Small Talk: Drinking, Beatles, flu suits

TEXT OF INTERVIEW

KAI RYSSDAL: A final note this Friday afternoon: Enough of the real news. Time for the tidbits that didn’t make the headlines — courtesy of Rico Gagliano, Brendan Newnam and select members of the Marketplace staff.

Rico Gagliano:Stacey Vanek-Smith, senior reporter. What story are you going to be talking about this weekend?

Stacey Vanek-Smith: Australia is trying to limit drinking.

Gagliano: Impossible.

Vanek-Smith: Well, limit might be a strong term. Fans of this really popular car race in Australia called the “Bathurst 1000” are going to limited to a slab of beer a day, which is 24 beers.

Gagliano: 24 beers, per person. That’s a limit.

Vanek-Smith: Yeah, they’re trying to reduce crime. As if after 24 beers, you could even commit a crime.

Gagliano: Exactly, it’s going to work.

Brendan Newnam: Millie Jefferson, production assistant at Marketplace. What story are you going to be talking about this weekend.

Millie Jefferson: Apparently, a university in Liverpool is now offering a master’s degree in Beatles’ music.

Newnam: What?

Jefferson: And now I’m starting to rethink the Master’s degree I actually did.

Newnam: You worked eight days a week for what?

Jefferson: Exactly.

Newnam: Well now I know how to follow up my Metallica GED.

Gagliano: George Judson, managing editor. What story are you going to be talking about this weekend?

George Judson: Business suits that protect you against swine flu.

Gagliano: Tell me more.

Judson: Well, it’s a Japanese invention.

Gagliano: Of course.

Judson: They’re producing suits that are coated with a chemical that is usually found in toothpaste that will kill the virus.

Gagliano: See, I’ve got a simpler swine flu suit, it’s a neon lime green and whenever I wear it, people just stay far away from me.

Ryssdal: That’s just a taste of what Rico and Brendan have to offer. Their podcast is called “The Dinner Party Download.”