Topic: Century

The upcoming 20th Century Fox film "The Creator" is discussed as a continuation of the "AI will kill us" trope in cinema. This is compared to the 1970 science fiction thriller "Colossus: The Forbin Project," which features an American defense system becoming sentient and taking control.

An investigation into the name "Adam Curry" using Google Ngram Viewer shows unexpected peaks in literature during the 1860s and 1880s. A modern "hockey stick" curve in the name's popularity began in 1983, coinciding with the host's career at MTV, and peaked in 1996. A secondary surge is noted around 2007, corresponding with the rise of the podcasting medium.

Several producers are knighted, including Sir Short Stack and Sir Xenonymous. A discussion about the actuarial profession leads to a mention of a feature article about the No Agenda show in the Century City Gazette, which noted the show's "mention by omission" in the Mueller Report.

Greenland's ice sheet experienced a record-breaking melt in July, losing 197 billion tons of ice. Experts warn that receding ice could expose toxic nuclear waste left at secret U.S. military sites, such as Camp Century, during the Cold War. The environmental impact includes rising sea levels and the potential release of ancient bacteria and methane trapped beneath the glaciers.

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson faces allegations of sexual misconduct from three women, including a rape accusation dating back to the 1980s. National Geographic and Fox have launched investigations into the claims. The hosts speculate that the timing of these allegations might be related to the valuation of media assets during the Disney-Fox acquisition.

Adam Curry recounts a six-hour visit with his uncle, Donald Gregg, a former CIA official and Ambassador to South Korea. Gregg, who currently chairs the Pacific Century Institute, shared insights into his recent trips to North Korea and his perspective on international diplomacy.

A 2007 clip of General Wesley Clark is revisited, where he describes a Pentagon memo from 2001 detailing plans to "take out" seven countries in five years. Clark attributes this policy coup to neoconservatives like Paul Wolfowitz and Dick Cheney, who aimed to destabilize the Middle East before Russia or China could regain power.

Robert Kagan's essay, "The Allure of Normalcy," is analyzed as a foundational text for modern neoconservative foreign policy. The discussion critiques the interventionist stance that the United States must act as the "locomotive" of mankind to prevent global disorder. Connections are drawn between the Kagan family, Victoria Nuland, and ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The Kagan family is identified as a central hub of Neoconservative influence spanning multiple administrations. Robert Kagan was a key figure in the Project for a New American Century, while his wife, Victoria Nuland, serves in the State Department. The family's reach through various institutes and government positions suggests a persistent "war party" agenda that transcends partisan lines.

The hosts criticize a congressional panel featuring Frederick Kagan and Jane Harman, labeling it a "propaganda panel." They point out Kagan's ties to the Project for the New American Century and the architects of the Iraq War. Harman's testimony included a confusing analogy about "amoebas" to describe the loose affiliation of terror groups in Syria.

The dinner conversation shifted to geopolitical skepticism regarding the missing MH370 flight and the conflict in Ukraine. The host challenged the "O-Bots" by linking the Ukraine situation to Neoconservative figures like Victoria Nuland and Robert Kagan.

Former Ambassador Donald Gregg, a retired CIA official and former National Security Advisor to George H.W. Bush, arrived in Pyongyang on an unsanctioned mission with the Pacific Century Institute. While the State Department distanced itself from the trip, speculation suggests the visit aimed to negotiate the release of detained American Kenneth Bae. The discussion details Gregg's extensive intelligence background in Asia and his family connections to the podcast hosts.

Barton Gellman, a contractor for the Washington Post, discusses his handling of the Snowden documents on C-SPAN with Bob Schieffer. Gellman admits to vetting the slides with the NSA and CIA before publication, agreeing to withhold specific pages. The hosts identify Gellman as a senior fellow at the Century Foundation, which they link to the International Crisis Group and intelligence circles.

Dov Zakheim, a former Pentagon official and member of the Project for the New American Century (PNAC), is linked to the board of Chemonics. The hosts discuss his history as a "fraud chief" and his ties to both neoliberal and neoconservative circles. They contrast the wealth of these contractors with the cholera outbreak in Haiti caused by UN peacekeepers.

Hillary Clinton's 2009 keynote address in Mexico City for the Alliance of Youth Movements is analyzed. She promotes "21st Century Statecraft," highlighting how social media tools like Facebook and Twitter are used by young activists in Colombia, Iran, and India to bypass traditional government structures.

A practicing hypnotist explains how political figures use boredom, confusion, and shock to bypass the "gatekeeper" of the conscious mind. Examples include the use of the non-existent "Office of the President-Elect" sign on Obama's podium and pre-conference music to induce a suggestible state in the audience.

"Century," edited by Bruce Bernard, is a massive 1,236-page photography book documenting 100 years of human history through 1,000 photographs. Originally released around the turn of the millennium, the book became a popular corporate gift and is frequently seen in the background of television sets. Despite its original high production value and weight, used copies are often available at significant discounts through online retailers.

Dvorak recounts a recent shopping trip to the Century 21 department store in Manhattan, where he purchased a three-pack of cashmere Gold Toe socks for four dollars. He details the history of the Great American Knitting Mills, noting that Gold Toe socks are still manufactured in North Carolina rather than being outsourced to China. The segment highlights the difficulty of wearing cashmere socks, which lack structure and slide off the foot.