Topic: Awareness Month

President Trump issues several proclamations for the month of April, including Cancer Control Month and National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The proclamation for National Financial Capability Month is highlighted as a potential signal for reduced government safety nets.

The hosts discuss the unofficial movement known as Hexagonal Awareness Month. They explore various websites and Pinterest boards dedicated to "hexagon sightings" in nature and technology. The conversation touches on the ubiquity of the shape and the possibility of creating a dedicated tracking site for the phenomenon.

President Barack Obama issued several proclamations for April 2015, designating it as National Child Abuse Prevention Month and Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. The administration also highlighted National Donate Life Month, noting that 123,000 Americans currently require organ transplants. A shift in terminology was noted regarding National Cancer Control Month, focusing on disease management and preventative lifestyle choices rather than a primary focus on a cure.

President Barack Obama issued ten different proclamations for the month of November 2014, including National College Application Month and National Alzheimer's Disease Awareness Month. The hosts criticize the college application initiative as "National Young People's Slavery Enrollment Month" due to the burden of student loans. Other designated observances mentioned include National Family Caregivers Month, Native American Heritage Month, and National Entrepreneurship Month.

President Barack Obama issued several proclamations for May 2014, including National Charter Schools Week, Loyalty Day, and National Mental Health Awareness Month. The proclamations emphasize the administration's commitment to the Affordable Care Act's role in expanding mental health and substance use disorder benefits. Satirical commentary is provided on the National Day of Prayer and the irony of religious liberty in the context of prisoners at Guantanamo Bay.

A brief overview of February awareness designations, including National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and American Heart Month, leads into television talk. After a listener complains about the unresolved ending of "Rubicon," the hosts recommend "House of Lies" starring Don Cheadle. They compare the show's cynical tone to "The Wolf of Wall Street" and discuss the nature of celebrity interactions.

A routine software upgrade by Xerox caused a massive outage of the Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) system, affecting food stamp and SNAP recipients across 17 states including California. Adam Curry suggests the Saturday morning failure might have been a "dry run" or test of public docility during Cybersecurity Awareness Month. The outage left millions unable to purchase groceries until the systems were rebooted hours later.

A list of federally recognized awareness months for May 2013 is reviewed, including Mental Health Awareness, Foster Care, Physical Fitness, and various heritage months. The hosts critique the density of these proclamations, specifically noting the inclusion of Older Americans Month and Building Safety Month.

President Barack Obama issued a proclamation designating February 2013 as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. Questions are raised regarding the constitutional authority for such presidential edicts. The timing is criticized for overlapping with African American History Month and American Heart Month, suggesting the multiple designations dilute the significance of each.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak open the program from Amsterdam and Northern Silicon Valley. Dvorak highlights that January is National Stalking Awareness Month by presidential proclamation, which includes cyber stalking.

The hosts deconstruct a viral video featuring WKBT news anchor Jennifer Livingston responding to an email criticizing her weight during National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month. They argue that Livingston used her "bully pulpit" to publicly shame a private critic, framing the event as a manufactured talking point to support legislation limiting free speech. Adam Curry suggests that labeling the internet as a "weapon" and schools as "battlegrounds" is a precursor to increased internet regulation and the erosion of First Amendment rights.

During National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, reports surfaced of a Chinese "hack attack" on White House computers, which was later revealed to be a simple phishing email on an unclassified network. The hosts mock the sensationalized coverage by Fox News and the Free Beacon. They also discuss evidence that DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano does not use a computer in her office, relying instead on printed PowerPoint slides and possibly an iPhone.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak open episode 448 from Los Angeles and Silicon Valley, noting the "Carmageddon 2" closure of the 405 freeway. They transition to discussing the presidential proclamation of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, which coincides with Oracle World.

A discussion on Tourette Syndrome reveals that the CDC recognizes a dedicated awareness month for the condition. An anecdote describes a passenger with vocal tics being removed from an airplane, which the hosts argue is a form of discrimination against those with neurological conditions. The segment explores the misconceptions surrounding Tourette's, including the rarity of coprolalia (involuntary swearing).

President Barack Obama signed a proclamation designating January 2011 as National Stalking Awareness Month, citing the prevalence of the crime since the 1994 Violence Against Women Act. The hosts review the formal language of the declaration, which calls on Americans to recognize signs of stalking and support survivors. The segment concludes with a critique of social media platforms like Facebook, suggesting their data collection practices mirror the behavior described in the anti-stalking initiative.