Topic: Edison

The hosts discuss Samsung's development of a solid-state battery with a 600-mile range and 9-minute charge time, though Dvorak remains skeptical of its commercial viability. They also cover skyrocketing utility bills in Southern California, which Dvorak attributes to "scambola" involving the Public Utilities Commission and Pacific Gas and Electric.

The hosts play a classic, profanity-laced outtake of radio legend Casey Kasem struggling to transition from an up-tempo song to a somber "long distance dedication" about a dead dog. This leads to a discussion about the history of recorded music, from Thomas Edison's cylinders to 78 RPM shellac discs. Dvorak highlights the "78 Project" on Archive.org as a significant resource for preserving high-fidelity historical recordings.

The Cartoon Network released a series of educational shorts focused on Black history, including a segment on inventor Lewis Latimer. The short argues that Latimer, not Thomas Edison, is more rightfully credited with the light bulb due to his invention of the carbon filament. Critics argue that the series uses "social justice warrior" narratives to influence children and present an incomplete view of history.

As the show approaches its 1,300th episode, the hosts reflect on the invention of podcasting and the current "Podcasting 2.0" initiative. They emphasize the importance of preserving the platform for free speech and maintaining the "value-for-value" funding model to avoid corporate censorship.

Southern California Edison warned that over 42,000 customers in San Bernardino and surrounding counties could lose power on Thanksgiving due to Santa Ana winds and wildfire risks. The hosts link these utility shutoffs to Joe Biden's "dark winter" comments, noting the irony of people being unable to cook holiday meals while under lockdown.

Joe Biden recently claimed that a Black man, not Thomas Edison, invented the light bulb. While Lewis Latimer, a Black inventor, did patent a significant improvement to the carbon filament, Edison held the original patent for the light bulb itself a year prior. Latimer eventually worked for Edison's company, and while his contributions were vital, the claim that he was the sole inventor is historically inaccurate.

Edison Research announces it will provide exit polls and tabulate the national popular vote across every county for major networks during the midterms. The hosts argue this is an attempt to discredit the Electoral College and predict that Hillary Clinton would lose both the popular and electoral votes if she ran again.

The latest "Podcast Consumer" report from Edison Research shows that monthly podcast listenership has grown to 26% of Americans. The report also notes that podcast listeners are more likely to own smart speakers, leading to the industry term "share of ear" to describe audio consumption habits.

Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak open the program with their traditional greetings. Curry references calling CQ on 12 meters in FEMA Region 6, while Dvorak shares quotes attributed to Thomas Edison regarding failure and success.

The hosts explore the history of the Phoebus Cartel, a group of light bulb manufacturers in the 1920s that conspired to limit the lifespan of bulbs to 1,000 hours. They contrast this with the "Livermore light bulb," which has burned for over 110 years. The segment discusses how planned obsolescence has become a fundamental part of the modern economy, from iPhones to household appliances.

The hosts discuss various economic theories, including the British model of bank insurance and the "bad bank" concept. They reflect on the history of economic thought from Karl Marx to Milton Friedman and predict a new economist will emerge to explain the current crisis. Dvorak looks back to the innovation boom of 1890, featuring Tesla and Edison, as a potential model for a future recovery.