Robot or Not?

Listener Luke sent in this week’s theme song. Is it a cover version of our canonical theme song? When is a new version of a song not a cover? <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

What constitutes family? Blood relatives only? Are friends family? Are co-workers family? Can you escape your family? <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

What about when they’re ajar? <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

Select all the STOREFRONTS to prove that you’re a human. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

By popular demand, John has done his research—or maybe not?—and is here to break down what is bacon and what is an impostor. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

Prompted by a note from Listener Zach, we discuss the trend of “autonomous food delivery vehicles” on college campuses. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

The entire conversation is pants. (The Brits will get that.) <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

How much board is required? <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

We’ll see you at the Carl’s Jr./Green Burrito/KFC/Taco Bell. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

When is it a TV show and when is it a movie? It’s confusing. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

It all goes back to Mesopotamia. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

If the new “Lion King” film features CGI animals talking with other CGI animals, is it a “live-action” movie or just a different kind of animation? What about a movie like “Avengers: Infinity War”? <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

Legal news: Is Almond Milk milk? <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

What is a “Chick Flick”? Let’s start off by taking apart the term itself. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

In a rare topical episode, John and Jason discuss Marty, the tall, googly-eyed robot that may soon be roaming the aisles of a supermarket near you. Does Marty meet the Roomba test? Are the googly eyes fooling anyone? <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

Is this real or are we in a video game? How can we tell the true nature of the universe? <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

Do hackers do good, or bad, or both? <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

“Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.” Merry Christmas, everybody! <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

Choosy mothers pronounce it differently. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

Where spreadsheets and databases collide. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

“You haven’t done soup yet, have you?” <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

Smartphones, dumb phones, feature phones, and computers in your pocket. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

Slot toasters, toaster ovens, and the definitions thereof. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

What makes something a podcast? OMG, are we one?! <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

Bread is bread, but what about hot dog buns, bagels, tortillas, and pitas? <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

John is given the opportunity to endorse or reject the rulings of the International Astronomical Union. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

John’s worked (and left) a lot of jobs. What’s his personal philosophy about job security versus going it alone as an independent? <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

The subtle and vexing difference between a nerd and a geek. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

What is computer programming? And what doesn’t qualify? <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

When is a game show a game show, and when is it reality television? Also, we reveal our favorite reality TV show. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

Is a Mac a PC? Is an iPad a computer? Does John favor a broad definition or a narrow one? <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

What makes pasta pasta? <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

The conundrum of seasons versus eternally pleasant weather. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

Bagels are not donuts, people. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

Listener Ed, we’ve got bad news. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

What makes an animal a pet? <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

Did both of Jason’s parents both come from the Midwest, or only one? What are the true boundaries of America’s heartland? <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

From Sour Cream & Onion to BBQ, what are the “real” potato chip flavors? <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

If you don’t go anywhere, is it a vacation? What if you go somewhere, but you don’t relax? <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

Is cheesecake cheese, cake, pie, tart, or none of the above? Does the angle of the pan matter? Does crust content matter? Do any of us matter, really? <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

As recently highlighted on “The Good Place”, it’s a classic ethical conundum that John wants absolutely no part of. And what if the trolley drives itself? <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

Never believe what a robot tells you. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

A dog interlude. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

What makes a movie a holiday movie? How do they celebrate winter holidays in warm climates? Merry Christmas to all, especially in Australia! <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

Okay, time to call it. Time of death— wait, wait, everybody hold on. How do we define death? <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

How can we call something alive? <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

It would seem like ice cream versus frozen yogurt would be the main debate. But the pronunciation of a third competitor completely derails us. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

We discuss the names of meals and when they happen, and make an interesting(?) digression into human sleep cycles. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

From leafy greens to sugary Jell-O concoctions, all sorts of things are called salads. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>

Continuing our confused series of episodes about food-related topics, it’s time for John and Jason to talk about Jason’s favorite food style and what happens when you put food on a grill. <p>John Siracusa and Jason Snell.</p>