Topic: Delft

The album art for episode 1401, a Delft Blue tile design by Tante Neal, sparked a controversy on Twitter involving threats against a host's family. The hosts discuss the creative process behind selecting art and the criteria for avoiding "stolen" or clip-art designs. They emphasize the importance of original artwork in the show's production model.

A donor recommends Thomas Sowell's "Intellectuals and Society," leading to a discussion about Sowell's standoffish nature. The hosts play an archival clip of a host appearing on MSNBC following Michael Jackson's death in 2009. They also mention receiving "ask me about my podcast" buttons and a Dutch Delft blue plate from listeners.

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines continues its tradition of gifting business class passengers miniature Delft Blue porcelain houses filled with liquor. There are currently 89 distinct models in the collection, modeled after real Dutch canal houses. These items remain a popular perk for international travelers despite the airline's recent financial losses.

John C. Dvorak discovers a short film titled "Clearing the Air" produced by Shell Oil on an experimental Dish Network channel. The film promotes Gas-to-Liquid (GTL) technology as a way to reduce soot and emissions, though the hosts criticize the narrative's technical inconsistencies regarding diesel versus gasoline. The project is identified as a form of corporate propaganda being distributed via satellite and TiVo video-on-demand.