Topic: Excel

Middle management in tech companies reported a surprising lack of basic computer literacy among Gen Z employees, including those with IT degrees. Common issues cited include an inability to use the command line, lack of touch-typing skills, and unfamiliarity with basic troubleshooting like using the Task Manager.

The DSEI arms fair at London's Excel Centre featured nearly 3,000 companies showcasing military technology influenced by the war in Ukraine. The conflict has prioritized the development of drones and counter-drone systems, including directed energy weapons, as global defense budgets increase.

Technical difficulties arose when a Microsoft Surface machine required four hours of mandatory updates upon being powered on in Jamaica. Security protocols in Excel and Google triggered suspicious activity alerts due to the geographic location change. Additionally, RT news is blocked on the island, requiring a VPN for access, though T-Mobile roaming service is functional.

The hosts vent frustrations over recent updates to Microsoft Excel that have broken cell formatting and text display. They discuss the possibility of switching to open-source alternatives like LibreOffice or building a custom web interface to manage show data.

First-time donors are acknowledged, including Joshua Collett, a former Microsoft expert who offers to help resolve the hosts' Excel technical issues. Producer Delcina Ramsey describes the show as a "listening platform" that helps her follow complex news topics.

The hosts experience a technical disagreement regarding how to view long donation notes in an Excel spreadsheet. One host attempts to provide live technical support on how to "wrap text" and format cells in Microsoft Office 365. The segment highlights the behind-the-scenes struggles of managing large volumes of listener data during a live broadcast.

Listener-contributed topics included a debate over whether Dr. Bronner's soap is a "millennial thing" and the ethics of hosting birthday parties for dogs. A donor suggested that money spent on pet celebrations should instead be directed toward the podcast. The segment concluded with "jobs karma" for a producer facing age discrimination in the tech industry.

The hosts discuss technical issues with color rendering between Microsoft Excel and LibreOffice. They also promote the upcoming Sunday show, which will "pre-construct" the Super Bowl, and Dvorak jokingly calls himself a "traitor" for listening to Andrew Horowitz's financial podcast.

A discussion on digital privacy recalls the legal precedent that employers are entitled to read employee emails. The hosts share anecdotes from their time in the tech industry, including how IT staff would often snoop on executive salaries. They also mention an old hacker trick of hiding viruses in Excel files labeled "salary spreadsheet" to entice curious employees into opening them.

The University of New Hampshire's "Bias-Free Language Guide" is examined, featuring a quote from former MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry. The document provides guidelines for "inclusive excellence" and "accurate expression" to avoid demeaning people based on personal characteristics. The guide specifically warns against phrases like "going Dutch," claiming it demeans the Dutch people by assuming they are cheap.

Cybersecurity firm Norse Corp, known for its "IP Viking" live attack map, has reportedly gone out of business despite its map still running on a loop. Simultaneously, NSA Director Michael Rogers announced a reorganization called "NSA 21," which aims to flatten the agency's structure and eliminate "cylinders of excellence" (silos) between offensive and defensive teams.

The hosts discuss technical issues with the show's donation spreadsheet and the blacklisting of the "noagendanation.com" domain. Adam Curry explains the complexities of email server policies and "extortion rackets" run by whitelisting companies. Dvorak expresses frustration with Excel's formatting and the way listener notes are submitted.

The show acknowledges significant financial contributions from producers, including a $777.33 donation from the Baron of Silicon Valley. Technical issues with Microsoft Excel's .xlsx format led to a recommendation for using OpenOffice. Discussion also covers a potential trip to Tokyo and Nagasaki, prompted by donations from high-ranking supporters in Japan.

The concept of "scientific consensus" is challenged, with the hosts arguing that true science requires repeatable and observable empirical facts. They cite recent failures in computer modeling, such as the 2010 volcanic ash flight bans and errors in economic Excel spreadsheets, as evidence that models are often unreliable and politically driven.

First Lady Michelle Obama makes a guest appearance on the Nickelodeon show iCarly. The hosts critique a clip where the child actors are coached on how to address her, including the suggestion of "Your Excellency." They view the segment as a form of cultural programming for children.

The hosts conclude the episode by previewing the upcoming Sunday show and the premiere of "Bear Crawling Live" on the No Agenda stream. They reiterate the "donating is loving" message and sign off with a final joke about the "Your Excellency" title for the First Lady.

Matthew Greensmith from Melbourne and Adam Miller from Perryville are named executive producers after donating identical amounts of $333.33 back-to-back. A discussion ensues regarding the use of spreadsheets for memos, with complaints about the necessity of booting Excel to read simple lists. Adam Miller is noted as being in line for a knighthood by the end of the program.

The hosts compare the stability of Apple's Leopard operating system with Windows, noting that while Mac users complain about rare crashes, Windows users are accustomed to frequent reboots. Adam Curry expresses satisfaction with his return to the Mac ecosystem for daily work, despite needing a Windows laptop for specific software like Cast Blaster. Dvorak admits that while he has issues with Apple as a company, he recommends their hardware to family members to minimize his own tech support burden.