Topic: Cooking Off

Sir Andrew and Emma Pilgrim announce a "Best Chili Cook-Off in the Universe" meetup scheduled for March 21st in Pittsburgh. The segment includes various donor shout-outs and a discussion on the "value-for-value" model that sustains the podcast.

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.

John C. Dvorak recounts his experience winning the People's Choice Award at a Comdex chili cook-off in Las Vegas. To secure the win against a rival from Texas, Dvorak hired professional showgirls to solicit votes from attendees. The story is used as a metaphor for modern voting systems and the potential use of "bots" or "girls" to influence podcast award rankings.

John C. Dvorak recounts winning a "People's Choice" chili cook-off at Comdex by hiring showgirls to solicit votes, illustrating his cynical view of public voting contests. The hosts discuss the futility of competing in modern podcast awards without the use of voting bots or similar aggressive marketing tactics.

Adam Curry explains the Dutch custom of removing shoes at the front door and wearing slippers, a practice he maintains in his home. John C. Dvorak disagrees, citing the danger of stepping on stray power supplies or pens. They also briefly discuss the Aga, a specialized cast-iron stove that requires a unique approach to cooking.