Tonight's show features Scott, Rym, Viga & Thaed.  Here are the topics:

1. Which is worse:  jealousy or greed?
2. Does being in control add happiness to your life?  There were some
nursing home studies involving patients who were able to care for a
plant and others who could control visits from interns doing the study
that indicated that having control is essential to happiness (and well
being)  So we should aspire to control and we should also give people
the power to control?
3. Now that I bought a Kindle, version 2 has been announced for the fall.
How about it?  Are you going to buy one?  Why or why not.
4. What are the top 5 things that every human being should do before he
or she dies?
5. (Rerun from Episode 13)  If you could meet any three celebrities
alive today, who would they be? What would you say to them? How would you like to meet? Over dinner? At an event? In your living room?

Sites where you can find more information about Scott, Rym, Viga and Thaed:

http://www.frontrowcrew.com
http://vigatheotagal.blogspot.com/
http://www.mentalinterface.net

Subscribe via iTunes.

Follow Thaed on Twitter
Email Thaed at thaed@cox.net

Lisa Bettany (www.mostlylisa.com) is our special guest!  Ray, Viga and Thaed are the regulars in the lineup.  Here are the topics:

--Esperanto related comments from the last show.

Does having children make you happy?  Not all of us have kids yet, but
this article (as found by Scott Rubin) seems pretty bleak.  What do
you think?

--According to this article, new software can quantify how many people
are at a given place by identifying the number of cell phones present
at a location by tying the information to GPS data.  Thus, if a person
wants to know where the crowd is on a given night, all he or she would
have to do is check online.  Is this good or bad?  What other things
could this technology be used for?

--Video editing.  What is the best software for editing video for
YouTube and home use?  Which hardware is best for editing videos?  Mac or PC  (yes, I want to go there).

--While I think this blogger might not have been serious, what do you
think about this concept of a Transhuman Olympics?  So long as
everyone knows what's going on, would people watch?  Is this
desirable?  Would it help science?

--Here's an article about scientists who were killed or seriously
injured in the line of duty.  Beyond the risks that everyone must face every day by virtue of getting out of bed, would you risk  terrible injury or death for your job?

--You have $5000.00 to spend.  You can't save it, you must spend it.
What do you buy?

--What are you reading this summer?  Plus, Ray creates an image in our minds.

Sites where you can find more information about Viga and Thaed:

http://vigatheotagal.blogspot.com/
http://www.mentalinterface.net

Subscribe via iTunes.

Follow Thaed on Twitter
Email Thaed at thaed@cox.net

Grammar Girl a.k.a Mignon Fogarty is our special guest!  Our regulars this show are Ray (who joins us midway) Scott, Rym and Thaed.  Check out Ms. Fogarty's new book: Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing.

Here are the topics:

--Nature v. Nurture objectively speaking. What dictates human behavior more?

--Klingon, Leet Speak, Nerdish and Esperanto. If we can agree what constitutes a language, are these languages? Should people bother trying to create artificial human languages? Is the goal of a universal lingua franca a meaningful goal? Why or why not?

--Shakespeare v. Marlowe v. everyone else.  Do you think Shakespeare was a real person? Do you think he stole from other playwrights? Which of the plays is your favorite and why?

--Oak Trees that grow as fast as bamboo; corn cobs full of gasoline. Think of at least two things that could be genetically engineered to make the world better if ethics were no obstacle.

Sites where you can find more information about Scott, Rym and Thaed:

http://www.frontrowcrew.com
http://www.mentalinterface.net

Subscribe via iTunes.

Email Thaed at thaed@cox.net
Follow Thaed on Twitter.

Tonight's panelists are Scott, Rym, Howard the Venture Capitalist and, of course, Thaed.  Here are the topics:

--What is the nature of sociometry?  How much does attractiveness play a role?  How does this translate to the internet?

--Dependency on oil will stop when:
a) we get a new president
b) the price of gasoline gets high enough
c) inevitably over time
d) it doesn't matter because an asteroid will hit the earth and kill us all.
e) other.

--In a world where information wants to be free, why are lawyers so expensive?

--With cable tv, FM and satellite radio, IP TV, podcasts and god knows what else fragmenting media, what does this media fragmentation mean for content providers and for media companies themselves?

--What will the effect of the pull back in the credit markets be on the private equity world?  Does it matter to consumers?

Sites where you can find more information about Scott, Rym and Thaed:

http://www.frontrowcrew.com
http://www.mentalinterface.net

Subscribe via iTunes.

Email Thaed at thaed@cox.net
Follow Thaed on Twitter.

Scott Johnson from Extra Life Radio and The Instance is our special guest tonight.  Our regular hosts are David, Viga and Thaed.  Here are the topics:

--Take a look at at this New Yorker article
Are the distinctions made between invention and creation valid?
--In Monday's WSJ, there is an article entitled: "The Digital Future of Books." With the advent of the Kindle, and really even the web itself, how many years does print media have before it disappears entirely. What other issues come into play here such as can people even tolerate longer reading nowadays?
--What web comics do you you read? How difficult is it today for an artist to create a successful web comic?
--There were some changes suggested recently concerning orphan copyright procedure. If you could could change the copyright and patent system in the U.S., what would you do to it?
--Given higher gas prices, isn't it time to do less traveling and more telecommuting? How much more can be done with telecommuting? Will more employers support it now? How high does gas have to go before more people see the value in virtual interaction? Are gas prices even a factor at all?
--Let's comment on this article on 5 things humans no longer need.
What are some other things that humans no longer need?
--Ask the Economist


Sites where you can find more information about Viga and Thaed:

http://vigatheotagal.blogspot.com/
http://www.mentalinterface.net

Subscribe via iTunes.

Follow Thaed on Twitter
Email Thaed at thaed@cox.net

Kirsten Sanford, a.k.a. Dr. Kiki is our special guest!  Our regular hosts tonight are David, Ray, Scott, Rym, Howard and Thaed.

Here are the topics:
1. Using multiple internet identities.  Is there a way to safely merge them
if you have a job where they care about what you do online?
2. What do you think about this article on The Great Filter Theory?
http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/20569/page1/
3. What is the most efficient way for a human being to absorb information: Video, audio or reading?
4. The Twitter revolution.  Penny Arcade covered it so it must be over,
right?  Are all the tweets just mayflies enjoying their one day or this an
enduring social phenomena?
5. What the hell happened to Ben Stein anyway?
6. How do you pass the time on airplanes?
7. Recently a guy in Pakistan used hypnosis instead of anethetic for surgery on his hand.  Is this fake?  Is hypnosis real?
8. Software Mnemonics.  What do you think about Evernote, Jott and Remember the Milk?

Sites where you can find more information about Scott, Rym and Thaed:

http://www.frontrowcrew.com
http://www.mentalinterface.net

Subscribe via iTunes.

Email Thaed at thaed@cox.net

We've been on hiatus but now we're back.  This episode was actually recorded a while ago.  Next week we hope to have a very special new show with an exciting guest (or guests).

This lost episode features David, Kyle, Hungry Joe, Neito and Thaed.

Here are the topics:

--Do we need libraries anymore?
--Should the cities surrounding the Great Lakes sell the water to other cities?  (7:10)
--Is Police Brutality increasing in the U.S.? (11:30)
--Is college a waste of time and money?  (22:30)
--Is Canada the land of pot smoking music pirates?!  (34:00)
--What technology in the future will have as much impact as computers?  (45:50)
--Ask the Economist  (54:45)


Subscribe via iTunes.

Email Thaed at thaed@cox.net

Tonight's episode features Ray, Scott, Viga and newcomers Neito and Hungryjoe.  Here are the topics:

1.  Look at this article on these artificial intelligence guys who killed themselves.  Do you think that there's something about this field that causes people to go crazy?  Do you think that there is a conspiracy here?
2.  I'm very much into playing with AI even though the state of the art is, well, lacking.Do you think we'll ever have software that allows you to interact with your computer in a way that's more than basic voice commands or mouse clicking? How many years away is this? Is it another flying car?
3.  State of podcasting today:  are video podcasters killing the internet radio stars? 
4.  Are we child men (or women?)  Is there any merit to this article?  Why or why not?
5.  Model turned bodyguard gets killed.  Is having martial arts skills meaningful anymore?  If someone has a gun or gets the jump on you, does it matter?  Look at the mixed martial arts guys that are so popular now. Isn't this just wrestling?  And given the fact that boxers do poorly against these guys, shouldn't people just learn to wrestle?
6.  What are you willing to do to extend your lifespan?  Eat less?  Exercise?  Take drugs?  Would you do what Stallone admits to doing?
7.  Watch this TED video: What do you think?  Does he have something here that can help people be happy?  Are outcomes really irrelevant?  What about persistent misery?  Haven't you ever known people who are never happy?  Have you ever met people who buy something and they are never happy with it?


Sites where you can find more information about Scott, Viga, Neito and Thaed:

http://www.frontrowcrew.com
http://vigatheotagal.blogspot.com/
http://www.nerdramblingz.com/stc/
http://www.mentalinterface.net

Subscribe via iTunes.

Email Thaed at thaed@cox.net

This week's show features David, Scott, Viga and Thaed.  Here are the topics:
1)How much of our behavior comes from other people?  We imitate, we keep up with the Joneses.  How much do we do because other people are doing it?  How much do we do because we are genuinely interested in what other people are doing?    Are we looking for richness in our own lives?  Are we looking for what we should be doing?
2)On some of these house hunter, remodeling shows, you see young people buying half million dollar homes.  Who are these people?  Is this real?  What do they do for a living?  Are these rich, 1st time home buyers the solution to the housing price decline?
3)Zurich Axioms, a 1985 book, was available through Ben's Bargains for free this week and we discuss.
4)Are memories irrelevant?  If you have a fun time at a beach does it really help your life?  Once you get beyond âdon't touch a hot stoveâ? is memory useful.  If it's not, then is fun itself only for the moment? 
5)http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn13160-upgraded-hubble-telescope-to-be-
90-times-as-powerful.html  They are going to fix the Hubble.  Is it worth it? 
6)What do you think about the fight between Intel and the so called $100 laptop folks? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7178241.stm 
7)Should we all stop being productive and start playing WoW, I mean, what's wrong with us?  Penny Arcade is doing it, why shouldn't we?
8)Are you looking to buy any toys for yourself in the coming months?  If so, what?


Sites where you can find more information about Scott, Viga and Thaed:

http://www.frontrowcrew.com
http://vigatheotagal.blogspot.com/
http://www.mentalinterface.net

Subscribe via iTunes.

Email Thaed at thaed@cox.net

No, we're not going on hiatus again, but we won't be back until the 11th.  I am hoping to do two shows a month for the foreseeable future.  Our audience is still growing and people are still having fun doing the show.  Who knows, we may even have a spin-off this year.

Happy New Year!

Thaed

This is an unusual FNPL episode.  We only have one topic and it's really a discussion on the nature of friendship.  It's also Kyle, Thaed and David arguing with Rym and Scott about the best laid plans.  It's youthful optimism versus jaded pessimism at its best.


Sites where you can find more information about Rym, Scott and Thaed:

http://www.frontrowcrew.com
http://www.mentalinterface.net

Subscribe via iTunes.

Email Thaed at thaed@cox.net

Tonight, we have David, Scott, Kyle, Rym & Thaed.  Here are the topics:

--Why do people keep that which they do not use?  You have people with real problems throwing things away in an extreme way.  Their houses are full of what amounts to garbage.  On the other hand, some people throw away something immediately when it no longer has a ready purpose.  Many of us are somewhere in between.  Is it ok to keep something you don't use?

--We now have the scientific capability to track human abilities and illnesses to genetic characteristics.  Should we then score genetic potential in humans the same way we do I.Q.  Should everyone be tested and then receive a gene score?  Would this create new bar-room bragging between the sexes?  Would it create a new line of insults?  Is it horrific or inevitable?  (15:54)

--Excesses in entertainment consumption.  Those of us who were alive in the 80s remember the emergence of conspicuous consumption.  Today, however, I would propose that we have more ways to entertain ourselves than ever before to the point where there's kinds of entertainment that we forgo not because we don't like it, but because there's something we like slightly more.  Is this bad?  (41:08)

--Ask the Economist:  Earlier this month, the offices of the folks who make the Liberty Dollar were raided.  What do you think about this?  Federal law is pretty darn specific about who gets to issue currency in this country?  What's the deal?  How is this different from giving someone a promissory note or a share in stock for example?  Bonus discussion on IRAs and 401ks.  (50:29)


Sites where you can find more information about Rym, Scott and Thaed:

http://www.frontrowcrew.com
http://www.mentalinterface.net

Subscribe via iTunes.

Email Thaed at thaed@cox.net

This week's hosts:  David, Kyle and Thaed.  We discuss:

--Ask the Economist:  given gold and oil are at all time highs and the dollar is at an all time low, what does this mean for the economy over the next 5 years?  What can we do about it?
--http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071106133058.htm  Sci fi v. reality, another solar system.  What does this mean for humanity's understanding of space.  What does it mean for you personally?
--Income and net worth.  http://finance.yahoo.com/banking-budgeting/article/103815/Where-Do-You-Stand-on-America's-Wealth-Spectrum.  Look it's another list.  What does this tell you about wealth in America?  What does wealth correlate to on an individual level?
--Things that affect daily life are perhaps more important than they seem.  Take cracking hands, for example or toenail clippers or ironing.  Is there something to elevating the mundane?  Are Buddists right in thinking that we should focus on directly experiencing life through the mundane?
--Fab at home.  http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industry/4224759.html.  How long before this is actually useful?  Will it ever be?  Is this the next great advance that will be commonplace in 50 years the way computers are today?
--Name things and industries that don't seem to have patent squatters.  How are patent squatters affecting innovation? 

Sites where you can find more information about Thaed:

http://www.mentalinterface.net

Subscribe via iTunes.

Email Thaed at thaed@cox.net

We tried to get together tonight, but it just wasn't in the stars.  Maybe next week...

Tonight's hosts:  David, Scott, Kyle & Thaed.  Here are the topics:

--Ask the Economist. 
--Reductionism and the enjoyment of life.  Does understanding everything in daily life to a fundamental level destroy the capacity to enjoy it?  Does greater understanding of the universe make life less desirable?  (9:06)
--In a future world of hyper efficiency, what will people do for a living?  (16:20)
--Say you are a billionaire and you want to make your home town a better place.  How do you use your money to make this happen?  (21:03)
--Dave's Stalin Quote:  death of a soldier is a tragedy, the death of a 1000 soldiers is a statistic.  Was this ever true?  Is it true today?  (39:43)
--What will it take for Linux to make really progress in the marketplace against Windows?  (44:21)
--Golf:  is it still how business is acquired?  Do you have to play golf to be successful?  Can you play WoW instead?  (53:21)

Sites where you can find more information about Scott and Thaed:

http://www.frontrowcrew.com
http://www.mentalinterface.net

Subscribe via iTunes.

Email Thaed at thaed@cox.net

Tonight's hosts:  Ray, Scott, Kyle, Rym & Thaed.  Here are the topics:

--Tax evading idiots and blogosphere response.  There were some tax cheats recently captured by the U.S. Government and bloggers went nuts.  Why is it so hard for some people to pay their taxes?
--  Unusual experiences with people you've sold stuff to.  I had a recent
encounter with a very motivated dude concerning a car.  (8:33)
--best hotel rooms you've ever occupied and why.  (16:18)
--8 simple-minded ways to enjoy every day.   (25:59)
http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/enjoy-life-each-day/
--Classical literature versus comic books and manga.  Shouldn't you limit your consumption of lowbrow entertainment?  (42:56)
--What questions do you have about life?  Thinking people work out most of the main issues and life isn't really much of a mystery.  Do you even have any and if so what are they?  (59:24)

(I have to make mention of the fact that I had never heard the term Hikikomori until Scott used it in this show.  Thanks for that.)


Sites where you can find more information about Rym, Scott and Thaed:

http://www.frontrowcrew.com
http://www.mentalinterface.net

Subscribe via iTunes.

Email Thaed at thaed@cox.net

Tonight's hosts:  Ray, Kyle, David & Thaed.  Here are the topics:

--After Alan Greenspan's interview aired on 60 Minutes, the price of gold has gone up.  He predicts future double digit inflation.  If hyperinflation happens in this country, does it make sense to to keep $5k in gold coins just to buy bread?  Silver is another option, but it's more volatile.  What do you think a person should do by way of currency in the face of world wide economic chaos?

--Does your source of news color your world-view?  Geeks generally get news from a variety of sources, but what if your only source was CNN, Fox News or your local newspaper.  Would the particular agency viewpoint make you see things only in that light?  (11:15)

--Do Not Want.  You've seen the meme, but what things in life do you actively avoid?  (25:07)

--There was an article on Digg about a guy who was active on the Something Awful forums who killed a couple of people.  Is it strange that they bothered to link a killer to a forum?  Are forums new ways to associate people?  Are forums the new Masons?  Or is it more like the Sharks and the Jets?  (36:16)

--Teh social networks.  Do you use any of them?  I had someone find me from High School yesterday on Facebook.  I've had some good discussions on Linkedin.  But is there any real point to it and can you explain how Facebook could really be worth more than $1.95 instead of $10 billion or half what General Motors is worth?  (46:41)

--If you could own and operate a manufacturing plant, what would you make?  (51:58)


Sites where you can find more information about David and Thaed:

http://wholegarden.wordpress.com/
http://www.mentalinterface.net

Subscribe via iTunes.

Email Thaed at thaed@cox.net

I'm doing a lot of traveling so no show this week.  We should be back next week, though with new show goodness.

Tonight's hosts:  Dave, Nathan, Scott & Thaed.  Here are the topics:
 
--Is it possible to get paid for just being you?  Does a job exist where you do whatever you want to do and getting paid for it?  (2:13)
 
--Is Steampunk bunk?  Is there any point to it?   http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2007/08/26/the_age_of_steampunk/?page=3      (8:42)
 
--David's topic:  Did you see that the kid who hacked the iPod got a Z Car?  http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/ptech/08/28/iphone.unlocked.ap/index.html  
Plus, what do you think of the iTouch?    (15:17)
 
--Have you guys seen the Pleo?  Is this going to be a hit?  Will it be better
than the Aibo?  Worse?  (25:37)
 
--What things do you do on the weekend to make your week go more smoothly?   (29:14)
 
--What are your thoughts on skyscrapers?  Should they still be built?  Are they a good use of space?  Will they continue to be built?
http://washingtontimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070902/SPECIAL/109020044
/1001    (38:49)
 
--Female traveling willberries:  Who would you pick to be an all female rock band from mature female singers? (41:14)

--Oobuntoo?  (45:59)


Sites where you can find more information about Nathan, Scott and Thaed:

http://saturn49.blogspot.com/
http://www.frontrowcrew.com
http://www.mentalinterface.net

Subscribe via iTunes.

Email Thaed at thaed@cox.net

After a little more than a year off, we're back!  Here are the topics for Episode 15:

--A quick down and dirty explanation of the sub-prime lending mess in the U.S.
 
--Is geography important?  I know a woman who, when she finished school, moved to the city where she wanted to live and waited tables until she found a job in her field.  Most people normally do the opposite:  the job dictates where you live.  Does it matter?  (9:16)
 
--There's a video about a guy who collects apple computers:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/ptech/08/08/mac-collector.ap/index.html Are you this way about anything?  C'mon, you've really got 400 GI Joes, don't you? (20:06)
 
--Home theater:  where do you stand now, what do you want to get, what do you recommend.  What did you pick Blu-Ray or HD DVD? (30:57)
 
--Modeling human behavior has become more advanced.  There's a huge market for being able to predict human response to a given stimulus from a military, corporate and political perspective.  How far do you think we are really and how far do you think this technology will go?
http://www.newscientist.com/blog/invention/2007/08/strategy-predicting-software.html (45:02)
 
--We used to talk about futurism a fare amount on this show.  What signs do you see that indicate major technological progress in our society?  Do you think we'll have a singularity event by 2020?  2050? Ever? (51:37)

--Editing podcasts:  a primer.  (1:01:12)

Sites where you can find more information about Nathan, Scott and Thaed:

http://saturn49.blogspot.com/
http://www.frontrowcrew.com
http://www.mentalinterface.net

Subscribe via iTunes.

Email Thaed at thaed@cox.net

That's right folks.  It's coming back!!!  Check out my main blog, www.mentalinterface.net for more details.  Look for the first new show on 8/25/2007.

As you might have heard, I have a real life project that's going to take up all my free time between now and the end of the year.  So we're going away for awhile.  I very much want the show to resume, so watch this space for details.  Thanks for all your support.

Thaed

http://www.mentalinterface.net

Here are the topics for this week.  Thanks to Kelly, Nathan, David and Ray.  The Geeknights Promo plays at the end of the show.

âWhat is the hardest physical labor job youâve ever done?  Did you enjoy it?  How did you get the job?  Why did you leave?  (5:50)

âWhat is the nature of motivation?  Is it genetic?  Does the environment cause it?  Why do we like to do the things we like to do? Why do we like to do some things and then move away from them and on to other things?  (15:47)

âSchadefreude means taking delight in the misery of others.  Have you had this experience lately?  Tell us about it.  (23:21)

âPlanes, trains and automobiles (and also bicycles, snow mobiles, etc.)  Given all the time in the world, whatâs youâre favorite mode of transportation and why?  (30:08)

âSpeaking of transportation, China launched itâs Sky train this week connecting Bejing to Tibet.  At some points, it is 16,000 feet above sea-level and rests on permafrost.  What great engineering projects would you like to see the U.S. government undertake?  (37:43)

âDid you see fireworks on the 4th of July?  Did you light your own fireworks?  Do you like fireworks?  Whatâs youâre favorite?  (44:12)

âAccording to OâReilly radar People like Mark Pilgrim and Cory Doctorow are switching from OSX to Ubuntu.  Is Ubuntu the operating system to rule them all?  Will security threats to Windows drive everyone to Ubuntu?  (Co-incidentally, Iâm setting up an Ubuntu box this week). (47:37)

âYouTube = star maker?  I heard on Cranky Geeks that NBC gave a consulting deal to a girl they found on YouTube that recorded herself doing the Numa Numa dance.  Is this the new reality tv?  If you want to be a star, should you just put yourself on YouTube?  Should we all shoot ourselves now?  (54:10)

âHome improvements revisited:  If you could do one thing to your house or property (or apartment) and you had a $150,000 budget, what would you do?  Why?  Would you do it yourself or hire people to do it?  (58:32)

âPoolside reading (or just summer reading in general).  Whatâs on your list?  How are you making time to keep up on your reading?  What have you read so far?  (1:04:20)

Thanks to Kelly, Nathan and David for being on the show!  Here are the topics we covered this week:

âIs podcasting a medium thatâs here to stay? Have any shows you listen to podfaded? What do you think the future holds for it?  (7:03)

âI read an article online about a guy who went undercover as a car salesman. Iâll talk about what he found out, but whatâs your personal strategy that you use in dealing with salesmen when you buy a car.  (13:59)

âBoth HD DVD and Blu-Ray players are out now and the word on the street is mixed. Are you planning on buying one of these? Who do you think will win the format war?  (19:47)

âHow many domain names do you have registered? When did you start doing it? Has it worked out for you?  (23:34)

âIf you could meet any three celebrities alive today, who would they be? What would you say to them? How would you like to meet? Over dinner? At an event? In your living room?  (30:19)

âWho are your top 3 least favorite celebrities and why?  (34:00)

â Youâve heard old wives tales as to treatments such as chicken soup for what ailes you. Whatâs your favorite wives tale or old country remedy that you still use to treat whatâs bothering you.  (42:06)

âWhat was your favorite collection? Stamps? Comic books? Beer cans? Why did you do it? Do you still do it? What made you stop?  (46:38)

Sites where you can find more information about Kelly, Nathan and Thaed:
http://hibelu.typepad.com/yoga_coffee_outlook/
http://saturn49.blogspot.com/
http://www.mentalinterface.net

This is a best of show with bits taken from the first 9 or so episodes.  When we first started, we were using different audio equipment, so the sound quality varies from segment to segment.  If you are new to the show, this is the episode for you to listen to in order to hear what the show is about.  Thanks to all who participated over the last 13 weeks.

Here are the topics for this week's FNPL.

First we discuss some updates from prior shows regarding Fo.rtuito.us, Mechanical Turk and Scooba.

(10:30)  Is the art of the party dead?  When was the last time you went to a good party?  What made it a good party?  Where was it?  How often are there even parties to go to anymore? 

(18:00)  Do frozen pizzas still suck?  What is your favorite pizza?  How do you rank pizza from Pizza Hut, Dominos, Geppetos, & frozen pizza. 

(25:57)  What was your most memorable road trip?  Was it positive or negative?  When did it take place?  What kind of vehicle was it?  Where did you go? 

(33:04)  What's the worst place you've ever lived?  Why was it so bad?  Who did you live with?  How did you end up there?

(40:20)  There was a NY Times article that equates not breast feeding a baby to smoking or riding a mechanical bull.  Do you agree? 

(44:35)  What are your favorite podcasts, part II?  We are going to play some podcast promos as well. 

(55:00)  Are you excited about music anymore?  We have so many ways to find out about bands now:  My Space, American Idol, Rolling Stone, podcasts, FM radio.  How do you hear about new bands these days?  Do you still go to concerts just to see a specific band? 

(59:55)  When you fly, do you ask for aisle, window or middle?  Do you mind Southwest's seating policy?  Have you every flown first class?  Have you ever ridden in a Grayhound bus?  What did you think? 

For more information:
http://hibelu.typepad.com/yoga_coffee_outlook/
http://thaed.wordpress.com/

This is a promo for Friday Night Party Line.

It got wild and wooly tonight and Ray's daughter even made her presence known.  Thanks to Kelly, Nathan and Ray for being guests!  Here are the topics we covered:

What are your favorite internet memes and where can we find them?  I'm going to play parts of two of my favorites.  These can be new or old, it doesn't matter.

Have you seen Amazon.com's Automated Turk project?  Essentially you can labor intensive work at low cost throughout the world.  I am working on setting up a project under this program.  Have you ever done any work like this or assigned work out through the internet?

Fortuitious follow up.

Should movies made from books, stories or even comic books stay true to the original source material or should it be free to go way out on it's own?

Did you ever have a difficult boss?  Why was this person difficult?  Share some examples with us.  What did you do to cope with this person?

Who were your role models growing up?  How about now?

How much time do you spend on line every week?  Do you visit the same sites all the time or are you always looking for new ones.

There was a big blow to the Space Elevator recently when it was discovered that carbon nanotubes might not be able to handle the job.  What do you think about the Space Elevator concept?  Will it ever get off the ground?

Sites where you can find more information about Kelly, Nathan and Thaed:
http://hibelu.typepad.com/yoga_coffee_outlook/
http://saturn49.blogspot.com/
http://thaed.wordpress.com/

Here are the topics for Friday Night Party Line, June 2, 2006.  Some of these are from last week because we didnât get to them.  Thanks to Allie, David, Nathan, Indy and Josh for doing the show and setting the current FNPL record for the most guests in one evening.  It was a lot of fun!

Imagine yourself being 10 years old again.  Would your 10 year old self find you to be cool today?

I wonder if what one really enjoys in life can be distilled to one day. Can you describe your ultimate day? Can you think of how you would take the things you enjoy in life and put them all into one day, assuming you could do anything you want?

People are putting up videos of their children being born on YouTube.  I'm all for childbirth and all that, but do we really need to see the live event??   Would you do that?  Have people send such video links to you?  Have you seen these things?

There is a new friend making service called fo.rtuito.us.  It's not a dating site.  It gives you a new friend every 4 days without regard to gender, age, etc.  You communicate with this person back and forth and decide if you want to keep them as a friend.  Would you try such a site?

There is another website that just came out called stalkerati.com.  From the digg.com website:  âYou type in the name of a friend and it will run searches on MySpace, Friendster, Facebook and more. Create profiles on your friends and save them to your "buddy list", then you can just click their name and see all their profiles later on! The buddy list also shows you who's online by checking their IM statuses.â?

Have you ever written a complaint to a company about something?  Do you do it often?  Have you ever gone further and filed a complaint with the companyâs regulator?  How did it work out for you?

At the University of Florida, the police there have become a fan of the fiction of a certain graduate student.  After reading his horror fiction on Live Journal, they've asked him to submit fingerprints and DNA.  What are your thoughts on this?

http://thaed.wordpress.com/

Kelly, Marc and Scott (from the Geeknights podcast) appeared on the show.  A big thank you to everyone; we had a lot of fun tonight.  This is what we discussed:

Have you played with the new free Skype out yet?  We called various other podcasts to test it out.

What are, in your opinion, the three worst magazines out there today and why?

Are you polychonic or monochonic?

Digitizing your life: what do you think of the MyLifeBits project, Gordon Bell and the SenseCam?

Has someone ever asked to go somewhere with them to help them (when you really haven't wanted to)? What did you do and why didn't you want to go?

It's almost summertime and the living is about to be easy. Or is it? What do you do in the summer that you don't do in the winter? Do you spend less time online? Are you a warm weather person or a cold weather person? Does your city have any seasonal activities that makes it special?

Have you ever built your own computer? Have you ever overclocked anything? Would you ever want to?

Links to sites mentioned:

http://hibelu.typepad.com/yoga_coffee_outlook/
http://www.tcrebel.com/
http://www.frontrowcrew.com/
http://thaed.wordpress.com/

Friday Night Party Line is on hiatus this week.  We'll be back next week with interesting topics and excellent guests.

A special thank you to our guests:  Molly, Kelly & David.

Here are this week's topics:

1.  The summer blockbuster movie schedule is fast upon us.  There's lots of mutant and superhero action coming and plenty of comedy and adventure too.  What movies are you looking forward to this summer? 

2.  Do you do any sort of exercise or physical activity that requires training or special skills?  How did you come to take it up?  What makes you keep doing it?

3.  I had the occasion to see Itzhak Perlman play this week.  In my mind, he defines the term virtuoso.  He takes his natural gifts and fulfills their potential.  What examples of virtuosity have you seen in your experiences?  Is it ultimately better to be a master of something or to be merely good at many things?

4.  Do you ever think humans will be able to stop the aging process?  Would you take advantage of it if we had the technology?  Would you have surgery to make yourself look younger?  How far would you go?

5.  Few people would run their lives based on astrology, yet just as we have fun opening fortune cookies, most of us know our our astrological signs.  Some of us may even know a bit more.  Do you ever say "that explains a lot" when you find out someone's sign?  Do you read your horoscope at least every once in a while?  Why does astrology still have enough pull today to appear in the newspaper?

6.  On NewScientist.com, there's an article about a new robot suit "that could help older people or those with disabilities to walk or lift heavy objects."  This suit is sleeker and less cumbersome than some of the bulky things that have been available in the past.  Is the age of the iron man here?  Have you seen the YouTube video of the guy with these spring stilts on his feet jumping around Las Vegas?  It's just another example. 

7. Men and cartoons.

8.  There's an article from the AP this week that says women can look at a guy's face and tell which guy is interested in becoming a father.  Then they can also which ones they are interested in for "short term romantic partners."  Is this real?

9.  Generally speaking, women live longer than men.  I have an article that claims to know why.  Why do you think that is?

10.  I put up a link in my del.icio.us to peekvid.com.  It's television shows that you can watch online.  They have 24, Boston Legal, The Daily Show even Thundercats!  I'm not sure that that site is particularly legal, but there are lots of sites that are.  I have a computer hooked up to a television upstairs.  Is the average person going to start watching TV from his or her computers with content delivered from the internet? 

For more information:  http://thaed.wordpress.com/

Here are this week's topics:

From normal pets to extreme pets; from 1 or 2 pets to hundreds, what is it about people keeping animals?  Does it go back to ancient man as herder?  Is it companionship?  Is it a human need to care for something?  Why are we so focused on our pets and willing to spend so much money on their health and well being?

Do know or work with or are friends with a person obsessed with shoes?  Normally this would be a shoe girl, but itâs possible (in theory anyway) to have a male in this category.  What is the driving nature of this passion?  Is it harmful?  Should it be encouraged? 

There is a well publicized story out now of a guy who is trying, through a series of trades, to trade up from a red paper clip to owning a house.  Where is he now?  Will he have tax consequences?  Can anyone do stuff like this or is it just a gimmick?

Has English become the Lingua Franca to people of all nations?  What about Mandarin?  What about Spanish?  Is there a case for bringing back Esperanto (with William Shatner as itâs spokesman?)

What is your commute like every day?  How do you pass the time?  Do you subscribe to the philosophy of live where you work and travel to where you play?  There was an article recently about a guy who commutes 186 miles each way to work 5 days a week.  Would you do this if the money was right?

Panasonic has a 103 inch plasma TV out now.  How big is too big?  How large a living room would you have to have to comfortably watch something like that?  What is your ideal TV size.

In the spirit of further multi-monitor use, have you seen the new Matrox Triplehead2Go card?  This card allows you to use three monitors with one computer even if the display only supports a single screen output.  Would you use this?  Is it going to be common place for people to have three screens on their desk?  Why not six?

Blackberries, Treos and Sidekicks, oh my!  Business people love their convergent devices.  Whatâs the all round best multi-use phone?  What do you use?  What do you wish you could have in such a device?

For additonal info, see  http://thaed.wordpress.com/ and http://saturn49.blogspot.com/

Which of the following celebrities has the coolest house and why (you have to do a little HOME work on this oneâgoogle the houses):

-John Travolta

-Oprah Winfrey

-Ted Nugent

-Bill Gates

What (or where) is your sanctum sanctorum? Where do you go to do your best thinking or working? Where is your fortress of solitude?

What city has the best food in the world and why?

You have a $50,000 budget to buy a car. What do you get? Why? What options and gadgets do you put in it?

There are now 10 online video post to the internet companies led by Youtube. Have you used any? For what? Are they real businesses?

Is myspace inherently evil? Do you use it? What are the alternatives?

Have you seen some of these videos from emo people online? Can someone explain the whole emo thing to me?

Harvard has a new SETI telescope that looks for laser beams. What do you think of the state of the SETI movement right now? What is the prognosis for future efforts?

Did you see the tank missile defense system video? They were billing it as a force field, but itâs really just a gun that shoots missiles before they hit the tank, right?

Surfing theme: What's your favorite junk food while surfing? Test your junk food knowledge. Do you think you could pick out the following potato chips in a blind taste test? Pringles, Lays (classic), Ruffles, Grandma Shearers and Snyders of Berlin?

Surfing Fashion: What do you wear while surfing, gaming, blogging, etc?

What are your favorite shopping sites online?

Can you name one good thing Martha Stewart has brought into the world?

Korea has promised a robot in every home by 2015 or 2020. Can they do it? What are the challenges?

There is a new cell phone use and brain tumor study. Do you still stick your phone against your head?

How Bill Gates works. If you knew how a billionaire worked, would you change your ways to emulate him?

Why is Bose audio equipment so popular? (From Home Theater Blog).

What are your favorite Internet radio stations. Do you have any internet radio guilty pleasures?

Re: favorite retro tv shows. With the advent of online distribution, what would you like them to bring back?

In this episode, we talk about the new TiVo Series III, home remodelling, beer, hybrid cars versus electric and hydrogen, internet social gatherings and the delay of Microsoft's Vista OS.