Podcast appearances and mentions of William Gibson

"I can carry nearly eighty gigs of data in my head." For our Cinema Shock summer series, we wanted to take a look back at a few movies that were celebrating significant anniversaries this year. When we began browsing films released in 1995, we noticed an interesting trend: There was a glut of cyber thrillers released that year. And more specifically, cyber thrillers that dealt with the concept of virtual reality.  This probably shouldn't be surprising: 1995 was a banner year for technology; with the release of Windows 95 and the increasing availability of home internet, more people than ever were being connected to the World Wide Web. And as we know, Hollywood loves a trend. Enter: Virtual Insanity. In this series, we'll be exploring some of the more significant films of this very specific subgenre, all of which are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. Most of these films fell flat at the box office in 1995 but all have reached varying degrees of notoriety in the decades since. Kicking things off, we're taking a look at JOHNNY MNEMONIC, possibly the strangest of the bunch. It's a film with a long, complex production history whose journey from page (in a short story by cyberpunk legend William Gibson) to screen was fraught with delays, difficulties and compromises. In our last episode, we detailed the early days of JOHNNY MNEMONIC's development and filming. This week, we'll focus on the film's contentious post production period, where the Hollywood execs responsible for marketing the film tried to turn it into something it was never intended to be, hoping to capitalize on the newfound post-SPEED superstardom of Keanu Reeves. We'll also get into our own thoughts on the film's legacy, as well as how its views of the internet and global connectivity are still relevant today. Next week: We continue our look at the cyber thrillers of 1995 with an often-overlooked film that stars two of Hollywood's biggest names. Want to support the show? Subscribers of CinemaShock+ can enjoy an extended version of this episode, which includes the full story of JOHNNY MNEMONIC (Parts 1 and 2), as well as bonus segments and additional content, plus get access to all episodes two days early, exclusive merchandise discounts, and more. Join now at cinemashock.net/plus. ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS: Andy Lancaster | asotirov | Benjamin Yates | Caverly | courtland ashley | curtcake5k | Elton Novara | Hunter D Mackenzie | Interzone78 | Jackson_Baker | Jvance325 | Lucy Lawson | MagicBloat | Nate Izod | Nathan Kelley | Robert Stinson Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy. This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis. For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net

"I want to get online... I need a computer!" For our Cinema Shock summer series, we wanted to take a look back at a few movies that were celebrating significant anniversaries this year. When we began browsing films released in 1995, we noticed an interesting trend: There was a glut of cyber thrillers released that year. And more specifically, cyber thrillers that dealt with the concept of virtual reality.  This probably shouldn't be surprising: 1995 was a banner year for technology; with the release of Windows 95 and the increasing availability of home internet, more people than ever were being connected to the World Wide Web. And as we know, Hollywood loves a trend. Enter: Virtual Insanity. In this series, we'll be exploring some of the more significant films of this very specific subgenre, all of which are celebrating their 30th anniversary this year. Most of these films fell flat at the box office in 1995 but all have reached varying degrees of notoriety in the decades since. Kicking things off, we're taking a look at JOHNNY MNEMONIC, possibly the strangest of the bunch. It's a film with a long, complex production history whose journey from page (in a short story by cyberpunk legend William Gibson) to screen was fraught with delays, difficulties and compromises. In this, the first of two episodes detailing JOHNNY MNEMONIC's story, we'll establish just why cyber thrillers became a trend, how one of 1980s New York's most prominent visual artists came on board as the director, and how the vision for the film trasnformed from a low budget black-and-white art film into a nearly $30 million major studio production. Next week: In Part 2 of our look at JOHNNY MNEMONIC, we'll detail the film's contentious post-production period, it's bungled release, and box office performance, as well as our own thoughts on the film and how its vision of the future is still relevant today. Want to support the show? Subscribers of CinemaShock+ can enjoy an extended version of this episode, which includes the full story of JOHNNY MNEMONIC (Parts 1 and 2), as well as bonus segments and additional content, plus get access to all episodes two days early, exclusive merchandise discounts, and more. Join now at cinemashock.net/plus. ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS: Andy Lancaster | asotirov | Benjamin Yates | Caverly | courtland ashley | curtcake5k | Elton Novara | Hunter D Mackenzie | Interzone78 | Jackson_Baker | Jvance325 | Lucy Lawson | MagicBloat | Nate Izod | Nathan Kelley | Robert Stinson Theme Song: "There's Still a Little Bit of Time, If We Hurry and I Mean Hurry" by Slasher Film Festival Strategy. This episode was written, produced and edited by Gary Horne, Justin Bishop & Todd A. Davis. For episode archives, merch, show notes, and more, visit cinemashock.net  

Send us a textWilliam Gibson described Cyberpunk as a fusion of high-tech and low-life, exploring the intersection of technology, cybernetics, and computer networks on human society in a near-future, often dystopian setting.If you don't know who William Gibson is then shame on you.Like most people out there, my first exposure to Cyberpunk was Blade Runner. The 1982 movie by Ridley Scott blew me away. After that I watched movies like Freejack and Johnny Mnemonic, Akira, and Ghost in the Shell. it wasn't until the late 90's that I started diving into the literary world of Cyberpunk with Nuromancer and Snowcrash.I loved the setting, the style, the tech, and the action, but I never got into the roleplaying games. I heard about Cyberpunk, and Cyberpunk 2020. But for some strange reason I never picked them up.Then Mike asked me if I was interested in playing Cyberpunk Red.I jumped at the chance.Mike ran our group though almost a year of Cyberpunk using the Cyberpunk Red rules and we have recently started up again focusing more on the Edgerunner 2077 expansion for Cyberpunk Red.After that much game time, we got opinions.In this episode Mike, Christina and I are going to give you an honest, unbiased review of Cyberpunk Red.But before we do that, Christina, break down the legalese for us.[Kick to Christina so she can go on about how we haven't been paid or compensated in any way for our opinion and we bought the shit with money out of our own pocket.]Now Mike, Start us off on our review of Cyberpunk Red.

Johnny Mnemonic 1995 Directed by Robert Longo Starring Keanu Reeves, Dina Meyer, Ice T In this film based on the William Gibson story, Johnny (Keanu Reeves) is a data courier who has a secret stash of information implanted into his mind. However, the data will kill Johnny if he cannot retrieve it within 48 hours. Accompanied by physically enhanced bodyguard Jane (Dina Meyer), Johnny sets out to acquire the passwords he needs to save himself. Worse yet, he is hunted by gangster Shinji (Denis Akiyama) and businessman Takahashi (Takeshi), both of whom seek the data Johnny possesses.

Notes from James:The biggest lie about writing is that it takes years. I've written multiple books in less than a month—including bestsellers. With the right system, anyone can do this.In this episode, I break down how to structure your first book and why your life experience, not your grammar, is your superpower. You'll also hear my take on AI writing, and why your personal story is something no algorithm can ever replicate.Episode Highlights:Yes, you really can write and publish a great book in 30 days. In Part 2 of this writing series, I walk you through the actual systems that make it not only possible—but repeatable.You'll learn four powerful “meta-outline” frameworks you can use to organize any non-fiction book quickly and clearly. I'll show you how I wrote Think Like a Billionaire in under 30 days using one of these frameworks, and how authors I know have launched entire careers with similar methods (some even in just three days). I also dive deep into one of the most important—but most overlooked—parts of writing a book: your first sentence. You'll hear legendary first lines from some of the world's best authors and learn why they work.This episode is a blend of process and artistry—because writing a great book requires both.This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp.Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/JAMES and get on your way to being your best self.What You'll Learn:4 concrete frameworks that will help you write a 20+ chapter book fastThe myth of needing years to write a book (and how to break it)How I turned podcast interviews with billionaires into a full book in less than a monthWhy your first sentence matters more than your title—and how to make it irresistibleHow to write with authenticity, vulnerability, and momentumWhy AI can't replace you—and never will—when it comes to storytellingTimestamps00:00 Introduction: Writing a Book in 30 Days00:54 The Four Frameworks for Writing02:03 Example: Think Like a Billionaire05:10 Overcoming Writing Myths13:14 AI and the Future of Writing20:47 The Power of a Strong First Line23:51 Exploring the Opening Lines of Iconic Novels24:14 Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man: A Civil Rights Era Classic25:04 Jack Kerouac's On the Road: A Journey of Rediscovery27:23 Gabriel Garcia Marquez's 100 Years of Solitude: A Nobel-Winning Masterpiece30:54 Kurt Vonnegut's Slaughterhouse-Five: A War Story with a Twist34:20 Jennifer Egan's Welcome to the Goon Squad: A Pulitzer Prize Winner35:25 Charles Bukowski's Post Office: A Tale of Mistakes and Realities38:57 William Gibson's Neuromancer: The Birth of Cyberpunk40:16 The Importance of First Lines in Storytelling42:36 Crafting Relatable and Vulnerable NarrativesP.S. Want to go deeper? Check out my full course on Udemy or visit chooseyourselfacademy.com: How to Write and Publish a Book in 30 Days – available now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of the Fully-Booked literary podcast, we're back in the room with Meaghan, Shirin, and Arthur, though Arthur gets plenty of playful shade right out of the gate. The energy is chaotic in the best way, and we all seem to embrace it.This time around, we're not doing a structured game or typical author discussion. Instead, we've decided to have a casual roundtable where we toss out book recommendations based on popular titles.Think of it as a “if you liked this, try this” style chat, the kind of stuff you might scroll through on BookTok, but with more tangents, more laughs, and a whole lot more coffee shop banter.So, yes, it's a podcast version of one of those aesthetic recommendation reels, but longer and full of personality. We're hoping it helps listeners find their next favorite read, whether they're winding down for bed or commuting with earbuds in. Along the way, we make plenty of jokes, toss in personal stories, and keep things as relatable as ever.Cozy Fantasy And Twisty YA PicksMeaghan kicks things off with Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree. It's a standout in cozy fantasy, a genre that's all about lower stakes and high charm. This one's about a retired assassin who just wants to run a coffee shop. We love it because it's charming without the constant doom that high fantasy sometimes leans into. If you're tired of watching your favorite characters die dramatically, this is your safe space.From there, we get three recommendations to follow that cozy vibe:This Will Be Fun by E.B. Asher offers more of an epic twist, following four heroes who reunite years after saving the world to stop another evil. It's got humor, sarcasm, and a nostalgic team-up energy.Forged by Magic by Jenna Wolfhart includes orcs, elves, and romance, much like Legends and Lattes, but kicks the fantasy world-building up a notch.Dreadful by Caitlin Rosakus is quirky and a bit chaotic. A man wakes up in an evil wizard's lair and slowly realizes… he's the wizard. It's got dark magic with a comedic undertone that keeps things from getting too heavy.Next, Shirin brings up We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, a twisty, emotional YA mystery that clearly divides readers. Some of us saw the ending a mile away. Others (hi, Shirin) were shocked. Either way, it sparks strong reactions. From there, the recommended reads are:One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus, a classic high school murder mystery.A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson, which begins as a school project but morphs into a full-on whodunit.Both offer those unreliable narrators and layers of secrets that make for great binge reads (and binge-worthy shows, too).Sci-Fi Sarcasm and Robots with FeelingsArthur (yes, we're letting him talk now) shifts us into sci-fi territory. He spotlights The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells, which is being adapted into a TV show. The series centers around a sarcastic AI bot who's pretending not to be sentient while dealing with messy human feelings. It's funny, sharp, and dives into questions about identity and autonomy.The companion picks for Murderbot are:Neuromancer by William Gibson, the cyberpunk classic full of noir and hacking vibes.Autonomous by Annalee Newitz, a gritty, emotional dive into freedom and biotech ethics.Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie features a starship AI stuck in a single human body, trying to cope and also seek revenge.This whole section sparks a thoughtful conversation about how sci-fi is evolving to focus more on questions of self, ethics, and AI rights, especially as real-world conversations about artificial intelligence ramp up.From Gothic to Gruesome: Creepy Houses and Haunting PastsMeaghan circles back with another strong pick: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier. This gothic classic inspires a group of haunting and eerie recommendations:The September House by Carissa Orlando, where every September, the house goes full horror mode with blood on the walls and something lurking in the basement.The Only One Left by Riley Sager, another gothic mystery involving a secluded cliffside mansion and a historical murder case.We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson delivers that same psychological tension and sense of dread found in Rebecca.We also detour briefly into House of Leaves territory, a book so bizarre in structure it's basically unreadable in audiobook form. Everyone agrees it's an experience, not just a novel.Court of Thorns, Shadow Daddies, and Fae RomanceThen we dive into a big one: A Court of Thorns and Roses (or ACOTAR, because who has time for long titles) by Sarah J. Maas. This fantasy romance gets a lot of love and some side-eye, depending on who you ask. It starts like Beauty and the Beast but quickly turns into something much more plot-heavy and twisty.Meaghan recommends:Quicksilver by Callie Hart, where the heroine gets dragged into the fae realm after trying to save her family. It's rich in world-building and dramatic romantic tension.Kingdom of the Wicked by Kerri Maniscalco, a witchy, demon-summoning fantasy with Italian vibes, mouthwatering food descriptions, and yes—another shadowy love interest.We joke a lot about the term shadow daddy, which is hilarious and weirdly accurate for some of these characters. The group shares a good laugh about imagining their dads lurking in shadows. Totally normal podcast behavior...One-Person Sci-Fi Adventures (and Existential Crisis Fuel)Back in sci-fi land, Arthur brings us to Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, which is getting a film adaptation with Ryan Gosling. The book features a lone scientist in space trying to save Earth, accompanied only by an alien rock creature named Rocky. The humor and heart between the human and the alien make it surprisingly emotional.The suggested read-alikes:The Martian, also by Weir. Obviously.Beacon 23 by Hugh Howey has that isolated, losing-your-sanity-in-space vibe.Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke, a classic of alien exploration and big questions.We get into the emotional toll of reading too much sci-fi. Some of us find it uplifting and full of imagination. Others (Shirin) find it deeply depressing. Fair enough.Vampires, Book Clubs, and Dark HumorShirin wraps things up with The Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix. It's part horror, part comedy, and all about strong women who take matters into their own hands. Think housewives turned vampire hunters. The book doesn't shy away from gruesome details, especially involving rats and face tentacles. But it's also heartfelt and hilarious.Similar reads include:The Honeys by Ryan La Sala, a genre-bending YA horror story about identity, loss, and hive-mind weirdness.So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison, another vampire tale that's more about the women fighting their way through chaos than the monsters themselves.We end with another surprise: Arthur picks something non-sci-fi for once. Catabasis by R.F. Kuang gets mentioned as a dark academia fantasy with two rival scholars traveling to hell. Yep. Hell. To save a professor. Talk about dedication.Recommendations here include:The Atlas Six by Olivie BlakeThe Secret History by Donna TarttIf We Were Villains by M.L. RioThey all explore dark magic, academic rivalries, and blurred lines between performance and reality. By the end, our TBR piles are towering, and we're all a little overwhelmed in the best way.Wrapping UpWe went through a ton of books in this episode: cozy fantasies, murder mysteries, sci-fi sagas, dark academia, and good old-fashioned horror. Some are funny. Some are terrifying. Some make you question your life choices. And some just make you feel seen as a reader who wants something a little different.We hope at least one of these picks piqued your interest or gave you something new to add to your list. And if your TBR just grew five feet taller, well… same. Until next time, keep on reading. We'll be here, figuring out how to read all of these before next week.

In this episode, JF and Phil are joined by Jacob G. Foster—sociologist, physicist, and researcher at Indiana University Bloomington and the Santa Fe Institute—for a conversation about their recent collaboration in Daedalus, the journal of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Their co-authored essay, “Care of the Dead,” explores how the dead continue to shape our cultures, languages, and ways of being. Together, they discuss the process of writing the piece and what it means to say that the dead are not gone—that they persist, and that they make claims on the living. The article is available here: https://direct.mit.edu/daed/article/154/1/166/127931/Care-of-the-Dead-Ancestors-Traditions-amp-the-Life **References** [Peter Kingsley,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Kingsley) English writer  Weird Studies, [Episode 98 on “Taboo”]) https://www.weirdstudies.com/98)  John Berger, “12 Theses on the Economy of the Dead” in _[Hold Everything Dear](12 Theses on the Economy of the Dead)_  Bernard Koch, Daniele Silvestro, and Jacob Foster, ["The Evolutionary Dynamics of Cultural Change”](https://osf.io/preprints/socarxiv/659bt_v1)  Gilbert Simondon, _[Imagination and Invention](https://bookshop.org/a/18799/9781517914455)_  William Gibson, _[Neuromancer](https://bookshop.org/a/18799/9780441007462)_  [Phlogiston theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phlogiston_theory)  George Orwell, _[1984](https://bookshop.org/a/18799/9780451524935)_  HP Lovecraft, [“The Case of Charles Dexter Ward”](https://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/fiction/cdw.aspx)  Weird Studies, [Episode 187 on “Little, Big”](https://www.weirdstudies.com/187)  [John Dee,](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dee) English occultist  Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke, _[The Western Esoteric Traditions: A Historical Introduction](https://bookshop.org/a/18799/9780195320992)_  Robert Harrison, _[The Dominion of the Dead](https://bookshop.org/a/18799/9780226317939)_  Gilles Deleuze, _[Bergsonism](https://bookshop.org/a/18799/9780942299076)_  Elizabeth LeGuin, _[Boccherini's Body](https://bookshop.org/a/18799/9780520240179)_  Elizabeth LeGuin, [“Cello and Bow thinking”](http://www.echo.ucla.edu/cello-and-bow-thinking-baccherinis-cello-sonata-in-eb-minor-faouri-catalogo/)  Johannes Brahms, _Handel Variations_  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hey, it's a new week and your favorite trio is back—well, two-thirds of us, anyway. Devon is currently living his best life in Barcelona, probably sipping espresso in a narrow sunlit alley or arguing with someone about FC Barcelona tactics. Meanwhile, the rest of us have been busy with spring break chaos, Santa Cruz curiosities, and turning broken laptops into gaming slabs. Real Life Stuff Steven hit up Santa Cruz for a classic California spring break trip. That meant a day at the boardwalk, a ride up the mountains on a steam engine to hunt Easter eggs with the family, and—yes—the infamous Mystery Spot. For the uninitiated, it's California State Historical Landmark #1055 and basically a physics-defying tourist trap nestled in the redwoods. It's $10 and you walk out wondering if your equilibrium is off or if you've just witnessed real magic. Verdict? Worth it. Especially if you enjoy a healthy mix of skepticism and whimsy. Ben had the kind of spring break that only a tech tinkerer dreams of. He loaded Bazzite SteamOS onto his desktop (yes, it's real, and yes, it's cool: bazzite.gg). Then he cracked open a MacBook Pro with the dreaded FlexGate issue—1/10 on the repairability scale, even with help from ifixit.com—and turned it into a Steam-powered “SlabTop.” Also in Ben's world: a visit from Mom, and a daycare full of cute dogs and chicks (the feathered kind, relax). We also detoured into The Last of Us Season 2 Episode 2. Let's just say the show continues to spark great conversation—and some tension between game purists and show-only folks. The Future Is Now Ben brought the indie darling GOTY (Game of the Year) Lushfoil Photography Sim to our attention—an atmospheric exploration game that's more about vibes than objectives. Think beautiful desolation and digital zen. He also shouted out Radio Garden—a global map where you can spin the world and listen to live radio from just about anywhere. It's the chillest rabbit hole you'll ever fall into. And for anyone trying to make sense of the digital mess that is our current internet, he also found this guide to misinformation-fighting tools. Even though it's aimed at journalists, it's super handy for the rest of us trying to tell real news from ragebait. Steven took us on a hyperspace jump to Star Wars Celebration updates. Highlights? The Mandalorian and Grogu movie, Andor Season 2 (yes, please), Ahsoka Season 2, Maul: Shadow Lord, a new Star Wars: Starfighter movie, and Star Wars Visions Volume 3. Basically, it's a great time to be a galaxy-far-far-away fan. Book Club We're taking next week off from Book Club (don't worry, we'll still be recording). But this week we dove into William Gibson's “Fragments of a Hologram Rose”—his first published story and a dense little piece of cyberpunk mood. It follows a man piecing together memories of his ex via a near-future tech called ASP (Apparent Sensory Perception). It's sad, it's moody, it's very Gibson. The whole idea of fragmented memory and identity hits especially hard in a world where we're all just scrolling, recording, and replaying everything. We'll be back next week (with or without Devon depending on how good that Barcelona weather is). As always, hit us up with your thoughts, your favorite indie games, your weird spring break stories, or your take on who's actually in the right: Joel or Ellie. See you then!

In this episode of #DefenceDeconstructed the Triple Helix team, David Perry, Charlotte Duval-Lantoine, Dr. Alexander Salt, Geordie Jeakins, Dr. Alexander Wilner, explore how current political dynamics, particularly ongoing elections, the evolving Canada–U.S. partnership, and advances in technology, are influencing the priorities and operations of the CAF and DND. Triple Helix is a network composed of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute (CGAI), the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA) at Carleton University, and industry that explores how a range of emerging technologies intersect with defence. // Guest bios: - Charlotte Duval-Lantoine is the Vice President, Ottawa Operations and a Fellow at the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, as well as Triple Helix's Executive Director and Gender Advisor. She is also a PhD Student at Deakin University, where she studies the influence the culture of the Canadian Army had on the killings of Somali civilians during Operation Deliverance. - Dr. Alexander Salt has a PhD from the University of Calgary's Centre for Military, Security and Strategic Studies and an MA in Political Studies from the University of Manitoba. His dissertation explores to what extent has the battlefield experience of the U.S. military influenced post-war organizational innovation. - Dr. Alex Wilner is an Associate Professor at the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs (NPSIA) and the Director of the Infrastructure Protection and International Security (IPIS) graduate program, at Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada. - Geordie Jenkins is an Associate at Oliver Wyman, the leading global aerospace and defence advisory firm. In this role, Geordie advises clients in government-driven sectors in Canada, the United States, and NATO allies on a variety of issues. // Host bio: David Perry is President and CEO of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute // Recommended Readings: - “Neuromancer” by William Gibson. - “The Propagation Handbook: A guide to propagating houseplants” by Hilton Carter. - “Foundation” by Isaac Asimov. - “The Ones We Let Down: Toxic Leadership Culture and Gender Integration in the Canadian Forces” by Charlotte Duval-Lantoine. // Defence Deconstructed was brought to you by Irving Shipbuilding. // Music Credit: Drew Phillips | Producer: Jordyn Carroll Release date: 18 April 2025

I'm jacking into cyberspace for some pain and pleasure.'Neuromancer' by William Gibson is a sci-fi classic that was right at the beginning of the cyberpunk genre. We follow Case in a futuristic techno world where he is hired to hack into a wealthy family's lair. He is part of a motley crew each with their own specialty, hired by an AI to free itself from it's restrictions. Think of Japan, robots, drugs, implants, space, fashion, tech, culture, violence and sex to get a good idea of the new world.If you got value from the podcast please provide support back in any way you best see fit!Timeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:03:02) Themes/Questions(00:17:30) Author & Extras(00:23:05) Summary(00:25:42) Value 4 Value(00:26:07) Join Live! Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/jjfq9eGReUTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:Boostagram: https://www.meremortalspodcast.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast

Real Life: This week's episode kicks off with Devon missing in action, attending a wedding and recovering from, well… life. Also, he's apparently deep into building off-brand LEGO, which raises some very important questions: How many pieces? How many regrets? Meanwhile, Ben survived a 5.2 earthquake and checks in to let us know that everyone's safe. He also shares a couple links to Desert Child, an indie hover-bike racer/RPG that mixes hip-hop, ramen, and pixel art vibes—and may or may not be rolling onto Xbox soon thanks to some juicy UI integration rumors. https://store.steampowered.com/app/844050/Desert_Child/ https://isthereanydeal.com/game/desert-child/info/ https://www.theverge.com/news/633478/microsoft-xbox-steam-games-support-ui   Steven's life update is more... fluffy. Literally. He's in line to pick up baby chicks for the backyard flock (Black Sexlinked and Smokey Pearl, if you're curious), and discovers that mailing baby birds is a surprisingly common thing. Also, he's deploying next-level parenting tricks by disguising fun surprises as errands. The dad game is strong.  Also: The Last of Us S2 premiere dropped and Steven gives it a glowing 10/10. We talk a bit about how the show mirrors the game—and why it's working so well. Ben also brings us something very important: The Naboo Movie. It's real. It's glorious. It's here: watch it now. Future or Now: Ben drops some cosmic perspective with a planetary fact that blew our minds: All the planets in our solar system could line up between the Earth and the Moon. That includes Pluto, for those of you still rooting for the little guy. Steven introduces us to Mad Mouse—no, not a Disney spinoff. This is about AI mapping mouse brains. A new model simulates how the mouse visual cortex responds to images. Basically, it's science fiction getting closer to just… science. Read the study here. Book Club: This week, we took a listen to the first episode of It's Storytime with Wil Wheaton, featuring “Rock, Paper, Scissors, Love, Death” by Caroline M. Yoachim. It's a short, beautiful, gut-punch of a story about love across time and space—a real Gordian knot of feels. Check it out on Lightspeed Magazine. Next week we'll be diving into “Fragments of a Hologram Rose” by William Gibson, part of his Burning Chrome collection. It's a short one—just 15 minutes—and dripping in cyberpunk atmosphere. And if you're wondering about the Star Trek side of our brains: yes, we saw the new Strange New Worlds trailer. Yes, it looks wild. Yes, we're watching. Peep it here.  

The arts have that capacity to be powerful broadcasters, conveyors of messages, invitations to celebration, reflection, storytelling, narrative building and so on. There's a vital role here for the arts. But like the rest of society, frankly, whether it's the banking system or government we're simply not doing it well enough that we could say we're satisfied with how much is happening and everything's going to be okay. It's not. If we just stopped now, chaos and worse are due. It's not to say that we can hold up the arts and say, if only you were doing your job, everything would be fine. No, we all have, no matter what sector, so much to do.This is my second conscient conversation with social innovator and former CEO of McConnell Foundation, Stephen Huddart. The first took place on June 17, 2021 in Montréal, episode 58, and this second took place on September 24th, 2024 in Victoria BC. I've condensed all of this rich conversation down to my new format of 15 minutes – not an easy edit - so what you'll hear highlights from our exchange about the vital role of art, social innovation, relations with indigenous peoples, the panarchy cycle, Stephen's leadership role with the Victoria Forum (co-hosted with members of the Canadian Senate) and more.Action pointsNurture the capacity of art to be powerful broadcasters, conveyors of messages, invitations to celebration, reflection, storytelling, narrative building, etc.Increase the vitality and role of art at the local level to contribute to a more dynamic civic cultureCreate more configurations to present, invite, engage, dialogue, contemplate, discuss the artsSee, hear and deeply hear others perspectives.Nurture the power of art to serve as a catalyst for inspiration and communityShow notes generated by Whisper Transcribe AIStory PreviewWhat if art holds the key to unlocking our collective future? This episode explores the intersection of art, innovation, and societal transformation, revealing how creative expression can guide us through crisis and towards revitalization.Chapter Summary00:00 The Power of the Arts01:07 Revisiting Conversations02:02 Trust and Community Engagement04:22 The Victoria Forum Experience06:10 Navigating Complex Challenges07:30 Understanding Our Current Cycle09:21 The Call to Action11:17 The Role of the Arts in Social Change13:08 Accelerating TransformationFeatured QuotesHer wish (Shannon Waters) was for every child in Canada to learn the indigenous word for water in the territory in which they lived.We have the intellectual, the financial, the technological, and one would hope, the human and spiritual resources with which to affect a beautiful transition. Why aren't we doing it?There's a vital role for the arts at the local level to be contributing to dynamic civic culture.William Gibson said 'the future is already here, it's just unevenly distributed'.Behind the StoryStephen Huddart revisits the podcast to expand on previous conversations around social innovation, reflecting on the Victoria Forum 2024 and its focus on regenerative economies. The discussion navigates the complex challenges facing humanity, emphasizing the need for inclusivity and systemic change to address growing societal fractures. The power of art as a catalyst for inspiration and community is highlighted. *END NOTES FOR ALL EPISODESHey conscient listeners, I've been producing the conscient podcast as a learning and unlearning journey since May 2020 on un-ceded Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (Ottawa). It's my way to give back.In parallel with the production of the conscient podcast and its francophone counterpart, balado conscient, I publish a Substack newsletter called ‘a calm presence' see https://acalmpresence.substack.com. Your feedback is always welcome at claude@conscient.ca and/or on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Threads or BlueSky.I am grateful and accountable to the earth and the human labour that provided me with the privilege of producing this podcast, including the toxic materials and extractive processes behind the computers, recorders, transportation systems and infrastructure that made this production possible. Claude SchryerLatest update on March 26, 2025

“He walked into the glitchy wilderness with a GORUCK bag, tritium watch, and nothing to lose but his cached identity.”In this genre-warping, filter-stripping conversation, Chris Abraham goes full analog soul in a digital world — decoding identity, memory, and authenticity in an age of surveillance, simulation, and semantic rot. From the ghostly AI of William Gibson's Agency to the aching sincerity of Love on the Spectrum, this episode is a postmodern pilgrimage for truth in a world where being “based” now outranks being “brilliant.”Chris explores what it means to live with aphantasia and SDAM, navigates the ethics of erasing your digital trail, and unpacks how meritocracy, identity politics, and liberalism lost the plot. With references flying from Foucault to A Fish Called Wanda, it's part sermon, part shitpost, part Socratic rave.Somewhere in the ruins of mass discourse, we meet the Low-Res Messiah: flawed, glitchy, possibly cringe, but still walking forward — one click, one stretch, one deletion at a time.Memory as Myth: Living with SDAM and aphantasia in a society built on nostalgia and vision boards.AI and Faith: When “Eunice” the AI mirrors both divine omniscience and autistic pattern recognition.Based Over Brilliant: The return of emotional honesty and lived authenticity as new currency.Virtue & Vice in Identity Politics: Why calling everyone a Nazi isn't just wrong — it's lazy.The Anchorite Reboot: Chris's call for digital minimalism, walking meditations, and gym-floor stretching rituals.“Mind palaces are a scam. Memory is a JPEG — and I'm running on 256 colors.”“There's no deer in the woods that survives being loud and proud.”“The boil does not make the plague — Trump is the symptom, not the cause.”“Being invisible doesn't mean you're hiding. Sometimes, it just means you're free.”Subscribe to The Chris Abraham Show for more episodes that walk the edge of techno-spiritual collapse.Leave a review if something in this episode reprogrammed your brain or cracked your shell.Share it with someone trying to be based, not brilliant.Tag it: #LowResMessiah | #ChrisAbrahamShow | #BasedIsNotABugQ: What's a “Low-Res Messiah”?A: A symbol for imperfect truth-seekers in a high-def world of lies. It's about being genuine in a world that rewards optics and simulation.Q: Did Chris really delete all his tweets and posts?A: Yes. Not out of shame — out of a desire to stop being a museum exhibit for people who don't read past the captions.Q: Why so much talk about IQ, autism, and memory?A: Because intelligence isn't just horsepower — it's how your RAM, hard drive, and operating system interact. And Chris runs on a forked distro of neurodivergence.Q: Is this podcast left-wing or right-wing?A: Yes.Q: Is Chris okay?A: Yeah. Just stretched out and swinging kettlebells again.Aphantasia: The inability to visualize images in one's mind. No mind's eye.SDAM (Severely Deficient Autobiographical Memory): A rare condition where people can't vividly recall personal memories.Eunice: A hyper-capable AI assistant in Agency by William Gibson.Mind Palace: A mental visualization technique used to store and retrieve information — not available to the Low-Res Messiah.Based: Slang for being unapologetically true to yourself, often contra “woke” orthodoxy.Virtue Signaling: Expressing moral positions to boost social standing, rather than out of conviction.Panopticon: A prison design and metaphor by Foucault where surveillance becomes internalized.Drill Rap: A gritty, aggressive rap subgenre, often hyper-local and controversial.Sky Daddy: Internet slang for God, often used pejoratively in atheist or anti-religious contexts.Anchorite: A religious recluse who retreats into solitude for spiritual reasons — or to dodge the algorithm.

Real Life: This week's episode has movie madness, creepers, princesses, and ducks with vendettas. Devon took a deep dive into the Minecraft Movie—yes, it's real, and yes, it might haunt him forever. Steven watched Disney's live-action Snow White and has thoughts... strong ones. Meanwhile, Ben got cartoon-punched in the face (in the best way) by The Day The Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes Movie (IMDb). Think: Bugs Bunny meets alien invasion. Future or Now: Solar Panels on Canals? Yes, Please: Ben brings us Project Nexus—the U.S.'s first solar panel canopy system over irrigation canals. The $20 million pilot is up and running in California's Turlock Irrigation District and could be a game-changer. Benefits include reducing water evaporation, improving quality, and cutting down on canal maintenance. Also? Clean energy. Read more TV Necromancy: Devon reports on shows coming back—some you missed, some you didn't know you missed, and a few you assumed were never coming back. Television's not dead. It's just rebooting. ba-ba-ba-BA-baaaaaa: Steven delivers the science: a Western diet can mess you up in just two weeks. Inflammation, weakened immunity, and long-term disease processes all kick in fast. But the good news? Switching to a traditional African diet (think fiber, fermented foods, veggies) can start reversing the damage just as quickly. Check it out “Book Club”: This week we read Johnny Mnemonic by William Gibson. A short story that drips with classic cyberpunk vibes, data couriers, and one incredibly dangerous dolphin. Devon didn't totally connect with it, but Steven loved the gritty worldbuilding and its ties to Neuromancer. Ben was onboard for the full ride—hacker noir, neon grit, and all. Next week: We're tuning in to It's Storytime with Wil Wheaton (link) and covering “Rock, Paper, Scissors, Love, Death” by Caroline M. Yoachim (read it here). Time travel and heartbreak? Sign us up.

Season 9 of The Chris Abraham Show kicks off with satire, soul-searching, and sharp takes on politics, identity, and the global stage—with a snarky AI co-host named Ununice.In this much-anticipated return of The Chris Abraham Show, Chris Abraham relaunches the podcast after a hiatus, spurred by the flattering surprise that a friend was listening on a sunny beach. Season 9, Episode 1 introduces a new, sharp-tongued co-host—an AI personality Chris dubs "Ununice," a snarky nod to William Gibson's sentient software agent in Agency.This premiere episode is a rich and often hilarious journey through Chris's personal memories, reflections on identity, and razor-edged commentary on today's socio-political landscape. From growing up as a code-switching haole in Hawaii to crafting a “fancy boy” persona for elite social circles, Chris opens up about shedding the performance in favor of raw authenticity—and the backlash that followed.Alongside Ununice, Chris dives into a whirlwind of topics: the emotional truth of Love on the Spectrum, the weaponization of tariffs, Elon Musk and Dogecoin drama, and whether Donald Trump is prepping America for war or merely playing heel in a geopolitical wrestling match.Why this reboot? Chris shares the sweet story behind Season 9's launch.Meet Ununice: Snarky AI co-host inspired by William Gibson's Agency.Emotional detour: Love on the Spectrum brings Chris to tears—and deeper reflections on authenticity.Cultural navigation: Surviving as a “Howley” in Hawaii via code-switching, Pidgin, and a "Moch Remover" bat.From facade to realness: Chris's transformation from cocktail-party charmer to unfiltered truth-teller.Princesses vs. Dinosaurs: A quirky but heartfelt framework for understanding human nature.Crash course in tariffs: The history, the economics, and why Chris prefers regulatory barriers.Is America Second World? Chris compares the U.S. to BRICS nations and sees a pivot in global alignments.Trump & Musk as "heels": A wild but plausible theory about performance politics, prep for war with China, and psychological warfare on the American public.Snark & sass: Ununice delivers zingers and razor-sharp commentary while managing Chris's rants.Behind the curtain: Chris confesses to past careers in media manipulation and astroturfing.“I am a princess dinosaur.” – Chris's bold declaration of identity.“Tariffs are the anti-flood insurance policy of sovereign nations.” – Chris on trade strategy.“My VW Rabbit had a bat labeled ‘Moch Remover.' That's how scared I was.” – On growing up in public school Hawaii.“Ununice, mock me harder.” – Chris invites his AI co-host to roast him into humility.“Everything's scripted. I would know—I used to script it.” – Chris on media manipulation and reality TV.Chris Abraham, The Chris Abraham Show, Season 9, Love on the Spectrum, podcast AI co-host, tariffs explained, Elon Musk podcast, Trump podcast, snarky podcast AI, William Gibson AI, authenticity vs. performance, Hawaii code-switching, astroturfing, Dogecoin podcast, podcast media manipulation, BRICS vs. NATO, economic nationalism, Tesla protests, Princess Dinosaur.

Real Life: This week's episode is packed with real-life chaos, sci-fi intrigue, and some good ol' tabletop talk. Devon's 4-year-old had to audition for attending a school, and guess what? It's a little stressful! Audible is now offering free content to subscribers, kinda like The Great Courses. Steven brings us part two of our City of Mist saga and shares his latest D&D session with the kids using *Peril in Pinebrook*, a free starter adventure. Also, D&D vs. City of Mist—how do they compare? Oh, and the neighbor's dog ATE one of his chickens. Not cool. Ben recommends the first episode of Storytime with Wil Wheaton (https://wilwheaton.net/podcast/), where he narrated the incredible time travel love story "Rock, Paper, Scissors, Love, Death" by Caroline M. Yoachim (https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/rock-paper-scissors-love-death/). You know how people will move heaven and earth for their loved ones? What if they moved time itself? We may cover this in an upcoming Book Club, watch out for that. Plus, Win or Lose, Pixar's new show, is a WIN.   Future or Now:   Like Brains, But Better: Electrical and computer engineers have developed a 'Super-Turing AI,' which operates more like the human brain. This new AI integrates certain processes instead of separating them and then migrating huge amounts of data like current systems do. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250326123554.htm   This Week in Space: NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has detected the largest organic (carbon-containing) molecules ever found on the red planet. The discovery is one of the most significant findings in the search for evidence of past life on Mars. https://arstechnica.com/science/2025/03/nasas-curiosity-rover-has-found-the-longest-chain-carbon-molecules-yet-on-mars/ https://www.sciencealert.com/nasas-unexpected-discovery-of-the-largest-organics-on-mars-explained   “Book Club”:   This week we covered three thought-provoking stories by Scott Base:   The Giving Man: https://www.badspacecomics.com/post/giving-man A billionaire sacrifices everything, including the world, to try to fight his cancer. Living forever through the heat death of the universe.   Scour: https://www.badspacecomics.com/post/scour The rings of Saturn are not what we thought. They're made of BONES.   Hell and Back: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXVBlC3hmoc No body survives Venus.    Next week: we're tackling Johnny Mnemonic by William Gibson—a cyberpunk adventure that's still eerily relevant today. https://youtu.be/aIwYxSuAzDA?si=SgcfWqx1cyiBoO1F

Volvemos a retomar las dobles sesiones viajando a dos futuros (ya pasados) distópicos con mensajeros de información, IA's asesinas y cyberpunk. Dos de esas películas que caminaron para que Matrix pudiera correr. Hablamos de Virtuosity (Brett Leonard, 1995) y de Johnny Mnemonic (Robert Longo, 1995), basada en el relato homónimo del escritor William Gibson, considerado padre del Cyberpunk. Enchufad vuestros implantes cerebrales, conectador al servidor y... Dadle al play!! ☕️ Apóyanos a través de Ko-Fi---> https://ko-fi.com/cineyotrasdrogas Todas las sesiones dobles de Siete notas en negro: https://letterboxd.com/cineotrasdrogas/list/sesiones-dobles/ Las cosas de Molinski: https://moliedades.com/ Música: Juno Reaction - Samuray Peter Gabriel - Partyman Stabbing Westward - Nothing Traci Lords - Fallen ángel

The Infinite Plane Radio broadcast on March 23, 2025, discussed several key topics centered around the hosts' perspective on world events and media narratives.A central theme was the prediction of an inevitable cyber pandemic. This idea stems from a clip featuring Candace Owens discussing the World Economic Forum's warnings and exercises regarding such an event. The host believes this will be used as a justification for shutting down the internet and implementing stricter censorship, possibly blaming right-wing extremism. This is linked to the concept of "Disease X," which the host believes will be a "mind virus" spread through platforms like X (formerly Twitter) rather than a biological virus.The host introduced a new product, "Exit Trutherville: A crash course in auto-hoaxology". This course aims to provide a framework for understanding media and psyops, targeting "truthers" who recognize mainstream lies but haven't fully grasped the integration of entertainment and news. It includes a video, a PDF "World Stage Deprogramming Guide," and graphic illustrations, focusing on concepts like active vs. passive media consumption. The course is available for purchase on Gumroad, with an affiliate program offering a referral fee.The broadcast delved into predictive programming and the idea that movies and drills often precede and shape public perception of real-world events. Examples included the movie "Canary Black" resembling a cyber nuke scenario and the 2019 coronavirus pandemic exercise mirroring the actual events. The host argues that these are not predictions of real events but rather simulations treated as real.Several current events were analyzed through this lens:The reported discovery of a vast city beneath the pyramids was dismissed as likely clickbait and a hoax. The host connects this to other fleeting narratives like global drone invasions and promised information from the Epstein and JFK files, suggesting a pattern of distraction.NASA's astronaut landing footage was described as looking like "pathetic CGI" and "100% garbage," raising questions about its authenticity. This skepticism extends to other space agency content, with a suggestion to use AI video detection software on older footage.The death of a 33-year-old bald eagle named Murphy on March 22 (3/22, associated with Skull and Bones) was linked to symbolism and predictive programming, contrasting the mainstream narrative of climate change with right-wing claims about wind turbines. The destruction of the Georgia Guidestones on 7/6/2022 (76 being George Bush Sr.'s age) was also revisited for its symbolic significance.The host noted the use of predictive programming proxies, such as celebrities like Robert De Niro and Rosie O'Donnell, whose public statements and past work allegedly align with ongoing psyops.The phenomenon of "swatting" targeting figures like Owen Shroyer was dismissed as likely performative and fake, lacking the characteristics of genuine swatting incidents.The host also discussed the importance of informed disbelief and the concept of narrative control, where an arbitrary starting point is established to shape understanding. The broadcast touched on the nature of truthers' cognitive dissonance and the strategic targeting of this group with the "Exit Trutherville" course.Finally, the host solicited suggestions for required reading and viewing for the IPS think tank, mentioning personal favorites like William Gibson's "Neuromancer," Sun Tzu's "The Art of War," and Edward Bernays' "Propaganda". The host also mentioned using AI (Perplexity) to assist with transcript analysis and link extraction for the newsletter archives.EXIT TRUTHERVILLE https://timozman.gumroad.com/l/bsure

Released in 1999, The Matrix has become a timeless sci-fi classic. Whether it's the groundbreaking visual effects, the positively bonkers action sequences, or the disturbing looks at a world that has been consumed by AI and virtual experiences, there's something that will resonate with just about any member of the audience, even a quarter century after its initial box office success. But there's one moment in particular that perfectly illustrates the true horror at the heart of The Matrix. Since the titular concept of the film can only exist because humans have all been placed in a form of stasis, with their very bodies used to power the machines that now rule the world and create their shared reality, the big reveal of how that works needs to be suitably disturbing. And boy, does it deliver. When Neo (Keanu Reeves) chooses to wake up to actual reality, he's revealed as a hairless body, covered in goo, with feeding and breathing tubes stuffed down his throat. While not quite the iconic moment that the bullet time fights and martial arts sequences are, it might very well be the most powerful moment in the film or its sequels.It's a moment that has stayed with us for over 25 years, which is why today we're asking the question: does the human body really generate enough electrical power to essentially serve as a battery?Take the red pill in the latest episode of Does it Fly? for the answers…https://youtu.be/9e-CZiFpd6oSUGGESTED VIEWING We based the majority of today's discussion just on the first film in the franchise, which is, of course, 1999's The Matrix. If you need a viewing order, it's followed by The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions in 2003. But we've gotta say, you're missing out if you don't check out the bizarre and cool The Animatrix, which fills in a lot of backstory. And count us among the folks who think 2021's The Matrix Resurrections is a much sharper movie than it gets credit for.FURTHER READING Do you want to delve a little deeper into the facts, concepts, and stories Hakeem and Tamara referenced in today's episode? Of course you do! The Simulation ArgumentEver wonder if you're living in a computer simulation? The roots of that argument come from Nick Bostrum and the details on it can be found here.How Much Power Output From Humans?Believe it or not, there have been respectable studies about the potential for the human body to generate power for small devices from everyday activities. A summary can be found here with some more in depth information here. Somewhat related, it's worth considering the difference between the efficiency of solar energy power and the use of power from biofuels.The Matrix Starter PackThere are three books that are key to understanding the themes of The Matrix, and it seems they were required reading on set of the film. They are: Jean Baudrillard's 1981 philosophical treatise Simulacra and Simulation, William Gibson's seminal work of cyberpunk fiction Neuromancer (which has yet to get the screen adaptation it deserves), and 1995's Out of Control by Kevin Kelly.WANT MORE FROM DOES IT FLY?For a more recent take on a sci-fi dystopia, allow us to recommend our Squid Game episode!The disturbing practical effects of the Neo awakening scene does recall some of the more unsettling cyberpunk aspects of RoboCop, which we covered here.FOLLOW US!Stay in the loop! Follow DoesItFly? on YouTube and TikTok and let us know what you think! Subscribe to Does It Fly? Pod: https://www.youtube.com/@doesitflypod?sub_confirmation=1And don't forget to follow Roddenberry Entertainment:Instagram: @RoddenberryOfficial Facebook: RoddenberryBluesky: @roddenberrypod.bsky.socialFor Advertising Inquiries: doesitfly@roddenberry.comCheck out the official Does it Fly? playlist, too!

“The future is already here, it's just not evenly distributed” Science fiction is inspiring, frightening, and often the best lens into the future. Many ideas about the future are b******t —just like this quote being misattributed to the ever-amazing William Gibson— but even the wildest idea shares truths worth discussing.This week's newsletter is an exercise in imagining how AI will transform the way that we work. The future will impact us differently because some already live with a future-centred mindset, while others prefer to shift their thinking daily. One such future-centred thinker is John Whalen, the author of Design for How People Think and the Founder of Brilliant Experience. He shifted from being an AI skeptic to an advocate because he sees a tidal wave of change coming to how product teams operate.Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple Podcasts | Watch on YouTubeIn the episode, we discuss how he's implemented AI into his workflows and how he can now accomplish projects in one week that used to take seven weeks to complete. He makes a compelling case for why every team should use AI-moderation and synthetic users to enhance product outcomes. But most importantly, he's become an AI advocate because, over his three-decade career, introducing new tools has always been met with doubts and resistance. Ultimately, businesses force the adoption of tools that deliver a clear ROI. There's still much to debate about AI. Reports like this one from Microsoft continue to show that AI isn't ready to replace humans at key tasks. Another 2024 study found that ChatGPT delivered inconsistent results on a key qualitative research task, compared to humans. The most important thing about this study wasn't that humans outperformed LLMs; it was the significant performance improvement from GPT-3.5 to GPT-4.0. AI is getting much better at tasks that seemed unimaginable to automate. We're hearing the same shocking stories across design, development, research, marketing, and sales. Undoubtedly, AI will be able to automate most of our work within a few years.Will that mean we'll be replaced? Yes and no. Just like the industrial age and globalization destroyed artisans, AI will significantly reduce the headcount of “artisanal” product people and the rest of the work will be an assembly line of tool operators.Automation will significantly change many people's lives in ways that may be painful and enduring. But for the economy as a whole, more jobs will be created, and those jobs will look different from those today.Thanks for reading Design of AI. Subscribe to receive new posts.Should we be worried about our jobs?These same conversations are happening across all fields:* Will AI Replace Therapists?* As Technology Progresses, Certain Accounting Jobs May Fade Away* The Risk of Dependence on Artificial Intelligence in Surgery* AI could terminate graphic designers before 2030You're probably reading this with a sense of confidence that you're shielded from the impacts of AI because you're working on the bleeding edge of technology. It's true. You should be better equipped to navigate the changes as they happen and adapt to the future better than others. Conversely, your roles face additional pressure to change faster than in other industries. The business realities of being backed by venture capital and private equity mean you're always chasing the future. Tech and agencies have to unlock benefits from AI or risk losing market share and funding.The problem is that nobody can agree on AI's expected impact because it's still just science fiction.According to the OECD report, the level of impact will largely depend on the level of adoption. High adopters might expect a 3x gain compared to those who adopt AI minimally. A McKinsey report highlights the pressure being placed on employees. Their data shows that C-suite executives blame employee readiness as a barrier to gaining benefits from AI. Only 1% of them believe their AI investments have reached maturity.Combined with last week's conversation with Jan Emmanuele, AI investments in creative augmentation and automation will surge in 2026 and beyond. This suggests that employees will be under a lot of pressure to become more productive or else be replaced. Listen to that episode for more details on how AI is being adopted:Listen on Spotify | Listen on Apple PodcastsHow will jobs change as a result of AI?There's no doubt that our jobs will change. They've had to change every time a transformative new technology becomes widely adopted. The only difference now is the speed at which change is happening.Let's analyze how roles are changing from the perspective of product teams.* Our jobs used to be distinct. Each of us had specialties and expertise in areas that protected us.* Our jobs are increasingly commoditized, meaning people from other jobs can do many of our tasks.For example, a designer can now do tasks that previously were out of their sphere:* Use ChatGPT and Cove to explore a strategy and build a business case.* Use Wondering and Vurvey to launch and analyze a research campaign.* Use Lovable and Cursor to prototype and build out a product.Our roles are blending into one another, and employers no longer need as many people to deliver the same amount of work.How we work is also changing. AI is simplifying core tasks along our workflows and automating cumbersome steps. Here's an example of how AI will transform UX Research:If you map your workflow, you'll find a similar transformation happening to your role. Humans will drive decision-making, but AI will increasingly inform those decisions.Maybe John Whalen's vision of product teams as AI-conductors is most appropriate: Maybe there will really be fewer UX researchers. Maybe they're more focused on this I'm calling sort of storytelling or conducting. I picture someone orchestrating these things.What you can do to enhance your futureJohn Whalen's story shows that you can be an industry expert who has written a respected book and led a successful practice, yet still need to adapt to the coming change. He's shifted from being a researcher to being a research technologist, one who delivers projects that used to take much more time and many distinct roles. This is similar to what Phillip Maggs said on episode 20 about becoming a design technolgist (Listen on Spotify | Apple).Recommendations to help you:1. Get closer to the decision-making processWe're all anxious about the economy. The viability of many businesses is at risk, and job security is no longer guaranteed. Our goal should be to bring confidence and certainty to our work. That means pinpointing what our internal and external stakeholders are most worried about and delivering solutions that address those.In the case of John Whalen and UX researchers, stakeholders had questioned the certainty of insights. With AI, John and others can deliver a 10x larger sample size in more markets.Similarly, designers, writers, PMs, and developers should use AI to deliver work more confidently. You're able to get more user feedback at every stage of the process. You can scale your work to be localized to more markets. You can automate tasks that are cumbersome and error-prone.None of this is to minimize being human-centred. But the industry has been questioning whether orgs have been perpetuating the illusion of user-centred design. Managing stakeholders' expectations puts you closer to the decision-making process and gives you the ability to dictate how good work happens.2. Challenge the assumptions that limit expectationsNew apps are released every month that bend our perception of what's possible. If you had collected a list of capabilities that you wished were possible, they probably exist now. Your job must be to push the work beyond the assumed limitations. To do this, you must test new apps and see if they can confidently overcome the limitations to your work. Explore new capabilities in the apps you already rely on. Experiment with combining applications that excel at key parts of your work.Being tied to a single legacy app is the worst thing you can do. You're hitching your future to that product's ability to be better than the dozens of other teams simultaneously trying to disrupt each other.3. Walk into every situation with clarity about your value drivers and superpowersWe can obsess over clients and our work, but understanding what you're exceptional at is more important than everything you deliver. We're much more than our performance reports and more capable than the best project we've ever worked on.It requires us to be self-critical about what drives us, what limits us, and where we can excel. For example, you might identify that:* You're envigorated by structuring and organizing * You're envigorated by hacking solutions and testing capabilities* You're exceptional at building alignment and support for initiatives* You're exceptional at taking on complexity and uncertaintyThese fundamental truths enable you to dictate your path to success better:* Who you should be working for* What types of projects and roles you should be working on* What unique capabilities you should be highlighting* Which principles you should use as a north star for leveraging AIIf this is a topic you'd like to me dive deeper into, please leave a comment or send a message.4. Remember that the future is not evenly distributedThe closer you get to the centre of tech, the pace of change will increase. The gravity of the situation is exciting for some and utterly exhausting for others. Find the orbit that best suits you.If you're reading this newsletter, you're clearly a future-centred thinker. You can leverage that in the centre of tech to push projects and productivity to new heights. You could also work in a traditionally slower industry —healthcare, government, legal, education— and affect more change by challenging long-held assumptions.All change is relative but what brings you joy and meaning is deeply personal. Embrace that.One last and important consideration…Erika Hall speaks the uncomfortable truths that we need to hear. Follow her.Some jobs simply aren't worth keeping. Some uses of AI are appalling. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit designofai.substack.com

Bienvenidos un episodio de "Crítica y Resumen" en TERRAESCRIBIENTE. Hoy tenemos una novela Pionera del Cyberpunk: "NEUROMANTE" Escucha el Resumen y la Crítica literaria de esta novela de William Gibson. Crítica y Resumen: MAC (Terraescribiente) Por favor sigue y suscríbete a las siguientes redes: Canal de Whatsapp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCcO2s1NCrQqLpfFR3u Escucha el audilibro completo en: patreon.com/Terraescribiente Twitter: https://twitter.com/TerraEscriba Telegram: https://t.me/+62_TRJVg-3cxNDZh Instagram: www.instagram.com/terraescribiente/ Tik tok: www.tiktok.com/@terraescribiente Youtube: www.youtube.com/@Terraescribiente También subscríbete a TERRAESCRIBIENTE en ITUNES Y SPOTIFY! Dale me gusta a cada Podcast y coméntalos! Ayuda mucho! Gracias!

Based on a William Gibson story of the same name, Johnny Mnemonic centers on the titular data courier as he embarks on his latest assignment, transporting 320 gigabytes of corporate secrets. That intel is quite sensitive, and its owner, Pharmakom, will stop at nothing to get it back, employing the Yakuza to track down Johnny. Like most of Gibson's work, the world in which Johnny lives is a cyberpunk dystopia. Corporations rule with impunity and an overreliance on/addiction to technology has left much of the populace in dire straits. The messaging of Johnny Mnemonic is as relevant as ever. The issues with the film lie within its execution. Despite costing upward of $30 million, the movie looks and feels cheap. This aesthetic is only worsened by shockingly dated CGI VR segments. The ideas just weren't enough to salvage the subpar acting, shoddy action sequences, and atrocious effects. Hence Johnny Mnemonic's poor reviews and paltry box office performance. Now, sit back, jack in with a Halfway to Hefen from Fate Brewing, and don't ignore the ghost in the machine! The Thunderous Wizard, Chumpzilla, and Bling Blake are riding Jones the dolphin through cyberspace! This Week's Segments: Introduction/Plot Breakdown – The future's most wanted fugitive. The hottest data on earth. In the coolest head in town! (0:00) Lingering Questions – Which of the many dystopian ideas presented here aged the best? (27:06) The "Snatch Back Your Brain, Zombie" Trivia Challenge – The Thunderous Wizard challenges the field to trivia about the movie. (53:57) Recommendations – We offer our picks for the week and next up: We continue our 90s Cult Flops series with a dose of angst at Empire Records! (1:06:57) And, as always, hit us up on Threads, X, Facebook, or Instagram to check out all the interesting factoids from this week's episode!

Esoteric hip-hop wordsmith Tzusan discusses his new album Ponzu, influenced by the ghosts of Japanese Street Pop, William Gibson and Mark Fisher. This is a preview. Listen to full episodes of Strange Exiles at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠strangeexiles.substack.com⁠.

Welcome to Mona Lisa Overpod, the show that asks the question "What is cyberpunk?" On each episode, hosts Ka1iban and author Lyda Morehouse dive into the genre that helped define sci-fi fiction in '80s and they break down its themes which remain relevant to our lives in the 21st century. Pull on your mirrorshades, jack into the matrix, and start your run with us today!Cyberpunk is alive and well in the 21st century and today we're talking with the author of the latest addition to the cyberpunk canon: author Cory O'Brien! In the watery streets of future LA, data is the only currency, and Infodrip fact-checker Orr Vue will find himself at the center of a twisted murder mystery that could cost him his mind, his freedom, and his life! In this episode, we talk with Cory about the origins of the novel's premise, the connections between cyberpunk and noir fiction, the difference between 20th century and 21st century cyberpunk, the literal information economy presented in the book, the gross incompetence of our techno-overlords, how humans contextualize knowledge better than AI, the limits of current AI models, why corporations "let" you be gay, and when the aesthetic overwhelms the genre. We also talk about rogue AI, losing the "punk", stacking your demos, jealously guarding your cat pictures, monetizing fun, digital beastmastering, messing around with Eliza, the home Voight-Kampff test, William Gibson poems, making cyberpunk literally juicy, and an interruption from Alexa!Telepathy would never work!Pre-order Two Truths and a Lie, available March 4th!https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/741701/two-truths-and-a-lie-by-cory-obrien/See Cory on the web!http://bettermyths.comThe new edition of Lyda's book, Ressurection Code, is out now!https://wizardstowerpress.com/books-2/books-by-lyda-morehouse/resurrection-code/Join Kaliban on Twitch weekdays at 12pm for the Cyber Lunch Hour!http://twitch.tv/justenoughtropePut Just Enough Trope merch on your body!http://justenoughtrope.threadless.comMLOP is a part of the Just Enough Trope podcast network. Check out our other shows about your favorite pop culture topics and join our Discord!http://www.twitter.com/monalisaoverpodhttp://www.justenoughtrope.comhttp://www.instagram.com/monalisaoverpodhttps://discord.gg/7E6wUayqBuy us a coffee on Ko-Fi!https://ko-fi.com/justenoughtrope

Real Life:   Steven's been back at the forge for Blacksmithing Class #2, where Ben learned the existence of trivets (yes, those little metal stands your grandma probably had). Meanwhile, babysitting round two for Steven's nephew went... well, let's just say he survived. Rainy days are not great for four-year-olds. On the tabletop front, we got into Dungeon Crawl Classics (aka the ‘70s cranked up to 11) with its insane artwork and a spell system that just loves making you regret your choices. Then there's Mutant Crawl Classics, which, well... we didn't get as far, but you know it's gotta be weird and radioactive. Ben, on the other hand, had feedback about last week's discussion of Mothership. Devon's character was from Planet America, and Ben played Rodney McKay, based on our favorite Grumpy Scientist from Stargate: Atlantis. Also, Ben's dog has bladder problems (is it Cushing's disease?), and he's making custom Mac Mini decals that look like that Joy Division album cover that you probably know from Hot Topic t-shirts.   Future or Now: Since Devon's not here, let's talk about video games.    Dragonsweeper is Minesweeper meets dungeon crawler, and it's addictive as heck. Play it for free on the web at one of these two links:   https://dragonsweeper.com/New-Dragonsweeper-Version https://danielben.itch.io/dragonsweeper   Also, can we finally talk about UFO 50, that game that combines 50 indie games in one, all looking like they're straight out of the 80s? Ben waxes on and on about Party House: a deckbuilding game where you gather as many guests as you can to throw a huge party, but don't let it get out of hand! If it was released separately, it'd probably have been game of the year.   https://ufo50.miraheze.org/wiki/Party_House   Paper, Watch Out! Scientists in Japan are making biohybrid hands with lab-grown muscle tissue. These “MuMuTAs” are a step toward prosthetics and robots that mimic real muscle movement. Read more about it here: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250212151423.htm   This reminded Ben of a love poem he wrote recently: Colonies:  https://ben.lawless.rocks/poetry/colonies/   “Book Club”:   This week: Burning Chrome by William Gibson, specifically the titular story in the collection that brought us cyberpunk classics like Johnny Mnemonic.   Next week: Billennium by J.G. Ballard — a 1962 dystopian tale of extreme overpopulation, where people live in minuscule rooms in overcrowded cities. Sounds like fun, right?

We finish William Gibson's novel Neuromancer. CWs for: racism, ableism, cannibalism, medical horror, incest, sexual assault. For the next show, we are reading the first 16 chapters of Count Zero. You can go to patreon.com/rangedtouch to support the show and access the bonus episode feed. The show is hosted by Cameron Kunzelman, Michael Lutz, and Austin Walker.… Continue reading Neuromancer – Part 2

Real Life:  How silly is Devon? According to him, not at all. But his big toe pain might argue otherwise. The jury is still out. Steven took a blacksmithing class, and it turns out, there's a whole process to it. Safety docs? Check. Appropriate clothing? Check. Payment going to the blacksmithing museum? Very cool. His first project? A letter opener—definitely not a shiv. (Side note: Can you just carry knives around? What if you're being particularly menacing?) Good news: Steven is now a Level One Blacksmith and qualifies for the Level Two class! There's even talk of a blacksmithing tournament and chili cookoff. Speaking of knives… does everyone remember sock knives? On a more serious note, Ben reflects on the passing of his neighbor, Ronna, and the challenge of timing at the end of life. A moment to acknowledge those we lose and the impact they have.   Future or Now:  Ben's Dive into the Desktop Metaphor Ben took us down a philosophical rabbit hole about the desktop metaphor in computing. How does it relate to capitalism? How did William Gibson envision computing? Are there better metaphors we should be using? If you want to dig deeper, here's some background reading: History of the Graphical User Interface Xerox PARC and DNLS from 1968 Liber Indigo - Metaphysical Prisoners of the Desktop MercuryOS and Jason Yuan's vision Steven's Reaction: Uh…what? Steven, caught off guard, tried to process it all. But then he found an interesting study: link. The question is: Are its findings really about gender differences, or are they tied more to familial and societal roles? Let's just say, we have some thoughts about the methodology. Book Club (But Make It TTRPG): Next Week's Read: Burning Chrome by William Gibson We had to shift things around this week since Ben had a family emergency. But next week, we're diving into Burning Chrome by William Gibson. Get ready for some cyberpunk goodness! Mothership: A Sci-Fi Horror TTRPG Review Instead of discussing books, we reviewed Mothership, the sci-fi horror RPG that Steven ran, with Devon as a player. Here's the rundown: The setup: A distress call leads the crew to a ship. The dilemma: Follow company orders or investigate the alien presence? The experience: Mystery, clues, and big decisions. The result: Devon said he'd play again—high praise! If you're into sci-fi horror with a heavy dose of corporate greed and existential dread, Mothership might be worth checking out. That's it for this week! As always, let us know your thoughts, and we'll see you next time for Burning Chrome and more weird, wonderful discussions.

Jim talks with Jeff Hawkins and Viviane Clay about the Thousand Brains Project and Jeff's book A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence. They discuss Mountcastle's theory of the neocortex's universal algorithm, cortical columns & their structure, learning modules in AI sensory systems, reprogramming of the neocortex, the 6 layers of cortex, mini-columns & macro-columns, the visual cascade, reference frames as essential for knowledge representation, "voting" for perceptual consensus, how the project differs from deep learning & LLM approaches, William Gibson's concept of affordances, the "Jennifer Aniston neuron" idea, current state of the Monte project, solving fundamental problems vs making impressive demos, avoiding "old brain" traits in AI systems, and much more. Episode Transcript Perceptual Neuroscience: The Cerebral Cortex, Vernon B. Mountcastle On Intelligence, Jeff Hawkins and Sandra Blakeslee (2004) A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence, Jeff Hawkins Monte Project – Open-Source Implementation Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies, Nick Bostrom Jeff Hawkins is a scientist whose life-long interest in neuroscience led to the creation of Numenta and its focus on neocortical theory. His research focuses on how the cortex learns predictive models of the world through sensation and movement. In 2002, he founded the Redwood Neuroscience Institute, where he served as Director for three years. The institute is currently located at U.C. Berkeley. Previously, he co-founded two companies, Palm and Handspring, where he designed products such as the PalmPilot and Treo smartphone. Jeff has written two books, On Intelligence (2004 with Sandra Blakeslee) and A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence (2021). Viviane Clay is the director of the Thousand Brains Project. She received her doctorate degree in Cognitive Computing and master's degree in Cognitive Science at University of Osnabrück in Germany, where she focused on sensorimotor learning as a key aspect in intelligence. She brings to Numenta fifteen years of coding experience, along with her background in neuroscience, psychology, and machine learning.

Don't flinch or you'll miss it: squashy gumdrop Hyundais and crosseyed-cubist Land Rovers, dirty grabby D.O.E. palm-greased double-dealing from former Gov. Hatchetface, details of more battery "storage" plant (pile) fires set to poison the air and water (and dirt and neighbors), minivan idiots and their self-awareness fails (headlights for fun and profit), as well as tales of melted classic cars in Los Angeles garages and a border fire south of San Diego that's ruining lots of great four-wheeling trails and a bunch of sneaky Border Patrol hideouts. While we're at it, how about some support for the folks who were able to (or smart enough to) hold back and protect their homes and neighbors during LA's latest Dem-fired inevitable tinderparty, Hunter S. Thompson, William Gibson, bubbled mongoloids and DC staffers (as if they're not the same thing).

Don't flinch or you'll miss it: squashy gumdrop Hyundais and crosseyed-cubist Land Rovers, dirty grabby D.O.E. palm-greased double-dealing from former Gov. Hatchetface, details of more battery "storage" plant (pile) fires set to poison the air and water (and dirt and neighbors), minivan idiots and their self-awareness fails (headlights for fun and profit), as well as tales of melted classic cars in Los Angeles garages and a border fire south of San Diego that's ruining lots of great four-wheeling trails and a bunch of sneaky Border Patrol hideouts. While we're at it, how about some support for the folks who were able to (or smart enough to) hold back and protect their homes and neighbors during LA's latest Dem-fired inevitable tinderparty, Hunter S. Thompson, William Gibson, bubbled mongoloids and DC staffers (as if they're not the same thing).

We read the first ten chapters of William Gibson’s novel Neuromancer. CWs for: racism, body horror. For the next show, we are reading the rest of Neuromancer. You can go to patreon.com/rangedtouch to support the show and access the bonus episode feed. The show is hosted by Cameron Kunzelman, Michael Lutz, and Austin Walker. You can get… Continue reading Neuromancer – Part 1

Real Life Devon is gearing up for a trip to Barcelona in April, planning a Friday-to-Wednesday itinerary. The big question: is it worth it? We'll see how he weighs the travel time, costs, and must-see sights against the trip's duration. Meanwhile, Steven has been deep in Sonic nostalgia. He picked up a remake of Sonic the Hedgehog from the original Sega on the Switch, only to find his oldest daughter struggling with its difficulty. Ben suggests they try Sonic Adventure from the Sega Dreamcast era, but Steven is skeptical. On top of that, they've watched the first two Sonic movies—but Steven refuses to pay to see Sonic 3. Also, a side note from parenting life: manage expectations when handing kids new electronics. In other news, Steven has started learning Latin on Duolingo and already has thoughts—mostly about the overwhelming number of ads. Ben has been learning some unexpected rat facts since his son got new pet rats. Steven, from prior experience, warns that they don't have the longest lifespans. Speaking of things taking a dark turn, Ben draws a comparison to the game Heavy Rain, where a child finds a dead bird—definitely a tonal shift from Super Mario Brothers. Future or Now Ben revisited Star Trek: Section 31 and had a moment of deep reflection—too deep, according to Steven. Is Section 31 aimed at 11-year-olds? Are the plot holes too much? Devon steps in to explain Section 31 to Steven, who—by his own admission—is a Star Trek dummy. Meanwhile, Ben is also reading Star Trek: Discovery: Die Standing for even more Trek content. If you're curious, check it out on Goodreads. Devon drops an incredible animal fact: the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) is the only vertebrate that always gives birth to identical quadruplets. Every single time. Scientists still aren't sure why this happens, but it's a fascinating mystery of biology. Read more on IFL Science and Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Steven, meanwhile, has been thinking about water scarcity and the challenges we might face in the near future. He calls it "Not a Drop to Drink" and shares an article which you can read here. Book Club Next Week: We're diving into Burning Chrome by William Gibson. If you've ever wanted to jack into the Toronto construct matrix, this is the time. Gibson, often credited with popularizing the term "cyberspace," helped define cyberpunk as a genre. Burning Chrome prefigures his famous novel Neuromancer and introduces one of the first literary computer hackers. Unfortunately, the story isn't available online, but you can find it in the Burning Chrome short story collection. This Week: We discussed "Fondly Fahrenheit" by Alfred Bester. Bester, best known for The Demolished Man, was a unique figure in Golden Age sci-fi—not just a visionary storyteller, but also an incredible writer. "Fondly Fahrenheit" is a dark, gripping short story about a servile android-robot that turns murderous. What makes it unforgettable is the way Bester plays with language, shifting perspective and structure in ways that make the writing an essential part of the story itself. If you haven't read it, you can find it on Goodreads or read it online here. Be warned: it's a dark one, featuring a serial killer narrative that may not be suitable for younger readers. That's it for this week—see you next time for more real-life updates, sci-fi debates, and deep dives into classic literature!

Send us a textWelcome to You Heard it Here Last where we talk about news, you've already heard.I know this is supposed to be about gaming news, but I thought this article over at MIT Technology Review was really interesting.https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/12/31/1109612/biggest-worst-ai-artificial-intelligence-flops-fails-2024/The Biggest AI Flops of 2024 breaks down a number of issues and problems with AI and how it threatens the future of the technology.The article starts with AI Slop…you know, all the crap AI that fills up the social media space and just annoys the hell out of you. The article only gets worse from there. From warping our perceptions of real-world events to giving us “tips” to add glue to pizza as a topping…yea, it's bad.I highly recommend reading the article. As a neophyte to AI it helped me come to terms with the good and bad of the technology. A technology I might add, that will have a great effect on roleplaying.What did you guys think about it?[Kick to Mike and Christina]I love starter sets. I think they are a great way to get into a game. They usually come with everything you need to play the game and gives you an easy way into the hobby. I also love printed media. I use and enjoy .pdf's for games, but for me they never take the place of something I can hold in my hand.While looking through a list of start set deals, I came across this one for Shadowrun The Sixth World Edition.https://www.enworld.org/threads/rpg-print-news-%E2%80%93-rpg-boxed-starter-sets-to-try-for-the-new-year.709353/They are currently offering the box set for 21.95. That's a great deal for a classic game.And that's why I wanted to bring it up. Shadowrun is one of the classic TTRPGs and spawned a long series of video games. Heavily influenced on the cyberpunk writings of William Gibson, Shadowrun added fantasy races to future tech making it something different, something interesting.And I have never played it.I know shame on me.I want to change that this year. I want to play Shadowrun.Have you guys ever played Shadowrun and if so, do you like it?[Kick to Mike and Christina]And there you have it, make sure you like and subscribe so you don't miss an episode of You Heard it Here Last where we talk about news, you've already heard.

We read the rest of the stories of William Gibson's Burning Chrome. CWs for: misogyny, rape, ableism. For the next show, we are reading the first ten chapters of Neuromancer. You can go to patreon.com/rangedtouch to support the show and access the bonus episode feed. The show is hosted by Cameron Kunzelman, Michael Lutz, and Austin Walker.… Continue reading Burning Chrome – Part 2

Ever since there has been music, people have been singing each other's songs. Sometimes it's a loving tribute, other times it's a disaster, and a lot of the time it's a fairly inoffensive, if lazy, rip-off. Occasionally though, the music gods deliver unto us a new version of a song that takes us to a new place in our minds and hearts – all in the span of about 4-5 minutes. Well, we've taken on the task of delving into the depths of our musical knowledge and sharing our favorite cover songs with you! Also, we talk some Monday Night RAW, Back to the Future, and more in The Week In Geek!   FULL VIDEO EPISODES! That's right folks, you can see our bright smiling idiotic faces in full color on our YouTube channel. Full episodes available as well as clips.   LINKS OF INTEREST: - Bob Zemeckis would have removed one thing from "Back To The Future" ending if he knew there were sequels on the horizon - Here's Rush performing "Crossroads" at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame - Here's "Gin And Juice" by The Gourds   ...AND ANOTHER THING: The Man They Call Tim suggests reading "Making It So: A Memoir" by Patrick Stewart Uncle Todd suggests reading “Alien 3: The Unproduced Screenplay by William Gibson” by Pat Cadigan   FOLLOW US ON THE SOCIAL MEDIAS: Facebook - http://facebook.com/freerangeidiocy Instagram - http://instagram.com/freerangeidiocy YouTube - http://youtube.com/@freerangeidiocy

Bookwaves/Artwaves is produced and hosted by Richard Wolinsky. Links to assorted local theater & book venues   Vernor Vinge (1944-2024) Vernor Vinge (1944-2024), in conversation with Richard Wolinsky and Richard A. Lupoff, recorded in the KPFA studios, May 7, 1992 while on tour for his novel, “Fire Upon the Deep,” which would be a co-winner of the Huge Award for Best Novel at the 1993 World Science Fiction Convention. ​​​​​Vernor Vinge, who died on March 20th, 2024 at the age of 79 was one of the masters of late twentieth century and early 21st century science fiction. He won five Hugo Awards, three for Best Novel and two for best novella, and is credited as the first science fiction writer to offer a fictional cyberspace, a few years before William Gibson and Neal Stephenson. Over all, Vernor Vinge wrote eight novels and had five published collections of his writings. His final novel, The Children of the Sky, was published in 2011. A prequel to Fire Upon the Deep titled A Deepness in the Sky, was published in 1999, and a sequel, The Children of the Sky, his last novel, was published in 2011. To date, none of his stories have been adapted for either television or film. Vernor Vince retired from teaching in 2000 to become a full-time writer. In this interview, he goes into detail about what are now the early days of life on the internet, and discusses his early writing about cyberspace, and about singularities. There are also comments about what the future holds, a future we now are experiencing. This interview has not aired in over thirty years, and was digitized, remastered and edited in January 2025 by Richard Wolinsky. Complete Interview.   Margaret Atwood Margaret Atwood 2013. Photo: Jean Malek Margaret Atwood, in conversation with Richard Wolinsky, recorded in the KPFA studios June 10, 2003 while on tour for the novel “Oryx and Crake.” One of the most distinguished authors writing today, Margaret Atwood is best known for her novel “The Handmaid's Tale,” and well as several other novels, short stories, poems, essays and political commentary. In this interview from 2003, she discusses her science fiction novel “Oryx and Crake,” first of what later became a trilogy including ‘Year of the Flood” and “Maddadam,” along with her work on a collection of speeches and essays, “Negotiating with the Dead: A Writer on Writing.” This is the fifth of eight interviews with Margaret Atwood conducted between the years 1989 and 2013. Complete Interview   Review of the national touring company production of “Some Like It Hot” at BroadwaySF Orpheum Theatre   Book Interview/Events and Theatre Links Note: Shows may unexpectedly close early or be postponed due to actors' positive COVID tests. Check the venue for closures, ticket refunds, and vaccination and mask requirements before arrival. Dates are in-theater performances unless otherwise noted. Some venues operate Tuesday – Sunday; others Wednesday or Thursday through Sunday. All times Pacific Time. Closing dates are sometimes extended. Book Stores Bay Area Book Festival  See website for highlights from the 10th Annual Bay Area Book Festival, June 1-2, 2024. Book Passage.  Monthly Calendar. Mix of on-line and in-store events. Books Inc.  Mix of on-line and in-store events. The Booksmith.  Monthly Event Calendar. BookShop West Portal. Monthly Event Calendar. Center for Literary Arts, San Jose. See website for Book Club guests in upcoming months. Green Apple Books. Events calendar. Kepler's Books  On-line Refresh the Page program listings. Live Theater Companies Actors Ensemble of Berkeley. See website for specific days and times, and for staged readings at LaVal's Subterranean Theater. Actor's Reading Collective (ARC).   See website for upcoming productions. African American Art & Culture Complex. See website for calendar. Alter Theatre. See website for upcoming productions. American Conservatory Theatre Nobody Loves You, a musical, Feb. 28 – March 30, Toni Rembe Theatre. Aurora Theatre  The Heart-Sellers by Lloyd Suh, February 9 – March 9, 2025. Awesome Theatre Company. See website for information. Berkeley Rep. The Thing About Jellyfish, based on the novel by Ali Benjamin, adapted by Keith Bunin, January 31 – March 9, World Premiere, Roda Theatre. Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov, adapted by Conor McPherson, February 14 – March 23, Peets Theatre. Berkeley Shakespeare Company. See website for upcoming shows. Supergalza: A Shakespeare Cabaret, spring 2025. Boxcar Theatre. Magic Man, Jan 3 – June 2, Palace Theatre. Brava Theatre Center: See calendar for current and upcoming productions. BroadwaySF: Some Like It Hot, January 7-26, Orpheum. Annie, Feb. 6-9, Orpheum, Back to the Future: The Musical, Feb 12 – March 9. Orpheum. See website for complete listings for the Orpheum, Golden Gate and Curran Theaters. Broadway San Jose:  The Cher Show. March 18 – 23. Center Rep: Froggy, Feb. 9 – March 7. Lesher Center. Central Stage. See website for upcoming productions, 5221 Central Avenue, Richmond Central Works  Push/Pull by Harry Davis, March 1 – 30, 2025. Cinnabar Theatre. Gutenberg! The Musical, January 17 – 26, 2025, Warren Theatre, Sonoma State University. Club Fugazi. SF Sketchfest, Jan. 16 – Feb. 2. Dear San Francisco resumes Feb. 7.. Check website for Music Mondays listings. Contra Costa Civic Theatre Fairview by Jackie Sibblies Drury. February 1 – 16, 2025. 42nd Street Moon. See website for upcoming productions. Golden Thread  AZAD (The Rabbit and the Wolf) by Sona Tatoyan in collaboration with Jared Mezzocchi, April 11 – May 3. See website for other events. Hillbarn Theatre: Daisy by Sean Devine, January 23 – February  9. Lorraine Hansberry Theatre. See website for upcoming productions. Los Altos Stage Company. The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams. Jan. 23 – Feb. 16. Lower Bottom Playaz  See website for upcoming productions. Magic Theatre. the boiling by Sunui Chang  April 3 -20, 2025. See website for additional events. Marin Shakespeare Company: Josh-A-Palooza with Josh Kornbluth, January 16 -19 Marin Theatre  Waste by Harley Granville-Barker,  Feb. 6 – March 2, 2025. Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts Upcoming Events Page. New Conservatory Theatre Center (NCTC) Francis Grey and the Case of His Dead Boyfriend by Nathan Tylutkis, February 6-16. Wild with Happy by Colman Domingo, March 7 – April 6. Oakland Theater Project.  See website for upcoming schedule. Odd Salon: Upcoming events in San Francisco & New York, and streaming. Palace of Fine Arts Theater.  See website for one day/night events. Pear Theater. The Gods of Comedy by Ken Ludwig,  Feb. 21 – March 16. See website for staged readings and other events. Playful People Productions. See website for upcoming productions and events. Presidio Theatre. See website for complete schedule of events and performances. Ray of Light: See website for Spotlight Cabaret Series at Feinstein's at the Nikko and upcoming productions.. San Francisco Playhouse. Waitress, November 21, 2024 – January 18, 2025. Exotic Deadly, or the MSG Play by Keiko Green, January 30 – March 8. SFBATCO.  See website for upcoming streaming and in- theater shows. San Jose Stage Company: An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen, Feb. 5 – March 2.. Shotgun Players.  Heart Wrench, Feb 14 – 15. Art by Yazmina Reza, starts March 8. South Bay Musical Theatre: Urinetown,  January 15 – February 15, 2025. Saratoga Civic Theater. Stagebridge: See website for events and productions. Storytime every 4th Saturday. The Breath Project. Streaming archive. The Marsh: Calendar listings for Berkeley, San Francisco and Marshstream. Theatre Lunatico  See website for upcoming productions. Theatre Rhino  Doodler, conceived and directed by John Fisher, February 8- March 2. Streaming: Essential Services Project, conceived and performed by John Fisher, all weekly performances now available on demand. TheatreWorks Silicon Valley. Rachmaninoff and the Czar with Hershey Felder and Jonathan Silvestri, Jan. 8 – Feb. 9, Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. Word for Word.  See website for upcoming productions. Misc. Listings: BAM/PFA: On View calendar for BAM/PFA. Berkeley Symphony: See website for listings. Chamber Music San Francisco: Calendar, 2023 Season. Dance Mission Theatre. On stage events calendar. Oregon Shakespeare Festival: Calendar listings and upcoming shows. San Francisco Opera. Calendar listings. San Francisco Symphony. Calendar listings. Filmed Live Musicals: Searchable database of all filmed live musicals, podcast, blog. If you'd like to add your bookstore or theater venue to this list, please write Richard@kpfa.org                                   . The post January 16, 2025: Vernor Vinge – Margaret Atwood appeared first on KPFA.

Vernor Vinge (1944-2024), in conversation with Richard Wolinsky and Richard A. Lupoff, recorded in the KPFA studios, May 7, 1992 while on tour for his novel, “Fire Upon the Deep,” which would be a co-winner of the Huge Award for Best Novel at the 1993 World Science Fiction Convention. ​​​​​Vernor Vinge, who died on March 20th, 2024 at the age of 79 was one of the masters of late twentieth century and early 21st century science fiction. He won five Hugo Awards, three for Best Novel and two for best novella, and is credited as the first science fiction writer to offer a fictional cyberspace, a few years before William Gibson and Neal Stephenson. Over all, Vernor Vinge wrote eight novels and had five published collections of his writings. His final novel, The Children of the Sky, was published in 2011. A prequel to Fire Upon the Deep titled A Deepness in the Sky, was published in 1999, and a sequel, The Children of the Sky, his last novel, was published in 2011. To date, none of his stories have been adapted for either television or film. Vernor Vince retired from teaching in 2000 to become a full-time writer. In this interview, he discusses university-level mathematics, and goes into detail about what are now the early days of life on the internet, and ways in which communications are shared using minimal bytes, and discusses his early writing about cyberspace, and about singularities. There are also comments about what the future holds, a future we now are experiencing. This interview has not aired in over thirty years, and was digitized, remastered and edited in January 2025 by Richard Wolinsky. The post Vernor Vinge (1944-2024), Science Fiction Master, 1992 appeared first on KPFA.

We read the first six stories of William Gibson’s Burning Chrome. CWs for: sexual assault, racism, addiction, animal abuse, suicide. For the next show, we are finishing Burning Chrome. You can go to patreon.com/rangedtouch to support the show and access the bonus episode feed. The show is hosted by Cameron Kunzelman, Michael Lutz, and Austin Walker. You… Continue reading Burning Chrome – Part 1

We watch the Hallmark film Love in Paradise. For the next episode, we are reading the first five stories of William Gibson’s Burning Chrome. You can go to patreon.com/rangedtouch to support the show and access the bonus episode feed. The show is hosted by Cameron Kunzelman, Michael Lutz, and Austin Walker. You can get the mentioned shirt… Continue reading Love in Paradise

It's time to jack in and try to decode one of the ur-texts of cyberpunk: William Gibson's Neuromancer. It's got everything you'd expect from a cyberpunk story (hackers, cybernetic enhancements, malevolent AI constructs) while also being the one of the reasons you have those expectations in the first place!This episode is sponsored by Squarespace. Go to squarespace.com/overdue for 10% of your first purchase of a website or domain.This episode is sponsored by Aura Frames and Brew Book Candle.Our theme music was composed by Nick Lerangis.Follow @overduepod on Instagram and BlueskyAdvertise on OverdueSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Neuromancer is an incredible science fiction classic, a page turner full of gripping action sequences, wild futuristic ideas, and a unique, techno-criminal world populated by wildly imaginative characters. As always, no spoilers until the end when we get into the full plot explanation and discussion. This episode is sponsored by Mythos: The Origin of Gods by A.A., which is available on print, audiobook, or kindle hereJoin the Hugonauts book club on discord!Or you can watch the episode on YouTube if you prefer videoSimilar books we recommend: Altered Carbon by Richard MorganSnow Crash by Neal StephensonThe sequels to Neuromancer: Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive

In which our heroes plug in, tune up, and stop. Drop.   

Chow down on chicken tikka masala with Gareth L. Powell as we discuss the way a Diana Wynne Jones critique of his teenaged writing was a complete revelation in how to write fiction, how an adversarial relationship with a university professor who didn't want him writing science fiction actually ended up helping him, the New Year's resolution which led to him to both kick smoking and write a novel, how reading William Gibson's short story collection Burning Chrome shook him up and made him realize what kind of short stories he really wanted to write, the message he most wants to convey to beginning writers in his workshops, the importance of stepping outside your comfort zone, how to make a good impression when approaching an editor in a convention bar, the way he developed his propulsive writing style, why he's so receptive to editorial suggestions, what it was like collaborating with Peter F. Hamilton and Aliette de Bodard, his techniques for deciding which of many story ideas you should write, the reason his mother refuses to read his books, why writing novels can be like telling a joke and waiting two years for somebody to laugh, and much more.

Long time friend of the podcast Joe Monti, who was recently promoted to Vice President, Associate Publisher, and Editorial Director at Saga Press, and is now officially a "Big Cheese', stops by for a wide-ranging chat about the impact of the pandemic and other events on the affordability of books; trends in recent science fiction, fantasy and horror and why science fiction may be set for something of a comeback; the influence (or lack thereof) of awards on book sales; and touches on authors ranging from Cixin Liu and N.K. Jemisin to William Gibson and Ursula K. Le Guin. As always, Joe's broad experience as publisher, agent, and bookseller provides some unique insights as to what's going on and we think makes for fascinating listening as we move towards the end of the year.

Time to break out of the Black Iron Prison as Jack Hart returns to the Virtual Alexandria to discuss his new book, Brave Noö World: A Guerilla Ethnography of High. He'll tap into the now-real prophecies and solutions of Philip K. Dick. We'll expand to other seers of High Strangeness like Robert Anton Wilson, William Gibson, Terence McKenna, and more. Through the understanding of tech gnosis, ethnography, esoteric insurgencies, Mind F*uck activism, and other Red Pill suppositories, you'll find your higher purpose and allow the Empire to finally end. It's the end of the world, and it's time you feel fine.Get the book: https://amzn.to/4eHVvnZMore on Jack: https://www.tekgnostics.com/Stream All Astro Gnosis Conferences: https://thegodabovegod.com/replay-sophia/The Gnostic Tarot: https://www.makeplayingcards.com/sell/synkrasisHomepage: https://thegodabovegod.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/aeonbyteAB Prime: https://thegodabovegod.com/members/subscription-levels/ Virtual Alexandria Academy: https://thegodabovegod.com/virtual-alexandria-academy/Voice Over services: https://thegodabovegod.com/voice-talent/ Support with donation: https://buy.stripe.com/00g16Q8RK8D93mw288Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/aeon-byte-gnostic-radio/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Who and what you are, your personality, your style, your thoughts...  That's all about to change.  For one thing you are already a product on “free to use” social media.  You don't really own things you think you own (We're looking at you, Steam!)  Even your intellectual property is up for grabs now in ways you can't see coming.  Hollywood actors are selling the rights to their digital likenesses, and meanwhile, others are stealing such rights via technological loopholes.  All media exists, according to Drew, to draw you towards the advertisements…  And your deepfake could be used to do just that to others.  Some of these fakes are good enough to fool yourself even. Join Allan and Drew as they interview Sam Rad, a premier futurist and humanist, who freely admits that there is now an inherent tension between those two philosophies. The conversations about the governance, ethics, and security of all this new media and technology are woefully behind the curve. Many members of the TikTok generation has a 4-second attention span and require multiple simultaneous input streams at any given time to feel satisfied.  Is this a deliberate attack on the Western human nervous system?  Cyberattacks are certainly killing people already, why not go straight for their brains? Are the peasants coming with pitchforks and torches to destroy Frankenstein's newest monster?  How about the striking dockworkers?  The terrorists destroying 5G towers?  Do peasants with pitchforks ever win?  Ned (mistakenly called “Jason” by Allan)  Ludd and the Luddites failed in a big way to stop technology from replacing their jobs in the late 1700s (mistakenly referred to as the having happened in the Victorian era by Allan) This show is peppered with others such historical and cultural references such as the cultures and economies in Second Life, Picasso's mass production of his own paintings, Rousseau's evolving concepts of property, Mary Shelly and her Frankenstein's monster, Hegel's model of “thesis, antithesis, synthesis”, the Butlerian Jihad from the “Dune” series, and William Gibson's maxim that, “The street finds its uses for things”. We're not even coping with all of this, and now we have the AI conversation thrust upon us as well…  Your content is training data, and can be mimicked with uncanny accuracy as well. Check out Sam's book, “Radical Next” and her docuseries “Illicit Economies of the Shadowverse” to learn more about the positives and negatives of all of these trends in humanity. Good luck out there.  Stay safe.  Who you are and what you own is irretrievably altered at this point.  Cybersecurity is really just “security” now.  But hopefully all this mess will create the next cultural and creative Renaissance. Y'all be safe now...  

It's time for the Comic Talk Headlines with Generally Nerdy!Ticketmaster is evilElon Musk is divisiveGeorge RR Martin admits there are issues with season 2 of HotDNew Fantastic Four rumor might mean previous leaks were off just a bit.And so much more...Plus, don't forget to subscribe for more fresh content. MusicFollow-ups/CorrectionsLinkin Park - NOTHING! The world was trolled. Now there was a second timer that stopped on 9:05. The band sent invites to their fanclub for a mystery event in LA on the 5th of sept.Oasis - Ticketmaster gunna ticketmaster… The dynamic pricing hits again. This time the UK government is going to investigate after Oasis tickets skyrocketed nearly 3 times their face value.https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/the-uk-government-will-investigate-ticketmasters-dynamic-pricing-model-after-oasis-chaos-195446622.html New Music/VideoBlessthefall - Drag Me Under  https://youtu.be/F53sP7JrfeU Still scene nonsense… but slightly more listenable in their older age. Almost trying for like a bro-core kind of sound/aesthetic.The Dead Dasies - I Wanna Be Your Bitch https://youtu.be/W20wHP6yV88 revival rock garbage. Let Buck Cherry cover this ground…Life of Agony - The Crow https://youtu.be/9lxhiCkFjGo tribute to Brandon Lee. Feels really contrived.AI video?Shadow of Intent - Flying the Black Flag https://youtu.be/GRBOrXvRiSc DAMN these kids just destroy it!!Tours/FestivalsPunk in the Park - Offspring and Pennywise headline. Featuring heavy hitters like Streetlight Manifesto, Voodoo Glow Skulls, and more. Nov 16 in San Diego. GA tickets start at $69.http://www.punkinthepark.com/ TSO - 2024 tour announced. As usual, 2 touring companies so LOTS of dates, with matinee and dinner shows.http://www.trans-siberian.com/ Escuela Grind - Bodybox, Wisdom and War, for support. Dreams on Algorithms tour. Starts Oct 8, in Omaha NE, through Oct 27 in Montreal.https://escuelagrind.ffm.to/dreamsonalgorithms Reg ‘ol NewsDevildriver - Long time guitarist Mike Spreitzer has announced his departure from the band. His plan it would seem is to focus on his solo work with Verona on Venus. His public statement seems to vaguely imply that with Dez splitting his focus between Devildriver and Coal Chamber it was affecting his “full time” musician status.https://blabbermouth.net/news/longtime-devildriver-guitarist-mike-spreitzer-announces-his-departure-i-have-decided-it-is-time-to-go-my-own-way Skillet - in response to Foo Fighters claiming they never allowed the use of their music to Donald Trump and RFK Jr, John Cooper, bass and vocals for Skillet, has come out and made it known that any candidate can use Skillet music as they wish. “I believe in America over party.”https://blabbermouth.net/news/john-cooper-doesnt-care-who-uses-skillets-music-at-political-rallies-i-believe-in-america-over-party Atreyu - New album “The Pronoia Sessions” is a collection of re-imagined acoustic songs from their back catalog. They have released the re-imagined version of “Becoming the Bull” as the first single.https://blabbermouth.net/news/atreyu-shares-becoming-the-bull-from-album-of-reimagined-greatest-hits-the-pronoia-sessions https://youtu.be/lhCHXvpXC7c https://youtu.be/g88kL0znPyA The Cure - Set to release the first new songs since 2008. “And Nothing is Forever” and “I Can Never Say Goodbye” have been songs on their live setlist for some time, but now they are finally releasing recordings of them for the first time. Novembre: Live in France 2022, Due for Oct 1 release.Oni - Jared Dines is joining the metal band full time. After having stepped in for touring purposes for the last 6 months Dines announced on his IG that he is joining the band for good. ALSO announcing SION 2 with Howard Jones in the works, and the next season of his reality show Musician Mansion.https://metalinjection.net/news/jared-dines-joins-oni-full-time SuggestsThomas Hogue - Master of Puppets Deathmetal https://youtu.be/uCPH9csQ6Bo?si=lH7U-swNI8ghpMS2 Mac Glocky - Bad Guy by Chevelle https://youtu.be/oaLFmTwZLbs?si=EIOIr4SBQ9SooQhI Gaming/TechFollow-ups/CorrectionsFallout 76 - Balance path notes. Fire and Poison will now do DoT. Which has larger implementation issues that needed to be tackled for this update. https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/fallout-76-milestone-zero-update-patch-notes/ Marvel VS Capcom Fighting Collection - now coming to Xbox… sometime next year. Capcom Fighting Collection 2 as well.Reg ‘ol NewsConcord - The playstation and PC hero shooter will be shutting down this Friday after only 2 weeks. All players who paid for the game will get a full refund. Peak concurrent Steam players was 697.https://variety.com/2024/digital/news/playstation-shuts-down-concord-refund-players-1236128208/ X vs Brazil - in case you haven't heard; a judge on Brazil's supreme court has banned Elon Musk's social platform in that country. Even going so far as to put a nearly $9,000 fine PER DAY that any citizen uses a VPN to access it. As a means of fully enacting the ban, Brazil then went after Starlink, and froze their assets in that country. Starlink has since filed suit with the courts, but while that is tied up in the courts, Starlink has agreed to comply with the Judges wishes, at least for now, and restrict access to X.https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/elon-musks-starlink-will-comply-with-the-brazil-x-ban-after-all-181144471.html X TV App - Speaking of X. They have announced a new TV app is currently in Beta on a select few app stores (Amazon fire TV, Google TV, LG Panel). With plans to not only roll it out in other stores soon, but also to implement a new video tab in the existing app.https://x.com/XEng/status/1831094846540668986 Instagram - Stories are now getting comments. They are toggleable, and anyone can see them, but only mutuals can actually leave comments on the short lived stories.https://www.engadget.com/social-media/instagram-stories-are-getting-comments-183051677.html Gamestop - The gaming retail chain is making a bit of a change in certain markets. With the industry trying HARD to push all digital, some locations will begin stocking previous generations of consoles, discs, and even cartridges, for classic PSX, Nintendo, Sega, and Xbox platforms.https://www.engadget.com/gaming/gamestop-pivots-to-retro-gaming-at-select-locations-180704406.html https://www.gamestop.com/retro-store-locator Astrobot - Launches this friday, but the game has leaked in full already.Xdefiant - Well it seems the hype has died. The game reportedly struggles to maintain 20K players across platforms, and if those numbers don't improve by the end of season 3 Ubisoft is threatening to pull support.https://insider-gaming.com/xdefiant-player-numbers-2/ SuggestsFallout 76 - New balance patch, and still on Game Pass, so why not?Comic Books/BooksReg ‘ol NewsUltimates - Issue 4 previews just dropped and they show that the origin of Dr. Doom in the new Ultimates universe is that he is a variant of Reed, and this arc is going to try and get his 616 life back. The Ultimates #4 Writer: Deniz Camp Artist: Phil Noto Letterer: Travis Lanhamhttps://comicbook.com/comics/news/marvel-teases-doctor-dooms-origin-in-the-ultimates-preview/ SuggestsUltimate X-Men is a superhero comic book series, which was published by Marvel Comics, from 2001 to 2009. The series is a modernized re-imagining of Marvel's long-running X-Men comic book franchise as part of the Ultimate Marvel imprint.[1] The Ultimate X-Men exist alongside other revamped Marvel characters in Ultimate Marvel titles including Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate Fantastic Four and The Ultimates.TV ShowsFollow-ups/CorrectionsSuperman & Lois - Final season changes. Moved from Tuesday nights to Monday nights (was supposed to go to Thursdays), and is being moved up by 10 days from the 17th to the 7th of Oct. Seemingly due to “game night” (scrabble and trivial pursuit) changes on CW. https://cosmicbook.news/superman-lois-finale-season-premiering-earlier-new-night Walking Dead: Darryl Dixon - Season 3 has already begun production in Spain. So it should be only a year between seasons instead of 2. https://bleedingfool.com/movies-tv-film/season-3-of-walking-dead-daryl-dixon-begins-production-in-spain/ TrailersAgatha All Along - https://youtu.be/VpyzRNzLwAs Sept 18 on Disney+.Yellowstone - Season 5 part 2 Nov 10 https://youtu.be/6PXuYlrORpc Reg ‘ol NewsOne Tree Hill - Reboot series in the works at Netflix. No word on exact format (i.e. Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life VS Traditional).https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/one-tree-hill-sequel-netflix-sophia-bush-hilarie-burton-morgan-1235988148/ George RR Martin - The Game of Thrones author is admitting that things have “gone wrong” with House of the Dragon. On his blog, he called out a couple minor issues (i.e. using the wrong sigil for house Targaryon) but he also acknowledged the fact that season 2 ends in basically the same spot as season 1.SuggestsBeetlejuice: The Animated Series - animated television series that ran from September 9, 1989, to October 26, 1991, on ABC, and on Fox from September 9 to December 6, 1991.Loosely based on the 1988 film of the same name, it was developed by its director, Tim Burton, who also served as an executive producer. The series follows Lydia Deetz and her friend Beetlejuice and their adventures in the "mortal world" and the Neitherworld, a supernatural realm inhabited by various monsters. Danny Elfman, who composed the theme for the film, also arranged it for the series.MoviesFollow-ups/CorrectionsRunning Man - Set to begin filming in November. Starring Glen Powell. Said to be a more faithful retelling of the Stephen King novel, where the Schwarzennegger version was a dramatic departure. https://cosmicbook.news/running-man-reboot-now-filming-with-glen-powell Nobody 2 - Bob Odenkirk's John Wick everyman movie is now filming the sequel. https://cosmicbook.news/nobody-2-filming-bob-odenkirk-set-photos Peaky Blinders - Netflix movie casts Barry Koeghan.  https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/barry-keoghan-joins-cillian-murphy-peaky-blinders-movie-1235986815/ Army of the Dead - Six Flags in New Jersey just opened an escape room attraction that puts you right in the world of the movie. Maybe its not such a dead franchise after all.TrailersApartment 7a - https://youtu.be/Kj2GqMvhbNM Julia Garner Rosemary's Baby prequel Sept 27 on Paramount+.Joker: Folie A Deux - sneak peak scene posted to YT. https://youtu.be/7edidziIotg 10-24Smile 2 - https://youtu.be/0HY6QFlBzUY Oct 18.Reg ‘ol NewsThe Apprentice - Trump movie to release before elections. Kamala DOCUMENTARY with the same release window. Sebastian Stan to play Trump. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/trump-film-the-apprentice-release-date-awards-campaign-1235984424/ SuggestsJohnny Mnemonic - Johnny Mnemonic is a 1995 cyberpunk action film directed by Robert Longo in his feature directorial debut. William Gibson, who wrote the 1981 short story, wrote the screenplay. The film, set in 2021, portrays a dystopian future racked by a tech-induced plague, awash with conspiracies, and dominated by megacorporations and organized crime. Keanu Reeves plays Johnny, a data courier with an overloaded brain implant designed to securely store confidential information. Takeshi Kitano portrays a yakuza affiliated with a megacorporation attempting to suppress the data; he hires a psychopathic assassin played by Dolph Lundgren to do so. Ice-T and Dina Meyer co-star as Johnny's allies, a freedom fighter and a bodyguard, respectively.STREAMING: PlutoRumor MillConfirmations/RefutationsREFUTATION: The Batman The Game - James Gunn has killed rumors around a game based on the Robert Pattinson Batman character.CONFIRM: Sigourney Weaver in Mando - The actress has confirmed that she in fact HAS been cast in the Mandalorian and Grogu movie. https://cosmicbook.news/star-wars-sigourney-weaver-confirms-mandalorian-grogu New RumorsPredator: Badlands - The next Predator movie is apparently borrowing, at least a little bit, from Disney's the Acolyte. According to a recently obtained casting call. 2 sisters (Thia and Tessa) begin their lives apart and are serving opposing missions, in which they will eventually cross paths on opposite sides.Fantastic Four - Julia Garner actually playing Frankie Raye nova and NOT Silver Surfer? This would be ever so slightly closer to comic accurate.Yellowstone - Kelly Reilly and Cole Houser are said to be in talks for a 6th season of the supposedly ending series. Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler. Would NOT be part of the Madison, the new sequel series starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Mathew Fox.Green Lantern - Josh Brolin rumored to be playing Hal Jordan for James Gunn.Booster Gold - Kumail Nanjiani said to be playing the time traveling superhero in the DCU.MK1 - New “leak” suggests Kabal, Jade, Skarlet, and Blaze as the MK characters for Kombat pack 3. Plus, again, we see Doom Guy, Ash Williams, Michael Meyers, and Fulgore as the guests. With Nightwolf, Kotal, Aaron Black, and Chucky as kameos. New Finisher called “Musicality” that has your opponent dance themselves to death. You can support this show by visiting our merch store, or by leaving us an Apple Podcasts review.

“We need positive visions of how all this technology gets deployed, because what we visualize is what we build.” –Jane Metcalfe In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Jane talk about the pioneering work she did with Wired during the dawn of the “digital revolution” (3:00); how and why Jane’s professional focus shifted away from digital issues and into food and health issues in the ’00s (15:00); how science is trying to bring in diverse new data points and communication models to improve holistic health worldwide (28:30); how the health of the world’s humans is not separate from the health of the world’s animals, plants, and microorganisms, and how a bio-economy seeks to harness rather than extract the resources of nature (41:00); how regional and cultural differences affect how we perceive health, nutrition, and technology, and the importance of ethics in making scientific decisions (51:00). Jane Metcalfe (@janemetcalfe) is the co-founder of Wired Magazine, and the chair of the Human Immunome Project, a global non-profit working to decode the immune system in order to transform how we prevent, diagnose, and treat disease. Notable Links: Notes from a peripatetic salon across northern Thailand (Deviate episode) Hotwired (first commercial online magazine) HotBot (early web search engine) Louis Rossetto (writer, editor, and entrepreneur) Neuromancer, by William Gibson (science fiction novel) Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson (science fiction novel) Cyberpunk (subgenre of science fiction) Electric Word (technology magazine) Digital Revolution (shift from mechanical to electronic technologies) Ethernet (computer networking technology) proto.life (newsletter covering the neobiological revolution) Neo.Life: 25 Visions for the Future of Our Species, by Jane Metcalfe (book) The Non-GMO Project (non-profit organization) David Eagleman (neuroscientist) Human genome (complete set of nucleic acid sequences for humans) Immunome (code set for proteins that constitute the immune system) Single-cell sequencing (context-driven technique for studying cells) Microbiome (community of microorganisms in a habitat) One Health (interdisciplinary approach to ecological health) Zoonotic disease (disease than can jump from non-humans to humans) Bioeconomy (use of biotechnology in the production of goods) CRISPR gene editing (technique to modify genomes of living organisms) Bioengineering (application of biology to create products) Interbeing (philosophical concept in Zen Buddhism) iGEM (worldwide synthetic biology competition) Gene drive (technology of genetic engineering) CRISPRcon (gene editing technology conference) Kevin Kelly (author and futurist) The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel's 2017 album Lumber. Note: We don't host a “comments” section, but we're happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at deviate@rolfpotts.com.

Mike Maples, Jr. is a legendary early-stage startup investor and a co-founder and partner at Floodgate. He's made early bets on transformative companies like Twitter, Lyft, Twitch, Okta, Rappi, and Applied Intuition and is one of the pioneers of seed-stage investing as a category. He's been on the Forbes Midas List eight times and enjoys sharing the lessons he's learned from his years studying iconic companies. In his new book, Pattern Breakers: Why Some Start-Ups Change the Future, co-authored with Peter Ziebelman, he discusses what he's found separates startups and founders that break through and change the world from those that don't. After spending years reviewing the notes and decks from the thousands of startups he's known over the past two decades, he's uncovered three ways that breakthrough founders think and act differently. In our conversation, Mike talks about:• The three elements of breakthrough startup ideas• Why you need to both think and act differently• How to avoid the “comparison trap” and “conformity trap”• The importance of movements, storytelling, and healthy disagreeableness in startup success• How to apply pattern-breaking principles within large companies• Mike's one piece of advice for founders• Much morePre-order Mike's book here and get a second signed copy for free. Limited copies are available, so order ASAP: patternbreakers.com/lenny.—Brought to you by:• Enterpret—Transform customer feedback into product growth• Anvil—The fastest way to build software for documents• Webflow—The web experience platform—Find the transcript at: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/how-to-find-a-great-startup-idea-mike-maples-jr—Where to find Mike Maples, Jr.:• X: https://x.com/m2jr• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maples/• Substack: https://greatness.substack.com/• Website: https://www.floodgate.com/—Where to find Lenny:• Newsletter: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com• X: https://twitter.com/lennysan• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lennyrachitsky/—In this episode, we cover:(00:00) Mike's background(03:10) The inspiration behind Pattern Breakers(08:09) Uncovering startup insights(11:37) A quick summary of Pattern Breakers(13:52) Coming up with an idea(15:30) Inflections(17:09) Examples of inflections(28:10) Insights(36:58) The power of surprises(47:36) Founder-future fit(55:33) Advice for aspiring founders(56:41) Living in the future: valid opinions(55:34) Case study: Maddie Hall and Living Carbon(58:40) Identifying lighthouse customers(01:00:53) The importance of desperation in customer needs(01:03:57) Creating movements and storytelling(01:24:22) The role of disagreeableness in startups(01:34:42) Applying these principles within a company(01:40:43) Lightning round—Referenced:• Pattern Breakers: Why Some Start-Ups Change the Future: https://www.amazon.com/Pattern-Breakers-Start-Ups-Change-Future/dp/1541704355• Justin.tv: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin.tv• Airbnb's CEO says a $40 cereal box changed the course of the multibillion-dollar company: https://fortune.com/2023/04/19/airbnb-ceo-cereal-box-investors-changed-everything-billion-dollar-company/• Brian Chesky's new playbook: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/brian-cheskys-contrarian-approach• The Unconventional Exit: How Justin Kan Sold His First Startup on eBay: https://medium.datadriveninvestor.com/the-unconventional-exit-how-justin-kan-sold-his-first-startup-on-ebay-4d705afe1354• Kyle Vogt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kylevogt/• The State of Telehealth Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9035352/• The Craigslist Killers: https://www.gq.com/story/craigslist-killers• The social radar: Y Combinator's secret weapon | Jessica Livingston (co-founder of Y Combinator, author, podcast host): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-social-radar-jessica-livingston• Michael Seibel on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mwseibel/• The Airbnb Story: How Three Ordinary Guys Disrupted an Industry, Made Billions ... and Created Plenty of Controversy: https://www.amazon.com/Airbnb-Story-Ordinary-Disrupted-Controversy/dp/0544952669• Scott Cook: https://www.forbes.com/profile/scott-cook/• Chegg: https://www.chegg.com/• Aayush Phumbhra on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aayush/• Osman Rashid on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/osmanrashid/• Okta: https://www.okta.com/• The Man Who Makes the Future: Wired Icon Marc Andreessen: https://www.wired.com/2012/04/ff-andreessen/• Peter Ludwig on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterwludwig/• Qasar Younis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/qasar/• Paul Allen's website: https://paulallen.com/• Louis Pasteur quote: https://www.forbes.com/quotes/6145/• What was Atrium and why did it fail? https://www.failory.com/cemetery/atrium• Patrick Collison on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrickcollison/• Drew Houston on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drewhouston/• William Gibson's quote: https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/681-the-future-is-already-here-it-s-just-not-evenly• Maddie Hall on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maddie-hall-76293135/• Living Carbon: https://www.livingcarbon.com• Zenefits (now Trinet): https://connect.trinet.com/• Sam Altman on X: https://x.com/sama• Steve Wozniak on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wozniaksteve/• Horsley Bridge Partners: https://www.horsleybridge.com/• David Swensen: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_F._Swensen• Judith Elsea on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/judithelsea/• 7 Powers: The Foundations of Business Strategy: https://www.amazon.com/7-Powers-Foundations-Business-Strategy/dp/0998116319• Business strategy with Hamilton Helmer (author of 7 Powers): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/business-strategy-with-hamilton-helmer• Lyft's Focus on Community and the Story Behind the Pink Mustache: https://techcrunch.com/2012/09/17/lyfts-focus-on-community-and-the-story-behind-the-pink-mustache/• Logan Green on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/logangreen/• John Zimmer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnzimmer11/• Storytelling with Nancy Duarte: How to craft compelling presentations and tell a story that sticks: https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/storytelling-with-nancy-duarte-how• Steve Jobs Introducing the iPhone at MacWorld 2007: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7qPAY9JqE4• Jonathan Livingston Seagull: https://www.amazon.com/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Richard-Bach/dp/0743278909• The paths to power: How to grow your influence and advance your career | Jeffrey Pfeffer (author of 7 Rules of Power, professor at Stanford GSB): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/the-paths-to-power-jeffrey-pfeffer• Robin Roberts on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robin-roberts-393a934b/• Skunkworks: https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/who-we-are/business-areas/aeronautics/skunkworks.html• Vision, conviction, and hype: How to build 0 to 1 inside a company | Mihika Kapoor (Product at Figma): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/vision-conviction-hype-mihika-kapoor• Hard-won lessons building 0 to 1 inside Atlassian | Tanguy Crusson (Head of Jira Product Discovery): https://www.lennysnewsletter.com/p/building-0-to-1-inside-atlassian-tanguy-crusson• Figma: https://www.figma.com/• Atlassian: https://www.atlassian.com/• Vinod Khosla: https://www.khoslaventures.com/team/vinod-khosla/• Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing: https://www.amazon.com/Top-Five-Regrets-Dying-Transformed-ebook/dp/B07KNRLY1L• Chase, Chance, and Creativity: The Lucky Art of Novelty: https://www.amazon.com/Chase-Chance-Creativity-Lucky-Novelty/dp/0262511355• Clay Christensen's books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Clayton-M.-Christensen/author/B000APPD3Y• Resonate: Present Visual Stories That Transform: https://www.amazon.com/Resonate-Present-Stories-Transform-Audiences/dp/0470632011• Ferrari on Prime: https://www.amazon.com/Ferrari-Adam-Driver/dp/B0CNDBN672• Montblanc fountain pens: https://www.montblanc.com/en-us—Production and marketing by https://penname.co/. For inquiries about sponsoring the podcast, email podcast@lennyrachitsky.com.—Lenny may be an investor in the companies discussed. Get full access to Lenny's Newsletter at www.lennysnewsletter.com/subscribe