Wednesday, December 07, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Happy Things That Creep Me Out

We do daily shows and our subscribers go down, we disappear for two weeks and figures go through the roof - is someone trying to tell us something here? Rob got thinking about ten seemingly innocent things that really give him the willies and recorded this mp3 podcast with them all on:-

  • 10 - Music boxes
  • 9 - Peewee Herman
  • 8 - Twins
  • 7 - Brass ornaments
  • 6 - Roosters spurs
  • 5 - Boots makeup girls
  • 4 - Masks
  • 3 - Yoko Ono
  • 2 - Puppets
  • 1 - Clowns

You like these lists? Then send us yours to topofthepods@gmail.com and we'll be sure to read it out on www.topofthepods.com. Thanks everyone for sticking with us while we took time off podcasting, we'll make up for it we promise.

Thursday, November 24, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Christopher Walken Films

Now standing for President in the States, here is Rowleys Top Ten of Christopher Walken Films:-

  • 10 - Things to do in Denver when you are dead
  • 9 - Antz
  • 8 - The Stepford Wives
  • 7 - American Sweethearts
  • 6 - Pulp Fiction
  • 5 - Batman Returns
  • 4 - The Dead Zone
  • 3 - The Deer Hunter
  • 2 - Sleepy Hollow
  • 1 - A View To A Kill

Looking at the huge drop in stats it seems like half our audience have gone to visit their parents for Thanksgiving. So take advantage of becoming technical support, while you are fixing your Moms email account then why install Juice or iTunes and subscribe to www.topofthepods.com? You might also want to test Moms email account by generating a test message from www.podcastalley.com. Happy holidays, we'll be back on Monday.


Wednesday, November 23, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Ways To Tell You Are An SMS Text Message Addict

On today's show Paul sends us ten tell tale signs that we could be using our mobile phone text messaging a little too much:-

  • 10 - Text only friends
  • 9 - T9 is quicker
  • 8 - Bluejacking
  • 7 - Quicker than QWERTY
  • 6 - The arrival buzz
  • 5 - Spam yourself
  • 4 - TXT SPK
  • 3 - Communicate more via text than by talking
  • 2 - Withdrawal symptoms
  • 1 - Checking the phone every 10 seconds

What more can we say? Send us your audio comments to topofthepods@gmail.com so we can play you on the show.



Tuesday, November 22, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Things That Are 99 Percent Unlikely To Happen

Richard sent us this wonderful top ten list about things that ain't gonna happen:-

  • 10 - Time Travel
  • 9 - Teleporting
  • 8 - Living Forever
  • 7 - Classless Society
  • 6 - End of Technology Development
  • 5 - End of Human Curiosity
  • 4 - World Peace
  • 3 - End of Taxes
  • 2 - End of Pollution
  • 1 - End of the Universe

Sorry if the show goes on a little too long, feel free to complain to topofthepods@gmail.com - we are just making up for not doing a show this friday.

This is another repost - either feedburner or libsyn are playing up - does anyone else who uses this combination have the same problem?



Monday, November 21, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten More Canadian Misconceptions

Worst show ever, not the fault of the list - just some bad advice. Don't listen to this show. If you have other podcasts to listen to then spend half an hour on one of those instead:-

  • 10 - That it snows here in July.
  • 9 - That Toronto is the capital city.
  • 8 - That Canadians are so polite that we never swear.
  • 7 - That Celin Dion is Canadian.
  • 6 - That we end each sentence with the word 'eh'.
  • 5 - That the national animal is the moose.
  • 4 - Newfoundland are a bit slower than the rest of the country.
  • 3 - That there are no great Canadian podcasts.
  • 2 - That our national anthem is the lumberjack song .
  • 1 - That Canada is part of America.

We think we might have done this show already, sorry if we have!


Friday, November 18, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Fun Things To Do On The Web

Its Friday, and if you haven't got anything better to do whilst stuck at work then why not try some of the following web sites:-


If you are new to the www.topofthepods.com web site you might be wondering where these links are - click on the 'Display the spoilers' link in the left hand column. We hid them so we don't spoil the surprise of the show.

What keeps you busy at the work on the web? Pop your cool distractions on the comments board for this post and we might even do another show about them. Keep 'em clean, if not email them to topofthepods@gmail.com.



Thursday, November 17, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Favourite Sweets

We hope you are not feeling hungry whilst listening to today's show as Alex from Warlingham in Surrey brings up the subject of his favourite candy:-

  • 10 - Bazooka Joe Bubble Gum
  • 9 - Space Rocks
  • 8 - Gobstoppers
  • 7 - Black Jacks
  • 6 - Starburst / Opal Fruits
  • 5 - Dairy Milk
  • 4 - Strawberry Sherbets
  • 3 - Cadburys Flake
  • 2 - Texan Bar
  • 1 - Mars Bar

Bored? Then why not knock us up a top ten list and email it to topofthepods@gmail.com, we'll read it out on http://www.topofthepods.com/. Alex also wanted to plug http://www.cybercandy.co.uk/ for some strange reason, not sure if Alex is on commission or not. But if you do buy anything and there is one of those questions that says 'Where did you hear about www.cybercandy.co.uk then please give us a mention. If they send us anything then we'll donate it to needy orphans and family members for Christmas.


Wednesday, November 16, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Celebs We Really Want To Listen To This Show

What really motivates Jon and Rob to Podcast is knowing that these ten people might well be listening to our show:-

  • 10 - Ozone and Turbo from Breakdance The Movie
  • 9 - Hurley from Lost
  • 8 - Edward Norton
  • 7 - Tim from Radio Clash
  • 6 - Clifton James
  • 5 - Daphne Zuniga
  • 4 - John Cusack
  • 3 - Mike Reid (aka Frank Butcher)
  • 2 - Gill Grissom from CSI (aka William L.Petersen)
  • 1 - Terry Silver from Karate Kid Part 3

If you know any of these people then please do us a favour and tell them about http://www.topofthepods.com - we'll be sitting and monitoring the topofthepods@gmail.com email account for one of these people to make us very happy. Imagine the look on our friends faces if we told them Terry Silver listens to our show.


Monday, November 14, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten SciFi Movies

Rowley from www.darkcompass.com gives it to us SciFi style with his top ten scifi movies:-

  • 10 - Spaceballs
  • 9 - Star Trek 6 - The Undiscovered Country
  • 8 - Pitch Black
  • 7 - Akira
  • 6 - Forbidden Planet
  • 5 - Terminator
  • 4 - Star Wars - The Empire Strikes Back
  • 3 - Alien
  • 2 - The Matrix
  • 1 - Blade Runner
Don't forget if you want to have your list on www.topofthepods.com then email topofthepods@gmail.com. Or just email topofthepods@gmail.com and say hi. Either way topofthepods@gmail.com.

Friday, November 11, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Tips For Blokes On The Pull

Toria offers the single lads some insider information about how to impress the hot chickadees this weekend:-

  • 10 - Look Good
  • 9 - Compliments
  • 8 - Stand Out
  • 7 - Be Nice
  • 6 - Smile
  • 5 - Dance
  • 4 - Be Funny
  • 3 - Be Yourself
  • 2 - Intelligent Conversation
  • 1 - Be Confident

Obviously there's not a single bloke alive that possesses more than one of these qualities, even if we were capable of all ten then we'd still get complaints about leaving the toilet seat up. Let us know how well you all get on - depending on how things go Toria could be looking at hosting the Podcasting equivalent of blind date if these tips actually work. We personally recommend plenty of drinks and lying profusely.

This is a repost, either Feedburner or Libsyn hasn't been behaving and making things work with your podcasting software - you can still see yesterdays comments here. While you have the weekend with nothing to do we are running dry of audio comments so why not say hello into a microphone and email the recording to topofthepods@gmail.com.

*The phrase 'On The Pull' is an English phrase meaning to go out in the evening and meet young ladies with the view to going on a date, it's nothing rude.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Ways To Blow A Tenner

Shame on Jon, Kevin wrote this list and Jon took all the credit. Here are some great things you can do with a ten pound note that is burning a hole in your pocket:-

  • 10 - Buy 10 Big Issues and then stand near/opposite to the guy you bought them off offering them at a cheaper price.
  • 9 - Order an adult magazine/video/DVD of some obscure fetish from the internet and have it delivered to one of your friends.
  • 8 - Buy 2 tamagotchi and take them to an animal shelter saying you can’t properly care for your pets any longer.
  • 7 - Offer it as 1st prize at an impromptu diving contest at your nearest pool with Olympic height diving board.
  • 6 - Purchase as many cans/bottles of coca cola as possible and walk around your city centre giving them to people and hugging them just like the advert.
  • 5 - Paypal donation to www.topofthepods.com account.
  • 4 - Sign your best mate up to a gay dating agency - supply every contact detail.
  • 3 - Buy five pints and a packet of dry roasted peanuts down the working mans club and consume them all in 45 mins.
  • 2 - Pay a musical busker to do an hours set of the most irritating songs you can think of.
  • 1 - Buy 1000 White chocolate mice penny sweets at newsagents just to make the guy at the counter count them out. Pay for them in pennies for bonus points.

We'd also like to thank Mark B, Mike Kuhse, Jo Vile, Sean from Riverside, Grant from Leith, Tom the Truck driver, Richard, Alex from Warlingham, Mike from the 6620 West Kidcast and Molly. Also Linda who send us an email saying "I didn't bother to join in the 'what I would do with a tenner' contest, but no matter."

Also mentioned during the show was www.allofmp3.com (for music), www.karmabanque.com (for reasons why we shouldn't drink Coca Cola) and www.cybercandy.co.uk (for a great way to blow ten quid on sweets).

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Things About Hollow Horse

Hollow Horse sent us their great album called Beggarstown recently with the challenge of doing a show about it. He also gave us ten anecdotes about the band which are very hard to summarize in the shownotes, instead here are the tracks that we played in the background:-

  • 10 - Life is Fine, But It Could Be Wonderful
  • 9 - Love One Another
  • 8 - If Love Is The Answer, What Was The Question
  • 7 - Just To Know That You Are In The World
  • 6 - Right Beside You
  • 5 - Half Way There
  • 4 - Do What You Do Best
  • 3 - Forget The Girl
  • 2 - Wait
  • 1 - I'm Left Wondering

If you'd like to know more about Hollow Horse then head over to http://www.hollowhorse.co.uk and show your support for these great musicians by buying the album, if only for the wonderful track 'I'm Left Wondering'. If you like this type of music then why subscribe to these two great musical podcasts http://www.tartanpodcast.com and http://www.threefromleith.blogspot.com.



Tuesday, November 08, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Barry Pepper Films

Its a movie list today which has kindly been supplied by Roger from Guildford. He's a big fan of the film star Barry Pepper and has graciously compiled his favourite ten movies:-

  • 10 - Titanic the TV series
  • 9 - 25th Hour
  • 8 - We Were Soldiers
  • 7 - Saving Private Ryan
  • 6 - The Dale Earnhart Story
  • 5 - The Green Mile
  • 4 - Enemy of the State
  • 3 - Knockaround Guys
  • 2 - Snowwalker
  • 1 - Battlefield Earth

If you'd like to send us your list then email topofthepods@gmail.com, full instructions are on our site at www.topofthepods.com.

Monday, November 07, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Things You Buy That Gather Dust

Robs list today, these are the things that you buy thinking that you'll improve your lifestyle, but end up being ignored after a month:-

  • 10 - Manuals and receipts
  • 9 - Puzzles
  • 8 - The novelty Christmas noisey thing
  • 7 - Coffee frother
  • 6 - Universal remote control
  • 5 - Gym membership
  • 4 - Executive desk toys
  • 3 - Bathroom scales
  • 2 - An exercise bike
  • 1 - An FM radio

Hey everyone, if you'd really like to help us out but can't donate then why not support us on Podcast Alley by voting for us?

Friday, November 04, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Top Of The Pods

Linda from Havertown (whom we worship) provides todays top ten list to our guest host Mark from the Tartan Podcast (whom we also worship). Linda asks - are you a new listener to TOTP? If so, here is a list of lists from Rob and Jon that will give you an idea of what you;ve missed over the past six months. No need to use up the boy's bandwidth to download everything yet. Check these out first:-


Mark also jokered out number 3 and replaced it with the Crisp Flavour show. Rob wanted to try adding the Top Ten Reasons Why I Is Proud To Be An American.

Thanks so much to Mark for helping out hosting the show today, Mark by the way is also joining Jon and Rob at the Lance Anderson Podcast Experiment - details at http://www.highblue.co.uk/events.

Thursday, November 03, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Things I Hate About DIY

Welcome to all our new listeners from the iTunes homepage, we hope the extra surge in traffic didn't play havoc with our servers earlier on today. Jon is poorly with the flu, and being unable to speak isn't a good attribute when it comes to hosting a podcast. Instead we skype the hotline to Scotland to bring you Mark from the Tartan Podcast, he's been decorating and this has enraged him so much that he has compiled a hate list:-

  • 10 - Planning
  • 9 - Going to the DIY store
  • 8 - Paint pots
  • 7 - Arguing
  • 6 - Barley White
  • 5 - Getting started
  • 4 - Shelves
  • 3 - Never looks how you planned
  • 2 - Cleaning up
  • 1 - Doing it yourself

As this was a spur of the moment Skype call the audio quality wasn't quite up to scratch, but the main thing is we've done a show. We should hopefully be back to our 5 days a week schedules of shows. Mark has kindly agreed to do a show on Friday, in the mean time if you are a new listener we have almost 150 shows in our archives on www.topofthepods.com waiting for your ears.

If you find you are having problems downloading shows then try replacing libsyn.com with libsyn.org in the path and it should download no problem.



Monday, October 31, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Features of iTunes

Think of a product, add the letter 'i' to the start of the name and add a zero to the end of the price tag and you've got Apples marketing strategy. Rich from Doncaster is a big fan iTunes, he has compiled his list of the best things that he likes about the software.:-

  • 10 - iMix
  • 9 - Album art
  • 8 - Search / Browse
  • 7 - Burn to CD and DVD
  • 6 - Basic editing
  • 5 - Firefox plug-in
  • 4 - Smart playlists
  • 3 - Podcasts
  • 2 - iPod compatibility
  • 1 - Music store

We would like to give a big thanks to Timothy Allan who has provided us with most of the music for today's show, visit http://timothyallan.com and check out his entire song archive. Timothy is a great musician who is embracing podcasting and supplies all his songs via an RSS feed as he releases them. If you'd like to support and encourage Tim for providing us with his tunes for the show then just drop him a quick hello using the details on his contact page.

Also mentioned in today's show is a campaign to get Microsoft to keep the Orange RSS / XML logo. They are asking the public what they think of some new icon designs for RSS in Internet Explorer 7 - head over to the Microsoft Developers Blog and show your support in keeping the standard RSS.

Last but not least, remember that it's the first of the month tomorrow so please show your support by voting for Top of the Pods at Podcast Alley.



Wednesday, October 26, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Telephone Numbers

Phil from Watford finished using the phone for long enough to compile his list of the Top Ten telephone numbers:-

  • 10 - 9
  • 9 - Childhood phone number
  • 8 - 0800 1111
  • 7 - Your own phone number
  • 6 - 321
  • 5 - 192
  • 4 - Taxi firms
  • 3 - 555-anything
  • 2 - 999, 911 and 112
  • 1 - 018118055

We are so sorry that we have resorted to talking about ten different numbers for show content, if you think you can come up with anything yourself then email topofthepods@gmail.com.


Tuesday, October 25, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Things If You Are Nearly 40 You Wished For When You Were 8

We know no more about Owen than he is nearly 40 and used to dream for outragous things as a child:-

  • 10 - To be be allowed to wear long trousers to school
  • 9 - A hundred pounds
  • 8 - Long hair not cut short by me Mum
  • 7 - To play striker for Derby County
  • 6 - Knowledge of enough karate to duff up the school bully
  • 5 - Captain Kirk's phaser
  • 4 - A Bond girl (or failing that, one from Benny Hill)
  • 3 - A Ferarri 308
  • 2 - To be able to fly
  • 1 - X-ray specs

Monday, October 24, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Things To Do In An Elevator

I'm pretty sure that this list has been doing the rounds on the internet in some shape or form, but the fantastic Sean from Chicago sent it to topofthepods@gmail.com and we read it out:-

  • 10 - Stand silent and motionless in the corner, facing the wall, without getting off.
  • 9 - Say 'Ding!' at each floor.
  • 8 - Smack your forehead and say "Shut up, dammit, all of you just shut UP!"
  • 7 - Bring a chair and desk along and ask if they appointment.
  • 6 - Actually use the elevator normally.
  • 5 - When arriving at your floor, grunt and strain to yank the doors open, then act embarrassed when they open by themselves.
  • 4 - Announce in a quiet voice: "I must find a more suitable host body."
  • 3 - Break wind and blame it on the person next to you.
  • 2 - Lean against the doors, fall out when the doors open, then moan in pain.
  • 1 - Make explosion noises when anyone presses a button.

Sorry to Daniel from Greece who sent us a similar list in a different order, we'll do one of the other lists you sent us. Rob mentioned a film starring Tony Jaa called 'Ong-Bak' - if you like martial arts movies then this is the business! We'd also like to thank Colin from http://www.podcastlaunchpad.com for writing a great review about us - if you'd like to add your 2 cents worth to the comments board there it would certainly help provide more ideas for first time listeners deciding if they want to subscribe or not.

We asked on today's show for your ideas for the "Top Ten Ways To Spend A Tenner" (a tenner is the average note that you'd expect to find in your wallet) - email the most imaginative thing to topofthepods@gmail.com and we'll do a show out of it soon.


Thursday, October 20, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten UK Modern Comedians

Tom from Bolton has been thinking long and hard about the current top ten comedians in the UK, something tells us he is going to be bias towards a couple of the guys on this list:-

  • 10 - Dave Spikey
  • 9 - Craig Cash
  • 8 - Paul Merton
  • 7 - Matt Lucas and David Walliams
  • 6 - Ali G
  • 5 - Jonny Vegas
  • 4 - Omid Djalili
  • 3 - Jack Dee
  • 2 - Ricky Gervais
  • 1 - Peter Kay

We have been asked to do The Lance Anderson Podcast Experiment, more details are at www.highblue.co.uk/events.

TOTP - Top Ten Things People Do The Day They Quit Their Job

New server, new show. Dion from South Africa knows a few people who have lost their jobs and confess what they do on their last day of work:-

  • 10 - Say sorry
  • 9 - Company expense account
  • 8 - Don't arrive for work
  • 7 - Exposing
  • 6 - Doughnuts!
  • 5 - Hot co-workers
  • 4 - Car seat peeing
  • 3 - Cheating workmates
  • 2 - Delete backups
  • 1 - Swear at the boss
We are in the process of moving all our archived shows over to libsyn which will take a few days, if you are missing any old ones then please refer to our website at www.topofthepods.com and use the updated links on there.

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Reasons Why I Dont Smoke

Jon feels guilty and Rob feels preachy- all thanks to Emile from Singapore who provides an insight into why he doesn't smoke:-

  • 10 - Menthol light are $11 per pack
  • 9 - Smokers are always begging for a stick
  • 8 - Smokers smell
  • 7 - They look cooler when they get lung cancer
  • 6 - 9 out of 10 smokers wants to quit but only 1 is successful
  • 5 - I ain't weak
  • 4 - Morons contribute to the government
  • 3 - People are trying their best to get in while people who are in it are trying hard to get out
  • 2 - Mommy told me not to smoke
  • 1 - I love myself too much
Anyone having issues with bloggers comments board verification? Can you let us know by emailing topofthepods@gmail.com - we are not sure if things are working or not. By the way this is a repost of the show as a lot of people haven't managed to download it yet due to our server problems.

Monday, October 17, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Things To Hate About BMWs

SlamIdol Simon from the SlamIdol Podcast found at http://slamidol.tripod.com really doesn't like the BMW, when he isn't scoring exclusive podcasts with Steven Fry he is compiling his top ten hate lists about those pesky automobiles and their upper crust owners:-

  • 10 - Angel Eye Headlamps
  • 9 - M Sticker
  • 8 - Abusing their own numbering system
  • 7 - Ridiculously ugly coupes
  • 6 - 4x4's
  • 5 - Bulbous styling
  • 4 - Hijacking Bond films
  • 3 - Doing the mini better than Austin or Rover did
  • 2 - Holding a mobile driving
  • 1 - Tailgating
Also we mentioned another great Scottish music podcast presented by www.topofthepods.com comments board regular Grant - he does the Three From Leith podcast found at http://www.threefromleith.blogspot.com.

Monday, October 10, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Software You Cant Live Without

From a web developers perspective these are on the shortlist for peices of handy software that will save you time and wristache, Rob brings you his list of the 10 great bits of software:-

These have all been tried and tested for many hours without any problem, it you get any issues please contact the developers and not us! Email topofthepods@gmail.com with other things though, such as your top ten lists or just to say a nice big hello.

We also mentioned Microsoft Max - http://www.microsoft.com/max - it views your JPEGs in lovely 3D fashion, and a great way to melt your graphics card. The colour picker for web designers is called Pixie and you can download it for free at http://www.nattyware.com/pixie.html.

The other thing we talked about was the BBC 'Have Your Say' form - please spend 5 minutes filling this in and you really can drag Auntie into this century.

Follow all the items Jon has for sale on ebay on our comments board, when he's sold his PS2 I'm sure there will be more stuff to follow.


Wednesday, October 05, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Ways To Become An Absolute Computer Dork

James Gardner sent us this list of the ten ways to spot a computer dork. How well do you score?:-

  • 10 - Have a print out on your wall from Google maps of Cupertino.
  • 9 - Complain to the BBC more than once a week.
  • 8 - Think a duck's quack doesn't echo.
  • 7 - Wear a slashdot T-Shirt on a first date.
  • 6 - Know what yEnc, LAME, BSD, MozDev and OSS are acronyms for.
  • 5 - Tell people about Adam Curry and expect them to be enthusiastic.
  • 4 - Have a gmail account.
  • 3 - Ask the lazy disinterested teenage shop assistant in PC world about Linux just so you can tell them what it is and why you hate Microsoft.
  • 2 - Say "LOL" and "ROFLMAO" in normal conversation.
  • 1 - Never leave the house and have no friends.
Want us to read out your list? Then email it to topofthepods@gmail.com, we'll read it out on http://www.topofthepods.com/. We also talked about http://www.proporta.com/, where you can get 10% off with the magical TOTP10 coupon code. Oh, George Clooney and Micheal Douglas pay a visit too and explain podcasting in their own dignified fashion.

Tuesday, October 04, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Negative Things About The Music Industry

He's Sam, he's 14, he's male, he's from Reading and he's mad. He's mad about the music industry, and who isn't? They charge us English three times the amount that you pay anywhere else in the world for exactly the same load of old tosh:-

  • 10 - Unfair Advertising.
  • 9 - Multiple Greatest Hits Releases.
  • 8 - Reality TV Artists.
  • 7 - Flavour Of The Month Bands.
  • 6 - Great Bands, Rubbish Singer.
  • 5 - Scenesters.
  • 4 - Band Labelling.
  • 3 - The Same Sample/Drum Loop Used On Every Other Song.
  • 2 - High Prices For Downloads.
  • 1 - Image And Controversy.
The two very cheap legal music download web sites mentioned in the show are http://www.mp3search.ru/ and http://www.allofmp3.com/ - you can treat your mp3 player with the money you've saved with these services on some accessories from http://www.proporta.com/ using the coupon code TOTP10 with 10% off. How about a nice pouch, some new retractable headphones or a protective case?

For any Top Ten Google lists please email them to topofthepods@gmail.com and make sure you CC a copy to adsense-adclicks-uk@google.com - they are the google team that strive for control of the web and we are sure they want your feedback on how they can improve things even more. They certainly don't want Top of the Pods included on their internet though. Maybe that should be on your Google list?


Monday, October 03, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Soldiers You Would Want On Your Side In A Battle

Thanks to Chung from London we have been sent the definitive list of the top ten film soldiers that you want on your side:-

  • 10 - Private Jackson (Saving Private Ryan)
  • 9 - Gunnery Sgt. Tom 'Gunny' Highway (Heartbreak Ridge)
  • 8 - Capt. Virgil "The Cooler King" Hilts (The Great Escape)
  • 7 - Private Hudson (Aliens)
  • 6 - John Patrick Mason (The Rock)
  • 5 - Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Top Gun)
  • 4 - Private Forrest Gump (Forrest Gump)
  • 3 - Col. John "Hannibal" Smith (The A-Team)
  • 2 - Major "Dutch" Schaefer (Predator)
  • 1 - John Rambo (Rambo - First Blood Part 2)

As mentioned at the start of this show, today's podcast is recorded in the MP3 Surround Sound Format. To experience the 5.1 surround sound you will need a sound-card with around 6 speakers hanging out of the back and some special software. You can download the mp3 surround player from www.mp3surround-format.com, available for Windows 2000, XP and Mac OS X - you'll also get the WinAmp plug-ins with the Windows version.

The show itself is slightly larger than a regular stereo MP3 of similar quality. Don't worry if you don't own the necessary hardware, you should still be able to listen to the show on your normal mp3 players. This is an experiment and we need your feedback, so please use the comments board on www.topofthepods.com or email us at topofthepods@gmail.com. Remember, you need the hardware, software and original MP3 file - if your podcasting client converts the file into AAC for example then it will loose all the additional surround data, so ensure that the player is using the original file downloaded from our server.

Saturday, October 01, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Misconceptions About Australia

This one goes out to Leanne, a workmate of Klaus - the ten things that the rest of the world gets wrong about those lovely Australians:-

  • 10 - The fastest sport in Australia are the koala-bear-races
  • 9 - Kangaroos are used as shopping bags
  • 8 - All men are named Bruce
  • 7 - Every Australian person has its own sheep farm
  • 6 - Instead of formal elections a didgeridoo-contest is held - the winner will be the prime-minister
  • 5 - They have only one category of driving license that includes small planes and road trains
  • 4 - Their army is equipped only with boomerangs
  • 3 - The land is completely flat except Ayers rock
  • 2 - Australia is still a colony of convicts
  • 1 - Australia is a separate continent because they have no real friends
Its October the 1st - we need your support on Podcast Alley - vote for us at http://www.podcastalley.com/one_vote2.php?pod_id=2992. It's free, quick and easy and makes us look good against the big guys in podcasting who get paid for their shows. What do we get? Nout. Not a dickie bird. But you can change all that - please head over to www.proporta.com and claim your 10% discount using TOTP10 - not just if you have a PDA, but they also provide every other accessory for your mp3 player and gaming device. We line up these great offers for you all and we need you to do is buy a christmas present a few weeks early.

Did we mention Mondays show? Its a podcasting first...


Friday, September 30, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Worst Places To Use The Toilet

We've beeped everything out of this show that made any sense, so as not to rule out any potential sponsorship from Disney. This show really went down the pan after we started reading out Jeremys' list about 10 places not to use the toilet:-

  • 10 - Shopping mall
  • 9 - Concert
  • 8 - Work
  • 7 - New girlfriends
  • 6 - Airplane
  • 5 - Outdoors
  • 4 - Airport
  • 3 - Ballpark
  • 2 - Bar
  • 1 - Enclosureless
We're about a day behind with the shows, so last nights is today's. Tonight's show might get done tonight, it might get done tomorrow. Its just crazy.

Thursday, September 29, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Worst Subjects At School

Ratboy sent us his list of the subjects that he really doesn't get on with at school. In England the term 'Ratboy' (coined by popular anti-everything newspaper The Daily Mail) refers to a 12 year old Artful Dodger type that breaks into your house, nicks your video then leaves dog mess on your dining room rug because he's not at school - after reading this list we are convinced this listener could be inclined to do so:-

  • 10 - Technology
  • 9 - English Language
  • 8 - Chemistry
  • 7 - History
  • 6 - Music
  • 5 - Religious Studies
  • 4 - Physical Education
  • 3 - English Literature
  • 2 - Modern Languages
  • 1 - Physics
What was your worst subject at school? Is there something Ratboy forgot (apart from nicking your jewelery and CD collection too)? Then let us know using the technological gift of the discussion board on the www.topofthepods.com web site.

Tuesday, September 27, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Japanese Animes

We are so sorry for our total lack of knowledge with Animes, we would especially like to say sorry to Ninereeds for the top ten list that was sent to topofthepods@gmail.com as we made a real mess of todays show:-

  • 10 - Cardcaptor Sakura
  • 9 - Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha
  • 8 - Magical Canan
  • 7 - Genesis of Aquarion
  • 6 - Pretty Cure
  • 5 - UFO Princess Valkyrie
  • 4 - Gundam Seed Destiny
  • 3 - Rockman EXE
  • 2 - Final Fantasy Unlimited
  • 1 - Azumanga Daioh
Do you own a Pocket PC, Palm, iPod, iRiver, Creative, Sony, Nintendo or PSP? If you want to look after them and release their full potential then why not visit http://www.proporta.com/, http://www.proportamusic.com/ and www.proportagame.com and use your special Top of the Pods coupon code - just enter TOTP10 to claim 10% off your Proporta order.

Monday, September 26, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Uses For Your PDA

Rob brings you ten things you should be using your PDA for other than just remembering telephone numbers :-

We'd like to tell you all about a great show called The Small Fry Podcast at http://smallfrypodcast.libsyn.com that plays tunes from Singapores independent music scene.

If you'd like to Pimp Your PDA then the friendly people at Proporta have set up a coupon code that gives you 10% off! Just use the code TOTP10 before the 31st of December 2005 with any of their web sites - www.proporta.com, www.proportamusic.com and www.proportagame.com.


Thursday, September 22, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Songs Considered Worthy Endings To A Night Of Drunkeness

James knows how to annoy his neighbours in Gloucester after a few too many beers, he sent us his list of the ten songs that make the perfect ending to an beer fuelled evening:-

  • 10 - Swing Low Sweet Chariot - Various/Hymn
  • 9 - Don't Stop Me Know - Queen
  • 8 - You'll Never Walk Alone - Righteous Brothers - and other artists
  • 7 - Nothing Compares To You - Sinead O'Connor
  • 6 - Yesterday - Beatles
  • 5 - We Are The Champions - Queen
  • 4 - Robbie Williams - Angels
  • 3 - Hey Jude - Beatles
  • 2 - Wonderwall - Oasis
  • 1 - Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
Mark from the Tartan Podcast took advantage of entering his email address into www.firebox.com/topofthepods to receive five pounds off his purchase of some Thinking Putty. After just 24 hours he received his great Firebox toy and took some photos which you can see on his flickr page - if you are the first person to video or photograph a new item on the Firebox site they'll send you another £10 gift voucher too. How cool?

No show tomorrow, but back soon with more top ten lists. Have a good weekend everyone, feel free to skype us at topofthepods.


Wednesday, September 21, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten British Films Of All Time

The wonderful Billy knows his movies - he has kindly compiled his list of the greatest British films of all time. We've been racking our brains trying to work out which ones we have missed out - share with everyone on our comments board what you think the best British films were:-

  • 10 - The 39 Steps
  • 9 - Trainspotting
  • 8 - The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and her Lover
  • 7 - If....
  • 6 - Don't Look Now
  • 5 - Withnail and I
  • 4 - The Ipcress File
  • 3 - Scum
  • 2 - Brief Encounter
  • 1 - The Third Man
By the way, if you haven't got an Airzooka yet then please get one from www.firebox.com/topofthepods (you'll get a fiver off) - its been causing mayhem here at Top Of The Pods towers and we think it should be doing the same where you work too.

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Criminally Snubbed Comedians

The very kind and helpful Sir Paul Hutchinson noted the Jon and Rob totally ignored some comedians in previous comedy lists, so he sent us his Top Ten comedians that 'should have been' (the fact that half of them haven't been heard of in the UK has nothing to do with it...) :-

  • 10 - Bill Cosby
  • 9 - Jim Carrey
  • 8 - Mike Myers
  • 7 - Jamie Foxx
  • 6 - Lewis Black
  • 5 - Ray Romano
  • 4 - Jeff Foxworthy
  • 3 - Robin Williams
  • 2 - Jon Stewart
  • 1 - Chris Rock
We'd like to thank Paul for all his hard work helping out with bits and bobs for the Top of the Pods podcast, send your lists to topofthepods@gmail.com if you can think of some really original, entertaining and thought provoking content.

Monday, September 19, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Mashups From The Mashup Podcast

Ross, the brains behind The Mashup Podcast found at www.mashuppodcast.co.uk kindly sent us his top ten mashups. We've added links to the mashup artists websites (we couldn't possibly do links to the actual songs and artists), and there are plenty more tunes that you can check out:-

Did we mention if you go to www.firebox.com/topofthepods you'll get a whole five english pounds off anything on their web site?

Friday, September 16, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Office Chaos Causing Products

Its Friday everyone, and if you are like us on a Friday in an office, then working is the last thing on your mind. After an extended lunch break in the pub you are probably all sitting around with nothing better to do but read this. Well you don't have to be bored any longer, those nice people from Firebox have sent a list of ten things you might want to get hold of to cause as much mayhem as possible in that drab dreary grey office you reside in:-

"Oh no" we hear you cry "I could have afforded one of those if I didn't spend that five pounds at lunchtime on a drink". Well fortunatly the people at Firebox are offering every Top of the Pods listener a free five pounds gift voucher, so head over to www.firebox.com/topofthepods, punch in the old email address and you'll automatically get sent a five pound gift voucher. How cool is that?

Tuesday, September 13, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Women Who Should Have Been Born Male

Diane complained that we never do any shows for women, but this show is going to prove her wrong. We asked you all to email topofthepods@gmail.com with your lists, and Gordon from Glasgow sent us his list of women who are a total waste of space. We are inclined to agree with him, fill up that comments page found at www.topofthepods.com with your thoughts and suggestions on the subject:-

  • 10 - Paris Hilton
  • 9 - Mary Phelps Jacob
  • 8 - Avril Lavigne
  • 7 - Lily Savage
  • 6 - Jordan
  • 5 - Anne Robinson
  • 4 - Rhona Martin
  • 3 - Jennifer Lopez
  • 2 - Jade Goody
  • 1 - Maggie Thatcher

Monday, September 12, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten Reasons To Come To Podcastcon

Podcast Paul from www.podcastpaul.com is likely to join forces with Mark from www.tartanpodcast.com to sue us guys after todays show. Here at ten great reasons to visit Berners Hotel on Oxford Street in London on September the 17th:-

  • 10 - It promotes podcasting and raises interest
  • 9 - You can have a beer an a curry afterwards
  • 8 - You have something to look forward to
  • 7 - You get a break from the Mrs and kids
  • 6 - You’ll learn a whole load more about podcasting
  • 5 - You can be a geek in company and not worry about it
  • 4 - You get a cracking day out in London for £30
  • 3 - You get to see what your podcasting mates (and listeners) are like
  • 2 - You can be part of history by saying you were there RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING
  • 1 - You get to meet the podcasters - including the excellent John & Rob!
For more details about Podcastcon please visit http://www.podcastcon.co.uk.

Friday, September 09, 2005

TOTP - Top Ten SciFi Totty

Rowland from Dark Compass has been up to his usual tricks, this time combining his two hobbies (scifi and looking at the ladies) to bring us his top ten list of the nicest looking girls in science fiction. We've popped some pretty good pictures on the spoilers, so please take the effort to look:-

We'd also like to thank Paul H for all the kind work he's been doing to help us out by submitting Top of the Pods to pretty much every podcast directory there is - if there are any that have been missed out then please be our guest.