Dan & Tasos – Feb 2, 2008

Hosts: Dan O'Malley, Tasos Kostas

Featuring: Raj Sharma

Producer: Alfie

Intern: Ken

Summary:

Before the show, Raj mentions that a comic he recently worked with decided to do his act with a British accent "Not because he's British, but because he's better than you", which leads to the group cracking each other up while doing their best accents while the theme from '300' plays.

The show starts with a subject that is near and dear to the hearts of everyone on the show, alcohol. An SMU taskforce is suggesting the creation of an on-campus pub, as well as giving fraternities and sororities the option of having alcohol in their houses during parties if they hire campus police to administrate. Raj says his own alma mater had tried to regulate alcohol use in and around campus, but it never really worked. Dan opens the subject up to the callers while Tasos asks what bars are near the SMU campus, suggesting that there could possibly be an issue with drunk drivers hitting drunk students. Raj notes that were the on-campus bar centrally located on campus or even in between the campus center and the dorms, then some of the safety risks would diminish. On the subject of safety, Dan says that no matter how lucrative the pub would be, the first severe injury or death to result from on-campus drinking would inevitably shut it down for good. Caller William, a police officer, wonders how SMU would get around the zoning laws that restrict bars within certain distances of schools and churches. Raj remarks that with the large number of powerful people who run SMU, zoning laws are not really an obstruction. Caller Drew, an SMU student, thinks that the campus has a lot of drug problems, which the taskforce should be more worried about. Raj notes that even if the bar were built, it would be more of a novelty, as students wouldn't want to hang around campus to drink when they can get away from school and go downtown. Caller John says that when he attended Oklahoma State, your student ID card was used as your form of payment. Tasos thinks that this subject is along the same lines of drug legalization. Dan polls the room to find out who thinks that SMU will end up getting a pub, to which both Tasos and Raj think could end up happening, but Dan is reluctant to agree. On the subject of SMU sports, Dan remarks that SMU hasn't had a good team since their quarterback was white. Craig James

Back from the first break, the subject changes to ponder whether or not the Patriots are cheaters because of the 'Spygate' fiasco earlier in the season. To open the subject wider, if the Patriots win the Super Bowl tomorrow, will it still mean as much as it would have if they hadn't been caught cheating? Tasos personally thinks that because the team is being hyped so much as the "perfect team" with the "perfect players", were they to win, the hype will spill over and completely overshadow their cheating. Raj thinks that the news media will end up dragging the cheating up after the Super Bowl has ended, just to keep the story going. Tasos thinks that even if the cheating comes up after the Super Bowl, 'Spygate' will be nowhere to be found. Caller Cory, a cowboys fan, doesn't think that the 'Spygate' issue really matters anymore because it happens all the time and isn't a big deal. Tasos correlates the NFL to a business model with 30 plus entities operating under the umbrella of the 'Big Brother' NFL. Running with the idea, completely spontaneously and in no way rehearsed, Dan equates the latest news of the Patriots cheating to corporate espionage with both legal and ethical consequences.

Continuing on the subject from the last segment, will 'Spygate' taint people's perception of the Patriots if they win tomorrow, and is their spying on-par with the idea of corporate espionage? Caller Josh thinks that what the Patriots are doing is a lot like insider trading because there are billions of dollars at stake during a season, and what they did gave them an unfair advantage. Caller Mel sees the NFL as a franchise with the teams being franchisees, so the Patriots cheating, while wrong, still benefits the franchise as a whole. Mel also notes that Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter is looking into the destruction of the 'Spygate' tapes, which Dan uses to draw a parallel to the Bush Administration's destruction of the torture tapes. Raj postulates that it's possible that Specter is looking into the cheating because he's actually just an annoyed 'Eagles' fan. Caller Jonathan is also in the camp of people that thinks that the news media will focus on the cheating as a news story after the Super Bowl merely for ratings. Caller Craig finds fault in Mel's 'franchise' theory because there is still competition between each other financially as well as professionally. However, coming up next, a "controversial" taser video just for Raj.

Having come back from short break, the intern is sent out on a food run, so any content having to do with the taser video where the tase-ee sounds like Chewbacca is a total mystery to him. It is worth noting, though, that Raj has a hilarious 'Chewy' impression.

Once the intern returned, though, the subject had shifted to the issue of Spanish classes being mandatory for grade-school children in a local school district. Both Tasos and Raj have a key insight into the subject, having come from families whose primary languages were not English. Raj has been disturbed many times when has seen 8 and 9 year old children translating for their parents, rather than having the parents learn the language to begin with. Tasos believes that these kids' parents are holding them back. Both Tasos and Raj's parents encouraged them to learn their native languages as a compliment their primary language of English. Alfie and Tasos clash on whether or not it should be mandatory for Spanish to be a part of the curriculum. Alfie thinks that it better allows the Mexican and American communities to cohesively exist together, but Tasos believes that, "They've gotta deal with us." Tasos' main stance is that it should be mandatory for grade school kids to learn a foreign language, but that mandatory language shouldn't just be Spanish. Dan, agreeing more with Tasos than he isn't, thinks that anyone living in the United States should learn English out of "common sense". Tasos, in general, is against Spanish being forced upon Texans because there's nothing in law that states that it has to be, unlike in some Canadian provinces with French. Caller Red, a Repo Man, thinks that it works to your advantage to speak Spanish in Texas because, at least in his line of work, it comes in handy in certain situations. Caller Heather, a Teacher, thinks the thing people should be most worried about is that students aren't being taught basic 'social studies' anymore. In addition, Heather stresses that it is important for parents to make sure that their kids are well rounded mentally. Caller Jenna, an employee at a grocery store, works with Mexican immigrants who are trying to learn English, but are having a hard time with understanding the language. Caller Carlos thinks that were we to stop catering to non-English speakers, they'd be forced to finally learn English. Carlos thinks this because of experiences he had living in Mexico where he was forced to learn Spanish. Finally, Caller Nathan says that Dan took French in High School because the class was full of hot chicks, which Dan disputes. The segment ends with the group trying to roll their "R's". In before the break, Caller Emil makes the point that all the other 'non-Mexican' immigrants are learning the language, so why not them?

Shifting back to a lighter subject, we take a look at "10 Steps to Being a Better Wife". Tasos has to burp because of lap-band not liking the carbonated drink he just had, which Dan says, "…might be biting you in the butt, but it's kicking us in the balls." Back on subject, first up is Number 10: "Believe in your husband, and let him know it." Raj notes the importance of this tip because of girlfriends he has had in the past who have talked badly about his life goals and aspirations behind his back. Alfie says that Harrison Ford has been noted for saying that success is just outlasting the 'other guy'. Tasos points out that 'The Dan & Tasos Show' has done just that, surviving as the third longest running show on the station. Next tip, Number 9: "Let Free Time Be Free". Just as you need time to relax and unwind, so does your husband. Number 8: "Cultivate friends and interests outside your marriage/relationship." Everyone notes that it is strange that a lot of women cut off personal relationships once they get in a committed relationship Number 7: "Don't make him guess, tell him what you want."  It's easy to assume that the person who lives with you every day also knows you well enough to know what you want. Not true. Number 6: "Don't try change him." Compromise on social activities by making them shorter, or go by yourself. Positive reinforcement beats nagging every time. Tasos, being confrontational, says that women should "do [their] job and pick up after me." Tip Number 5: "Make intimacy a priority" With the everyday stresses of work, home, and kids, it's easy to take your husband for granted. Make time for the two of you to reconnect on a regular basis. Take an interest in his work and hobbies. Let him know he's important to you. Number 4: "Let him have 'Guy Time'." Everyone needs time for themselves—to relax, enjoy a hobby, or socialize with friends. If your husband loves football and you don't, don't bug him about it. Number 3 "Keep the romance alive." Tasos adds, "For once, don't make me force myself upon you." The group died laughing, and we took a break.

After a sizable buffer, Tasos gets a text message begging for D&T to put the last segment online so he can send it to his ex wife. Dan is shocked that it's only February, and they already have the line of the year. Continuing on, Tip Number 2: "Say 'Thank You' often." Everyone likes to be appreciated, so remember to notice the things your husband does—for you, for the kids, for the house—and thank him. You'll put a smile on his face and a little joy in his heart. And finally, Tip Number 1: "Take care of yourself." Turns out that the best thing you can do for your husband is also good for you. Eat healthy foods, maintain good grooming, and exercise regularly. You'll look and feel better, and you'll continue to be the vibrant and attractive woman he fell in love with, no matter your age. When asked if there was anything that the list possibly left off, Raj adds "Not everything requires you to talk." Tasos notes that they're merely going with the theme, but it's somewhat based on, you know, real life. Tasos is out this week while he's on business in San Francisco, but he'll be back just in time for the show.