Topic: Mint

A listener shared a link to a digital Girl Scout cookie site, noting the convenience of ordering Thin Mints and S'mores online. Another donor demonstrated the capabilities of open-source AI by creating voice clones of Donald Trump and the podcast hosts. The segment highlighted the rapid advancement of text-to-speech technology and its accessibility to the general public.

John C. Dvorak provides a "tip of the day" regarding Balena Etcher, a tool used to create bootable live USB drives for operating systems like Linux Mint. This allows users to run a secure OS on any computer without installing it on the hard drive, which is useful for troubleshooting failing hardware like Dvorak's B-Link computer. The hosts discuss the convenience of carrying a "computer on a stick" for travel and security.

The hosts reflect on 17 years of the No Agenda Show, recalling the launch of the first iPhone in 2007. A technical discussion follows regarding the limitations of using Linux for professional audio production due to persistent driver issues, despite the software's utility for other tasks.

A listener shares the benefits of switching to a "Light Phone II," a minimalist device with an e-ink screen and no social media access, to model better behavior for their children. The hosts recommend a suite of tools for parents to reclaim digital sovereignty, including Linux Mint laptops, standalone cameras, Umbrel home servers, and 2-meter ham radios.

The Perth Mint in Australia is embroiled in a scandal after it was revealed they "doped" gold bars with silver to save money, potentially affecting 100 tonnes of gold sent to the Shanghai Gold Exchange. The Shanghai exchange discovered the substandard bars, leading to a potential $9 billion recall. This breach of trust in the bullion market recalls previous scandals involving tungsten-filled gold bars originating from China.

The Royal Mint begins production of the first coins featuring the likeness of King Charles III, starting with the 50-pence piece. The reverse side of the coin pays tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II. The hosts speculate that this transition in physical currency may coincide with the push for a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in the United Kingdom.

Mint Press News reports that over 150 public relations firms and lobbying groups are working to manage the media narrative surrounding the war in Ukraine. The U.S. is described as the global leader in propaganda and marketing, effectively framing the conflict to favor Western interests. The term "fog of war" is analyzed as a convenient rhetorical tool used by media outlets like Bloomberg to explain away inconsistencies in reporting.

A host describes successfully installing Linux Mint on a Microsoft Surface Go, noting significant performance improvements over Windows. The discussion details plans to migrate the entire "No Agenda" studio to a Linux-based environment. Technical challenges regarding the MOTU audio interface and the use of "Wine" to run Windows-specific server software are explored.

Jenny Naples Massey donated $588.90 and clarified the existence of the "Bat Coin," a US quarter featuring fruit bats as part of the "America the Beautiful" series. The coin, which honors the National Park of American Samoa, became a point of interest due to the pandemic's origins. Massey is granted the title Dame Valentine of the Bluebird Powder Region.

A viral image of a 2020 U.S. quarter featuring a bat was debunked as a modified National Park coin rather than a pandemic-themed release. Meanwhile, a real national coin shortage is affecting businesses, including casinos in Las Vegas where social distancing is strictly enforced.

The second donation segment features contributions from Russell Davidson, "DC Girl," and several listeners from Virginia and Texas. A unique donation from Jason Zeisler in South Dakota includes two silver Brexit coins from the Royal Mint, which are valued at $100 each. The hosts acknowledge the diverse group of "free thinkers" who support the show through the value-for-value model.

A listener from Australia shared a story about her son, Ben, who installed Linux Mint on her computer to improve her technical experience. The segment included birthday shout-outs and a comparison of the podcast's humor to the classic British radio program "The Goon Show."

A host provided an update on their successful migration to a Linux-based operating system, specifically Linux Mint, citing improved stability and freedom from Microsoft's data collection. The discussion touched on the limitations of open-source alternatives like GIMP compared to Adobe Photoshop and the benefits of using specialized tools like NoteCase Pro for information management.

A producer's complaint about Linux updates leads to a discussion about the technical hurdles of open-source operating systems. The hosts compare the No Agenda show to Linux, noting that both require a learning curve but attract a dedicated, technically-minded audience.

The hosts advocate for teaching children the basics of computer hardware and open-source operating systems like Linux rather than just "learning to code." They suggest that building a computer using a Raspberry Pi is a superior educational tool compared to the "shackled" environments of Windows 10 or Chrome OS.

The hosts discuss their biannual attempt to transition to Linux, specifically focusing on Linux Mint 19.2, codenamed Tina. One host recommends Ultimate Mint 19 from SourceForge for its pre-tuned application suite, while the other explores Lubuntu for its minimal resource overhead. Technical challenges mentioned include Skype compatibility issues and the fragmentation of package managers like Snap, Flatpak, and AppImage.

Lester Lawrence, an employee at the Royal Canadian Mint, is accused of smuggling $180,000 worth of gold "pucks" out of the facility by hiding them in his rectum. Investigators discovered a tub of Vaseline in his locker after he repeatedly set off metal detectors without any visible metal on his person. The case, presided over by Justice Peter Doody, has drawn international attention for its unusual methods and the Mint's initial inability to confirm missing inventory.

A host's son returned from Hawaii with "Disappointments" mints featuring President Obama's image, produced by the Unemployed Philosophers Guild. The anecdote serves as a lead-in to a discussion about the political backlash against the Democratic Party following the midterm elections.

Direct marketers utilize the "completion factor" to drive sales, often providing a storage rack or binder that compels consumers to finish a collection of items like miniature cars or coins. This psychological drive for completion is also identified as the reason internet users feel obligated to read through numbered "listicles" found in digital media and magazines.

A report from Press TV cites freelance journalist Dale Govlak and Mint Press News regarding the chemical weapons attack in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta. The report alleges that Syrian rebels admitted to receiving chemical ordnance from Saudi Arabia and that casualties resulted from the mishandling of these weapons due to a lack of training. The hosts express skepticism toward the mainstream narrative that the Syrian government would gas its own people during an active war.