How do we stop being so pre-emptive?This week, Joey, Aaron, and Jess talk about fear validity, empathy, directness, Minnesota nice, grin-fucking, and the consequences of the public forum. They didn't bless your heart.references* Podcast: You're Wrong About "Cancel Culture" (https://www.buzzsprout.com/1112270/8656464-cancel-culture)* Alex Contell's labor of love: Grain* IGN's Guardians of the Galaxy game review (https://www.ign.com/articles/marvels-guardians-of-the-galaxy-game-review)

What do we want from a dad? And how should companies be held accountable? [44:37]This week, special guest Chandler Saunders joins Joey and Jess to talk about paternity leave, movie dads, inputs and outputs, legal backlash, collateral consequences, and unchecked systems. Sadly, they don’t talk about Sade (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TYv2PhG89A).references* Because we're never gonna dance again ... (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izGwDsrQ1eQ)* Why is the flute a woodwind? (https://woodwindsection.com/why-is-the-flute-a-woodwind/)* Bagpipes are indeed a wind instrument. (https://www.britannica.com/art/bagpipe)* The Ezra Klein Show: Why Adults Lose the ‘Beginner’s Mind’ (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-adults-lose-the-beginners-mind/id1548604447?i=1000517373857)* Mr. Mom* Moana* Fatherhood* Manchester By the Sea* Scenes From a Marriage* Matt Taibbi's Divide* SYLVAIN's Off-White Paper: No. 2: Encoding Organizational Purpose (https://progressbysylvain.co/products/no-2-encoding-organizational-purpose)* Chandler recently in our newsletter, Progress Report: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is (https://progressbysylvain.co/blogs/news/the-newsletter-edition-052#anchor3) (which you can subscribe to for free! (https://mailchi.mp/sylvain.co/progressreport))* Eric Holder's memo on collateral consequences. (https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/criminal-fraud/legacy/2010/04/11/charging-corps.PDF) (PDF)* Vivo

What is a celebration without gifts?

This week, Aaron, Jess, and Joey talk about ongoing gift lists, gift paralysis, better wish lists, the curiosity of good gift-giving, "leaving room," and The Instant Present. They don’t talk about the sweet stamp suite available at USPS right now: Star Wars? (https://store.usps.com/store/product/buy-stamps/star-wars-droids-S_577604?gclid=CjwKCAiAp8iMBhAqEiwAJb94z8RIwvl6OJYYQSrmdP76ckbIzxjfsOkviPT5HMHV0jnoPx1G8QD2UxoC7DMQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) Mon Stars? (https://store.usps.com/store/product/buy-stamps/message-monsters-stamps-S_481304)

references

* Once limited edition, could still disappear at any moment: the Critical Nonsense merch store (https://www.bonfire.com/store/criticalnonsense/)

When it comes to digital vigilanteism, what ultimate wages will we have to pay? And how do you feel about mediocrity? [25:37]

This week, Aaron, Joey and Jess talk about rousing public attention, the celebrity amplification effect, the undercurrent of distrust in justice, the fear of being medium, a refrain of the Impressionist problem, and wrestling with workism. They don’t talk about what are party pants.

references

* How Discover Magazine compares the earth to a billiard ball (https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/ten-things-you-dont-know-about-the-earth) (micro-corrections department: it does depend on how you define smoothness) but also comparing earth to a bowling ball (https://what-if.xkcd.com/46/)

* The cost of wrongful accusation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunil_Tripathi) in the Boston Marathon bombing

* Documentary blitz: "I'll Be Gone in the Dark" about Michelle McNamara on HBO Max, "Surviving R. Kelly" is available on Netflix, Hulu, and LIfetime. "The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst" on HBO Max and Hulu, the NYTimes's "Framing Britney Spears" (https://www.nytimes.com/video/NYT-Presents/100000007712697/framing-britney-spears.html), "Don't F**k With Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x41SMm-9-i4) on Netflix.

* The New York Times on the Gabby Petito saga (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/20/style/gabby-petito-case-tiktok-social-media.html)

* On collective action problems (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_action_problem)

* NYTimes: Terry Gross's ingenious "Tell Me About Yourself" (https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/17/style/self-care/terry-gross-conversation-advice.html) and other tips for having good conversation

How come we're now calling this time of year "Spooky Season"? And what makes a Halloween costume special? [29:44]

This week, special guest and SYLVAIN Halloween expert Xahra Gilbert joins Joey and Jess to talk about candy corn, Cuffing Season, Fill-in-the-Blank Season, Halloween costumes, recognizability vs. the exclusive club of getting it, and facial contouring. Thankfully, they don’t talk about Korn.

references

* Slate: When Did This Time of Year Become “Spooky Season”? (https://slate.com/human-interest/2021/10/spooky-season-phrase-halloween-history.html)

* Last Week Tonight's And Now This: Halloween vs. Local News, 2020 Edition (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qKuqQUInz8) (Nailed it!)

* Reply All podcast on Adrian's Kickback (https://gimletmedia.com/shows/reply-all/xjh98n4)

* Also, what in the hell is a "kickback" anyway? (https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=kickback)

* While we're at it, "Cuffing Season" (https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Cuffing%20Season)?

* The Gospel According to Fabo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUzh-9PyD4E)

* For the Golden Girls fans among us: The Best of Stan Zbornak (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SHjyR1dgAY)

* Pretty Woman shopping scene

* Corrections Department: Ocean Spray longboard guy video was indeed from last year

* Corrections Department: Hawai'i became a state in 1959 (https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/hawaii-becomes-50th-state)

* College Humor: Girls's Costume Warehouse (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4rUiV_Hh74)

* David Lindsay-Abaire's Rabbit Hole and his famous Halloween House in Brooklyn (https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/brooklyn-halloween-house-ditmas-park-2021-photos)

How do we teach each other how to relinquish our power?This week, Aaron, Joey and Jess return to topic of relinquishing power from Critical Nonsense Episode 124 (https://www.thisisnonsense.com/episodes/2021/5/18/124-power-pain-and-progress) and talk about DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion), loss aversion vs. creation, collective amplification, looking beyond recruiting, allyship, and collaboration. They don’t talk about Aaron's dentist.references* "Drogba (Joanna)" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YqecbxSr4A), where Afro B wonders why Joanna is playing him (https://www.power106.com/2019/07/31/afro-b-explains-who-joanna-is-says-he-has-collabs-w-ashanti-akon-otw/) like Didier Drogba (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Didier_Drogba), the superstar soccer/football player and mega-icon from Afro B's home country, Côte d'Ivoire.* Aaron in Quartz: We need antiheroes in the boardroom to spark progress in the workplace (https://qz.com/work/2066650/how-business-leaders-can-give-up-personal-power-to-spark-change/)* Psychology Today: What Is Loss Aversion? (https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/science-choice/201803/what-is-loss-aversion)* Forbes: How Diversity And Innovation Drive Great Cultures In The Future Of Work (https://www.forbes.com/sites/nataliapeart/2021/03/17/how-diversity-and-innovation-drive-great-cultures-in-the-future-of-work/?sh=5fb0137d3f9b)* McKinsey's report on women in the workplace (https://wiw-report.s3.amazonaws.com/Women_in_the_Workplace_2021.pdf)* Harper's Bazaar: The Diversity and Inclusion Industry Has Lost Its Way (https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a35915670/the-diversity-and-inclusion-industry-has-lost-its-way/)* Trixie Mattel (https://trixiemattel.com/) and Katya Zamolodchikova (https://welovekatya.com/)

What does it say about us that we have this love/hate relationships with institutions but never want to follow through disrupting them? And how do we all figure out the same rules for naming things at the exact same time? [29:29]

This week, Jess and Aaron talk about Ozy, sparkling water, astrophysics, the current rules of naming, creating and erasing tethers, and Black names. They don’t talk about what baby names nerf herders prefer.

references

* Like Ra-i-ain (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jne9t8sHpUc)

* NYT's DealBook: Balancing Honesty and Optimism in Silicon Valley (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/02/business/dealbook/ozy-eric-ries.html)

* The New York Times: Let Me Tell You What It Was Like to Work at Ozy (https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/07/opinion/ozy-carlos-watson.html)

* Revisiting previous episodes of Critical Nonsense, including Episode 119 (https://www.thisisnonsense.com/episodes/2021/4/6/119-disintegrating-institutions-and-tech-ambivalence) on institutions, Episode 103 (https://www.thisisnonsense.com/episodes/2020/11/16/103-repairing-lifes-leaky-faucets) on Joey wanting to fix things, and Episode 139 (https://www.thisisnonsense.com/episodes/2021/9/7/139-teenage-girl-power-and-sharing-names) on sharing names.

* The Science of Sameness (https://www.psychologicalscience.org/observer/the-science-of-sameness)

* The Lindy effect (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindy_effect)

* A brief history of black names, from Perlie to Latasha (https://news.osu.edu/a-brief-history-of-black-names-from-perlie-to-latasha/)

* Salon: What's up with black names, anyway? (https://www.salon.com/2008/08/25/creative_black_names/)

* Insider: 'Distinctively Black names' still get fewer callbacks for job applications (https://www.businessinsider.com/racial-discrimination-the-job-market-study-black-names-applications-2021-7)

* BBC: Does a baby's name affect its chances in life? (https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26634477)

Why do we need to be 100% in on everything? And what do you want the future of cities to be? [22:19]

This week, Joey and Jess talk about social media likes, consumed-content as identity, Ryan Reynolds, urban density, crisis-inspired city experimentation, and Retrofuturism. They don’t talk about how much more Michael likes semifreddos than he does whole Fredos.

references

* Dudes Posting Their W’s (https://twitter.com/DudespostingWs/status/1443606757151068163?s=20)

* Revisiting Critical Nonsense #121 (https://www.thisisnonsense.com/episodes/2021/4/20/121-the-coming-out-gauntlet-and-thick-conversations), when we last talked about Tressie McMillan Cottom and thick conversations

* California passes SB8 to fight the state's housing crisis (https://www.gov.ca.gov/2021/09/16/governor-newsom-signs-historic-legislation-to-boost-californias-housing-supply-and-fight-the-housing-crisis/)

* Answers With Joe: NEOM: City Of The Future or $600 Billion Stunt? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVmy1uWiQsI)

* More from Joe: How Tall Can We Build? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkMWb_8IiB4)

* Squamish Nation's Hong Kong-density housing development (https://twitter.com/IDoTheThinking/status/1443636143707222019)

* The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Chicago_Fire)

* More about Retrofuturism (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retrofuturism)

* Critical Nonsense Sound Engineer and Extraordinary Gentleman Alex Contell's Grain documentary

* CN Ice Cream Division is smitten on Smitten (https://www.smittenicecream.com/)

* Semifreddo (https://www.seriouseats.com/how-to-make-semifreddo)

How should we be viewing research in a world where social scientists are going through a replication crisis? And what do our childhood favorites reveal about us today as adults? [32:57]

This week, Joey and Aaron talk about evaluating research, truthiness, Game of Thrones, intense interest, dinosaurs, and persistent preferences. They don’t talk about Diplo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5Qn996xjGo).

references

* Vox on the replication crisis (https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/21504366/science-replication-crisis-peer-review-statistics)

* Maesters? (https://awoiaf.westeros.org/index.php/Maesters)

* Live Science: Trains, Dolls and Dinosaurs: Why Do Kids Get Obsessed? (https://www.livescience.com/55492-why-kids-have-obsessions.html)

Do we even need etiquette anymore? And what are the rules around decorating for the holidays? [28:25]

This week, special guest Hannah Jegart joins Jess and Joey to talk about conscientiousness vs. responsibility, policing behavior, who makes the rules, wreaths, self-designated holidays, and decorating indoors. They talk a lot about soup, but they don’t talk about what's wrong with the soup (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3jx4WIUYy4)!

references

* Whatever tomorrow brings, Brandon Boyd will be there (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgT9zGkiLig).

* Emily Post Etiquette, a family business since 1922 (https://emilypost.com/)

* "Symbology" (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/symbology) is indeed a word.

* Do you remember the ... er ... 25th of December?

* Boys becoming men, men becoming wolves (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gCj62KHG0g)

* Where's the Spoon? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dInnbQrYVhQ)

* A-ha! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c53Ii4irZY)