Topic: Internet Radio

Scientists are warning of a potential "solar superstorm" as the sun enters a more active cycle, which could cause widespread internet and power grid outages. Large blobs of plasma from solar flares have the potential to distort Earth's magnetic field and damage satellites. Listeners are jokingly advised to invest in ham radios and Faraday cages to prepare for a "ten days of darkness" scenario.

Starlink's beta testing in rural America is reportedly delivering speeds of 100 Mbps down and 15 Mbps up. The technical feasibility of high-speed uploads from small residential dishes is discussed, with comparisons made to ham radio transmissions to the International Space Station. The system uses an automatically controlled dish to track a constellation of low-earth orbit satellites.

Anti-government protests have turned violent in Colombia and Chile, resulting in dozens of deaths and allegations of military brutality. In Iran, the government partially restored internet access after a week-long blackout following protests over gas prices. The hosts ask if any amateur radio operators have made contact with "hams" in Iran during the blackout.

The hosts compare the current "Golden Age of the Internet" to the early days of radio in the 1920s before heavy regulation took hold. They lament the restrictive nature of modern amateur radio, which prohibits business talk and music, and the "stool pigeon" culture of operators reporting violations. Curry insists that digital innovation could allow for "under the radar" communication networks that the FCC would struggle to stop.

Vice President Joe Biden's comments comparing illegal streaming to "breaking the window at Tiffany's" signal new strict laws that could lead to jail time for streamers. In response, the hosts consider changing the No Agenda stream to an "All Talk" format to avoid music licensing issues. They jokingly suggest a 24/7 "Louis Louis" or "Don Ho" station as a fallback.

The discussion continues on how 60 Minutes uses clips from internet radio shows to frame dissent as a threat. They discuss the "paper terrorism" tactic used by some anti-government groups to inundate officials with lawsuits. Adam Curry clarifies the original intent of the Right to Bear Arms as a check against central government power.

The hosts discuss the physical limitations of the Nexus One phone, noting that even gaffer's tape fails to make the device less slippery. They encourage listeners to petition manufacturers of internet-connected devices, like Sony's new alarm clocks, to include the No Agenda radio stream. Listeners who successfully plug the show on mainstream media outlets are promised "PR credits" in the show's hierarchy.

The hosts recommend "Old Time Radio" (OTR) collections available on Mevio as a superior form of entertainment compared to modern "copy-paste" internet culture. They lament how the internet has become a "game of telephone" where dubious articles are endlessly propagated through blogs without original sourcing. This trend is described as a failure of responsibility in the digital publishing age.