Ned and Meg talk about a new book idea. We lay out the case for why we think it’s inspired and then get off track pretty quickly, which is exactly the point of all of this anyway. We discuss the opening lines to some famous books and also gripe about TV we hate. We also have some killer colors of the day today so thanks for listening, wash your hands, wear a mask, get the shots, don’t be a dick.

Riddle me this? What happens if Ned and Meg and Lauren record a podcast episode where we make up garbage philosophy and pass it off as wisdom? Find out. We also bring up Chesterton’s Fence and Sim City 4: Rush Hour Edition. Chicago’s civil engineering gets a shout, and then we round things off with a chat about STIs. Don’t miss it. Wash your hands, wear a mask, don’t be a dick MINNEAPOLIS I’M LOOKING AT YOU AND YOU MESSED THIS UP SO BAD.

Ned and Meg talk about the wide world of vacuum cleaners and how special some of them are to us. For example, the only heirlooms Meg’s family passes down are, in fact, Rainbow vacuum systems. Now you know. We also explore the historical aesthetics of Rainbow and other vacuum cleaners, and compare design elements to what was going on in Sci-Fi movies at the time, which leads us to National Treasure Jeff Bridges. Thanks for listening, wash your hands, wear a mask, get yer shots, don’t be a dick.

Ned and Meg revisit one of their favorite books, Pragmatic Thinking and Learning, by Andy Hunt, and they discuss the concept of an expansive context. Also, multitasking makes you stoopid, so knock it off and remove that “skill” from your resume. Thank you for listening to us (especially Buster), and wash your hands, wear a mask, get the shots, don’t be a dick.

Ned and Meg confuse Meg's dad over text messages and then talk about it. We reassign the rings of hell and remind people that deterrents are not really useful in the ways that proponents usually expect them to be. We sideswipe MLMs, religion, public education, the benefits of the GED, and naming things. Welcome, thanks for coming, please email us, wash your hands, wear a mask, get the shots, don’t be a dick and thank you again.

What’s your sleep plan? Ned and Meg push their bedtime with a late night podcast recording, just like old times. Today, or rather tonight, well, really the other night, we discussed the definition of the made up phrase Nodus Tollens which sounds a lot like Latin but is in fact a contrived phrase that means you’ve lost the plot of your own life story and it no longer makes sense to you. If you’re not totally unsettled by this and other existential ponderings, join us. Wash your hands, wear a mask, get the shots, don’t be a dick and thanks for listening. Go to bed!

Ned and Meg get miffy about myopic design, a phenomenon that occurs when people design things for all the wrong reasons. The dumbest invention, a shining example of myopic design, is perhaps the now-infamous and totally defunct Juicero. If you love a good long justifiable cathartic complainaroo, this one’s for you. Wash your hands, wear a mask, get the shots, don’t be a dick, and thank you as always.

Ned and Meg have some book recommendations this week, and also the general recommendation that you do a foot peel, stat. Our book recommendations and discussion today are about *The Big Bento Box of Unuseless Japanese Inventions* and *Diary of Edward the Hamster 1990-1990*. Both of these books are formidable in their own right and feature incredible design elements as well as huge doses of imagination. Please read! Also, wash your hands, wear a mask, thank you for listening, get the shots, don’t be a dick. Super Great!

Ned and Meg and Lauren discuss dystopias again, and this time we fuss over details like the difference between a once-great community after the fall, and dystopias that never reached greatness to begin with. We discuss wretchedness as a function of dystopias, societal trends up and down, victim blaming, participation in your own torure, and how hell is alway personal but dystopias are equal opportunity. How do you measure suffering per square foot? Join us on this uplifting voyage through misery. As always, thank you for listening, wash your hands, wear a mask, get the shots and don’t be a dick!

Ned and Meg investigate the origins of the ubiquitous paper plate. We compare the pros and cons of paper plates. We compare old inventors to new ones. We talk about disposable culture. Join us! Thanks for listening, wash your hands, wear a mask, don't be a dick.