Tea: Bai Hao Yin Zhen (“White Hair Silver Needle”), a white tea. Damon talks about a sea change in internet usage and recent attempts by bad folks to take down the web.  Michael goes over the basic ideas of machine learning and how you may already be using it.  Also: brussel sprouts, clean barns, the … Continue reading "Tech Tea 011: Mistakes and Bad People"

Tea:  Shi Feng Long Jing (“Lion Peak Dragonwell”).  Damon covers fresh water from thin air.  Michael talks about Google’s recent hardware launch event, including the new Google Pixel phone.  Also:  talking in binary, tourist traps, the difficulty in moving a hole to a new home, predicting the year of the zombie apocalypse, a follow up on … Continue reading "Tech Tea 010: The Google Dreamcatcher"

Tea: Zi Juan Purple Leaf Sheng Puer.  Damon and Michael change things up and take a field trip to the Northwest Tea Festival.  Technology mentioned includes drain tables, steaming vs. wok-fired processing methods, non-drip teapots, matcha grinders, gaiwans, mulch, superabsorbent materials, mini tea factories, remote-controlled tea farming …and a secret tea machine!  Also: appearances by Friday … Continue reading "Tech Tea 009: Secret Tea Machine"

Tea:  Que She Sparrow’s Tongue 2016.  Damon talks about the new iPhone.  Michael talks about technological approaches to reduce sexism and racism.  Also:  Time travel, payment systems, Damon threatens violence, Michael holds his tongue, scientists holding Peeps races in the lab, robots that can prove they’re not a robot, cow privacy, the latest Twitter updates, … Continue reading "Tech Tea 008: The Time Travel Episode"

Tea: Yiwu Sheng Puer.  Damon talks about going to PAX.  Michael talks about spy technology.  Also: Michael calls Damon a lush, Damon threatens to slap Michael, Kenny G, nuns, D&D, liquids on electrical equipment, not knowing how to speak languages, gamification, fake movies, carbon paper, technology in the US presidential election, encryption, and Leonard Nimoy’s birthday. This … Continue reading "Tech Tea 007: Shaken, Not Stirred"

Tea: Mo Gan Huang Ya. Damon talks about Pokemon shennanigans, and Michael talks technology in education. Also: plant genetics, glabrous vs. pubescent, playing style, dark social, UTM and hash fragments, bagpipes and accordions, Ingress, day camp, GPS, geocaching, the Dewey Decimal System, learning math, and room temperature. This episode was brought to you by: Seven … Continue reading "Tech Tea 006: Polkamon GO!"

Tea: Ming Qian Anji Bai Cha, a green tea called “white tea.” Damon talked about his experience as a new cable cord-cutter.  Michael dives into the many ways you are tracked beyond search engines and ads leaving browser cookies.  Also: Drinking tea for health and weight loss tea, launching stuff with a VCR, pop-up ads … Continue reading "Tech Tea 005: The Channel Master"

Tea:  Lao Shu Dian Hong.  Damon and Michael make corrections and talk about motion sickness.  Damon covers the growing issue of counterfeits on Amazon, and Michael takes a swing at tech journalists who aren’t good at tech or at journalism.  Plus: Triangles in photography and tea, pens that don’t work, and some Tech Tea news! … Continue reading "Tech Tea 004: The Justice Pitcher"

Tea: Doctor’s Blend.  Damon and Michael touch on virtual reality again, then discuss their mutual love of Myst and what games they’re playing these days or anticipating in the coming months.  Michael tells when he’d rather have analog tools over technology, and Damon reports on how his analog and digital photography compare.  Plus: Godzilla, questionable TV choices, … Continue reading "Tech Tea 003: My Cup Is Bigger On The Inside"

Tea: Bai Hao/Oriental Beauty.  Damon talks differential privacy and tracking.  Michael mentions the Raspberry Pi and its use in a couple of open-source style alternatives to home assistant devices.  Both show off their knowledge of sports and play the “which social media site is best” game.  Plus: shout outs, virtual reality (VR), games, and more! … Continue reading "Tech Tea 002: Raspberry Pi"