Episode 53: Thai Monkey Gangs, Museum of The Bible, & The Other Burning Man

Kathleen opens the show wearing her new Ranch dressing earrings from Termite Wendy, and drinking an Irish I Was On A Beach lager from St. Patrick’s Brewing in Colorado out of her favorite White Castle pint glass. She’s toasting to celebrate the announcement of her new forthcoming comedy Special which is scheduled to tape in Denver in February 2022 at The Paramount Theatre. 

TERMITE SHOUTOUTS: Kathleen is thrilled to go through mail sent from Termites to the PO Box, and thanks Termite Vikki for the airplane socks and personal pillow. Big shoutout to the Hartford Yard Goats for the super cool t-shirt, the Biloxi Shuckers for the koozies and bottle opener (appropriate for Mama Termite ☺), and she wishes the very best of luck to the Tulsa Drillers this weekend as they transition into the Tulsa Noodlers for their series against the Wichita Wind Surge, thanking Justin and Rhonda for the Noodler’s tee and hat. Kathleen LOVES MiLB baseball and encourages listeners to support their local minor league teams. 

“GOOD BAD FOOD”: In her quest for new and delicious not-so-nutritious junk food AND in continuing her search for the best Ranch, Kathleen samples Chuy’s Spicy Creamy Jalapeno Ranch, which she loves and recommends pouring on everything possible. She moves on to taste Lay’s Chile Mango potato chips, which are horrifyingly bad (but she anticipated that,) and finishes off with her Bud Light Icicle Seltzer, which she finds to be absolutely refreshing and she highly recommends to all Termites. 

UPDATE ON KATHLEEN’S QUEEN’S COURT: Kathleen provides an update on the Queens, announcing that queen Stevie Nicks has canceled her Fall 2021 Tour dates due to COVID-19 protocol. Tanya Tucker has canceled her August Tour dates as she continues her recovery from hip surgery, and Mama Termite wishes her well. 

DRUNKEN ELEPHANTS RETURN HOME: Kathleen reads an update announcing that after an 18-month-long journey, the herd of wandering elephants in China appears to be heading home. Reduced to 14 from 16 that began the trek, have made an 807-mile journey and are now moving toward a protected habitat in southwest China with help from local authorities to guide their path to keep the elephants away from populated areas. 

CONSEQUENCE CULTURE AND THE NXIVM CULT: As a follow-up to EP5, Kathleen reads an update that Lauren Salzman, a former high-ranking NXIVM member who testified against leader Keith Raniere, will not go to prison but only probation and community service. Kathleen states that she just doesn’t know what to do with “cult people,” and that the past year in COVID isolation should absolutely not count towards the fulfillment of Salzman’s sentence. 

NEW BANKSY STREET ART DISCOVERED: As an art lover and fan of the street artist Banksy, Kathleen reads an update that new murals have been found in numerous coastal towns in the east of England. Although Banksy has not yet claimed responsibility for graffiti stencils and the larger “We’re All In The Same Boat,” locals are certain that he will reveal their authenticity soon enough. 

ELECTRIC PERSONAL JETS CONTRACTED: Kathleen holds a dream of having a personal flying car and is thrilled that her dream could become closer to reality when she reads an announcement that 2 firms plan to build an eVOTL aircraft network across Brazil before 2025. 

THE DROPOUT HOLMES: Kathleen laughs as Paddles screams over another Elizabeth Holmes update. ABC News Podcast “The Dropout” is returning to follow the trial of disgraced Elizabeth Holmes. The series originally gained popularity as it outlined the massive fraud of her startup company Theranos. 

JERRY FALWELL JR DENIED APPEAL: Kathleen’s amusement isn’t tempered as she reads an update regarding Jerry Fallwell Jr’s latest appeal to have the charges presented by Liberty University dismissed. The lawsuit demanding at least $10 million alleges that Jerry Falwell Jr. breached fiduciary duties to the school and entered into a business conspiracy against it.

PLAGUED TAHOE CHIPMUNKS: Kathleen reads an advisory from Lake Tahoe stating that many chipmunks in Lake Tahoe have tested positive for bubonic Plague. At the beginning of August 2021, the US Forest Service announced it was closing several popular sites after the disease appeared to multiply in the chipmunk population. According to the agency, plague can be spread by “squirrels, chipmunks, and other wild rodents”, specifically by fleas that come in contact with infected animals and go on to bite humans.

THAI MONKEY GANGS: Kathleen reads an article from Thailand advising that the notorious street monkey gangs in Lopburi have found themselves yet again lacking food from the tourists who feed the animals in front of a Buddhist temple. Facing yet another food shortage, hundreds of monkeys have started battling in the streets as rival gangs.

THE MUSEUM OF THE BIBLE: Kathleen loves to explore museums while on the road, and as a follow up to EP52, she’s amazed that she’s never heard of The Museum of The Bible, which is supported and tied to the primary shareholders of Hobby Lobby: the Green family. 

WU-TANG CLAN PHARMA BRO: As the Termites are aware, Kathleen is a massive fan of the Wu-Tang Clan, and as a follow up to EP29 she reads an article announcing that the US government has sold imprisoned drug company executive Martin Shkreli's one-of-a-kind album by Wu-Tang Clan to pay off the $7.36 million he was ordered to forfeit after being convicted of fraud.

HUSHPUPPI FRAUD: Kathleen laughs reading an article outlining the arrest of Nigerian Instagram celebrity, Ramon Abbas, known as "Hushpuppi” to followers. Ramos has admitted his involvement in a conspiracy to defraud a Qatari businessman of more than $1m, as well as money laundering and cyber schemes, and has pleaded guilty to all charges. Kathleen is glad that justice has been served, but admits to also loving the moniker “Hushpuppi” (with an “i.”) 

THE OTHER BURNING MAN: In continuing with the strangeness of pandemic times, Kathleen reads an article announcing that the 2021 Burning Man Festival has been canceled again. However, as they did for the 2020 event, organizers are announcing a "Virtual Burning Man," which will begin on August 21. There will be no charge to participate online, although donations are encouraged to help organizers make up for the festival's two years of lost revenue.

A LADY MAFIOSA DISCOVERED: Kathleen is thrilled to discover that a top Mafia boss in Italy is actually a woman, and can’t believe the details of her recent arrest in Rome. With all the money and power in the world, Maria Licciardi, otherwise known as 'The Godmother', was detained at Rome's Ciampino Airport as she checked in her luggage to board a commercial flight. Investigators claim Licciardi, from Naples, ran extortion rackets as head of the Licciardi Camorra crime syndicate clan.

A RECORD SAPPHIRE CLUSTER: Kathleen closes off the Pubcast reading an article about workmen who discovered a $100M sapphire cluster while digging a well. The 2.5 million-carat cluster has been named the “Serendipity Sapphire”, and a German gemstone trader has announced that it has taken over a year to wash and certify it. Born in September, the sapphire is Kathleen’s birthstone, and she tells the story of how she found out she was actually born on a Thursday (instead of a Tuesday, as her Dad had always told her) at a gas station in Hawaii.

WHAT TO WATCH THIS WEEK: Kathleen recommends watching “Wu-Tang: An American Saga” on Hulu, and “The Spanish Princess” on Starz. 

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