The vaccine mandate debate has become polarized...but here is my middle proposition - government should not force you to be vaccinated AND you have no reason not to get vaccinated. Aaron Rodgers is not vaccinated and it is going to cost me some sports enjoyment....that is UNACCEPTABLE! #PleatedPants
The current "Let's Go Brandon" movement is a glorious example of counter-culture that has been a hallmark of this country. Let's relish in it. Join together in a cheer and try to forget the forces that would rather tear us apart. Also, make sure to score some drugs for the upcoming Christmas cartoon watching season. #TopperThePenguin
On this 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, it is a time for memorials, honors and to tell each other our vivid memories of that day. The problem is that it is highly likely that those memories are false. Our stories of that day are reconstructed narratives that have been manipulated across the intervening 20 years. But that is ok, we can tell the stories anyway. While we do that, we may also want to reflect on how our fear and anger responses at that time resulted in us giving away freedoms t...
The abortion debate should be one of the most interesting discussions we can have - it involves important aspects of individual freedom, the definition of life, morality, and gender issues but also has real practical consequences. But the debate always disappoints as it devolves into bipartisan bickering and dogmatic statements. In this podcast, I discuss two of my more pathetic attempts to engage in a debate on this topic. Also, I manage to beat my previous record with 3 Kardashian references i...
Most of the current discussion on the pullout from Afghanistan has been about the procedure and not about whether it should happen at all. Is it worth spending our resources and risking the lives of our service people to protect human rights of non-US-citizens? I don't know. I wish it was something that was worth discussing....but it won't be. Instead we will go back to discussing Britney Spears' conservatorship and Tim Tebow. #BiSexualRobin
Let's agree that the climate is changing and it is greatly influenced by humans. Let's also agree that climate change is a bad thing. Does this mean that humans need to make drastic changes in behavior to slow it down? What is the cost/benefit analysis? What if it leads to a greater division in our divided country? Should I buy a vacation home in Alberta? #CheapCuomoGatesSlams
The UN came out with its new Climate Change report and Climate change mania is back in style. To deny that the climate is changing and is affected by humans is a non-starter given that climate is a dynamic system. But it is another thing altogether to presume that these changes pose an existential threat to humanity. This may be mostly a concern for people who haven't visited Wisconsin in the Winter. #SnowSucks
The latest CDC report on the Cape Cod area Covid breakout concentrated on the number of vaccinated people who tested positive but what was shocking was the number who were male. Nobody gives a shit because males are not a protected class but holy crap our lives are statistically miserable. #MalePityParty
Taboos are important for humans because it provides boundaries that are exciting to cross and give us a sense of adventure in a forbidden zone. Unfortunately, the more we push against taboo - the smaller this forbidden zone becomes. We may be at a place where we can't rely on good old fashioned sexual taboos. Where to next? #GoldenShowers
There has been quite a bit of promotion and subsequent whining about the recent billionaire space race. It has been pointed to as an example of the excesses and problems with capitalism that these billionaires are playing around with gross amounts of money. But this consternation is based on an idea that good, moral, smart people should be awarded with money. Capitalism does not provide award based on merit as much as it provides a way to develop products and solutions across a large population,...
Religion is a great aspect of human and intellectual inquiry. However, some morons when discussing religion try to validate their points by appealing to historical and scientific analysis. Don't. You really don't want science to be the arbiter of truth....you will lose. On the positive side, you keep doing it and make shitloads of money so ---probably don't listen to my advice. #Garanimals
Making rules and laws to make sure a particular group doesn't suffer from an undue burden may be laudable but it often leads to results that are laughable. Recent rules have de-incentivized recycling and promoted public drinking all in the name of racial justice. Time to rethink are statistical analyses based on labels that used to be called arbitrary and unfounded. #AssholesUnite
Rand Paul and Tony Fauci had another congressional smackdown. We are all dumber for listening to it. Rand Paul's hyperbole allowed Fauci to not answer his question. But the real problem is that Fauci continues to embrace the logical fallacy of the appeal to authority as opposed to rationale discourse backed by empirical evidence....also he looks like his farts smell like boiled cabbage. #IronSheik
BLM has entered into the fray in the Cuban civilian protests - on the side of the communist regime. Is this stupid or a Trumpian effort to call to the base and capture the news cycle? #JackieChan
There are discussions of bringing back lockdowns to deal with the Coronavirus Delta variant. But there is little evidence that the lockdowns were effective the first time but we do know they affected mental health. Staying in the house is not an effective protection against Covid in the same way as Monogamy is not an effective protection against STDS. #AppleStrudel
Former NBA Star Scottie Pippen has accused his former coach of being a racist. Who cares? Well, we should go through this logically. Clearly Scottie didn't because he looks bad regardless of the truth of the matter, but the way we look at racism in this country often bans us from using logic. #BayBeach
Considering how Americans celebrate other federal holidays, Juneteenth is likely not to be a very significant step in racial progress in this country. But it should lead to some kick-ass sales at Loews and Amazon! #McDonald'sDay
My favorite Superhero growing up was Luke Cage - Power Man. I think I would feel guilty about that choice in today's overly racially sensitive culture. We are never going to have honest discussions about race when there are so many trigger wires for demolition. I think that last sentence was a reference to the movie predator. #ChrisClaremont #ComicBookGeeks
Identity Politics have tainted superhero movies. I'm dreading the new Shang-Chi movie from Marvel because it is being pushed too much as an Asian role model movie. The same thing happened with Black Panther and I think that may be the most racist movie I have ever seen. #4HSpeakingContest
Across news networks and sports broadcasts there are insane displays of social distancing and mask wearing that go against the science and even the conservative stances of the CDC. What is the purpose of these displays? Do they think we are idiots? Of course they do. #StaindShoutOut
Why do we choose to do the right thing? Are we out for numero uno? Do we believe in the "rule of law"? Or do we actually have an individual philosophy of morality? A discussion of moral choices with reference to the Prisoner's Dilemma and Kohlberg's Theory of Moral Development and Kenny Loggins! (JK, no Kenny Loggins references which now seems like an oversight.)
Everyone thinks they are a good person but most of us are unwilling to refrain from small selfish decisions that become real problems when multiplied by the masses....like hoard toilet paper! It is easy not to commit major sins....much harder to do the small things that make the world a better place. #ManKant
Political Correctness was rampant back in the late 80s and early 90s. Now, rules for inclusive language have returned with a vengeance. The opposition to this movement has resulted in odd alliances that cross political affiliations, like Ben Shapiro, Bill Maher, Glenn Greenwald, and Jordan Peterson. Time to fight the linguistic fascism. Also: Gofourth among the Packers, Beat Teams from every City!
The internet was supposed to give us exposure to a wider variety of thoughts, ideas, music and make us less tribal. Unfortunately, completely free choice for humans leads to exactly the opposite. We use this choice to isolate ourselves from dissent or other world views. #beaarthurisasexybiatch
Humans use the Availability Heuristic to estimate the probability of events and determine fear levels. Unfortunately, while the idea of relying on what comes easily to mind worked for our ancestors, it is completely fucked by our modern way of gaining knowledge. As a result, we have a lot of irrational fears. Also, please don't hold back information about active fugitives. You may not see color but I still have cones in my retina!
Astrology is dumb and is based on confirmation bias and some questionable learning mechanisms. But who cares right? It's harmless. Is it? Doesn't it go against a sense of self-empowerment and reinforce using stereotypes to prejudge people?
Guns suck. People suck. But the gun control debate is based on a false narrative. Gun homicides are down versus the 80s and 90s. Mass shootings are not driving the gun violence statistics. It is suicide that accounts for most gun deaths in the U.S. That is where we should be directing our attention. Also, WTF Sweden!
Many of us have the same religious/spiritual beliefs - all humans are equal and connected; we can witness God in nature and art; bunnies are cool. The continued obsession with the story of Jesus is actually blocking us from this beautiful foundation for religion. Happy Feast of Eostre!
A recent report claims that the global gender wage gap increased because of the pandemic. This report illuminates the lie that the gender gap is about equal pay for equal work. This push for gender equality of outcomes in all areas is condescending to women and completely irrational. The female who should really be pissed off is the recently demoted voice of Siri.
Lil Nas X has a new video with some devilish man sex. This is mostly silly just like past attempts to use the devil as an add on to music mystique. On the other hand, those parents who are upset that Lil Nas X has changed from his wonderful child-friendly Old Town Road clearly never understood those lyrics. Finally, this is a brave step for Lil Nas X but only if he is not protected through censorship from the outrage that he clearly meant to elicit.
