In this episode, the DXPs try to determine whether they are a part of a new-fangled cultural demographic that they eventually conclude is mostly BS (but at times eerily specific and correct in its description of them). We then spend some time on the long past-due topic of Keanu Reeves (you’re welcome), after which we take listener voicemails about agnosticism and whether Cherokees and Catholics can date. We then turn our attention to the deaths of the four U.S. Marines killed by Islamic extremists (or were they just everyday, garden-variety Muslims?), discussing: (1) whether America should retaliate for this attack; (2) whether this attack was retaliation for some other attack we already did; (3) whether that previous attack, for which this attack was retaliation, was itself retaliation for some earlier attack done to us; or (4) whether we should get the hell out of the Middle East altogether and turn the region over to Satan. Jason is biebered by hooliganery, while Christian’s bieber has to do with his twice-annual washing habits.
Also, this is an egg yolk. These are oxen on drugs. Any questions?
Links from this Episode:
Jeremiah
Jason, I think the term you were looking for was epistemic humility. 🙂 I love you guys.
Jeremiah
JasonStellman
I believe the term I was looking for was your mom.
Potomacist
http://gifs.joelglovier.com/boom/mic-drop-2.gif
jeremiah
Touché braH.
Lane
On actors, if anyone needs to lose some credibility as an actor it is Johnny Depp, but maybe that’s happening: http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/mortdecai-becomes-johnny-depps-fifth-consecutive-box-office-bomb-10003543.html
As for another actor, who isn’t particularly very good but is successive is Chris Pratt. He is so incredibly charismatic, that I would probably watch anything he makes.
Lane
Your caller is right. Keanu Reeves is amazing human being, and should get a lot more attention because of it.
While most actors will give some token of appreciation to the crew when filming wraps, after the success of The Matrix and its sequels, Reeves gave an estimated $80 million of his $114 million earnings to the special effects and makeup staff.
http://moviepilot.com/posts/2015/03/31/true-story-of-sad-keanu-and-why-he-is-the-nicest-guy-in-hollywood-2822142?lt_source=external,manual
Christian Kingery
Cool article, Lane. Thanks! I didn’t know all that about him.
Christian Kingery
This will most likely be the funniest thing you watch today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkFs3YzxN_E
Lane
Parks and Rec was our favorite show while it was on (after the 1st season where they seem too close to the Office which the immediately followed).
Christian Kingery
Yeah, once it found its groove, it was the best. I liked The Office, but liked Parks & Rec even more. Ron Swanson and Andy Dwyer are two of my favorite characters ever to be on television.
Greg Hao
Uniqlo is kind of like Asia’s version of H&M and they have been blowing up in the US.
Agree with you guys 100% on Keanu Reeves & Kevin Costner — it does seem like once there is a perception fixed on you, it’s very difficult to get people to reëvaluate. The Lake House is a very good movie, Sweet November (Reeves & a young Charlize Theron) is also a good Reeves movie. Part of his “problem” has been the fact that as you guys said, he has rejected the star making machine of Hollywood.
Tom Cruise though is almost the antithesis of Reeves. Hell, Cruise was the first actor who was really known for being a movie star before being known as an actor. He has been very calculating (as Jason points out, he had a very big splash when he started out with pretty much the sole aim of becoming a star) and that all kind of blew up in his face during the Kidman split (it was news in the US but not to the crazy extent it was down in Australia for obvious reasons) and culminating with his jumping on Oprah’s couch. However, Tom Cruise is charismatic as hell and in person, truly is a star but also makes whomever is around him feel amazing.
On the issue of how to define agnosticism, it seems like labels only matter to people who have certitude. It just isn’t a part of my daily life and so I don’t spend any kind of time thinking about whether I’m a theist, deist, agnostic, or atheist.
I used to think the same way about the LA red car but give this a read: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_streetcar_conspiracy it is precisely what you guys were talking about with reference to Jared, Costner, and Reeves. Once the popular conception is out there, it’s difficult for things like facts to wade through all the noise.
The issue with tires is not that they need to be replaced because they run out of air, it’s that thread gets worn down as you drive. The typical, even cheapie, tires nowadays can last an average driver over 30,000 miles. That’s pretty good. Same thing with bulbs, first with the invention of CFLs (compact fluorescent light bulbs) which lasts up to ten years and now the new LED based bulbs which are like twenty or more years, thats practically a lifetime. At least in terms of these sorts of perishable items.
Aaron Fountain
If you like reggae music for its association with summer, Hollie Cook is worth a listen or 20. A vodoo queen with a smooth killer voice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2skegfj3aHM&list=PLLVw0r1lOXGt_tRKsFHh5uNFRoE2PHkfz&index=6
JasonStellman
I like it!
Evan McKee
I am pretty well aware of the various protistant beliefs about the end times and I agree that the idea of the rapture is complete bullshit. However, I would be interested to hear what the Catholic perspective is on all of that.
Potomacist
Speaking of actors, have you ever read up on Dolph Lundgren (aka Drago in Rocky IV)? The guy was a Fulbright Scholar with a masters in chemical engineering.
Also he was the back-to-back European Karate champion, so he totally could have killed Stallone in that ring with his bare hands. Bonus points for playing He-Man AND the Punisher.
Lane
@Christian, I thought you would have something to say about the devotion of this fellow:
http://www.sickchirpse.com/georgia-man-cuts-off-penis-stop-masturbatin/
Lane
See Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraphs 668-682 here:
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P1V.HTM
Here is a quick summary:
https://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/endtimes.htm
Potomacist
also, this happened: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-LqM_5eTgA
Evan McKee
That seems pretty staight forward. I’m not sure I agree completely, but its a lot less nuts than most of the things i’ve heard from protistants. Personaly, I’ve become rather convinced by preterism, which is the idea that all, or at least most, biblical prophesy has already been fulfiled. Interestingly enough, I believe it was a Catholic named Luis De Alcazar who first put forword this Idea in the 1500’s. However, most Protistants rejected the idea because it meant that the Pope couldn’t be the anti-Christ.
Lane
I’m no expert on end times. However, I don’t think the Catholic view differs that dramatically from what I was taught as a Reformed Presbyterian (amillennial). From what I gather the Catholic position is also amillennial with a little partial preterism thrown in.
On a side note, I believe that premillennialism was declared a heresy at the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD.
Regardless, I hold to with a very loose hand to both end time and beginning time theological views; it has never been that important to me. I’m agnostic you might say about such things. However, since I’m a Catholic, I affirm and deny whatever it is that I supposed to affirm and deny.
Lane
“However, most Protistants rejected the idea because it meant that the Pope couldn’t be the anti-Christ.”
I laughed out loud at that.
Evan McKee
I am curently atending a reformed church, even though I disagree with most of their teachings, and agree that their view on this is pretty simillar. I was more bashing the dispensational view which is taught in most fundimentalist Churches and which seems to have some pretty harmfull efects on the lives of those who believe it.
Lane
This should be the first movie you review! 😉
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/convinced/133313105
kenneth
More suggestions:
1. No more of this lame “so what do you like” nonsense. Give it some damn pizazz!!! It’s time for beatles and beibers!!! *intro music* *fireworks* *people falling down stairs* *cats having sex* sounds that make me think “YES! Beatles and Beibers!”.
2. Another segway that let’s me know it’s time to talk about movies. Maybe the sounds of film rolling or a director shouting at people. Maybe even christian bale freaking out on someone. Or, hell, all of the above blended together.
3. Make Jason do all of this and then crap on his effort. Just to make the fans smile and save a few cats from being kicked after the commute.