Holiday Break!

In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe consider the form and evolution of the horse hoof, as well as related adaptations. (originally published 06/13/2023) 

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In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe discuss William Malone’s 1985 “Alien” knock-off “Creature,” starring Stan Ivar, Wendy Schaal, Lyman Ward, Diane Salinger and Klaus Kinski. 

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In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Rob and Joe explore the world of the periodical cicada, from their curious lifecycle to their mythological and culinary roles in human cultures. 

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In a rapidly evolving world, we need to balance the fear surrounding AI and its role in the workplace with its potential to drive productivity growth. In this special live episode of Smart Talks with IBM, Malcolm Gladwell is joined onstage by Rob Thomas, senior vice president of software and chief commercial officer at IBM, during NY Tech Week. They discuss “the productivity paradox,” the importance of open-source AI, and a future where AI will touch every industry.

This is a paid advertisement from IBM. The conversations on this podcast don't necessarily represent IBM's positions, strategies or opinions.

Visit us at ibm.com/smarttalks

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In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Rob and Joe explore the world of the periodical cicada, from their curious lifecycle to their mythological and culinary roles in human cultures. 

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Once more, it's time for a weekly dose of Stuff to Blow Your Mind and Weirdhouse Cinema listener mail...

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In this classic episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Robert and Joe consider the form and evolution of the horse hoof, as well as related adaptations. (originally published 06/08/2023) 

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In this episode of Weirdhouse Cinema, Rob and Joe return to the glorious world of 80s Charles Band productions with 1984’s “The Dungeonmaster,” a supernatural dreamscape with eight directors starring Jeffrey Byron, Richard Moll and Leslie Wing. It’s time to reject the devil’s reality and substitute your own! 

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In this episode of Stuff to Blow Your Mind, Rob and Joe explore the world of the periodical cicada, from their curious lifecycle to their mythological and culinary roles in human cultures. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Smart Talks with IBM returns with a new season on Tuesday, June 25th. This season, we’re diving back into the world of artificial intelligence, but with a focus on the powerful concept of “open,” and how it applies to AI. Host Malcolm Gladwell will invite curious colleagues from Pushkin Industries to explore how openness is already reshaping industries, ways of doing business, and our very notion of what's possible.

This is a paid advertisement from IBM.

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This time on Code WACK!

Patients aren’t the only people who are frustrated with our current healthcare system. So are doctors! Why?  And why doesn’t free market capitalism work with health care?

To find out, we spoke to award-winning filmmaker Maddy Purves, who is editor of the documentary Healing US narrated by Susan Sarandon, and Laura Fielding, founder of Red Berets for Medicare for All and associate producer of Healing US. This is the second episode in a two-part series.

This is the first of a two-part discussion Rich had with Health Care expert and consultant Nathan Kaufman, the Managing Director of Kaufman Strategic Advisors.  A fascinating a frank talk about the state of our nation's Health Care policy.

Engage the conversation on Substack at The Common Bridge!

A self-described bookworm, Gustavo Arellano spent his childhood at the Anaheim Public Library where he fell in love with classic works  such as The Catcher in the Rye and The Importance of Being Earnest, and the surrealist poetry of the Beats.  Influenced by jocular treasures such as Mad Magazine and In Loving Color, Gustavo shares how he discovered his own comedic voice through the development of his satirical column “Ask a Mexican” and how his experience at the O.C. Weekly paved the way for a successful career as a freelance reporter, food critic, author, and columnist for the L.A. Times.

Hosts Taryn Stroop and Shannon Halverson-Gorajia get a snapshot of how the vernacular culture of Orange County helped to shape and direct the humor, interests, and career trajectory of this Southern Californian icon.

In early spring of 2021, the family of Grace Schara, a 19-year-old young woman with Down’s Syndrome, brought their daughter to an emergency room at the direction of an urgent care clinic due to wavering blood oxygen levels from COVID-19. According to her father Scott Schara, this was a grave mistake.
 
Schara claims the hospital, St. Elizabeth’s in Appleton, Wisconsin, became an adversary, not an ally, in treating Grace.  The relationship broke down when the Schara's were not convinced Grace needed to be put on a ventilator, a treatment encouraged by the federal government with financial incentives. Within a matter of days, Grace was dead. Her family discovered the physician put a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order in place and infused a combination of powerful anesthesia drugs into her system. As a result, they've filed a lawsuit claiming the hospital engaged in euthanasia. 

Schara insists that this lawsuit extends beyond mere malpractice. He says his family initiated the legal battle to highlight concerning issues related to hospital care, COVID-19 treatment policies, financial incentives, DNR orders, and the rights of the disabled. Supporting his argument, Scott shared three documents: Section 1553 of the Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148, March 28, 2010), which tackles the "prohibition against discrimination on Assisted Suicide," a letter from Jennifer Garrett of the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services which refers to Chapter 154 of WS Statutes indicating there was no action against the physician who implemented the DNR order against Grace, and policy guidance from the Palliative Care Network of Wisconsin outlining how medical professionals should treat individuals with Down Syndrome. To learn more about Grace and her case, click here.

Scott also addressed his removal from the hospital by a security guard due to his stance of being "against medical advice."