Ozone Nightmare

Overshearing The Sheep

Leave it to NPR, the often parodied and dismissed non-profit organization of U.S. public radio stations, to take a stand against the bloated and greedy members of the RIAA. Recently, our fine government has decided to increase the fees that internet radio stations must pay the record labels for playing songs. Not only have the fees almost tripled, but they are retroactive. This ludicrous action means that many great online music sources face bills they simply can't pay. Pandora, a fantastic s...

Cinema Oscuro

After a week off for vacation, Lando and I are back with a lighter show, coming back to a world we love to visit: the movies. This week, we're taking a trip down the path less traveled, as we shed some light on 15 films we find to be left off the marquee. We're throwing in some personal favorites, and also some that we both agree on. Butter up the popcorn and take a load off, you're about to take a trip with us to the Cinema Oscuro. UPDATE: By request, here are the films in order of appear...

Update-O-Bot

Hey all, just wanted to let you know there will be a show posted this weekend. Lando was out here to visit, so I wasn't wasting time with editing while my friend was around. So sit tight, a new show is just around the corner!

H2 : Portals To Porno

It's Show 34, and we're doing a sort of revisit on a theme we did way back, a look at news stories that have flown mostly under the radar. These are events that we feel need more attention than what they're currently getting, if any at all. Censorship, sinister government, injustice, crazy astronauts, and letting everyone be Keanu Reeves...we've got it all baby! Opening Music: "Fire In The Sky" by Dave London  

Worst Buy

I just happened to stumble across this article at the Consumerist detailing what is a sadly common experience for people who go to the Geek Squad (owned by Best Buy) for computer repair. As someone who worked for the Geek Squad in 2005, I can tell you that the quality of workmanship there can be sadly lacking, but there are circumstances beyond tech experience that can lead to these stories. Unfortunately, it's not that everyone there is a moron or that no one tries. Like anywhere else, there...

Communism 2.0

For Episode 33 Lando and I are discussing and debating the nature and future of the online community model, from gaming to forums. What is this volatile culture that has emerged from the dominance of the internet? How does it mirror (or differ from) our offline lives, and what will it's ultimate fate be? Lando and I certainly have our views, and we get some occasional sparks out of this show. Opening Music: "Fire In The Sky" by Dave London  

Great News

Hey everyone, I've got some excellent news concerning our little show.  Within the last few weeks I extended an invitation to fellow podcaster Benjamin Grundy to come on our show to do an interview, and he has graciously accepted! If you don't know who Ben is (and you should), he runs the Mysterious Universe podcast. MU is one of the better shows I've run across, from the consistently interesting topics to the high production quality. Ben covers the boggling spectrum of the things in this wor...

Dead Terminals

Episode 32 finds us contemplating those modern technologies and changes that we probably never notice. Things like internet and cell phones seem commonplace, but the reality is that these are relatively new innovations that have very quickly become as integral to modern life as a vehicle. Is this invisible integration a bad thing? Is it significant, or simply a byproduct of a rapidly changing culture? Opening Music: "Fire In The Sky" by Dave London  

Cod Of War

Hey guys, I'm just popping on to give a small update on things. Firstly: There was supposed to be a show posted for last weekend, but two events collided that have delayed it for this upcoming weekend. Originally I was just behind because of my birthday, but the true show stopper was the plumbing deciding to go completely bonkers. We had to call out a plumber on a Sunday (fun), then he broke a pipe underneath the house (more fun.) Due to all that, I didn't get the show finished on time. Sorr...

Intertainment

For this episode we're lightening things up a bit, focusing on the nearly unlimited sources of free entertainment on the web. From games to 24/7 webcams (of the non-porn variety), we offer up a small selection of places to go and things to see on the internet. Hopefully you'll pick up a few sites that you haven't heard of or seen before. Opening Music: "Fire In The Sky" by Dave London Links from the show: Kitten Cannon Line Rider Newgrounds Ebaums World Orisinal flOw Theforce YouT...

R.I.P. Flickr?

I've been a big advocate of Flickr since the very beginning of the site, as it provides a great way for me to put my photography out on the net for what it is really a very low cost. I think the feature set is not only robust but very useful, and the site as a whole has only improved over time. I remember hearing about Yahoo acquiring the site, which I had hoped would be nothing more than an acquisition without any change of the core structure. For a while, it seemed like that was exactly wh...

Fear Is The Mind Killer

This week Lando and I spend a few minutes musing on the upgrades to the site, then we dive into whether we live in a culture of fear in America. We don't exactly agree on the answer, but we both have noticed some things in this country that are worth examining. In the process, we drop quite a few movie references for a show that has nothing to do with film. Opening Music: "Fire In The Sky" by Dave London  

The Postmodern Age

For my first official post here on this lovely site I wanted to establish to our listeners and now readers the facets of the age we are said to be living in, which is that of the Postmodern age. Since my forte is literature, I sought to explain the idea of postmodernism in reference to literature. But have no doubt that these idea can be attributed to all aspects of the current culture that we inhabit. "Why are you telling us this Lando?" you are no doubt asking. Simple. We are living in an a...

Little spot of site news...

Hey guys, just want to note a couple of things here after reading the comments on the last blog post. I'm real happy about the feedback we got on the new design: there is now a redirect page at the old site location and the empty categories have been fixed. I also fixed a text display issue with the show subtitle, so hopefully that's showing up straight for everyone. You'll also see an email link on the page now, so if you have show ideas or just something to say, punch that button. Finally, ...

No Show for January 20

Hey everyone, this week we'll be off. Between updating everything with the homepage and just regular life, the time just wasn't there. Now that everything is in place, we should finally be on a good, regular schedule. See you next week!

I'm Bob And I'm A God

This week Lando and I are wrapping our heads around the promise of nanotech, which may end up being the next step in human evolution if it delivers on the hype. Will nanotech be the final jump that lets humanity loose the bonds of mortality and break through the limits of our knowledge? If so, what will become of humanity as both a species and as individuals?  

Side Notes

We've got a double-sized monster for you this week as we take a listen to some tunes we think everyone should give a chance at least once. Some choices are more obscure than others, but almost all are off the beaten path for the average listener. Beyond the music, this is the likely the show with the most tangents that we've ever had. And that's saying something.  

Murderers Rock

Don't panic guys, the title is a reference, not a statement. You'll understand once you get into this show, where the legal system of this country is put through the grinder and we examine how much of the meat is good, and how much is unsuitable for any consumption.  

Calling The Big Blind

I know it's been a while, but we're back and we're gonna try to keep the schedule regular from now on. This week we're taking a misty peek into the future, or at least what we think it may shape up as. From politics to movies, we're covering a little bit of everything as we take the roles of oracles for the next decade.  

Sonic Resonance

This week Lando and I are taking an audio tour of soundtracks that provoke a reaction or response from us. These are soundscapes that pack more punch than average, scores that make us do more than just listen.  

Ad Nauseum

Is God Asleep At The Wheel?

Finally back on the air, Lando and myself are tackling the big topic this week: religion. Is religion relevant, or is the sad fact that those in charge of guiding us spiritually lost their way? This one is sure to generate some response, so buckle up and get ready.  

Has The U.S.S. Enterprise Run Aground?

This week we're covering some lighter ground as we take a look at the future (or lack thereof) of the Star Trek universe. Have the weakening TV series and underwhelming recent films doomed the once golden franchise to the annals of history? Or has the time come to let the Trek faithful save the listing Enterprise?

Global Warning

Lando has returned for the show and while his laptop isn't out of the woods, we should be back on schedule. Since we've had so much off time, we decided to tackle a timely and heavy topic this week: World War III. Are we already in it, or do we still have time to stop this train before it runs off the rails? It's a complex topic, and we both have some sharp views on both symptoms and fixes for the problem.  

Future Shlock

I'm on my own this week while Lando's laptop is in the shop. Go easy on me while I try to dissect some of the overly hyped technology that has either never materialized or is looking weak at the starting line. In our post iPod culture, what will be the next big thing? IS there a next big thing?  

Volcanic Corruption

We're delving into a tough topic this week, the culture of corruption that seems to just get worse and worse all the time. What are the roots of corruption, and is there a way to make it a thing of the past? There's no easy answer, and even the question is tough to define. We've got a new addition to the show, Everett, with different viewpoints and ideas that bring a fresh perspective to our opinions.  

Fast Fad Nation

After a short break, we're back in the saddle for a show examining the weird world of fads and trends. What reflection do these often brief and rarely meaningful social obsessions cast on us as a society? Are fads harmless fun or do they bring to light bigger issues we should be paying attention to? Grab your snap bracelets and come along as we take on the oddball world of fads.  

The Good, The Bad And The Underused

Show 17 is a wild ride through the Marvel Universe as we spotlight seven out of the many characters that the comics giant has mangled or just never used to their potential. It's not all bad, though, so we finish up with three characters that we think Marvel has done very well.  

Parental Warning : Graphic Content (Part 2)

This is the second part of our detailed review of our top ten graphic novels. We're running down our final five and we find that our respective creative strengths sometimes color our choices.  

Parental Warning : Graphic Content (Part 1)

Show 15 is the first part of our extensive breakdown of our top ten graphic novels. These are the stories that we find to be the best illustrated tales around today. We had to split the show in two because I have to work early, so I have an early bedtime during the week....like a little kid.  

Saddle Up With The Gang

Show 14 finds Lando and myself examining the four horsemen of the apocalypse, who have lost no speed and indeed seem to be gaining momentum in our modern world. We place our bets on the state of the planet as defined by war, plague, famine and death and the currency we use is the future.  

The Hummer Hitman

For Show 13 we decided to take a look at the headlines most of us never see, the stories that end up at the back of the newspaper or trapped in the far corners of the internet. Without a doubt, this show has some truly raw and frank moments so buckle those seatbelts.  

The Eternal Bookshelf

In the twelfth round we do our companion piece to Desert Island Cinema. We're going through our ten most re-readable books, spanning the range in subject but all equal in having an endless supply of value and entertainment.  

Desert Island Cinema

For the eleventh show we're running down our top 10 list of movies we'd take for an extended trip to a desert island. These are not the necessarily the best movies we've ever seen in terms of quality, but they are films we find ourselves watching again and again.  

Lights! Camera! Boredom!

For the tenth show we're taking a truly no holds barred examination of what's behind the steady decline in movie patronage and the general rot that seems to be spreading throughout modern entertainment media.  

Living The Half-Life

Tonight we're looking at the diverse and often fascinating realm of gaming culture. Lando manages to keep cool, but I don't quite do the same...  

Intellectual Preposterously

Tonight we're taking aim at thorny topic of intellectual property and why it has spun out of control. How did we go from a set of laws meant to protect creators to restrictions that often punish the consumer?  

Star Wars, Past & Presently Crappy

We're taking on the juggernaut of sci-fi space operas, the Star Wars saga, dissecting the films to see the good, the bad and the very ugly.  

The Unwieldy X-Men

Tonight Lando and I are diving deep into the disaster that is the X-Men, and then unleashing our fury at comics in general, even the fashion aspects!  

Living In The Cyberpunk Age

Tonight is the first bicoastal edition with Lando and myself taking a look at cyberpunk and its effect on our modern lives.  

Of Leonardo & Stone Temple Pilots

This edition I'm gonna get a little frightened about kids, and then jump right into art and music as well as where the two take us.  

Useless Little Screens

Welcome to the third edition of the show. Tonight I'm taking a look at games that I like, Apple versus Microsoft and what I hate about video on the small small screen.  

The Flash, Spider-Man And Why Dying Is Easy In Comics

Welcome to the second edition of the show. Tonight I'm taking a look at the Flash and Spider-Man, two characters that seem like long lost brothers. After that, I'm going to unleash my disgust on how death is handled in comics.  

Fumbling Towards Mediocrity

It's the first show in what I'm calling The Ozone Nightmare. I have a somewhat decent mic, no script and no direction. This oughta be fun.  

midnight ink: We Am Not Your Boy

Foreword: This is the first entry by Lando after popular demand for some of his writing to appear. I have made a full PDF for the following story available at this link. Please let us know what you think, and enjoy the first installment of Midnight Ink! (No, I didn't mean it to rhyme.) Story 1 – We am not your Boy Wiil wasn’t sure anymore which side was worse; he was only sure of who paid him. He wasn’t one of those soldiers so fragile that grey area could crumble his resolve though. T...