Topic: Tickets

French authorities are investigating a scam at the Louvre Museum that may have cost the institution over 10 million euros. Two Chinese tour guides are suspected of systematically reusing single-entry tickets to bring large groups of tourists into the museum. An anecdote follows regarding using the gift shop as a "back door" to bypass long entry lines in Paris.

The Met Gala is criticized as an elitist event where individual tickets now cost $75,000, up from $50,000 in previous years. Tables for ten are priced at $350,000. Critics argue the event uses cultural themes like "Black Dandyism" to mask a fundamentally exclusionary and racist structure that serves only the ultra-wealthy and fashion elites featured in Vogue.

The hosts examine new federal requirements for "black box" event data recorders in all vehicles starting in 2015. They argue this technology will be used by insurance companies and municipalities to monitor driving habits and automatically issue tickets, describing it as a revenue-generating scheme for cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles.

President Biden has directed his administration to eliminate "junk fees," which include hidden charges for concert tickets, hotel rooms, and bank overdrafts. The President highlighted the impact of these fees on low-income families, specifically citing unfair charges for bounced checks.

A pregnant Texas woman, Brandy Paton, is fighting a traffic ticket for driving in the HOV lane, arguing that her unborn baby counts as a second passenger under the state's new abortion laws. While the Department of Transportation does not currently recognize a fetus as a person for carpool purposes, the case raises legal questions regarding fetal personhood and child support.

A "Red Book" bet was officially recorded predicting that there will be no presidential debates between Donald Trump and Joe Biden in 2020. The discussion notes that while some states allow "straight party ticket" voting, others like California and Texas do not. The political landscape is described as splitting into "Democrat Nationalist" and "Democrat Socialist" factions.

Joe Biden's debate performance is scrutinized, including his pledge to appoint a black woman to the Supreme Court and his repeated use of the phrase "not a joke." The hosts discuss the high ticket prices for the debate audience and Biden's "why am I stopping" moment when his time expired.

Jerry Falwell Jr. suggests that Mitt Romney may leave the Republican Party to position himself as a vice-presidential candidate on a "unity ticket" with John Kerry. This theory is presented as a desperate attempt by the mainstream media to find an alternative to Bernie Sanders.

A discussion on open-source software like Mycroft notes that consumers often perceive it as "wonky" or less reliable than commercial alternatives. The conversation shifts to "random number theory," exploring the idea that bad events occur in clusters. An anecdote about a donor's personal tragedies leads to a discussion on behavioral patterns and the superstition of "celebrity deaths in threes."

The Clintons announce a 13-city speaking tour across the United States, which the hosts compare to Ronald Reagan's "The Speech" tour for General Electric. Ticket prices range from $75 to $700. Hillary mentions that the tour will cover personal stories and their concerns for the country, while the hosts speculate on the dynamic between the two on stage.

Observations on the Swiss and Dutch rail systems highlight the redundancy of human conductors scanning digital QR codes on smartphones. The process of downloading specific apps to display PDF tickets is criticized as inefficient compared to automated kiosks. The discussion touches on the persistence of labor unions in government-run European transit.

An investigation by *The Guardian* analyzed over 34,000 bus trips provided to homeless individuals by U.S. cities. The report found that while relocation programs are marketed as a way to reconnect people with family, many participants simply become homeless in a new city or eventually return to their original location due to a lack of support systems.

The rise of End-User License Agreements (EULAs) for vehicles suggests a future where consumers no longer truly own their cars. The hosts predict that remote monitoring will lead to automated speeding tickets and restrictions on private sales. In Europe, bans on older diesel vehicles in cities are cited as a precursor to a broader phase-out of traditional car ownership in favor of controlled, connected platforms.

Speculation rises regarding Elizabeth Warren as a potential vice-presidential running mate for Hillary Clinton to capture the "Bernie Sanders wing" of the party. The hosts debate whether a double female ticket would appeal to millennial women who currently support Sanders. One host admits to voting for Sanders in the primary as an independent to "balance the show" against perceptions of being pro-Trump.

Low ticket sales for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics are being attributed to fears of the Zika virus. The hosts argue that the virus is localized to northern Brazil and that linking it to Rio is a form of media fear-mongering. They suggest the United States may be undermining the Brazilian games because Chicago lost its bid to host the event.

John C. Dvorak describes his family's strategy for attending Broadway musicals using "rush tickets" to avoid the standard $250 seat prices. He explains that shows like The Book of Mormon become accessible for $30 if patrons wait until the original cast has moved on. The discussion covers the mechanics of the box office rush, the quality of the seating, and the history of understudies becoming stars.

A listener from San Francisco describes a protest regarding "The Wiggle" cycling path, where police have been ticketing cyclists for failing to stop. The discussion shifts to the general difficulty of driving in San Francisco and the aggressive nature of the city's traffic.

Adam Curry announces an upcoming trip to London and Europe to visit his daughter Christina and a friend named Michelle. He explains the logistics of his travel, including the cost of changing economy tickets purchased months in advance. He confirms that the podcast will continue to broadcast during his travels.

The "Dog Days of Summer" are blamed for a slight dip in donations, though several $50 "double nickel" donors are recognized. A story from Eliza Rivera describes how a friend's advice to "beg for mercy" in court resulted in a reduced speeding ticket fine, with the savings being donated to the show. The hosts encourage other listeners to find similar ways to support the value-for-value model.

The European Union is passing laws requiring tracking devices in all new vehicles, ostensibly for emergency services. There is concern that this data will eventually be used by governments to issue speeding tickets during routine inspections or by insurance companies to mandate monitoring as a condition of coverage.