The Catchup

This week kicks off the start of Tokyo 2020, delayed last year due to the pandemic. This year's Olympics faces a few new events, including surfing and skateboarding. So it begs the question, what sports would YOU like to see added to the lineup for Paris 2024? We discuss our favorite options, including the possible addition of Esports. Denison makes a strong case for why it - and possibly chess - should both qualify. This as record-breaking heat and even a typhoon bear down on Japan, making for unique conditions at an already-unique Olympic Games.

Then, criticism is piling in after billionaires Jeff Bezos (Blue Origin) and Richard Branson (Virgin Galactic) take their respective inaugural rides to the outskirts of space. Many people are wondering why they gained the ability to take the futuristic trips during a pandemic. Others are wondering why their money wasn't going toward something more immediately helpful to mankind. We react to the criticism, sharing our opinions on why we think it is so critical to boldly go where no one has gone before, and how these billionaires are already doing their part to give back.

It's an all-new episode. Join the discussion!

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This week on the Catchup, it's what some say is an attempt to intimidate voters, deter participation, and stoke fears of  voter fraud without actual proof. Hervis Rogers from Texas voted in the 2018 midterms, and 2020 Democratic Primary. Rogers spent time in jail for a burglary in the 90s, and was on parole from 2004 to June 2020. But under Texas law, parolees cannot cast a ballot. So, Rogers was arrested  and charged with two counts of illegal voting, a felony. He was held on $100k bail, and could face up to 40 years in prison (20 for each charge).

But Rogers claims he didn't know he was voting illegally, setting up an interesting legal battle considering state law requires the accused to "knowingly" be voting illegally to be found guilty. But there's an extra layer to this.  Despite voting in the Texas Democratic primary more than a year ago, Rogers was only charged this week as the Texas Legislature discusses bills that could limit voting access.

The Governor has also been critical of - without evidence - widespread voter fraud in the last election. Combine this with the fact that Rogers - who was profiled on national newscasts during the Primary after waiting in line for hours to cast his ballot  - and you critics saying Rogers’ arrest was motivated by politics, not election integrity.

There's a lot to break down, including why Rogers is NOT being charged in the county he voted in, so let's get into it. Join the discussion!

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Last week, John handled things on his own with a motivational solo episode. What does that mean for this week? Well, there's a lot of CATCHING UP to do!

This Week, Denison shares the details on his surprise trip to Austin, one of America's weirdest cities. The Hard Cider-lovers we are, Denison dives into his cider-tasting at the city's famous Austin Eastciders, one of the many highlights of the trip! It's a tale of two weeks, as John shares his battle against a strong stomach virus, a biopsy, and burnout, with bigger and brighter things for both on the horizon.

THE TOPICS:

FIRST, We discuss the state of the Olympic Games. Just days before the Opening Ceremony, there's still widespread concern over the safety of athletes and fans amid a pandemic. We discuss the safety precautions Japan is taking, including banning all tourists from attending the games - something sure to be a huge economic loss for a Country that's invested so much. We also compare this to the postponed Euro 2020, going on right now. What's working for that event, and why is there much less concern for it compared to The Olympics? We also discuss the bizarre things  being done by Games organizers to keep competitors safe, including (but not limited to) banning condoms.

NEXT, the banning of Dallas track star Sha'Carri Richardson from the Olympic Games. She had just claimed her title as the fastest woman in America, running the 100-meter dash in 10.64 seconds. The 21-year-old had the opportunity to stake her claim as fastest in the world on the global stage in Tokyo. But, she tested positive for marijuana just a month before the Opening Ceremony, causing the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to ban her from this year's competition. Richardson says she smoked after the death of her Mom as a way to cope. The action by officials has drawn strong reaction from both sides, and may soon influence the way the USADA polices marijuana use in the future (taking a page out of the book of UFC). But will it spark change on a global level? There's a lot to get into!

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This week follows our country's biggest celebration, Independence Day. And while there is some debate over whether the USA truly provides freedom for all, there's one freedom that can't be taken away: Your own autonomy.

Definition of autonomy

1: the quality or state of being self-governing
especially : the right of self-government
The territory was granted autonomy.

2: self-directing freedom and especially moral independence
personal autonomy

In a busy world that's only growing busier, it's easy to be caught up in constantly serving others (and losing yourself in the process). So, how can you find your true independence without sacrificing those around you? And how do you reach a point where you don't allow others to influence your life choices, while also trusting in yourself to make the right moves? We discuss, and much more.

True autonomy also allows you to bring joy to those around you. Find your autonomy, acquire your independence - whether it's financial, emotional, etc - and grow your happiness in the process so you can share it with others. A lot to talk about on this one! Let's jump into it!

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This week, we're just days away from our nation's biggest celebration, Independence Day! With society finally feeling nearly back to normal post-COVID, how are we celebrating? Will this year's festivities (that happen to fall on a weekend by the way) go out with a bang? Or nothing more than a mere fizzle? The excitement is palpable, and we want to know how YOU are enjoying this ongoing return to normalcy.

Then, The Pentagon releases its long-awaited report on UFO sightings... but there's still more questions than answers. The possibilities of aliens are... wait for it... still up in the air. But more than 140 sightings were not explained! What did we learn from this report? And what, if anything, is still out there? We discuss!

Plus, Windows major announcement of a new Windows software! We give an early take on the upgrade. Will it ride the wave of XP and 10? Or will it sit to the side of Vista? We discuss the exciting news for PC users, give our review on the product, and a whole lot more on this week's episode. JOIN THE DISCUSSION!

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This week, the podcast gets heated... sort of. Both of us are enduring heat waves in our respective states, as is most of the country. While we'd both take the heat over the cold, there's new concerns about Texas's power grid holding up to the demand of such a heat wave... just a couple of months after it was proven to not be able to handle the cold. What's at risk if it all falls apart? What is the cause for the surge in demand, and why can't the supply keep up? And, what questionable tips are being given to stay cool and minimize your energy usage? We discuss, and give some tips of our own on this week's episode.

Plus, Juneteenth is finally a federal holiday! The day commemorates the official ending of slavery in the United States, and not 156 years too soon by the way. Why did it take so long to pay tribute to such a big moment in our nation's history? Especially with our government honoring so many other things through holidays like President's Day, or the admittedly-questionable Columbus Day? And why now? We discuss, and share our thoughts on whether this addition was politically-charged, and why the push for racial equality should transcend politics.

Then, Snapchat finally drops its popular "speed" filter! The feature would show the speed the user was traveling in real-time as the video was taken. The problem? One of the most common uses for this filter was while driving, leading to several deadly or violent crashes. Lawsuits followed, and Snapchat slowly made the feature more difficult to find... all while denying it had any role in those crashes. What we think about the subtle changes from a growing corporation, and much more. JOIN THE DISCUSSION!

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This week, John and Denison sail into uncharted waters. National Geographic has changed the game, identifying a fifth Ocean! But don't sell your outdated globes just yet! The decision still awaits final approval and consensus from an international group. But Nat Geo says the announcement was based off different ocean currents and temperatures. That raises the question... with climate change continuing to progress, is this something that could continually change and potentially create "new" oceans?  We discuss.

During The Catchup, Denison shares his battle with another Microsoft outage, this time preventing employees from communicating with each other through the company's teams platform. John then shares details on an exciting upcoming gig. It's the first full-band show in years, the first with this current lineup, and nearly every song will see the light of day for the first time ever. You can learn more about the event HERE! Hope to see you there!

Then. Denison and John discuss a growing debate in America - the teaching of Critical Race Theory. The goal of this teaching is to look at events of America's history through the lens of their racial impact. For example, how the Civil War impacted race relations. Or, reverse that, with how race relations impacted the Civil War. The proposal comes with a lot of heated emotions on both sides. We discuss the positives of this kind of teaching, address the concerns, and look at how critical race theory could forever change America.

Plus, there's a new Maverick in town. But Ford is looking to change the game with not one, but two future-thinking pickups. The new Maverick is nothing like the original. This one is a light-duty pickup that comes standard with a hybrid engine, 40 mpg, and a good price tag. But it also comes with many car-like features, defeating the purpose of its supposed truck capabilities. Is it worth the purchase? Also, lightning strikes twice! Ford is bringing back the F150 Lightning with an all-new electric powerplant. Is this truck's steep price tag worth the benefit?

We discuss, and much more on this week's episode. JOIN THE DISCUSSION!

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This week is a special episode, with John hosting live from Wichita’s iconic Brickyard music venue. That means all your favorite catching up and discussion you’ve come to know and love, with the added character of a bustling live music scene.

First, we start with an update over the controversy of COVID’s origins. This after the emails of Dr. Fauci were leaked to the public. It reveals many wild details including the wide array of people Fauci was emailing - from lawmakers to celebrities. Plus, Fauci ponders if COVID-19 originated in a Chinese lab, and something many people are focusing in on… an email speaking out against the use of masks. Is Fauci a hypocrite with this advice? Or is his Spring 2020 email a product of the lack of knowledge on the virus at the time? We discuss.

Then, more ransomware hacks, more problems. More and more companies and government entities are becoming the targets of ransomware attacks. These hacks steal your information and hold them for ransom, and the latest are high stakes with a high price. In many cases, we actually know who’s behind the attacks… so what’s being done about it? And is it enough?

Plus, NBA fans attacking players. There have been many recent incidents resulting in heavy repercussions for the fans behind the acts. Is the uptick in violence and abusive language a result of cabin fever? Or something much more dire? This type of behavior is nothing new for sports fans, nor the NBA. So what can be done to stop it? We talk about it, and much more on this week’s episode! JOIN THE DISCUSSION!

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It's a return to form for the U.S., with Memorial Day marking the first holiday post-pandemic featuring fewer COVID cases, more vaccinations, and less restrictions. So, how are you enjoying this new-found freedom? We share our plans, and what this could mean for the rest of 2021.

Then, Apple is allowing people to opt out of sharing their information with any downloaded apps. This doesn't sit well with Facebook, who feeds off of that information to grow their business. The battle that's ensued is something that could shape the way your information is shared. We discuss, and much more on this week's episode!

Plus, another battle with Facebook. The company is now allowing posts implying a Chinese lab sparked the Coronavirus. This after a ban on those posts not long ago. The reason why? The prevailing theory is now shifting to the idea that a lab mistake may have caused the virus to spread. What this mean for the future of our relations with China, how we share information, and how scientists research dangerous viruses? We discuss, and much more on this week's episode.

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This week, we're counting the days until the return of Summer! With vaccinations full-steam ahead, health restrictions lowering, and nature doing its part, we couldn't be more excited. How we plan to handle a post-pandemic Summer and make the most of a time a year in the making.

Then, New details and leaks of Navy encounters with UFOs. This after a jaw-dropping interview on 60 minutes detailing the speed and ability many of these flying objects have. We discuss shocking new video released this week (WATCH IT HERE), and what the story could be behind these flying objects. Where are they coming from? What's their purpose? Is it ALIENS?! We discuss.

Plus, the latest shortage is sand... and it's only getting worse. Don't go to the beach? Doesn't matter. Sand is used in just about everything you could imagine. From glass, to cell phones, and a whole lot more. Sand mining is the largest industry in the world. So why aren't we talking about it? And what can be done to fix the shortage? That and a whole lot more.

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