Imperfect Clarity

This episode is a pursuit of a feeling -- a sense of oneness with everyone in the world and everything around you. If this sounds trippy, yes I do discuss psychedelic drugs. I also talk about an odd story from the history of medical ethics, a philosophical thought experiment, and God, the internet, and toilet paper. I don't know if I really accomplish an explanation of this sense of awe at the complex web that is reality, but explaining the feeling was never really the goal I suppose...just feeling it. Special Thanks to Kirk for helping with the music for this one. The one sound effect in the intro was from zapsplat.comSources:Arthur Schopenhauer -- here's a great page all about Schopenhauer's philosophy. The link jumps to number 4 which is the part about The World as Will and Representationhttps://plato.stanford.edu/entries/schopenhauer/#4 Dharmakaya and emptiness -- here's a link to the wikipedia page for dharmakayahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dharmak%C4%81ya But here's a link to an article written by one of my favorite authors, Sam Harris and published in Nautilus. The article covers some of the same concepts I touch on in this episode, including some of the spiritual overtones. http://nautil.us/issue/16/nothingness/an-atheists-guide-to-spirituality Cardinals -- they do not live in China https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Cardinal/overview Henrietta Lacks -- here's a very informative youtube video by BioGraphicshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU5uCiV0MyQ Swamp Man -- here's a link to the wikipedia page on the Swamp Man though experimenthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swampman And here's one all about Donald Davidson in the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophyhttps://plato.stanford.edu/entries/davidson/ The Science Focus article by James Lloyd I quoted about Sam Kean and Caesar's Last Breathhttps://www.sciencefocus.com/planet-earth/are-we-really-breathing-caesars-last-breath/ Check out this video from space.com of Earth breathing https://www.space.com/38806-nasa-satellites-watch-earth-breathe-video.html

In Brotherhood Part 2, we talk about the history of the mob, the formation of La Cosa Nostra and introduce Tony Provenzano. Then we finish up with the mysterious disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa in July of 1975.

In this first part of a two part series we’re going to explore some of the history and interactions of three “brotherhoods.” The first being the “brotherhood” of crime families known as the Mafia. The second is one of the most famous brothers in American politics, Bobby Kennedy. The third is the infamous president of the IBT, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Jimmy Hoffa. In this first part we’ll dive into the beginnings of the Mafia in America, Jimmy Hoffa’s early years and his rise to power within the Teamsters, and the start of Robert Kennedy’s feud with the notorious union leader.All Sound Effects obtained from zapsplat.comSpecial thanks to Crystal, Alex, and Josh for their help with this episodeFor a full list of Sources used in researching this episode, visit our website at imperfectclaritypodcast.com/episodes/brotherhood/part/1

The Wright Bros. have earned a spot in our history books with their amazing feats of ingenuity and inventive engineering. But how much of their actions can be attributed to their own conscious choices? The question of whether we are free to act on our own volition or if, rather, we are enslaved to a predetermined fate decided by the laws of physics and circumstances beyond our control is one that has plagued the most ingenious philosophical thinkers since ancient times. If we are truly free to decide our own fate, how do we square this with a naturalistic view of the world that hinges on causality? And if we are not as free as we think we are, then how do we reconcile this with our notions of justice and responsibility? All sound effects obtained from zapsplat.com For a full list of sources, visit our website at imperfectclaritypodcast.com

Each of my three youngest kids asks me a science question they were curious about, and I do my best to answer them. Each question has a definite answer for a change, but they aren't always easy answers.

The year was 1963. As Peter Benedict turned the flint over in his hand he recognized it as an artifact from the Aceramic Neolithic (that is, the epoch of history considered within the “stone age” but before the first creations of pottery), but he did not foster much hope that this red hill protruding from a grey plateau would hold world-changing discoveries. He was, indeed, very wrong about that. Thirty years later, Gobekli Tepe would become one of the most astounding discoveries in archaeology since the Rosetta Stone or the Kish Tablet. This site, this “potbelly hill” in Turkey, would turn our ideas of pre-agricultural humanity on its head. After discovering this extremely ancient megalithic structure, scientists have been forced to rethink the capabilities of our hunter/gatherer ancestors. All Sound Effects obtained from zapsplat.com For a full list of sources, visit our website at www.imperfectclaritypodcast.com

For nearly three-hundred years now a legend has been told among the people in New Jersey. They say that a mysterious and demonic creature haunts the shadows of the immense forest known as the Pine Barrens. Although it has an expert ability to avoid the detection of modern prying eyes, this devilish cryptid has been sighted by many over the years. But let’s face it, folks…I don’t believe in demons, or demonic monsters that lurk in the woods. So, what can explain this demonic anomaly? The story behind the legend of the Jersey Devil is full of political intrigue, ghastly cons, the occult, mass hysteria, and little-known history. It’s a monster tale that exudes melodrama and begs the question: “Who in this story is the real Jersey Devil?”Sound effects obtained from www.zapsplat.comHarpsichord music from www.looperman.comFor a full list of sources visit our website at www.imperfectclaritypodcast.com

Nine young people set out on a hiking expedition to the Ural Mountains in early 1959. None of them made it back alive. Although many have tried to explain what happened to these unfortunate young people and why their bodies and gear were found in such a strange state, no explanation comes any nearer than the conclusions from the official decision to close the case, nearly sixty years ago. This official resolution concludes that they were set upon by “an overwhelming force [they] were not able to overcome.” This has come to be known as the Dyatlov Pass Incident, and it remains unsolved today. For more information on this subject I highly suggest you visit www.dyatlovpass.com for the wealth of information amassed therein.For a full list of sources used in research of this episode, visit our website at www.imperfectclaritypodcast.comAll sound effects obtained from www.zapsplat.com

It’s the 24th of November, 1971. A man sits in a Boeing 727, sipping on bourbon and smoking a cigarette. He patiently waits in his black business suit and clip-on tie for the plane to take off and carry him into infamy. This man has some big plans for this plane, you see, and they involve a ton of cash, and a crazy jump. D.B. Cooper is a one of a kind figure in American pop culture. His audacity and ingenuity have been propelling his name through decades of discussion among true crime fans. His name was almost certainly made up. Was his audacity and ingenuity equally as flawed? Or was he a master outlaw that got away scot free with $200,000.00? All sound effects obtained from www.zapsplat.com Original intro music and other music written and recorded by Aaron Bradford Additional music obtained from www.zapsplat.com For a full list of sources and other interesting links used in researching this episode visit our website at www.imperfectclaritypodcast.com