ORLY-EP0121 - DNC Platform Wrap and Back to Normal

ORLY-EP0121 -  DNC Platform Recap, And back to a  “normal” show.

Welcome to ORLYRADIO #121 recorded Friday August 5th, 2016 - where we dismantle the current events for your edutainment through mostly rational conversations that make you go ‘Oh Really’! I’m your host Andy Cowen, with my usual suspects, Stephen Griffith, and David O’Connor.

Audience Feedback From Previous Shows:

We make mistakes. Please, if you find one, pause the podcast, and send us a note. orlyradiopodcast@gmail.com or phone it in 470-222-6759

Potpourri: Guests/Rants/Etc:

Democratic Wrap up, takeaways...

• No real gotchas - if you are liberally and socially progressive, in fact there are some great things on that front. Policing the police, Reforming mandatory sentencing, closing private prisons, and generally being science minded about many things. There was copious pandering, or swaying if if comes to pass, to the Berni-crats. Most of his campaign stump speeches was seen throughout the document. Each section reiterated at least something towards that camp.

• Race relations, gender disparity, civil rights, voters protections, Native/Indigenous Americans and Tribal law, LGBT (sorry no QIA), fixing the broken immigration system, climate change - all had their paragraphs and positive notes of encouragement.

• There was a little bit of privatization pandering to religious institutions rather than corporate america, calling on support for AmeriCorps. But on the bright side, strengthening our education systems, including student debt.

• And while on Education, the platform adds the A to STEM, So Democrats believe in Science,. Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics.

• The Agriculture industry was mentioned in continuing financial aid, while also backhanding them with increased EPA worker protections. Unions and collective bargaining are heavily supported and eluded to by the platform

• Families who depend on programs like SNAP and WIC would not have to worry about those social programs being pulled.

• Generally towing the Obama line and continuing his legacy in every avenue and likely advancing it where he was unable to, like the ACA, the party states on page 34, that they are in favor of universal healthcare, not the stop gap that the Obamacare was. IN this section, both mental health and autism care received recognition as a commitment bullet point. Even planned parenthood was supported. This is a pro-choice platform.

• The national motto actually made an appearance, E Pluribus Unum, rather than just the Christian Nation crowd that we saw on the GOP side.

• Gun violence is also a platform line items.

• They want to audit the Pentagon in an effort to reduce defense spending in a smart manner rather than an arbitrary figure.

• Though as to the middle east, we will continue to pour dollars and blood into the region to combat isis and reign in Iran’s attempts to eliminate Israel.

• One thing to really note, in rough numbers, about a third of the document pandered or said very little or repeated itself. Another third was comparisons and what they believe in. The last third, plans on how to accomplish goals. Not set in stone and codified into law, but just like Bernie's platform, there was a way to do it all listed in the platform.

•  

Science Bitches!  

1. http://www.thedrive.com/news/3208/uc-irvine-accidentally-invents-a-battery-that-lasts-forever

2. http://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-develop-a-new-vaccine-that-could-reverse-dementia-and-alzheimer-s

3. http://nber.org/papers/w22170 The Effect of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansions on Financial Well-Being
   We find that the Medicaid expansions significantly reduced the number of unpaid bills and the amount of debt sent to third-party collection agencies among those residing in zip codes with the highest share of low income, uninsured individuals. Our estimates imply a reduction in collection balances of around $600 to $1,000 among those who gain Medicaid coverage due to the ACA. Our findings suggest that the ACA Medicaid expansions had important financial impacts beyond health care use.

4. http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-36855705 - Adamantium is now a thing.

Law & Order:

1. http://www.scotusblog.com/2016/08/court-enters-at-least-temporarily-the-fray-over-transgender-rights/ The U.S. Supreme Court stepped into the dispute between a Virginia school board and a transgender student who identifies as a boy.  In June, a federal district court in Virginia ordered the Gloucester County School Board to allow “G.G.” to use the boys’ bathroom at Gloucester High School until the case can be fully litigated.  A federal appeals court turned down the school board’s request to halt the district court’s order, so the school board went to the Supreme Court, where it found more success:  today the Court blocked the district court’s order while the school board seeks Supreme Court review of the dispute.  Today’s action means that “G.G.” will not be able to use the boys’ bathroom when school resumes on September 6; it also suggests that four Justices – the number needed to review a case on the merits – could be willing to take the case on, possibly as soon as this fall.

2. Transgender woman robs bank, hands out cash, so she can return to jail http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2016/08/transgender-woman-robs-bank-hands-cash-can-return-jail/

Good Ideas:

1. A Unitarian Universalist church is suing the town of Bedford, Massachusetts for denying a request to install solar panels on its property, arguing that authorities are infringing on the congregation’s right to express their religious belief in clean energy solutions. http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2016/08/03/3804896/unitarian-universalist-solar-panels-religious-liberty/

2. A Tesla Semi. Here's Musk at the Tesla Blog, "In addition to consumer vehicles, there are two other types of electric vehicle needed: heavy-duty trucks and high passenger-density urban transport. Both are in the early stages of development at Tesla and should be ready for unveiling next year. We believe the Tesla Semi will deliver a substantial reduction in the cost of cargo transport, while increasing safety and making it really fun to operate."

Bad Ideas:

1. Giving Trump the football. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O13kaQAg5KE http://www.vox.com/2016/8/3/12367996/donald-trump-nuclear-codes

2. Nuke Map!  http://nuclearsecrecy.com/nukemap/

Personal Picks:

• Andy’s: Soylent 2.0https://www.soylent.com/

• Stephen’s: Sades A60 headset:  http://amzn.to/2axdUDw

• David’s: MSA Sordin Supreme BASIC with AUX Input and grey Leather-Band SOR75301 - Electronic Earmuff Defenders Hearing Protection http://amzn.to/2b5MQ0y

Acknowledgements:

Music: "Rocket and Pamgaea” by Kevin MacLeod (www.incompetech.com)

ORly Radio Show 73 - Google Alphabet, Ice Bucket Challenge, Flamethrowers, & Rape Babies.

ORly Radio Show 73 - Google Alphabet, Ice Bucket Challenge, Flamethrowers, & Rape Babies.

Welcome to ORly Radio Show 73 for Friday August 14th, 2015 - where we dismantle the current events for your edutainment through mostly rational conversations that make you go ‘Oh Really’! I’m your host Andy Cowen with my usual suspects, Michael Robinson!

Errata From Last Week: We make mistakes. Please, if you find one, pause the podcast, and send us a note. orlyradiopodcast@gmail.com or phone it in 470-222-6759  

Trump, even though he was misogynistic, unapologetic and combative to the other GOP hopefuls, continues to strike a disturbing chord among the voters and had a surge in the polls after the debates. I'm disappointed in you America. You should feel bad.

RANT Segments & Headlines:

• Republican Presidential Hopeful Carly Fiorina went full on on the record at a town hall event in Alden, Iowa favoring the religious liberty excuse to not vaccinate your children, stating, “When you have highly communicable diseases where you have a vaccine that’s proven, like measles or mumps, then I think a parent can make that choice," and continued with a rational statement "—but then I think a school district is well within their rights to say: 'I'm sorry, your child cannot then attend public school.' and continued to dig the hole judging that she doesn't think public schools should be able to make such judgment calls when it comes to "more esoteric immunizations." Like HPV. http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2015/08/13/carly_fiorina_and_vaccinations_pro_parental_choice_pro_measles.html

• Republican presidential hopeful Jeb Bush, on Thursday, declined to rule out resuming the use of torture under some circumstances by the U.S. government. "I don't want to make a definitive, blanket kind of statement," Bush told an audience of Iowa Republicans, when asked whether he would keep in place or repeal President Barack Obama's executive order banning so-called enhanced interrogation techniques by the CIA. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/c6b2d8e1fc9548c68a9778bba20d3bf8/jeb-bush-leaves-door-open-use-torture

• Texas Is Now The ONLY State With Uninsured Rate Above 20% http://www.occupydemocrats.com/obamacare-wins-texas-is-now-the-only-state-with-uninsured-rate-above-20/

• Republican Presidential Hopeful  Rick Perry still think s Texas will win him an election.

• HAVANA (AP) — Jubilant crowds waved American flags and chanted "Long live the United States!" as the Stars and Stripes rose over the newly reopened U.S. Embassy in Cuba on Friday after a half-century of often-hostile relations. Secretary of State John Kerry celebrated the day but also made an extraordinary, nationally broadcast call for democratic change on the island. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/cb2598db6f0f4bbf910bda0308b05ef8/top-us-diplomat-flies-cuba-new-policy-victory-lap

• BRUSSELS (AP) — Finance ministers of the 19-nation euro single currency group on Friday approved the first 26 billion euros ($29 billion) of a vast new bailout package to help rebuild Greece's shattered economy. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/a1bb0929859a4862b0fc37be4a0eaa64/greece-all-night-debate-new-bailout

• NASA reports this was the hottest July on record. So we are now in “bet the mortgage” territory that 2015 will be the hottest year in NASA’s 125-year temperature record. http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/08/14/3691940/hottest-july-hottest-year-record/

• The War on Christmas has already had shots fired after last years ceasefire on December 25th when no one cared. Now a concerned citizen in Belen New Mexico has asked the Freedom From Religion Foundation to ask the city to move the nativity scene off of government land. Fox and Friends and the Mayor of the city went berzerk. More to follow as we head towards the silly season. http://www.salon.com/2015/08/14/fox_news_has_completely_lost_its_mind_its_august_14_and_elizabeth_hasselbeck_is_freaking_out_about_the_war_on_christmas/

• Google will now be under a parent company called Alphabet in a restructuring of the tech giant's business operations.  The Google moniker and web experience will remain the same, but some ventures that were under the Google umbrella will be placed under Alphabet instead with a CEO running each business unit.
  Larry Page will serve as CEO of Alphabet, with fellow Google co-founder Sergey Brin as president. In a blog post announcing the change, Page said that Google is "operating well today, but we think we can make it cleaner and more accountable."
  Sundar Pichai, who has effectively been leading Google's day-to-day operations, will step into the CEO role.
  Google's move under the Alphabet umbrella won't affect traders. Google shares will convert into Alphabet shares, though they will continue to trade on NASDAQ as GOOGL and GOOG. http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/google-now-umbrella-company-called-alphabet/story?id=32998419

• Alphabet’s website is abc.xyz because Alphabet.com is owned by Alphabet, a BMW-owned fleet management service. Even though only a few people had ever heard of BMW’s Alphabet before, the company clearly isn’t going to let all of this free publicity just sit there unconverted.
  BMW’s Alphabet had a little bit of fun with Google and posted its own version of the Google alphabet. The tagline: Because Alphabet is more than a name to us. Follow the link to see the A-Z of BMW’s Alphabet. http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/12/bmw-alphabet-is-more-than-a-name-to-us/#.jecrph:nxCv

-BREAK- GSoW - PSA

The Good:

1. You remember the ALS Ice Bucket challenge, don’t you? it was a crazy social media campaign to bring awareness and fundraising for medical research into amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or, as it’s more commonly known, Lou Gherig’s Disease.  In a paper recently published by a team from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, researchers believe they have made a significant leap forward in understanding one of the major mysteries of ALS (in brief, the team has identified the role of the TDP-43 protein, and how it manifests in both healthy and diseased cells.) In and of itself, the research is too technical to have likely made waves outside the medical research field. However, as Johns Hopkins graduate student and paper co-author Jonathan Ling explained in a recent Reddit AMA, this breakthrough can be directly traced back to the outpouring of interest, and money, from the ice bucket challenge… ...Much of the money raised by the ice bucket challenge is only now beginning to be felt in the research community, as the ALS Association has spent a large part of the past year working to properly allocate the $100 million that they received during the past summer (as compared to the $3 million that they received in the summer prior.)  http://magazine.good.is/articles/als-ice-bucket-challenge-results

-BREAK- Fallacy https://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/genetic

The Bad:

1. Flamethrowers, given up by military, are now being sold to the public by a Cleveland startup called Throwflame for about $1,600 The flamethrowers are marketed not as weapons, but as fun devices. "We always have the people who just want it for fun. Impress the neighbors at the BBQ," said Throwflame founder Quinn Whitehead. http://money.cnn.com/2015/08/13/smallbusiness/flamethrowers-public-sale/index.html

2. In related news, The number of registered silencers surged 38% from last year to 792,282 in February 2015, according to the most recent figures from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. There were 571,750 licenses in March 2014.  "It's getting to be more mainstream," said Josh Waldron, CEO of SilencerCo, which makes and sells silencers. http://money.cnn.com/2015/07/30/news/companies/gun-silencer-sales-up/index.html

3. And in the wayback machine, February 18, 2013: Fargo, ND – Local resident Todd Fox has been detained for “reckless endangerment” and “illegal use of high-powered fire-breathing weaponry” for attacking snow with his flamethrower. Fox reportedly became so fed up with the week-long blowing snow epidemic in his area that he decided to KILL IT WITH FIRE. http://neighborshame.com/fargo-man-arrested-clearing-snow-flamethrower/

-BREAK- Voicemail

The Ugly:

1. Denied Abortion, 11-year-old Rape Victim Gives Birth - Three other girls, all aged 12, are due to give birth in coming weeks. http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/denied-abortion-11-year-old-rape-victim-gives-birth

Entertainment/Reviews/(Nit)Picks
Andy’s: OneNote for all platforms http://www.onenote.com/
Michael’s: Fallout Shelter https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bethsoft.falloutshelter&hl=en

Acknowledgements:
Music: "Rocket and Pamgaea” by Kevin MacLeod (www.incompetech.com)
PSA: Guerrilla Skepticism on Wikipedia - GSoW https://www.facebook.com/GSoWproject

ORly Radio Show 53 - Send in the Clowns

ORly Radio Show 53 for Friday April 10th, 2015 - Send in the Clowns

Hosts: Andy & the Usual Suspects: David and Jess!!!
Music: "Rocket and Pamgaea” by Kevin MacLeod (www.incompetech.com)

Errata From Last Week: We make mistakes. Please, if you find one, pause the podcast, and send us a note. orlyradiopodcast@gmail.com or phone it in 470-222-6759

The Good

1. http://www.popsci.com/aluminum-makes-flexible-fast-charging-batteries-wont-catch-fire

2. http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/california-approves-bill-banning-child-vaccine-exemptions

   1. http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160SB277&search_keywords=

3. http://www.sciencealert.com/world-s-first-head-transplant-volunteer-could-experience-something-worse-than-death

4. http://www.sciencealert.com/lab-grown-burger-patty-cost-drops-from-325-000-to-12

5. GLBT:

   1. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/09/us/politics/obama-to-call-for-end-to-conversion-therapies-for-gay-and-transgender-youth.html

   2. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danthropology/2015/04/president-obama-calls-for-an-end-to-conversion-therapy/

6. CUBA:

   1. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/07/us-cuba-removal-terrorism-sponsor-list

   2. http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/tourism/tourism-central-florida-blog/os-orlando-international-airport-cuba-flights-20150409-post.html

7. Activisim: http://www.mintpressnews.com/police-remove-snowden-bust-in-ny-park-hours-later-activists-replace-it-with-snowden-hologram/204134/

8. Terrorist Itch: http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/ISIS-militants-reportedly-being-attacked-by-serious-skin-disease-396336

9. Holy Crap: http://drudgereport.com.co/nancy-reagan-i-want-hillary-to-win/ “,,,Hillary had no interest in running until both Laura and Barbara Bush cornered her at their get-together in May 2013 and talked her into at least thinking about it! So, in a sense, if Mrs. Clinton does run and win, you can blame the Bush family.” - Ron Reagan

The Bad

1. New Texas Bill Would Prevent Bystanders From Recording Cops http://crooksandliars.com/2015/04/new-texas-bill-would-prevent-bystanders

2. Former atheist congressman tells current atheist congressmen to D.A.D.T. http://www.secularism.org.uk/news/2015/04/ex-congressman-tells-atheist-politicians-to-stay-in-the-closet

3. RAND PAUL: 2010 Reminder: http://www.examiner.com/article/rand-paul-concedes-he-will-cut-medicare-and-social-security-to-pay-for-tax-cuts  

4. Paul Meltdown: So far, Paul has hit the 2016 campaign trail and fallen flat on his face.

   1. http://www.vox.com/2015/4/7/8360691/rand-paul-budget-president

   2. http://www.politicususa.com/2015/04/08/paul-presidential-campaign-crashes-burns-rand-melts-today-show.html

   3. http://video.foxnews.com/v/4161841047001/rand-paul-charles-krauthammer-is-just-wrong/?playlist_id=2694949842001#sp=show-clips Andy Has Audio

   4. http://www.politicususa.com/2015/04/10/watch-rand-run-paul-cuts-flees-live-interview-questions-hard.html

5. Right Wing Persecution:

   1. http://www.politicususa.com/2015/04/07/religious-leaders-threaten-rise-up-persecute-gays.html

   2. http://churchandstate.org.uk/2014/12/rick-santorum-separation-of-church-and-state-a-communist-idea-not-an-american-one/

6. Old Bad News: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/09/08/iowa-grants-gun-permits-to-the-blind/2780303/

The Ugly

1. Food:

   1. http://www.break.com/article/taco-bell-will-start-offering-delivery-end-of-the-yea-2843679

   2. http://uproxx.com/webculture/2015/03/soon-you-might-be-able-to-get-mcdonalds-breakfast-all-day-long/

2. Science: http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/apr/05/scientific-truth-genetics-darwin-adam-rutherford
   Our senses and psychology perceive the world in very particular ways that are comically easy to fool.
   We humans are awful at perceiving objective reality. We come with inbuilt preconceptions and prejudices. We’re dreadful at logic, and see patterns in things that are not there, and skip over trends that are. We attribute cause and agency to chance and coincidence, and blame the innocent as the root of all manner of evil. We use the phrase “common sense” as an admirable quality for scrutinising the world in front of us.
   ...it is tricky to challenge someone’s opinion successfully if it is based on their learned experience. But that is exactly what science is for. It is to extract human flaws from reality; it is to set aside the bias that we lug around. Our senses and psychology perceive the world in very particular ways that are comically easy to fool. But the great strength of science is that it recognises the human fallibility that cripples our view of the universe.

   1. Silver lining? http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/04/06/the-science-of-why-you-really-should-listen-to-experts/

3. GREECE:

   1. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/06/greece-puts-figure-of-279bn-on-claim-for-german-reparations

   2. http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/08/germany-divided-over-greek-demand-for-2787bn-in-war-debt?CMP=fb_gu

4. LAW:

   1. Police still shooting people… over and over again. https://thenib.com/surviving-a-police-encounter-308ed3ca3dbb

   2. http://www.wsls.com/story/28770340/california-sheriff-investigates-disturbing-video-of-suspect-being-beaten

   3. http://www.wncn.com/story/28664509/first-woman-in-us-sentenced-for-killing-a-fetus

   4. http://www.addictinginfo.org/2015/04/07/creepy-judge-reduces-pedophiles-sentence-suggests-little-girl-caused-her-own-rape/

5. Environment:

   1. Selling off federal land with a “Spending Neutral reserve fund” - then why? http://indefinitelywild.gizmodo.com/republican-senators-just-voted-to-sell-off-your-nationa-1696862450

Entertainment/Reviews/(Nit)Picks

Andy’s: http://www.chicagotribune.com/bluesky/originals/chi-cards-against-humanity-science-stem-deck-bsi-story.html https://store.cardsagainsthumanity.com/  
Jess: http://sketchypandagames.tumblr.com/. Aberford: a 50’s Housewife Zombie Game!  Kickstarter coming soon!

ORly Radio Show 46 - 2 guys - 1 internet.

ORly Radio Show 46 for Friday February 20th, 2015 - 2 guys - 1 internet.

Hosts: Andy & the Usual Suspect: David!!!
Music: "Rocket and Pamgaea” by Kevin MacLeod (www.incompetech.com)

Science / Technology / Politics

Item: Remember back on Show 40 when we talked about birds flying into the worlds largest Solar Thermal Power Project residing in california was turned on February 13th 2014? Well then this NEW story should sound really familiar.
“110-megawatt Crescent Dunes Solar Energy Project in Nevada resulted in some 130 birds catching fire, when they flew into an area of highly concentrated solar energy.”
URLs: http://www.kcet.org/news/redefine/rewire/solar/concentrating-solar/scores-of-birds-killed-during-test-of-solar-project-in-nevada.html
http://www.orlyradio.com/orly-radio-podcast/2015/1/9/orly-radio-show-40-no-religion-required
Item: Unwanted tattoos may soon be wiped away with a new and inexpensive cream.
URLs: http://www.dal.ca/news/2015/02/11/when--forever--fades-but-the-ink-stays--dal-phd-student-develops.html
Item: HIV Vaccine tests go live in South Africa Sponsored by NIH
URLs: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/news/newsreleases/2015/Pages/HVTN100.aspx

Humanities / Religion/ Politics

Item: Oklahoma takes separation of Church and State in it’s school and breaks it over their legislative knee.
URLs: http://guff.com/ap-us-history-course-may-be-replaced-by-christian-propaganda/20?ts_pid=2
URLs: http://thinkprogress.org/education/2015/02/18/3624062/oklahoma-bill-banning-ap-us-history-make-students-study-ten-commandments-3-speeches-reagan/
Item: Churches bemoan lack of freedom to deny freedom of choice to parishioners regarding birth control.
URLs: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/court-mandated-birth-control-religion

Politics / Humanities / Politics

Item: Republicans aim to rig game amid fears that the filibuster they abused for six years will soon be used on them.
URLs: http://www.politicususa.com/2015/02/12/years-obstructing-obama-republicans-outlaw-senate-filibusters.html
URLs: http://www.politicususa.com/2014/05/17/senate-republicans-hit-time-blocking-bill-unanimously-supported.html
Item: Texas is bigger in every way except when it comes to Freedom to Marry. MERCA!
URLs: http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/breaking_texas_attorney_general_says_same_sex_couple_s_marriage_is_void
http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/texas_county_judge_strikes_down_same_sex_marriage_ban_in_heartbreaking_case

Potpourri / Politics / Flotsam & Jetsam

Item: Oklahoma Bill Banning AP US History Would Make Students Study Ten Commandments, 3 Speeches By Reagan
URLs: http://thinkprogress.org/education/2015/02/18/3624062/oklahoma-bill-banning-ap-us-history-make-students-study-ten-commandments-3-speeches-reagan/
Item: Florida Minister Wants To Convert Robots To Christianity
URLs: http://www.liberalamerica.org/2015/02/14/florida-minister-wants-to-convert-robots-to-christianity/

Oh, Florida...

Item: Florida Passes Plan For Racially-Based Academic Goals (Old story, but making the rounds)
URLs: http://tampa.cbslocal.com/2012/10/12/florida-passes-plan-for-racially-based-academic-goals/
Item: Florida woman leaves 3 year old in liquor store to help boyfriend who had shot himself.
URLs: http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20150219/APN/302199807