Show 625 Monday 28 January

Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

I have a quick question for you today. In the country you’re in now, do people make toilet paper into little triangle shapes, like this:



Before I came to Japan, I don’t remember ever seeing it. But in Japan, it’s everywhere: hotels, convenience stores, department stores ... just about any toilet that’s in a business. I’ve never seen anyone do it at home. But I’m sure some people probably do.

And at first I thought it was kind of ridiculous, like, come on what a waste of time!
But now I’m so used to it that if I went to, like, a hotel and they there was no toilet paper triangle I’d probably be like ... something’s missing!

So, what’s with the triangle? Why? What’s the point?

According to toiletpaperworld.com:

This points out to the user that someone cleaned the bathroom and paid attention to the finer details.

And I don’t think this is just a Japanese thing, because I found some information online about a book which had lots of photos of folded toilet paper – including triangles and other shapes. And this is what it says about the book.

The photographs in this book feature folded toilet paper sourced between 2004 and 2007. They were collected at hotels and B&B’s from different parts of the world including – The UK, France, Spain, Italy, Romania, Netherlands, Germany, Russia, United States, Canada and Japan.

So tell me: toilet paper triangles, do people do that in the country you’re in?

STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, in Stick News today, an American politician is now campaigning with an image of his head on another man’s body.

This man used to be the mayor of a city called Sugar Land.
Last year he decided to he wanted to become a member of congress.
Recently, his campaign became embroiled in a controversy after his campaign manager admitted that a photo of him was doctored.
The photo was Dean’s head on a thinner man’s body.
His manager said Dean had been so busy that he had no time to pose for a full-length photo
He said he thought the voters were “more concerned with the issues as opposed to pretty photo shoots."
The Associated Press quoted a political consultant saying there was no law against the practice "other than the laws of gravity - the negative effect on your polling numbers and popularity when you do such things."

And that was Stick News for Monday the 28th of January.
Kia Ora.

THE SNOW REPORT
in the Hirafu Gondola

with Simon

Where are you from?
Ah, Sydney, Australia.

How long have you been here?
Ah, this is my third day on the mountain, and I’m here for another nine days.

Which mountain do you usually go to in Australia?
Ah, Thredbo, usually ski Thredbo. Not much anymore though.

Are you a skier or a snowboarder?
Snowboarder, like yourself.

What do you do in Australia?
Ah, I’m an accountant. So, yeah, count the benjamins.

How many times have you been here?
First time, first time, loving it, loving it, sugoi.

How would you describe the snow in Niseko?
It’s ... first it’s tricky, because it’s pretty deep, it’s deeper than anything you’d ever get in Australia. But it’s just beautiful, it’s so beautiful, it’s so light and fluffy.

conversations with sarah
#379 Which way do you like it?

Step 1: Repeat Jimmy’s lines.
Step 2: Read Jimmy’s lines and talk to Sarah.

Sarah What do you think is the right way to put a toilet roll?

Jimmy What are you talking about?

Sarah Well, it can either go so that the paper is coming out over the top, or the opposite way, so it’s coming out underneath. Which way do you prefer?

Jimmy I don’t really care. Does anyone care?

Sarah Yeah. I was just looking up about toilet paper online to find out about the triangle thing, and some people were having full-on arguments about which way is the right way.

Jimmy Which way do you like it?

Sarah I prefer having the paper come out over the top.

notes

count the benjamins
benjamins = money
benjamins in The Online Slang Dictionary

In the US, "Benjamins" is one of the slang terms for $100 notes, they have a picture of Benjamin Franklin on them.
Benjamins can also be used to mean "money". (I've never heard this before though ... maybe it's used in Australia, or maybe just Simon randomly used some American slang).

sugoi

sugoi = 凄い、すごい　＝　superb, fantastic, marvelous, wonderful, terrific, amazing, great

links

today's news
today's STICK NEWS pictures

toilet paper at Wikipedia

music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

the snow report start
artist: Olga Scotland
album: Scotland Yard
track: Absolute
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
tracks: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: NarNaoud
album: Green Vision
track: Dubbing Rules
from: Gironde, France
artist at Jamendo
album at Jamendo
artist site

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