S2E15: Little Design Fails

Design is a fantastic aspect of everyday life. When it is “on”, it beautifully blends art and practicality, form and function. And yet, there are many examples of when an added element or a slightly flawed decision results in a product that just doesn’t work. Jon and Kurt provide illustration and commentary on some of these head scratching cases. Like, really, do we really need button fly pants after the almighty zipper was invented?

For those of us who grew up in the ‘60s and ‘70s as part of the latch-key kid phenomenon, our parents practiced what we currently call “benign neglect” in raising us. We, as parents ourselves, flipped the switch completely into a “constant surveillance” mode of parenting. Jon and Kurt delve deeply into the differences between the two, the potential reasons why parenting has changed so much, and how things may or may not change in the future. After all, there has been a seismic shift: “You’re bored?” asked our mothers. “Go outside and play.” You’re bored?” we ask our children. “I’ve failed as a parent.”

As Americans, we tend to be ethnocentric when we travel. We expect, stereotypically and categorically, that things “over there” will be what they are back in the States. We seem to be shocked and/or humored by their lack of ice cubes, to go cups, and shorts. Well, the opposite is also true…the Europeans find some of what we do quite bizarre. From our over reliance on air conditioning to Big Gulps, they think we are just plain weird about some things. Well, Jon and Kurt decide to identify some of these things we do that stick in the craw of our European neighbors.

There we are, going through our day, doing things we feel are part of being human, or good for us, or scientifically proven to better our lives. And then we discover that all these things we are doing were foisted upon us by marketers. That’s right, our routines and habits are manufactured by advertising with the sole purpose of selling more products. Eight hours of sleep every night? Mattress company campaign. Lather, rinse, repeat? Yup, shampoo companies. Orange juice for breakfast? That too. You get the idea. Jon and Kurt uncover the truth and expose the charlatan habits for what they really are.  

In this episode, Kurt puts Jon on the hot seat with a simple game: Was this famous person a Stoic...or not? Winston Churchill. Queen Elizabeth II. Napoleon Bonaparte. Amelia Earhart. Marcus Aurelius is too easy, so don't expect any freebies. Along the way, they separate Stoicism from simply "having a stiff upper lip," talk about why this 2,000-year-old philosophy has suddenly become fashionable again, and discover that being calm under pressure isn't the same thing as being a Stoic. It's a history quiz, a philosophy lesson, and round after round of Kurt asking, "Are you sure?" until Jon isn't.

In this episode, the boys follow a trail of words that turns out to be a lot stranger than expected. Why does bankruptcy involve a broken bench? Why is malaria named after "bad air"? What does a medieval orphanage have to do with the surnames Esposito and Innocente? And how did the word "nephew" accidentally give us "nepotism"? Along the way, we'll visit Siena's claim to Rome's founding myth, step outside the cathedral to discover the original meaning of "profane," and uncover the forgotten stories hiding inside words we use all the time. As it turns out, language remembers everything ... even when we don't.

Did you know that smells, besides being the strongest door to memories, can be trademarked? As can sounds? Jon and Kurt discuss examples of these as well as smoking tigers, irony, Pocahontas, and the story behind the marathon being 26.2 miles.

Jon and Kurt go all Magellan on you this episode and discuss geographic oddities sure to blow your mind. That, and somehow Wilt Chamberlain and poutine make appearances. Oh, and Blue Swede sang “Hooked on a Feeling” not “Ride Captain Ride.” That was Blues Image. Kurt apologizes.

Jon and Kurt are back with a new episode that explains the origins of “mayday”, delves into men’s new need to keep up a “hot style,” what it means to age, and well just some other drivel that attempts to lay in some smart.

Jon and Kurt decided to capitalize on the fact that they recorded this episode in April and put out a topical discussion about pranks. They found historical jokes centuries old that fooled many middle agers (not someone in their 50s, but someone who lived centuries ago) and some that got the masses hook line and sinker in the 20th century. And lots in between. Give a listen and get inspired for the next April Fools Day. Maybe you will find one worth repeating (but we advise against trotting out “War of the Worlds” again).