The Fox and the Ham
By Rashid Taleb
The Fox and the HamDec 04, 2021
Episode 25: Household Essentials
We try to make a list of the top 8 must have essential household items for a new homeowner.
Also, Mark has infinite shirts, clothing vs toilet paper, Mark is a cool kid that uses sponges, and Rashid remembers which Zach is which.
On Movies and Soda
Sorry for the delay; it's been all dissertation defenses, lost jobs, and lost pets here the last few weeks. It's all sorted now though (knock on wood), so I'm happy to unleash our most free-form episode yet. We just go full shooting the breeze mode in this one.
Topics: being Grievous, Rashid hates the movies you love and loves the movies you hate, Mark and Rashid both hate the soda you love, and so much more.
Clarinet Waves, Dyson Moon, and the Best Programming Language
We are changing up the format a little here: NO LISTS!
We decided to just let the conversation flow from the idea of discussing naturally occurring waveforms to whatever we wanted to discuss. If you're still listening by now, we figure you must like us talking.
In this episode we discuss waves, tailcoats, coding languages, dyson sphereing (sphering?) the moon, and the proper pronunciation of "daemon." Also, Rashid (the pedant) doesn't know what a glockenspiel is, but might know something about English and possibly magnets too.
Does anyone remember the story of when Joshua fired plasma balls at Jericho until the walls were demolished?
*Slight warning: Rashid is such a pedant, that he gets mad and curses once in this. We try to keep this clean, so feel free to mock him mercilessly and maybe he will learn to not be so irritating (probably not though).
Episode 24: The Best Animated Characters
Now, after an even longer break, nobody remains; that doesn't mean we won't keep making these though.
We make a top 10 list of the greatest (best?) animated characters of to date.
Also: Mark learns what a character is, Rashid has a hot take, and we both agree on the world's most iconic mice.
Episode 23: The Best Thanksgiving Foods
We finally return after half a year; only the true fans (and my parents) remain. We're back to bring you our thoughts on Thanksgiving cuisine.
Also: Rashid gives proof as to why America's favorite pizza topping is bad and you all should feel bad, Mark tries to defend soup as a key ingredient to macaroni and cheese, and we both leave out turkey. So bring your festive pitchforks and have a listen.
Episode 22: Top 10 Gen 1 Pokémon
We attempt to make a list of the five best Pokémon from the original 150...and failed, so we made a top 10 list instead.
Also, Sanford and Son, The Munsters, The Brady Bunch, and many other old shows that people don't remember.
Also Also, the objective huggability scale.
Sorry for the delay, but it's not like we have a schedule at this point.
Episode 21: Dog Breeds With the Cutest Puppies
This week, our friend Jackie joins us to discuss what breeds of dog we believe have the cutest puppies around.
Also, tiny dictators, Rashid never steps on Mark's opinions, a counsel of elders, and Rashid speaks out for the populares.
Minisode 10 - 2018 AKC Most Popular Breeds
Sorry for the delay (this one's straight up on me, but don't tell anyone); we are back with a minisode on the AKC.
We took a look at the most popular breeds of 2018 and shared our thoughts.
Also, Rashid explains why the French aren't that cute, Mark exudes a passion for dogs with curly tails, Rashid drives to Boston in a reasonable amount of time, and Mark learns that a pine marten is not a dog.
Today's List.
Episode 20: Greatest Sports
After another few weeks of confusion, we're back with force. Our friends Josh and John join us to discuss the greatest sports.
Also: Mark decides the E-sports are real sports, John has fowl language, Josh "gets the point," and other silly stuff.
Episode 19: The Greatest Strategy Games
Back on our usual schedule of one episode every week...ish, we arrive with an all new format! We are going head to head with our own top five lists.
Now, when you get mad at us for forgetting something or saying dumb stuff, you'll feel as much a part of the argument as we are.
Minisode 9 - Honey Heist (Actual Play)
A special episode today; we play the one shot "Honey Heist." Our friends Wesley and Alex join forces with Mark as a trio of bears with sights on robbing Honeycon!
Apologies for any audio quality issues, we had some recording issues, but this should still be a hoot.
You can play Honey Heist too! Pick up a copy for free HERE. And if you have fun, please donate to support Grant Howitt, creator of Honey Heist.
Episode 18: Mankind's Greatest Inventions
We rise to the status that our podcast deserves by analyzing humanity's greatest inventions.
Apologies for the delay on this one; Mark moved and then we suffered some technical issues, but we're all better now.
Two lists today:
A good top 10:
https://www.livescience.com/33749-top-10-inventions-changed-world.html
A crazy top 100:
https://www.cadcrowd.com/blog/top-100-famous-inventions-and-greatest-ideas-of-all-time/
Minisode 8 - Where to Travel
We discuss where we've fantasized about going as we are trapped in our houses. Also, water and education and watches.
Episode 17: A Homework Special
A Brief Announcement About Homework
Sorry for missing this past weekend; here's our excuse and our plan to make it up to you.
Minisode 7 - A Contrast in Cat Movies
This week, we're here with another snippet of conversation. This time we discuss the Lion King remake atrocity and the Cats "movie." Also, Mark is part of the Bourgeoisie and we totally insult John Oliver.
Episode 16: Our List of Awesome Screen Deaths
This week, we couldn't find a list that captured what we were looking for, so we made our own list. A list of cool special effects deaths of the big screen. Also, the origin of our list obsession and some words on the "brown note."
No list today.
Minisode 6 - Videos, Covid, Mars...Mostly Mars
On our first episode back from holiday break, we decided to simply capture a snippet of us talking as we do outside the podcast. What follows is a strange train of thought that is rapidly derailed by a non-sequitur to become something altogether different than we planned.
Happy New Year. Enjoy!
Small edit, profanity removed, but we left in the outtake because it's kind of funny and Rashid sounds all whiny and complainy.
Episode 15: Best Smash Characters to Play
We're back after our Thanksgiving break to discuss our favorite characters to play in Super Smash Brothers. We're joined by special guest and former pro smash player Jordan Stafford.
Today's List
Minisode 5 - Holiday Specials
We take a moment to discuss what makes a good holiday special. Also: magical hotel sheets, Grinch got no pants on, the three pillars of hallmark, a metaphorical convertible.
Episode 14: Greatest Scientists of all Time
We missed last week due to election commotion, but we're back with Discover Magazine's list of greatest scientists. Also, please stare at the sun, gravity waves are important enough to need two buildings, and physicists don't remember that there are computer scientists.
Today's list
Minisode 4 - What Does Halloween Mean?
We discuss why we think people like halloween.
Also: don't vomit on a cold bus, Mark doesn't care, Rashid gives his lamest attempt at a Halloween voice, Baltimoron.
Happy post-Halloween candy hangover; I hope you're all ready for the election and, more importantly, the new Ryzen launch.
Episode 13: The Best Halloween Candy
We're still going strong for Halloween and we're back to candy. But this time we're covering the greats with a list of the best Halloween candies according to Thrillist. Also, eating the cheese rind, Airheads and Laffy Taffy and walnuts and giraffes, and the worst spooky voice so far.
Today's List
Minisode 3 - Not So Sexy Costumes
No list guessing today, but for all you fans of itemized formats don't fear! We found a list of the worst "sexy" costume ideas you could buy and discuss them.
Today's List
Sexy Bert
Episode 12: The Worst Halloween Candy
We tread well-worn ground by discussing the worst Halloween candy. Also, plenty of mandrills, don't feed your baby candy, why milk chocolate is not a power drill, and we learn what a vampire says.
Apologies for the lateness and the poor audio quality, we are working on creating an episode buffer so we never have late episodes again and Rashid left his mic in the wrong recording mode, so you can hear everything in his room. Think of it like a full immersion experience.
Today's list
Episode 11: The Best Musical Instruments
We bring in special guest Tony Villa to see if he and Mark can guess what the font of lists that is thetoptens.com has to say about what the best instruments in the world are. Also, cats join us, Mark invents Squoad, and Rashid tries desperately to end the podcast.
Apologies for the lesser sound quality, we had to record on a single mic in a concrete basement. Very fitting for a sound-based topic.
The List
Episode 10: The Best Animated Films of All Time
We discuss the best animated films and short of all time according to Studiobinder.
Also, Rashid has strong opinions on movies he doesn't like (big surprise) and admits that he thinks beast is always better looking than the prince.
Happy 10th episode!
Social Media Announcement
Episode 9: Best Selling Board Games
We discuss the best selling tabletop games of the ages. Also, the B17 has risen again.
Episode 8: The Most Beautiful Animals in the World
We take on "TheTopTens" list of the most beautiful animals on planet Earth.
Mark presents us with a shiver-inducing use of the word "pleasurable."
Rashid learns to clip less.
People are obsessed with wolves...or...at least one person is.
Minisode 2 - Open Mike Night
Rashid and Mark each spent a few hours picking a person named Michael who they thought was the ultimate Michael then each tried to argue why their own Michael was best. A straightforward program if ever there was one.
Also, don't worry if your personal favorite Michael didn't make an appearance; we thought of a lot of Michaels.
Here are a few:
Michael J. "Crocodile" Dundee
Michael J. Fox
Michael Palin
Michael Jackson
Michael B. Jordan
Michael Phelps
Michael, Archangel The
Mikey from the Life Cereal ad
Michael Mouse
Mike of "and Ike" fame
Episode 7: The Best of "As Seen on TV"
We discuss what some see as the greatest items ever to have the "As Seen on TV" badge placed on their packaging.
Not to mention car sickness the chair, canned hair, and maybe Barbara Eden's bra; all while Rashid loses his mind.
Sorry for the delayed release, getting new cats has thrown off my schedule in a major way.
Episode 6: America's Favorite Comfort Foods
We discuss the most popular comfort foods according to Jetsetter.
Also, is milk a food? Is pasta comforting? Is spagooters?
Episode 5: Best Selling Nintendo Games
Rashid and mark get very tangential as they work their way to having Rashid try to guess what the best selling Nintendo games of all time are.
Apologies for the late release, 4th of July weekend proved to be a lot more than we bargained for.
Episode 4: Top Ten Beatles Songs
We discuss music before Mark tries to guess what Rolling Stone thinks are the ten best Beatles songs.
Also, Rashid is convinced a new format of guessing is in order that will mean less hang time, less counting, and less editing for him.
In this, that most rapidly edited and uncut episode, we see the beginning of a new era!
Episode 3: Top Cartoons of the 90's and 2000's
Rashid tries to guess the contents of a Ranker list of the best cartoons that aired in the 90's and 00's. Better lists exist, but the game is on either way. We both talk about cartoons in general (Maybe Rashid watches too much TV).
*Correction: It's the dark hand, not the black hand. Those are two very different things.
Minisode 1 - Expressions
Rashid and Mark try to stump one another with some colloquialisms.