Tower of Technobabble

The he-men of the Tower of Technobabble take on the unlikely topic of what it means to be a man in today's society. We compare and contrast recent camping information guides with a guide from the 1940s, where men were men and women liked it that way.

Show Notes:

What’s it mean to be a man in 2013?

http://nymag.com/thecut/2013/09/what-does-manhood-mean-in-2013.html

Point/Counterpoint: Lost in the woods 2013...

http://www.wikihow.com/Survive-if-You%27re-Lost-in-the-Woods

...Versus Lost in the woods 1946:

http://tumblr.austinkleon.com/post/25853599089

Also, Men in training, now versus then:

http://www.artofmanliness.com/2013/04/15/the-boy-scouts-of-america-then-and-now-a-comparison-of-the-1911-and-modern-handbooks-and-merit-badges/

Some Damn Fine Manly Links for Men and the Women Who Love Them:

http://www.artofmanliness.com/

http://www.ironandresin.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/180_Degrees_South:_Conquerors_of_the_Useless

We explore the totally gross reason trains in Australia are slipping around, why a totally grody dude is dressing like a horror clown in England, and why, like, a bitchin' Canadian couple are going back in time to teach their kids a valuable lesson. Fer shure.

Show Notes:

Thousands of millipedes! Millions of legs!

http://www.livescience.com/39418-millipedes-caused-train-wreck.html

Clown is creepy on purpose in England:

http://gawker.com/creepy-northampton-clown-speaks-its-just-a-bit-of-1348762430

But wait! Here comes Clown Catcher!

https://twitter.com/amylouise158/status/379363420358721537/photo/1

Canadian family lives like it's 1986 to teach their kids a valuable lesson! Or to get attention! Whichever!

http://www.torontosun.com/2013/08/31/guelph-family-lives-like-its-1986

The Bitchin' toys of 1986:

http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1986toys.html

We find out how the man is sticking it to Star Trek fans yet again, then talk about the last place you'd want a nasty surprise, party down with more Chick Lit Theater, and look at the latest attempt by the Syfy channel to torpedo geek culture with it's show "Heroes of Cosplay." it's a deep dive into the rabbit hole this week.

Show Notes:

• Paramount STICKS IT to the Star Trek Fans again:

http://www.thedigitalbits.com/columns/my-two-cents/082813_1415

• Starbucks surprise!

http://wtvr.com/2013/09/05/starbucks-bathroom-snake/

Alice Cooper Surprise!

http://metro.co.uk/2009/09/16/alice-coopers-escaped-snake-story-412956/

And just because they gotta test these things:

http://now.msn.com/genius-pseudo-poo-lets-toilet-makers-test-flush-capabilities

• Chick Lit Theater Presents "Party Girl"

http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/0099/0099_01.asp

• Heroes of Cosplay: 

What it is:

http://www.syfy.com/heroesofcosplay

One opinion of why it's bad:

http://www.toplessrobot.com/2013/09/seven_reasons_why_heroes_of_cosplay_is_terrible_1.php

Aaaaaaand it's being accused of copyright infringement:

http://petapixel.com/2013/08/28/syfys-heroes-of-cosplay-show-accused-of-serious-copyright-infringement/ 

Towerbot set a geek snob straight, then we discuss underground real estate, stuff that happened a longer time ago in a galaxy slightly closer, rampant lesbianism at DC comics, try to make heads or tales of a fuzzy conspiracy theory, and then learn how someone's dead grandpa became a town's mascot. Oh, and Ben figures out what he's going as for halloween.

Show Notes:

• They’ve made a comic out of the First Draft of George Lucas’ “The Star Wars” script. It’s...different:

http://www.darkhorse.com/Zones/StarWars

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/The_Star_Wars:_Rough_Draft

• Batwoman’s wedding is nixed:

http://io9.com/dc-wont-allow-batwomans-gay-marriage-to-be-depicted-1257106266

Update: DC clarifies that it's not that she's gay, but because heroes shouldn't be happy:

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/batwoman-cant-have-lesbian-wedding-because-heroes-shouldnt-have-happy-personal-lives-8805441.html

• An email at [email protected] from listener Cynthia suggesting that we discuss this unusually strange conspiracy theory: 

Vladimir Putin The Dragon Slayer? Archangel Michael? St. George?

http://www.godlikeproductions.com/forum1/message2271559/pg1

• The strange journey of the Frozen Dead Grandpa:

 http://www.legendsofamerica.com/co-frozendeadguy.html

Towerbot, the Repeater and the Conduit had to go save the world or something, leaving Kentucky Slim to man the fort solo. Seriously, we have no idea what's on this podcast, but we trust Slim. We think his brother, L'il Jimmy Slim might have stopped by or something? Direct all mail to [email protected].

Show Notes:

Absoluely no frickin' idea.

We ponder the mighty dinosaur, get into a fight about whether or not they had feathers, discuss what makes a dinosaur a dinosaur, famous robot dinosaurs of history, wonder if the dinosaurs wondered about stuff, and then manage to take it to a whole other level.

Show notes:

It’s Jurassic Park’s 20th anniversary, and science of Dinos has changed a bit in that time: http://www.livescience.com/37297-science-of-jurassic-park-evolved.html

Kentucky Slim has a question (about the dino-pocalypse)

http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread665809/pg1 

and

http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=18169.0

We take our made up radio show on the road and talk about the film "Starship Troopers," the target of the recent live RiffTrax show.

Show Notes:

Starship Troopers: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120201/?ref_=sr_1

Rifftrax: http://www.rifftrax.com

Behind the scenes Vines!:

The Great Shake Debate: https://vine.co/v/hMQYq9YhaqK

Mic Check: https://vine.co/v/hMQYMpUep39

Man on Man Action: https://vine.co/v/hMQYe9WJgnm

Ben Tries to Explain Something in Six Seconds: https://vine.co/v/hMQYJIrJ9EW

Daggor gives us his report on the 2013 Fandom Fest in Louisville (spoiler alert: a lot of people, including a former doctor and two former captains weren't happy). We then look at the latest Doctor Who, and see if we approve. Then, just when you think the story of the "homeless Hank" bigfoot couldn't get any more strange, it really, really, really does.

Show Notes:

FandomFest 2013 (Things did not go well….)

Colin Baker's Twitter Feed: @SawbonesHex

Barrowman Panel (NSFW!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-7QUfBSirQ

Shatner Panel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yn0B7P_t4WQ

Comments about Fandomfest collected at Reddit:

http://www.reddit.com/r/Louisville/comments/1j7q2l/fandomfest_complaints/

KISSFAQ: http://www.kissfaq.com/forum11/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=89348

The 12th Doctor

Interesting take on the selection of the modern doctors:

http://io9.com/a-unified-theory-to-explain-the-casting-of-every-new-do-1054287288

The new doctor almost gave up at one point - keep your dreams, kids! 

http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/doctor-who-peter-capaldi-no-2129486

Bigfoot Roundup

Just when you think you've hit the bottom of crazy, there's a whole new sub level of crazy:

http://bigfootevidence101.blogspot.com/2013/08/breaking-news-rick-dyer-opens-there-is.html

Daggor returns to help us discuss the nature of robotic slavery, if there's a new planet on the horizon, three different ways Jesus is in the news this week, and then go way, way, way out on a slender, shaky limb to discuss the treatment of women at various geeky conventions.

Show Notes:

New Planet?

http://gizmodo.com/5759865/the-mystery-of-the-giant-planet-hidden-in-our-solar-system

Jesus Roundup:

Former IT Specialist Claims to be Jesus Reborn:

http://news.sky.com/story/1096687/former-it-specialist-claims-to-be-jesus-reborn

Shape-Shifting Jesus Described in Ancient Egyptian Text:

http://www.livescience.com/27840-shape-shifting-jesus-ancient-text.html

Decaying biblical theme park complete with Bethlehem replica could be yours for just $350,000:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2331192/Holy-Land-USA-Decaying-biblical-theme-park-complete-Bethlehem-replica-just-350-000.html

Pros and Cons of Cons:

Sexy Chewbacca:

http://www.geekologie.com/2010/10/of-course-there-is-sexy-chewba.php

and

http://www.oldrepublic.net/threads/3908-sexy-chewbacca.html

Sexy "Wompa" lady:

http://archive.rebeccablacktech.com/boards/cgl/img/0067/97/1367129806896.jpg

Witchblade lady (Probably NSFW, unless you work someplace pretty cool): http://imgace.com/pic/tag/its-comic-con-season-again/

Daggor fills in for the AWOL Kentucky Slim to talk about robot on monster violence, ways angry people can share their alcohol abuse with their children and still get into heaven, and new and exciting ways to be disappointed in the bigfoot-finding scene.

Show Notes:

Pacific Rim!

• Info: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1663662/?ref_=sr_1

• Dave's Review of Pacific Rim: http://moviemeltdown.bravesites.com/entries/general/pacific-rim

Chick Audio Theater!

• This time, we'll be performing "The Bully," the original can be found here:

http://www.chick.com/reading/tracts/1059/1059_01.asp

Bigfoot Roundup!

• Dean "Mr. Superman" Cain Hosts "10 Million Dollar Bigfoot Bounty":

http://www.spike.com/shows/bigfoot-bounty

• Want to find a bigfoot of your own? Try SquachIt!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/141588390/squatchit-original-fun-sasquatch-caller-to-find-bi

God's Cartoonist: The Comic Crusade of Jack T. Chick TRAILER