Robot or Not?

306 Episodes

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304: Calendar Year

2024-12-3003:05

Listener Alexander has seen through the calendar’s deceptions and wants to know why any old day couldn’t be the start of a new year. When does the year begin in our hearts? (Happy New Year, everyone!) John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

303: Tipping

2024-12-1611:14

Listener Ben and his sister-in-law have come up with a sophisticated system of rules for when and when not to leave a gratuity. But someone else may have his own rules. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

302: Sandwich Legal Update

2024-12-0206:29

Many listeners are concerned about recent legal rulings that suggest tacos and burritos are sandwiches. But we all know who the real voice of authority is. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

301: Fan/Light

2024-11-1802:00

Listener Patrick is concerned about taxonomy, most particularly involving fans that are also lights. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

300: Fast Food

2024-11-0411:12

There are so many different ways to define fast food. Is pizza fast food? Also, Jason has a story about the Shake Shake in the Minneapolis airport. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

299: Window

2024-10-2103:27

I can see clearly now. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

298: Henchman

2024-10-0705:55

As so often happens with us, discussions of evil henchman end up becoming discussions of legal employment status. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

297: Relay Podcastathon Special 2024

2024-09-2515:49

Live from the Relay Podcastathon, Jason and special guest Casey Liss ask John a bunch of questions from the Robot Or Not question list. Topics include: All-In-One computers, dates, pasta, and antique vs. retro. It’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Please consider donating as a part of our campaign at stjude.org/relay. John Siracusa and Jason Snell with Casey Liss.

296: Catchphrase

2024-09-1602:37

Oh, Listener Sean wants to know about catchphrases! Well, isn’t that special? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

295: Homepods and Other Robots (or Not)

2024-09-0208:39

In a rare timely episode, John and Jason discuss a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman that Apple is designing a series of robots, including a “robot” that sits on a table and moves its display around, and a “robot” that follows you around your house folding laundry, reminding you of your mortality, and possibly running a viral campaign for Apple TV+ shows. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

294: Double Space

2024-08-1903:50

Listener Daniel would like John’s blessing for his practice of putting two spaces after every sentence he types. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

293: Severe Weather

2024-08-0502:48

Listener Arne received a severe weather alert for a fire. Fires are very bad, but are they weather? Are some natural disasters weather, and others not? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

292: Tea

2024-07-2204:57

Is “truffle mushroom tea” just a soup? Did a fancy New York restaurant play a trick on Listener David and his wife? And what is tea, really? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

291: Hawaiian Shirts

2024-07-0805:42

Are Hawaiian shirts just fun to wear, or are they cultural appropriation? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

290: Airport Wheelchair

2024-06-2402:56

Listener Erik sent us this video of self-navigating wheelchairs in the Miami Airport. Does the Roomba Rule apply? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

289: Vending Machine

2024-06-1003:28

Friend of the show Frank is seeking to delineate when something is a “vending machine” and when it’s just a machine that vends. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

288: El Camino

2024-05-2704:02

Thanks to Friend of the Show Casey, we’re talking about weird cars and car classes again. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

287: Autonomous Excavator

2024-05-1602:39

Listener Ivan sent in a link to an autonomous excavator that assembled a six-foot wall out of rocks. Is it the Roomba of construction materials?! John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

286: Dishwashing Methods

2024-04-2907:34

A tale of dishwashers and large sinks. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

285: Theme Songs / Skip Intro

2024-04-1509:31

We follow up on some feedback about our theme songs, and theme songs in general, while taking on whether we use the Skip Intro button when we should be listening to TV theme songs. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

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