E57: Lil Jon Weaves a Hair Amulet! Plus Holiday Gift Guide feat. Lauren Goode

One step forward, two steps back. The Holland Tunnel’s holiday décor debacle was fixed following a public outcry, yet we find ourselves reckoning this week with even more horrors, such as Russian Nest hackers, robots gone wild and the shocking revelation that Azealia Banks is the tech world’s Zelig, last seen hiding in Elon Musk’s house after fashioning an amulet out of Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey’s beard hairs. Joined by WIRED senior writer Lauren Goode, we shut down the most horrible gifts of the season, including but not limited to burrito scented candles, a push-up sports bra that can hold an entire bottle of wine, a smoke-free fire pit and a dongle for your toilet. Also, we address an important #AskNope holiday quandary: Is a bicycle bell OK to wear on your purse to encourage pedestrians to keep it moving?

HEAR US ON ITUNES
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-nope/id1312654524?mt=2

SPOTIFY

https://open.spotify.com/show/07WFZhd5bgY1l1BspArfRJ
STITCHER
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/this-week-in-nope

BUZZSPROUT

http://www.buzzsprout.com/208569
SOUNDCLOUD
https://soundcloud.com/user-518735966/tracks
OVERCAST
https://overcast.fm/itunes1312654524/this-week-in-nope

In this week’s episode:

Read Nick Bilton’s “parenthetical bombshell” in Vanity Fair: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/12/jack-dorseys-eureka-moment

And the follow-up investigation by SPIN magazine here: https://www.spin.com/2018/12/jack-dorsey-azealia-banks-hair-amulet/

Learn more about Boris the Russian robot who turned out to be just a dude in a robot suit: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/dec/12/high-tech-robot-at-russia-forum-turns-out-to-be-man-in-robot-suit

The #Nope Gift Guide:

The Wine Rack: https://www.amazon.com/WineRack-200-010-Wine-Rack-Large/dp/B07228KHS1

A DIY tecnology toolkit that will likley void your warranty: https://www.ifixit.com/Store/Tools/Pro-Tech-Toolkit/IF145-307

Biolite Smokeless Fire Pit:

https://www.bioliteenergy.com/products/firepit?variant=12471708287075

Pradamalia charms: http://www.prada.com/en/a-future-archive/projects/pradamalia.html

A Bonebox subscription: https://www.cratejoy.com/subscription-box/skulls-unlimited-international-inc/?clickid=3U0RwGy7f3w3XHF0xY21D1wSUkgRap2VsXu13Y0&irgwc=1&utm_medium=AFF&utm_source=IR&utm_basket=BuzzFeed&utm_carton=ONLINE_TRACKING_LINK&utm_egg=Online%20Tracking%20Link

Burrito scented candle: https://stinkycandlecompany.com/product/burrito-candle/#reviews

The Aviary cocktail book: https://www.theaviarybook.com/buy/

The Tushy portable bidet: https://hellotushy.com/?utm_expid=.4q1sPWKtQ6KDdg6HH7h6aA.0&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

Neuticles, for your bashful pet: https://www.neuticles.com/

A Razzle Dazzle haircut (or carwash): https://www.razzledazzlebarbershop.com/

Big #YUP to…

Julie Klausner and her excellent podcast “How Was Your Week?” Listen here: http://www.howwasyourweek.com/

The greatest Christmas duet of 2018 is here: Lil Jon and the Kool-aid Man celebrate the holidays.  

Lauren Goode gives a shoutout to the “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G9LGZCM/?ref=dvm_us_dl_sl_go_ast_125MM_TLeP5|c_316614120392_m_PStu8QZR-dc_s__&gclid=CjwKCAiA9efgBRAYEiwAUT-jtDuuBneWFk92ki-QombTa08T1P_sOVwnMpgFIeqZKLpamoyMzwWmQRoCA0wQAvD_BwE

And major props to Walt Mossberg for his decision to abandon Facebook: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/18/technology/walt-mossberg-quit-facebook.html