No Agenda Wayback Ep 20-29

No Agenda Episode 29: The Zen "Offer"

Sat, 3 May 2008 06:00:00 -0800

This Episode's Show Notes, by KD Martin:

Greetings and salutations from NA! Adam starts right off with London politics, is London voting different than the US? Is this voting a survey? John asks, "What is gobsmacked?" Adam brings up "Holland's Got Talent" and some wacky BAA travel stories. John on Southwest Airlines: "Planes on the ground do not make money." Adam brings up the absolute worst flight from Amsterdam back to London.

We're off to Amsterdam and your choice: "Museums or..." Adam claims we could take the cruises for some alternative treats. John says Amsterdam is a photographer's dream. What is a "swarma?"

Amsterdam has cool bars, cool restaurants, and these are just the books available in San Francisco. If those restaurants are so great, why are french fries served with mayonnaise and vinegar?

We merge into George Carlin and losers. How did we get here? Oh yeah, the Olympics and reality based TV shows! John and Adam face off with reality TV.

BRIC - John writes columns for Brazil, and wants to check out these 68% mortgages. Adam claims everyone just writes a check for a house. Off the wall? John asserts many nations watch what we do and copy it. Oooo KaaaaY. When you land in São Paulo, it's like landing on Mars.

Who is Alice Waters and why are we cooking? John buys a $1 cookbook and finds an old 1 cent postcard; he is again "gobsmacked!" So let's head to the library. Adam wants books? Adam comes up with this gem: "The Internet Complete Catalog with over 750 internet references!" John follows up with a jewel, the "Macintosh Basic Handbook" that came out before Macintosh basic was ever released. In fact, it was never released. What killed Basic on the Mac? [Ed. This story gets the "CM Seal Of Approval"]

Next we delve into all sorts of books and publishing ventures. Toner based books? How about "Print On Demand": One PDF file and an Illustrator file and bang! -- instant book, cover art and all, right into the UPS trucks!

John's secrets about writing for Marketwatch -- you'll have to listen to the show. Adam wants John to give us a stock tip every show. OK, John's stock tip: COF. Long or short? When the economy collapses in about a year or a year and a half, what to do? Are we headed for hyperinflation? Maybe that's a good thing if you're in debt. So, inflation, deflation, and what the heck is stagflation? Let's make some money by ...

John's predictions for the economy and the forthcoming election. Don't miss this! We're going all the way back to 1929 and the big crash. And Adam's prediction is in, except for banks that are soliciting those with the big bucks.

What does a happy cow look like? Have you ever been cow tipping? What are "offers" and what is a "Zen offer?"

Will any of the US presidential candidates support bombing Iran?

John's off to Korea and will report on the cuisine.

Queue the closing credits -- We hope you enjoy the show!

Be sure to donate to No Agenda!

No Agenda Episode 28: The Future of Media

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 06:00:00 -0800

This Episode's Show Notes:

We begin with the travel and weather highlights, and quickly we're off to, once again, John's twitter adventures. Let's complain about DVDs, too. John becomes the "curmudgeon." Adam wants to gripe about domain names and brings up "Mevio" and Web 2.0 user-generated content. Now we wonder about spontaneous generation of fish and... tea? Adam needs to change his name to David.

Is LA dying? Adam veers off into a discussion of Hollywood and Robert Evans' audio autobiography. John jumps in with "Shoot Out" by Peter Guber and how Hollywood might recover. This turns into a Hollywood biz and name discussion. Adam brings up DVDs and the internet. Is everything in Hollywood now done on "spec?"

Since we're on Hollywood, why not bring up the Wesley Snipes tax story? Adams tells us that apparently, some people actually have to pay income taxes or go to jail. John decides this jail time is a publicity stunt to scare the public. Adam brings up the "luxury jail." John says, "What is wrong with this picture??"

Buttons, badges and posters for Green Week! John is suspicious, and has a report on Bill Maher. Adam brings up the current food price increases and oil company prices. John counters with an excellent idea that used to be the law. What happened to it?

John grows a canola plant (har!) Let's discuss green, like soy milk, canola oil, and... China?? Has John got a deal for you! Are the Chinese going to take over Africa?

Adam moves right into a new topic -- Victoria and prostate cancer -- and has an interesting question. What do sheep have to do with this? It's the tunnel.

John manages to bring up kunstler.com and the eyesore of the month. "Why didn't I think of that?" And let's go to engrish.com. Next, both go into "our childhood working class" backgrounds. We'll head to potatoes and Peru, and how Americans just want cheap. Adam gives up his thoughts on the polygamy compound, John gives Texas a beating. [Ed. Bubba blames one of John's opinions on the FBI].

We learn about Gordon Ramsey and his "Kitchen Nightmare" show in the US and UK. John and Adam argue this with some great stories. Is it a business consultant show? Find out how this leads to the Regal Royal Hotel and Englebert Humperdink. Uh-oh, here comes Mike Tyson and a John "New York Moment." Adam brings up the new video business model: Music Videos With Advertising.

John asks, "What would happen if the web right now is 'it'." Adam gives some good answers and explains MTV's numbers. John gripes about today's TV lineup. Adam counters with UK programming and its excellence.

Will No Agenda remain ad-free? Adam and John wonder about this again. Maybe they should get one big sponsor...

The internet will be full by 2010. Uh-oh, it's full now. Go home.

Queue the closing credits -- We hope you enjoy the show!

Be sure to donate to No Agenda!

No Agenda Episode 27: China Syndrome

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 06:00:00 -0800

This Episode's Show Notes:

We start with London and SF, then get right into SIP. John gives us a summary of this comm protocol and why NA won't use it. Adam chimes in with an argument and mentions how he got shot down last week.

Adam wants to create a vidcast about his new iPod Touch and his complete audio setup (sounds cool). Will John help out?

Since Adam is coming to SF, John asks about a possible new experiment with Customs. Adam has some good ideas. Find out why John says, "Don't get caught!"

Adam quickly changes the subject to his electronics problems and new cars. Off they go into small cars and... refrigerators?

John talks about the new U.S. currency, how it looks, and rants about what a pain it is to get rid of old currency from different countries.

Adam points out the P.M. of England is visiting the U.S. John can't find it in the news, so sneaks in his new Twitter venture. Not to be outdone, Adam gives him some tips from his Twitter experiences.

Flash: We find out why John is so cranky! Adam has more questions for John about his new Twitter.

John gets bored with Twitter and moves on to Cranky Geeks. Adam manages to switch topics right into bad Dads, XBoxes and John's long hair. We get some good comedy as John and Adam trade digs about hair.

Next up: Adam's notes. We start with U.S. servicemen and mercenaries in Iraq. Computerized camouflage and its effectiveness is discussed, and John has some anecdotes.

Adam asks about John's theory of the dollar's strength vs. other currencies and why the bottom may soon be here. We hear some interesting ideas from John: Who are we screwing, how will the U.S. pull it off, and why will the dollar be strong again? Some good questions from Adam are answered.

We're off to the Olympics - Adam brings up some good points about China. John discusses Chinese art.

So how do we get to Chinese culture and the Chinese presence in Africa? John points out how the Chinese are taking over there. Let's all go to China, since the U.S. media doesn't have a clue.

Queue the closing credits -- We hope you enjoy the show!

Be sure to donate to No Agenda!