Topic: Mendocino

While 10,000 people in Vienna protest coronavirus restrictions and call for the government to resign, the hosts note a lack of similar public resistance in the United States. An anecdote about a camping trip in Mendocino highlights how social pressure leads to compliance with outdoor mask-wearing even in isolated environments.

Facebook is reportedly developing a trustworthiness rating for its users, which the hosts compare to China's social credit system. In a separate story, Mendocino County firefighters are suing Verizon for throttling their data during a wildfire. The hosts argue that net neutrality would actually prevent the priority access the firefighters are seeking.

The Mendocino Complex Fire in California has become the largest in state history, reportedly impacting marijuana cultivation areas. Meanwhile, at the Oakland and Seattle airports, the TSA is beta-testing futuristic security scanners from a company called Analogic. The devices, which resemble jet engines with blue halo lights, are expected to eventually allow passengers to keep liquids in their bags.

A massive communications outage in five Northern California counties was caused by deliberate vandalism of AT&T fiber optic lines. The FBI is investigating the sabotage, which disrupted 911 services, internet, and credit card processing in Humboldt, Mendocino, and Del Norte counties. The incident highlights the vulnerability of regional infrastructure that lacks redundant backup lines.

The discussion shifts to the economics of marijuana, noting that most product in California is grown locally in counties like Mendocino rather than smuggled from Mexico. Theories are explored regarding the pharmaceutical industry's opposition to legalization due to existing government patents on synthetic cannabinoids.

The hosts debate the merits of legalizing marijuana, with one arguing that the government's involvement in the drug trade prevents legalization. They criticize the argument that legalization would not generate tax revenue because prices would drop, noting that taxes can be levied by weight rather than value.

The CNBC special "Marijuana Inc." hosted by Trish Regan is reviewed, focusing on the economic impact of cannabis in Mendocino County. The hosts discuss the validity of the arguments for legalization presented in the documentary.