9 chapters across the catalog
New research suggests the Earth's inner core may have reversed its rotation, a phenomenon that occurs every 60 to 70 years. The hosts discuss the potential impact on the geomagnetic field and climate, while noting that the current summer in Texas has been unusually mild despite global "hottest year" claims.
A segment on HLN regarding the history of Mother's Day is reviewed, detailing how Anna Jarvis founded the holiday to honor her mother's post-Civil War "Mothers Friendship Day." The narrative highlights Jarvis's later crusade against the commercialization of the holiday by candy and card companies, whom she labeled "profiteers" and "termites." The hosts also note the ongoing Hollywood writers' strike, observing a general lack of public concern over the absence of late-night talk shows and scripted series.
Cross-Pollination Advertising and Audible Tracking Claims
A listener report describes a disturbing coincidence where a telemarketing call from Hartford, Connecticut, arrived seconds after the city was mentioned in an Audible audiobook of Mark Twain's "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court." The hosts discuss this as potential evidence of advanced cross-pollination in digital advertising and surveillance.
The discussion explores the rise of identity politics and its influence on the Democratic Party, specifically regarding "fat millennials" and gender activists. Concerns are raised about "digital book burning" as classic works like Huckleberry Finn and the Hardy Boys are removed from reading lists due to modern sensitivities. The CEO of YouTube is criticized for her public comments about explaining the Google memo to her daughter.
Common Core, Huckleberry Finn, Pearson Education
Listener emails describe the impact of Common Core standards on literature and history curricula. One student shares an experience reading "Huckleberry Finn" and the controversy surrounding its language. Another report highlights a Pearson Education textbook that explicitly uses the phrase "New World Order" in a chapter title regarding 1990s history.
Cultural Marxism in Tech, Banning Master-Slave Terminology
The hosts discuss the movement in the tech industry, specifically within the Drupal community, to replace the terms "master" and "slave" with "client-server" due to political correctness. They also touch on the removal of classic literature like Huckleberry Finn from school curricula because of its historical language.
Definition of Bigotry, Mark Twain Quote, Rick Sanchez Interview
A semantic debate arises over the definition of the word "bigot" versus "prejudicial" based on Rick Sanchez's interview comments. The hosts look up the dictionary definition of bigotry to determine if it implies inherent racism or general intolerance. They also question the validity of a quote Sanchez attributed to Mark Twain regarding the requirements of manhood.
Audio Book Production, Tom Swift and Dialect
The challenges of recording audiobooks are discussed, including maintaining consistent intonation and dealing with historical texts written in dialect. The hosts explore the political correctness of reading Mark Twain or the Tom Swift series in their original forms and the availability of public domain works on Project Gutenberg.
California Summer Weather, San Francisco Fog Anecdote
The hosts open the program discussing the local weather in Northern California and the United Kingdom. They reference the famous quote attributed to Mark Twain regarding the coldest winter being a summer in San Francisco, noting how tourists are often caught off guard by the July fog. A brief technical glitch occurs with a microphone fader before the conversation shifts to the damp reputation of British summers.
