Sadistically Speaking

The vaccine mandate debate has become polarized...but here is my middle proposition - government should not force you to be vaccinated AND you have no reason not to get vaccinated.  Aaron Rodgers is not vaccinated and it is going to cost me some sports enjoyment....that is UNACCEPTABLE!  #PleatedPants

The current "Let's Go Brandon" movement is a glorious example of counter-culture that has been a hallmark of this country.  Let's relish in it.  Join together in a cheer and try to forget the forces that would rather tear us apart.  Also, make sure to score some drugs for the upcoming Christmas cartoon watching season.  #TopperThePenguin

On this 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, it is a time for memorials, honors and to tell each other our vivid memories of that day.  The problem is that it is highly likely that those memories are false.  Our stories of that day are reconstructed narratives that have been manipulated across the intervening 20 years.  But that is ok, we can tell the stories anyway.  While we do that, we may also want to reflect on how our fear and anger responses at that time resulted in us giving away freedoms to the federal government that we never got back.  Let's take time on 9/11 to think through whether we want to continue this centralization of power.  Also, I'm not kidding, your 9/11 story is bullshit.  #YourMemorySucks

The abortion debate should be one of the most interesting discussions we can have - it involves important aspects of individual freedom, the definition of life, morality, and gender issues but also has real practical consequences.  But the debate always disappoints as it devolves into bipartisan bickering and dogmatic statements.  In this podcast, I discuss two of my more pathetic attempts to engage in a debate on this topic.  Also, I manage to beat my previous record with 3 Kardashian references in one episode.  #ParkerBanshee

Most of the current discussion on the pullout from Afghanistan has been about the procedure and  not about whether it should happen at all.   Is it worth spending our resources and risking the lives of our service people to protect human rights of non-US-citizens?  I don't know.  I wish it was something that was worth discussing....but it won't be.  Instead we will go back to discussing Britney Spears' conservatorship and Tim Tebow.  #BiSexualRobin

Let's agree that the climate is changing and it is greatly influenced by humans.  Let's also agree that climate change is a bad thing.  Does this mean that humans need to make drastic changes in behavior to slow it down?  What is the cost/benefit analysis?  What if it leads to a greater division in our divided country?  Should I buy a vacation home in Alberta? #CheapCuomoGatesSlams

The UN came out with its new Climate Change report and Climate change mania is back in style.  To deny that the climate is changing and is affected by humans is a non-starter given that climate is a dynamic system.  But it is another thing altogether to presume that these changes pose an existential threat to humanity.  This may be mostly a concern for people who haven't visited Wisconsin in the Winter.  #SnowSucks

The latest CDC report on the Cape Cod area Covid breakout concentrated on the number of vaccinated people who tested positive but what was shocking was the number who were male.  Nobody gives a shit because males are not a protected class but holy crap our lives are statistically miserable.  #MalePityParty

Taboos are important for humans because it provides boundaries that are exciting to cross and give us a sense of adventure in a forbidden zone.  Unfortunately, the more we push against taboo - the smaller this forbidden zone becomes.  We may be at a place where we can't rely on good old fashioned sexual taboos.  Where to next? #GoldenShowers

There has been quite a bit of promotion and subsequent whining about the recent billionaire space race.  It has been pointed to as an example of the excesses and problems with capitalism that these billionaires are playing around with gross amounts of money.  But this consternation is based on an idea that good, moral, smart people should be awarded with money.  Capitalism does not provide award based on merit as much as it provides a way to develop products and solutions across a large population, which ensures a higher probability of positive outcomes.  #TheMuppetShow