Topic: Automatic

The hosts discuss the history of the Pocket Casts app, which was originally funded by NPR and PBS before being sold and eventually acquired by Matt Mullenweg's company, Automattic. The app has since been open-sourced and integrated with Podcasting 2.0 features, such as the "funding tag." This allows users to support creators directly through the app interface, bypassing traditional advertising models.

President Biden has renewed his call for a federal ban on "assault weapons" and semi-automatic handguns following recent shootings in Colorado and Virginia. Biden described the continued legality of semi-automatic weapons as "sick" and lacking social value. Critics point out the president's apparent confusion between semi-automatic and fully automatic firearms during his public addresses.

Curry addresses audio quality issues during his recent broadcast, attributing over-modulation and volume fluctuations to Skype's automatic gain control settings. He notes the irony of serving as the "opening act" for David Icke during the program and resolves to fix the technical settings for future appearances.

Spotify is implementing automatic ad insertion technology that targets listeners based on gender, age, race, and musical taste. This system requires podcasters to sign agreements that prohibit music snippets without cleared licenses to avoid billing from record companies. Examples of these targeted 20-to-30-second pre-roll spots include advertisements for CarPro USA and JCPenney.

Observations from driving in Austin at dusk reveal a growing number of motorists operating vehicles without headlights. This trend is blamed on a reliance on automatic lighting systems that fail to activate correctly, leading to dangerous conditions.

Owning a fully automatic weapon in the United States is legal but heavily restricted under the National Firearms Act (NFA). The process requires a Class 3 permit and a national tax stamp, often costing $10,000 or more, which creates significant friction for legal ownership. Most modern rifles sold to civilians, such as the AK-47 variants, are semi-automatic rather than true machine guns.

The history of automatic software updates is traced back to Microsoft's jealousy of AOL's ability to force version parity across its user base. Microsoft's desire for a uniform environment led to the development of Patch Tuesday and the current Windows update model. There is a standing prediction that a single flawed global Windows patch will eventually cause a worldwide technological collapse.

The village of Deerfield, Illinois, unanimously voted to ban semi-automatic rifles and high-capacity magazines, with fines up to $1,000 per day for non-compliance. The hosts discuss the constitutionality of the ban, noting that the Second Amendment restricts federal power but may allow for local municipal restrictions.

Al Sharpton is criticized for claiming on MSNBC that civilians can legally acquire "automatic military-style weapons." The hosts point out that automatic weapons have been heavily restricted since 1934 and are not used in these shootings. They argue that Sharpton and other pundits are intentionally spreading misinformation to inflame the gun control debate.

The "AR" in AR-15 stands for "ArmaLite Rifle," the company that originally developed the platform, not "assault rifle" or "automatic rifle." The hosts explain that the AR-15 is a semi-automatic civilian rifle that has been "glamorized" by its military appearance. They argue that the term "assault style" is a media invention used to describe the aesthetics of a weapon rather than its mechanical function.

The hosts examine proposed legislation in the 115th Congress to ban devices that increase the rate of fire for semi-automatic rifles, such as bump stocks. They point out the technical difficulty of the ban, noting that simple items like rubber bands or sticks can be used to achieve similar effects. They argue the language of the bill is overly broad and potentially unenforceable.

Sheriff Lombardo explicitly denied any conspiracy between the FBI, local police, and MGM Resorts. In a technical aside, the hosts discuss the phenomenon of "cooking off," where a rifle becomes so hot from rapid fire that rounds ignite spontaneously in the chamber. They suggest this might explain some of the audio recorded during the Las Vegas massacre.

Representative Sheila Jackson Lee was criticized for claiming that "automatic weapons like AK-47s" are widely available and used in community violence. Critics pointed out that automatic weapons have been strictly regulated for decades and that the firearms she referenced are typically semi-automatic.

Senator Rand Paul appeared on "The View" to discuss gun regulations, where he faced questioning from Whoopi Goldberg regarding automatic weapons. Paul attempted to clarify the difference between automatic and semi-automatic firearms, noting that truly automatic weapons have been restricted since 1934. The hosts criticize Goldberg for failing to grasp Paul's philosophical point about the danger of executive overreach and the importance of the legislative process.

A top Walmart official announces the retailer will stop selling military-style semi-automatic weapons to focus on hunters and sporting clay shooters. The hosts briefly compare the current Parker family to Robby Parker from the Sandy Hook investigation, noting similarities in their public appearances.

A long-term subscriber named Joseph had his automatic PayPal payments cancelled despite the system showing no successful transactions since December 2012. The sudden notification in August 2015 raised questions about PayPal's backend processing and subscription management. The incident is noted as a strange technical anomaly in the show's donation history.

Adam Curry shares his initial impressions of Tokyo, noting the lush greenery and the cleanliness of the streets which contradicted his expectations. He highlights the unique behavior of Japanese taxis, specifically the lace doilies on seats and the automatic rear doors that passengers are forbidden from touching. The hosts discuss the term "gaijin" and the high level of politeness encountered in Japanese society.

A host recounts a verbal altercation at an Austin party with a woman identifying as a "yellow liberal." The argument centered on gun ownership, specifically the host's possession of an AR-15 and 30-round magazines. The discussion touched on the legalities of gun ownership for those on antidepressants or diagnosed as bipolar, highlighting the deep cultural divide between "programmed" citizens and gun rights advocates.

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee is criticized for her emotional rhetoric regarding the Sandy Hook families and her technical inaccuracies regarding firearms. She incorrectly referred to the weapons used in various tragedies as "automatic weapons." The hosts argue that such misidentifications demonstrate a lack of understanding of the hardware being regulated.

President Obama is noted for misidentifying the weapon used at Sandy Hook as "fully automatic" during a fundraiser, though he later corrected himself. Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy signed new legislation limiting magazine capacity to 10 rounds based on the claim that the shooter fired 154 rounds in four minutes. The hosts question the timeline and the logistics of the shooting as reported by officials.