Bad At Magic

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Show Notes: 

• Ben and Josh discuss the elephant in the room: the Coronavirus pandemic
• Intro and Fitness Challenge  (0:00-4:16)
  • Link to Bad at Magic Fitness Tracker app
• Bad at Italian (4:16-10:03)
  • Amato/a means “beloved”
  • This week tell someone beloved to you why you love them!
  • Ben’s Family Home Evening activity chart
• Coronavirus AKA COVID-19 (10:03-end)
  • Illinois Governor Pritzker’s “stay at home” order
  • Arizona Governor Ducey activates the National Guard
  • Coronavirus tax law changes
  • DoD Coronavirus travel restrictions
  • The Air Mobility Command Crisis Battle Staff 
  • Working from home
  • Apocalypse skills
  • Tortilla shortage
  • Grocery store restocking
  • Stir crazy quarantined missionaries
  • Europe crashes Microsoft Teams
  • Can movie theaters survive Coronavirus?
• Thanks to our listeners! 
  • Check us out on Facebook
  • Rate us on iTunes
  • Bad At Magic on Reddit
  • Our YouTube Channel
  • Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/badatmagic
  • Tell your friends!

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Show Notes: 

• Ben rants about checks and Josh gets punk’d by his Amazon delivery driver. Join us for a 4-month fitness challenge. Stephen Leeds is barking mad! 
• Ben and Josh on checks and deliveries (0:00-19:05)
  • It’s 2020, can we please stop writing checks??!
  • Josh gets punk’d by the Amazon Prime delivery driver
• Planning 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebrations (19:05-39:14)
  • Ben’s Unit in Italy
  • The Italian Job, Episode 9, check it out!
  • This or this
• Bad at English (39:14-43:21)
  • Barking
    • Mad/Crazy
    • Margaret “Daggers” Thatcher was: Three stops past Barking
• Bad at Magic Fitness Challenge 2020! (43:21-50:27)
  • Link to Bad at Magic Fitness Tracker app
• Book Discussion – Legion: The Many Lives of Stephen Leeds by Brandon Sanderson (50:27-2:00:00)
  • Psychology as a Superpower
  • Mark Rosewater on breaking the rules
  • 2014 SE Idaho Flood
  • Did You Put Your Name In the Goblet of Fire
• Thanks to our listeners! 
  • Check us out on Facebook
  • Rate us on iTunes
  • Bad At Magic on Reddit
  • Our YouTube Channel
  • Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/badatmagic
  • Tell your friends!

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Show Notes: 

• Ben and Josh talk about …
• Intro (0:00-5:18)
  • Support us on Patreon to get access to a special bonus episode! “Magic in the MCU”
• Film Theories (5:18-18:06)
  • Ben’s: Groundhog Day as a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast
  • Josh’s: Gaston is not the bad guy
• Bad at Parenting (18:06-25:29)
  • Elementary School carnivals
    • “Abraham moment”
    • Duty/desire conflicts
• Sonic the Hedgehog (25:29-27:29)
  • Shovelware: bad licensed games
• Bad at English (27:29-31:56)
  • That’s a good “starter for ten”
  • Reference classic British TV quiz show ‘University Challenge‘; means: “That’s a good start” as an easy one to kick things off
  • Similar to you or I saying “I’ll take The Wheel of Time for $200, Alex”
• Bad at Magic: Mastermind Edition (31:56-1:22:17)
  • Ben’s subject: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
    • Round 1: 4/5
    • Round 2: 2/5
    • Round 3: 1/5
    • Round 4: 5/5
    • Final score: 12/20
  • Josh’s subject: Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
    • Round 1: 3/5
    • Round 2: 5/5
    • Round 3: 5/5
    • Round 4: 4/5
    • Final score: 17/20
• Teaser for next time (1:22:17-end):
  • Book poll winner:
    • Legion: The Many Lives of Stephan Leeds by Brandon Sanderson
    • Read before Episode 15 so you’ll be ready for the conversation!
• Thanks to our listeners! 
  • Check us out on Facebook
  • Rate us on iTunes
  • Bad At Magic on Reddit
  • Our YouTube Channel
  • Now on Patreon: www.patreon.com/badatmagic
  • Tell your friends!

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Show Notes: 

• Ben and Josh talk about pizza, Cyberspace, prison, magic systems in storytelling, and the suitable application of high explosives
• Intro (0:00-0:42)
• Bad at Parenting (0:42-6:34)
  • Carter’s Amazing Jenga move
• Ben vs. Bureaucracy (6:34-11:57)
  • Donate to the Chicago Lighthouse
  • AFCEA Rocky Mountain Cyberspace Symposium 2020
• Bad at English (11:57-16:14)
  • Living at Her Majesty’s Pleasure: a ‘legal term of art’ (situational jargon) meaning: in prison
  • What is the British Commonwealth??
• Use of Magic Systems in Storytelling (16:14-1:42:20)
  • Hard Magic vs. Soft Magic
  • Brandon Sanderson’s Laws of Magic
    1. An author’s ability to solve a conflict with magic is directly proportional to how well the reader understands said magic
    2. The limitations of a magic system are more interesting than its capabilities
    3. Expand on what you have already before you add something new
  • Mysticism
    • Harry Potter
      • Josh Recommends: The White Mage Omnibus by Ben Hale ©2013 Ben Hale
    • Star Wars
    • Avatar: The Last Airbender
  • Pseudo-science
    • Back to the Future
    • Star Trek (pre JJ Abrams)
    • The Matrix
      • Neo takes the blue pill
    • Edge of Tomorrow
  • Unexplained phenomena
    • Groundhog Day
    • Stranger than Fiction (6 unrelated films by this title!)
    • Frozen
      • How Frozen Should Have Ended
• Teaser for next time (1:42:20-end):
  • Episode 13.5? Evaluating the magic systems of the…
    • Marvel Cinematic Universe 
    • Disney Cartoons
  • Josh builds a new computer (YouTube video coming soon!)
  • Give your vote on our next Book Review on Facebook or Reddit
    • Ben’s nominations
      • How Will You Measure Your Life by Clayton Christensen
      • Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
    • Josh’s nominations
      • The Hero With a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
      • Legion: The Many Lives of Stephan Leeds by Brandon Sanderson
  • The Bad At Magic version of the British game show Mastermind
    • Josh: Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
    • Ben: Come Unto Christ
• Thanks to our listeners! 
  • Check us out on Facebook
  • Rate us on iTunes
  • Bad At Magic on Reddit
  • Our YouTube Channel
  • Now on Patreon: www.patreon.com/badatmagic
  • Tell your friends!

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Show Notes: 

• Ben and Josh talk about birthday parties, jaywalking, insurance settlements, running, Theros Beyond Death, kids and cell phones, and Josh’s time at the United States Air Force Academy
• Follow up from last time (0:00-14:41)
• Thanks to our listeners! (14:41-16:46)
  • Check us out on Facebook
  • Rate us on iTunes
  • Bad At Magic on Reddit
  • Our YouTube Channel
  • Josh’s Random Thoughts: Essential Adulting Tools
  • Now on Patreon: www.patreon.com/badatmagic
  • Tell your friends!
• Bad at English (16:46-21:22)
  • “Ask me one on showbiz.”  (female) or “Ask me one on sport.” (male)
    • Meaning: “I don’t know.”
  • Possibly from the British game show Mastermind
    • Josh: Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan
    • Ben: Come Unto Christ
• Josh’s Drive-thru strategy follow-up (21:22-31:10)
• Bad at Parenting (31:10-39:09)
  • Kids and cell phones
    • Verizon GizmoWatch
• New Magic set: Theros Beyond Death (39:09-56:28)
  • Full-art Basic Lands that look like nebuae
  • Mythology theme
  • Is Wizards (read: Hasbro) deliberately killing cardboard Magic?
  • Time Stop
• Josh’s experience at the United States Air Force Academy (56:28-)
• Teaser for next time:
  • Go on Reddit to suggest Fantasy Intellectual Properties (IPs) for Ben and Josh to evaluate according to Sanderson’s Laws of Magic

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Show Notes: 

• Ben and Josh talk bollocks about husbanding, drive throughs, and Star Wars: the Rise of Skywalker
• Shovel Knight vs. Hollow Knight (0:00-2:53)
• Bad at English (2:53-9:44)
  • bol·locks /ˈbäləks/
    • Noun
    • VULGAR SLANG•BRITISH
  1. the testicles.
  2. used to express contempt, annoyance, or defiance.
  3. Also:
     1. Nonsense i.e. “talking bollocks”
     2. Something good i.e. “the dog’s bollocks”
     3. Transitive verb e.g. “to bollocks something up”
     4. To give a “bollocking” means a lecture or chew out
     5. Term of endearment “Josh, you old bollocks, let’s go get a pint.”
     6. And more!
  • US Congress vs. UK Parliment
• Bad at Husbanding (9:44-27:17)
  • Josh’s gift-giving-to-Mommy fiasco
  • Ben’s thoughts on conversing with wives
    • Ask: “Is this a fixing conversation or an understanding conversation?”
• Ben and Josh vs. Bureaucracy (27:17-57:14)
  • Ben’s experience with the Illinois Tollway call center
    • Woman owes $106,000 in parking fees…where else? Chicago
  • Josh’s foolproof strategy for not becoming a drive-thru efficiency victim
    • Kindly and harmlessly decline to pull forward
    • Just be super-polite and friendly but don’t pull forward
    • ???
    • Profit
  • Louis CK’s Hertz rental drop-off
  • Tell us about your experiences in the drive-thru!
• Thanks to our listeners! (57:14-58:39)
  • Check us out on Facebook
  • Rate us on iTunes
  • Bad At Magic on Reddit
  • Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel
  • Josh’s Random Thoughts: How to introduce board games
• Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker review (58:39-)
  • **SPOILER ALERT**
  • Sanderson’s Laws of Magic
  • Still a better lightsaber battle…
  • Teaser for next time:
    • Josh at the US Air Force Academy

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Show Notes: 

• Ben and Josh talk about Christmas gift giving, children’s birthday parties, and holiday gaming with the family
• Christmas gift giving (0:00-10:23)
  • Arthur Christmas
  • Bad at English?: stabilizers = training wheels
• Bad at Parenting (10:23-38:03)
  • Giving gifts to 6 kids
  • Children’s birthday parties
    • Suggested etiquette for planning children’s birthday parties
      • No Sundays
      • Signal whether parents are expected to stay
      • If so, provide WiFi
      • Parents don’t have to interact
      • Gift value range: $10-30
      • Notice: 1-3 weeks (one if there are no special requirements i.e. costumes)
• Holiday Gaming (38:03-1:15:53)
  • Ben’s recommended games
    • Easy
      • Blokus (1-4 players)
      • Just One (3-7 players)
    • Medium
      • Splendor
      • Trivial Pursuit: Bet You Know It
      • [Not Recommended] Exploding Kittens
    • Hard
      • [Not Recommended] Trogdor: the board game
    • Insane
      • Twilight Imperium (4th Edition)
      • Magic: The Gathering Online Vintage Cube
  • Josh’s recommended games
    • Easy
      • LCR
      • Shut the Box (2-4 players)
    • Medium
      • Hollow Knight
      • Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening
      • Pokemon TCG
    • Hard
      • Carthage
      • Magic: the Gathering Arena
    • Insane
      • MTGO Vintage Cube
  • Josh’s article on the 3 flavors of consuming Magic: the Gathering
• Life (1:15:53-1:25:58)
  • Andrea + Icy Parking Lots = Donuts
  • Teasers for next time:
    • Josh at the US Air Force Academy
    • Ben vs. Bureaucracy 
    • Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker review
• Thanks to our listeners! (1:25:58-Fin)
  • Check us out on Facebook!
  • Rate us on iTunes! 
  • Now on Reddit!

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Show Notes: 

• Ben and Josh talk about Star Wars, Christmas shopping, and the Italian job
• Disney and Star Wars–too much too fast? (0:00-53:26)
  • Disney+ ‘s killer app: The Mandalorian
  • Nintendo Launch Titles
  • Disney’s Star Wars cinema sins (Josh’s review):
    • Force Awakens – 2015 – Great – 8/10 (-2 for unnecessary fan service, looking at you random han solo monster scene)
    • Rogue One – 2016 – 3/10 (storytelling at its worst, +3 for visuals and making storm troopers feel menacing)
      • Just watch this one scene instead!
    • Last Jedi – 2017 – Ugh – 1/10 (ruined the rest of the franchise for me, missed opportunity with a Kylo and Rey swap)
      • Mark Hamill speaking for the fans
    • Solo – 2018 – 7/10 as a random sci-fi heist movie, 1/10 as star wars canon, utterly forgettable
  • Turned a beloved franchise into a soulless cash-grab
  • The Rise of Skywalker – 2019 
  • The Mandalorian – turning things around?
  • Baby Yoda Memes!
• Bad at English (53:26-58:43)
  • pitch up—phrasal verb

  UK informal
  to arrive in a place:

• I was late getting home from work and needed to get my son to dance practice, but didn’t want to pitch up in uniform so I went inside to change.
• Christmas Shopping (58:43-1:21:35)
  • The cutting board Josh made for Ben
  • Alicia’s piecework nativity
  • The 5 Love Languages — what’s yours??
    • receiving gifts,
    • quality time,
    • words of affirmation,
    • acts of service,
    • and physical touch

  From <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Five_Love_Languages> 

  • The Christmas gift giving rule of 4 story
    1. Something you want,
    2. Something you need,
    3. Something to wear, and
    4. Something to read.
• Ben tells the story of the Italian Job (1:21:35-2:28:35)
  • Ben’s Unit in Italy
  • Air Force Instruction 34-511 – Disposition of Personal Property and Effects
  • Bo’s home movies
• Thanks to our listeners! (2:28:35-Fin)
  • Check us out on Facebook!
  • Rate us on iTunes! 
  • Now on Reddit!

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Show Notes: 

• Intro and Leftovers from Episode 7 (0:00-18:35)
  • Sonic the Hedgehog Movie Fan Trailer
  • NEW Official Trailer
  • Oko, Thief of Crowns
    • Price went back up?!  $50 & out of stock as of 12/2
• Bad at English (18:35-28:01)
  • Cockney rhyming slang: “Have a butchers”=Have a look
  • Ben’s daughter practicing her Wiltshire accent
• Thankful for Doctors (28:01-47:01)
  • Josh’s doctor introduces puberty to his 8-year-old
  • Why Athens 2000 years ago was like Reddit: Acts 17:21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
  • Ben’s free braces
• Thanksgiving Dinner (47:01-1:21:33)
  • Josh thinks having ham at Thanksgiving is un-American
  • Ben is anti-sweet potatoes
• Email Limbo (1:21:33-1:34:16)
  • Ben spoils The Sixth Sense
  • Josh says, “Everyone is the star of their own life.”
• Thanks to our listeners! (1:34:16-)
  • Check us out on Facebook!
  • Rate us on iTunes! 
  • Now on Reddit!

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Show Notes: 

• Intro (0:00-4:11)
  • Puffs are “Bad At Magic”!
• Leftovers from Episode 6 (4:11-8:38)
  • Bad At Magic™ Speculation: Oko, Thief of Crowns
• What it’s like having listeners (8:38-14:38)
  • The Brick Catapult: the rest of the story
• Playing games with kids (14:38-34:45)
  • “Not all screen time is equal.” -Ben
  • Video games are more than just sitting and staring at a screen
    • Rock Band
    • Use Your Words
    • Kahoot!
  • Ben’s Dad’s Superpower
  • Board Games w/ Kids
    • Go Fish!
    • Battleship
    • Monopoly
    • UNO (for Colorblind!)
  • “Games are like wine…if you don’t like it, that’s because you haven’t found one that you like.” -Josh
• Bad At English (34:45-39:42)
  • Ghee: is a class of clarified butter that originated in ancient India. It is commonly used in Middle Eastern cuisine.
  • Britain’s National Dish: Chicken Tikka Masala
  • The Jeremy Kyle Show
• Things that annoy people (39:42-1:11:19)
  • Clicky things like keyboards and pens
  • Treating your peers like children
  • Ben’s Leadership Reaction Course PTSD
  • Josh’s Business Transaction Broker’s communication skills
• Living With Yourself on Netflix by Timothy Greenberg with Paul Rudd & Aisling Bea (1:11:19-2:06:34)
  • Wikipedia article with episode summaries written by Ben
  • Hank Azaria on Mel Blanc
  • The Sixth Day Trailer
  • Escape (The Pina Colada Song) by Rupert Holmes
  • Mise-en-scène
• Thanks to our listeners! (2:06:34-)
  • Check us out on Facebook!
  • Rate us on iTunes! 
  • Now on Reddit!