Tower of Technobabble

This week, we consider what would happen if extraterrestrial life were to land on earth, and examine the impact on society, pop culture, religion and politics, and then look at tales that say it's already happened.

Show Notes:

• The question that started our discussion:

http://gizmodo.com/what-would-we-do-if-aliens-just-showed-up-tomorrow-767233907

• The John Leer DISCLOSURE: 

http://www.coasttocoastam.com/shows/2003/11/02

• The RIO Scale: 

http://www.setileague.org/iaaseti/rioscale.htm

• Fictional encounters on the RIO Scale: 

http://www.setileague.org/iaaseti/abst2002/rio2002.pdf

UFOs Out of the Blue: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYPCKIL7oVw

We examine some recent cases of government going berserk, and then people going berserk on an individual basis. Also, there might be evidence that the Loch Ness Monster may be all Scotland's fault. Then, we pick back up the strange case of a redneck cult of personality that may or may not have a bigfoot body count.

Show Notes:

• We get a voice mail from Bryan, the proprietor of Movie Meltdown, who, despite what you might have heard on certain podcasts who shall not be named, it not an a-hole.

Feedbag!

Government Gone Berserk!

Court OKs Barring High IQs for Cops:

http://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=95836&ref=https%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com

Florida accidentally outlaws computers and smartphones:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/08/florida-banned-computers_n_3561701.html

North Carolina tacks anti-abortion provision to anti Sharia bill:

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/07/03/2251671/north-carolina-sharia-bill-abortion-restrictions/?mobile=nc

New Indiana Law Makes It A Felony For Same-Sex Couples To Apply For A Marriage License:

http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/indiana-law-makes-it-a-felony-for-same-sex-couples-to-apply-for-a-marriage-license/legislation/2013/07/08/70698

Woman marries outside of her race, species and animate/inanimate status:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2356774/Australian-woman-Jodi-Rose-marries-bridge-France--gets-mayors-blessing.html

Hot for Creature!

Is Nessie Scotland’s Fault?

http://www.livescience.com/37876-loch-ness-monster-great-glen-fault.html

Charlie Sheen Vs. Nessie:

http://www.contactmusic.com/story/charlie-sheen-in-loch-ness-hunt_3747726

Rick Dyer Vs. Bigfoot Vs. Reality

Here's just a bunch of stuff dealing with "The Best Bigfoot Tracker in the World"

All big foots should be shot: 

http://www.bigfootbuzz.net/rick-dyer-says-all-bigfoot-should-be-shot/

Rick talks about drugs:

http://www.bigfootbuzz.net/rick-dyer-talks-about-drugs

Remember when Rick shot a bigfoot, or a hobo, or something and promised to show the body? Yeah, don't hold your breath:

http://bigfootevidence101.blogspot.com/2013/07/breaking-news-bigfoot-body-postponed.html

Rick Dyer: Hero

http://bigfootevidence101.blogspot.com/2013/07/rick-dyer-is-my-hereo.html

The Fourth of July fell on podcast night, but never fear! We're here to kick some knowledge, American History style. Also, fireworks safety.

Show Notes:

The United States Bill of Rights - http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights.html

The National Council on Fireworks Safety - http://fireworkssafety.org

In order to get to the bottom of our night terrors, we have consulted a professional. L. Andrew Cooper, author of "Burning the Middle Ground" and several other fiction and non-fiction horror books, enters the Tower to discuss all aspects of horror: what makes horror, how he became involved with the horrible, and what scares him when things go bump in the night.

Show Notes:

L. Andrew Cooper's blog - http://landrewcooper.com

L. Andrew Cooper's Amazon page - http://www.amazon.com/L.-Andrew-Cooper/e/B003N1FE36/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1372776942&sr=8-1

Blackwyrm Publishing - http://www.blackwyrm.com

The Wicker Man - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070917/?ref_=sr_6

The Black Hole - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078869/?ref_=sr_3

One of the Tower crew gets gainfully employed, Microsoft shoots itself in the foot while Sony holds the gun, the death toll in Man of Steel, the real-world risks of ghost hunting, and then we go on a ramble about the Lone Ranger, Fringe, The Flying Nun and the many mechanics of the Knight Industries 2000.

Show Notes:

• XBox backtracks on requirements - http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2013/06/xbox-one-drm/

• Damage done to Metropolis in “Man of Steel” fight:

http://www.avclub.com/articles/science-estimates-that-the-damage-done-by-man-of-s,99165/

• When ghost hunting goes wrong:

http://www.examiner.com/article/tennessee-woman-shoots-at-ghost-hunters

and

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/05/22/ghost-hunting-dad-video-camera-films-girlfriend-sex-underage-son_n_3317398.html

• Is the Lone Ranger racist?

http://jezebel.com/johnny-depp-wants-to-fix-racism-with-tonto-514398140

Model Maker Paul Francis stops by to discuss props, movies, geek culture and all manner of things from the film world, including Boba Fett rivalries, rescuing a submarine from Planet Hollywood, shooting props with shotguns, and which sci-fi spaceship has the biggest boobs. Believe it or not, that last one actually has an answer.

Show Notes:

Lucas Francis Studios: http://www.lucasfrancisstudio.com

Paul Francis IMDB Page: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3199202/?ref_=fn_nm_nm_16

Moebius Models: http://www.moebiusmodels.com

Round 2 Models: http://www.round2models.com 

The instructions for the Enterprise Model, if you're so inclined: http://www.round2models.com/files/instructions/pol808.pdf

EMP Museum (Seattle): http://www.empmuseum.org

Because it seemed appropriate, the Top 75 Spaceships in Movies and TV: http://www.denofgeek.us/movies/14621/top-75-spaceships-in-movies-and-tv

We explore the made up world of mermaid reality television, and then dive into a deep black pool of conspiracies. Is the water you drink making you stupid? Are the jets in the sky controlling your mind, or the weather? Is the government hiding bigfoot to protect big timber? Tune in for the answer to these exciting questions! Unless the government shuts us down.

Water Fluoridation:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_fluoridation_controversy

Chemtrails:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemtrail_conspiracy_theory

Bigfoot:

http://www.cryptomundo.com/bigfoot-report/bigfoot-burning/

http://www.bigfootencounters.com/sbs/mtsthelens_bodies.htm

http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/iie/v4n1/

We look at how Battle of the Planets may help the lovelorn, why Chicago will soon be looking a lot blurrier, and then dive back into the never ending pool of Commander Ashtar lore, and the Repeater calls shenanigans on the claims that a listener once hit a manatee.

Show Notes:

• Chicago Sun-Times lays off entire photography staff:

http://gawker.com/sun-times-lays-off-its-photographers-on-slow-crawl-to-i-510490745

http://jimromenesko.com/2013/05/30/report-sun-times-lays-off-entire-photo-staff/

• That's My Ashtar!: 

George Van Tassell: http://www.georgevantassel.com

Howard Cocklin eyewitness interview D.C. UFO event

http://youtu.be/UQwwl1ln30Y

George Van Tassel interview (1964):

http://youtu.be/g7zC--A_mEk

The INTEGRATRON!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKjLRTX8Wls

• Manatees? What's a Manatee? It's like a mermaid, right?

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-february-19-2013/tea-party-manatee-riding-patriots

We discuss terrible drivers, terrible daughters, potentially good news on the star wars front and the troubling onset of nerd-on-nerd violence. Pick your side and come out swingin'! Personally, we'll pick whichever side Towerbot is on (military laser and all).

Show Notes:

• Idiot Hits a biker, drives off, and then Tweets about it. http://jalopnik.com/woman-brags-about-hitting-cyclist-discovers-police-als-509059331

• Mom punishes bully daughter by making her wear ugly clothes:

http://fashionablygeek.com/kids-apparel/mom-punishes-bullying-daughter-with-ugly-clothes-for-school/

• Star Wars: Rebels is the new animated show, based on the original Ralph McQuarrie illustrations

http://mashable.com/2013/05/20/star-wars-rebels-disney/

• Nerd Fight! http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/16/184477677/almost-nerd-wars-doctor-who-star-wars-fans-have-spat

We discuss the concept of "too soon" when it comes to comedy and pop culture. Does comedy equal tragedy plus time, or are some people just jerks looking for an excuse? Also, spoiler alert, the Titanic sinks at the end.

Show Notes:

• Titanic Museum - Titanic Pigeon Forge (http://www.titanicpigeonforge.com) and Titanic Branson (http://www.titanicbranson.com): Available for church groups, weddings, vow renewals, corporate outings, sales team meetings and all manner of other inappropriate events.

• And don't forget Titanic opoly - the perfect gift for Father's Day! - https://www.titanicpigeonforge.com/cart_detail.php?sku=730799061172&i=011.00011016&q=-2&g=&t=

• The Titanic Adventure bouncy slide (if you're so interested): http://www.cuttingedgecreations.com/titanic-adventure-33.html