The episode where you get to know us on camera as we reintroduce ourselves and unveil our beautiful deck space studio. We may battle a few mosquitos, wind and lawn blowers along the way but we love our new spot and can’t wait to show it off. Then we turn our attention to the rise of charging station rage incidents stemming from the lack of electrical charging stations in the UK. Is charge rage coming to a power station near you? With the power grid on life support in California and electric cars being pushed from every direction, are EVs both a green activist’s dream and a consumer nightmare? At some point, will rare earth Mongolian tailings ponds and lithium battery “recycling” catch up with us? FlexAlert, anyone?

Don’t forget to like and subscribe!!

Find the video version of this podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8h8UL7UjF14QiIcsyYiHnQ

And let us know your thoughts in the comments and share us with your friends! We are always in the mood for some spirited debate.

Intro and outro music by Holizna

Links for further review:

Not So “Green” Technology: The Complicated Legacy of Rare Earth Mining - https://hir.harvard.edu/not-so-green-technology-the-complicated-legacy-of-rare-earth-mining/

Which EV Cars are the Most Popular: See the Data by County - https://sfstandard.com/2023/05/12/california-electric-car-market-share-zero-emission-vehicles-tesla/

In this episode we discuss the current state of “experts” in America.  What exactly is an expert by today’s standards?  We define the term “expert” and go deeper into the issue by examining the role that experts serve in the present day, especially with regard to the recent pandemic.  Can experts be trusted or did we lose all trust after so many experts got it wrong?  And does not trusting experts make you anti-intellectual?  But first we revisit a 70s TV show and discuss the best of British mystery shows.  We conclude our episode with a deep dive into the pros and cons (mostly cons) of tipping in the modern era – where everyone in line behind you can see whether or not you’re a good tipper. Should we be peer pressured into tipping?

Recorded January 2023, released September 30, 2023

Timestamps:  

(0:00-1:58) - Reflection and Intro

(1:59-23:29) - Our newest TV Show Reviews.

(23:30-1:34:54) – Do we care about experts?

(1:34:55-1:58:18) – Modern tipping on the annoying screens where everyone can see you.

All Creatures Great and Small - https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/shows/all-creatures-great-and-small/

America’s Political War Against Science and Experts - https://raywilliams.ca/americas-political-war-science-experts/

‘Had enough of experts?’ Anti-intellectualism is linked to voters’ support for movements that are skeptical of expertise - https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/usappblog/2017/08/30/had-enough-of-experts-anti-intellectualism-is-linked-to-voters-support-for-movements-that-are-skeptical-of-expertise/

Starsky and Hutch - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starsky_%26_Hutch

The Anti-Expert Pandemic - https://harvardpolitics.com/anti-expert-pandemic/

The Dukes of Hazard - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dukes_of_Hazzard

The Rise of Experts - https://issues.org/the-rise-of-the-experts/

Tipping Is Out of Control. Here Are the New Rules. https://www.outsideonline.com/adventure-travel/advice/new-rules-for-tipping/

The episode where we discuss the sad state of customer service in America.  On any given day the hotel may lose your reservation, or the wait staff may never refill your water let alone show up to take your order.  What’s happening with the service industry? Is it all in our heads or is there something more insidious going on.  But first we discuss a familiar list of annoying words.  Are you sick of these words too?  And then we revisit the familiar old classic TV show Columbo.  And stay tuned to the end for our opinion on a newly minted weather term.    

Recorded January 2023, released September 15, 2023

Timestamps:

(0:00-1:16) – Reflection and Intro

(1:17-10:04) – More on banned and annoying words.

(10:05—23:38) – A new reason to watch Columbo.

(23:39-1:28:14) – How terrible is customer service?

(1:29:15-1:49:50) – Erin’s customer service debacle.

(1:49:51-1:57:20) – A brand new weather term, the Atmospheric River.  

Columbo corrections: Gene Barry not George Barry and released on NBC not ABC.

Links for further review:

All Southwest Flights Were Temporarily Grounded Today—What Happened? - https://www.afar.com/magazine/all-southwest-airline-flights-grounded-today-what-happened

Banished Words - https://www.lssu.edu/traditions/banishedwords/

Columbo - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbo

Customer Experience Vs. Customer Service Vs. Customer Care - https://www.forbes.com/sites/blakemorgan/2018/03/05/customer-experience-vs-customer-service-vs-customer-care/?sh=794534f94167

Customer Service Is In Decline – Here Is What Businesses Are Doing About It -https://www.cxtoday.com/contact-centre/customer-service-is-in-decline-here-is-what-businesses-are-doing-about-it/

FAA Grounded Flights. Here’s What Happened And What Travelers Can Do –https://www.forbes.com/sites/geoffwhitmore/2023/01/11/faa-grounded-flights-heres-what-happened-and-what-travelers-can-do/?sh=2cee5dd5745d

Forrester’s US 2022 Customer Experience Index: Nearly 20% Of Brands See Drop In Customer Experience Quality - https://www.forrester.com/press-newsroom/forrester-us-2022-customer-experience-index/?utm_source=pocket_saves

Raring to Go - https://grammarist.com/usage/raring-to/

THE DECLINE IN CUSTOMER SERVICE: A SIGN OF THE TIMES? - https://exovations.com/blog/the-decline-in-customer-service-a-sign-of-the-times?

What is an Atmospheric River? - https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/09/weather/what-is-an-atmospheric-river-xpn/index.html

The episode where we discuss the vast and winding subject of homelessness.  It really is a large subject and we only scratch the surface in this extended episode.  Nonetheless, we would not do the subject justice if we didn’t touch on all of the facets of this terrible and devastating epidemic that is facing our nation, especially California and a handful of other states.  We talk about mental illness, chronic homelessness, available services, housing first and many other topics under the homelessness umbrella.  But first, because we like to ease our way into deeper issues, we start with Iphone talk and green vs. blue texts and then move into a heartwarming movie review.  We finish with Goblin Mode, a phrase everyone should know so they are sure to avoid it for themselves.

Do you have more to say on these topics? Follow our free feed on Substack and join the conversation. And please share us with your friends on all of your socials!

Recorded December 19, 2022, released March 31, 2023

Timestamps:

(0-4:09) - Reflection and intro

(4:10-14:12) - Can Erin figure out her Iphone and green vs. blue text messages.

(14:13-19:42) - Another heartwarming movie review. Put this one on your list for Christmas 2023.

(19:43-1:40:48) - Homelessness

(1:40:49 - 1:53:38) - Goblin mode and fake words

Links for further review:

A Christmas Memory - find on YouTube for free.

A Rising Tally of Lonely Deaths on the Streets - https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/18/us/homeless-deaths-los-angeles.html?utm_source=pocket_reader

California Clears More Than 1,250 Homeless Encampments in 12 Months -https://www.gov.ca.gov/2022/08/26/california-clears-more-than-1250-homeless-encampments-in-12-months/

Family Assistance Ministries - https://www.family-assistance.org/services?utm_source=pocket_reader

Florida homeless population numbered 28,328 last year, study finds -https://www.thecentersquare.com/florida/florida-homeless-population-numbered-28-328-last-year-study-finds/article_171c4698-5083-11eb-bd47-e75ef36605ca.html?

Homelessness in California: Causes and Policy Considerations - https://siepr.stanford.edu/publications/policy-brief/homelessness-california-causes-and-policy-considerations?utm_source=pocket_reader

Homelessness is lethal’: US deaths among those without housing are surging -https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/feb/07/homelessness-is-lethal-deaths-have-risen-dramatically?

Living on the Streets of L.A. - https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/02/homeless-koreatown-unhoused-people-los-angeles-community.html?

National Homeless Mortality Overview - https://nhchc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Section-1-Toolkit.pdf?

Point-in-Time Count and Housing Inventory Count - https://www.hudexchange.info/programs/hdx/pit-hic/

Sacramento could obligate homeless residents to accept shelter under mayor’s ‘right-to-housing’ ordinance - https://www.capradio.org/articles/2021/11/15/sacramento-could-obligate-homeless-residents-to-accept-shelter-under-mayors-right-to-housing-ordinance/

Shelters and Emergency Housing: California - https://www.hud.gov/states/california/homeless/shelters?

Slobbing out and giving up: why are so many people going ‘goblin mode’? - https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/mar/14/slobbing-out-and-giving-up-why-are-so-many-people-going-goblin-mode?

South County Collaborative Homeless Services Outreach -https://www.friendshipshelter.org/_files/ugd/f6cb56_b63ad38114064230b56c363874539f85.pdf?

State of Homelessness in California Fact Sheet - https://socialinnovation.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Homelessness-in-CA-Fact-Sheet-v3.pdf?

Who is Experiencing Homelessness in California? - https://calbudgetcenter.org/resources/who-is-experiencing-homelessness-in-california/?

Why some iMessage texts are blue and some are green - https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/why-some-imessage-texts-are-blue-and-some-are-green/

Today we dive into the first of our monthly current event episodes.  This is where we scour the internet and other important news sources for interesting and relevant headlines.  One might argue that not everything we cover is newsworthy but we believe there is relevance in the tiny corners of modern culture because it shapes what we see in the news. 

Do you have more to say on these topics? Follow our free feed on Substack and join the conversation. And please share us with your friends on all of your socials! Let’s get the word out.

Recorded March 13, 2023, released March 17, 2023

Timestamps:

(2:34 - 11:00) Oscars and modern day Hollywood

(11:01 - 13:35) Operation Fortune Review

(13:36 - 20:24) Will Smith Saga

(20:24 - 45:45) Comedians, Chris Rock, Meghan and Harry, the Royals, Woody Harrelson and cartels on the border.

(45:46 -1:07:46) SVB

(1:07:47 - 1:18:05) Beached Whales and Wind Farms

(1:18:06 - 1:35:21) Greta Thunberg, East Palestine and media manipulation

(1:35:22 - 1:48:13) Jesus Revolution & Asbury Revival

Links for further review:

An unusually high number of whales are washing up on U.S. beaches –https://www.npr.org/2023/02/05/1153922137/dead-whale-strandings

A Timeline of Will, Jada, and August’s Entanglement –                                  https://www.vulture.com/2022/04/will-smith-jada-pinkett-smith-august-alsina-timeline.html

CNBC's Jim Cramer eviscerated for touting Silicon Valley Bank weeks before disastrous collapse - https://www.foxnews.com/media/cnbcs-jim-cramer-eviscerated-touting-silicon-valley-bank-weeks-disastrous-collapse

Companies scramble to meet payroll, pay bills after SVB’s swift failure - https://www.cnbc.com/2023/03/10/silicon-valley-bank-customers-scramble-to-meet-payroll-pay-bills.html

Greta Thunberg reportedly deletes 2018 tweet claiming ‘climate change will wipe out all of humanity’ by 2023 - https://nypost.com/2023/03/15/greta-thunberg-reportedly-deletes-grim-2018-tweet-about-climate-change/

The Aftershocks of the Asbury Revival –  https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2023/03/02/asbury-revival-comes-close

US protesters turn ire on wind farms to explain whale deaths – but where’s the evidence? https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/feb/20/us-protesters-wind-turbines-whale-deaths-evidence

Will Smith–Chris Rock slapping incident – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Smith%E2%80%93Chris_Rock_slapping_incident

Woody Harrelson Sparks Controversy With ‘SNL’ Monologue That Has Elon Musk Calling It A “Good One” - https://deadline.com/2023/02/woody-harrelson-sparks-controversy-snl-monologue-elon-musk-reaction-1235272017/

2016–2023 Humpback Whale Unusual Mortality Event Along the Atlantic Coast - https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/marine-life-distress/2016-2023-humpback-whale-unusual-mortality-event-along-atlantic-coast

We’ve been planning and thinking about this topic for a while – in fact we’ve had about 3 years to think about it.  From friends to family to coworkers, how did Covid impact our everyday relationships?  For many people, relationships will never go back to the way they were before the pandemic.  But why?  What caused the relational rift in our society and can we go back?  But first, Erin’s thoughts on Wakanda Forever – the really good parts and an annoying recurrent story line.  We finish up with Aaron’s first pie baking endeavor.  

Do you have more to say on this topic? Follow our free feed on Substack and join the conversation.

Timestamps:

(0:24-01:24) - Reflection Intro

(1:25-8:31) – Intro discussion on latest happenings and Wakanda Forever.

(8:32-1:16:58) – Covid’s Impact on Relationships

(1:16:59-1:21:50) – Aaron tries to bake a pumpkin pie.

Links for further review:

Friendships end for many reasons, including differences exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic-https://theconversation.com/friendships-end-for-many-reasons-including-differences-exposed-by-the-covid-19-pandemic-182635

Let’s Declare a Pandemic Amnesty – https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/10/covid-response-forgiveness/671879/

Paddle Boarder chased by boat - https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-04-03/paddle-boarder-arrested-in-malibu-after-flouting-coronavirus-closures

Photos: See Eye-Catching Electric Blue Waves on the Southern California Coast - https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/bioluminescence-blue-waves-california-coast-beach-photos/2359338/

What Did COVID Do to Friendship? - https://www.newyorker.com/culture/dept-of-returns/what-did-covid-do-to-friendship

Today we discuss what may seem to be the minor subject of Internet Search.  But is it as minor as we suspect or is there something going on with Internet Search that demands investigation?  We dive into the history of Internet Search, how it started and how searching for a subject today turns up very different results than it did in the mid-1990s.  But first we talk about how grocery store shopping carts help to reveal your true personality and Aaron’s favorite new winter season movie.  Make sure you listen to the end to find out how an internet search almost caused Erin to make a very dumb purchase. 

Timestamps:

(0:24-0:44) - Reflection Intro

(0:45-25:05) - Intro discussion on Aaron’s recommended winter movie, old movies, shopping carts and why Erin needs a new phone.

(25:06-1:23:27) - Internet Search

(1:23:28-1:31:10) - Erin almost makes a ridiculous purchase but is saved by her son.

For further review links:

A Star is Born - http://www.thejudyroom.com/astarisborn.html

Bachelor Mother - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031067/

Climate Change - https://www.google.com/search?q=climate+change&source=hp&ei=CTSJY5P2OdyIkPIPkLmZmAk&iflsig=AJiK0e8AAAAAY4lCGgjoC_iXvZLl5mgry-dkKVx5iB9v&oq=climate+chan&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMYADILCAAQgAQQsQMQgwEyCAgAEIAEELEDMgsIABCABBCxAxCDATILCAAQgAQQsQMQgwEyCAgAEIAEELEDMgsIABCABBCxAxCDATILCAAQgAQQsQMQgwEyCwgAEIAEELEDEIMBMgsIABCABBCxAxCDATILCAAQgAQQsQMQgwE6CAguELEDEIMBOhEILhCABBCxAxCDARDHARDRAzoOCC4QgAQQsQMQxwEQ0QM6BQgAEIAEOgsILhCABBCxAxCDAToICC4QgwEQsQM6CAguEIAEELEDOggIABCxAxCDAToICC4QgAQQ1AI6DggAEIAEELEDEIMBEMkDOgsILhDUAhCxAxCABDoOCC4QgAQQsQMQxwEQrwE6CAgAEIAEEMkDUABY3AtgpBRoAHAAeACAAWuIAfkGkgEEMTEuMZgBAKABAQ&sclient=gws-wiz

A History of Search Engines - https://topofthelist.net/a-history-of-search-engines

Google Caught Manipulating Search Results, Hiding Republican Campaign Web Sites -https://www.lifenews.com/2022/10/25/google-caught-manipulating-search-results-hiding-republican-campaign-web-sites

Himalayan Salt Lamps - https://www.webmd.com/balance/himalayan-salt-lamps

How Search Engines Work: Crawling, Indexing, and Ranking - https://moz.com/beginners-guide-to-seo/how-search-engines-operate

How to Search the Internet - https://www.wikihow.com/Search-the-Internet

Information without knowledge: the effects of Internet search on learning -https://cpb-us-w2.wpmucdn.com/campuspress.yale.edu/dist/c/259/files/2021/02/Fisher-Information-without-knowledge-the-effects-of-Internet-search-on-learning-copy.pdf

Reflect and Act! Introduction to the Society of the Query Reader -https://networkcultures.org/query/2014/04/23/reflect-and-act-introduction-to-the-society-of-the-query-reader/

Regulating search engines: taking stock and looking ahead -https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=AONE&u=googlescholar&id=GALE|A182079912&v=2.1&it=r&sid=AONE&asid=2bb92f47

Republican National Committee sues Google, accuses Gmail spam of blocking fundraising emails -https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/us/republican-national-committee-sues-google-accuses-gmail-spam-of-blocking-fundraising-emails/articleshow/95053691.cms

The History of the Internet Search Engine: Navigational Media and the Traffic Commodity -https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-540-75829-7_11

What You Do With Your Shopping Cart When You're Done With It Says A Lot About You -https://getpocket.com/explore/item/people-think-what-you-do-with-your-shopping-cart-when-you-re-done-with-it-says-a-lot-about-you

In our inaugural episode we dive headfirst into the spicy topic of gun ownership and current gun demographics. Who are all of these gun owners and why do they own guns? We break it down! But first we review what we’ve been watching and what’s been going on with us this week.  Aaron really likes vintage black and white TV shows and tries to convince Erin to get on board with the classics.  After we run through our gun ownership topic we discuss where Aaron was wrong, which should be a fun segment because he’s not often wrong.  We conclude with how important it is to be kind and friendly as we go about our daily lives.  Disclaimer: It is almost impossible to discuss everything there is to discuss about guns in one sitting or even 2 or 3 sittings. And for our NRA fans, we are very aware of how integral the NRA is to gun education in America.  If there is something that you’d like us to Think About, subscribe to our free Substack feed at Illthinkaboutitpodcast.com and put your questions and comments in the discussion thread.  And share this podcast with your friends!  Let’s get the word out.

2021 National Firearms Survey - https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3887145 – Correction – this was sponsored by Georgetown.  Erin cited Northwestern.

2020 US Census - https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045221

A Girl and A Gun: https://www.agirlandagun.org/

Carrying Firearms in Public: https://efsgv.org/learn/policies/carrying-firearms-in-public/

Carrying Firearms in Public and Stand Your Ground Laws -https://publichealth.jhu.edu/departments/health-policy-and-management/research-and-practice/center-for-gun-violence-solutions/solutions/public-carry-of-firearms

Drunk Driving: https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving

Female Gun Ownership is on the Rise - https://www.silencercentral.com/blog/female-gun-ownership-is-on-the-rise-in-the-us/

Harvard Researcher: About Half Of New Gun Owners Are Women –https://dailycaller.com/2021/09/20/harvard-researcher-about-half-of-new-gun-owners-are-women/

McDonald v. Chicago - https://www.oyez.org/cases/2009/08-1521

Notes from the Field: Increases in Firearm Homicide and Suicide Rates — United States, 2020–2021https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/71/wr/mm7140a4.htm

Obesity: https://www.who.int/news-room/facts-in-pictures/detail/6-facts-on-obesity

Survey Indicates Millions Of New Gun Owners, Changing Demographics - https://www.americanrifleman.org/content/survey-indicates-millions-of-new-gun-owners-changing-demographics/

Study: 3 million Americans carry loaded handguns daily - https://newsroom.uw.edu/news/study-3-million-americans-carry-loaded-handguns-daily

What's behind the rise in gun ownership for people of color? https://abcnews.go.com/US/rise-gun-ownership-people-color/story?id=80008877

The episode trailer where you get to know your hosts Aaron and Erin.  We discuss why we decided to embark on this podcast adventure and how quickly Aaron responded when Erin asked him about starting a podcast.  We share how long we’ve been friends(hint: it’s more than couple of decades) and how we’ve been talking for our entire friendship so starting a podcast was sort of an obvious next step.  And then we talk about Trump and the 2016 election more than we planned.  And finally, the conversation turns to why we really wanted to do this podcast but you’ll have to listen to hear those details.  Let’s just say it has something to do with the title of our podcast – I’ll Think About It.

And let us know your thoughts in the Substack comments and share us with your friends! We are always in the mood for some spirited debate.

Intro and outro music by HoliznaCCO