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How AI is saving billions of years of human research time | Max Jaderberg 19:15

19 weeks ago19:15

19:15

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Why an S and not a V? « »
2023 Trips

about a year ago 41:23

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In October 2023, was in LA with Beardsley and we stopped at Little Saigon in Westminster, California and then a few weeks later I went to Saigon proper to visit Jen and my family. Just some notes from the two trips.

… continue reading

134 episodes

#Society #Travel #Jon, Dennis #Vietnamese Culture #Vietnamese History #Pho #Banh Mi

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2023 Trips

Why an S and not a V?

published about a year ago

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MP3•Episode home

Content provided by Jon, Dennis. All podcast content including episodes, graphics, and podcast descriptions are uploaded and provided directly by Jon, Dennis or their podcast platform partner. If you believe someone is using your copyrighted work without your permission, you can follow the process outlined here https://ppacc.player.fm/legal.

In October 2023, was in LA with Beardsley and we stopped at Little Saigon in Westminster, California and then a few weeks later I went to Saigon proper to visit Jen and my family. Just some notes from the two trips.

… continue reading

134 episodes

#Society #Travel #Jon, Dennis #Vietnamese Culture #Vietnamese History #Pho #Banh Mi

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Fish Sauce 32:18

12 days ago32:18

32:18

Send us a text Smelly, salty, savory, the life blood of the Vietnamese, Thais and other southeast Asian peoples. Also a few folks from China, Korea and Japan. We touch upon this crucial condiment in this episode.

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Worst Foods of Vietnam 34:41

7 weeks ago34:41

34:41

Send us a text Forget the other lists you ever seen (I looked at most of them), this is the real list of what I think are the worst food (or food categories). Don't think for a second these aren't foods! They are popular for different people. As a bonus, we included some whack foods from neighbouring countries. And Dennis has found out about century eggs ( Trứng vịt bắc thảo ) and their long partnership with congee. Now who wants to eat some live octupi (thanks Korea)!…

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The Last Korean Episode about the Last Ly Prince 21:26

10 weeks ago21:26

21:26

Send us a text Is Lý Long Tường (Yi Yong-sang) one of Vietnam's greatest exports to Korea? The Grand Tutor, a general who defeated Mongols invaders twice, showing that it was not just the Trần in Đại Việt who could get it done. The progenitor of the Hwasan Lee clan , his influence has stretched across the centuries.…

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The Shadows of War 34:26

12 weeks ago34:26

34:26

Send us a text Reunification. An innocuous word in general, a dirty word for many overseas Vietnamese. In light of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam being reunified on April 30, 1975 (whether some choose to accept it or not, the reality is that Vietnam is unified as a Socialist Republic), these are some stories from my parents, before and after this seminal event. Many of these memories are fragments that surfaced in the mind of my parents across the years. Often times, neither wants to remember that time period. These are only echoes of what they saw, what they lived through, what they carry. Many others have captured the memories of their parents and grandparents, their aunts and uncles, in books, in audio and in video. These are my family's now and for the future.…

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Vietnam's Hatfields and McCoys: the Trịnh vs the Nguyễn 36:58

19 weeks ago36:58

36:58

Send us a text During this 161 year rivalry, the figurehead Lê emperor watches helplessly as two prominent families who helped reclaim the throne from the Mạc usurpers, vie for power. A prelude to the later division of Vietnam in the 20th century, the two halves of Vietnam (at the time Đại Việt or Great Viet) would continue to march forward, or in the case of the Nguyễn, march south, into history until the Tây Sơn uprising. Who was the winner amongst these cousins? Let's hash it out.…

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Vaped in Vietnam 25:32

22 weeks ago25:32

25:32

Send us a text Vaping is banned in Vietnam and we couldn't be happier!

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Year of the Snake (2025) 25:45

25 weeks ago25:45

25:45

Send us a text C húc mừng năm mới ! We ring in the new year by denouncing nagas, learn about characteristics of people born in the year of the snake and rank a selection of those people. Remember, it's the Wood Snake this year.

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The Future is now Old Man 6:46

28 weeks ago6:46

6:46

Send us a text Just a summary of what's to come in the next little white.

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Vietnamese Cover (Song) Up 21:11

28 weeks ago21:11

21:11

Send us a text Happy 2025! I learned many songs that I like in the Vietnamese repetoire are actually covers of Cantonese and Mandarin pop songs. In doing the research, I was surprised how some of these Chinese songs were in themselves covers or inspired by other songs (generally Japanese). I also learned how many famous bands started out as cover bands, including the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.…

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Avocados 34:11

34 weeks ago34:11

34:11

Send us a text Green gold with a black secret. Do you know where your food comes from? This episode we look at the similarities and differences in the avocado industry between Vietnam and Mexico.

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MLB 2: The Reranting 4:51

36 weeks ago4:51

4:51

Send us a text I came across more "MLB" stores and had unpolite thoughts I would like to share.

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Shuttling Past the SCB 9:21

37 weeks ago9:21

9:21

Send us a text Our airport shuttle driver had a lot to say about many things, including some tidbits about Capitalist Lan. Roads were a bit clogged up due to her second trial. SCB branches seemed to be open while I was there. Her trial to appeal her death sentence started at the time of this episode's publication.…

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The Agony of Unbidden Wakefulness 2:30

37 weeks ago2:30

2:30

Send us a text Roosters are nature's alarm clock. The problem is, you can't tell them when to wake you.

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Sounds of Saigon: Daily Rain 0:41

37 weeks ago0:41

0:41

Send us a text I thought the rainy season ended after August, but that might just be true for the part of Vietnam where my dad is from. Jen tells me big heavy thunderstorms are normal in October. Part of a series of what you can hear around Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).

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Sounds of Saigon: The Ride 18:44

37 weeks ago18:44

18:44

Send us a text Nothing exciting, just a typical moped ride from District 1 (Saigon) to a neighbouring district during regular traffic. What you miss from just listening is the constant game of chicken everyone plays with each other with 99% success rate of living for both players. I have read and been told Saigon moped riders are insane. Part of a series of what you can hear around Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).…

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Lemongrass 33:52

2 years ago33:52

33:52

Send us a text We talk about lemongrass, Dennis' favourite herb and its origin and its uses. There are a lot.

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Tony 6:31

2 years ago6:31

6:31

Send us a text It got weird going from being the hidden middle child to being the oldest. I am the oldest biological child of my parents. Like Catelyn Stark, my mom hated this adopted child, though he did earn some of it. It gets complicated when you're uprooted from the home you know, ripped away from your bio mom and siblings and get taken to a frozen land. I wasn't sure what he was up to of late, but the old man met up with him in Nam.…

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Viet Fellas 24:08

2 years ago24:08

24:08

Send us a text I never fulfilled the Viet stereotype in Canada, but I surprisingly met a number of people who did. PS - I was told viet folks will move to edmonton, calgary, saskatoon, etc. from vancouver / toronto, to escape heat from the police there

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Songs of the South (Vietnam) 31:16

2 years ago31:16

31:16

Send us a text It is weird on what Vietnamese will like from outside the nation. For example, in 2023, Jen tells me the popular foreign beer of choice is...Budweiser. For Vietnamese expats (Viet Kieu), Bud was popular in the 80s and 90s. Music wise, Hotel California seems to have made a lasting impression on older Vietnamese, including making me hate the song because it was played ad nauseum during the parties my dad went to in the 80s and 90s. While drinking Bud. Also, Vietnamese have a special talent in making upbeat depressing songs into ads and dance remixes...…

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Stiff Ones and their Hangover Friends (redux) 19:47

2 years ago19:47

19:47

Send us a text I've tied on a few and can count the number of blackouts I remember on one hand! PS: Redux of Season 1, Episode 7 "Slightly darker black (out)".

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NHL 11:05

2 years ago11:05

11:05

Send us a text I used to watch professional hockey. No one in my family ever did. I don't know why or how I started, but I enjoyed it (also MLB when the Jays won back to back world series. Yes, I am a wagon hopper). The desire to watch took many blows over the years. It wasn't even because of the decline in the 90s with the VCR line or early 2010s drought (to be fair 2006 was a miracle and inspiring). I've become one of those guys who just doesn't care anymore. Ironic, because I met guys like that before and never understood why they gave it up. Now I do. P.S. - CBC f*ed up arguing over the payment for the Hockey Night in Canada theme song. That was a huge consideration in stopping watching. Idiots.…

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Vietnam (general memories) 22:17

2 years ago22:17

22:17

Send us a text Some random notes from my 76 (actually 6, no Dennis, I'm telling the truth) trips to Vietnam. Also a way to segue into our follow up podcast series about Vietnam.

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Musical Instruments 4:02

2 years ago4:02

4:02

Send us a text I have no rhythm, I have no melody. It wasn't for lack of trying to learn a couple of instruments when I was younger and more daring.

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Grandparents 9:23

2 years ago9:23

9:23

Send us a text If you're lucky, you'll have good grandparents who spoil you. If you're luckier, they'll still be alive. Just thoughts on my dead grandparents, especially my grandma, who I actually met.

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Sơn Tinh, the god of Tản Viên Mountain 25:54

2 years ago25:54

25:54

Send us a text One of the Four Immortals, who's legendary battles over a beautiful princess, describes how and why Vietnam lives through a monsoon season. Wrongly called a genie (djinn) by Wikipedia, Sonny (as we inappropriately call him) is more rightly called a Saint, a chief figure in the beliefs of the Red River Delta peoples. These peoples are the ancestors of the modern Vietnamese. His daughter is of great importance too, being a ruler of one of the Four Palaces.…

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High School Sports (redux) 10:49

2 years ago10:49

10:49

Send us a text I lettered in high school despite only play 2 sports in grade 12, but 3 sports across all of high school. I didn't even play traditional contact sports and all I was good for, was finishing last in cross country and eating balls to the face. PS: Redux of Season 1, Episode 22 "High School Sports".…

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The Origin of Daddy-Daughter Day (NFL) 15:03

2 years ago15:03

15:03

Send us a text Just going over the only major sports league I still watch and how I got there with Dennis and Beardsley. Also the reason why Beardsley wanted to fight a shark in Hawaii.

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Buon Don Elephant Races 35:22

2 years ago35:22

35:22

Send us a text Dennis and I talk about former Buon Don Elephant Races, how it would have been great with coffee (it's part of a larger coffee festival).

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First Trip to Vietnam (redux) 27:01

2 years ago27:01

27:01

Send us a text The first of my 76 trips (it's actually 6 with a possible 7th coming at some point. Wait, Dennis is yelling at me about something), where I met my dad's mom for the first and only time. The bro went with and he hated it. We both went again in 2013 and he still hated it, but at least I got him to eat tasty food that wasn't fried potatoes or rice with soy sauce. PS: This is a redux of Season 1, Episode 25 "Nam in 1994".…

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Panorama 7:14

2 years ago7:14

7:14

Send us a text We have the super softest bachelor party ever in Panorama, BC. This was back in 2012. No strippers, plenty of beer and Krusty's dignity was forfeit. Great times.

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Sounds of Saigon: Tao Dan Park 10:12

37 weeks ago10:12

10:12

Send us a text Tao Dan park is one of the big green spaces in Saigon. It is mostly walled off from the huge flows of traffic that go around it. I found I quite like it, after using it for my daily old man walking circuit in 2023. In Tao Dan park there are: - child and adult playgrounds, - places where people put up nets to play badminton, - walkers, joggers and runners, - people meditating, - people doing tai chi chuan, - people filming movies while cooking the actors inside giant mascot suits alive, - competing aerobic workout regimes, - and wedding photos. This track is based on one walking loop around the park. Please excuse the occasional coughing; I had a very terrible cold/bronchial infection that was going around at the time. Part of a series of what you can hear around Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City).…

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The Sound of Kieu 5:22

40 weeks ago5:22

5:22

Send us a text No Julie Andrew here. Dennis lays out his thoughts on “Vietnam’s” epic, the Tale of Kieu, a story of Confucian morals.

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Gang Nam Style 41:53

41 weeks ago41:53

41:53

Send us a text Just a ramble about the various Vietnamese gang members I’ve met over the years.

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Elephants are not horses 11:26

41 weeks ago11:26

11:26

Send us a text We talk about the struggles about becoming a war chief and if there is an exchange rate between elephants and horses. A follow up to this episode is included at the start of the avocado episode.

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Soups of the North 51:21

1 year ago51:21

51:21

Send us a text We, to Dennis' chagrin, talk about Vietnam's most famous cuisine, phở (if I hear an Oh sound, I will hunt you down). It's origins are murky, but whether it be French, Chinese or a hybridization with local recipes, there's no denying it's significance. Ramen (a completely different type of soup, listen and learn), takes a back seat to this savoury bowl of noodles.…

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Capitalist Lang and the SCB 58:59

1 year ago58:59

58:59

Send us a text We delve into the SCB saga, the greatest criminal trial in Vietnam's, in SE Asia's history and the lady at the center of it all, Capitalist Lang (Trương Mỹ Lan). Post script: On June 6, Al Jazeera reports more charges were filed against Capital Lang for transferring $4.5 billion USD in and out of Vietnam (https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2024/6/6/vietnam-tycoon-sentenced-to-death-could-face-new-charges-state-media-say).…

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A Tale of 2 Cities (Frankfurt and Saigon) 45:42

1 year ago45:42

45:42

Send us a text As part of our ongoing gratitude to our listeners in Frankfurt Am Main, we thought we'd have a look at how Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City) stacks up to this powerhouse of a German city.

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Good Morning from Vietnam (Oct 30, 2023) 9:30

1 year ago9:30

9:30

Send us a text I recorded a few daily reports during my trip to Vietnam in 2023. I babble on about road crossings and a broken rice diner I ate at.

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Good Morning from Vietnam (Oct 31, 2023) 9:23

1 year ago9:23

9:23

Send us a text The second of my short reports where I was dumb and tried to visit the Canadian consulate without an appointment. I also ramble about how helmet requirements have changed in Vietnam over time.

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Good Morning from Vietnam (Nov 1, 2023) 2:12

1 year ago2:12

2:12

Send us a text The third of my short reports where I talk about riding mopeds and 7-11s.

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Good Evening from Vietnam (Nov 3, 2023) 2:55

1 year ago2:55

2:55

Send us a text My final short report while on my trip where I talk about my disappointment at the MLB store in Ho Chi Minh City and women working 9 to 5.

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The Four Immortals 52:14

1 year ago52:14

52:14

Send us a text We talked about Sơn Tinh (Sonny) previously, but in this episode, Dennis and I do an overview of the other three immortals. This includes Sonny's brother in law, Chử Đồng Tử (Chewie).

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April 29 8:12

1 year ago8:12

8:12

Send us a text So I made a mistake in stating April 29 was the fall of Saigon; it fell on the 30th. The 29th was the date of the initial invasion. You could say it was still the 29th in the Americas when Saigon fell.

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Enter the (Year of the) Dragon 52:12

1 year ago52:12

52:12

Send us a text C húc mừng năm mới ! Kung Hei Fat Choi (gōng xǐ fā cái)! We break in the new year wondering why nations wouldn't pick dragons as their astrological critter. Dennis critiques Vietnamese traditional food offerings of the period and I try not to bump the microphone.

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2023 Trips 41:23

1 year ago41:23

41:23

Send us a text In October 2023, was in LA with Beardsley and we stopped at Little Saigon in Westminster, California and then a few weeks later I went to Saigon proper to visit Jen and my family. Just some notes from the two trips.

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