Episode 264: Archeologists of a Bygone Age

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Perhaps for the first time in human history, we people can now buy things more easily than we can fix them. Repair shops have become a thing only on television, even though so much of value could be repaired. I spend most of this Episode 264: Archeologists of a Bygone Age, planning my next big repair.


Hand Tool Rescue's fascinating vise repair!

In this episode, I play: Pee Wee Herman bemoaning the presence of so many large posteriors; Senator Ted Stevens noting the tubular reality of the Intertubes; and, with great thanks, The Post Apocalyptic Inventor so elegantly summarizing the current situation of our built environment.


The Post Apocalyptic Inventor bringing a wise introduction.

(I also referred to but did not play a video maker taking apart his own shredder.)


Just for fun, check out John's ultimate wood splitter!

Musically, I play: Jahzzar doing "Studie I". Mr. Ceglowski opened the show backed by KMFDM's "Attak," and I close with Mistle Thrush.

Episode 263: The Hits To Our Privates Just Keep Coming!

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Ethics often interfere with profits. When more profits are “required,” companies often face a hard choice…or an easy one. Results vary. I look into two compromises/profitable opportunities in this Episode 263: The Hits To Our Privates Just Keep Coming!

In this episode, I read from: two recent articles about how greedy big companies are getting, one concerning the Alef Bets, the other the Shit River; Shoshana Zuboff's 2019 book The Age of Surveillance Capitalism: The Fight For a Human Future At The New Frontier of Power; and Cory Doctorow's 2008 book Little Brother.

I play: a musical stinger from the old Batman television show; and from the 1999 movie American Pie, the kinky flautist Michelle demanding her name be spoken. Musically, KMFDM backs a new Cory Doctorow intro in the opening; and I close today with Mistle Thrush doing "It's All Like Today."

Addendum: Jim here. I goofed. I forgot to remove some content from the editing software; I had it muted, but when one compiles, the muting gets turned off.

I've recompiled. This sound file should be more what I originally had in mind. Thanks a bunch to listner Bleak Nemesis for pointing it out.