Jean Shepherd - Canards, Fearing Meteor Strikes, & The Answer Man 1977/02/02

How many times have you heard a canard (an unfounded rumor or story) that everyone knows
Starts at: 0:25
There used to be a show called "The Answer Man"
Starts at: 1:10
Now, no one wants answers, everyone over the age of 3 has an answer for everything
Starts at: 1:47
Jean has been collecting canards since the age of 5. A prime example is the popular press and all of the hangups. Shep talks about the fads & hangups throughout the generations.
Starts at: 3:00
Shep references a saying that states the veneer of civilization is very thin
Starts at: 14:14
As a kid, Jean read an article that a man was struck by a meteor and that anyone can be hit by a meteor. Needless to say, he got very worried about this....
Starts at: 16:12
[Audio is public domain, Photo © by Roy Schatt]