Are We Recording?

The one about Andrew 'Sandy' Irvine, not knowing your kids, getting old, nacho cheese machines, snowboarders, fanny packs, Sonrisa Salvaje, hot tub neck pillows, horror movies

Hardtail Media — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 06:00:00 -0700

Mark and Kevin have not recorded, or at least published, any podcast episode of any kind, in a long time. They are rusty.

They ramble from Sandy Irvine's foot found on Everest, to nacho cheese machines, the Snurfer, David Lee Roth in Spanish, and more.

The one about gift cards, big business takeover of everything, the loss of retail expertise, Tucker in Russia, private equity buying up healthcare, retirement isn't going to happen, Bezos Yacht Coin, outgoing Boeing CEO, Elon Musk, DJT stock, Vice Presidents, MGT and Lauren Boebert

Hardtail Media — Fri, 03 May 2024 05:00:00 -0600

Mark and Kevin have been busy, because of kids, but finally get back to recording another episode. This one starts with a rant about gift cars, and why they are "the worst". Things quickly spiral, as it often does with these two.

The episode covers:

Gift cards
Corporate takeover of everything
The loss of expertise in retail
Tucker Carlson in Russia
Private equity buying up, and ruining, healthcare
Retirement isn't going to happen for many Americans
Our proposal for a new crypto currency, called Bezos Yacht Coin (BYC), pegged to the value of a Jeff Bezos Yacht, currently $500M.
The outgoing Boeing CEO, his use of jets for personal trips, while claiming as business expense, and his massive Golden Parachute
Elon Musk
DJT stock
Vice Presidents (they shouldn't just be an accessory)
Marjorie Taylor Greene
Lauren Boebert

The one about the Israel-Hamas war, my way or the highway, Taylor Swift, societal norms, suspenders, Atlas Obscura, and Camera Obscura

Hardtail Media — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 04:17:00 -0600

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 Obscura
Camera Obscura - band
Atlas Obscura

The one about the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Lauren Boebert, sociopathic CEO, Boss Tweed, True Scottsman, Trump's Favorite Bible Verse, Danny Masterson, Jimmy Fallon

Hardtail Media — Wed, 27 Sep 2023 04:28:00 -0600

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 one about the billionaire who wants to live forever, otters attacking surfers, rich dogs, Threads, Zuckerber vs Musk, and Taylor Swift

Hardtail Media — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 04:30:00 -0600

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 forever
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
Deionized water
Zuckerberg Vs. Musk: Everything We Know About The Possible Cage Fight
Thorn of Crowns

The one about the submarine, Trump, the Supreme Court, team pride, Elizabeth Holmes, Moms for Liberty, kids and sports, and mountain biking

Hardtail Media — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 04:58:00 -0600

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.

The one about home projects, science as a team sport, cars are complicated, music snobbery, old rock stars, jury duty, AI, skateboarding

Hardtail Media — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 04:32:00 -0600

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.

The one about the sound of our voices, distorted self-image, collecting things, satirical business ideas, liberal towns in conservative states, Kevin's European vacation, movies, US health insurance sucks, and leaving your comfort zone through travel

Hardtail Media — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 04:30:00 -0600

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).

The one about baseball, pesäpallo, cricket, English food, golf and other activities that pay a lot, Gwyneth Paltrow, Trump indictment, bad politicians, the Weekly World News, and the Satanic Temple

Hardtail Media — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 05:07:00 -0600

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

The one about the latest Musk drama, attention seeking politicians, 70s string art, Sri Lanka, the Queen of Canada

Hardtail Media — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 05:15:00 -0700

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: Employees
Looming Twitter interest payment leaves Musk with unpalatable options | Ars Technica
70s String Art - Pinterest
Sri Lanka's Economic Collapse
Jacinda Ardern resigns as prime minister of New Zealand
Moscow Idaho murders
Leopold and Loeb
Slender Man Stabbing
Rope - Hitchcock movie based on Leopold Loeb
The Category 1 Bike Racer Who Became a Bank Robber
Ana Walshe murder
Bank Clerk Who Stole $600K, Got Plastic Surgery, and Went on the Run Caught After 26 Years
Power Slap
The "Queen of Canada"
She's a witch!
Why he cut his nails after 66 years - Guinness World Records
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome - bendy person disease
Most Four Leaf Clovers

The one about taco trucks, big hamburger, video stores, R.E.M, Heaven and Hell, Harold and Maude, and medical bills

Hardtail Media — Tue, 31 Jan 2023 05:36:00 -0700

Mark and Kevin were obviously hungry and immediately began the show with a discussion of taco trucks, and food trucks in general. Kevin recalls the time when GOP strategist promised food trucks on every corner. Sadly, that never happened.

Somehow the conversation morphs into a conspiracy theory about "Big Hamburger" convincing us to not like salads, then moves on to the Frosty, fast food, and video stores. They also reminisce also a few old Letterman clips, talk about God, Heaven and Hell, Harold and Maude, and medical bills.

SNL - Taco Town
Simpsons Zombie Apocolypse
Crispin Glover on Letterman
Drew Barrymore on Letterman

The one about mobster names, Elon Musk and Twitter, SBF, FTX, Elizabeth Holmes, Zuckerberg and Meta, and Jeff Bezos

Hardtail Media — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 04:30:00 -0700

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.

Elon Musk is like a mobster, and Mark and Kevin discuss possible mobster names for themselves before discussing the current Musk/Twitter absurdities:

A discussion of Ye's antisemitic Twitter rant, leads to an idea for a Death Metal music converter app, that converts anything into Death Metal, which leads to an idea to make Whitefish Ski Resort into Deathfish Ski Resort in an effort to discourage skiers from coming and crowding our slopes.

Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX, Alameda Research, and Caroline Ellison are all in the news non-stop, for fraud, and their Real World style, Bahama lifestyle.

Elizabeth Holmes gets more than 11 years for her fraud with Theranos. Mark Zuckerberg is losing a ton on his ridiculous Metaverse, and Jeff Bezos thinks philanthropy is hard. Mark and Kevin would just like him to pay more taxes, pay his employees more, and treat them better.

The one about Elon Musk buying Twitter, Kyrie Irving, Norwegian princess, and cruises

Hardtail Media — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 04:30:00 -0700

Mark and Kevin can't stop talking about Elon Musk. Now he's bought Twitter and now works 120 hours per week. Things don't seem to be going great at Twitter.

Kyrie Irving gets in trouble and seems to double down. Billionaires can make their own reality, at least in the eyes of their supporters. Full self driving cars aren't happening anytime soon.

The discussion moves back to Twitter, with Musk's failed change to the verification check mark. Advertisers are fleeing, and Elon has no good way to make everyone happy. Lots of Twitter employees lose their jobs, including ones necessary to keep Twitter functioning.

Mark would like to see a crazy right-wingers in a house together reality show.

The billionaires lost billions, but are still billionaires.

A Norwegian princess relinquishes her royal duties to run an alternative medicine business with her self-proclaimed shaman fiance.

Neither Mark nor Kevin like cruises.

Norwegian princess quits royal duties to work with ‘shaman’ fiance
Elon Musk says he used a popular weight-loss drug to get 'fit, ripped, and healthy'
R.I.P. to Twitter’s Short-Lived Double Verification
It took a 19-year-old with $8 10 minutes to blow up Elon Musk’s new blue check scheme
Vulture Capitalist
Beatport

The one about Liz Truss, Nickelback, dumb movies, Alex Jones, fake Christians, sin, Catholic Knight School and religious moves

Hardtail Media — Tue, 15 Nov 2022 04:30:00 -0700

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.

There's also some Nickelback, Sharknado, SNL, and more.

The one about natural disasters, bad movie pitches, fancy restaurants, Red Lobster, lab grown meat, fake meat, Maya Rudolph, Cracker Barrel, The Great Outdoors, 80s camp movies, Henry Winkler, Scott Baio, spit balls, cool dads, and Elon Musk

Hardtail Media — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 04:30:00 -0600

With Hurricane Ian in the news, the episode starts with natural disasters.

As is typical, the rest of the show is a stream of consciousness discussion of bad movie pitches, fancy restaurants, Red Lobster and seafood, lab grown meat, Maya Rudolph, Cracker Barrel, The Great Outdoors, 80s camp movies, Airplane II, Henry Winkler, Van Morrison and all the music Mark hates, Scott Baio and opportunism in the crazy right, spit balls, students tormenting teachers, the cool dads we think we are, Jerry of the Day, and Elon Musk's embarrassing text messages.

Maya Rudolph - Hot Ones
Cracker Barrel Fake meet uproar - CNN
Alpha Gal - Radiolab
The Old '96er - Great Outdoors
Airplane II - Out of coffee
Woman crashes into ski rack
1100 meter slide down ski slope
Elon Musk's embarrassing texts

The one about Covid comorbidities, gunshot wounds, back problems, God, abrupt endings, Carrie Fisher, urinals, Zillow Gone Wild, Knight Rider, visions of the future, Uber was hacked, inflation, Patagonia, and the Energizer Bunny

Hardtail Media — Tue, 04 Oct 2022 04:30:00 -0600

Kevin's furnace broke and getting it fixed was a minor miracle. Getting it replaced would have been a major miracle. Also, he's old now, and messed up his back. Mark brings up Covid deaths and comorbidities, followed by gunshot wounds, and abrupt endings to things, such as life. Things get dark for a bit.

They also discuss Carrie Fisher and Star Wars. Somehow the conversation turns to urinals, and specifically, old time, big urinals, and then urinals in homes. The discussion leads straight into Zillow Gone Wild, then Instagram account that highlights crazy houses found on Zillow.

Kevin doesn't like open floor plans. He also wants to convert his office into an apartment, but construction costs too much, and it would need a bathroom and a toilet. Mark suggests a Japanese singing toilet.

Visions of the future missed the mark. We don't have flying cars, we do have the internet, yet we still have to unplug routers to reset them. Uber suffered a major hack, and years ago the CIA director had his AOL email hacked.

Yvon Chouinard gave Patagonia away for the environment. The Energizer Bunny is a horror movie in the making.

Zillow Gone Wild
One of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Largest Untouched Homes Is for Sale for the First Time
How Japan's music-playing, water-spraying TOTO toilets took over the world
Uber Hack: It’s the Simple Things That Kill Your Security
CIA boss John Brennan's personal email 'hacked'
Why Patagonia’s purpose-driven business model is unlikely to spread

The one about the Fast & Furious, never ending fashion trends, Heath Kirchart, Orcas, Elon Musk, the Queen and the Royal Family, Ronald Reagan, 9/11

Hardtail Media — Thu, 29 Sep 2022 04:30:00 -0600

The episode somehow starts off with the Fast & Furious series, moves on to really baggy pants, former skateboarder Heath Kirchart, amazingly evil Orca whales, Elon Musk (of course), the Queen and the Royal Family, Ronald Reagan, and September 11th.

Mark and Kevin start with a rant about the Fast & Furious and really baggy pants, but move on the the exploits of former skateboarder Heath Kirchart. Mark talks about a video of how Orca whales get a seal that is, seemingly, safe on large, floating, piece of ice.

There's also the required discussion of Elon Musk, who may have to purchase Twitter for way more than it's worth, and is being sued for racketeering due to his involvement with Dogecoin.

They have to discuss the Queen's recent death, and Kevin wants to talk about the Royal Family too, which he feels is absurd. Also Ronald Reagan ruined public universities because he didn't want too many educated young people.

The episode ends with a discussion of 9/11, and the never-ending War on Terror.

Heath Kirchart: From Skating to Death-Defying Travel Missions | Epicly Later'd
Elon Musk $258 billion Dogecoin lawsuit expands
The Origin of Student Debt: Reagan Adviser Warned Free College Would Create a Dangerous “Educated Proletariat”

The one about absolutism, extreme sports past and present, skiing, skateboarding, surfing, and Elon Musk

Hardtail Media — Tue, 09 Aug 2022 04:24:00 -0600

Mark and Kevin discuss absolutism in just about everything, from gun rights, to sunburns at the Jersey Shore (Whitefish Beach), extreme sports, and the predictable outcome (death). There's also some reminiscing about how the past was better in extreme sports, and how the genre has "jumped the shark". There's also the required discussion of Elon Musk, which was prompted by his and his father's latest baby announcements.

The Blizzard of AAHHHs
The Improbable true story of the World Record cliff jump
Making a skate video
Elon Musk's 76-year-old dad says he's had another child with his 35-year-old stepdaughter: 'The only thing we are on Earth for is to reproduce'
Elon Musk had twins last year with one of his top executives, report says

The one about rich people ruining things, flooding, Larry Ellison, authentic food, Lauren Boebert, Marjorie Taylor Greene

Hardtail Media — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 06:00:00 -0600

Rich people are moving to Montana and ruining things. Montana is flooding, while the rest of the country has historic heat.

Meanwhile, Larry Ellison has bought a Hawaiian Island, and ruins it for all the locals. The rich try to turn every nice place into a gated community for themselves.

Don't settle for mediocre cuisine. We can now get good Indian food from a gas station. Kevin reminisces about a gas station in Michigan with chicken shawarma, called Mr. Kabob.

Laurent Boebert rumors include being an escort, having two abortions, and abandoning her former sister-in-law, son, and dog, in an out of control ATV. Her sister-in-law needed to be airlifted to a hospital.

Marjorie Taylor Greene thinks Covid-19 was created in a "peach tree dish", and if you get the vaccine will allow Bill Gates to shock you if try to eat meat, and will allow him to track your bowel movements.

Larry Ellison’s Lanai Isn’t for You—or the People Who Live There

Lauren Boebert target of wild claims spreading despite lack of evidence

Marjorie Taylor Greene goes off the rails

The one about Elon Musk and Twitter, Marjorie Taylor Greene and attention seeking, communes and libertarianism, Tucker Carlson and hyper-masculinity

Hardtail Media — Wed, 29 Jun 2022 06:00:00 -0600

Mark and Kevin react to the characters in the news today. The attention seekers known as Elon Musk, Marjorie Taylor Green, and Tucker Carlson receive the bulk of their ire.

Elon wants (maybe) to buy Twitter, Marjorie Taylor Greene is sued, and Tucker Carlson believes men are wimpy and should tan their balls.

The one about technical difficulties, rorschach tests, Atlas Shrugged, woolly aphids, Afghanistan, politics, cheating

Hardtail Media — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 06:00:00 -0600

This episode was originally supposed to be episode 13, but we had some serious technical issues recording the previous two, so this one is now number 11. Is this the end of season 1, the beginning of season two, or just another episode? We don't really know.

In this episode we talk about Rorschach tests, Atlas Shrugged, Afghanistan, woolly aphids, politics, cheating, and more.

The one about the Smithereens, college rock, record stores, and radio stations, Van Morrison, super yachts, Bill Gates, controversies in the art and rock climbing worlds, and the Australian mouse plague

Hardtail Media — Tue, 29 Jun 2021 06:00:00 -0600

Just before recording the podcast, the Smithereens, Only a Memory, played on the radio, and Mark and Kevin began discussing music of the era. The discussion carried right into, and begins, the latest episode of Are We Recording?

A journey into 80s and 90s rock wouldn't be complete without mentioning college rock, and the college radio stations that played them, or the awesome record stores that would sell you the music with a dose of condescension.

The two add Van Morrison to the list of tragic musicians, with his latest album containing such antisemitic drivel as They Own The Media.

Mark and Kevin talk about super yachts, particularly the half a billion dollar variety, such as that of Jeff Bezos, and the one that was recently towed through canals in the Netherlands, on it's way to delivery.

The discussion touches on social media, the Bill Gates saga, and several art world controversies.

Three controversies are discussed:

Next, the two move on the the Australian Mouse Plague, rock climbing controversies, people ruining nature (while supposedly trying to enjoy it), and the fact that there are too many damn people.

Rock climber bolts over petroglyphs
Vigilante Climbers Remove Bolts From Manufactured Cimbs
Climber cuts down protected trees, and bullies female climbers

The one about awful people, old presidents, election fraud origins, posthumous accolades, tigers and dumb criminals, drug kingpins, vaccine microchips, freewill, economic mobility

Hardtail Media — Wed, 19 May 2021 06:00:00 -0600

The discussion of episode nine is broad and meandering. Mark and Kevin talk about:

Awful people who face no repercussions
Old presidents
Election fraud myth origins
People who receive accolades after death/posthumous accolades
Resistance to change
A tiger in Houston, and dumb criminals
Vaccine microchip tracking
Freewill, or the lack thereof
Economic mobility
Pablo Escobar

The making of a myth
An obscure Texas security company helped persuade Americans that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump

Tender Is The Night
Did you know that the City Hall of Brussels has an asymmetrical façade?
A tiger went missing in Houston for nearly a week. Here's how the search unfolded and what's next for him

The one about our fragile global trade system, bad and ugly product design, living in hotels, Nomadland, and Unhappy hipsters

Hardtail Media — Tue, 13 Apr 2021 06:00:00 -0600

Mark and Kevin talk about the Ever Given, the ship stuck in the Suez Canal, and how fragile our global trade system is. We also give our unrequested opinions on terrible (in our opinion) product design, long term living in hotels, the movie Nomadland, dangerous houses, and Unhappy hipsters, among other things.

The Suez logjam shows how fragile our global trade system is
Unhappy Hipsters

The one about working too much, NFTs, ugly websites, modern design, crazy moms, and Slovakia name day

Hardtail Media — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 03:00:00 -0600

Mark and Kevin discuss working too much, burn out, and dying people wishing they had worked more.

They also discuss the boom in NFTs, what the heck they are, and what you actually get if you buy one. Next, they briefly rant about ugly websites, talk about unfriendly modern design, and bad ways to die.

There's a discussion about some crazy moms that were recently in the news, including a mom who hacks the middle school network to rig the homecoming vote, and one who makes deep fakes of her daughter's cheer leading rivals.

They spend some name talking about names, including Slovakia name days. And, they finish up with a discussion of car problems, including Mark's Seattle or Bust car trip (it was a bust), that ended with a blown head gasket.

How a 10-second video clip sold for $6.6 million
Homecoming Queen (and Her Mom) Arrested for Alleged Vote Hacking
Mother 'used deepfake to frame cheerleading rivals'
Napolean Dynamite - Uncle Rico
Elon Musk’s baby name
NZ judge renames "Talula Does the Hula from Hawaii"
Slovakia Name Day
Subarus with head gasket issues

The one about Groundhog Day, Bill Murray, ski jumping, extreme sports, surfing, low-rider paint jobs, and Saddleback Mountain

Hardtail Media — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 11:12:40 -0600

Mark and Kevin start off talking Groundhog Day, and Bill Murray. We end up discussing a variety of actors and movies, before moving on to old ski jumping movies, the extremeness of sports today, which leads to surfing, and how low-riders are painted.

1939 Ski Jumping competition
Oslo Ski Jump (1946)
Watch Kai Lenny’s Concussion-Inducing Wipeout at Jaws
Video Shows Photographer Breaking Back in Deathly Surf
Watch Tom Curren Surfing A Perfect Mexican Pointbreak
Makua Rothman on His Biggest Jaws' Wave Ever
Laird Hamilton Shoots Mailbu Pier
Unnur
Beasts of No Nation
How Low-Rider Graphics Are Painted On Cars
Swiss skier Urs Kryenbuehl crashes across finish line at Kitzbuhel downhill
Saddleback Mountain Reopens
Mt. Cain

The one about the Capital Invasion

Hardtail Media — Sun, 28 Mar 2021 14:52:20 -0600

There was this time when a bunch of angry white men invaded the capital, while dressed in costumes. This episode covers that crazy event, and meanders a bit around the insane politics of the times.

Somehow, we forgot about this episode. Apparently we were so distracted by the events of that day, and the insanity that followed, distracted us from actually publishing this episode. Even though this should have been up awhile ago, we figured it's better late than never...maybe.

The one about living a hundred years in the future or the past, the sunk cost fallacy, ill-advised total commitment to a public figure, and goat testicles.

Hardtail Media — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 18:52:02 -0600

On the podcast we start out by discussing time travel, and whether we'd rather travel back in time, or forward in time. We somehow migrate to discussing lost Bitcoin, the role of luck in life, a Michael Lewis speech at Princeton, the myth of American meritocracy, commitment to incendiary political figures, the sunk cost fallacy, political tribalism, refusing to believe obvious facts, John R. Brinkley, and the rise of "Quack Doctors" and "Border Blaster" radio.

Burton Holmes
Dorthea Lange
Edward S. Curtis
Planet Money - Episode 816: Bitcoin Losers
The Big Short
Princeton Baccalaureate 2012: Michael Lewis

Myth of Meritocracy
Sunk Cost Fallacy
Cult of Personality
Self-fulfilling prophecy
QAnon
John R. Brinkley
Border Blaster Radio
Man on the Moon cancer scene

That one about Geo-fencing, storage units, records and CDs, malls, mobile homes...

Hardtail Media — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 06:00:00 -0700

Mark and Kevin had a way too long intro covering Geo-fencing, storage units, records and CDs, and being dropped off at the mall by mom.

Eventually, they get to the show, and cover:

mobile homes, the ideal vs. the reality, at least in America.
cremated pets turned into pendants in the shape of hamburgers
society's resistance to change
World Happiness Report
Toxic Masculinity

America's trailer parks: the residents may be poor but the owners are getting rich

Why big investors are buying up American trailer parks

All American Despair

The one about Formula One, Can-Am car racing, Rudy Giulliani, an underground water slide house in Cambodia, and a trip around the world.

Hardtail Media — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 14:24:26 -0700

Mark and Kevin start off by revisiting a couple of topics from the first episode, including Formula One racing, and ice hockey rink sizes. The Formula One discussion leads to the crazy Can-Am car racing series from the 70s and 80s, and Formula One steering wheels. They talk about Rudy Giuliani's hair malfunction, and a comparison of Trumpism and professional wrestling.

Also discussed:

Home. A documentary about Sarah Outen's human powered trip around the world
Backyard adventures by Beau Miles
A pilot who narrowly avoids being sucked out the window on a jetliner
The Welsh band, The Alarm

The one about Formula One, Niche Sports, Exploding Whales, and Tracy Chapman

Hardtail Media — Fri, 29 Jan 2021 13:12:35 -0700

We had an idea for a new podcast. Actually, it was two ideas. Mark had one idea, and I had another. We thought we were on the same page, but we weren't. We initially thought we'd call the show the Rabbit Hole, and in this episode we definitely go down it.

The discussion starts with Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton, and proceeds to cover the insane world of kids and college sports, exploding whales, water issues in the western U.S., a man who builds a Lamborghini in his basement, a man who builds a boat in his house, a real estate boom in the west, The Cult at Top of the Pops, Ray Charles performing Georgia on my Mind, the artist Lady Lamb, the proto-punk band Death, the documentary Searching for Sugarman, Q Lazzarus, and Tracy Chapman.