Critical Nonsense

Why is observation so powerful? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about particle physics, quarks, the emergence of consciousness and the breakdown of the bicameral mind, Santa, personal identity, and sportsball. They don’t talk about a Semi-Charmed Life. 

references 

• Somebody's Watching Me 
• Schrödinger's cat 
• Charm and strange 
• Hawthorne effect 

What are the things that best represent the United States of America to you? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about dentures, cultural preferences, all-you-can-eat buffets, shared things, Super Soakers, and Shark Tank. They don’t talk about white supremacy, sexual predators or gun violence. 

references 

• The New York Times: Welcome to My Museum of America 
• Mashed: The Untold History Of All-You-Can-Eat Buffets 
• Flowbee 
• Last Week Tonight: Gas Station Drugs 

What is actually worth waiting in line for? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about froyo, pacing, theme parks, the TSA, the corruption of the Lightning Pass, and underwear. They don’t talk about line dancing. 

references 

• Corrections Department: Gerry Rafferty 
• Plato's Allegory of the Cave 

What should I be affraid of, the robot or the people? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about AI != robots, human extinction, Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon, biological weapons, societal collapse, neuroticism, and increased persistence. They don’t talk about happy things. 

references 

• corporeal 
• AI 2027 
• AI Expert Tells Bernie: “The Humans will be Discarded” 
• The AI Researcher Who Just Quit Anthropic Says It’s ‘Crunch Time for Humanity’ 
• P(doom) 
• Israeli infiltration of an Iranian nuclear archive 
• Corrections Department: How the three laws of robotics from Isaac Asimov (not Philip K. Dick) impact AI 
• Anthropic: Detecting and countering misuse of AI: September 2026 

What happens when everybody loves something and you don’t? 

This week, Joey and Jess talk about sci-fi, curation, Rotten Tomatoes, autobiographical characters, leaving room for surprises, and fame. They don’t talk about Sweet Pickles books. 

references 

• Hyperion by Dan Simmons 
• The Expanse series 
• Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke 
• Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky 
• Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman 

Is listening to a book the same thing as reading it? If so, why? And if not, why not? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about audiobooks, purity testing, locked-in mode, ADHD, lectures, and celestial orbs. They don’t talk about Mychal Threats. 

references 

• Reading Rainbow 
• Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke 
• Matt Dinniman 
• Variety: Peacock Gives Series Order to ‘Dungeon Crawler Carl’ TV Series From Seth MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door, Chris Yost 

How do you know if something's going to be good to eat by looking at it? 

This week, Jess and Joey talk about grilling, cheesesteaks, coffee, the burden of knowledge, authenticity, and mangoes. They don’t talk about Drunken shrimp. 

references 

• Air Bud 
• Smithsonian: Why Did Van Halen Demand Concert Venues Remove Brown M&M’s From the Menu? 
• NYT Cooking: Bowen Yang Teaches Matt Rogers How to Cook Mapo Tofu 
• Maillard reaction 

When is there too much branding? 

This week, Aaron, Jess, and Joey talk about Arctic Glacier, private equity, Bala Cynwyd, apps, Sonic pellets, and water ice. They don’t talk about Redd Foxx. 

references 

• Zootropolis 2 
• Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania 
• How to Make Clear Ice at Home 
• What Exactly Is Philadelphia's Beloved Water Ice? 

When is a review worthwhile? 

This week, Aaron and Joey talk about IGN, reviews as entertainment, trust and authority, tribunals, and RuPaul's Drag Race. They don’t talk NHL '98. 

references 

• Grape Lady 
• Crimson Desert 
• MOUSE: P.I. For Hire 
• saros roguelike 
• Wikipedia: IGN 
• IGN Reviews 
• American's Test Kitchen The Best Non-Stick Skillets (Subscription Req'd) 
• NPR Podcast: Pop Culture Happy Hour 
• Step Brothers 

What is the best way for you to use the hours of the day? 

This week, Jess and Aaron talk about sleepiness, international travel, school start times, physical harmony, empathy, and small talk. They don’t talk about kākāpōs. 

references 

• The New York Times: What’s Your Sleep Type? 
• Morningness-Eveningness Questionaire [PDF] 
• BBC: The forgotten medieval habit of 'two sleeps' 
• Timeshifter jet lag app 
• American Psychological Association: Schools shift as evidence mounts that later start times improve teens’ learning and well-being 
• Bobby Day - Rockin' Robbin 
• Seal - Fly Like An Eagle