Every year, lightning is estimated to cause up to 24,000 deaths globally. It starts forest fires, burns buildings and crops, and causes disruptive power outages. The best, most practical technology available to deflect lightning is the simple lightning rod, created by Benjamin Franklin more than 250 years ago. But lightning rods protect only a very limited area proportional to their height. So today's show, why a group of European researchers are hoping the 21 century upgrade is a high-powered laser. Plus: Regina makes incremental progress on conquering her irrational fear of lightning.
Struck by other illuminating scientific research? Email us at shortwave@npr.org.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy
It Could Happen Here - Understanding the Response to the Tyre Nichols Video
We talk about the state of street resistance against the police in the wake of the footage of police murdering Tyre Nichols.
EARTHQUAKE DONATION LINKS:
The White Helmets
The Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) Foundation
Doctors Without Borders
Kurdish Red Crescent
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
array(3) { [0]=> string(150) "https://www.omnycontent.com/d/programs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/78d30acb-8463-4c40-a5ae-ae2d0145c9ff/image.jpg?t=1749835422&size=Large" [1]=> string(10) "image/jpeg" [2]=> int(0) }This Machine Kills - 231. Paris Syndrome
We get some Parisian updates and stories from Ed. Then we enter the mind palace of a libertarian who, with all the annoying pretension of a philosophy major, tried to make ChatGPT say the word. We wrap up with a discussion of the “year of efficiency” in Silicon Valley as the biggest four tech companies are rewarded with over $800 billion in market cap for making massive job cuts, massive stock buybacks, and massive investments in AI.
Some stuff we reference
••• Big Tech groups disclose $10bn in charges from job culls and cost cutting https://www.ft.com/content/9daf27f6-dde7-40d8-b01d-33b70844aa69
••• Tech’s Biggest Companies Discover Austerity, to the Relief of Investors https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/02/technology/big-tech-earnings-austerity.html
••• Tech's Elite Hates Labor https://ez.substack.com/p/techs-elite-hates-labor
••• Big Tech companies use cloud computing arms to pursue alliances with AI groups https://www.ft.com/content/5b17d011-8e0b-4ba1-bdca-4fbfdba10363
••• Google reveals plans for Bard chatbot as AI tech race heats up https://www.ft.com/content/66fad3e0-f530-48c1-984c-82578274ce7a
••• Microsoft Throws a Coming-Out Party for A.I. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/07/technology/microsoft-ai-chatgpt-bing.html
Subscribe to hear more analysis and commentary in our premium episodes every week! https://www.patreon.com/thismachinekills
Grab TMK gear: https://www.bonfire.com/store/this-machine-kills-podcast/
Hosted by Jathan Sadowski (www.twitter.com/jathansadowski) and Edward Ongweso Jr. (www.twitter.com/bigblackjacobin). Production / Music by Jereme Brown (www.twitter.com/braunestahl)
Lost Debate - Ep 114 | State of the Union, MrBeast, Organic Food
Ravi and Rikki lead things off with their reactions to President Biden’s State of the Union address and what it says about the state of political polarization today. Then we turn to YouTube extraordinaire MrBeast, why he’s courting controversy over cataract surgeries, and the merits of effective altruism. Finally, we head to the grocery aisle and ask a question that’s surprisingly hard to answer: is that organic food you’re buying actually organic?
[04:01] - SOTU
[21:05] - MrBeast
[39:05] - Organic Food
[50:30] - Voicemails
Leave us a voicemail with your thoughts on the show! 321-200-0570
Check out our show notes: https://lostdebate.com/2023/02/10/ep-114/
Subscribe to our feed on Spotify: http://bitly.ws/zC9K
Subscribe to our YouTube channel: https://bit.ly/3Gs5YTF
Subscribe to our Substack: https://thelostdebate.substack.com/
Follow Lost Debate on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lostdebate/
Follow Lost Debate on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lostdebate
Follow Lost Debate on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/thelostdebate
The Lost Debate is also available on the following platforms:
Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/the-lost-debate
iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-the-lost-debate-88330217/
Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.co.uk/podcasts/752ca262-2801-466d-9654-2024de72bd1f/the-lost-debate
The Gist - The Sarah Lawrence Cult
The Hulu Series Stolen Youth: Inside the Cult of Sarah Lawrence tells the story of conman Larry Ray and his ten-year grip over a group of young people. Director Zach Heinzerling and survivor Dan Levin talk about the three-part series, which premieres tonight. Plus, AOC delivers the “DIS” but not the perfect “INFORMATION.” And Mike voluntarily sits for an online government training module.
Produced by Joel Patterson and Corey Wara
Email us at thegist@mikepesca.com
To advertise on the show, visit: https://advertisecast.com/TheGist
Fundraiser by Michelle Pesca : Deniushkina Family Resettlement Fund (gofundme.com)
Pesca Profundities | Mike Pesca | Substack
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
CoinDesk Podcast Network - BREAKDOWN: Python Politics Part 1 – The US Government’s Slow Squeeze on Crypto via the Banking System
Agencies across the federal government have launched a coordinated campaign to pressure banks into not serving crypto customers.
Operation Choke Point was an Obama-era initiative that put political pressure on banks and financial institutions to deny service to out-of-favor industries. Something similar is happening again with intense pressure being exerted for banks not to service the crypto industry. On this first part of a two-episode special, NLW looks at what’s happening, as well as the key recent history of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the U.S.’ main banking regulator.
CORRECTION NOTE: At the 4:18 mark, NLW states: “At present there are two outstanding applications for licenses to operate national trust banks from Anchorage and Paxos, and these applications appear likely to be rejected by the OCC.”
This was a mis-statement. Anchorage Digital is the only operational OCC-chartered digital asset bank, with their charter was approved by the OCC in January 2021. Paxos and Protego are the outstanding applications. This line has now been removed from the audio.
-
Join the most important conversation in crypto and Web3 at Consensus 2023, happening April 26-28 in Austin, Texas. Come and immerse yourself in all that Web3, crypto, blockchain and the metaverse have to offer. Use code BREAKDOWN to get 15% off your pass. Visit consensus.coindesk.com.
-
“The Breakdown” is written, produced by and features Nathaniel Whittemore aka NLW, with editing by Rob Mitchell and research by Scott Hill. Jared Schwartz is our executive producer and our theme music is “Countdown” by Neon Beach. Music behind our sponsor today is “Foothill Blvd” by Sam Barsh. Image credit: Lusky/Getty Images, modified by CoinDesk. Join the discussion at discord.gg/VrKRrfKCz8.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Pod Save America - “Evening Joe.”
Joe Biden had a surprisingly good time at his State of the Union address by shooting down Republican hecklers like they were a Chinese balloon. Democratic strategist Michael Podhorzer stops by to discuss what the midterm results can teach us about 2024. And later, House Republicans take on the peoples’ business by asking what Twitter knew about Hunter Biden’s laptop.
For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.
Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - Chicago Mayoral Forum: Ja’Mal Green, Roderick Sawyer
In the second of our mayoral forums, we pose voter questions to candidates organizer Ja’Mal Green and Alderman Roderick Sawyer live from the University of Chicago.
Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons - Chicago Innovators: Bringing Sports, Academics To Kids
Reset sits down with Eric Davis and Frank Brim leaders of the BASE Chicago, an organization based in West Garfield Park that provides a range of programming for urban youth from baseball and softball training, to violence prevention and even college readiness.
Consider This from NPR - How Some Dealerships Use ‘Yo-yo Car Sales’ To Take Buyers For A Ride
Negotiating a purchase at a car dealership can be a stressful experience. But once you sign the deal and drive away, the car is yours right? Not necessarily.
NPR's Chris Arnold breaks down how some dealerships engage in a practice called a "yo-yo car sale" that can entrap people in bad deals.
In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your community.
Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy
NPR's Chris Arnold breaks down how some dealerships engage in a practice called a "yo-yo car sale" that can entrap people in bad deals.
In participating regions, you'll also hear a local news segment to help you make sense of what's going on in your community.
Email us at considerthis@npr.org.
Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices
NPR Privacy Policy