Episode 123 · Thursday, 20 August 2009

Thanksgiving Turkeys

Political payoffs and missing climate data take center stage as the administration navigates healthcare reform and a deteriorating military situation in Afghanistan.

By The No Agenda Show | 1h 20m listen | 26 chapters
Thanksgiving Turkeys cover
The No Agenda Show · No. 123

About this episode

The Obama administration allegedly secured medical industry support for healthcare reform by creating new insurance codes for end-of-life consultations. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius defended these measures on Sunday talk shows, while critics argue the 'consultancy fees' are financial payoffs to doctors. This legislative maneuvering occurs as the healthcare sector, representing nearly one-fifth of the U.S. economy, faces claims of control by Wall Street and pharmaceutical lobbyists.

General Stanley McChrystal requested additional troops for Afghanistan to counter a winning Taliban, drawing parallels to the Vietnam War. In the United States, the Climatic Research Unit admitted to losing original raw data used for global temperature records, complicating the transparency of climate change legislation. Meanwhile, newly appointed AIG CEO Robert Benmosche faced scrutiny for taking a two-week Mediterranean vacation just 48 hours after accepting the role. Other developments include the appointment of Ed Whitacre to General Motors despite his lack of automotive experience and the return of Current TV journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee from North Korea.

John C. Dvorak and Adam Curry explore the bizarre discovery of Nepenthes attenboroughi, a giant carnivorous plant in the Philippines that consumes rodents. The duo deconstructs the commercial fabrication of Thanksgiving, noting that Abraham Lincoln originally established the holiday in October to mark the end of the Civil War. Adam Curry broadcasts from a quiet villa in Formentera while preparing his return to the canal house command center.


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CHAPTER 01 / 26 Discussion

California Budget Crisis, Adam Curry in Formentera

Adam Curry broadcasts from Formentera, Spain, while John C. Dvorak reports on the California budget crisis and the state's issuance of IOUs to taxpayers. Small businesses are reportedly unable to use these IOUs to pay state sales taxes. The hosts clarify that Formentera is a quiet island south of the party-centric Ibiza.

california· iou· formentera· ibiza· adam curry· john c. dvorak

00:01 You know, there has to be a couple of porn stars around here that would stand around naked for 300 bucks for five or six hours. Adam Curry John C Devorah It's Thursday August 20th 2009 time for your Gitmo Nation audio publication episode 123 This is no agenda Coming to you from the bamboo strutted house crackpot command center from a deserted island in Gitmo nation southeast this time I'm in Spain, I'm Adam Curry. And i am what's formerly known as California maybe still referred to as the bankrupt state! I'm John C. DuBois. It's Crackpot and Buzzkill In The Morning! Now it is funny you mention that. I think Ron was telling me that he got his tax return from California and it was an IOU

00:51 Yeah, you mentioned this two or three shows ago. I did mention that but now all these... Play the horn honk honk honk See that's what you would do if i did it. Yeah yeah yeah I repeated myself well the thing is I don't think I repeated is that there are these You know, the sales tax. Small businesses have to pay their sales tax and so they're taking their IOUs... Oh great! The state isn't accepting their IOUs. Oh really? They can dish it out but they can't take it Exactly How lame-o is that That's ridiculous If you are given an IOU then you should be able to give it back No, apparently not It's beautiful here John

01:33 I'll bet it is. How was it there in Smokey Bankrup, California? Why don't you just admit that you're really going to Ibiza! No, it's south of... So you can party in the foam and all the nightclubs there? No. I don't do that. We're not in Ibiza. We're south of Ibiza. You're in Ibiza. No we are not in Ibiza. You say that! I'm just telling ya'. I know your in Ibiza. That's where you.. Why would go to any place that close to Ibiza if your weren't going to Ibiza which by the way is just an out-and-out drug induced party town with nothing but night clubs they dont do anything else that I know off but just party. That why am not going there. Thats why am not their right now

02:11 We are in the Belairs, the Belair Islands and we're south of Ibiza as the Brits call it. I-BEE-tha! We're going to Ibiza so were not in Ibiza its Formantera look up on Google Formantera former hippie island nudist colony to the stars. Yeah, great so let's get it when you come back it's gonna be you're gonna be annoying So lets uh... Only when I come back? Not before? I have had such a nice day You know It's all relaxing and I feel like a new man Because it will not put seniors in a position of being put to death by their government

CHAPTER 02 / 26 Discussion

Kathleen Sebelius, End-of-Life Care Discussions

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius appeared on Sunday morning talk shows to discuss end-of-life care measures within the healthcare reform debate. Critics argue these measures are cost-cutting tools, while Sebelius characterizes them as personal family discussions. The hosts criticize her for failing to provide direct answers to interviewer Jake Tapper.

kathleen sebelius· health and human services· end-of-life care· jake tapper· healthcare reform

02:57 Well, if you're going to go in that direction let's start off the show by bringing up some Sibelius quotes that came from last Sunday morning. My friend Sibelius I have not seen anything being as south of Ibiza She is creepy. She's a Bilderberger right? I didn't want to play the whole thing, but she's obviously one of those people who knows how to go into a talk show and just repeat herself. So do you think it is going to be hard on old people? Well, I think it could be hard on old people. It's gonna be hard on a lot of people because this is just a difficult situation because its gonna be so difficult and hard especially for old people

03:36 And people that aren't that old, but people are really old and maybe some people you know that kind of thing. Yack yack yak! Now Sibelius of course is the director of Health and Human Services? She reminds me to an annoying degree of Carly Fiorina who has a same patronizing style of talking down to you Isn't she from California isn't she from the West? Sibelius? I don't know, you'd have to look it up. Okay so this is about... I'm not going to play the whole thing but i just want to play a couple things that I want you to play Just play Sebelius open to five Secretary Sebelius thanks for joining us Good morning Jake Critics say they're uneasy about end of life care measures being discussed within the context of cost cutting can you understand that discomfort?

04:20 Well I think end of life discussions are very, very personal and very difficult. Very difficult for family members, very difficult often for people to confront and my own mother spent... Right there she goes off the deep end she spends five five or six minutes on it. You know, it's very difficult for young people, it's very difficult for old people, it's very difficult for families, it is very difficult for large families... She doesn't actually answer the question! No she never answers the question but but it gets actually worse with some of these other ones but here's one that just kind of caught my attention because

CHAPTER 03 / 26 Discussion

Healthcare Reform Quid Pro Quo, Doctor Consultation Fees

The Obama administration allegedly secured support for healthcare reform from the AMA and doctors by creating new insurance codes for end-of-life consultations. These "consultancy fees" allow doctors to bill the government for sitting down with families to discuss care options. This arrangement is framed as a payoff to ensure medical industry cooperation with the broader legislative agenda.

barack obama· ama· healthcare providers· quid pro quo· insurance codes

04:58 away that this is what i call uh... i think it's the word i think it's payment russia now he would be for you i said to some of the clip called payments and out i'd be there's a bunch of people talking about the health care stuff in how obama actually paved the way to push health care by doing deals first they analyze what happened with hillary and the people that pushed the AMA, the health insurance companies, the doctors themselves. Everybody all these people that wouldn't allow a thing happen so they fought against it So the idea was that Obama was going to pave the way in other words you know set the stage due diligence get these guys on board before he presented anything

05:41 And apparently now, you know the health care insurance companies and the doctors everybody's on board except the public which is kind of a missing link here. Whoops! So what I'm looking for now and I advise anybody else to look for it is what was the quid pro quo because obviously these people aren't going just yeah whatever we didn't like before but since you're gonna do it were gonna just be on board with ya what do you mean we didn't like it before? We didn't like what before. Well, during the Hillary thing all these people were against essentially the same health care program that she tried to introduce... Was it exactly the same idea? It's close enough. The point is that they did some deal with all these people and I've been trying to figure out what some of these deals were and she gives it away in this long-winded, believe me show would be over as he answered that question at the opening question but she slips it in

06:34 what it was and I think this was the quid pro quo for doctors, and play payment then i'll explain. Okay so let me just understand what we're talking about How do we get everyone to be on board, not the public but all the doctors and everyone who is going to be a part of this? Of course we know that Obama did deal with healthcare providers for 80 billion dollars. But here is the set up and Sebelius lets it slip Doctors would have a payment provided to sit down with family members if they choose and have a discussion. We were desperate to do that, there were way too many specialists in and out of the room and way too little time to actually sit with someone and try to understand what was going on. Oh okay so it's like a consultancy fee?

07:25 So in the olden days when you were dying or your mom was dying or something was happening, the doctor would talk to you about it and what you could do this that and other thing. But now they get paid I mean normally they would just do this because this is kind of their job. It's a public service we'll just will talk about all the options and sit down before anything happens When you talk to your doctor usually he isn't charging by the hour You know, and so now they've set this thing up. This is what this whole end of life thing was all about It's got nothing to do with the end of life it's a payoff. It's another insurance code entry Yeah, so just basically a bribe. It's like now when the doctor says well I think your mom should probably be taken to an old folks home Now they can bill the government for just telling you that because that's the whole thing was this scam That suckered all these or not sucker but got the AMA and the doctors on board it's like look You guys are spending a lot of time with this we can now pay you

08:18 It's just completely unbelievable. No, it is totally believable because it will not put seniors in a position of being put to death by their government unless you get paid for it. It is Insurance Company Code 59732 Yeah, so now they get paid for this and this. Anyway I assume there's a lot of these little things you have to read between the lines and it's pretty hard to do because you have to listen to people like Sibelius who just ramble forever by repeating herself! And she talks real slow like this and very deliberately. She reminds me that woman who was on the SEC who is trying to answer questions as how the Madoff thing happened and she was the same condescending

09:01 bureaucratic woman that talks real slow. Sheila? Is it Sheila Bair, is that her name? One of the two there's a couple of them but anyway now here's a good example this is another clip and this is a clip of Sibelius again on this show where they and apparently I'm guessing then on a lot of these morning shows there's a new guy taking over just for substituting for Stephanopoulos named Jake something forgot his last name. Jake The Snake Jake, it seems to me that if he had listened to the answers to his question, his own question. He would have followed up and said well you didn't answer my question because she doesn't answer it but I think these people come on

CHAPTER 04 / 26 Discussion

Political Double Talk, Healthcare Economic Impact

Political figures are criticized for using "double talk" to avoid answering whether citizens can keep their existing insurance plans under new reforms. The healthcare sector represents nearly one-fifth of the U.S. economy, leading to claims that the system is controlled by Wall Street and pharmaceutical lobbyists. The discussion suggests the current reform efforts are more about financial payoffs than actual patient care.

healthcare reform· wall street· pharmaceutical companies· double talk· lobbyists

09:41 to these morning shows, I just get the sense of this because you see it too often and there's a rule. You cannot hound somebody for the answer to a question they didn't answer And in fact it happened later on in the same show where uh... were there are couple politicians that weren't answering questions and two politicians went after each other but the host wouldn't say anything. But all these Sunday morning shows no one ever answers the question isn't it? They never answered at all! Ever! In some funny way they answer it by not answering it, but so play keep old plan. Oops I'm sorry I fucked that up hold on here we go But how can the administration make the promise that if you like your insurance plan you can keep it when CBO and other analysts estimate that some people will be switched from private to public?

10:30 Well, I think Jake if you think about a marketplace option and new plans being created in Toledo Ohio or in California or Florida the network of doctors is likely to be pretty identical. A lot of plans exist in the same marketplace and doctors are part a variety of networks. So the idea that you would keep your own doctor is highly likely. The other thing about the new marketplace is I think the president's eager to stabilize the employer marketplace. Small business owners right now are dropping coverage because they can't any longer afford it, they can't stay in the market with the new tax incentives that are part of health reform small business owners would be encouraged actually stabilize their insurance

11:17 So in other words, yeah you won't be able to keep your doctor but you probably will get your doctor because these doctors are all part of the network. They're all part of the system Yeah but the question was can you keep your old plan? It had nothing to do with keeping your old doctor that was assumed She never answers the question. She doesn't even come close, she goes right off the track immediately and then I like the way she says oh you know it could be like in you know the weather changing things in Toledo Ohio or California Well that's the old politician trait I mean just stalling Yeah recently a man came up to me and his name was Pete he was from Toledo Ohio And he said can I keep my ol' plan? He said well your doctor will be apart of the network It's unbelievable

11:59 You know, you wonder why people are up in arms is because these guys this group of people are the biggest double talkers I've seen. They're worse than the Bush people! The Bush people say well screw ya! I mean they were at least like pretty blunt This is just double talk. The thing that people have to understand, and I think listeners of this show are kind of catching on but the discussion is being taken away from what's really going on, is that healthcare is 17-18 almost a fifth of our economy. It's a huge amount of money and all of the insurance companies, which is Wall Street, pharmaceutical companies have bought and paid for every single politician including our president. And now they're coming for their

12:50 for the druthers are coming for the payoff and this is what it's been about this is what uh... as you said hillary clinton tried to do when she was the first lady i might add she wasn't a apology with him in a public issue lawyer who just did just uh... a lawyer and uh... and a wife who got cheated on and, you know but clearly a part of the plan. This is all about money and we don't see it anymore we just gloss over it I do love the fact that people are standing up and I think its right when people say give me my country back because they're starting to catch on hey wait a minute this is not about health care this is about the system being so broken so morally bankrupt that were just... We're no even talking about the real issue anymore

CHAPTER 05 / 26 Discussion

Pornography Industry Economic Struggles, Tube Sites

The Los Angeles Times reports that the pornography industry is facing a severe financial crisis due to the rise of free "tube sites." High-profile performers like Savannah Stern are reportedly taking low-paying appearance gigs at parties for as little as $300. The shift toward user-uploaded amateur content is identified as a primary driver of the industry's traditional business model collapse.

savannah stern· porn industry· santa monica· alexa.com· tube sites

13:37 I think these people should stay off the air. If they're gonna be this way with these kinds of answers, in other words non-answers or this long patronizing in Ohio and Florida and California you know on and on droning. I mean you have no idea how boring this woman is but it's so patronizing and smug And then she doesn't answer the questions It just really bugs me Just stay off the air Don't do these shows You don't have to go up there and get them to real news. I'm sorry John, i had to get this something really important tough times in the porn industry reports the Los Angeles Times The porn industry is broke John it's gotten so bad that Savannah you know Savannah right? Savannah Stern Is doing seven hours of standing around naked for a hustler party in Santa Monica for 300 bucks there is no more porn being produced John this is a serious problem

14:38 The porn industry? Wow. We need to do some parties up here! Hey, we could get Savannah for three... hey that's what finally have a use for this money let's get Savannah up the San Francisco excellent idea I love it You know there has to be a couple of porn stars around here that would stand around naked for 300 bucks for five or six hours. At least! Yeah, well we could get one at your place and one at my place just for an hour-and-a-half during the show just standing around naked I'm standing there... And can you get me some tea? Sure But this is really a problem. This is a bogus story, she's not standing around for six hours for 300 bucks At least five of the top 100 websites in the US are portals for free pornography which of course is a good thing for the consumer referred to in the industry as tube sites

15:32 According to internet traffic ranking service Alexa.com, which of course is not very good No in this case is actually appropriate because Alexa is used by system admins and of course these are the guys love them dearly but you know what a system admin's doing all day? They're downloading porn some other content is amateur work uploaded by users Which of course is the way I'm a major that's the wave at the future Who are all these people? Have you ever thought about that, you've stumbled on to one of these things. There's like a million people naked doing all kinds of weird things and you have to say do I actually know any of these people? Are they working in the cubicle next to me or are they in this city? What is it hundreds of thousands of people that are exposing themselves? I think its'a very good development. I'm for it! There's nothing wrong with that

CHAPTER 06 / 26 Discussion

Giant Carnivorous Plant Discovery, Nepenthes Attenboroughi

Explorer Sir David Attenborough discovered a new species of giant carnivorous plant in the Philippines capable of consuming small rodents. Named Nepenthes attenboroughi, the pitcher plant uses a funnel-like structure to trap and slowly dissolve its prey. The expedition also documented a unique solid blue mushroom in the same region.

david attenborough· philippines· carnivorous plant· nepenthes attenboroughi· pitcher plant

16:26 I do have something that goes right along with that, John. Sir David Attenborough the famous British broadcaster explorer etc has discovered a new species of carnivorous plant it is a giant meat-eating plant so big it can actually eat small rodents and they found this on their expedition to Philippines so now they're They've given it a name, the Nepenthes attenboroughi. Attenboroughi of course named after Sir David Attenborough This thing is outrageous! A plant that eats rodents It's almost like... What was the name of that movie? Like The Rocky Horror Picture Show movie Little Shop of Horrors Here take a look at this, this is the BBC... It's an awesome plant

17:30 And it's kind of freaky though when you think that, is this a new plant? Has it been around for awhile? Is this just... It's kind of creepy looking. Is this evolution? There's like a similar looking plant that eats flies. Yeah! Right. It looks like a funnel and flies are attracted to some goo inside and then they go down and find themselves stuck in there It's a pitcher plant. It is just a large pitcher plant. Right, except I wonder if you stick your hand in there what will happen? How does it devour you? You get a bunch of crap all over your hands and you wouldn't like it probably stinks! No but I mean... If they can dissolve a rodent like a rat... Yeah takes awhile though to get these things stuck in there for a long time these are very slow processes plants aren't fast moving

18:15 You're right. It's not like chewing them up. Well, that's kind of the dream you have, right? That's munch munch munch. I think more interesting in the same article is this unidentified blue fungi. Yeah, the fungi. That is a gorgeous looking mushroom! It is nice isn't it? It's blue! It's a solid blue mushroom. This is usually put this in the show notes just so they can see the mushroom. I found a clip and maybe this is what you had seen on current TV but just because we were harping on Laura Ling and Yuna Lee, these of course the two reporters who were dumbfounded and shocked that they

CHAPTER 07 / 26 Discussion

Laura Ling and Euna Lee, North Korea Captivity

Current TV journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee returned to the United States after being detained for 140 days in North Korea for crossing the border. The hosts suggest the incident was a publicity stunt orchestrated to boost Current TV's ratings following a failed IPO. Speculation is raised regarding future book deals, movies, and potential awards stemming from their captivity.

laura ling· euna lee· current tv· north korea· al gore· bill clinton

18:56 Taken into custody sneaking across the border of North Korea and of course We now know that this is a total current TV set up to get some more ratings because their IPO failed And Al Gore called his buddy bill and said hey man hook us up. Can you do me a solid? Did you see this this clip of them thanking everyone John I I don't know, i probably did but... I just want you to listen to it. It's just funny This isn't the one where she is whining and.. Well this isn't two of them sitting together on a couch Oh no this I have not seen Ok so they got little set up here about them being detained for 140 days in North Korea Now Laura and Yuna return home

19:43 To all of the people who supported you and me throughout the nearly five months that we were in captivity, I can barely take listening to her. All the letters and postcards you sent us gave us strength to endure the difficult time we were facing. You really gotta watch it though, John because... what's her name? Laura I guess she is on the left. She is so sincere! Sure it kind of sucked being in a hotel for four and half months but still, you crossed the border of North Korea to do a story Yeah, like you just said we would receive letters and and they were getting mail these letters How much people were supporting us? We learned about this grassroots movement on Facebook about people writing in to their congressmen to the grassroots movement on Facebook

20:38 Don't you love it? No, please. These people make me sick! Wait there's more... President we learned about the blog site Liberate Laura and which I think is also a porn movie Liberate Laura not too sure i think I've seen that one. ... around the country um candlelight vigils these vigils were taking place around the time of our trial And we thought about those lights and they gave us hope. We are so, so very grateful for all of your love and support. We're so happy to be back with our families. It was the toughest time in our lives

21:19 And we would love to share our experience with you in time. But right now, we want to go back to our normal life and... Oh so what they're saying is the special is coming? So they're producing the big special, Jon, but right now- Oh yeah it'll be a book deal too. Book deal! It will be a movie! A book deal and a Pulitzer. She's gonna get a Pulitzer. Of course of course. But in the meantime, we just had to say thank you and express our deepest gratitude. We are so humbled. Thank you. So humbled. They like to use the word so. That's that's to say it's not just a little its so. It is. It's a lot more nice. It's so good. Georgia lawmakers

CHAPTER 08 / 26 Discussion

Tommy Benton, Marijuana Caning Proposal

Georgia State Representative Tommy Benton proposed implementing caning and execution for marijuana offenders, citing Singapore's legal system as a successful model. The proposal has drawn criticism for advocating fascist-style punishments. Benton's stance on gun control is also questioned in light of his admiration for Singapore's strict laws.

tommy benton· georgia· marijuana· singapore· caning

22:11 The Georgia lawmaker calls for the caning and execution of marijuana offenders. Gee, I quit just in time! Representative Benton from Georgia Tommy Benton who looks like a character when you see him he's on his own website he is yacking away. I am opposed to the legalization of marijuana He says i think we should go to caning for people caught using it and maybe execute dealers Oh, fantastic. He says it works in Singapore I like the people that always rationalize things work in Singapore Singapore is a fascist state Is that what you want? A good caning is nice from time to time There's no guns in Singapore either Benton You want that too? You want to get rid of all the guns in the world? Is he a democrat or republican

23:06 Well, let's see. He is a... I think he is a... If all to the top of my head, I'm guessing he is a Republican who probably doesn't want guns either so you should... All you gun guys, you should write him and ask because obviously if you think Singapore is the solution but... Here is a story that we missed John and... Yeah, he is a Republican. Yeah figures! This is from our buddy Andrew Orlowski from The Register This is quite amazing to me. The CRU, the climactic research unit which of course has provided the global climate data set which is the most cited surface temperature record kept

CHAPTER 09 / 26 Discussion

Climatic Research Unit, Global Warming Data Loss

The Climatic Research Unit (CRU) admitted it no longer holds the original raw data used to create global surface temperature records cited by the IPCC. Responding to Freedom of Information requests, the unit claimed the data was lost or destroyed during the 1980s due to limited storage resources. This revelation challenges the transparency of the research supporting climate change legislation.

cru· ipcc· global warming· freedom of information· andrew orlowski

23:55 by the IPCC from the UN. So basically this is the data that the phony baloney scientists, I can't wait for the email... The phony baloney scientists of the United Nations IPCC, which not all were climatologists and of course there's now 8-9 thousand other real climatologists who are against this research so this was a research that was used to eventually lead to an inconvenient truth and of course all the way down cap-and-trade legislation and has sparked all this global warming unrest. They say they no longer have the raw data. What? Yeah, they don't have the raw data anymore there was a number of freedom of information requests that were submitted

24:42 for the raw data of, they're the ones that keep all the historical data of surface temperatures and here is what they say. We are not in a position to supply data for a particular country not covered by example agreements referred earlier as we have never had sufficient resources to keep track of exact source of each individual monthly value. Apparently they don't have USB drives Since the 1980s, we have merged the data that we have received into existing series or begun new ones. So it's impossible to say if all stations with a particular country or if all individual records would be freely available. Datted storage availability in the 1980s meant we were not able to keep them multiple sources for sites only the station series after adjustment for homogeneity issues.

25:33 we therefore do not hold... Homogeneity. I think i've done that with someone once, we therefore do not hold the original raw data but only the value added ie homogenized data Manipulated want to use that word yeah oh that just blows me away! That's a good one from Orlowski it's awesome so you have to read stuff like that in the register well I read the register a lot because of rocks because of exactly great publication but it seems to me you know can we donate to the register how do they make money? They make plenty, I mean they make more money than we do. Oh really shit! It should be donating to us

26:19 So, the headline is Global Warming Ate My Data. We've lost the numbers says CRU as they respond to Freedom of Information requests The world's source for global temperature records admits it has lost or destroyed all the original data that would allow third parties Lost or Destroyed? Yeah, well that's what he said. Jobs lost or destroyed! Data lost or destroyed So this is the actual data that spawns this whole global warring to mate It is no longer available because in the 1980s we didn't have enough money to buy hard drives That's basically what he's saying He could've written it on a piece of paper Print it out Unbelievable Yeah, that'll never see the light of day No one will talk about that

CHAPTER 10 / 26 Discussion

Cafe Gratitude, Landmark Forum Controversy

Cafe Gratitude, a chain of small restaurants in the Bay Area, is criticized for requiring employees to attend Landmark Forum seminars, a successor to Erhard Seminars Training (EST). Reviews describe an unsettling atmosphere where servers ask customers "questions of the day" and use affirmations for menu items. The business practices are compared to corporate indoctrination or cult-like behavior.

cafe gratitude· landmark forum· est· cult· san francisco

27:07 So I was reading this, we have a bunch of these alternative newspapers in the Bay Area. Lots of them actually Like The Guardian? The Guardian, the East Bay Express... I like The Guardian! There's a whole slew of them They got all kinds of sex ads in there Yeah they seem to survive with sex ads Cool So I'm reading this story and it just kind of comes from this chain of small restaurants called Cafe Gratitude And some woman which may be the place you and Mickey ate at Oh, a live on... No, live's different. Okay anyway they went on and apparently somebody quit or something because they make everybody take a landmark forum seminars which turn out to be Landmark Education grew out of Earhart Seminar Training the EST group

27:55 which is very notorious in the 70s and 80s. And it's essentially teaching you to be a robot for the company, so I got the biggest kick out of this and it's becoming very controversial. So I'm looking at the Yelp reviews on Cafe Gratitude and this one review comes up at the top here, just cracked me up from Sherry G out of Los Angeles. Everyone here is so happy Seriously, like not a fake happy but a genuine happy. Now what kind of restaurant review is this? My friend ordered something called an I am magnificent chocolate mousse and a chi or chai tea of which I cannot remember the...

28:41 I cannot remember the cute name for it. Everything about this place is literally instant peace down to the servers who went around asking everyone the question of the day, Friday's question what are you thankful for? I mean, can you imagine eating at a place like this with a bunch of people that are just eating green on their face and asking you stupid-ass questions? If you were a tree... John, let's go. We gotta go there! This is awesome! Unfortunately we do now. We got to go and record it first time in our restaurant review history. We have to go record it. It's gonna be great

CHAPTER 11 / 26 Discussion

Thanksgiving History, Abraham Lincoln Proclamation

The traditional narrative of Thanksgiving involving Pilgrims and Indians is challenged as a historical fabrication. President Abraham Lincoln officially established the holiday in 1863 as a day of thanks for the end of the Civil War, originally set for October 3rd. The modern version of the holiday is described as a commercialized "bogus holiday" that differs significantly from its documented origins.

thanksgiving· abraham lincoln· pilgrims· civil war· wikipedia

29:19 Yeah, I'll bring the G2 or the H2 recorder. It will be fabulous! We just interview her... The girl when she comes up and asks, if you were a tree what kind of tree would you be? I'll just ask her what country would you be? What are you thankful for that's like Thanksgiving. You ever do that where you go around the table and everyone has to say what they're thankful for? No God no That's my family. That's what my family does now, let's all hold hands and share a secret yeah every single Thanksgiving that's what they do it was like we also were thankful for come on that's nice this the American way John sounds like the Dutch way no dude I have no Dutch family I'm sure that there are some families that sit around doing that bit even though Thanksgiving is like a fake holiday

30:13 was actually created long after its invention, which is actually came and went in the 1800s. Finally made into like a permanent holiday by Abraham Lincoln and it had to do with being thankful for this for the end of the Civil War and the fact that soldiers that you know fought knew... That's what it was about! It wasn't about pilgrims and Indians and turkeys and corn Really? Yeah really And so then you find it somewhere morphed into this bogus holiday about pilgrims and Indians and corn. And that you can't find references to these little potlatches that they apparently had back when, people would try to sell on the holiday. Oh no! It's just about that.

30:56 technically thanksgiving which was put into play by abraham lincoln and had to do it taking us for the end of the war in this ended soldiers who sacrifice themselves had nothing to do with pilgrims and indians and and they meanwhile that the kids in school are propagandize about this fake holiday is unbelievable to me well-honed as a pet peeve hold up what wait a minute you caught me off guard there here we go According to Wikipedia, which of course is the Bible. Thanksgiving Day is a harvest festival. Traditionally it's time to give thanks for the harvest and express gratitude in general It is a holiday celebrated primarily in Canada and United States While perhaps religious in origin Thanksgiving is now primarily identified as secular holiday

31:47 How can... Lies! Wikipedia disagrees with you, John. Lies! They don't do a little history? Have an historian go in there and fix that piece of crap Well maybe you should go in and fix that piece of crap I just did Though the earliest attested Thanksgiving celebration was on September 8th 1565 In what is now St Augustine Florida The traditional first thanksgiving is venerated as having occurred at the site of Plymouth Plantation in 1621 Yeah, right. So you're saying that this was Abraham Lincoln? Huh? Yep That's fascinating There is a very good history actually I think if you go to Dvorak dot org slash blog I think we have the outline of the history of Thanksgiving. I'll go dig it up and repost it

32:36 I usually post it every year in November. My kids are aware of it and they argue with their teachers at school, which gets them into nothing but trouble because heaven forbid that any real facts emerge from the educational environment. October 3rd 1863. President Abraham Lincoln says a proclamation this is the Proclamation which set the precedent for America's National Day of Thanksgiving during his administration president Lincoln issued many orders like this

33:15 And here's the whole proclamation for this day of Thanksgiving. So it was actually October 3rd, what are we doing on Thursday November? What the hell is that? When you follow the history of it, it kind of bounces around a lot and then somebody set in stone... Well how can I believe anything I'm taught in school now! This is a gyp?! Ha ha ha, gyp! Johnson Borax, happy birthday! Well now I am not going to celebrate anymore because I am not thankful Yeah, there you have it. Not a court That's why I'm sorry get set up this cornball idea that I'm gonna sit around the table with a bunch of relatives I probably don't like and tell them what I'm thankful for they can go look it up wait. I have to play it again

33:59 That's so good John. I'm gonna do that this Thanksgiving when we're all around the table and we're going to say what were thanks for, I am very thankful for President Abraham Lincoln who on October 3rd 1863 proclaimed the following and i'm just gonna go through this whole thing and by the way you are gypped! You are just gypped This has nothing to do with pilgrims and Indians and corn and turkeys how the turkeys get in there by the way How you were scammed jerk? What do how do you think that got in there some poultry guy dream now? You know says what are we gonna. Do these damn birds these things are like huge they were impossible nobody wants to eat them every day They did well I got an idea

CHAPTER 12 / 26 Discussion

Heirloom Turkeys, Greeting Card Industry

Commercial turkeys are criticized for being over-bred for white meat, leading to poor flavor and physical deformities in the birds. Heirloom turkeys are recommended as a superior alternative that tastes more like pheasant. The conversation shifts to the greeting card industry, specifically Hallmark, which is characterized as a business built on selling unoriginal sentiments for manufactured holidays.

heirloom turkey· pheasant· hallmark· greeting cards· valentine's day

34:42 Hey, let's add him onto that Thanksgiving day. I like it! Well we're talking about turkeys and might as well mention this then which is that people out there who you know the problem with turkey is like its been bred to be these huge breasted things they can't even stand up without breaking their legs and then they get butchered and sent out for the one day of the year. Wait a minute after the president pardons one of them? That my favorite. You get pardon dude And so anyway, these stupid birds they go out and by the way they're wild around here I saw one flying over the freeway. Apparently in San Ramon there's... They're all over the rooftops These things are nuisances! These wild turkeys in particular but and they're frightening when you see them flying because they only get about six feet off the ground Then I saw one flying over the freeway if I would have hit it The car would have blown up I mean this is just a big giant thing

35:34 Anyway, so the turkey over time you know they've been breeding them and breeding them and breeding them. So that maximum white meat all the rest of it. They taste like crap! Horrible turkey flavor that's just annoying. You can only eat it once a year because its aftertaste lasts for months So we always get heirloom, which I'm sure they're trying to kill off. Heirloom turkeys from various growers and you can get some of these classic turkeys that were actually the turkeys they were eating in 1863. Sure! And...I'll tell ya' They taste like pheasant. They are delicious! The first time I had one I went holy crap this tastes more- This tastes a lot more like pheasant than it tastes like turkey It had very little of that horrible turkey taste

36:21 It was just a fantastic product. It was just a great bird, I mean obviously there's more natural birds without these giant breasts and it had more meat than a goose but it wasn't one of these commercial horrible tasting things. You said bird with giant breasts... Anyway, that's my turkey story. You got any more holidays you can debunk? Besides Mother's Day and Father's Day and the Hallmark Reading Company? No those don't count Valentine's day Valentine's Day. I think that's Hallmark too. Yeah, probably is there was a company that used to really know how to market itself? I mean hallmark were G at some point There was a genius and hallmark that could dream up all this stuff and make you know sell cards I mean let's face it What is the hallmark card? It's like a card That somebody prints that is like got some stupid thing because your you can't think of anything creative yourself So you buy a card and just stick it in an envelope they cost you like You know

37:21 know, the dollar. And it's like can't you just write a note or make a little drawing or something? Do you personalize it a little bit?" I feel so bad for Mimi! She gets like a little stick figure card... No wonder you don't get laid! There is no romantic in you John! Send her cards! Send her cards! She likes to make her own cards and my daughter makes beautiful cards And we all make our own cards, we don't do any of this crap. Although you run into a lot people like where's the card? Where is the card?! You have to have a card! My mother was like a big card buyer I can just see the Dvorak family around February 12th sitting around the table all making cards for each other It's just heartwarming visual that i get from it John, its really nice, beautiful man So are you familiar with Robert Ben Mosche? No He works for you

CHAPTER 13 / 26 Discussion

Robert Benmosche, AIG CEO Vacation

Robert Benmosche, the newly appointed CEO of AIG, reportedly went on a two-week vacation to his villa on the Adriatic Sea just 48 hours after taking the job. Benmosche previously served as the head of MetLife and Paine Webber. His immediate departure for vacation shortly after his appointment to the bailed-out insurance giant is noted for its audacity.

robert benmosche· aig· metlife· adriatic sea· ceo

38:15 He does? Yeah, he does. He is the new CEO of AIG. Oh yeah, he works for me. Well, what did he do 48 hours after being installed as the new CEO Quit no almost he went on vacation to his 8,000 square foot villa on the Adriatic Sea for two weeks vacation I've worked with people like that Job. I'm going on vacation And this place is amazing He's got outrageous pad who is this Robert Ben Moshi anyway? What's it look into him sounds like a guy looking into oh

38:58 I mean, anyone who has the balls to take a job and rush off to vacation immediately. I admire people like that. Let's see Forbes profile on Robert Ben Moshi 63 years old August 3rd he was named the chief executive officer let's see what he's done former chairman president chief executive officer of MetLife okay that makes sense insurance company Before that he was president at Paine Weber. I'm waiting for the credit Suisse. He wasn't a member of Goldman, how disappointing! Speaking of which you know i don't think either of us are big fan of Fox News or Glenn Beck

CHAPTER 14 / 26 Discussion

Glenn Beck, Pat Caddell Analysis

Glenn Beck's use of a blackboard to map political connections on Fox News is discussed, specifically a segment featuring former Democratic pollster Pat Caddell. Caddell, described as appearing "incognito" due to his appearance, provided analysis on the financial connections of White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. The hosts express interest in Caddell's transition from Democratic operative to Fox News contributor.

glenn beck· pat caddell· fox news· rahm emanuel· political analysis

39:49 But I do watch Glenn Beck because of the time it comes on is convenient. That's about the time I come home from the office and I've been, so I saved this clip for two weeks obviously couldn't do a lot of show prep out here south of Ibiza but he had this guy on who i think actually is a democrat Is this that weird guy that looks like he's got a wig on and is kind of cross-eyed? Yeah, yeah. That's the guy! He has them on... I think I know what clip you're going to play because in fact I have the clip but just haven't produced it. Well, I thought it was fascinating clip because It was a fascinating clip. ...it was the first time actually said oh my god this is very very interesting and we should figure out who THIS GUY IS Yes, this guy. We want to get him on our show but the thing is he looks like he's incognito Here's what..I don't even believe what were seeing as HIM

40:36 It looks like he's incognito. He has this cheap wig on that looks like you bought it at the party store, that looks like crap and then he has some sort of face work done that makes him not look like a fully grown man. I think they injected something in his eyeball because the one eye is not even working. And so this, he looks kind of creepy but anyway, so it's you know Glenn Beck has this blackboard which i kinda like as a prop in the studio and any day draws connections on it dramatizing everything. The dots let's simplify for the idiots that watch Fox News which let's face it thats me and uh... So we comes up with this interesting story connects some dot about Rahm Emanuel

41:21 who of course is the White House Chief of Staff, he's the Don in the middle of it all. And this guy named... what was it? Whitaker? Whiteacre? Yeah whatever, Whitacre or Whitacre- Let me just play the clip. Oh shit! Of course I've got all this America's News Today crap that starts off with... Hold on a second let me... Here use that as the lead in for the show No, let's not use that as the lead-in for this show. I hate it when people do this just give me the damn clip! I'm playing the actual YouTube clip so listen to what...

CHAPTER 15 / 26 Discussion

Rahm Emanuel, Freddie Mac and SBC Deals

Rahm Emanuel reportedly earned $16 million in two years working for a Wall Street firm after leaving the Clinton administration. During this time, he served on the board of Freddie Mac while the organization was "cooking the books." A specific deal involving SBC's sale of SecurityLink for $500 million, which was flipped six months later for $1 billion, is highlighted as a key source of his wealth.

rahm emanuel· freddie mac· sbc· ameritech· wall street

42:00 Chicago is known for dirty politics, Windy City native Rahm Emanuel. No exception to the Chicago way! He was known as The Bag Man in the Clinton White House that sounds good now in the Obama administration his strong-arm tactics are helping making all Obamas dreams come true it is scary but true Pat Goodell he's a former Democratic pollster and Fox News... Pat Goodell? Is that his name? Pat, I think it's Pat Caddell. Would you do a little Google search while we play the clip? I'd like to know more about that guy. How are ya sir? Good to meet you. It is good to meet you. Help me out here because there are a couple of disturbing connections and this whole administration is all about connections. Absolutely. So its really not what you see... Its everybody connected with everybody else and the money

42:56 almost community organizing in a large way. A large way, yeah okay you're right that rug is really really bad that thing is outrageous help me out where do we start with Rahm Emanuel? Well we started with his role as you said the Clinton White House now he leaves the Clinton White House and he gets two jobs He gets put on the board of Freddie Mac, which is the second of the big giant mortgage companies. Okay now this we actually knew that Rahm Emanuel was on the board of Freddie Mac but check out how much money he made from being on the board and how he did it What is his qualification? Didn't he go to school for dancing? Excuse me...He studied ballet dancing in college. He was trained for ballet

43:38 he is ready mac doesn't do ballet no that's true now who gets of the other job he has is that he gets a job with when uh... washington parole which is a major wall street Deal company and he gets in their Chicago office. He'll then make 16 million dollars in less than two years in two years Yes, two years sixteen million dollars is the last one top of a quarter of a million and taxpayers gave him for Freddie Mac 250 per when he was there when he was never there when they're cooking the books. Yeah, that's remember This is they're cooking the books got it okay sixteen million dollars how do you make the sixty million sixty million dollars basically on the one large deal and there's a second big dealing to god at all in was he was advising sbc which later grew into new eighteen t ok asp c right that's not really but here's what's interesting about the sbc thing

44:33 The guy who helped make this deal took a loss. Did he not? Yes, they had to sell because they bought another phone company, Ameritech They had to get rid of the security company called Security Link It was a billion-billion half dollar investment He sold it to a group headed by uh... of investment grouping led by uh... whiteacre but nobody this way it was a chairman he sold to group led by mister manuel for about five hundred million dollars okay six months later six months later the investment bank that bought its old it for a billion dollars all right now john were you following that at the time yeah i love it is but it seems just like i can adjust the circle of corruption did die is here's his background more or less pat could only was a

45:20 long-time democrat we work for mcgovern and seventy two carter Gary Hart, Joe Biden and Jerry Brown. So he's like old connected well and well-connected But I think when he also was a consultant for a bunch of movies including Air Force One running mate outbreak West Wing now here's what happened apparently And this is again that there's a sketchy source, but I noticed it probably affected He went over to Fox News. He did know here's why in 1988 Cadell left the Democratic Party after an acrimonious lawsuit with a Democratic consulting firm So he said screw you and went over to the other side and he's been pounding them ever since. He doesn't seem like a flip flopper like Dick Morris who would go for anybody. He is like that girlfriend that you broke up with who just won't keep hounding ya?

46:14 so he's like a that it is getting what they would say in the business are hard on for the democrat right so okay so now if i understand so that was just uh... ideal this and i didn't quite get the deal but apparently the company was sold for half a billion and then uh... the guys who bought a lot of money to eliminate flipped it for For a billion six months later, I don't understand how that happened. They doubled this somebody doubled their money in some some So Google this whiteacre guy while we listen to the rest of this clip That's good. That's a good investment. Hey not bad. That's good now and he took out huge amount of money now the president at that time Whiteacre was the chairman of SBC America

CHAPTER 16 / 26 Discussion

Ed Whitacre, General Motors Appointment

Ed Whitacre, the former chairman of SBC and AT&T, was appointed as the chairman of General Motors despite admitting he knows nothing about the car business. The appointment is framed as a potential "cronyism" payoff for Whitacre's past business dealings with Rahm Emanuel. Whitacre is noted for his $158.5 million retirement package from AT&T and his deep ties to Texas business interests.

ed whitacre· general motors· sbc· at&t· rahm emanuel

46:57 Does the name Whiteacre, the guy who helped Rahm Emanuel make $16 million, does the name Whiteacre ring a bell? Pat. Because when they appointed the new chairman of GM who announced on the day of his appointment I know nothing about the car business... with acre only goodness all my goodness it's so that that by i was like wow that's a connection that no one reported on i do remember reading the quote of this white acres saying you know i don't know anything about the car business but you know i had to run like a business but so these inuation here are the assertion is that

47:36 because whiteacre helps rahm emanuel make sixteen million dollars in some bogus transaction or it did not bogus perhaps but in a transaction ron manuel then turns around and says you know what we're gonna hook you up we're going to make use of the cdl general motors which is this seems to be them demo of this uh... this entire administration is like you know i think in the olden days they call it cronyism So did you look up Whiteacre? Did you find out anything? Yeah, he said I'm looking at his picture. He built a telecommunications empire acquiring this and that. He was an SBC guy including $16 billion acquisition of AT&T. Of course then they took their name so AT&T can live on as the CIA front over in San Francisco in that weird building. That way they don't have to change the logos from the $62 billion purchase of Ameritech

48:33 You know, this guy knows how to do deals. As far as he's concerned the 16 million that went to Rahm Emanuel is chicken feed! Yeah really? Nickname Big Ed. 6'4". He's the same height as you. Upon AT&T's corporate... wait His retirement payout from AT&T totaled $158.5 million One of the top pension packages in the country It's a helluva pension Wow And he gets 10 hours of work on the jet. Born in Texas. Yay! Amazing. His father was a locomotive engineer, went to Texas Tech

49:14 So if we try to connect... He's one of those guys that probably is helping finance. You know, I think T-Boon Pickens is from Texas Tech and I'm sure these two guys hang out together because the Texas Tech is a...Pickens has taken the idea of becoming kind of the owner of Texas Tech so he's like throwing tons of money into the basketball and football programs and the rest of it to make this school beat Texas. These guys they got nothing else to do. Yep! That was running our country At least he drove his own car. There was a fantastic... This is the kind of car he drives, that Cadillac. Yeah, of course! There was a fantastic song that showed up the other day I just got to play this for you. This is uh..I don't even know where this came from Wait, I should play the jingle with it hold on a second

CHAPTER 17 / 26 Discussion

Obama Parody Songs, Sarah Palin Porn Parody

A parody song featuring an imitation of President Obama's cadence is played, noted for its popularity on the Rush Limbaugh show. The hosts also briefly mention the existence of a pornographic parody film involving lookalikes of Obama and Sarah Palin, reflecting on the bizarre nature of political satire in adult media.

barack obama· rush limbaugh· sarah palin· parody· satire

50:10 Because it will not put seniors in a position of being put to death by their government. Here's President Obama, everybody! Old people got no reason... This is doing that the lyrics are great Yeah this guy is very famous I like that

50:54 Yeah, this guy's I can't remember his name but he does a lot of these parody songs and he does a really good Obama kind of cadence which makes it hilarious. And Rush Limbaugh plays this character constantly yeah it's good that's the first time i heard that someone's on rush limbaugh's there is a there's a porn movie that i uh... i've heard about some reliably informed its uh... obama does payland have you seen that one kathaka incident and they really don't look like obama and failing but kinda if it's really disturbing as he had been through the really disturbing yes this well now we all have to but it's i don't need to see it that's for sure is so uh...

CHAPTER 18 / 26 Discussion

Sarah Palin, Dutch Healthcare Premiums

Sarah Palin's "death panels" Facebook post is credited with sparking a global debate on healthcare reform, demonstrating the power of social media over mainstream news. Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, mandatory private insurance premiums are reportedly increasing by 100 euros. This is used to argue that healthcare reform in both the U.S. and Europe primarily benefits insurance companies.

sarah palin· death panels· netherlands· health insurance· premiums

51:34 I noticed that the Republicans are still sticking to this Palin. She does come up with, she's got some writers but she came up with this thing called a death panel. How amazing is it that you know some woman in Alaska I mean it's got to be a total setup but just by with the Facebook, this is pretty interesting. Just by putting something on your wall in Facebook that you can spark off such as such a huge debate not just in the country but worldwide and thats saying something for the way mainstream media runs and how works it's ridiculous and i sure the republicans are now regretting you know the day they'd even found her because she's like a nightmare she wishes just keeps coming back she can't even keep but you know she gives up on our good governor's job after two years which is i think enough to say that she's done but no we had somebody other guys listening to one of these uh... shows in and culture was honor promoting your latest book the woman truck cranks out more books than anyone who did not use it as a moth and um...

52:36 And he's going on about, oh Sarah. She is like a big fan of hers which makes me think well if you're gonna be a fan of Sarah Palin why? I mean Palin to me is just kind of I don't think she's that bright and why is the warming up to her such an extreme? She just like President Obama, she's a news reader. You know that how her career started reading sports and news and probably some entertainment news so they give her script he puts it on Facebook and its all set-up but I think its brilliantly done you know it's like hey let launch this death panels thing we've got have some idiot say it so they get Sarah Palin do it then Fox News or wherever

53:15 the publishes the uh... whatever she's written i mean this is it you could almost see so you can almost see rupert murdoch turning the dials hehehe here's how I'll do it, here's how I'l make it all happen. I mean come on! Death panel death panel You know its gotta be that way in the netherlands where they had socialized medicine for as long as i can remember i think it was one year ago or two years ago they changed it from the single payer option to private insurance and of course it's mandatory private insurance which makes it even more interesting. And guess what was announced just at the beginning of this week, John? Everyone's premiums going up by a hundred euros! Now there you have it. It is all about the insurance companies. Yeah and there some scam going on with this thing we're trying to do too

54:16 I would like to find the quid pro quo for the insurance companies, like I found with the doctors and the extra fees they can charge now for everything. You know you get a fee call in an appointment, you have probably pay five bucks to do that. Of course if you don't pay it comes from government pays it. What do you mean by quid pro quo? The insurance companies bought all of politicians! They bought all of media! No no but what are they benefiting from how are they going to be beneficiaries? what do you mean how they're gonna benefit from it? Well that's what I want to know. How can they make more money than are making now just by raising the fees well i know but if there is going to be a government coming in to compete with them, there has gotta be some other scam going on this guy can't be that...you know..they'r not gonna come in costing even more than it costs now They've gotta run these guys out of office faster then you could imagine if that happens we'll see will see top commander in uh... Afghanistan General Stanley McChrystal

CHAPTER 19 / 26 Discussion

Afghanistan War Strategy, Hamid Karzai

General Stanley McChrystal has requested more troops for Afghanistan, warning that the Taliban is winning the conflict. The situation is compared to the Vietnam War, with a Democratic president struggling to fulfill withdrawal promises. President Hamid Karzai's legitimacy is questioned as he faces an election amidst heavy security concerns and allegations of suppressed opposition.

stanley mcchrystal· afghanistan· hamid karzai· richard holbrooke· taliban

55:15 says uh... hate the taliban is winning and interview with a wall street journal the commander offered a preview of the strategic assessment he's delivering to washington later this month saying that troops just are designed to better protect afghani civilians from rising levels of taliban violence limited intimidation he sang send more troops we need more troops mortars are made this in the next vietnam right in the cycle by the way little little overdue but falls right into it vietnam this is the end of all and we have the same situation we have a democrat you know in office who wants to try to your promises gonna get out but the only way to get out as they had more troops so we can get out somehow well there isn't anything he's going to be the same thing we're gonna run outta their like crazy in about after do you know some republican gets elected and bombs cambodia well there is a difference is that with our guys uh... his president of the country you know this uh... this cars i did

56:14 this is the evil part of it, who's living in the palace by the way. This guy grew up in America as far as I know he went to American schools, he was George Bush's buddy you know we went through the entire American system and all of a sudden he elected president of Afghanistan and now he's... I guess today the elections are today August 20th uh... if they happen because there were some more you know now we've got richard hall broke out there saying all we had the elections can't be stalled a guy is not campaigned in or anywhere he'd be shows up like three minutes at a time because of security concerns he's got nine people who are running against him who have been completely suppressed by whatever media they have left you know that would leave with just one of those call this the fifty first date

57:06 it's not in this whole brook i you know if you still follow the uh... the international criminal court who is the um... the guy from uh... uh... began with a found in uh... and washer being that yeah who says that he... He was a farmer with the beard? Yeah, exactly. You know he says look I have it in writing Holbrook said don't worry we'll take care of you and you can do all this stuff and will protect ya' And he keeps suing over and over again in this court while he's in jail of course and Richard Holbrooke gave me that gave me to go ahead which I totally believe

57:45 Yeah, there's something sketchy even with that first Kuwait-Iraqi war. There was a lot of lost information about how they were kind of letting Saddam go attack Kuwait and it would kinda indicate he should do that and as soon as he did we just bombed the crap out him I mean there is a lot of this sketchy... you know back then this is the problem with modern diplomatic negotiating You don't know what kinda screw jobs some these guys are gonna get Some guy does a deal things don't quite work out you know blameless What's it when you do something that have you can't be held accountable because your you know, even divorced yourself from the actual Event in some way or that You can't be blamed ever. So I know that you sent me this rather lengthy article John about

CHAPTER 20 / 26 Discussion

Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged Relevance

The 1957 novel *Atlas Shrugged* by Ayn Rand is discussed as a prophetic description of the current U.S. economic and moral climate. While the hosts distance themselves from Rand's "objectivism" movement, they argue the book's themes of institutional collapse and moral bankruptcy are highly relevant. John C. Dvorak expresses skepticism about reading the 1,200-page tome.

ayn rand· atlas shrugged· objectivism· moral bankruptcy· john galt

58:34 Pretty much I guess it's your way of telling me, hey man here is why you should lay off the Ayn Rand stuff because people will think you're a total nut ball. And yeah...I don't give a crap about her objectivism and I'm not a member of the community. Here we go again another ad for... You know what? We've got here wait stop! You have not read...We have to get an Amazon account. I am going put in on the blog and put in on thing and we should be making money from all promotion that you are doing with this book Let me tell ya This book, written in 1957. I have not read anything else by Ayn Rand. I don't care. This book describes exactly what is happening right now and it actually has an unobtainable solution

59:24 which essentially means blowing up the entire country in a manner of speaking. Oh, that's practical! In a manner of speaking... Well it is happening anyway we're going into total demise and it's a moral bankruptcy of every single institution everything that once made this country great It's a book you should read. It will make you feel good that if there really was a John Galt, that there would be some kind of solution. That it does have a solution but has nothing to do with objectivism and I do not reread this thing like some drone and I did not attend meetings... I never said you did! You've never even read the book? How can you...? I've read The Precursor, its the same story

1:00:13 Alright, what's the story about? She just was basically warming up with Fountainhead and then she hit the home run with Atlas Shrugged. It's the same book! Same story I'm sure I couldn't get through 20 pages of it without just falling, I'd probably fall dead asleep. I pass out like you did with the burger. Why don't you go read it man? Why don't you just go read and give back to me? No, nothing better to do but read 1200 page books about... Oh well all we need is you write 1200 page books which you never publish! Where's your cycle book? It's coming. I got some new material Read the book

CHAPTER 21 / 26 Discussion

Nielsen Ratings Alternative, Media Conglomerate Project

A collective of major media companies, including Disney, News Corp, and Time Warner, is launching an alternative to the Nielsen television ratings system in September. The project aims to provide more accurate data for advertisers like Procter & Gamble and AT&T. The move suggests a loss of confidence in Nielsen's traditional small-sample statistical methods.

nielsen ratings· nbcuniversal· time warner· news corp· disney

1:00:55 Just do me a favor, just read the book. It'll only take you two months. Or I could listen to this book on tape and it'd only take me what? 56 hours. 56 hours! It's the unabridged version. Here is little... I'm sorry. It's like going back and forth in the city for a year. Here is little ditty that I thought was... This does crop up from time-to-time but maybe this time it's really going to happen. A collective A group including NBCUniversal, Time Warner, News Corp., Viacom CBS Discovery and Walt Disney are joining together to finally create an alternative to the Nielsen television ratings.

1:01:44 Others involved in the new project, which they say is going to launch in September will include Procter & Gamble, Unilever AT&T WPP Starcom Media So what you're saying with this article they've lost confidence in Nielsen? No. They really want to rig it now That must be it But of course Nielsen ratings have been questionable ever since they came out I think it's still, you know it's done on such a small sample. Statisticians will argue with me that it is usually pretty accurate. I would agree with them But from time to time this crops up and every couple of years there is group that gets together and says we are going to put Nielsen out of business It's like comscore That's another thing that frightens me

CHAPTER 22 / 26 Discussion

Texas Chainsaw Massacre Documentary, Shadow Puppet Theater

MSNBC produced a documentary on the real-life inspiration for the *Texas Chainsaw Massacre*, featuring a narrator with an exaggerated, "corny" voice. The story focuses on Robert Gleason, a former mental patient with a history of violence and firearm offenses. The segment transitions into "Shadow Puppet Theater," a recurring satirical bit.

texas chainsaw massacre· msnbc· robert gleason· guns· documentary

1:02:33 You have to pay, and it costs a lot of money to get these said. I think we pay $100,000 dollars a year just for the privilege of Comscore tracking us. Hmm. We had a couple clips that were left over. Do you have any left from... Did we do them all? Oh no! I got the one that I was going to start this show with. Yeah. I'll give a set up on this. I was gonna start the show with it because I thought it would be amusing. The MSNBC is starting to do some of these documentaries And so they did one on this, the real story behind the Texas Chainsaw Massacre guy. Wait, he really existed? Yeah! They dramatized it to such an extreme that they brought in this voice and I want people just to listen to this guy...and just let the thing play through at the end you can make your comment but It's like his voice is brought in for this, its not like the front line guy thats actually believable This guys so over-the-top corny

1:03:32 that it's like, why is he... I don't know. But I found the whole thing quite amusing but it was overdone. It was like comparing a Hollywood actor to a stage actor. Far from being a war hero, Robert Cleason was actually a former mental patient on the run from the police. A compulsive holder of firearms he'd been sectioned for shooting up a hospital and jumped bail in Buffalo New York after shooting a man in the foot His conflict resolution method is to be violent or to threaten violence

1:04:09 He's in love with guns. He is just infatuated with guns. Unbeknownst to the Mormon community, Cleason's past was littered with firearms offenses and odd behavior Three wives had left him The last when she found him taking a bath With a disemboweled deer You know that's an American doing that voice And then the shing at the end of the sword Hey, it's time for another installment of... Shadow Puppet Theater! President Obama's nominee for Surgeon General is Dr. Regina Benjamin hailed by Mr. Obama for her efforts in running a health clinic at Hurricane Ravaged rural Alabama Guess whose advisory board she's on John? Remember this is the Surgeon General

CHAPTER 23 / 26 Discussion

Regina Benjamin, Burger King Board Controversy

Dr. Regina Benjamin, President Obama's nominee for Surgeon General, faced scrutiny for serving on the board of Burger King and an advisory board for ConAgra Foods. While she pledged to resign these positions upon confirmation, critics point to the irony of the nation's top health official having ties to fast food and processed food giants. The discussion also touches on the prevalence of high fructose corn syrup in "original" food recipes.

regina benjamin· surgeon general· burger king· conagra foods· high fructose corn syrup

1:04:57 All about health. Monsanto? Uh, whoa I should hit the jingle for that! I'm sorry John you are incorrect no no no remember what is the Surgeon General responsible for? The Surgeon General is supposed to remind us to eat healthy exercise live healthy lives that correct yeah she's on the board of Burger King That's hilarious. And she got paid $10,000 a year for serving on the scientific advisory board You're telling me that the Surgeon General is on the board of Burger King? Yeah Oh yeah you gotta love it I actually think Burger King is probably healthier than McDonald's though Not much

1:05:49 I mean they do, the grease is handled differently. McDonald's takes their patties and throws them on a griddle so they kind of cook in their own fat and Burger King throws the patties on this conveyor belt that has got a bunch of holes in it and goes across supposedly flames or some sort of flame broiled its flame broiled and it said the flame he goes across the flames and so the grease falls off the burger into the flames and it would probably bubble up back into the meat in some other form. And, um... I don't know that Burger King over the years has really deteriorated. Here's one to track Vicky Rivas Vasquez a spokeswoman for the Department of Health and Human Services said Dr Benjamin would resign her position from Burger King upon confirmation by the Senate

1:06:37 and she will also recuse herself from any specific party matters involving Burger King for the next two years as part of the Obama administration's ethics pledge. Ooh, the ethics, ethics! So what's her name again? Her name is Dr. Regina Benjamin. Regina... Benjamin It looks like she has had a burger or 2 actually That's what I'm trying to see if she's uh... Oh yeah She hasn't really swelled. Yeah, she's been eating there. It's pretty apparent As the nation's leading spokesperson on public health, she will continue to promote healthy eating and exercise. Maybe she should start with herself? As third party counselor bringing her expertise on public health on an advisory panel, she was advocating for food options that were lower in sodium and recommending that nutritional information appear on food packaging. Dude we're too busy reading the cartoons on the food packaging!

1:07:39 That's the whole beauty of Burger King. You know, we try to make... There is a picture here in this list I took a look at the photos. I'll send you this. If you look her up, this photo shows up. Anyway, I think people should really start to concentrate on reading these labels. Oh! That's the picture that showed up? Yeah This guy needs a bra. So, uh...

1:08:16 You know, people have to really start looking at these labels and take make you know it's a... And ask yourself when it goes when you get my wife was moaning about this the other day. She went to some she saw something says back to the original original did their original taste you know from the 1920s is something like that. She reads the label and it says high fructose corn syrup. So how's this original? How's this back to the basic? How does anything as high fructose corn syrup is a new additive but they're not putting that in anybody's food in the 30s But wait, there's more. She also reported receiving more than $20,000 for serving on another advisory board at Nebraska-based ConAgra Foods one of the country's largest food producers with products such as David Sunflower Seeds Crunch and Munch Healthy Choice and Chef Boyardee Alright! What happened to Coop?

CHAPTER 24 / 26 Discussion

No Agenda Funding, Thanksgiving Dinner Plans

The hosts discuss the financial sustainability of the *No Agenda* show, noting that current donations cover only half of the operating costs. They announce plans for a $5 monthly subscription option and a special dinner for listeners in Las Vegas. The dinner is envisioned as a high-quality culinary event rather than a fundraiser, potentially featuring a "real" Thanksgiving theme on October 3rd.

crowdfunding· paypal· subscriptions· las vegas· no agenda dinner

1:09:10 Cooper's still around. He's doing commercials for Infomercials The Clapper I think No, for Help I've Fallen and I Can't Get Up what that one called? Life Call Yeah the Clapper Oh no that's right there is a little thing you push a button and it sends for help It's not the Clapper Sorry Help I've Fallen And I Can't Get Up So, I want to mention we got a respite here. We could have gotten a little more money from the... You know Sunday shows don't seem to really generate...I don't know what it is almost all of our income for the show comes on and by the way we're gonna do three shows were actually about we make we bring in about half as much money as you actually need to do this show you know anyone can rationalize that just one show yet he wants it to rationalized doing the show at all although we really enjoyed and we think we'd doing a public service but I think the public has also is you know help us out little bit cuz there we know how many people are listening to show there's a lot

1:10:13 And there's only a few that have actually followed up with helping us. We're going to keep doing that, we're going to have to do something eventually because this weekly begging for money... It's getting pretty old Well it gets old but you know last time, last Thursday when I did it and when I was really getting angry about it and saying you know look at... You spend all 25-50 bucks to go a movie which is two hours of entertainment. Usually doesn't get as much out of this as you do from our show And you don't how its gonna end? And you know how's going to end and your not mean me while your getting this show like

1:10:51 a movie, long movie every week for free and you use it when you go to work. Most of our listeners are commuters and they listen to the shows there are some others but they tend to listen to this show going to and from working it keeps them sane think about what should pay doctor to maintain sanity or psychiatrist. We should be on that Obamacare man we should be getting something we should get in the payoff Exactly. So I would encourage you to go to noagendashow.com or dvorak.org slash NA and sign up for one of the programs where there's a subscription, we're going to add $5 a month subscription option because a number people asked for that specifically they said well you don't like the two dollars because it

1:11:37 PayPal takes all the money. With five it would be probably acceptable, so we're going to add that and then we also have to add... We're also looking for people who can do grants and we are also gonna get step back up and start doing our plans for the dinner yes because a lot of people in a lot of different cities are saying they will definitely never but that dinner is not gonna be huge moneymaker for us it's more kind of way to have because half the money's gonna go to the dinner area and the wine for sure we're not going to break we're not gonna do it she crummy dinner with you know lousy food would end in obviously if you're a foodie, you'd want to come do this thing because we're going to do probably I'm thinking not sure what place are gonna go to be a place like Florida Lee and in Las Vegas where I know the chef and he could actually make a special meal for us. And I'll bring one of some spectacular or double magnum or something from my collection. Nice. We should invite them jungle. That's reminds me talk so yeah

1:12:34 So we're going to have a link for you to sign up for the waiting list, just for information. You're not going to be signing up as a dinner guest. Okay John here's an idea why don't we set it for Thanksgiving 2009? Because I think my family would object No its October 3rd is Thanksgiving The official Oh the real thanksgiving is October 3rd Well that's an idea In Las Vegas and will give thanks to Abraham Lincoln You could read the tome. I could read the proclamation and we can get a magician! And a couple of porn stars who are apparently 300 bucks for seven hours Yeah, that's reasonable We just have them standing there Just hanging out I think we got a plan In HEMA underwear How about porn stars in HEMA underwear?

CHAPTER 25 / 26 Discussion

EMP Act America, Solar Flare Risks

A new organization called EMP Act America, funded by the chairman of Steuben Foods, is raising alarms about the vulnerability of the U.S. power grid to electromagnetic pulse weapons. While some experts suggest the threat is exaggerated, the hosts investigate the "slick" nature of the organization's website. The discussion also covers the legitimate risk posed by solar flares, which have historically disrupted satellite and cellular communications.

emp· electromagnetic pulse· steuben foods· solar flares· power grid

1:13:27 So go to the noagendashow.com or noagenda.squarespace.com or dvorak.org slash NA and you'll see all the new stuff on there, this site will be improved and then to wind it up something that uh... of course this is a this is news that we've been talking about for several months now i think in now and i'm not quite sure who this guy he's other than air force veteran who handled nuclear nuclear warheads in europe he has said the chairman of stubin foods and elmhurst dairy his name is henry schwartz and according to new york times he is sounding the alarm he says

1:14:15 an electromagnetic pulse weapon. This guy is like 90, he doesn't know what he's talking about. He's 75, not that old. So this whole... 75 isn't that old? I mean John... Same age as me! So he's saying, hey I'm really worried about this. Primarily about our grid that won't be able to handle it. It is interesting we talked to Larry the guy that is renting the hangar to me at Oakland and he's an engineer for Lockheed Lockheed Martin works for the skunkworks. And John's real, and he is also up there in his 70s to maybe late 60s and John's real coy is like hey so that Aegis thing you think that really works? Larry is like well I've seen some pictures and then I lay it on EMPs and he looks at me says oh you've heard of those yeah that's for real EMPs are for real That could really happen but then when you drill down into

1:15:18 And this guy's an engineer and he sounded pretty credible, but no one has that technology. What did he compare it to? Like Wizard of Oz shit or like Star Wars? Yeah, you can do the thing with the A-bomb but you have to get pretty close with it Most what we're hearing is exaggerated So I wonder what's behind it then if it is all exaggerated because a lot of people are jumping on board with this. Yeah, no that's exactly right! That's the thing we're trying to get our listeners to think in those terms like you start hearing about something even from us because we get suckered into this stuff too by the way not commonly but you know happens but usually correct

1:15:55 you know, our flaws eventually. But the thing is that you always have to ask yourself who might be behind this and why? Why are they telling me this because there's no reason for anyone to tell me this stuff unless there is some motive somewhere from somebody trying to make money usually or something going on... Well they got a whole website John I'm just saying in the link it says EMP Act America let's see about us There's a whole site about this thing. Oh my god, it looks too slick to be protecting america against a permanent continental shutdown from electromagnetic pulse this is a slick site yeah this is the system this has got to be uh... industry government side of some sort of terry industrial complex there's no doubt some fishy about this is all those you these guys remember we will first started we still do this by the way when we first are looking at the phony baloney sites coming out of the uh... your georgia shivers

1:16:53 And you see these sites and it's just like, you know what a website when somebody puts up an honest website the sincere website there is a certain kind of gestalt for want of better term. that indicates you that there's probably some honesty behind it. When you start seeing these things that are way too slick, unless its like a professional newspaper, yeah it should be because its a newspaper or publication but when you see something that is a special interest group and its really slick, its very suspicious because special interest groups don't have the kind of money they haven't got 18 million dollars to build a good website. So the website uh...the domain name

1:17:32 empactamerica.org and .net is owned by Steuben Foods and Elmhurst Dairy and affiliates, technical contact CosMCC Solutions... What the hell was that? Let's just... They must have built the website. Yeah they built the website so he paid them to build this website interesting to look at obviously or obviously or is the president's we're gonna follow this a little more closely to something screwy about this thing and i know it at the bottom they get so many tracking of bugs in there it's amazing uh... so i can't figure it i think um... to custom site there if there is one there is one thing that i do do believe is quite real because uh... history showed that uh...

1:18:21 Solar flares, and I think John if you look into your cycles we're due for some solar activity in the coming years. That can actually fry out the grid. These solar flares... We've had solar winds in the 1800s, 1900s. Yeah no they can take out satellites too occasionally bop a satellite off the air. I remember that in the mid-90s, all cell phones pages were down for like three or four days direct TV was off the air it was pretty massive solar activity and they do talk about it here on this website as well yeah we'll look into this help us out at dvork.org

CHAPTER 26 / 26 Discussion

Show Outro, Live Streaming Return

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak conclude the episode, with Curry preparing to return to his "canal house command center" to resume live streaming. They remind listeners to visit the show's websites and sign off from their respective locations in Spain and Silicon Valley. The episode ends with a promise to return for the Sunday broadcast.

adam curry· john c. dvorak· silicon valley· live stream· gitmo nation

1:19:07 Seriously. My god, it's gotten so dark here I can barely see the buttons anymore on my car machine The sun has gone down over the yard arm everybody and remember Adam and John say Jobs jobs and jobs let's vote for jobs Sunday i'll be back in the 17th century canal house command center And uh, so we'll be able to stream live again And now I'm going to spend the next 14 hours uploading the show. Through 3G! With a squirrel in a cage... NoagendaShow.com, noagenda.squarespace.com Coming to you from Gitmo Nation South East? South of Ibiza not in the party capital In one those little Bel Air Islands with very little electricity I am Adam Curry

1:20:08 and recommending you bring back some good olive oil. I'm still here in northern Silicon Valley, I am John C. Dvorak We'll talk again on Sunday right here on NO Agenda