chance of spotting them. Mark: What a pair of white Y-Fronts walking across your drive. I think you've spot that. Andy: Yeah but you don't get the motion do you? You don't get the motion with the wire fronts. Mark: I suppose so. Andy: The sci-fi show, Fact or Faked, also investigated the nightcrawler myth, but were unable to determine if it was a hoax. Which shows that their budget didn't allow for real experts. Mark: I like the way it's phrased that the program wasn't able to establish it was a hoax. That's assuming it's true then. Andy: Yeah, but they concluded that faking... Well, they concluded that faking this cryptid would be difficult. But whether or not the Fresno night crawler is a hoax, people have fallen in love with it, especially the people of Fresno. Mark: I mean, as I say, it's a fantastic name, the Fresno Nightcrawler. Andy: Yeah but it sounds like a serial killer. Mark: it does yeah exactly all of these images pop into my mind x-files images pop into my mind with gillian anderson and whatever the other fellow dupe dupe dupe dupe check what's what's the fellow called is it do check the actor Andy: out. Do check my back. Now local celebrity artist Laura Splotch Mark: not a name. Andy: told the Business Journal, these really intrigued me because they're from Fresno. They look unique and different. It's a weird thing to fake, but if they're real, that's probably even weirder. Indeed, Southern California television station K-Set notes that there are all sorts of Fresno Nightcrawler merchandise already out there. Fans of the cryptid can buy everything from t-shirts to stickers. And the appeal of the Fresno Nightcrawler might be difficult to pin down, but Fresno locals aren't opposed to their city's association with this mysterious cryptid. It's unexplainable. Splotch said, a lot of people are drawn to the unexplainable, but I'd rather Fresno be known for the nightcrawlers than some of the other stuff what we are known for. Mark: Sorry, I've got to check out this. Give me a spelling on the surname Splotcher. Andy: S-P-L-O-T-C-H Mark: Can't be real name. What was her first name? Andy: course it's a real name. ⁓ no I'm not playing that game. Mark: I baptize this child, Susan Splotch. Andy: No, it wasn't season. Mark: Sondra. Andy: ⁓ for God's sake. You're not going to make me scroll. Mark: Celia Splotch. Celia. Andy: No! Mark: It's got to be some... What's that when you have all of the letters that the words begin with the same in a poem? Alliteration. I got there before you this time. Andy: Laura, alliteration. Laura is the name. Mark: Laura Splotch I still don't know I don't think we need to listen to Laura because she obviously doesn't have a clue what she's talking about with a name like Andy: Yes. Well, ⁓ anyway, that's all I've got on the Fresno Night Crawler because we haven't captured a pair of pants yet. Mark: as I say I think it would have been more effective story if you'd just given the name and then stop and then shut up then it would have been a lot more interesting because I tell you what the thought that comes to my mind you remember the episode of the X-Files where and I think I mentioned it before where they're in some sort of plumbing Andy: would have been a shorter episode. Mark: ⁓ drainage system and there's one part of the drainage tube that's transparent it's made of glass so that they can see what's going through and there's this poor fellow I call it a fellow you could see his face Andy: Why would you want to? Mark: and it obviously was half human and half like an eel or something and you see this sort of half human half eel going through the tube and the expression on this poor fellow's face was one of sort of pretty much horror like he knew that he was stuck in a drainage system Andy: he'd been flushed. Mark: exactly or something. I mean that's the sort of image that came into my mind with the Frisco night crawler, not a pair of Y-Fronts walking across some security camera. So I think next time just stick to the name. Andy: Um, okay. Well, you'll, you'll probably appreciate this one more. This is very recent, 2002, and it involved an elite tactical team who was said to have killed the counter hard giant, a 13 foot tall beast with flaming red hair, six fingers on each hand. and two sets of teeth. Sounds like someone I dated in mor- In August, 2016. Mark: I've got two sets of teeth. Up and down. Andy: That's no up and down make one set. You've got a row at the top and a row at the bottom. Together they are a set. Now in August 2016, a YouTuber, very reliable source, posted quite a lengthy interview with a military contractor identified only as Mr. K. Now Mr. K in the interview claimed to have been present during the brutal slaughter of a killer that he called the Kandahar Giant. And the killing of this giant, he said, took place during the height of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2002 when the military was engaged in fierce battles with the Taliban in their de facto capital in Kandahar province during the US invasion of Afghanistan. But this was no human fighter. The Kandahar giant, Mr K said, was 13 feet tall, with fiery red hair, six fingers and two sets of teeth, and it even killed one of the special forces soldiers with a spear, before the rest of the unit brought it down with 30 seconds of sustained gunfire. And after they radioed it in, the army took away its corpse and has hidden it ever since. Mark: You'd be surprised that you start, would you start counting fingers on something? How did they notice he had six fingers? Andy: I don't know because it's hard to take an accurate assessment of a murderous spear-chucking red-headed two-set-of-teeth giant while you're legging it in the opposite direction. Mark: I think this fellow might have been high on drugs. Andy: So what happened was in 2002 a group of soldiers went missing whilst on a routine patrol in a remote mountain region of Kandahar in the south of Afghanistan. And when they failed to make radio contact for some time, the military sent in a special ops unit to investigate, although the branch of this special ops unit was never confirmed which of the armed forces they belonged to. And then... High up in the mountains, the unit came across a cave with scattered army equipment around, but no sign of the missing soldiers. And that is when they chanced upon the Kandahar giant. At this point the tale grows a little bit with the telling, but some reports suggested that the humanoid grew as tall as 15 feet. But anyway, this giant redhead with 6 digits, leather moccasins and smelling like dead bodies, suddenly emerged from the cave and impaled one of the soldiers with a spear. And that's when the soldiers opened fire, ultimately felling the giant with 30 seconds of continuous fire. Now between them this squad was armed with full auto M4 carbines, recon carbines, and M107 Barrett anti-material rifles firing .50 caliber bullets. Now this much firepower concentrated on one target for one second, let alone 30 would be extremely destructive. After the troops killed the giant, they loaded it onto a Chinook helicopter which carried it to a transport plane, after which nobody ever saw it again. The soldiers were all forced to sign non-disclosure agreements so the government could keep them all quiet, but eventually the soldiers broke their silence because, as one of the men would later say, the people have a right to know the truth. Staff Sergeant Leopold Medina, he was the one who said people have the right to know the truth. That's basically all you've got to do with this story. In August of 2016, magazine called Snopes reached out to the Department of Defense about the Kandahar Giant incident. And the Department of Defense, or the Ministry of War, told the outlet, in no uncertain terms that they had no record or information about any special forces member being killed by a giant in Kandahar. What's more, there were no press releases on the Department of Defence's website involving either a special forces troop disappearing in Afghanistan or of any incidents involving giants. But of course, as with any good conspiracy, this lack of evidence isn't sufficient proof that the myth of the giant doesn't exist. In fact, Snope's debunking of the legend has had the opposite effect in certain cryptid spaces, which claim that the government is hiding the truth from the public. Around the same time that the Snopes article came out that discredited or tried to discredit the story, self-proclaimed supernaturalist Mark: What is that? Supernaturalist? Is that like the mentalist? That TV program? Andy: What do you do for a living? I'm a supernaturalist. I think a supernaturalist is someone who goes to nudist colonies, but they've got a really big dick. I don't know. ⁓ Supernaturalist LA Big Dick Marzulli told several right wing websites that the United States government was covering up this spectacular story and that those in power had a vested interest, and this is where it gets believable, they had a vested interest in keeping the truth of biblical prophecies from being exposed to the general public. People have a right to know about this stuff. If there are 15 or 18 footers roaming the earth and our military has brought them down, we have a right as American citizens to know about it. He said. I mean, this isn't classified military stuff. This is something we need to know. And it points back to the biblical prophetic narrative. Mark: Of what? Andy: This is American religion, mate. It could be anything. Mark: Yeah, you're gonna give us the bloody reference. What prophetic Bible... whatever. Andy: ⁓ okay, it's based on the fall of the rebel angels by Hieronymus Bosch, and it's based on a verse of Genesis that references Nephilim, which is a race of giants. Mark: Bosch is a TV series on Netflix. Andy: The bot is also the name of my drill. Mark: If you had one. Andy: I do have one. The real story of the Candelar giant is a lot less interesting than the Mark: Yes, it seems so. Again. What a surprise! Andy: In 2016, LA Marzulli, whose YouTube channel is dedicated to tying ⁓ current events to biblical prophecies, brought the story roaring back to life. In a now deleted video, which was first posted in 2016, Marzulli interviewed Mr. K, purporting to be a soldier who said he witnessed the giant of Candela. And he claimed that he saw this giant carrying a spear and murdering this United States soldier called Dan. So there's evidence for you before he and the other special forces took it down. And according to Marzulli, the creature was a Nephilim, a group of people mentioned in Genesis and Numbers, books of the Old Testament, who were said to be people of unusually large size and strength. that could be found in the Middle East both before and after the flood of Noah's Ark fame. But biblical scholars largely agree that the Nephilim tales were metaphors and not based on the reality of a 13-foot giant living in the desert. What's more, the only Dan that died in Kandahar around about the time of this alleged incident was Sergeant First Class Daniel A. Romero, who was killed in a bomb blast alongside three other soldiers. But even with the evidence stacked against it, The myth of the Kandahar giant is still said to be an open secret among soldiers who served in Kandahar in 2002. And several vets who served in the region have said that from that point on, they were instructed to point their weapons high by aiming for the head and then just a little high. Can imagine? Now, you know, I know this story is fake because an elite troop of heavily armed Americans opening a sustained firefight attack for 30 seconds would result in several dead Americans. Mark: Not only that is it is a 50 caliber is that the same as a 50 millimeter Andy: No, ⁓ a .50 caliber is like the big, you know, the big sniper rifle that they put together in six pieces in these movies. That's the size of me. I mean, I've fired one. We did a team building day where we sniping, I guess. Mark: All right, yeah, yeah. What sort of bloody team building were you doing with bloody assault rifles? Andy: It was when I joined the Taliban. Mark: They wouldn't let you into the Taliban, you don't have a beard. And you can't grow one. Andy: ⁓ true. What do mean I can't grow one? I've had one on this very show. Mark: have you? ⁓ yes your little goatee your little your little ralph harris goatee all right can i now go it's the sun is shining i've got a bloody roof to build an hour and 15 minutes for god's sake you've been ranting on about Andy: little goatee. Well, I hadn't, I had another story. I had another story, but obviously it's of no interest. Mark: Why would it be after the last two stories? Why would that encourage me to want to spend another ten minutes listening to some nonsense? Andy: Well, if I give you a little taste. Mark: Yeah, get me a taster and you can see if I'm interested or not. Go for it. Andy: This last one is called the Jackalope. Mark: The Jackalope? Andy: it's a jackrabbit with antelope horn Mark: No, no, no, no. Can we save that till next time when I need a light-hearted story? What's a jackalope, ⁓ a rabbit with antelope horns? Andy: Yes, can you imagine the poor mother giving birth? Mark: Hopefully it didn't have horns when it was born. Can we save that for another day Andy? I'm going to write it down to remind you. Because it's not as if you've got an extensive lot of notes about it. And what's a jackrabbit as opposed to a rabbit? Andy: Yeah, okay, but I'll have lost it. I have. this rabbit called Jack? Obviously. Mark: Jack Rabbit Antelope. Not a little deer, a buck deer or something, but a bloody antelope. Oh no, on, antelopes have only got one horn. Andy: No, that's a unicorn. Mark: No, no, no, sorry. It's just one horn on each side of its head. It's not antlers, is it? All right. Jackrabbit antelope. It's written in my little book here. Andy: Yes. Mark: ⁓ I'm exhausted. Andy: much the same as your name is written in my little book for when I've got the power. Mark: Yeah, when you've got the power, I'm going to be up against the wall to start with. Surely I'm not the top of the list. Andy: ⁓ There's a few. I didn't go alphabetically. Mark: Good, because my name is Mark. Andy: ⁓ no it isn't. Mark: My name's William Andy: going to take the closest. My name is Zebediah. Anyway, I guess that brings us to the end of this week's episode. I'm sorry about the rambling at the beginning of the episode. I didn't realise it went on for quite as long as it did. Mark: Yep. you've got to keep control the production quality of this podcast is slipping and it can't get much lower Andy: Well, yeah, I might have to sack the producer. Anyway, thanks for listening. Hope you enjoyed these brilliant true stories about the Fresno nightcrawler and the giant of Kandahar. Mark: Yep. Yeah. And next week you've got the Jackrabbit Antelope story to listen to. Andy: Well, no, we won't do two weeks in a row on cryptids because even I couldn't face that. Mark: all right yeah wait until i can't remember what cryptic means Andy: Well, okay, we'll come back the same time tomorrow then. Mark: Exactly. Yep. Andy: In the meantime, have yourselves a strange week. Don't forget to like, follow, subscribe on our Instagram, our Facebook, our YouTube. Everywhere, TikTok, everywhere we can be found. It would be good to sort of get some likes. Fed up with just me scrolling through liking my own shit. Mark: Yep. Yep. Andy: Anyway, same time, same place next week and if you're one of our Patreons we'll see you on Wednesday. ⁓ by the way that reminds me this week's Patreon episode was released free of charge for everybody at Patreon.com. I should have led with that because by now everyone's fucked off. Mark: You Yes, everyone's gone. You've got to get in within the first 15 seconds. All right. Andy: ⁓ damn it. Anyway, ⁓ yeah. So if you go to patreon.com backslash strange stuff podcast, you can listen to that bonus episode about the dangers and what happened when AI were left to their own devices. Scary stuff. Anyway, bye for now. Mark: Yeah. ⁓ Cheerio.