 Question Cathy returns for a long overdue dip into the mailbag. We hit a range of topics including: how the recent Supreme Court ruling will affect college admissions, 90s cultural fads, the mind-bending heat affecting much of the planet this summer, what the DeSantis campaign's flop tells us about the war on "wokeness," and how some state-level Democratic parties have gotten so much done with razor-thin majorities. Plus I drop the least obscure hints yet about my forthcoming book and we reveal the most appealing presidential candidate for a post-Biden Democratic Party.  Cathy mispronounces "Patreon" creatively and I recognize mid-recording that Bath &amp; Body Works and Bed, Bath, and Beyond are two different things. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, via Patreon. Contact me via twitter (@edburmila), at least for now. I am on Bluesky at edburmila.bsky.social as well. Thanks: the bands that contribute music (IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

Question Cathy returns for a long overdue dip into the mailbag. We hit a range of topics including: how the recent Supreme Court ruling will affect college admissions, 90s cultural fads, the mind-bending heat affecting much of the planet this summer, what the DeSantis campaign's flop tells us about the war on "wokeness," and how some state-level Democratic parties have gotten so much done with razor-thin majorities. Plus I drop the least obscure hints yet about my forthcoming book and we reveal the most appealing presidential candidate for a post-Biden Democratic Party. Cathy mispronounces "Patreon" creatively and I recognize mid-recording that Bath &amp; Body Works and Bed, Bath, and Beyond are two different things. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@edburmila</a>), at least for now. I am on Bluesky at edburmila.bsky.social as well. Thanks: the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

045 - All-Mailbag Episode 2023

Artist and author Brian Brown joins me to discuss his new book  The He-Man Effect: How American Toy Makers Sold You Your Childhood. We talk about our memories of toy advertising and cartoons from the Eighties and the political and regulatory changes that opened the floodgates to marketing at children. Inhumanoids, M.A.S.K., SilverHawks, and Sectaurs are just a few of the D-list intellectual properties of the era that we recall with accuracy I can only describe as alarming. Brian's earlier books on  Andre the Giant,  Vladimir Putin, and the  criminalization of marijuana are all worth your time too. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, via Patreon. Contact me via twitter (@edburmila), at least for now. I am on Bluesky at edburmila.bsky.social as well. Thanks: Brian Brown, the bands that contribute music (IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

<a href="https://www.boxbrown.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Artist and author Brian Brown</a> joins me to discuss his new book <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-he-man-effect-how-american-toymakers-sold-you-your-childhood-brian-box-brown/18698943?ean=9781250261403" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> The He-Man Effect: How American Toy Makers Sold You Your Childhood</a>. We talk about our memories of toy advertising and cartoons from the Eighties and the political and regulatory changes that opened the floodgates to marketing at children. Inhumanoids, M.A.S.K., SilverHawks, and Sectaurs are just a few of the D-list intellectual properties of the era that we recall with accuracy I can only describe as alarming. Brian's earlier books on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Andre-Giant-Legend-Box-Brown/dp/1596438517" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Andre the Giant</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Accidental-Czar-Life-Vladimir-Putin/dp/1250760755/ref=sr_1_2?qid=1689622358&amp;refinements=p_27%3ABrian+%22Box%22+Brown&amp;s=books&amp;sr=1-2&amp;text=Brian+%22Box%22+Brown" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Vladimir Putin</a>, and the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cannabis-Illegalization-America-Box-Brown/dp/1250154081/ref=sr_1_4?qid=1689622372&amp;refinements=p_27%3ABrian+%22Box%22+Brown&amp;s=books&amp;sr=1-4&amp;text=Brian+%22Box%22+Brown" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> criminalization of marijuana</a> are all worth your time too. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@edburmila</a>), at least for now. I am on Bluesky at edburmila.bsky.social as well. Thanks: Brian Brown, the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

044 - The He-Man Effect with Brian 'Box' Brown

Question Kyle and Question Jennie join me to discuss one of the most poorly thought-out, pretentious stunts in the history of pop culture, wherein an early UK techno-electronica duo churn out a novelty song, one hit single, and a book about how to write a novelty song before topping it all off by burning one million pounds, one £50 bill at a time. It's the kind of anti-capitalist, Art School edginess that blew your mind at 20 and I sincerely hope does not blow your mind as a functional adult. After scoring a gimmick hit about Dr. Who called "Doctorin' the Tardis" in 1988 as The Timelords, the duo rebranded themselves as KLF to release the minor Nineties hit single "3am Eternal." Somehow that was enough for them to amass £1,000,000, which in 1994 they fed into a roaring fire in a video called "The K Foundation Burn a Million Quid." If you ever wondered what kind of face a person makes as they are actively ruining their own lives on camera, check it out.  Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, via Patreon. Contact me via twitter (@edburmila).  Thanks: Kyle and Jennie, the bands that contribute music (IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

Question Kyle and Question Jennie join me to discuss one of the most poorly thought-out, pretentious stunts in the history of pop culture, wherein an early UK techno-electronica duo churn out a novelty song, one hit single, and a book about how to write a novelty song before topping it all off by burning one million pounds, one £50 bill at a time. It's the kind of anti-capitalist, Art School edginess that blew your mind at 20 and I sincerely hope does not blow your mind as a functional adult. After scoring a gimmick hit about Dr. Who called "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5fDOCwa9L0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Doctorin' the Tardis</a>" in 1988 as The Timelords, the duo rebranded themselves as KLF to release the minor Nineties hit single "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A57P8hjdYcY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">3am Eternal</a>." Somehow that was enough for them to amass £1,000,000, which in 1994 they fed into a roaring fire in a video called "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3dcXzPFLOc" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The K Foundation Burn a Million Quid</a>." If you ever wondered what kind of face a person makes as they are actively ruining their own lives on camera, check it out.  Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@edburmila</a>).  Thanks: Kyle and Jennie, the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

043 - KLF Burns One Million Quid (Literally)

David Roth

David Roth (@david_j_roth) of Defector (@DefectorMedia) joins me to talk about one of the most memorable ad campaigns in the history of sports and pop culture, Reebok's $30,000,000 1992 "Dan vs. Dave" commercials that briefly turned two decathletes into household names and was supposed to culminate with one of them being crowned the world's greatest athlete at the Barcelona Olympics. Along the way we remember plenty of guys and dig deeper into the way pop culture references from early adolescence tend to have great staying power and an inflated sense of importance. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, via Patreon. Contact me via twitter (@edburmila).  Thanks: David Roth, the bands that contribute music (IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

David Roth (<a href="https://twitter.com/david_j_roth" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@david_j_roth</a>) of <a href="https://defector.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Defector</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/DefectorMedia" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@DefectorMedia</a>) joins me to talk about one of the most memorable ad campaigns in the history of sports and pop culture, Reebok's $30,000,000 1992 "Dan vs. Dave" commercials that briefly turned two decathletes into household names and was supposed to culminate with one of them being crowned the world's greatest athlete at the Barcelona Olympics. Along the way we remember plenty of guys and dig deeper into the way pop culture references from early adolescence tend to have great staying power and an inflated sense of importance. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@edburmila</a>).  Thanks: David Roth, the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

042 - Dan vs. Dave (with David Roth)

Question Kyle joins me for musings on concept albums as I fondly recall the 1999 gimmick-compilation "Short Music for Short People" from the pop-punk mavens at Fat Wreck Chords. The idea: 101 bands, 101 songs, each one 30 seconds long. The royalty of the genre all contributed - Blink-182, NOFX, The Offspring, everyone you remember from the late Clinton years. An impressive, if not especially listenable, idea for an album. The podcast opens with a brief sample of "Ketchup Soup" by the Teen Idols, their contribution to this album. To purchase the album, please visit the Fat Wreck website for a digital download or other format. Bonus: 29 minutes in I start singing "Uptown Girl." These podcasts are ad-free and self-produced; I value your support on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos.

Question Kyle joins me for musings on concept albums as I fondly recall the 1999 gimmick-compilation "Short Music for Short People" from the pop-punk mavens at Fat Wreck Chords. The idea: 101 bands, 101 songs, each one 30 seconds long. The royalty of the genre all contributed - Blink-182, NOFX, The Offspring, everyone you remember from the late Clinton years. An impressive, if not especially listenable, idea for an album. The podcast opens with a brief sample of "Ketchup Soup" by the Teen Idols, their contribution to this album. To purchase the album, <a href="https://fatwreck.com/products/short-music-for-short-people" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">please visit the Fat Wreck website</a> for a digital download or other format. Bonus: 29 minutes in I start singing "Uptown Girl." These podcasts are ad-free and self-produced; I value your support on Patreon at <a href="https://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos</a>.

Minicast F2: Short Music for Short People

Motivated by the Chinese balloon story that recently if briefly dominated the news, Kelsey Atherton (@AthertonKD) joins me to talk about PROJECT GENETRIX (1956), a Pentagon scheme to float almost 600 balloons over remote parts of the USSR and China. Turns out balloons are not well-suited to espionage duty for reasons that should be obvious to anyone over the age of ten.  We also talk plenty about the recent balloon incident, the link between GENETRIX and the phenomenon of UFO sightings, and about how a crashed GENETRIX balloon is indirectly responsible for mankind's first photos of the dark side of the moon. Check out Kelsey's substack, Wars of Future Past, and his  recent contribution to Slate on the China incident. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, via Patreon. Contact me via twitter (@edburmila).  Thanks: Kelsey, the bands that contribute music (IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

Motivated by the Chinese balloon story that recently if briefly dominated the news, Kelsey Atherton (<a href="https://twitter.com/AthertonKD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@AthertonKD</a>) joins me to talk about PROJECT GENETRIX (1956), a Pentagon scheme to float almost 600 balloons over remote parts of the USSR and China. Turns out balloons are not well-suited to espionage duty for reasons that should be obvious to anyone over the age of ten.  We also talk plenty about the recent balloon incident, the link between GENETRIX and the phenomenon of UFO sightings, and about how a crashed GENETRIX balloon is indirectly responsible for mankind's first photos of the dark side of the moon. Check out Kelsey's substack, <a href="https://athertonkd.substack.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Wars of Future Past</a>, and his <a href="https://slate.com/technology/2023/02/china-spy-balloon-history.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> recent contribution to Slate</a> on the China incident. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@edburmila</a>).  Thanks: Kelsey, the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

040 - Project Genetrix (feat. Kelsey Atherton)

At the height of the Cold War, the looming existential dread of human extinction in a nuclear holocaust was punctuated by a three-way battle for the Grand Ballroom of New York City's famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel fought by Nikita Khrushchev, the US State Department, and the American Dental Association. You'll never guess who won. These podcasts are ad-free and self-produced; I value your support on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos. The book referenced in this episode is available  wherever you like to buy books.

At the height of the Cold War, the looming existential dread of human extinction in a nuclear holocaust was punctuated by a three-way battle for the Grand Ballroom of New York City's famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel fought by Nikita Khrushchev, the US State Department, and the American Dental Association. You'll never guess who won. These podcasts are ad-free and self-produced; I value your support on Patreon at <a href="https://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos</a>. The book referenced in this episode is available <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/k-blows-top-a-cold-war-comic-interlude-starring-nikita-khrushchev-america-s-most-unlikely-tourist-peter-carlson/6722969?ean=9781586488468" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> wherever you like to buy books.</a>

Minicast F1: The Battle of the Waldorf-Astoria Ballroom

Matt Weaver

Maximillian Alvarez

Labor journalist and author Max Alvarez (@maximillian_alv) takes a break from hosting the essential podcast  Working People (@WorkingPod) and reporting for Real News Network to talk about the recent labor issues on America's freight railroads. Also joining us is Matt Weaver, a maintenance of way crew member based in Toledo working for freight giant CSX. He’s active with BMWED-IBT 2624, a Teamsters-affiliated union for whom he has recently been chosen to serve as legislative director for his state. He has worked on the railroad since 1994.  If you're interested in learning more or finding out what you can do to help, Matt asks that you visit the Railroad Workers United online or locally. Max's recent book The Work of Living: Working People Talk about Their Lives and the Year the World Broke is also highly recommended.  Be sure to check it out. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, via Patreon. Contact me via twitter (@edburmila).  Thanks: Matt and Maximillian, the bands that contribute music (IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

Labor journalist and author Max Alvarez (<a href="https://twitter.com/maximillian_alv" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@maximillian_alv</a>) takes a break from hosting the essential podcast <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/working-people/id1414587517" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Working People</a> (@WorkingPod) and reporting for <a href="https://therealnews.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Real News Network</a> to talk about the recent labor issues on America's freight railroads. Also joining us is Matt Weaver, a maintenance of way crew member based in Toledo working for freight giant CSX. He’s active with <a href="https://www.bmwe.org/default.aspx" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">BMWED-IBT</a> 2624, a Teamsters-affiliated union for whom he has recently been chosen to serve as legislative director for his state. He has worked on the railroad since 1994.  If you're interested in learning more or finding out what you can do to help, Matt asks that you <a href="https://www.railroadworkersunited.org/get-involved-in-rwu" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">visit the Railroad Workers United online</a> or locally. Max's recent book The Work of Living: Working People Talk about Their Lives and the Year the World Broke is also highly recommended. <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-work-of-living-working-people-talk-about-their-lives-and-the-year-the-world-broke-maximillian-alvarez/18529295?ean=9781682193235" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Be sure to check it out</a>. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@edburmila</a>).  Thanks: Matt and Maximillian, the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

037 - Workin' on the Railroad with Matt Weaver and Maximillian Alvarez

Erin Thompson

Dr. Erin Thompson (@ArtCrimeProf), the Art Crime Professor, joins me to talk about her book  Smashing Statues: The Rise and Fall of America's Public Monuments. We cover the illusory permanence of monuments, the politics of taking them up (and down), and the fate of removed monuments sitting in storage right now, waiting for a more reactionary political climate to re-erect them. Question Cathy joins me for the mailbag, where we discuss the Denver Broncos, Starbucks workers' organizing efforts, the scourge of paywalled scholarly research, and the ultimate fate of Twitter. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, via Patreon. Contact me via twitter (@edburmila).  Thanks: Dr. Thompson, the bands that contribute music (IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

Dr. Erin Thompson (<a href="https://twitter.com/artcrimeprof" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@ArtCrimeProf</a>), the <a href="https://www.artcrimeprof.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Art Crime Professor</a>, joins me to talk about her book <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/smashing-statues-the-rise-and-fall-of-america-s-public-monuments-erin-l-thompson/17065807?ean=9780393867671" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Smashing Statues: The Rise and Fall of America's Public Monuments.</a> We cover the illusory permanence of monuments, the politics of taking them up (and down), and the fate of removed monuments sitting in storage right now, waiting for a more reactionary political climate to re-erect them. Question Cathy joins me for the mailbag, where we discuss the Denver Broncos, Starbucks workers' organizing efforts, the scourge of paywalled scholarly research, and the ultimate fate of Twitter. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@edburmila</a>).  Thanks: Dr. Thompson, the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

036 - Smashing Statues with Erin Thompson

In which I stoop to being my own guest on my own podcast to talk about my book, which is available from wherever you prefer to get books in  Ebook,  Hardcover, and  Audiobook formats. If you listen to this podcast you're almost certainly aware by now that I have a book, and in fact you may be sick of hearing about it. Nonetheless, here's a little teaser if you're still on the fence about checking it out. 

In which I stoop to being my own guest on my own podcast to talk about my book, which is available from wherever you prefer to get books in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Chaotic-Neutral-Democrats-Their-Center-ebook/dp/B09PL5DB53/ref=sr_1_1?crid=23898YEO2MUDL&amp;keywords=chaotic+neutral+ed&amp;qid=1666212550&amp;qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&amp;sprefix=chaotic+neutral+ed%2Caps%2C105&amp;sr=8-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Ebook</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/chaotic-neutral-how-the-democrats-lost-their-soul-in-the-center-ed-burmila/18687576" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Hardcover</a>, and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Chaotic-Neutral-Democrats-Their-Center/dp/B0B2J1P2QT/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;qid=1666212550&amp;sr=8-1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Audiobook</a> formats. If you listen to this podcast you're almost certainly aware by now that I have a book, and in fact you may be sick of hearing about it. Nonetheless, here's a little teaser if you're still on the fence about checking it out.

Minicast E5: Chaotic Neutral

An unholy amalgam of politics, historical anecdotes, cocktail recipes, performances by talented people, and interviews with people who are doing interesting things with their lives.

Gin tacos

You’ll wont even notice that he’s recording this in a closet.

Equally intelligent and irreverent.

Mass for Shut-ins: The Gin and Tacos Podcast

Story: THE ROGUE TYPESETTER who terrorized Victorian London. The mystery of the Harcourt Interpolation. Easily the most exciting moment in the history of type compositing.  Guest: SSgt. Katie Schmid, US Army (@SchmidCathrine), plaintiff challenging the Trump transgender military ban. Read more about Katie's story  here. Topic: Duverger's Law and the American two-party system. Why does Germany's parliament have eight parties while we only get two parties that everyone seems to hate anyway? It has a lot to do with two thorny rules about how we elect our representatives... Cocktail of the Month: Gin Gimlet, the first drink I ever ordered in a bar. Hear that delightful tale of 20 year old teetotaling me trying to order a drink in a sticky-floored college bar. Under pressure, I folded. Support Mass for Shut-ins via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@gin_and_tacos), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos. Thanks: SSgt. Katie Schmid, all the bands that contribute music (Waxeater, IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

Story: THE ROGUE TYPESETTER who terrorized Victorian London. The mystery of the Harcourt Interpolation. Easily the most exciting moment in the history of type compositing.  Guest: SSgt. Katie Schmid, US Army (<a href="https://twitter.com/SchmidCathrine" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@SchmidCathrine</a>), plaintiff challenging the Trump transgender military ban. Read more about Katie's story <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/8bimh9/hi_reddit_im_staff_sgt_cathrine_katie_schmid_one/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> here</a>. Topic: Duverger's Law and the American two-party system. Why does Germany's parliament have eight parties while we only get two parties that everyone seems to hate anyway? It has a lot to do with two thorny rules about how we elect our representatives... Cocktail of the Month: Gin Gimlet, the first drink I ever ordered in a bar. Hear that delightful tale of 20 year old teetotaling me trying to order a drink in a sticky-floored college bar. Under pressure, I folded. Support Mass for Shut-ins <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ginandtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@gin_and_tacos</a>), or the venerable website <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gin and Tacos</a>. Thanks: SSgt. Katie Schmid, all the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://waxeater.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Waxeater</a>, <a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

004 - Wild Mood Swings

Story: DEATH BY UMBRELLA: The Georgi Markov story. A tale of intrigue and covert operations from the late Cold War that John Le Carre couldn't have scripted any better.  Guest: Mike Konczal (@rortybomb), Fellow at the Roosevelt Institute and contributor to Vox, The Nation, Dissent, and other fine publications. Mike and I discuss the art of punditry, appearing on TV without pants, the myth of a democratized economy, and stock buybacks. We also do Professor Brothers voices. Performance by ANDREW BENTLEY. See below for information on Andrew's upcoming live performances in Chicago. Topic: Why we're living in the Golden Age of Gerrymandering. Hint: It's not just because Republicans are assholes. But it's definitely partly because Republicans are assholes. Cocktail of the Month: Lime Rickey (aka Gin Rickey, but we'll get into the complicated nomenclature soon enough)   Support Mass for Shut-ins via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@gin_and_tacos), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos. Thanks: Mike Konczal, the bands that contribute music (Waxeater, IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.  Hear more of Andrew Bentley on 3/31 at the American Writer's Museum as part of International Tom Hanks Day, at Write Club Chicago on 4/17, and on 4/7 at C2E2 in a musical comedy on the Cards Against Humanity stage.

Story: DEATH BY UMBRELLA: The Georgi Markov story. A tale of intrigue and covert operations from the late Cold War that John Le Carre couldn't have scripted any better.  Guest: Mike Konczal (<a href="https://twitter.com/rortybomb" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@rortybomb</a>), Fellow at <a href="http://rooseveltinstitute.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">the Roosevelt Institute</a> and contributor to Vox, The Nation, Dissent, and other fine publications. Mike and I discuss the art of punditry, appearing on TV without pants, the myth of a democratized economy, and stock buybacks. We also do Professor Brothers voices. Performance by ANDREW BENTLEY. See below for information on Andrew's upcoming live performances in Chicago. Topic: Why we're living in the Golden Age of Gerrymandering. Hint: It's not just because Republicans are assholes. But it's definitely partly because Republicans are assholes. Cocktail of the Month: Lime Rickey (aka Gin Rickey, but we'll get into the complicated nomenclature soon enough) Support Mass for Shut-ins <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ginandtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@gin_and_tacos</a>), or the venerable website <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gin and Tacos</a>. Thanks: Mike Konczal, the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://waxeater.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Waxeater</a>, <a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners. Hear more of Andrew Bentley on 3/31 at the American Writer's Museum as part of International Tom Hanks Day, at Write Club Chicago on 4/17, and on 4/7 at C2E2 in a musical comedy on the Cards Against Humanity stage.

003 - Markov Chains

Daniel Immerwahr

Guest: Dr. Daniel Immerwahr, associate professor of history at Northwestern University and author of the new "How to Hide an Empire: the history of the greater United States." We talk about the many ways in which America has maintained (and still maintains) an empire through territorial occupation, a network of military bases fanned out across the globe, and domination of international standards. Tales of various Guano Islands Act (1856) possessions are told, and you don't want to miss them. Extended version of the interview available on Patreon. Cocktail of the month: Suffering Bastard Question Cathy returns with a special Patreon-only mailbag. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@gin_and_tacos), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos.  Thanks: Dr. Immerwahr, all the bands that contribute music (Waxeater, IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

Guest: <a href="http://faculty.wcas.northwestern.edu/daniel-immerwahr/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Daniel Immerwahr</a>, associate professor of history at Northwestern University and author of the new "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0374172145?tag=macmillan-20" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">How to Hide an Empire: the history of the greater United States.</a>" We talk about the many ways in which America has maintained (and still maintains) an empire through territorial occupation, a network of military bases fanned out across the globe, and domination of international standards. Tales of various Guano Islands Act (1856) possessions are told, and you don't want to miss them. Extended version of the interview available <a href="https://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">on Patreon.</a> Cocktail of the month: Suffering Bastard Question Cathy returns with a special Patreon-only mailbag. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ginandtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@gin_and_tacos</a>), or the venerable website <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gin and Tacos</a>.  Thanks: Dr. Immerwahr, all the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://waxeater.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Waxeater</a>, <a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

015 - How to Hide an Empire / Daniel Immerwahr

In 1946, post-war Britain tries to solve four very different problems at once: a labor surplus of returning military, a shortage of key foods, the need to make colonies economically independent, and a dignified way to draw down the Empire. The scheme they came up with is ... incredible. That is to say, you will not find it credible. Tanzania. 3 million acres of rock-hard clay soil. It just screams "Let's grow peanuts there!" doesn't it.  A tale of overconfidence, bureaucratic overkill, paternalist attitudes, man vs. nature miscalculations, and the unwavering belief that white Europeans with a lot of education could solve anything given an unlimited budget.  Four years, a billion pounds (!!!), and the project managed to *use* more peanuts than it grew. They made *negative peanuts.* Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@gin_and_tacos), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos.  Thanks: Seth Wilson, all the bands that contribute music (Waxeater, IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

In 1946, post-war Britain tries to solve four very different problems at once: a labor surplus of returning military, a shortage of key foods, the need to make colonies economically independent, and a dignified way to draw down the Empire. The scheme they came up with is ... incredible. That is to say, you will not find it credible. Tanzania. 3 million acres of rock-hard clay soil. It just screams "Let's grow peanuts there!" doesn't it.  A tale of overconfidence, bureaucratic overkill, paternalist attitudes, man vs. nature miscalculations, and the unwavering belief that white Europeans with a lot of education could solve anything given an unlimited budget.  Four years, a billion pounds (!!!), and the project managed to *use* more peanuts than it grew. They made *negative peanuts.* Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ginandtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@gin_and_tacos</a>), or the venerable website <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gin and Tacos</a>.  Thanks: Seth Wilson, all the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://waxeater.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Waxeater</a>, <a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

020 - The Tanganyika Groundnut Scheme (Tanzania)

Story: THE STAMP THAT MAILED A CANAL - How a 10-centavo Nicaraguan postage stamp turned the Nicaragua Canal into the Panama Canal in 1902. The tale combines all of your favorites: Gilded Age corrupt-af US congressional politics, comic-tragic Frenchmen, the Suez Canal, and hydrological engineering! Guest: Dr. Timothy Rich, who studies the Korean Peninsula as well as Taiwan and...Nigerian email scams? We discuss the recent developments in ROK-DPRK peace talks, Kim's fears and logic, and how Tim got the entire lyrics to "Sexy Back" published in an academic journal. Follow him on Twitter @timothysrich Cocktail of the Month: St. Christopher, the patron saint of gettin' you drunk this summer. Requires Aperol or equivalent, so add that to your shopping list to play along with this fun, easy recipe for a not-too-sweet summer drink. You get to mash cucumbers.  Episode contains a snippet, not licensed in any way, of the song "Panama" for educational and review purposes only. Support Mass for Shut-ins via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@gin_and_tacos), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos. Brand new seriously kick-ass t-shirts are available. Buy one why don't ya. Thanks: Dr. Timothy Rich, all the bands that contribute music (Waxeater, IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

Story: THE STAMP THAT MAILED A CANAL - How a 10-centavo Nicaraguan postage stamp turned the Nicaragua Canal into the Panama Canal in 1902. The tale combines all of your favorites: Gilded Age corrupt-af US congressional politics, comic-tragic Frenchmen, the Suez Canal, and hydrological engineering! Guest: <a href="http://www.timothysrich.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Timothy Rich</a>, who studies the Korean Peninsula as well as Taiwan and...Nigerian email scams? We discuss the recent developments in ROK-DPRK peace talks, Kim's fears and logic, and how Tim got the entire lyrics to "Sexy Back" published in an academic journal. Follow him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/timothysrich" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@timothysrich</a> Cocktail of the Month: St. Christopher, the patron saint of gettin' you drunk this summer. Requires <a href="https://www.aperol.com/en-us" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Aperol</a> or equivalent, so add that to your shopping list to play along with this fun, easy recipe for a not-too-sweet summer drink. You get to mash cucumbers.  Episode contains a snippet, not licensed in any way, of the song "Panama" for educational and review purposes only. Support Mass for Shut-ins <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ginandtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@gin_and_tacos</a>), or the venerable website <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gin and Tacos</a>. Brand new seriously kick-ass t-shirts are available. <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/buy-stuff/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy one why don't ya.</a> Thanks: Dr. Timothy Rich, all the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://waxeater.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Waxeater</a>, <a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

005 - For Unlawful Canal Knowledge

Adam Johnson

Guest: Adam Johnson (@adamjohnsonNYC) is the cohost of Citations Needed, an outstanding podcast on the media and political communication. He joins me to talk about the unfolding situation in Iran and how it rekindles some of the biggest problems with media coverage of the Iraq War run-up, like the exclusion of anti-war voices in "debates" that boil down to both sides agreeing that war is awesome and disagreeing on the details.  Question Cathy returns with the (live!) mailbag. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@edburmila), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos.  Thanks: Adam Johnson (for doing this on short notice), all the bands that contribute music (Waxeater, IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

Guest: Adam Johnson (<a href="https://twitter.com/adamjohnsonNYC" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@adamjohnsonNYC</a><a href="https://twitter.com/astradisastra" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">)</a> is the cohost of <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/487MuxJs1ADDlA1bXiYy90" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Citations Needed</a>, an outstanding podcast on the media and political communication. He joins me to talk about the unfolding situation in Iran and how it rekindles some of the biggest problems with media coverage of the Iraq War run-up, like the exclusion of anti-war voices in "debates" that boil down to both sides agreeing that war is awesome and disagreeing on the details.  Question Cathy returns with the (live!) mailbag. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ginandtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@edburmila</a>), or the venerable website <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gin and Tacos</a>.  Thanks: Adam Johnson (for doing this on short notice), all the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://waxeater.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Waxeater</a>, <a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

022 - Iran (with Adam Johnson of Citations Needed)

Harry Beck

An underemployed draftsman named Harry Beck looked at the original London Underground map, realized it was crap, and set himself the task of creating a better one. By ignoring one of the cardinal rules of mapmaking he showed how to make transit maps better and easier to use.  Minicasts are short stories for fans of quick, to-the-point podcasts and as a nice change of pace from the longer full episodes of Mass for Shut-ins. Get full episodes on Stitcher, Apple Music, Spotify, and more.

An underemployed draftsman named Harry Beck looked at the original London Underground map, realized it was crap, and set himself the task of creating a better one. By ignoring one of the cardinal rules of mapmaking he showed how to make transit maps better and easier to use.  Minicasts are short stories for fans of quick, to-the-point podcasts and as a nice change of pace from the longer full episodes of Mass for Shut-ins. Get full episodes on Stitcher, Apple Music, Spotify, and more.

Minicast B10: Harry Beck's London Tube Map

Story: THE MAN WHO SAVED THE WHALES - The true story of Abraham Gesner, the obscure Canadian geologist whose big discovery in 1846 made whaling unprofitable just as most whale species were on the brink of extinction.  Guest: Dr. Ari Kohen, professor of political theory at University of Nebraska - Lincoln, curator of TrumpWatch, co-founder of the Hero Roundtable, and author of  Untangling Heroism. We talk about civility and maintaining one's sanity while trying to create a daily record of the Trump years.  Cocktail of the Month: the Americano. It's not a gin cocktail, but it's...gin adjacent. I expect angry feedback. Will Alexander joins us to share his delightful recipe for sourdough bread. Question Cathy returns for the mailbag. This episode contains short clips of "Kerosene" by Big Black and "Flying Whales" by Gojira. You'll understand why that was necessary when you listen. Support Mass for Shut-ins via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@gin_and_tacos), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos. Brand new seriously kick-ass t-shirts are available. Buy one why don't ya. Thanks: Ari Kohen and Will Alexander, all the bands that contribute music (Waxeater, IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

Story: THE MAN WHO SAVED THE WHALES - The true story of Abraham Gesner, the obscure Canadian geologist whose big discovery in 1846 made whaling unprofitable just as most whale species were on the brink of extinction.  Guest: <a href="https://polisci.unl.edu/ari-kohen" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Ari Kohen</a>, professor of political theory at University of Nebraska - Lincoln, curator of <a href="https://www.patreon.com/trumpwatch" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">TrumpWatch</a>, co-founder of the <a href="http://heroroundtable.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Hero Roundtable</a>, and author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Untangling-Heroism-Classical-Philosophy-Innovations/dp/1138944726" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Untangling Heroism</a>. We talk about civility and maintaining one's sanity while trying to create a daily record of the Trump years.  Cocktail of the Month: the Americano. It's not a gin cocktail, but it's...gin adjacent. I expect angry feedback. Will Alexander joins us to share his delightful recipe for sourdough bread. Question Cathy returns for the mailbag. This episode contains short clips of "Kerosene" by Big Black and "Flying Whales" by Gojira. You'll understand why that was necessary when you listen. Support Mass for Shut-ins <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ginandtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@gin_and_tacos</a>), or the venerable website <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gin and Tacos</a>. Brand new seriously kick-ass t-shirts are available. <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/buy-stuff/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy one why don't ya.</a> Thanks: Ari Kohen and Will Alexander, all the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://waxeater.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Waxeater</a>, <a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

007 - Cetacean Information

Story: THE RED SQUARE PILOT - The true story of Mathias Rust, the German teen who took his tiny Cessna 172 and invaded the Soviet Union with it. Late Cold War hijinks. May have very slightly hastened the fall of the USSR.  Guest: Dr. Lisa Wade, author of best-selling textbook  "Gender" and the popular press book  "American Hookup" about the sex lives of college students. She founded the excellent blog Sociological Images and can be found @lisawade.  Cocktail of the Month: Bee's Knees. It turns out that when your gin was made in someone's barn you had to put a LOT of sugar and citrus in it to make it drinkable. Topic: Stealth Voter Suppression. It's not all Voter ID laws - there are shadier, more low-key forms of voter suppression that YOU can do something about. Yes, you. Support Mass for Shut-ins via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@gin_and_tacos), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos. Brand new seriously kick-ass t-shirts are available. Buy one why don't ya. Thanks: Dr. Timothy Rich, all the bands that contribute music (Waxeater, IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

Story: THE RED SQUARE PILOT - The true story of Mathias Rust, the German teen who took his tiny Cessna 172 and invaded the Soviet Union with it. Late Cold War hijinks. May have very slightly hastened the fall of the USSR.  Guest: Dr. Lisa Wade, author of best-selling textbook <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Gender-Interactions-Institutions-Lisa-Wade/dp/0393931072/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> "Gender"</a> and the popular press book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/American-Hookup-New-Culture-Campus/dp/039328509X" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> "American Hookup"</a> about the sex lives of college students. She founded the excellent blog <a href="https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sociological Images</a> and can be found @lisawade.  Cocktail of the Month: Bee's Knees. It turns out that when your gin was made in someone's barn you had to put a LOT of sugar and citrus in it to make it drinkable. Topic: Stealth Voter Suppression. It's not all Voter ID laws - there are shadier, more low-key forms of voter suppression that YOU can do something about. Yes, you. Support Mass for Shut-ins <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ginandtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@gin_and_tacos</a>), or the venerable website <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gin and Tacos</a>. Brand new seriously kick-ass t-shirts are available. <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/buy-stuff/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy one why don't ya.</a> Thanks: Dr. Timothy Rich, all the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://waxeater.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Waxeater</a>, <a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

006 - Hold Mein Beer

Story: Brother, have you seen my Vermeer? The crazy secret life of stolen art masterpieces. For more information on the Isabella Stewart Gardner heist covered in this podcast, check out  Master Thieves by Steven Kurkjian. Or get a quick overview  here.  Guests: Alyssa Bowen (@alyssaannbowen) UNC graduate student and anti-Silent Sam activist and Dr. Carolyn Holmes (@carolyneholmes) of Mississippi State University. For background on Silent Sam,  here is a truncated history or follow Alyssa on Twitter. We recorded this interview the day before the statue was knocked down. I like to think we made it happen. Cocktail of the Month: Negroni Blanc, in honor of the Maple Tree Inn recently destroyed by fire. Question Cathy returns with the mailbag. This episode contains a short clip of "Been Caught Stealing" by Jane's Addiction. Support Mass for Shut-ins via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@gin_and_tacos), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos. Brand new seriously kick-ass t-shirts are available. Buy one why don't ya. Thanks: Dr. Carolyn Holmes, Alyssa Bowen, all the bands that contribute music (Waxeater, IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

Story: Brother, have you seen my Vermeer? The crazy secret life of stolen art masterpieces. For more information on the Isabella Stewart Gardner heist covered in this podcast, check out <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OFI5KEO/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&amp;btkr=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Master Thieves by Steven Kurkjian.</a> Or get a quick overview <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabella_Stewart_Gardner_Museum_theft" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> here</a>.  Guests: Alyssa Bowen (<a href="https://twitter.com/AlyssaAnnBowen" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@alyssaannbowen</a>) UNC graduate student and anti-Silent Sam activist and Dr. Carolyn Holmes (<a href="https://twitter.com/carolyneholmes" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@carolyneholmes</a>) of Mississippi State University. For background on Silent Sam, <a href="https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/orange-county/article168816697.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> here is a truncated history</a> or follow Alyssa on Twitter. We recorded this interview the day before the statue was knocked down. I like to think we made it happen. Cocktail of the Month: Negroni Blanc, in honor of the <a href="https://twitter.com/MapleTreeInn" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Maple Tree Inn</a> recently destroyed by fire. Question Cathy returns with the mailbag. This episode contains a short clip of "Been Caught Stealing" by Jane's Addiction. Support Mass for Shut-ins <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ginandtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@gin_and_tacos</a>), or the venerable website <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gin and Tacos</a>. Brand new seriously kick-ass t-shirts are available. <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/buy-stuff/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy one why don't ya.</a> Thanks: Dr. Carolyn Holmes, Alyssa Bowen, all the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://waxeater.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Waxeater</a>, <a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

008- Silent Sam-demonium

Jim Brady

Amanda Kolson Hurley

Story: Diamond Jim Brady's Million Dollar Sauce. Famous gourmand and eccentric rich person of the Gilded Age goes to ludicrous lengths to steal the recipe for what is purported to be the world's most delicious sauce for Filet of Sole. How far would you go to satisfy a food craving? Spoiler alert - you wouldn't go as far as Diamond Jim.  Guest: Amanda Kolson Hurley, author of the new book  Radical Suburbs. We talk about what makes some suburbs interesting and why most of them aren't. Fans of urban planning, architecture, and America's vast range of issues with affordable and sustainable housing will find Amanda and her book fascinating. Extended version of the interview available on Patreon. Cocktail of the month: The Suburban Question Cathy returns with a special Patreon-only mailbag. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@gin_and_tacos), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos.  Thanks: Amanda Kolson Hurley, all the bands that contribute music (Waxeater, IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

Story: Diamond Jim Brady's Million Dollar Sauce. Famous gourmand and eccentric rich person of the Gilded Age goes to ludicrous lengths to steal the recipe for what is purported to be the world's most delicious sauce for Filet of Sole. How far would you go to satisfy a food craving? Spoiler alert - you wouldn't go as far as Diamond Jim.  Guest: <a href="https://www.citylab.com/authors/amanda-kolson-hurley/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amanda Kolson Hurley</a>, author of the new book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Radical-Suburbs-Experimental-Fringes-American/dp/1948742365" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Radical Suburbs</a>. We talk about what makes some suburbs interesting and why most of them aren't. Fans of urban planning, architecture, and America's vast range of issues with affordable and sustainable housing will find Amanda and her book fascinating. Extended version of the interview available <a href="https://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">on Patreon.</a> Cocktail of the month: The Suburban Question Cathy returns with a special Patreon-only mailbag. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ginandtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@gin_and_tacos</a>), or the venerable website <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gin and Tacos</a>.  Thanks: Amanda Kolson Hurley, all the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://waxeater.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Waxeater</a>, <a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

016 - Radical Suburbs / Amanda Kolson Hurley / Diamond Jim Brady

Amanda Litman

Story: Today's new cars are crammed full of tech to compensate for unusually poor rear and blind spot visibility. They've also gotten much heavier since 2000 - and more dangerous to for pedestrians. All of these are unintended consequences of regulatory changes in the auto industry after the Firestone Tires / SUV rollover debacle of the late 90s. I tie all those threads together for you. Guest: Amanda Litman (@amandalitman) co-founder of Run for Something. We talk about how people like you are running for (and winning) elected office, and why that's so important right now. I ask rhetorical questions like, why isn't the DNC throwing money at Run for Something (@runforsomething) to do the kind of local candidate recruitment it desperately needs. If you've thought about running, go take a look.  Cocktail of the month: Rum Runner Question Cathy returns with the mailbag. Note on terminology for the story:  here's an illustration of A, B, and C pillars on a car. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@gin_and_tacos), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos.  Thanks: Amanda Litman, all the bands that contribute music (Waxeater, IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

Story: Today's new cars are crammed full of tech to compensate for unusually poor rear and blind spot visibility. They've also gotten much heavier since 2000 - and more dangerous to for pedestrians. All of these are unintended consequences of regulatory changes in the auto industry after the Firestone Tires / SUV rollover debacle of the late 90s. I tie all those threads together for you. Guest: Amanda Litman (<a href="https://twitter.com/amandalitman" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@amandalitman</a>) co-founder of Run for Something. We talk about how people like you are running for (and winning) elected office, and why that's so important right now. I ask rhetorical questions like, why isn't the DNC throwing money at <a href="https://runforsomething.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Run for Something</a> (<a href="https://twitter.com/runforsomething" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@runforsomething</a>) to do the kind of local candidate recruitment it desperately needs. If you've thought about running, go take a look.  Cocktail of the month: Rum Runner Question Cathy returns with the mailbag. Note on terminology for the story: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pillar_(car)#/media/File:Three_body_styles_with_pillars_and_boxes.png" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> here's an illustration of A, B, and C pillars on a car.</a> Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ginandtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@gin_and_tacos</a>), or the venerable website <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gin and Tacos</a>.  Thanks: Amanda Litman, all the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://waxeater.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Waxeater</a>, <a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

018 - Amanda Litman of Run for Something / Why You Can't See Out of Your Car

Stephen Pettigrew

Andrew Johnson

Story: Andrew Johnson gets incredibly drunk at his inauguration and makes a scene you'll have to hear about to believe. He calls out every member of the Cabinet by name (Wu-Tang style), makes up his own oath of office, and nearly drives his colleagues to weep from shame. And he owed it all to Civil War-era medicine's inability to treat serious illness except with Patent Medicines (i.e., alcohol, opium, or alcohol with opium) Guest: Dr. Stephen Pettigrew, Senior Analyst on the NBC News decision team. He's one of the people who decides when races are "called" by the network on election night. He gives us a fascinating look behind that curtain, and there's some great insight about the challenges posed by alternative voting methods like mail-in ballots.  Cocktail of the Month: Doctor Chase's Soothing Cordial. In the spirit (pun intended) of the Johnson story, I found the recipe for a Civil War era patent medicine. I'll give you one hint: the first ingredient is opium. Like, just a big piece of opium. Question Cathy returns with the mailbag. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@gin_and_tacos), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos. Brand new seriously kick-ass t-shirts are available. Buy one why don't ya. Thanks: Dr. Pettigrew, all the bands that contribute music (Waxeater, IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

Story: Andrew Johnson gets incredibly drunk at his inauguration and makes a scene you'll have to hear about to believe. He calls out every member of the Cabinet by name (Wu-Tang style), makes up his own oath of office, and nearly drives his colleagues to weep from shame. And he owed it all to Civil War-era medicine's inability to treat serious illness except with Patent Medicines (i.e., alcohol, opium, or alcohol with opium) Guest: <a href="https://www.stephenpettigrew.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dr. Stephen Pettigrew</a>, Senior Analyst on the NBC News decision team. He's one of the people who decides when races are "called" by the network on election night. He gives us a fascinating look behind that curtain, and there's some great insight about the challenges posed by alternative voting methods like mail-in ballots.  Cocktail of the Month: Doctor Chase's Soothing Cordial. In the spirit (pun intended) of the Johnson story, I found the recipe for a Civil War era patent medicine. I'll give you one hint: the first ingredient is opium. Like, just a big piece of opium. Question Cathy returns with the mailbag. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ginandtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@gin_and_tacos</a>), or the venerable website <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gin and Tacos</a>. Brand new seriously kick-ass t-shirts are available. <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/buy-stuff/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy one why don't ya.</a> Thanks: Dr. Pettigrew, all the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://waxeater.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Waxeater</a>, <a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

013 - Dr. Stephen Pettigrew / The Drunken Inauguration of Andrew Johnson

The 2nd annual All-Mailbag Episode. Question Cathy and I tackle ranked-choice voting &amp; instant runoff voting, whether the primaries are too nasty, how to put your time to the best use in the election, climate change, Brexit, and whether the hot dog counts as a sandwich (hint: it does, and I'm sorry). Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@edburmila), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos.  Thanks: QC, all the bands that contribute music (Waxeater, IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

The 2nd annual All-Mailbag Episode. Question Cathy and I tackle ranked-choice voting &amp; instant runoff voting, whether the primaries are too nasty, how to put your time to the best use in the election, climate change, Brexit, and whether the hot dog counts as a sandwich (hint: it does, and I'm sorry). Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ginandtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@edburmila</a>), or the venerable website <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gin and Tacos</a>.  Thanks: QC, all the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://waxeater.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Waxeater</a>, <a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

021 - Mailbag Episode II

Two police forces. Two sets of laws. Two postal systems. Two kinds of money. For 74 years the UK and France governed the island colony of the New Hebrides (since 1980, the independent nation of Vanuatu featured on Season 9 of Survivor) under a bizarre condominium arrangement. The islands were governed by the respective nations, with totally different laws and bureaucracies, on alternating days. And if you had a complaint, you appealed to...the king of Spain. Read that all again. The New Hebrides flag was a flag of the UK and French flags. If your flag is the flags of two other countries, something is wrong. How did this last for 74 years? The power of bureaucracy and indifference! Since independence the nation has faced some challenges we discuss here, but we're rooting for Vanuatu. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@gin_and_tacos), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos.  Thanks: Seth Wilson, all the bands that contribute music (Waxeater, IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

Two police forces. Two sets of laws. Two postal systems. Two kinds of money. For 74 years the UK and France governed the island colony of the New Hebrides (since 1980, the independent nation of Vanuatu featured on Season 9 of Survivor) under a bizarre condominium arrangement. The islands were governed by the respective nations, with totally different laws and bureaucracies, on alternating days. And if you had a complaint, you appealed to...the king of Spain. Read that all again. The New Hebrides flag was a flag of the UK and French flags. If your flag is the flags of two other countries, something is wrong. How did this last for 74 years? The power of bureaucracy and indifference! Since independence the nation has faced some challenges we discuss here, but we're rooting for Vanuatu. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ginandtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@gin_and_tacos</a>), or the venerable website <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gin and Tacos</a>.  Thanks: Seth Wilson, all the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://waxeater.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Waxeater</a>, <a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

017 - The Anglo-French Condominium of the New Hebrides (Vanuatu)

If you need more encouragement to listen to a story about the Lewis &amp; Clark expedition shitting poisonous heavy metals all over the continent and how science has exploited that to generate useful historical data, I don't know what to tell you.  Minicasts are short stories for fans of quick, to-the-point podcasts and as a nice change of pace from the longer full episodes of Mass for Shut-ins. Get full episodes on Stitcher, Apple Music, Spotify, and more. Patreon.com/ginandtacos

If you need more encouragement to listen to a story about the Lewis &amp; Clark expedition shitting poisonous heavy metals all over the continent and how science has exploited that to generate useful historical data, I don't know what to tell you.  Minicasts are short stories for fans of quick, to-the-point podcasts and as a nice change of pace from the longer full episodes of Mass for Shut-ins. Get full episodes on Stitcher, Apple Music, Spotify, and more. <a href="http://Patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Patreon.com/ginandtacos</a>

Minicast B11: Lewis & Clark's Heavy Metal Diarrhea

Rebekah Tromble

Guest: Dr. Rebekah Tromble (Leiden University), professor of political communication, led a team chosen by Twitter to conduct research on overall "health" of conversation on the platform. As soon as the company announced its plan to sponsor research, right-wingers flipped out and began a campaign of threats and harassment aimed largely at Rebekah. Six months later, her life is (mostly) back to normal and the research is moving ahead as planned. This is a fascinating story about how becoming a target of a coordinated online harassment effort is so much worse and more overwhelming than we imagine.  Question Cathy returns with the mailbag. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@gin_and_tacos), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos.  Thanks: Dr. Tromble, all the bands that contribute music (Waxeater, IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

Guest: Dr. Rebekah Tromble (Leiden University), professor of political communication, led a team chosen by Twitter to conduct research on overall "health" of conversation on the platform. As soon as the company announced its plan to sponsor research, right-wingers flipped out and began a campaign of threats and harassment aimed largely at Rebekah. Six months later, her life is (mostly) back to normal and the research is moving ahead as planned. This is a fascinating story about how becoming a target of a coordinated online harassment effort is so much worse and more overwhelming than we imagine.  Question Cathy returns with the mailbag. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ginandtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@gin_and_tacos</a>), or the venerable website <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gin and Tacos</a>.  Thanks: Dr. Tromble, all the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://waxeater.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Waxeater</a>, <a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

014 - Dr. Rebekah Tromble / Civility on Twitter

A young Long Island housewife named Penelope Ashe saw her debut novel, Naked Came the Stranger, go straight to the best-seller list despite the mystery surrounding its reclusive author, its racy content, and its little-known publisher.  It pushed the limits of what "obscenity" meant in 1969. But gratuitous sex scenes aside, Penelope Ashe had an even bigger secret... Minicasts are short (approx. 5 min) stories for fans of quick, to-the-point podcasts and as a nice change of pace from the longer full episodes of Mass for Shut-ins.

A young Long Island housewife named Penelope Ashe saw her debut novel, Naked Came the Stranger, go straight to the best-seller list despite the mystery surrounding its reclusive author, its racy content, and its little-known publisher.  It pushed the limits of what "obscenity" meant in 1969. But gratuitous sex scenes aside, Penelope Ashe had an even bigger secret... Minicasts are short (approx. 5 min) stories for fans of quick, to-the-point podcasts and as a nice change of pace from the longer full episodes of Mass for Shut-ins.

Minicast B2: Naked Came the Stranger

Harold Holt

Lil BUB

Story: The Disappearing Prime Minister - Australia is a crazy place. It's huge, empty, and full of things that can kill you. And every once in a while one of their Prime Ministers will disappear without a trace. Not figuratively, either.  Guests: Mike Bridavsky, owner / engineer of Russian Recording, member of Memory Map, and LIL BUB's (@IAMLILBUB) human dude. Yes, the same BUB who became a darling to millions as a famous Internet Cat. Bub raises $100k annually, and over a half-million dollars total so far, for charities like Lil Bub's Big Fund for the ASPCA. BUB also delights fans and has lots of fun projects (including the pilot episode of a series Animal Planet canceled for being too weird) at lilbub.com Cocktail of the Month: Genever. It's not a cocktail. It's an ancestor of gin that lurks in the shadows at well-stocked liquor stores, leading many a gin drinker to wonder what exactly it is. Take my hand. I will explain all. Question Cathy returns with the mailbag. Support Mass for Shut-ins via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@gin_and_tacos), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos. Brand new seriously kick-ass t-shirts are available. Buy one why don't ya. Thanks: Mike Bridavsky, Lil BUB, Liz Ladd, all the bands that contribute music (Waxeater, IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

Story: The Disappearing Prime Minister - Australia is a crazy place. It's huge, empty, and full of things that can kill you. And every once in a while one of their Prime Ministers will disappear without a trace. Not figuratively, either.  Guests: Mike Bridavsky, owner / engineer of <a href="http://www.russianrecording.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Russian Recording</a>, member of <a href="https://memorymap.bandcamp.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Memory Map</a>, and LIL BUB's (<a href="https://twitter.com/IAMLILBUB" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@IAMLILBUB</a>) human dude. Yes, the same BUB who became a darling to millions as a famous Internet Cat. Bub raises $100k annually, and over a half-million dollars total so far, for charities like <a href="http://lilbub.com/bigfund" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Lil Bub's Big Fund for the ASPCA.</a> BUB also delights fans and has lots of fun projects (including the pilot episode of a series Animal Planet canceled for being too weird) at <a href="http://lilbub.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">lilbub.com</a> Cocktail of the Month: Genever. It's not a cocktail. It's an ancestor of gin that lurks in the shadows at well-stocked liquor stores, leading many a gin drinker to wonder what exactly it is. Take my hand. I will explain all. Question Cathy returns with the mailbag. Support Mass for Shut-ins <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ginandtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@gin_and_tacos</a>), or the venerable website <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gin and Tacos</a>. Brand new seriously kick-ass t-shirts are available. <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/buy-stuff/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy one why don't ya.</a> Thanks: Mike Bridavsky, Lil BUB, Liz Ladd, all the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://waxeater.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Waxeater</a>, <a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

009 - LIL BUB / Harold Holt

Story: Shakespeare Comes to America - How was a minor American industrialist, Henry Clay Folger, able to buy up so much of Shakespeare that more of Ol' William's written output is now in Washington DC than in all of England? It's a tale of an agricultural depression and the decline of the British aristocracy. You know, Downton Abbey style. The Brits needed money. American robber barons had it. Suddenly, every piece of Europe's culture was for sale at the right price. Guest: Leeman Kessler, an ordinary dude who ran for local office in his town of Gambier, OH and won. We talk about how other ordinary people, SUCH AS YOU, can run for local office. If you've ever thought about it, Leeman proves definitively that you have nothing to be afraid of. And if you think you're not up to the job, dismiss that nonsense right now. Tons of people WAY dumber than you hold local office. Learn more about Leeman, who also has a podcast, at his website. He does an HP Lovecraft impression (non-racist) and, for the second straight episode, drainage comes up. Cocktail of the Month: Sloe Gin Fizz. What is sloe gin? Well. It's gin steeped with sloes. So. OK what's a sloe? Well you're about to find out. Question Cathy is off and a special guest, Question Isaac (age 10) joins me for a modified version of the mailbag. Support Mass for Shut-ins via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@gin_and_tacos), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos. Brand new seriously kick-ass t-shirts are available. Buy one why don't ya. Thanks: Leeman Kessler, Isaac Moore, all the bands that contribute music (Waxeater, IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

Story: Shakespeare Comes to America - How was a minor American industrialist, Henry Clay Folger, able to buy up so much of Shakespeare that more of Ol' William's written output is now in Washington DC than in all of England? It's a tale of an agricultural depression and the decline of the British aristocracy. You know, Downton Abbey style. The Brits needed money. American robber barons had it. Suddenly, every piece of Europe's culture was for sale at the right price. Guest: Leeman Kessler, an ordinary dude who ran for local office in his town of Gambier, OH and won. We talk about how other ordinary people, SUCH AS YOU, can run for local office. If you've ever thought about it, Leeman proves definitively that you have nothing to be afraid of. And if you think you're not up to the job, dismiss that nonsense right now. Tons of people WAY dumber than you hold local office. Learn more about Leeman, who also has a podcast, <a href="http://geekuallyyoked.com/?page_id=712" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">at his website</a>. He does an HP Lovecraft impression (non-racist) and, for the second straight episode, drainage comes up. Cocktail of the Month: Sloe Gin Fizz. What is sloe gin? Well. It's gin steeped with sloes. So. OK what's a sloe? Well you're about to find out. Question Cathy is off and a special guest, Question Isaac (age 10) joins me for a modified version of the mailbag. Support Mass for Shut-ins <a href="http://www.patreon.com/ginandtacos" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">via Patreon</a>. Contact me via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ginandtacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/gin_and_tacos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@gin_and_tacos</a>), or the venerable website <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Gin and Tacos</a>. Brand new seriously kick-ass t-shirts are available. <a href="http://www.ginandtacos.com/buy-stuff/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Buy one why don't ya.</a> Thanks: Leeman Kessler, Isaac Moore, all the bands that contribute music (<a href="https://waxeater.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Waxeater</a>, <a href="https://ifihadahifi.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">IfIHadAHiFi</a>, <a href="https://sumppumps.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">The Sump Pumps</a>, <a href="https://oscarbait.bandcamp.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Oscar Bait</a>), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

012 - Folger Shakespeare Library  / How to Run for Local Office

The best podcast episodes on romantic relationships. Episodes talk about the 5 love languages, intimacy, and the taboo topics of sexual desires and infidelity. This topic is a deep dive into the science and complexities that face us in our relationships with others. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

Best Episodes on Relationships & Love

The best podcast episodes of anyone with an interesting story. With famous guests like Obama, LeBron James, Drake, Oprah Winfrey, Richard Branson, Michelle Obama, Serena Williams, to anyone who has a unique and interesting story to tell. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!