Things get off to a bit of a spicy start when Terry triggers Russ with the mere mention of “specialization.” Measuring progress across a society is hard, but might be slightly easier if you’re measuring the average of all of civilization. Some conclusions are nearly reached, and it becomes clear the guys might not think of themselves as podcast specialists yet.

11m 33s Basemarks and Benchlines

25m 20s Terry: “The general population is further removed from the technology transforming their lives than 30 years ago”

40m 48s There is little question that the internet changes how people think. Some say it’s making us stupid. Socrates insisted that the written word destroys memory and weakens the mind (see Plato’s Phaedrus).

58m 28s Hanlon’s Razor is “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.” Perhaps a depressingly cynical take if you’re an optimist; maybe a more hopeful message if you’re a fatalist?