On March 23, 1989, two electrochemists from the University of Utah, Martin Fleischmann and Stanley Pons, took part in a press conference where they announced to the world that they had achieved sustainable, tabletop nuclear fusion.
The events which followed were what is called in scientific circles: a dumpster fire.
Yet, despite everything, thirty years later, there is a small but growing community in the world of physics who are sure that something happened.
We pried Andy away from doomscrolling 45 to bring you this late-night episode of semi-coherent thoughts on the American regime, post-wet market theories of Covid-19, and listener queries on class.
0:00 – What is, even, anything? The big, maskless T has Covid, as does everyone around him. We talk conspiracies and sad, middling fantasies of functioning government. Is it time to give up on electoral politics? Will there ever be another Bernie?
28:30 – Twitter warrior and coronavirus prophet Zeynep Tufekci is out with a provocative new piece at The Atlantic. We reminisce about the bad old days at the start of this podcast, which we nearly christened “Pangolin Power Hour.” What does it mean for Covid-19 to be an “overdispersed pathogen”? Who is Pareto, and why does nationalized health care matter?
55:40 – We address a composite (brilliant! erudite!) listener question about class and class cosplay. Why do upper-class wokesters downplay their families’ money? Do upper- vs. upper-middle-class distinctions even matter in elite spaces? Should our class backgrounds influence our career choices or social politics? And why do we tell and retell Asian American immigrant tales of overcoming? Thanks to Janis Jin, @Soledad_Kyrie, and Lisa.
And thanks to all of you for supporting TTSG (https://goodbye.substack.com). Please stay in touch via Twitter (@ttsgpod) and email (timetosaygoodbyepod@gmail.com), and tell all your friends and enemies to subscribe.
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It's true - the Soviet government really did have its own parapsychological research program. And, unlike MKULTRA and other US operations, the Soviet version continued until 2003, when it officially ended. Tune in to learn more with Ben and Matt in today's Classic episode.
The president’s diagnosis has shattered the unreality of this presidency and reminded Americans of the very real consequences that result from public policy.
President Trump returns to the White House, saying leaving the hospital showed leadership. Joe Biden worries the President is sending the wrong message. Hurricane Delta takes aim at Louisiana. CBS News Correspondent Steve Kathan has today's World News Roundup.
Britain’s prime minister will outline big wind-energy plans at his party’s annual conference, even as the pandemic and Brexit blow his government off course. The sombre tone at a thanksgiving festival in Ethiopia reveals how the country’s largest ethnic group is not getting the reforms it was promised. And a carcinogenic nut that remains wildly popular in China.
Interview with Zephyr Teachout. We discuss her book "Break "Em Up: Recovering Our Freedom from Big Ag, Big Tech, and Big Money". Investing Skeptically: An update on possible huge commissions with annuities.
Seth Mattox is a 33 year old single dude with a degree in finance, living in St. Petersburg FL. Both of his parents were computer coders, so some of his earliest memories in life are watching his mother type on a keyboard as he fell asleep. He can't remember life without a gaming console of some sort within arms reach.
When he was 12, he and his friends created their crew concept of "we don't ever want to stop gaming". They decided when they were in their early 20's that they wanted to build a business system that would allow them to game - forever. Seth is an avid rock climber, cycler, he likes to visit local breweries, he likes to cook, and network in the local entrepreneurial communities. He spends a lot of time on a boat or the beach with his girlfriend, most recently doing some scalloping - which is a pretty rad date night.
Combined with his desire to game forever, he and his partners approached the gaming community applying real estate concepts with digital hosting. He and his partners started a Minecraft hosting company, with the best support in the industry.
Proposition 17 asks Californians if people convicted of felonies should be allowed to vote while on parole. This would impact about 40,000 people in the state. This is part 4 in our 12-part Prop Fest series, which explores the statewide ballot propositions Californians are voting on this year.
Reported by Guy Marzorati. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz and Rob Speight. Additional support from Erika Aguilar, Jessica Placzek, Kyana Moghadam, Paul Lancour, Bianca Hernandez, Ethan Lindsey, Vinnee Tong and Michelle Wiley.
We have a sitting senator with a COVID-19 positive test. We have his opponent, admitting to an extramarital affair. And we have a surge in mail-in ballots, even as absentee rules change before voters’ eyes.
Guest: Michael Bitzer, professor of politics and history at Catawba College.
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