David Farrier
👤 PersonAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
That's good. The topic on today's Flightless Bird is the Blockbuster video store chain. And I'm just wondering if you've ever been to a Blockbuster.
That's good. The topic on today's Flightless Bird is the Blockbuster video store chain. And I'm just wondering if you've ever been to a Blockbuster.
Yeah, for sure. What was your favorite thing about perusing the aisles of Blockbuster?
Yeah, for sure. What was your favorite thing about perusing the aisles of Blockbuster?
Where I grew up in New Zealand, we didn't have Blockbuster. We had Video Easy and United Video. And there was a little adults only section. And I never went. I don't think I ever went in. Even when I was old enough to go in, I didn't go in. Did you ever go in?
Where I grew up in New Zealand, we didn't have Blockbuster. We had Video Easy and United Video. And there was a little adults only section. And I never went. I don't think I ever went in. Even when I was old enough to go in, I didn't go in. Did you ever go in?
Actually, do you remember that what was the first time you saw pornography? Do you have like a memory of that? You know what? I don't. I really don't. Too long ago.
Actually, do you remember that what was the first time you saw pornography? Do you have like a memory of that? You know what? I don't. I really don't. Too long ago.
I'm David Farrier, a New Zealander accidentally marooned in America, and I want to figure out what makes this country tick. Now, we get a load of emails into flightlessbirdchat at gmail.com. Some are long, some are short, and in the mix, I sometimes start to see patterns, specific ideas that a lot of people seem to have a passion for. Here's one such email from Catherine.
I'm David Farrier, a New Zealander accidentally marooned in America, and I want to figure out what makes this country tick. Now, we get a load of emails into flightlessbirdchat at gmail.com. Some are long, some are short, and in the mix, I sometimes start to see patterns, specific ideas that a lot of people seem to have a passion for. Here's one such email from Catherine.
My husband and I live in Bend, a smallish mountain town on the east side of the Cascade mountain range. When my husband and I moved here in 2017, there were still three to four Blockbusters open. To our delight, we actually had reason to frequent the establishment.
My husband and I live in Bend, a smallish mountain town on the east side of the Cascade mountain range. When my husband and I moved here in 2017, there were still three to four Blockbusters open. To our delight, we actually had reason to frequent the establishment.
My husband still had his OG Blockbuster card from his college days, and we lived in an apartment that at the time had absolutely horrendous internet. Now, this was when online streaming was really picking up, but we basically didn't have access to the streaming during those peak hours. It would buffer and drive us nuts.
My husband still had his OG Blockbuster card from his college days, and we lived in an apartment that at the time had absolutely horrendous internet. Now, this was when online streaming was really picking up, but we basically didn't have access to the streaming during those peak hours. It would buffer and drive us nuts.
Sure, there were new releases, but we also loved the 99 cent option to rent older seasons of our TV shows from Blockbuster. Blockbuster saved our buffering sanity. Emails like this came in thick and fast from Bend, where there's now only one Blockbuster remaining. The only Blockbuster left in America. The only Blockbuster left on the entire planet Earth.
Sure, there were new releases, but we also loved the 99 cent option to rent older seasons of our TV shows from Blockbuster. Blockbuster saved our buffering sanity. Emails like this came in thick and fast from Bend, where there's now only one Blockbuster remaining. The only Blockbuster left in America. The only Blockbuster left on the entire planet Earth.
It was time for me and Rob to visit Ben's most famous last Blockbuster store. So get out that membership card and get ready to inhale the very specific smell of a video store because this is the Blockbuster episode.
It was time for me and Rob to visit Ben's most famous last Blockbuster store. So get out that membership card and get ready to inhale the very specific smell of a video store because this is the Blockbuster episode.