Science Faction Podcast

Real Life

Devon has been diving into The Electric State, and the discussion turns to the unique blend of kid-friendly aesthetics and eerie, unsettling imagery. The upcoming movie adaptation ( IMDB link ) raises the question: who is this really for?

Meanwhile, Steven is excited about the group finally playing City of Mist with Greg—expect some noir-drenched, super-powered storytelling soon. Also, Windows 11 users, rejoice (or at least breathe a little easier): Microsoft is making moves to remove ads from its interface. Progress? We hope so.

Ben bids farewell to Clawed, a beloved companion. Losing a pet is never easy. As a result, he's rethinking his relationship with social media. When you're grieving, the internet can be both a comfort and a drain. Is it time to step back and reevaluate our online spaces?

Future or Now

Ben introduces us to SEN, a project aiming to revolutionize desktop environments with a data-centric approach. Unlike existing knowledge management systems, SEN prioritizes local storage and metadata integrity over cloud-based solutions. If you're into Obsidian, Haiku OS, or just wish your computer worked with your thoughts instead of against them, check it out ( SEN introduction ). And for those interested in the philosophy behind it, the Data-Centric Manifesto lays out the foundation of this approach.

Devon takes us way, way back—to LUCA, the Last Universal Common Ancestor. New research suggests all life on Earth traces back to this single organism that existed only 400 million years after Earth formed. Even more fascinating? LUCA likely had an early immune system, meaning it was already fending off viruses. ( Read more ) Life finds a way, indeed.

Book Club

Next week, we're reading To Be Taught, If Fortunate: Votum by Becky Chambers. If you're following along, now's the time to grab a copy!

This week, we covered To Be Taught, If Fortunate: Opera. One of the standout moments:

"It was not a cozy storm, a curl-up-with-a-book-and-a-blanket storm. This was weather that resented us."

That kind of atmospheric writing is why we love Becky Chambers.

In other media news, Steven and Ben wrapped up Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and were blown away. A season-long What If? style arc that absolutely delivered. Meanwhile, Devon and Steven have jumped into Daredevil: Born Again. How does it hold up to expectations? You'll have to listen to find out.

That's it for this week! If you're enjoying the podcast, let us know what you think about the books, games, and tech we're covering. And if you have a take on LUCA, Windows 11, or The Electric State, we'd love to hear it.

This episode contains:

Daylight savings hit, and we're all just trying to cope.

Real Life (or Whatever That Is)

Devon Saw Apocalyptica in Dallas—three cellists and a drummer, blasting Metallica covers. It was energetic, intense, and apparently, the drums were a standout. Nita Strauss opened, because Devon only goes to shows with legendary guitarists involved. Also, he went to a production of Cheaper by the Dozen, which was… a different vibe entirely. Steven got into Marvel Crisis Protocol, which he describes as similar to Shatterpoint. More importantly, he won his first game against his friend Greg, which obviously means he's an expert now. Devon saw Wicked and was deeply underwhelmed. (Expect fan outrage.) Ben went to a production of Million Dollar Quartet, which tells the story of a legendary jam session between Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins. If you don't know what that is, here's a Wikipedia link: Million Dollar Quartet.

Future or Now (Depends on Your Perspective)

Remember Me!

Steven presents a real-life prequel to Fallout. Sweden is burying its radioactive nuclear waste in sealed bedrock for 100,000 years. The challenge? How do we make sure future generations don't dig it up and think, "Oh cool, ancient glowing rocks!" Scientists have some ideas, and they range from the practical to the deeply sci-fi.

Check it out:

Science Daily | Highly radioactive nuclear waste: how to keep it from oblivion

A PDF of the actual Key Information File

CALM DOWN, JEEZ

Ben brings us a podcast from NPR and the TED Radio Hour about how we handle emotions, featuring insights from neuroscientist Ethan Kross on managing emotional overwhelm. Science-backed coping mechanisms? Yes, please. An example: talking to yourself in the second person to coach yourself.

Listen here: NPR - Ethan Kross on Managing Emotions

Also, Ben's dog has got Diabetes insipidus, which, despite the name, has nothing to do with regular diabetes. More on that here: Diabetes Insipidus

Book Club:

Continuing coverage of the novella To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers.

This week, our crew traveled to Mirabilis (also the name of the chapter we read)—a planet of ice, deep-sea creatures, and they brought with them some existential dread. Some key themes:

• Survival of the fittest (but at what cost?)

• The emotional toll of killing an animal for survival

• Missing communications from Earth

• The sheer terror of the unknown

Devon asked, "Are they vegan?"—a question inspired by his recent reading of Animal Liberation Now. Also, sometimes Devon's not in the mood for fiction, but Becky Chambers' writing is worth it.

Next week: the chapter "Opera" (same book, different planet).

Real Life

Devon had a little adventure at Meow Wolf, which, as expected, was a wild, surreal ride. Also, finally got around to fixing the fence—fingers crossed it actually stays fixed this time.

Over in office world, the TV is officially on the wall, the SNES emulator is up and running, and Devon has entered the inevitable "but how does it work?" phase. This led to Ben patiently explaining BIOS, which, if you're curious, has a whole Wikipedia page that is both informative and an excellent cure for insomnia. Meanwhile, Devon has also started reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance because, apparently, philosophy is the next rabbit hole.

Steven, on the other hand, has nothing new to report. Just wrangling the circus as usual.

Ben is saying a fond farewell to Windows 10 and Skype—pour one out for the relics of the past. In more exciting news, he checked out the demo for Wheel World, and it's super cool. If you haven't seen it yet, it's worth a look on Steam. Also, he's officially made the jump to Linux, currently rocking Kubuntu and going full customization mode. Speaking of Linux, SteamOS is doing some interesting things, which you can check out here.

Future or Now

Devon got a bit of a scare with the whole "asteroid might hit Earth" thing, but turns out, the European Southern Observatory has pretty much ruled out a 2024 YR4 impact. So, we're good—for now. Still, it brings up the whole Sweet Meteor of Death (SMOD) meme, because wouldn't it just be the most on-brand way for things to go? If you haven't seen Don't Look Up, now's a great time. Also, AES Andes is doing some interesting environmental work, which you can read about here.

Ben actually has some good news for once! Engineers have created the first flat telescope lens that can capture color while detecting light from faraway stars. Science is officially magic. If you're curious, Phys.org has all the details.

Steven? Still nothing. Just vibes.

"Book Club"

Next week, we're diving into To Be Taught, If Fortunate the Mirabilis chapter by Becky Chambers, so if you want to read along, now's your chance.

This week, we covered To Be Taught, If Fortunate: Please Read This, and Aecor (and Earth)—all Becky Chambers, all the time. We got into some fun (and mildly unsettling) topics, like torpor—aka space hibernation, but with an existential twist. Sleeping without dreaming, aging super slowly—would you do it? And then there's somaforming, where instead of terraforming planets, you change humans to survive in space. Also, radiation-resistant food, glitter face (yes, really), and the idea of "crowd-funded" space travel—would that actually work? Lots to love about these stories so far, and we'll keep the discussion going next time.

See you next week!

Real Life Updates

Devon's Redecoration Adventure Devon has been painting and redecorating—at Jen's request—to make things look more "adult." This involved taking down metal posters to put up a TV for gaming, which led to a frustrating experience with Displate (spoiler: they suck). While redecorating, Devon also came across a fascinating philosophy YouTuber, Alex O'Connor.

▶️ Watch Alex O'Connor: YouTube Link

Also, ChatGPT can apparently generate a perfect glass of wine… all the way to the top.

Steven's Gaming Corner Steven has been playing Avowed (part of Xbox Game Pass—so "free"). His verdict? "Pretty fun." Thanks to his beefy new graphics card, he's playing on PC.

▶️ Check out Avowed: Steam Link

He also tried Keep Driving, a game about driving to the right, avoiding potholes, picking up hitchhikers, and helping a little girl find her parents—all while managing fuel, energy, and car repairs.

▶️ Try Keep Driving: Steam Link

Ben's Solitaire Obsession Ben has discovered Scoundrel Solitaire by Zach Gage and Kurt Bieg, a solitaire game played with a real deck of cards and a D20.

▶️ Learn how to play: Rules PDF ▶️ Play online: Itch.io Link

Future or Now: Music & Media

Renee's Music Question: Renee's kid is getting into 90s rock (Weezer, The Offspring, etc.), and that sparked a conversation about favorite musical sounds and guitar solos. Here's what we came up with:

• Ben: The sound of an orchestra tuning up (potential energy). Favorite solo: We Will Fall Together – Streetlight Manifesto

• Steven: Any heavy bass sound. Favorite solo: Waking the Demon

• Devon: Pinched harmonics. Favorite solo: Octavarium (Razor's Edge) – John Petrucci

▶️ Dream Theater - Octavarium Guitar Solo: YouTube Link

Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man We checked out Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, which fills in gaps between the Tom Holland movies. Like X-Men '97, it takes some big swings.

▶️ More on the show: IMDB Link

Devon's Disturbing Read Devon is reading Animal Liberation Now by Peter Singer. It's unsettling, to say the least. More thoughts after he finishes.

▶️ Read it here: Google Books Link

Steven's Movie Night Steven watched some of Wicked Part 1 with his kids. They haven't asked to watch more. Suspicious. He also revisited Return to Oz, which remains a fever dream.

▶️ Return to Oz: Rotten Tomatoes Link

Book Club Corner

Next Week: To Be Taught, If Fortunate by Becky Chambers A look at 22nd-century space exploration using somaforming—biological modifications that allow astronauts to survive hostile environments. But what happens when Earth moves on without them?

▶️ Audiobook: Audible Link

This Week: Billennium by J.G. Ballard A classic dystopian short story exploring extreme overpopulation. But why "20,000 million"? And what would you do if you suddenly came into wealth? Would you help others?

▶️ Read it here: PDF Link

▶️ World population discussion: Worldometer

Real Life:

Steven's been back at the forge for Blacksmithing Class #2, where Ben learned the existence of trivets (yes, those little metal stands your grandma probably had). Meanwhile, babysitting round two for Steven's nephew went... well, let's just say he survived. Rainy days are not great for four-year-olds. On the tabletop front, we got into Dungeon Crawl Classics (aka the '70s cranked up to 11) with its insane artwork and a spell system that just loves making you regret your choices. Then there's Mutant Crawl Classics, which, well... we didn't get as far, but you know it's gotta be weird and radioactive. Ben, on the other hand, had feedback about last week's discussion of Mothership. Devon's character was from Planet America, and Ben played Rodney McKay, based on our favorite Grumpy Scientist from Stargate: Atlantis. Also, Ben's dog has bladder problems (is it Cushing's disease?), and he's making custom Mac Mini decals that look like that Joy Division album cover that you probably know from Hot Topic t-shirts.

Future or Now:

Since Devon's not here, let's talk about video games.

Dragonsweeper is Minesweeper meets dungeon crawler, and it's addictive as heck. Play it for free on the web at one of these two links:

https://dragonsweeper.com/New-Dragonsweeper-Version

https://danielben.itch.io/dragonsweeper

Also, can we finally talk about UFO 50, that game that combines 50 indie games in one, all looking like they're straight out of the 80s? Ben waxes on and on about Party House: a deckbuilding game where you gather as many guests as you can to throw a huge party, but don't let it get out of hand! If it was released separately, it'd probably have been game of the year.

https://ufo50.miraheze.org/wiki/Party_House

Paper, Watch Out! Scientists in Japan are making biohybrid hands with lab-grown muscle tissue. These "MuMuTAs" are a step toward prosthetics and robots that mimic real muscle movement. Read more about it here:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250212151423.htm

This reminded Ben of a love poem he wrote recently: Colonies:

https://ben.lawless.rocks/poetry/colonies/

"Book Club":

This week:

Burning Chrome by William Gibson, specifically the titular story in the collection that brought us cyberpunk classics like Johnny Mnemonic.

Next week:

Billennium by J.G. Ballard — a 1962 dystopian tale of extreme overpopulation, where people live in minuscule rooms in overcrowded cities. Sounds like fun, right?

Real Life:

How silly is Devon? According to him, not at all. But his big toe pain might argue otherwise. The jury is still out. Steven took a blacksmithing class, and it turns out, there's a whole process to it. Safety docs? Check. Appropriate clothing? Check. Payment going to the blacksmithing museum? Very cool. His first project? A letter opener—definitely not a shiv. (Side note: Can you just carry knives around? What if you're being particularly menacing?) Good news: Steven is now a Level One Blacksmith and qualifies for the Level Two class! There's even talk of a blacksmithing tournament and chili cookoff. Speaking of knives… does everyone remember sock knives? On a more serious note, Ben reflects on the passing of his neighbor, Ronna, and the challenge of timing at the end of life. A moment to acknowledge those we lose and the impact they have.

Future or Now: Ben's Dive into the Desktop Metaphor

Ben took us down a philosophical rabbit hole about the desktop metaphor in computing. How does it relate to capitalism? How did William Gibson envision computing? Are there better metaphors we should be using? If you want to dig deeper, here's some background reading:

• History of the Graphical User Interface

• Xerox PARC and DNLS from 1968

• Liber Indigo - Metaphysical Prisoners of the Desktop

• MercuryOS and Jason Yuan's vision

Steven's Reaction: Uh…what?

Steven, caught off guard, tried to process it all. But then he found an interesting study: link. The question is: Are its findings really about gender differences, or are they tied more to familial and societal roles? Let's just say, we have some thoughts about the methodology.

Book Club (But Make It TTRPG): Next Week's Read: Burning Chrome by William Gibson

We had to shift things around this week since Ben had a family emergency. But next week, we're diving into Burning Chrome by William Gibson. Get ready for some cyberpunk goodness!

Mothership: A Sci-Fi Horror TTRPG Review

Instead of discussing books, we reviewed Mothership, the sci-fi horror RPG that Steven ran, with Devon as a player. Here's the rundown:

• The setup: A distress call leads the crew to a ship.

• The dilemma: Follow company orders or investigate the alien presence?

• The experience: Mystery, clues, and big decisions.

• The result: Devon said he'd play again—high praise!

If you're into sci-fi horror with a heavy dose of corporate greed and existential dread, Mothership might be worth checking out.

That's it for this week! As always, let us know your thoughts, and we'll see you next time for Burning Chrome and more weird, wonderful discussions.

Real Life

Devon's journey to California was an absolute disaster—airline delays, misfortune, and plenty of travel woes. We also dive into how our phones are both doom-scroll machines and powerful learning tools. Devon shares his love for the music app Simply Piano, which teaches more than just piano.

Meanwhile, Steven and Devon jammed out on piano and acoustic guitar, and Ben reflected on fatherhood—specifically how video games can help break generational trauma.

We also tackle a big question: Who can we trust for accurate news anymore? And why does it seem like we only feel tragedy when Americans are attacked? What does that say about us as humans, and is there any way to break the cycle?

Fantasy Media & Devon's Deep Dives

Devon has been lost in The Stormlight Archive, an epic fantasy series spanning thousands of pages. (Check it out: Stormlight Archive). We talk about what got Devon into fantasy in the first place—The Name of the Wind and Red Rising—and how playing D&D shaped his storytelling.

Speaking of books, Devon brings up Exturb1a's poetry, which gets Ben way too excited. Then we take a detour into The Saxon Stories, which may not technically be fantasy, but Devon argues otherwise. We also discuss "The Nailed God" and its historical parallels. (More on The Saxon Stories)

Steven is prepping to run a Mothership TTRPG session for Devon, Ben, and friends. He shares his process for session creation, and we get into how ChatGPT is surprisingly useful for game prep—and how AI might shape video games in the future. (Mothership TTRPG)

Some Good AI / LLM Talk

Ben has been experimenting with Notebook LM by Google, which is basically a 90% accurate study guide. But is that good enough? We also discuss Dropout TV, Cartoon Hell, and the weird world of AI in everyday life—like how Steven had to sign an AI release just to get pet healthcare?!

Ben compares all of this to that chaotic Invader Zim episode, "Play The Tape!" and quickly plugs Becky Chambers' To Be Taught If Fortunate. (Check it out here).

Real Life Devon is gearing up for a trip to Barcelona in April, planning a Friday-to-Wednesday itinerary. The big question: is it worth it? We'll see how he weighs the travel time, costs, and must-see sights against the trip's duration.

Meanwhile, Steven has been deep in Sonic nostalgia. He picked up a remake of Sonic the Hedgehog from the original Sega on the Switch, only to find his oldest daughter struggling with its difficulty. Ben suggests they try Sonic Adventure from the Sega Dreamcast era, but Steven is skeptical. On top of that, they've watched the first two Sonic movies—but Steven refuses to pay to see Sonic 3. Also, a side note from parenting life: manage expectations when handing kids new electronics. In other news, Steven has started learning Latin on Duolingo and already has thoughts—mostly about the overwhelming number of ads.

Ben has been learning some unexpected rat facts since his son got new pet rats. Steven, from prior experience, warns that they don't have the longest lifespans. Speaking of things taking a dark turn, Ben draws a comparison to the game Heavy Rain, where a child finds a dead bird—definitely a tonal shift from Super Mario Brothers.

Future or Now Ben revisited Star Trek: Section 31 and had a moment of deep reflection—too deep, according to Steven. Is Section 31 aimed at 11-year-olds? Are the plot holes too much? Devon steps in to explain Section 31 to Steven, who—by his own admission—is a Star Trek dummy. Meanwhile, Ben is also reading Star Trek: Discovery: Die Standing for even more Trek content. If you're curious, check it out on Goodreads.

Devon drops an incredible animal fact: the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) is the only vertebrate that always gives birth to identical quadruplets. Every single time. Scientists still aren't sure why this happens, but it's a fascinating mystery of biology. Read more on IFL Science and Carnegie Museum of Natural History.

Steven, meanwhile, has been thinking about water scarcity and the challenges we might face in the near future. He calls it "Not a Drop to Drink" and shares an article which you can read here.

Book Club Next Week: We're diving into Burning Chrome by William Gibson. If you've ever wanted to jack into the Toronto construct matrix, this is the time. Gibson, often credited with popularizing the term "cyberspace," helped define cyberpunk as a genre. Burning Chrome prefigures his famous novel Neuromancer and introduces one of the first literary computer hackers. Unfortunately, the story isn't available online, but you can find it in the Burning Chrome short story collection.

This Week: We discussed "Fondly Fahrenheit" by Alfred Bester. Bester, best known for The Demolished Man, was a unique figure in Golden Age sci-fi—not just a visionary storyteller, but also an incredible writer. "Fondly Fahrenheit" is a dark, gripping short story about a servile android-robot that turns murderous. What makes it unforgettable is the way Bester plays with language, shifting perspective and structure in ways that make the writing an essential part of the story itself. If you haven't read it, you can find it on Goodreads or read it online here. Be warned: it's a dark one, featuring a serial killer narrative that may not be suitable for younger readers.

That's it for this week—see you next time for more real-life updates, sci-fi debates, and deep dives into classic literature!

This episode contains: Steven is under the weather and Devon had to run fast for Sonic 3. Ben's making his way through the Knuckles TV show (lots of bowling in this one) before seeing the absolute zaniness turned up to 11 of Sonic 3. Do y'all remember "Dumb Running Sonic" on Tumblr? Devon recommends Jury Duty (Amazon Prime): Imagine a prank show where everyone's an actor… except one guy. Chaos ensues. Devon says it's a must-watch, as is The Wild Robot. It's all about nature, death, and a reminder that "nature is real." Production babies galore! Ben explains how he got a Virtual Boy emulator on his 3DS, while Steven has been reading the book Filter World. Ben's also been playing GRIP Combat Racing, which is kinda like Mario Kart if you prefer ecstasy to mushrooms. You can get it for free right now from Amazon Gaming. Devon's contemplating getting Mario Maker, but then he'd have to get a Switch and that's, like, a lot of work, man…

• Dumb Running Sonic: https://dumbrunningsonic.tumblr.com/

• 3DS Virtual Boy Emulator: https://github.com/skyfloogle/red-viper

• Filterworld: https://www.kylechayka.com/filterworld

• My Video Went Viral. Here's Why: Veritasium: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHsa9DqmId8

• Tokyo Override: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32581509/

• GRIP Combat Racing on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/396900/GRIP_Combat_Racing/

• GRIP Combat Racing on Amazon Gaming: https://gaming.amazon.com/grip-gog/dp/amzn1.pg.item.d2358a22-76ef-4c8a-aa76-17b9a10543f5?ingress=amzn

Future or Now:

The Magic Schoolbus meets Rick and Morty: Ben recommends WTF 101 from Dropout TV. A quartet of kids in detention are schooled by an eccentric and sometimes cynical teacher who takes them on often horrifying field trips with the help of a time-traveling/teleporting/shrinking device. Their travels take them face to face with nature's most ruthless parasites, humanity's dumbest failed inventions, and much, much more. If WTF 101 had just made up all of these lessons, it'd still be a funny watch thanks to the clever storytelling, fast-paced plot, and punched-up dialogue. But it's the fact that the show seeks to educate audiences on real-world factoids that gives it that extra shine. It's hilarious, gross, weird, profane, and mostly true! It is NOT FOR KIDS and very much NSFW. Devon reflects on debates between theists and atheists. Why does evil exist? Maybe the animal kingdom knows.

• Watch the first episode for free on Youtube (The Gruesome Truth About Parasites): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aZVgyUlSng

• Check out the entire series on Dropout: https://www.dropout.tv/wtf-101

Burn it all down: Steven presents a groundbreaking study that reveals RNA — not DNA — might trigger sunburns. Sunburn has traditionally been attributed to UV-induced DNA damage. However, a new study by the University of Copenhagen and Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, reveals that RNA, another vital cellular molecule, plays a major role in triggering acute sunburn reactions.

• Read more at Sciene Daily: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250117112413.htm

Now for something a little more cheerful from Devon: Quantum suicide and immortality, a thought experiment exploring the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics. The experiment involves repeatedly engaging in an activity with a 50/50 chance of death, with the idea that consciousness will always exist in the universe where the individual survives. Ben is reminded of the short film "One-Minute Time Machine" where a man repeatedly uses a time machine to retry a conversation with a woman, but what happens in the realities he leaves behind?

• More on wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_suicide_and_immortality

• One-Minute Time Machine on Youtube: https://youtu.be/CXhnPLMIET0

"Book Club":

This week: Philip K. Dick's short story "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" (1966). The story follows Douglas Quail, a man obsessed with Mars who seeks out a company to implant fake memories of a Martian trip. It's very different from the 1990 film adaptation of Total Recall, the film's action-oriented approach was very different from the story's focus on psychological elements. Is remembering something the same as living it? "I remember recording a good podcast once." "Steven, we've never recorded a good podcast."

• Read it here: https://philosophy.as.uky.edu/sites/default/files/We%20Can%20Remember%20It%20for%20You%20Wholesale%20-%20Philip%20K.%20Dick.pdf

Next week: Alfred Bester's Fondly Fahrenheit. Though the story's disturbing premise—that a servile android-robot could turn on its human superiors and commit murder—was probably radical at the time, without Bester's way with words, Fondly Fahrenheit wouldn't have become the classic science fiction short story that it is today. It's still cited as one of the best sci-fi stories ever.

• Read it here: http://www.sfsfss.com/stories2/Bester,%20Alfred%20-%20Fondly%20Fahrenheit%20v1.0.htm

REAL LIFE

Devon: We celebrated Nolan's Mario-themed birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese's, and it was pure Mario madness—even down to LEGO sets! At home, we dove into the SNES Classic, revisiting classics like Super Mario World and Mario Kart. Speaking of Mario Kart, Ben has a lot of thoughts about kart racing games. Oh, and let's not forget Super Metroid made a cameo in our gaming nostalgia.

Steven: Exciting news! We're now on YouTube! Check out The Science Faction Podcast for all our latest episodes and content. Also, Steven got his hands on the 5-disc Complete Collector's Edition of Blade Runner. Talk about sci-fi collector goals!

Ben: Ben's been under the weather—boo! But that meant more movie time—yay! He's here to defend rewatching so-called "terrible" films like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. But hey, the Indiana Jones videogame nails the adventure vibe. Steven couldn't agree more—there's nothing better than punching Nazis! Also, fun fact: The Matrix reused sets from Dark City, which Roger Ebert loved so much he even recorded commentary tracks for it. And yes, both Ben and Devon admit to falling asleep during The Phantom Menace... in theaters. Oops!

FUTURE OR NOW

Ben: "The Buddhists Know How to Party" might sound like an odd statement, but Ben dives into the Five Remembrances of the Buddha, a reflection on aging, illness, and impermanence. It really got Devon thinking about Stoicism. Curious? You can read them here:

• I am of the nature to grow old. There is no way to escape growing old.

• I am of the nature to have ill-health. There is no way to escape having ill-health.

• I am of the nature to die. There is no way to escape death.

• All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change. There is no way to escape being separated from them.

• My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground on which I stand.

Steven: Steven brings up a serious topic: the insurance crisis in California. State Farm is pulling out of the state due to restrictions on raising rates, leaving them unable to cover major disasters like the LA fires. They currently have about $3 billion, but with an estimated $4 billion needed for payouts, this gap could lead to insolvency. Who's at fault—the state for blocking rate hikes or the companies for not adjusting sooner? Steven urges us not to "Luigi the wrong people" in this situation.

BOOK CLUB

This Week: We took a deep dive into Ursula K. Le Guin's "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas" from The Wind's Twelve Quarters. You can read it here. Ben found it "super fascinating," while Devon unpacked its core themes: a utopia sustained by the suffering of one child and the moral quandary of staying or walking away. Ben summed it up with, "The terror of not knowing keeps people away." Also, Devon joked that Omelas could just be Salem spelled backward—thanks, Oregon road signs! Devon also mused, "Ethics cannot be logically discerned."

Next Week: Get ready for Philip K. Dick's "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale" (1966). Here's a PDF. And no, Devon—you can't just watch Total Recall instead!