EPISODE 216 – Baneconomics

Summary: It was inevitable, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES once again came up. You thought we were done talking about it last week? Silly you... Actually, silly me. I should have known that by creating a poll question last week on this very subject, it would come up again when I read the results. After having a week or so to stew on it, Dennis has found further issues with the film. You'll hear those grievances today. You'll also hear about a new series coming to NBC based on Bram Stoker's Dracula story. It'll star Jonathan Rhys Meyers as the title character. Now although this could be considered a reboot of sorts, at least the network isn't going the typical douche route and setting the story in modern times. This show will take place in Victorian London. The problem though is being on network television, this is going to be pretty tame compared to other vampire shows like TRUE BLOOD. How far will they really be able to go with it? Over at ABC, Marvel is willing to go pretty far to cash in on THE AVENGERS fame. They're in discussions to possibly produce a TV series based within the universe set up in the film. The show however, would not necessarily involve any of the Avengers characters. Sounds fantastic already. The city involved in Google's fiber optic Internet test has been announced. Kansas City, Missouri is the lucky one. The rest of us will just have to wait and see how the beta goes. However, looking at the guidelines for getting the service on Google's website, they're making those who want one-gigabit per second speed jump through hoops to get it. You'll hear the details of the plans on the show, but it'll basically involve residents in KC having to talk to their neighbors... at least fifty of them! Tax talk inspired this week's show title. You have to wonder if, with all the shit that went down in Gotham, how would Bane handle taxes? Or Congress? Or in another of our fantasy scenarios, the CEO of General Motors? Our lovely representatives in DC are in the midst of overruling the US Supreme Court by passing a law that would require online retailers to collect sales tax no matter what. Currently, it's optional; and many of us enjoy tax-free online shopping from various e-tailers. But that's most likely about to change. States are strapped for cash and they want sales tax charged on your Amazon and eBay purchases. As well as every other site known to man. And if that's not bad enough, plans are in the works all around the country to possibly tax us while we drive. A study is being considered in San Francisco and a pilot program is starting in Oregon which will look at the feasability of taxing people based on how many miles they drive. In the Bay area, it'd be about ten cents per mile. That works out to an average of about $1,300 a year depending on how much you drive around. Declining revenue from gas taxes is apparently to blame. We were all told to buy more fuel efficient cars and now that we have, we're being taxed for it. After an enraging story like that we need to lighten the mood with some ridiculous Breaking News. In this week's bit we tell you about a new kind of aisle that may be popping up at a grocery store near you. It's being called the 'man aisle' and it's a one-stop-shop section of the market where we dudes can pick up the bare essentials like beer, condoms, chips and razors. And we have a few suggestions of our own for what this aisle should be stocking. SHOW LINKS: NBC - Bringing back Dracula... no sparkly skin here. Deadline.com Marvel - Thinking of doing an Avengers TV show, minus the Avengers. ABC - Would air said Avengers show, without the Avengers. Google Fiber Country Girl Fourth Of July Tribute Parody - Watch More Funny Videos New Releases for Tuesday, July 31st: Hatfields & McCoys Total Recall: Mind-Bending Edition [Blu-ray] Young Justice: Dangerous Secrets Mystery Science Theater 3000: XXIV Strike Witches (Season 1) [Blu-ray/DVD Combo] Hijacked [2-Disc Blu-ray/DVD Combo]