Almost Educational

Patrick and Dennis examine which pandemic from which historical period had the greater impact on the world, The Bubonic Plague of of the Middle Ages or the Spanish Influenza of 1918. How do they compare in death tolls? What influence did the 100 Years War and World War One have on the people? Which pandemic had a larger impact on art and culture? Were the pandemics a postive factor in economic growth?

Patrick invites artist, podcaster, and all around good guy Mike, from Our Hero Comic to talk about the Mad Scientist John Lilly and the possibility of human to animal communication. Part debate, and part discussion the duo journey down the path of sign language using gorillas, dolphin experimentation, and humans becoming more like ants. Human morals, science fiction concepts, and personification also appear.

Dennis and Patrick welcome Cassidy from the podcast Jabber and the Drone to discuss the benefits and drawbacks of putting on the rose tinted glasses of nostalgia. Where the 1950’s really that great? Does mass media create our memories? Where does looking back become a dark force and become revisionist history? What does nostalgia look like for millennials?

The floodgates are opened to discuss time travel in historical, scientific, and philosophical conventions by looking at the the odd case for internet based chrononaut John Titor. The duo invoke Sagan, Hawking, Doc Brown to help explain the Titor story and explain why the concept of time travel seems to drive mankind mad. Paradoxes a plenty are discussed as well as some love for underrepresented time travel fiction. Quiz this week is Slang or Slander

Dennis makes the case that the Detroit Lions, according to he and Forbes Magazine, are the worst run organization in sports and maybe the private sector. Patrick counters with the Buffalo Bills, and the Chicago Cubs. The history of the Detroit Lions, the Ford Family, Comic Book Church and Expressive numbers also appear. This Week’s Quiz GI Joe or Real American Vehicle

Patrick wants to know if the month of April 1865 went very different for America. What if Robert E Lee sanctioned a guerrilla war against the Union? What if the Booth conspiracy was successful and the entire executive branch was decapitated? What if Ulysses S Grant took control of Union under a military dictatorship? All these questions are answered plus Dennis Quiz : HP Lovecraft or Fungus?

Patrick welcomes Richard Wolley, co-host from the Jabber and Drone podcast to discuss Real Life Super Villains vol 4. The Portrait of Dorian Gray is compared to the Kardashians and Donald Trump and the duo take a deep dive into the realm of Serial Killers, Lex Luthor, and the Gilded Age with Erik Larson’s book Devil in the White City. You can find Richard at http://rdwolley.weebly.com/ and Jabber and the Drone

.Patrick wonders if corporate personhood will go one step further could a PAC, a fortune 500 company, or a creation of a corporate congress develope in the next 20 years? Has it already occurred in China? Detroit? It happened in the past in American towns in Pullman, Dearborn, and West Virginia. Dennis argues semi loudly. Quiz 1970s Sci Fi Show or Conspiracy theory.

This week Patrick invites the “professor” Winston to chat with him about sunny subjects like human suffering, fascism, and the human condition. Winston and Patrick discuss fascism as a concept, African tribal culture, nationalism, American bureaucracy all in under an hour and half. They ultimately come to the strange thesis as to why America may never become a fully authoritative state. Later this week the return of Dennis!

This week Patrick invites Drekken, Brandon, and Rachel to the show to help school him in competitive gaming. All aspects are represented from running competitive gaming leagues, podcasting and analysis of competitive gaming, even playing esports at the college level. Three guests three different takes on what exactly is competitive gaming, sport or activity. Drekken @ 2:39 Brandon @32:35 Razer @59:37

Nicholas Carr's book the Shallows helps Patrick convince Dennis that the access of all the world's information is not making people dumb but just mean spirited. Dennis refuses to bend and a debate ensues about the role of the internet and historical civil discourse. Included in the conversation is Jon Ronson, Alternative History, Matt Mitrovich, Facebook, Ray Bradbury, Twitter, Hitler, Cecil the Lion, ISIS, and of course Google Quiz of the week : Global Spider-Man

Patrick tries to keep it civil when he engages Dennis in the debate of what guidelines deem something a sport or an activity. NASCAR, Baseball, Ping Pong, Dance, Math, Esports, and Horse Racing are all debated using a guideline of four criteria from Philosopher Bernard Suits. Quiz this week : Warlord or Sports Star

The duo draft 14 figures from American History. Seven heroes and seven villains in creating their own Justice League and Secret Society of Super Villains of American History. Bruce Lee, Malcolm X, Benedict Arnold, Eleanor Roosevelt, Mike Tyson, Henry Ford and many more appear. Also the Dennis pop quiz is reset to 0.

Patrick chats with Kieran from the Video Home Show Podcast to compare the American Educational system to that of Ireland and the EU. AP classes, Free College, and learning Irish as a second language also appear.

Patrick and Dennis debate standardized testing. Dennis wants to abolish grades altogether, while Patrick wants to add physical fitness to the mix. Some shouting at 27 minutes also Arnold Schwarzenegger, slow rides and the SAT.

Dennis proposes what would happen if Detroit won the bid to host the 1968 Olympic Games. Would it unite the city in a common cause? Would it create a firestorm of problems causing a bleaker future for Detroit. Patrick gives Dennis a Bo Jackson Quiz..

Dennis is off coaching so Patrick goes solo. This week he attempts to compare Batman's Archvillain Ra"s Al Ghul to Communist Chinese father of the revolution Chairman Mao.

Dennis wants to know if you can still enjoy the art of an artistic scumbag? Patrick counters with a myriad of examples, including Bill Cosby, Tom Cruise, Harper Lee, Orson Scott Card, MLB, and Mao Zedong

Patrick wants to know how will law, race, nationality, military, genetics, physcology, and social conditions will play out in the future of Space Colonization. What makes you human? Will Mormons launch missions? Will China rule outer space?

Dennis wants to know if is logistically, culturally, and legally possible to “outlaw” or ban firearms in America? Patrick plays Devil's Advocate and counters Dennis with statistics, cowboys, and John Wick.