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If you have half an hour to spare, I'd recommend listening to this morning's edition of Beyond Westminster - here's an iPlayer Link - which was on (the not at all contentious topic of) religion and politics.

The main body of the programme is fairly interesting - who knew that the press are excluded from the prayers that take place every morning in the House of Commons? - but the discussion at the end is more so. I was particularly interested by the views of A C Grayling - as an atheist I often find my side of any religious discussion represented in a vaguely hysterical manner that strikes me as counterproductive and rude even if well intentioned, so it was nice to hear the whole debate completed in a measured way. Have made a mental note to seek out some of his books.

(As an aside, Richard Dawkins seems to be selling atheism T-shirts. This is bizarre. Also, it appears that theists have all the good typography.)

Working into the night brings bad habits to the fore, not least of which is listening to conservative talk radio from Nashville, TN (Supertalk 997 WTN). On the plus side, I did get to hear this gem from the Phil Valentine show, with our intrepid host interviewing one of them liberal types:

Phil Valentine: Did you have Sarah Palin on the cover?
Political writer for Time: No, because we close on Wednesdays, so.
Phil Valentine, mocking: Aaaah, but Newsweek had Palin on the cover..
Political writer for Time, exasperated: Yes. Newsweek closes on Fridays.
Phil Valentine, deflated: Oh.

This comes moments after Valentine mixing up Time magazine with another of its rivals, and minutes before the legendary Diamond Gusset Jeans song. Just amazing.

Yes, I'm still obsessed with internet radio. Anyhow, an incomplete list but representative sample:

1. A school that trains postmen/women on how to avoid dog bites
2. Enlarged prostate therapy courses (over 3,000 performed, no less)
3. Diamond gusset jeans (website, includes godawful jingle)
4. A treatment for itchy eyeballs (finally!)
5. A car - with a full tank of gas, no less - for 4$ (and, presumably, a lifetime of repayments)
6. A seminar discussing the merits of dental implants, led by a guy who sells said implants. Mmm, impartial.
7. Kettle roasted peanuts, "as explained by kettle expert Mountain John"
8. A doctor ready to treat anything "from minor trauma to allergies", and specifically injuries from fish hooks
9. The lowest price on Chevrolets and Cadillacs in the Kansas City area - or they give you $10,000! And a 50$ gas card with every purchase! Lower prices and higher standards! An American revolution!
10. &c.

One of those odd experiences today: doing a BBC radio interview. We're currently running a campaign at work and so, given the opportunity to talk about consumer rights and the Distance Selling Regulations on BBC Radio Coventry and Warwickshire, I trotted up the road to the BBC's Western House.

The whole thing was pleasantly surreal. I was shown into a tiny studio, which looked rather like one would imagine: big clock, big mixing desk thing, three microphones with brightly coloured wind shields, three sets of headphones (three of everything, in fact, but one of me). After a bit the link came on, and after chatting briefly to the producer and listening to a bit of the Byrds, I was on air. Ten minutes or so of chatting about restocking fees and the like, and the whole thing was done.

On the way out I happened to spot the list of guests and noticed that the next studio was occupied by Tony Benn, presumably talking about something of great importance, then ran into Sarah Ferguson, presumably there to do nothing of the sort. All in all, though, an interesting experience.

(Picture of the studio by Russell Davies, used under Creative Commons license)