Letter to America's Rockin' New Year's Eve!

Dear Listeners it's Letter to America's Rockin' New Year's Eve!

In which we cross the Rubicon, Jett Loe attends a party and is surrounded by drunken women, a long-time listener gets to sit in 'the Chair', America finds itself on a permanent war footing,  Wayne Ordinary American says this New Year will be as exciting as the last, the Playaz make sensible requests, we unsuccessfully try to contact the National Security Agency, bananas are suggested as a cure for alcohol poisoning, Podshow 'podsafe' music by Friction Bailey is used, Northern Ireland is called a shitty place to live, Carnegie Mellon gets a shout-out and we're told you can't go wrong with a Northern Irish guy.

All this and more on your Irish Podcast.  Or Northern Irish Podcast.  Whatever.

Photos of Trafalgar Square, London

While in London to record the Irish Podcast Christmas Special I met up with an old 'work' colleague Paul Murphy.  While waiting for him in Trafalgar Square I took these photos of a mother and her two children.  London can kill you - drag you down - but seeing these two at work on mom cheered me up no end.

Girl Waiting to Cross

Here's a girl waiting to cross the street one rainy day in Belfast.  Who is she?  Where is she going?  What is in in her purse? 

Elephant and Castle at Christmas

Over in London to record the Christmas Special I went down to Elephant and Castle to meet a friend, Charlie Tweed from art collective LAND.  While waiting for him I espied these lovely, large Christmas Ornaments dangling from the trees.  There's a lot of them there which I thought was pretty cool since Elephant and Castle has been a notoriously ugly shit-hole for quite some time.

Belfast's Red Light District

It's cold tonight in Belfast.  Very cold.  Especially here in the heart of the Red-Light District.  I'd like to bring the working ladies and gents a cup of soup but I don't think the pimps would approve.  I took a photo instead.  Say a wee prayer for those who have to stand outside in weather like this.

Gatwick Airport

Hello again Dear Listener.

Echoing my 'Left Behind' experience on Christmas Day was the flight back to Belfast from London.  My area of Gatwick Airport was deserted.  This feeling of being the last man on Earth was further emphasised by the friendly ticket counter guy giving me a voucher for the 'Executive Lounge'.  In which I sat alone for two hours drinking coffee coming from what seemed to be the food dispenser from the cabin of the Discovery in 2001.  As you can see in the photo below the door to the Executive Lounge is camouflaged by greenery.

Christmas Show Excerpt

Hey there Dear Listener -

To further the viral propagation of Letter to America we provide the 'Christmas Call' from LTA Chapter 15 excerpted.  Forward to Friends in the Spirit of the Season!

(P.S. to Steve Barnes; think this is probably too 'Adult' for wee Adam!)

Download the Excerpt

The Omega Man

As an exile here in Belfast I feel it's my duty to document the experience for others - what would it be like to be stranded with no friends or family in a strange city during the holidays? 

Well if you're in Belfast it's a lot like being Charlton Heston in Omega Man - but without the vampires. 

Unlike most of America where there's at least one shop open during the holidays in Belfast EVERYTHING is closed.  Which I should have known the day before so I could have at least bought a loaf of bread or something.  But alas the fridge was bare and so I wandered outside to scavenge.  As you can see from the following photos I was alone.  I don't mean the streets were kind of empty - I was the ONLY ONE wandering around this Quiet Earth.

Letter to America - The Christmas Special

Yes Dear Listener, though we're not Christians here at Letter to America we still can't help but be affected by the celebration of the birth of the Prince of Peace, (if only more Christians subscribed to his teachings), anyhew, presented for your Seasonal Enjoyment it's Letter to America - the Christmas Special!

In which we make a most unusual call, meet Randolph and Tasmin, recover from Narnia Fever, discuss King Kong and the end of Cinema, compare the Clements Coffee photo policy to Starbucks', Shannon Sickles and Grainne Close get one of them Gay Marriages, Alastair Cooke is lamented and the whereabouts of his bones discussed, Jessie Ward gives you Fiddle-de-de Tips, an old friend makes an appearance and is likened to Sean Connery and Tilda Swinton's beauty is exalted.

All this and and more on your YES, WE KNOW IT'S OVERLONG BUT WE PROMISE IT WILL BE SHORTER NEXT TIME Irish Podcast.  Or Northern Irish Podcast.  Whatever.

Alistair Cooke's Bones Stolen

Inspired in part by Alastair Cooke's Letters from America was Letter to America.  Now we are saddened to hear that Alastair's bones have been stolen to provide you with fillings for your teeth.  We will be discussing this in tomorrow's special Christmas Edition of the Podcast.