036: The Timey-Wimey Taylor Swift Episode

036: The Timey-Wimey Taylor Swift Episode

We’re back! There was a weird timey-wimey vortex thing that happened and it caused us to lose some time. Or space. Or something like that. I promise it makes sense if you listen to our explanation in this all-new episode! Also, what’s up with Taylor Swift?

Questions of the Week

How was your summer? What do you think about Taylor Swift’s new single? Let us know on Twitter or the comment using the hashtag #TaylorAuxCable.

 


Do you have a question for Ryan and Matthew? Send it to us and it might be answered!

New episodes are on the way! We’re back, baby!

Special thanks to Gabe Miller for our intro and outro music.

30 comments

  1. You know what, ignore my Anchor question cause this came out while I was recording it, so just… Yeah…

  2. Well, I mean, we can technically call you on Anchor, so… I mean… It’s not like I did that and then realized this episode came out and suddenly felt dumb… Noope… Definitely not…

  3. That was quite the unexpected surprise! Not only was there an Aux Cable episode to listen to, but it was current and it answered a question that I sent in! The answers were very insightful, so I’m glad that this question of mine was selected.

    I actually got my passport in-between when I originally asked the question and this episode’s release. My experience was similar to Ryan’s (since I’m an American), but I called the post office ahead of time and scheduled my passport appointment rather than showing up and hoping that they weren’t tube busy, so my experience went a little more smoothly. I had the paperwork filled out ahead of time, I brought my drivers license and my birth certificate, and then I paid the fee for the passport & the picture. (I chose to have an official picture taken as opposed to affixing my own that met the official requirements; it was much more convenient, though it did cost more and the picture did not turn out as sharp as I would have preferred. For me, I made the right decision, but someone else might hear that and choose differently. Personal preference.) They scanned the drivers license and returned it right away, yet they kept the birth certificate (it was returned in the mail when my passport came). Finally, I had to sign my passport once it arrived in order for it to be valid. Even after all that, the passport is still technically property of the US government.

    The thing about Matthew’s story that really surprised me is that he said he got his passport in 2013 and it expires in 2018, which means it was only good for five years. American passports issued to non-minors are good for ten years. That’s why I got mine: I plan on traveling abroad sometime within the next decade, and it is cheaper to get a passport weeks in advance than to do a rush-order right before an international excursion.

    As for security, the US Postal Service is protected by the US Federal Government, and tampering with US mail is a felony, complete with jail time and fines. Stealing passport documents and trying to use them can find you guilty of multiple felonies, with compounding fines and jail time. That’s a big reason why people don’t usually hang out and try to steal from the post office; it’s not worth the hassle.

    I am looking forward to hearing the next episodes of the Aux Cable, even if they were originally recorded months ago, and I hope that this is a sign that the Aux Cable is back for good! This episode didn’t have a commercial or a recognition of patrons, but it’s a good “we’re back” episode nonetheless.

    1. Well, in 2013 I was a minor, Jeff. Otherwise mine would be a ten-year passport as well.

      Another US friend recently got their passport too and she was able to smile for her photo. You can’t do that for any Canadian ID, so that surprised me.

      1. In America, whether you can smile or not varies practically each year. When we got our passport cards, we couldn’t smile. Just because that was the rule for that year.

        1. Let me do the math:

          According to Episode 019 (14:05-15:14), Matthew Bird turned 23 in 2017. 2013 was four years prior. That means Matthew was either 18 or 19 in 2013. According to my American brain, Matthew was certainly not a minor, since no U.S. state considers someone 18 or older to be a minor.

          However, I just did a little research, and according to the government of Canada website, 19 is the age of majority in the Northwest Territories (and some other territories and provinces), so Matthew must have gotten his passport at the beginning of 2013.

          The “age of majority” a US/Canadian difference that I would have liked to have known about.

          1. I missed the word “is” in that last comment. The “age of majority” is a US/Canadian difference that I would have liked to have known about.

          2. I learned something new today. You aren’t an adult in Canada until you are 19. Cool

          3. I misspoke. I was not a minor in 2013 when my passport was issued, though I actually applied for my passport in 2012. I think I simply opted for the shorter term document (5 years vs 10) in my application.

            Also, while the age of majority does vary in Canada, I believe that it also varies in the US. And actually, any Canadian applying for a passport that is 16 years or older must apply for an adult passport.

            I wrote that initial comment while distracted, I apologise for all the confusion! ?

          4. No worries, Matthew! I’m just glad you took the time to respond to these comments so that we could all learn a little bit more about how Canada and the US handle their passport applications.

            You are correct in that the age of majority varies in the US, now that I’ve done a little more research. Most states & territories set it at 18, but Alabama & Nebraska set it at 19 and Colorado, Mississippi, & Puerto Rico set it at 21. The higher the age, the more exceptions and caveats are written in the law to adjust the age for different circumstances.

            However, I also just found out that since the US Federal government issues the passports, it does not matter what the age of majority is for the state that the passport applicant is from. The age of majority for all US citizens to apply for a 10-year adult passport instead of a 5-year minor passport is 16 (but most applicants who are 16 or 17 have to show “parental awareness”). So the age of applying for an adult passport is the same for the US & Canada, but I don’t think that the US has an option to apply for a shorter-term adult passport.

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The Aux Cable