John Siracusa and Merlin Mann try to figure out exactly how they got this way.

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#137: The Fifth Flavor of Entertainment

August 20th, 2020 · 95 minutes

It's that time of year again, so it is necessary to review some COVID era Vacation Results.

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Download: MP3 (87.8 MB)

Links and Show Notes

This week finds John perusing some of Merlin's homework. This leads to a discussion of the benefits and risks of educational tourism. Will there be any Math on this Math test?

John presents a new "Secret Brit," but it turns out that there is a Turns Out. For some reason, your hosts are really putting The British Empire on blast. Merlin is kind of out of it, and John is still thinking about his bug.

There's an aside about nature documentaries and the extent to which they are either "real" or legitimately educational. Still. They can be pretty great.

As nice as it is to get everyone out of the house, it's definitely not a normal Summer. But, it remains critical to periodically force children to go places.

Why are we still not throwing all of the assets at the problem? As ever, we have not earned optimism. Also, there is no motorcycle to drive up your steps, and, if there were, it would not be free.

Is this our 1943? John wonders what it will take to get critical mass, and Merlin explores wishlists for the after times.

(Recorded on Tuesday, August 15, 2020)

Credits

Relativity Playlist - YouTube
Calculus Playlist - YouTube
Shhh! We’re Heading Off on Vacation - The New York Times

Sharing vacation adventures used to be fun. But during the pandemic, some travelers are content to let the tree fall in the forest, so to speak, without a single soul to hear it.

Apoorva Mandavilli - The New York Times

Apoorva Mandavilli is a reporter for The Times, focusing on science and global health. She is the 2019 winner of the Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting.

Older Children and the Coronavirus: A New Wrinkle in the Debate - The New York Times

A new report from South Korea throws into question an earlier finding regarding transmission by older children.

Trying Everything on the Menu at an Iconic NYC Restaurant (Ft Claire Saffitz) - Bon Appétit
WIRED: 5 Levels Video Series
Ted Lasso on Apple TV+
Sarah Snook - IMDb
Tampopo (1985) - Rotten Tomatoes