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The Israel-Hamas conflict has begun, and countless lives lost. Mark and Kevin discuss it a bit, before segueing into the inability of politicians to compromise, and the consequences for everyone else. Taylor Swift has movie, and Mark doesn't get it. Kevin can't help, as he doesn't get it either. There's a bit about societal norms, why suspenders are awesome, and Camera Obscura, the concept, the band, and the website and podcast. Camera ObscuraCamera Obscura - bandAtlas Obscura

Mark and Kevin discuss the latest drama in Wisconsin, Lauren Boebert's latest incident, rich businessmen who hate their employees and want them to stop feeling empowered, Boss Tweed, some logical fallacies, Donald trump (of course), and a few other items. Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates often speak out on hot topics. Only one faces impeachment threat ‘Don’t you know who I am?’ Lauren Boebert is the creator of her own sorry scandal  Australian real estate tycoon wants to ‘kill’ the attitude where ‘employees feel the employer is extremely lucky to have them’ William M. Tweed No True Scotsman Fallacy Donald Trump unable to name one verse from "favourite book" The Bible

The news cycle never ceases to amaze Mark and Kevin. In this episode it's the billionaire who wants to live forever, otters attacking surfers, rich people's dogs, Threads, and Zuckerber vs Musk, in the battle of two evil billionaires, and Taylor Swift. This billionaire wants to live foreverGunfight at the O.K. CorralDeionized waterZuckerberg Vs. Musk: Everything We Know About The Possible Cage FightThorn of Crowns

A submarine imploded, Biden was blamed for a slow response, and obviously Trump, would have found it faster...probably by himself. The Supreme Court went crazy recently. Some people tie their self-worth to their favorite professional sports team, which Mark and Kevin find odd. The political organization, Moms for Liberty quoted Hitler in a recent newsletter.  Kids and sports, or activities is always a challenge, and it's a fine line between exposing kids to sports or activities, and forcing them to do things they don't like. They also talk about mountain biking and speed reading, which was a thing.

Kevin spent the day of the podcast fixing things, whether broken or not, so that's how the episode starts. Mark has an encounter with a climate change denier who almost utters the words "global warming", but then catches himself in the nick of time. Unfortunately science has become a team sport, with political allegiance taking priority. New cars are too complicated. Kevin likes the old ones that are easy to work on. Also, Mark and Kevin were, and probably still are, music snobs. That was a part of their personas as adolescents, and probably kept them from having more friends. The music snobbery leads to a discussion of aging rock and pop stars. Jury duty is a thing most people don't want to do, but someone has too. They should pay more so people can do it without worrying about paying their bills. The guys talk about AI. It's artificial...is it intelligent (no)?  Finally, skateboarding is cool.

Mark and Kevin don't like the sound of their recorded voices, though they do like the sound of each other's voices. Does everyone dislike the sound of their own voice? They realize they're not funny, insightful, or even likely very intelligent, but Mark brings up those who have a distorted self-image.  Kevin went to Europe and didn't want to come home. Mark and Kevin know lots of conservatives who love Europe, but love to hate it when it's politically expedient. Donald Trump wanted Europeans to immigrate to the US instead of immigrants from "shit hole countries", but the Europeans he wanted didn't have any reason to move here. On the other hand, Kevin would move to many European countries right now, if he could. Sadly, while many conservatives would be happy to help him pack, most of Europe doesn't want Kevin. A friend in Spain has listened to the podcast, and said it was about Elon Musk, so Mark and Kevin refuse to talk about Elon in this particular episode, no matter how much they dislike him and would like to talk about the latest nonsense in the Elon Musk orbit. Mark once saw the movie Big Fish in Italy, but didn't realize it was good until he saw in English. Kevin had many hours to watch movies on the plane, and watched Everything Everywhere All At Once, and the Big Short. Traveling to other countries takes you out of your comfort zones. The accommodations are smaller, the meals are different, and sometimes people don't want to speak English even if they can (not that we blame them).

Major League Baseball is changing the rules. Mainly, because it kind of sucks. Pesäpallo, the national sport of Finland is kind of like baseball, but different, and cricket is confusing. Golf is even more boring than baseball.  English food is pretty awful, but at least you can get any other kind of food while you're there. Some "sports" are really activities, but they sure pay a lot. Gwyneth Paltrow was sued for a ski accident, and Trump was indicted.  Lots of politicians are terrible, and one in particular, Robert Linlithgow Livingston Jr, was extra awful. Set to be Newt Gingrich's replacement after Gingrich resigned for his ethics violations. Bob Livingston is on a list of politicians that were involved in sex scandals, which starts with Alexander Hamilton. Somehow the Weekly World News comes up, and as it turns out it still exists.  The Satanic Temple is pretty awesome, and they are doing after school activities. New baseball rules pesäpallo Cricket rules Funny Tweets about Trump's indictment Robert Linlithgow Livingston Jr. List of federal political sex scandals in the United States Newt Gingrich Weekly World News The Satanic Temple

SpaceX employees feels more calm with Musk focused on Twitter. Elon is like the man behind the curtain, desperately pulling levers. Attention seekers: Musk, MTG, George Santos, Andrew Tate, and others. Elon Musk is focused on Twitter, and his SpaceX employees feel a weight lifted off their shoulders with no Musk breathing down their necks. He and so many others are attention seekers. In his case it's costing him billions. For others, such as Marjorie Taylor Green, Andrew Tate, and George Santos, it was a key to their success. Santos has appealed to the crass sensibilities of the right, while engaging in the very activities the right claims to hate, in a similar strategy to that of Hershel Walker and Donald Trump. Donald Trump is in a pickle, with his claim that the vaccine solved millions of lives, as his supporters believe the vaccine was actually a tracking device, or whatever. Kevin and Mark think 70s style, string art depicting today's silly politicians is a great idea. Twitter has $1.5 billion (or three Bezos' yachts, and more than Trump lost in one year) in interest payments due. Mark doesn't need the billions Musk has, because Mark has the things he needs in life, unlike Musk. Sri Lanka's economy is collapsing. The prime minister of New Zealand is resigning. Mark and Kevin are in favor of defunding things that don't work, whether it's the police or their dishwashers. The show takes a dark turn, discussing the murders in Moscow, Idaho, the Leopold and Loeb murder, and the Slender Man murder (actually, attempted murder. Mark and Kevin discuss the mistakes made in crimes, and touch on a bike riding bank robber, and a woman who stole a million dollars and had plastic surgery. The show, Power Slap is upsetting and exploitative, which leads to a discussion of the "Queen of Canada" who has convinced followers to stop paying their bills. And QAnon convinced people to leave their families and jobs to wait for JFK Jr. Mark and Kevin wonder what's more hazardous, children or hard drugs. Kevin's kid is going to be home schooled for the rest of the year. The plan is to go to Europe in the middle of the semester. This somehow leads back to a discussion of Elon Musk. They discuss compulsions and the difference between compulsive behavior and just bad decisions. This leads to a discussion about the Guinness Book of World Records. Some records are a choice and some are happenstance. Kevin and friends thought they broke the record for most four leaf clovers found in one setting. They found 21 four leaf clovers in Carbondale Colorado. SpaceX Is Calmer While Elon Musk's Focus Is on Twitter: EmployeesLooming Twitter interest payment leaves Musk with unpalatable options | Ars Technica70s String Art - PinterestSri Lanka's Economic CollapseJacinda Ardern resigns as prime minister of New ZealandMoscow Idaho murdersLeopold and LoebSlender Man StabbingRope - Hitchcock movie based on Leopold LoebThe Category 1 Bike Racer Who Became a Bank RobberAna Walshe murderBank Clerk Who Stole $600K, Got Plastic Surgery, and Went on the Run Caught After 26 YearsPower SlapThe "Queen of Canada"She's a witch!Why he cut his nails after 66 years - Guinness World RecordsEhlers-Danlos syndrome - bendy person diseaseMost Four Leaf Clovers

Mark and Kevin were obviously hungry and immediately began the show with a discussion of taco trucks, and food trucks in general. The discussion also covers fast food, video stores, sitcoms from the 80s and 90s, R.E.M. on Letterman, Crispin Glover on Letterman, Drew Barrymore on Letterman, God, Heaven and Hell, the Hell that is a cruise, avoiding risk, Harold and Maude, and medical bills.

This is the billionaire take-down episode. Elon Musk is always in the news, as is his intention. It's hard not to talk about him and his purchase of Twitter. New things come out everyday, and Mark and Kevin talk about those things once again. There's also Sam Bankman-Fried, Elizabeth Holmes, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos, who thinks philanthropy is hard.

Mark and Kevin can't stop talking about Elon Musk. Now he's bought Twitter and now works 120 hours per week. Kyrie Irving gets in trouble. Billionaires can make their own reality, at least in the eyes of their supporters. Full self driving cars aren't happening anytime soon.

Mark and Kevin discuss former British Prime Minister Liz Truss, dumb movies, Alex Jones and his billion dollar penalty, the origin of sin (according to the bible), Catholic night school (or is it Catholic Knight School?), and silly religious movies.