Shooting Breezes

It’s a much a surprise to them as to their listeners, but Brad and Jacqui made it back for the second week in season three. In this podcast they try (and fail) to avoid COVID-19 related news but keep things light with their signature wry banter.

Brad draws inspiration from the movie “Yesterday”, in which a struggling musician discovers only he has any memory of the band the Beatles and their songs. Brad asks Jacqui if she could “Yesterday” something, what would it be? Jacqui doesn’t think she has the talent to pull someone else’s brilliance off as her own, and struggles to name something. Jacqui asks Brad what outrageous, no expense limit thing he would build into his own house, and Brad can’t go past stale popcorn and new releases.

Brad’s corona virus related news story (what news story isn’t related to the virus at the moment?) is Amazon firing workers trying to organize a protest due to Amazon’s handling of social distancing restrictions. They discuss Amazon’s motives, its reputational hit, and the obscene wealth of its founder, Jeff Bezos.

Jacqui wants to talk about the unprecedent drop in oil prices, and how the value of oil can actually go below zero. They tackle the oil price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia, the OPEC group, and potential implications for the climate change debate.

Finally, Brad wants to continue on the ‘failure’ theme by discussing their ‘anti-superpowers’ – what are you terrible at doing, but proud of it? Brad has names on his mind, and rubbish on the ground. Jacqui has a bed to get to, and is dribbling water down her chin. Can they take any positives away from the things they are so terribly bad at? Listen in to find out.

Thank you all for the support for this new season of Shooting Breezes. Give us a shout about anything discussed in this episode @shootinbreezes. We will (hopefully) be back next week for some more news related COVID shenanigans.

We couldn’t remember the Season 2 format, so we are back to old classics with crazy hypotheticals, news stories from the week, and a new segment.

Brad asks Jacqui a “would you rather” question which involves a tortured artist and erotic fan fiction. Brad reveals he has read some fan fiction (for research purposes only). Jacqui talks about social distancing restrictions due to COVID-19 and asks Brad with which celebrity he would like to quarantine. The answer involves Canada, controversy, and weed.

Jacqui chooses a Corona Virus related news story about Apple and Google teaming up to work on fighting the pandemic. She and Brad navigate though the technology, health, and privacy implications.

Brad wants to talk about the 5G conspiracy theories flourishing in the COVID-19 infodemic. He takes the fight to those crazies burning 5G cell towers with evidence of why 5G could not possibly have anything to do with the pandemic. A discussion on access to good information and bots follows.

Finally, Jacqui wants to talk about failure. How to think about it, how to use it, and how to beat it. The world is in a place right now that we never expected it could be, and there are a lot of people down and feeling life has stagnated for them. Should we lower our expectations for happiness? Does Michael Jordan have the answer?

It feels great to be back. Get in touch @shootinbreezes on twitter with your thoughts on Brad and Jacqui using the Corona Virus as an excuse to revive their dead podcast, and everything discussed in this episode.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/10/apple-google-team-up-to-track-coronavirus-spread-using-iphone-android.html

https://www.dw.com/en/5g-protesters-sabotage-dutch-phone-towers/a-53094033

https://www.theverge.com/2020/4/5/21208956/youtube-suppress-false-5g-coronavirus-conspiracy

Music is Moonlove Funk by Cullah.

Brad and Jacqui are back with Season 2 of Shooting Breezes, with new segments and fresh news items to keep you going for the week. In the first episode of this season, they talk about affirmative action in America’s elite universities, and scientific study results on the decline of animal numbers on Earth.

Brad and Jacqui share stories from their week. Jacqui has recently returned to work and has had difficulty identifying who is senior to her. Brad has heard a new word spoken in Canberra’s cafes that he wants to bring into his lexicon.

Jacqui’s news this week is court case Students for Fair Admissions v Harvard, currently being heard in America. Jacqui discusses the genesis of the case and its implications for admissions processes for universities in America. Brad and Jacqui discuss how to ensure universities maintain diverse classrooms.

Brad’s news is on a recent scientific study which found 60% of the Earth’s animals have disappeared since the 1970’s. It’s a sobering look at the decline in the number of the world’s fauna, and the inaction from governments. The hosts discuss what it might take to get action.

In a new segment for Season 2, Jacqui brings to listeners everything they need to know about the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. In this comprehensive summary, Jacqui presents two competing narratives of what happened to Khashoggi. The hosts also tackle potential implications should sanctions result against Saudi Arabia.

In the final new segment for this season, tentatively titled Did You See?, Brad asks Jacqui if she’s seen the announcements on The Simpson’s character Apu (of the Kwik-E-Mart). Some think the character is racist and needs to be retired. What do you think?

Get in touch @shootinbreezes on twitter with your thoughts on Brad and Jacqui continuing the podcast with Season 2, and everything discussed in this episode.

https://www.vox.com/2018/10/18/17984108/harvard-asian-americans-affirmative-action-racial-discrimination

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-45812399

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/30/humanity-wiped-out-animals-since-1970-major-report-finds

https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/is-the-simpsons-retiring-apu

Music is Moonlove Funk by Cullah.

Jacqui got things going this week with the first hypothetical: would Brad rather be famous for having a super power and be a sham, or instead actually have a super power but have no one believe him?

Brad’s hypothetical to Jacqui is: would you rather permanently go 50 years into the past or 50 years into the future?

Onto the news stories of the week. Brad’s news comes from wild fire country in America, at which Australian firefighters were shot at by hunters who were hunting bears. Jacqui questions the veracity of the story, but Brad breaks down what happened and thinks this could be a malicious attack.

Jacqui has a small news story from Mexico City, which involved an assassination by hitmen disguised as a Mariachi band. Jacqui then takes Brad through some of the most unusual successful assassination attempts, using the most unlikely weapons.

Like a lot of people this week, Brad has been kept up by President Trump’s nomination for the next Supreme Court Justice, Judge Kavanaugh. Brad discusses what Kavanaugh could influence from the bench, including a potential role back of landmark abortion decision Roe v Wade. Brad tackles potential implications, and Jacqui calls for greater interest in Australia on judicial nominations.

Jacqui’s own nomination for comeback is the humble home office, and all its ergonomic glory. Listen as Jacqui tries, and fails spectacularly, to convince Brad that having a dedicated space for computers in the home and classroom may be a good thing, despite increasing the inconvenience.

Hit us up at @shootinbreezes on twitter with your thoughts on everything discussed in this episode.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-45532673

https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/australian-firefighters-shot-at-while-battling-us-wildfire-20180910-p502x6.html

Brad’s ice breaker question to Jacqui is: which would she rather, a third arm or a third leg? Jacqui finds both scenarios equally unappealing.

Jacqui wants to know, who would be Brad’s first guest if he had a nightly talk show? She’s thinking Brad will choose one of today’s great thinkers, but Brad has other ideas.

And what’s piqued their interest this week?

Brad discusses Nike’s controversial new advertisement featuring former NFL player Colin Kaepernick. The ad has earned backlash from several places, including President Donald Trump’s Twitter account, but what about Nike’s bottom line? Brad and Jacqui breakdown the controversy and give their thoughts on Kaepernick’s lasting message.

Jacqui picks another space topic, this time the mystery of the 2mm hole found in the International Space Station. Although no danger was posed to the astronauts living at the ISS, where did this hole originate? Was it a tiny meteor, was it an innocent mistake, or was it something more nefarious?

Jacqui is furious about corporate turn arounds on public announcements, and it’s keeping her up at night. Specifically, Australian supermarket giant Coles succumbing to complaints about environmental policies on single use plastic bags, and the Oscars recently backing down on the largely ridiculed “most popular” category. Brad wants to know why Jacqui is so upset by these “take-backsies”, and Jacqui tries to explain why backing down so easily in the face of negative public opinion has her worried about corporate identities.

Finally, Brad wants to lift his game on the comeback stakes, as Jacqui has been beating him on this segment lately. Brad boldly claims that public shaming needs to make a comeback, taking inspiration from that episode of Game of Thrones, when Cersei Lannister is forced to atone by making the walk of shame. Brad wonders if a little public shaming may tick all the boxes for criminal deterrence whilst avoiding the problems of the prison system. Brad ends up convincing himself in the process, but Jacqui wants to put some conditions on how we shame offenders.

Let us know what you think about the topics discussed on this episode at @shootinbreezes on twitter.

https://www.space.com/41738-soyuz-spacecraft-air-leak-hole-origin-report.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/06/movies/popular-oscar-category-killed.html?action=click&module=Editors%20Picks&pgtype=Homepage

In this Shooting Breezes episode Brad and Jacqui discuss a recent decision at the US open which has widely been viewed as sexist, and the launch of the Ocean Cleanup project

First, Jacqui and Brad tackle some hypotheticals, which are getting more complex each week. Brad asks Jacqui what inanimate object she would turn into if she was part of the Beauty and the Beast household.

Jacqui asks Brad to put himself in the shoes of a news editor and pick which of two amazing stories should hit the front page.

Jacqui’s chosen news story this week is Google’s project ‘Dragonfly’, which is about re-entering China and complying with the State’s censorship laws on internet searches. After leaving in 2010 on principle, should Google look to re-enter China, which represents one fifth of the globe’s population? And do Google’s employees have the right to petition Google leadership on the issue?

Brad has chosen a story from Germany, where one restauranteur has instituted a no children policy. Jacqui and Brad contrast their views as new parents, and whether they think this is discriminatory… or are children fair game? The topic of bad parenting comes up, and the hosts put their own parenting skills under the microscope.

The labelling of Rainbow Trout as Salmon has Jacqui worried about food fraud, and she is being kept up at night thinking about all the lies in the grocery aisle. She thinks she has the answer, but it involves discussing a topic she promised herself never to touch on this podcast. Her resolve lasted all the way to episode 4. Find out what this taboo topic is, and make up your own mind.

Finally, although he’s not totally convinced himself, Brad wants to bring more drinking into the workplace. He wants a drinks tray and bottle of scotch in the corner of his office, waiting to be used at any moment. He probably needs an office first though.

Keep the conversation going at @shootinbreezes on twitter.

News stories are at

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/16/technology/google-employees-protest-search-censored-china.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-45178638

To kick things off, Jacqui and Brad pose two movie themed hypotheticals to each other. Brad asked Jacqui what weapon she would choose if entering the Colosseum (think: Russell Crowe in Gladiator), but Jacqui is doubting whether a weapon would help her non-existent fighting skills.

Jacqui wonders if Brad would visit Jurassic Park if it opened next week. So starts the discussion on the likelihood of getting eaten by a dinosaur in the Park’s opening weekend.

Brad’s news story is about US President Trump’s recent tweet doubling US sanctions against Turkey, following a breakdown in negotiations over the release of a US citizen in Turkey’s custody. Trump’s move has Brad surprised, but not for the reason you think.

Jacqui’s news story is about the attempted assassination attempt on President Maduro of Venezuela, which used explosives strapped to two drones. Brad and Jacqui get stuck into the context of the Venezuelan economic crisis and applications of drone technology.

Science denial has been keeping Brad up at night, and he and Jacqui talk climate change and anti-vaccinations, and the science which gets ignored along the way. They come to some interesting insights on the intersection between religion and science.

Jacqui is super excited about this week’s comeback, and it’s all about being able to eat the food she likes without the shame attached. But Brad has no idea what she is talking about, and never felt ashamed of eating it in the first place.

News stories can be found at:

www.nytimes.com/2018/08/10/world/…deo-analysis.html

www.nytimes.com/2018/08/10/busine…type=sectionfront

Keep the conversation going at @shootinbreezes on twitter.

To kick things off, Jacqui and Brad pose two movie themed hypotheticals to each other. Brad asked Jacqui what weapon she would choose if entering the Colosseum (think: Russell Crowe in Gladiator), but Jacqui is doubting whether a weapon would help her non-existent fighting skills.

Jacqui wonders if Brad would visit Jurassic Park if it opened next week. So starts the discussion on the likelihood of getting eaten by a dinosaur in the Park’s opening weekend.

Brad’s news story is about US President Trump’s recent tweet doubling US sanctions against Turkey, following a breakdown in negotiations over the release of a US citizen in Turkey’s custody. Trump’s move has Brad surprised, but not for the reason you think.

Jacqui’s news story is about the attempted assassination attempt on President Maduro of Venezuela, which used explosives strapped to two drones. Brad and Jacqui get stuck into the context of the Venezuelan economic crisis and applications of drone technology.

Science denial has been keeping Brad up at night, and he and Jacqui talk climate change and anti-vaccinations, and the science which gets ignored along the way. They come to some interesting insights on the intersection between religion and science.

Jacqui is super excited about this week’s comeback, and it’s all about being able to eat the food she likes without the shame attached. But Brad has no idea what she is talking about, and never felt ashamed of eating it in the first place.

News stories can be found at:

www.nytimes.com/2018/08/10/world/…deo-analysis.html

www.nytimes.com/2018/08/10/busine…type=sectionfront

Keep the conversation going at @shootinbreezes on twitter.

In our second episode we tackle Apple’s USD1 trillion recent market value and the rise of violence against journalists.

Jacqui asks Brad what skill he would get “Matrix downloaded” into his brain. What’s more useful: kung fu or a second language?

Brad asks Jacqui what fictional creature she would like to see in modern day Earth. Jacqui comes up with a creepy answer.

Jacqui’s news story is about US mega company Apple reaching the milestone market value of USD1 trillion. We discuss what the rise of the super firm means, and regulation of these companies.

Brad’s news story is about three Russian journalists killed in the Central African Republic. Is there a rise in violence against journalists worldwide? And should journalists be expected to put their lives on the line at all?

Empty job titles have been keeping Jacqui up at night. What do consultants actually do anyway? Do economists make it up as they go along? Jacqui challenges Brad to guess what the people behind these fancy job titles actually do.

Finally, Brad wants to bring honour back, and he’s trying to convince you that bringing a particular brand of justice back into this community is a good idea. Who has the courage, and a ‘second’ to take him up?

Keep the conversation going at @shootinbreezes on twitter.

News Stories:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-apple-stocks-trillion/apple-hits-1-trillion-stock-market-valuation-idUSKBN1KN2BE

https://www.npr.org/2018/08/02/635046238/3-russian-journalists-killed-while-probing-reports-of-mercenaries-in-africa

Donate to the Committee to Protect Journalists:

https://cpj.org/

Music is Moonlove Funk by Cullah.