Topic: 2010

The UK High Court has ruled that the 2010 Equality Act defines "woman" and "sex" based on biological sex. This decision means that transgender women with gender recognition certificates will not be counted toward female quotas on public sector boards. The ruling is seen as a significant victory for campaigners in Scotland who argued that sex-based protections must remain rooted in biology.

The hosts revisit classic clips from 2009 and 2010, including a media frenzy over a "bedbug epidemic" that suddenly disappeared from the news cycle. They also play a humorous old Hyundai commercial parody. These "classics" are used to illustrate how media narratives are often manufactured and then abandoned once they have served their purpose.

A 2012 study from Facebook Research reveals that the company conducted a massive experiment on 61 million users during the 2010 midterms to influence voter turnout. The study claimed that "social contagion" messages increased turnout by 340,000 votes. The hosts express shock that this direct manipulation of elections by Facebook is rarely discussed in congressional hearings.

The hosts revisit a 2010 Senate Intelligence Committee hearing where Senator Dianne Feinstein asked officials about the likelihood of a terrorist attack within six months. They analyze the responses from Dennis Blair, Leon Panetta, and Robert Mueller, characterizing their "certain" predictions as a tactic to maintain public fear without providing specific evidence.

International Monetary Fund (IMF) reforms from 2010 are discussed in the context of US ratification delays. The debate centers on whether increasing the voting shares of Brazil, Russia, India, and China would effectively strip the United States of its supermajority veto power.

The hosts open the final broadcast of 2010 from their respective locations in Southern California and Northern Silicon Valley. They exchange holiday greetings and banter about the proper terminology for their audience, including "boots on the ground" and "hams on the air."

Carly Fiorina's victory in the California Republican primary sets up a high-stakes Senate race against incumbent Barbara Boxer. Fiorina is praised for her polished political style and effective use of rhetoric, leading to a prediction that she could become the first female President of the United States. Her campaign strategy utilizes personal anecdotes and sharp critiques of the Obama administration's economic policies.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak conclude the final episode of 2009, wishing listeners a Happy New Year. They announce their return on Sunday, January 3, 2010, to continue their analysis of media and global events.

The 2010 Census and the American Community Survey are drawing fire for questions that some residents find overly intrusive. Probing inquiries regarding work schedules, commute times, household plumbing, and heating fuels are examined. While the Census Bureau claims these questions have been asked for decades, critics argue they go beyond the constitutional mandate of a simple population count.

Concerns are raised regarding the 2010 U.S. Census being supervised by the White House rather than the Department of Commerce. Reports indicate that members of the community organization ACORN have been seen using handheld GPS devices to map specific dwelling coordinates. The hosts question the necessity of this granular data collection given that registration data is already public.

The technical configuration of a new combined audio and video production studio is detailed, featuring hard-wired connections and an MXL-2010 condenser microphone. The signal chain includes a Yamaha mixer, a compressor, a limiter, and an Apex 204 "big bottom" processor to enhance the Skype connection. Technical difficulties with network address translation and port configuration on a BT line currently prevent the integration of phone calls via Gizmo.