1 00:00:01,057 --> 00:00:05,557 The Comedy Forecast Network. Let's dog-ear that for now. 2 00:00:07,837 --> 00:00:15,197 This is Comedy Forecast Episode 793. A hobby you can stick with. 3 00:00:16,697 --> 00:00:20,777 It's time once again for the Dog Days of Podcasting. 4 00:00:20,817 --> 00:00:26,097 A call for podcasters to try to put out a podcast every day in August. 5 00:00:26,097 --> 00:00:32,597 For more information and to hear all the shows, go to dogdaysofpodcasting.com. 6 00:00:32,877 --> 00:00:38,837 Here at the Comedy Forecast Studios, we've been working on a new format for this year's Dog Days. 7 00:00:39,257 --> 00:00:45,797 Sure, like in years past, there will be an actual odd news story, but that's not all. 8 00:00:46,077 --> 00:00:51,017 So, let's get started with Odd News Plus. 9 00:00:51,937 --> 00:00:56,697 Here are our stories for Thursday, August 1st, 2024. 10 00:00:57,617 --> 00:01:01,737 First up, Odd News Plus takes a look at your daily horoscope. 11 00:01:02,057 --> 00:01:04,837 If you're a Leo, tread lightly today. 12 00:01:05,277 --> 00:01:09,837 Certain issues will prove to be a challenge and may start to stress you out. 13 00:01:10,217 --> 00:01:13,017 Don't let them. That would be bad for you. 14 00:01:13,837 --> 00:01:18,457 No, I mean it. This stuff could really mess you up if you let it get inside your head. 15 00:01:19,257 --> 00:01:22,457 So chill. Stop stressing. Just stop it! 16 00:01:23,377 --> 00:01:27,057 Moving on to our actual for-real odd news story. 17 00:01:27,337 --> 00:01:33,617 With the Summer Olympics in full swing, there is one competition you won't see at any Paris venue. 18 00:01:34,037 --> 00:01:39,777 Yet participants must have the agility of a gymnast and the imagination of anyone 19 00:01:39,777 --> 00:01:42,157 who believes curling is a real sport. 20 00:01:42,457 --> 00:01:47,717 I am, of course, speaking about hobby horsing, a sport that's sweeping the globe. 21 00:01:47,717 --> 00:01:51,717 Or at least it could be sweeping the globe if they would just put some brushes 22 00:01:51,717 --> 00:01:53,117 on the bottom of those sticks. 23 00:01:54,157 --> 00:02:00,097 Created in Finland more than a decade ago, some 260 riders from 22 countries 24 00:02:00,097 --> 00:02:04,677 recently turned up to compete at the 11th annual Finnish Championship, 25 00:02:04,957 --> 00:02:07,337 held in the town of Sajok... 26 00:02:07,337 --> 00:02:14,257 Sajok... Sajok... Sajok... Seriously, couldn't you hold this thing in Helsinki? 27 00:02:14,257 --> 00:02:18,737 But you're probably wondering, what happens during a hobby horse competition? 28 00:02:19,277 --> 00:02:23,897 Is everyone just hopping around like a mob of kangaroos doing jazzercise? 29 00:02:24,437 --> 00:02:27,637 Nay, nay. This is intense stuff. 30 00:02:28,017 --> 00:02:32,997 For instance, in one portion of the event, equestrians maneuver a set course 31 00:02:32,997 --> 00:02:37,737 as fast as they can, leaping over fences that are up to three and a half feet 32 00:02:37,737 --> 00:02:40,857 tall, all while straddling their stick steeds. 33 00:02:40,857 --> 00:02:45,877 Proceeds it's intense enough that some writers train by riding real horses working 34 00:02:45,877 --> 00:02:51,717 out in the gym or even practicing pole dancing yeah that that's it that's why 35 00:02:51,717 --> 00:02:55,197 they have that pole in the house no no really no shut up, 36 00:02:55,943 --> 00:03:00,863 Of course, things are more stately in the dressage, with riders trotting their 37 00:03:00,863 --> 00:03:06,083 stick horses before the discerning eyes of the judges and some 2,000 attendees. 38 00:03:07,143 --> 00:03:11,943 Competitors go to great lengths when creating their horses, modeling and sewing 39 00:03:11,943 --> 00:03:15,763 the heads and adorning them with decorations, which makes us wonder, 40 00:03:16,003 --> 00:03:20,263 hey MTV, where's our Pimp My Hobby Horse series? injuries. 41 00:03:20,463 --> 00:03:27,503 But despite the sport's growing popularity, participants often face judgment and bullying. 42 00:03:28,063 --> 00:03:32,043 Here at Odd News Plus, we think the sport of hobby horsing is odd, 43 00:03:32,243 --> 00:03:34,363 but that's not always a bad thing. 44 00:03:34,923 --> 00:03:36,523 You be you. 45 00:03:37,583 --> 00:03:42,883 We wrap up today's Odd News Plus with some information from the latest edition 46 00:03:42,883 --> 00:03:45,423 of the Middle-Aged Farmer's Almanac. 47 00:03:45,663 --> 00:03:50,763 According to the the almanac, today is the best day of the year to rotate your crops. 48 00:03:51,003 --> 00:03:55,043 The book says this means that you should shove the stalks of your plants underground 49 00:03:55,043 --> 00:03:59,623 and expose the roots to sunlight for the remainder of the growing season, 50 00:03:59,883 --> 00:04:02,883 which I assume only lasts for a few more days. 51 00:04:03,563 --> 00:04:06,123 And Leos, stop stressing! 52 00:04:10,043 --> 00:04:13,603 That about wraps it up for today's Odd News Plus. 53 00:04:13,883 --> 00:04:19,043 A big thanks to the Comedy Forecast patrons for helping make this show possible. 54 00:04:19,463 --> 00:04:25,523 Story, voices, and original music by Clinton Alvord. Copyright 2024. 55 00:04:26,163 --> 00:04:31,443 All rights reserved. Talk to you next time. But for now, that's it. 56 00:04:31,583 --> 00:04:34,063 We're done, done, done, done, done. Bye-bye. 57 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:45,333 Music.