Topic: Metering

The No Agenda show continues to operate on a "value-for-value" model, relying on listener donations of time, talent, and treasure rather than traditional advertising. Recent community contributions include custom show artwork, jingles, and the donation of E-meters from a listener with ties to Scientology. The hosts emphasized the importance of modern podcast apps for real-time interaction and the global network of producer-organized meetups.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has faced allegations regarding her associations with the Church of Scientology in Florida. The discussion touches on the history of the church's recruitment tactics and the technical nature of the "E-meter" device used in their auditing processes.

Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm appeared on "The View" to promote the administration's green energy initiatives and the growth of EV manufacturing. She claimed that 600 new factories have been established in the U.S. since the passage of recent climate legislation. The hosts criticize her claims about EV range and cost-effectiveness, noting that rising electricity bills and the push for "smart meters" are the reality for most consumers.

The discussion explores why economists fear deflation, noting that it can kill consumer demand as people wait for lower prices. The segment also recalls the use of fluctuating pricing for parking meters in San Francisco during Giants games as a precursor to modern dynamic pricing models.

Sensors from Whisker Labs detected 122 faults on Maui's electrical grid on August 7th and 8th, coinciding with the start of the wildfires. Surveillance video captured a power line fault causing an arc that ignited brush near the Maui Bird Conservation Center. Additionally, concerns have been raised that "smart meters" without surge protection may have contributed to home fires following voltage drops and spikes in the grid.

Paris officials announced energy-saving measures, including turning off the Eiffel Tower lights early and delaying public building heating. Meanwhile, utility companies in the Netherlands are introducing "time of use" rates and smart meter programs to condition consumer electricity consumption habits.

Austin Water is replacing 250,000 analog water meters with "smart meters" that transmit data wirelessly. While officials claim the system is secure from hacking due to encryption, the primary concern raised is the ability for authorities to track real-time usage patterns. Customers who opt out of the smart meter program are required to pay a $75 one-time fee and a $10 monthly surcharge to cover manual meter reading costs.

The City of Austin discovered fraudulent QR code stickers on nearly 30 parking pay stations, directing users to a fake website to steal credit card information. The scam was first identified in San Antonio and highlights the risks of using QR codes on public infrastructure. The hosts jokingly suggest using similar stickers to redirect people to the No Agenda show or Scott Adams' content.

The Netherlands is moving to codify the "1.5 meter society" into permanent law, a move that critics argue will destroy social norms like hugging and cheek-kissing. Protests against these measures and the "Dragnet" surveillance laws are planned in The Hague. On a lighter note, John C. Dvorak expressed his annoyance with the "fisting method" of eating peanuts on airplanes, calling it a breach of public decorum.

The Clean Coalition, a non-profit industry group, is advocating for a transition to a "resilient" modern grid with the support of former CIA Director James Woolsey. Skeptics view the push for smart meters and electric vehicles as a method of population control aligned with Agenda 21. The technology allows utilities to remotely disable car charging or air conditioning during peak demand periods.

A technical discussion regarding audio levels reveals how psychological factors can influence the perception of volume. Despite VU meters showing identical levels, one speaker perceived the other as being quieter, leading to a manual adjustment of auditory processing. This phenomenon highlights the difference between objective signal strength and subjective hearing.

Car break-ins have reached record levels in San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland, with over 31,000 reports in San Francisco alone during 2017. The hosts argue that the city has deprioritized these crimes as part of a broader "war on cars" to favor ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft. They also discuss the implementation of "demand-responsive" parking meters that charge exorbitant rates to discourage driving.

An anecdote describes the receipt of a Scientology E-meter for personal use during dinner parties. The conversation briefly touches on the lack of participation in the Women's March and the collection of cultural artifacts like the "pussy hat."

A host describes receiving a modern Scientology E-meter in a professional flight case, complete with instruction booklets and conductive cream. The device is praised for its build quality and aesthetic design, though its functional utility remains a subject of humor.

A listener and Scientologist clarifies the difference between the Scientology E-meter and the Canadian "Fruit Machine." While both involve galvanic skin response, the Fruit Machine was a Cold War-era device used by the Canadian government to identify homosexuals through pupillary response tests. The E-meter, designed by Volney Matheson for L. Ron Hubbard, remains a central tool for "auditing" within the Church of Scientology.

The hosts discuss the upcoming 1000th episode of the No Agenda Show and the community-submitted artwork. A specific piece of art featuring a "douchebag e-meter" leads to a discussion about the history of Scientology's psycho-electrometer and its use as a pseudo-scientific tool. Listeners are encouraged to submit art to the No Agenda Art Generator as the milestone approaches.

The hosts explore the history of the "fruit machine," a device used by the Canadian government in the 1950s and 60s to identify homosexuals in the civil service. The manufacturer of the device, Matheson, later produced the E-meters used by the Church of Scientology. The discussion includes anecdotes about L. Ron Hubbard's motivations for starting the religion, including a desire to avoid taxes.

A murder investigation in Bentonville, Arkansas, involves a search warrant for Amazon Echo (Alexa) audio data. While Amazon initially resisted the warrant, the hosts point out that the real evidence came from a "smart" water meter, which showed high water usage during the time of the crime. They warn that the "Internet of Things" creates a digital trail that can be used by law enforcement for automated fines and surveillance.

The show concludes with a report on record holiday sales at Seattle pot shops and a mention of the "Santa Net" on 80-meter ham radio. The hosts sign off with final holiday greetings and a reminder of their upcoming New Year's Eve broadcast.

Adam Curry recounts receiving news of the November 2015 Paris attacks via an old-school ham radio while descending from the McDonald Observatory in Texas. Due to a lack of cell service and internet at 7,000 feet, the information arrived through the "freewheelers net" on the 80-meter band. The hosts contrast this analog information gathering with the surreal experience of being off the grid during a major international crisis.