Topic: Dune

A report from a producer visiting Moscow reveals that Western sanctions have had little impact on the availability of consumer goods like Coca-Cola, Snickers, and Italian pasta. To bypass bans on Western films, Russian cinemas reportedly sell tickets for local movies but play full-length Hollywood blockbusters like Dune as "pre-film advertising." Additionally, premium gasoline in Russia is noted to be significantly cheaper than in the U.S. at $2.30 per gallon.

The hosts discuss why grocery stores like Whole Foods frequently change their floor layouts (allegedly to prevent rats from nesting). A donation from Indiana credits a husband in the snow removal business who is saving for a golf trip to Bandon Dunes.

Warner Bros. announced that its entire 2021 film slate, including *Dune* and *The Matrix 4*, will debut on HBO Max simultaneously with theaters. This move has sent the Hollywood studio system into a panic, signaling a potential permanent shift away from traditional cinema. The hosts discuss the implications for theater chains and the consolidation of media under giants like Disney.

A donor from Kuwait, using the pseudonym Planet Kaitan from the novel Dune, became an Associate Executive Producer for the show. The donor described the podcast as "activist infotainment" and received a "de-douching" ceremony.

Paul Roberson, a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries, is dubbed "Sir Paul Mountain Mentat of the Monongahela." The hosts look up the definition of "Mentat," discovering its origins in the "Dune" universe as a human replacement for computers. Roberson also requests a serving of "Sappho and spice."

A business update from a listener reveals that Dune Buggy Golf Carts has successfully shipped its first multi-cart order to Saudi Arabia. Separately, a donor from Oregon comments on the lack of available marijuana in Washington State despite its legal status, citing it as a reason to avoid moving there.

Adam Curry describes visiting the White Sands National Monument in New Mexico, which consists of 275 square miles of pure gypsum. The dunes resemble snow and are the largest of their kind in the world. The hosts discuss the geological origins of the gypsum and the recreational activities available at the site, such as sledding.