Caustic Soda

Nels "Mark of the Ninja" Anderson joins us to discuss facts and controversy surrounding history, technology, and countermeasures of shinobi no mono! Part 1 of 2. Music: "Oh Mein Papa" by Pegi Hayama Images Links Mark of the Ninja Historical Ninja Research Team Ninja Shadow Warriors Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbDvYP0wGpI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LHzj3MosKs

Joe, Toren, and Kevin take a look at plummeting to your death (and other outcomes) from heights both great and ridiculously small. We go from history's Gemonian Stairs to the 1912 Eiffel Tower "Parachute Coat" incident to the most impressive falls from planes in recent memory including Alan MaGee, Nicholas Alkamade, and  Vezna Vulović. All this plus a Public Service Announcement on how to survive a bungee jumping accident and pop-culture most memorable falls! Plus: a special Celebrity Lesser of Two Evils recorded with skeptic-musician George Hrab! He's not here for the whole episode but we managed to catch up with him while he was in Vancouver to ask him to choose between two horrible fates! Music: "Everything Alive Will Die Someday" by George Hrab Images Links Cheapass Games - Falling George Hrab - GeoLogic Podcast Videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBN3xfGrx_U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIGrvofPqRU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZIzreiseMk

Joanna Gaskell of the Standard Action web series joins us to discuss the history and "science" of alchemy, including the philosopher's stone and elixir of life, transmutation of elements, the universal solvent, homonculi, famous alchemists and frauds. Plus alchemy portrayed in film, comics, TV, literature, and video games. Music: "There'll Be Some Changes Made" by The Boswell Sisters Images Linksguest Standard Action Standard Action Season 3 Kickstarter Critical Hit Show Videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5_9nat1_9U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAKNkrXhB60

Regicide continues -- surprisingly -- in the news with the Nepalese royal massacre! From there we jump right into the regicide-filled world of A Song of Ice And Fire/Game of Thrones. Spoiler alerts aplenty if you haven't been keeping up to the END of Book/Season 3! Also: Oblivion, Shakespeare's most famous regicides, and a "King vs. Pirate" Lesser of Two Evils. BIG Game of Thrones Spoiler Starting Times Game of Thrones Season/Book 1: 9:00 Game of Thrones Season/Book 2: 13:15 Game of Thrones Season/Book 3: 14:28 You're safe again at 20:00! As of this posting we go ahead of where the current episode of Game of Thrones is in the story, so being "caught up" isn't enough. If you don't know what happens all the way through to the end of Season/Book 3, you're going to get spoilers if you don't skip ahead! Music: "The Kingdom of Swing" by Benny Goodman Images Links A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying Videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYNeT2nzEgA

Green Ronin Publishing's Chris Pramas joins Kevin, Toren, and Joe to discuss the deaths of royalty like Mary, Queen of Scots and Charles I as well as Shaka Zulu's mother issues and more! Music: "After You've Gone" by Bing Crosby Images Links A Song of Ice and Fire Roleplaying

Entomophile Andrew Scott joins us to talk about Cimex lectularius including a science quiz, traumatic extravaginal insemination, old timey bed bug treatments, plus news, pop culture and tips on how to avoid bed bug infestation at home and when traveling. Music: "Mean Old Bed Bug Blues" by The Rhythmakers Images Links Andrew's Bug Sculptures Bed Bugs Fact Sheet Health Canada - Bed Bugs Videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GcFO8y-WDE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKfvnYGVTYg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9z_LtDx5-4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSJgbzczdDY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MakIB_IJnu0

Joe, Kevin, and Toren discuss marijuana's many odd nicknames, effects, history of use, and some of the outrageous anti-marijuana propaganda of the 20th Century. After the break it's time for the weirder side of stoner movies, including Super High Me and the "Evil Bong" series. Music: "That Cat Is High" by The Ink Spots Images Links Leafly VapeWorld.com (Pax Vaporizer) Just A Plant Videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jO_ncXj7RE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpDKfj7X8A0

The second in our ongoing Evil Dames in History series features "The Beast of Buchenwald", Ilse Koch. Kevin, Toren, and Joe look at this concentration camp terror, the claims of her bizarre leather work, as well as Ilse Koch inspirations in pop culture! Then we top it up with the return of "Lesser of Two Evils". Music: "The Old Lamplighter" by Sammy Kaye Images Videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmhxHPsxYRc

The history of April Fools Day and other mischievous occasions, famous pranks gone wrong, practical jokes in the news and in comics, cartoons, movies and video games. Music: "Just Kiddin' Around"  by Artie Shaw Images Links Star Control 2 (The Ur-Quan Masters) The Museum of Hoaxes Videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBtOkw38DJU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyXWnVY0F3U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MjPPMLlZqo http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=5tyV19ItB20&feature=fvwp

Dr. Jenna joins Joe, Kevin, and Toren to look at the mosquito-borne peril of malaria. We discuss the life cycle of the this protist parasite from mosquito to human and back again, tales of a recent outbreak, and news of a promising new treatment strategy. Music: "Heebee Jeebies" by The Boswell Sisters Charity O' The Week: Nothing But Nets Campaign Images Videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y68F8YwLWdg

In part two of our look at the biblical apocalypse, we discuss news and pop culture, including "Left Behind," "The Omen," "End of Days." and "The Rapture." Special guest Robert M. Price! Music: "Someone Stole Gabriel's Horn" by Spike Hughes Images Links Robert M. Price

Our apocalypse series continues with noted biblical scholar Robert M. Price discussing the biblical apocalypse! Noah's flood, The rapture, tribulation, second coming, millennium and last judgment are all explained so simply that even Toren can understand. Also: a brief history of failed apocalypse prophecies including Montanism, The Millerites' Great Disappointment, Harold Camping and more. Part one of two! Music: "Brush the Dust Off That Old Bible" by Bradley Kincaid Images Videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBktYJsJq-E http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7BQKu0YP8Y

Zoophiles and penile cancer, recto-vaginal fistula, coughing up cancer, window vomiting, an improvised giant egg weapon, a failed assassination attempt caught on tape and... shitdick. Music: "Re: Your Brains" by Jonathan Coulton Charity of the week: The Fistula Foundation Images Videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0235KOwU_yM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EIIUyc6GaU

Part two of this episode on urban fires deals with the Kiss nightclub fire in Brazil, The Station nightclub fire in Rhode Island, Bradford Stadium fire, and the Great Chicago Fire. Guest firefighter Allan Newell critiques the fire science in such films as "Towering Inferno," "In Old Chicago," "Roxanne," "Spider-Man," Watchmen" and of course Ren & Stimpy. Music: "Hot Club Stomp" by Mezz Mezzrow Images Videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ_vG4cHRKU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOzfq9Egxeo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U82BQnjTie4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RYdD5msr9g

In part one of this two-part episode, firefighter Allan Newell returns to discuss the science and classification of fire, the Great Fire of Rome, the Great Fire of London, the Triangle Shirtwaist fire, Coconut Grove fire and the Great Fire of Meireki. Music: "Hotter Than Hell" by Fletcher Henderson Images Videos https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYqc9ZNqhrE Backdraft/Smoke Explosion