Topic: Zip

The Biden administration is accused of viewing high gas prices as a "feature, not a bug." The discussion returns to the "confrontational" nature of sending government workers door-to-door to sign people up for vaccines. While officials claim there is no federal database to track vaccination status, critics remain skeptical of the privacy implications of these "public education" pushes.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is criticized for shutting down specific zip codes in Brooklyn, primarily targeting Orthodox Jewish communities. Protesters in these areas have been seen burning masks in response to what they perceive as discriminatory enforcement. The hosts question the logic of zip-code-based lockdowns, noting that residents can easily cross street boundaries into unaffected areas.

Reports from New York describe young protesters complaining about the discomfort of zip-tie restraints and the lack of air conditioning in police vans following curfew arrests. Rolling Stone magazine published a list of alternatives to policing, including the decriminalization of almost all non-violent crimes. Critics argue that such policies, already seen in cities like Los Angeles, lead to rampant retail theft and a breakdown of public order.

Dvorak reports receiving suspicious emails from MailChimp, leading to a discussion about the history of the US Postal Service. The hosts decide to test the "General Delivery" system by having Dvorak send a letter to Adam Curry at a general Austin post office address.

Brad Parscale refuted claims that the Trump campaign targeted voters based on zip codes to suppress minority turnout, calling the tactic "two generations old." He explained that modern digital marketing focuses on individual interests and likelihood to vote rather than broad geographic or racial demographics. The discussion highlighted a disconnect between traditional media's understanding of marketing and current digital practices.

The Dutch "Postcode Loterij" is analyzed as a highly effective gambling system driven by extreme peer pressure. In this model, entire neighborhoods win prizes based on their zip code, meaning those who do not play must watch their neighbors receive large checks. The hosts suggest this "Gitmo Nation" style of lottery could be a solution for the U.S. postal system's financial issues.

A donor from Quantico requested anonymity while contributing to the show, and another listener shared nostalgia for 1997 Zip drive cartridges. Stuart Rushing, a producer in the nuclear industry, pointed out a media fact-checking failure regarding frozen broccoli and aphids. The hosts reiterate that executive producer credits are valuable for professional networking on sites like LinkedIn.

The Walker Art Museum in Minneapolis has begun selling "intangibles," which are artistic experiences rather than physical objects. Examples include a private dance performance in a park or temporary photographs sent via Snapchat for $400. A PBS report on the trend mistakenly mentioned a customer purchasing a "zip drive," a technology that has been obsolete for over a decade.

The hosts revisit the story of Cody Wilson and his 3D-printed gun, the "Liberator." They express skepticism about Wilson's background and the "slick" promotional nature of his project. A clip from the 2013 State of the Union address is played, showing President Obama promoting 3D printing as a manufacturing revolution, which the hosts link to the government's interest in Wilson's activities.

The hosts speculate that the repeated mention of "Austin" in North Korean propaganda is a code word rather than a literal target. They explore potential links to the Boeing 787 Dreamliner (matching Austin's 787 area code) and the possibility of a staged EMP or "boom" event to justify new security technology. The movie "Olympus Has Fallen" is cited as part of the cultural conditioning for such an event.

The Dutch Postcode Lottery is analyzed as a high-pressure social system where prizes are awarded based on residential zip codes. Neighbors who do not participate face extreme social pressure when their street wins, as celebrities deliver large checks to those who paid while "losers" watch from behind closed curtains.

Clips detail a school shooting response and Hillary Clinton's visit to a refugee camp in Goma, Congo. A scientific segment describes an experiment where researchers used a chemical called ZIP to erase specific memories in rats by targeting the hippocampus.

Julian Assange's dismissal of 9/11 conspiracy theories is noted as a point of suspicion for the hosts. Technical difficulties regarding the 7-zip format of the WikiLeaks archive are discussed, alongside Secretary of Defense Robert Gates' reaction to the security breach.

A segment from "Nova ScienceNow" demonstrates the erasure of long-term memories in rats using a chemical called ZIP. By injecting ZIP into the rat's hippocampus, researchers were able to make the animal completely forget a "shock zone" it had previously learned to avoid. The rat retained its ability to learn new information, but the specific targeted memory was permanently deleted.

The discussion of the ZIP chemical (an inhibitor of Protein Kinase M zeta) leads to speculation about its applications in human mind control and the erasure of traumatic events. The hosts connect this research to historical CIA studies on psychological manipulation. They jokingly suggest the chemical could be used to make people forget political scandals or personal indiscretions.