WJC Episode 58: Do "Western Values" Exist

Dio and Gene discuss and criticize the metaverse.

Spoiler alert, yes...

Lunar New Years special part two.

We missed regular new years to do this, so we decided to use Chinese new years as justification to do a top 10 wjc episodes of all time. Shoutout to Wendigoon!

We lightly touch upon existential risks to humanity but focus on the overdependence on technology and what happens when the grid goes down. Survivalism should be emphasized considering there are many scenarios when the power grid and society can collapse, always be ready (semper paratus) and don't let your pencil-pusher lifestyle stop you from achieving this. Most importantly, prepping is a philosophy; your survival depends on objectivity; not from the influence from punditry and pernicious lies. Pay attention and observe the news with suspicion and objectivity.

Never wish censorship, even upon your ideological opponents. The slippery slope is not a fallacy.

Dio and Gene speak about vulnerabilities that can lead you to becoming married to your ideas and or: fanatical, an ideological junkie and even a radical. There are different vulnerabilities: broken homes, situational difficulties, children, people with need for community, low self-esteem, lack of responsibility and success. The solution is to be aware and have a safety net for hard times; family and friends, hobbies and personal passions, focusing on personal projects and goals. But above all, putting ethics above ideology and never put yourself in a position where people can take advantage of your weakness.-G96-1294 Gangs: The New Family (unl.edu)-Without family, U.S. children in foster care easy prey for human traffickers | Reuters-How tech platforms fuel U.S. political polarization and what government can do about it (brookings.edu)-China to regulate tech giants' algorithms in unprecedented move (cnbc.com)-Toronto van attack: Minassian guilty of killing 10 people - BBC News-Teenage boy charged in Canada's first 'incel' terror case - BBC News-The Boy Crisis is a Must Read for Every Parent | SnapDivorce | Blog

Honorary grapevine episode, grapevines are just popculture episodes where we "shoot the shit" according to Mac. In this grapevine/filler episode we speak about some more light-heartening subjects with our boy Cassius,

Swedish Tech Company Epicenter is making headlines again for using its contactless payment technology, this time to display vaccine status. The CEO of Epicenter say's it used in case your phone battery dies and will make life even more convenient. Dio and Gene have discussed this company before in the spectrum of technology enthusiasm episode. We analyze the technology and rant about how this opens pandoras jar so to say, as well as the type of people accepting this and the type of world, we are creating with these privacy invasive technologies. The next WD episode will be about "Censorship for thee but not for me"

Gene is still salty about Dio losing the SD card that had the Carnage Movie Review, so this is technically Wine Jar Cynics Movie Review #2. Great movie, extremely fun with a lot of action and fan service, but...nothing is beyond the Cynic's nitpick. So, we also went in cinema-sins style critique/cynic regarding some dumb narrative choices and plot holes.