Tower of Technobabble

In a slightly-abbreviated episode, we look at the hormonal minefield that is teenage dating, why cosplay armor would be a terrible idea in actual battle, and look at the next technological innovation that Congress won't understand but will try to legislate anyway.

Show Notes:

• The hazards of flattering women's armor  - http://www.tor.com/blogs/2013/05/boob-plate-armor-would-kill-you

(which isn’t to say unisex is the way to go)

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/military/2011-04-22-women-soldiers-uniforms_n.htm

• If you outlaw files, only criminals will have files? 3-D printed gun plans downloaded 100,000 times

http://gizmodo.com/100-000-people-have-already-downloaded-3d-printed-gun-p-498755006

…aaaaaand after we did the show, the government ordered the file taken down, proving that they're not quite up on how the Internet works (to wit: If a file is out and distributed, you can't call it back)

http://boingboing.net/2013/05/10/us-state-department-orders-rem.html

Daggor returns to share how to save water and your dignity when destroying the bathroom at a stranger's house, then we ponder the role of slavery in the Star Wars universe, and why the Jedi couldn't pass the damn hat to buy Anakin's mother out of bondage. Then we risk our immortal souls to do an audio play based on a Chick tract that deals with the evils of Dungeons and Dragons. Listen. If. you. Dare.

Show Notes:

• Fake Shower - Save water and your dignity! 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/akatu-fake-shower/id514433351?mt=8

• Slavery in Star Wars - Apparently, it's no big deal: http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Slavery

• Chick Tracts - First, a little history (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chick_tracts),

 Then, an audio play of this one - http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0046/0046_01.ASP

Dramatis Personae:

Evil DM/Ms. Frost: Brian

Marcie/Black Leaf: Dave

Debbie/Elfstar: Paul

Occult Leader: Brian

Debbie's Mom: Dave

Marcie's Mom/Mrs. Anderson: Brian

Mike: Brian

Mr. Moustache: Dave

As Daggor fills in for the AWOL Repeater, we talk about Daggor's date night WITH SCIENCE, selling out (and the opportunity therein), habitable planets, invading snails, and then debate the eternal question of primal forces versus civilization.

Show Notes:

• New planets! The scene of the Lyran Wars? (That's a throwback to the Commander Ashtar episode, btw): 

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/18/us/planet-discovery/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

• Invasion of the SSSSNNNNNAAAAAIIIIIILLLLLSSS….!

http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/15/us/florida-giant-snails/%2523us%2520-%2520?iref=obinsite

• Date Night - WITH SCIENCE!

http://www.okcupid.com

• Disposable Phone Numbers, when dealing WITH SCIENCE!

https://itunes.apple.com/app/id505800761?&referrer=click%3D9d001f5a-46f0-45fb-9083-2c510d4d4550

• Discussion Pit: Astronauts vs. Cavemen:

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/CavemenVsAstronautsDebate

The Conduit catches up with a couple of past topics, including one that scarred him as a teen, and may scar you this very day. Also, The Repeater points out a Bigfoot film that, horror of horrors, might be fake, and Kentucky Slim runs down some products that never, ever should have existed.

Show Notes:

• The Truth about "Splash" (apparently, it exists):

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splash!_(TV_series) and

http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/splash

• Meet the film that scarred the Conduit:

http://www.avgeeks.com/wp2/the-day-i-died/ 

and here's the Rifftraxed version:

 http://www.rifftrax.com/shorts/day-i-died

• Bigfoot Roundup: The Repeater notes that it's very necessary to mention this before April 30, so here it is:

http://www.ammoland.com/2013/04/shooting-bigfoot-minnow-films-morgan-matthews-to-release-movie-body/#axzz2R8Vs27wk

and

http://bigfootblogger.com/the-premier-of-rick-dyers-shooting-bigfoot-is-almost-here/

and

http://www.ghosttheory.com/2013/02/08/rick-dyers-dead-bigfoot-saga

We escape the Tower to take part in Conglomeration 2013, recording live with all those who would join us. Join us, won't you? Among other things, we talk about geek feminism, first geekhood memories, and a sure-fire money making cottage industry scheme!

Show Notes:

• We were here, at ConGlomeration 2013 - http://www.conglomeration.info

• Our new friend Jessie was a speaker about sexual harrassment in the geek world (This is as geek-friendly a podcast as you're likely to find, but seriously, guys? Act like you've seen a girl before. Some of you are giving all of us a bad name.)

Center for Women and Families - http://www.thecenteronline.org

Geek Feminism - http://geekfeminism.org

The Mary Sue - http://www.themarysue.com

• The (Local) Triangle of the Supernatural, or, as we like to call it, The Big Lick Triangle! Soon to be coming to a t-shirt near you! - http://www.panoramacg.com/tower/biglicktriangle.jpg

We go over some conspiracies and then run down some information on aliens - both those who want to eat us and those who want to save us. Turns out we have a friend in Ashtar. Remember, if it's on the Internet, it must be true. 

Show Notes:

• Roger Ebert, R.I.P. - http://jezebel.com/5993693/roger-eberts-twenty-best-reviews?tag=roger-ebert

• A ghost-free look at a poll about conspiracies (apparently, four percent of voters say they believe “lizard people” control our societies by gaining political power, and their vote counts as much as yours does.)- http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2013/04/conspiracy-theory-poll-results-.html 

• More aliens than you can shake a terrestrial stick at - http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/vida_alien/esp_vida_alien_19a.htm

Towerbot give some advice to the lovelorn that will most likely go terribly, spectacularly wrong. Kentucky Slim finally moves into SimCity, and The Repeater, recently scarred by a movie released last year, retreats to a television show secretly celebrating it's 20th anniversary, The X Files.

Show Notes:

• Petitioning for a Better SimCity: http://www.forbes.com/sites/johngaudiosi/2013/03/26/gamers-turn-to-ftc-with-new-simcity-petition-aimed-at-protecting-consumers/

• X-philes: It's the 20th anniversary … why no fanfare? SCULLY!

http://www.wired.com/geekmom/2011/02/why-todays-women-need-dana-scully/

• Side bar - Legion of Fire - Marabunta - Killer Ants (Mitch Pileggi, 1998)

Full movie part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNb16Er1Wdk

Full movie part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoLsV4bjiKY

We go just a tad dark as we talk about Jedi marriage and nihilism, machines heading out into the inky blackness, mass suicides, mass hysteria, and a host of other uplifting topics. Also, information on how you can see us live at a local upcoming event. If you dare.

Show Notes

• We’ve left the solar system. Maybe:

 http://gizmodo.com/5991527/ladies-and-gentlemen-we-have-left-the-solar-system

• Jedi could perform marriages, says Free Chuch of  Scotland:

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-21842269

• Baby briefly returns from the dead, freaks out funeral guests:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2155245/Dead-Brazilian-boy-wakes-funeral-asks-WATER-lying-lifeless.html

• We're going to be at ConGlomeration 2013 - Come meet and greet us!

http://www.conglomeration.info

Where and when: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ag6nl298MiY_dG45TlM1a0JObTQxMmN2MFk0WGFrWGc#gid=0

Towerbot discovers a new hero and a talent for rap, then we talk about people freaked out by a strange animal washing up on a beach, we discuss kickstarter, and on the occasion of the new Pope, the Repeater the about some, shall we say, less reputable men who have filled those robes.

Show Notes:

• The power of Kickstarter compels you! 

- Veronica Mars Movie Project 

 http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/559914737/the-veronica-mars-movie-project

- Rifftrax "Twilight" Project 

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rifftrax/rifftrax-wants-to-riff-twilight-live-in-theaters-n?ref=search

- Fellow local podcast "Save Movie Meltdown"

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/save-movie-meltdown

• The “Beast of Tenby” - Monster, or really decayed dog?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/28/beast-of-tenby-creature-found-beach-photo_n_2782057.html?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=pulsenews

• Historical Perspectives: Extreme POPE edition!! — Sure, there's a new Pope, with that "new pope" smell and all, but what of some of the, shall we say, less pious Popes from history? 

http://www.oddee.com/item_96537.aspx

Towerbot attempts to do the impossible, while we talk about the increasingly improbable, including Spontaneous human combustion, bigfoot co-pilots and signing on to play SimCity. Also, Kentucky Slim gradually increases his self-medication to fight a cold.

Show Notes:

• SimCity requires constant online connection, leads to a disasterous launch:

http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20130305/14551022206/launch-day-punishment-simcitys-online-only-drm-locking-purchasers-out-servers-purchases.shtml

• Water Weirdness:

http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/20/us/california-hotel-water-corpse/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

• Spontaneous Combustion Weirdness:

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2013/02/20/spontaneous-combustion-eyed-in-oklahoma-mans-death/

• Denver Weirdness Update:

http://www.nbcnews.com/id/39676387/ns/us_news-weird_news/#.USUkdqXoQqc

• Bigfoot = Chewbacca? Most likely