Bad At Magic

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Show Notes

• Josh offers an alternative for shipwrecked TikTok users, the guys propose categories and intensity for the “Words of Affirmation” love language, Ben doesn’t know what to do when his daughter brings her boyfriend over to the house, Josh takes his wife at her word when she tells him not to buy her chocolate (rookie move), and finally the hosts revisit Ben’s Unified Parenting Theory (UPT) first introduced on Episode 2 of the Bad at Magic Podcast. 
• Intro & follow-up (0-33:38)
  • Is Chinese Communist app RedNote an alternative to TikTok?
  • The US Military enforcing a domestic quarantine in Outbreak (1995)
  • Standing Up to Donald Trump’s Fear Tactics (NY Times)
• Bad at Love (33:38-1:14:09)
  • The Five Love Languages
  • The mean-spirited, unfunny example of the boyfriend meme from Boys II (LANGUAGE WARNING)
• Bad at Parenting/Husbanding & What I’m Reading (1:14:09-1:27:59)
  • Josh: Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson
  • Ben: Creative Acts for Curious People by Sarah Stein Greenberg 
• Ben’s Unified Parenting Theory, Revisited (1:27:59-end)
  • B@M Recommends: Zoo King
  • Episode 2: Bespoke Parenting, where it all started
  • The Isolation of Intensive Parenting by Stephanie H. Murray
• Join in the discussion on:
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast
  • Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts
• Check out our website(s):
  • http://www.badatmagic.live
  • Our YouTube Channel
• Support us on: 
  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/
• Credits:
  • Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich
  • Transition music by Jarus Rich
  • Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

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Show Notes

• Ben and Josh review some games they love (and you will too!) and wrap their minds around the PayPal/Honey Influencer controversy. Josh gets visited by the box fairy and is too matchy with his wife. Ben finishes the Russian Gulag book and endangers his marriage by unpacking the kitchen. Finally, they reflect on 2024 and build their 2025 resolution bingo cards. 
• Intro & Follow-up (0-15:48)
  • Ben recommends:
    • The Great Bridge: The Epic Story of the Building of the Brooklyn Bridge by David McCullough, a great book
    • Flow Free, mobile game, draw non-intersecting paths between dots
    • I♥HUE, mobile game, color matching
    • ROOT a game of woodland might and right, multiplayer boardgame with asymmetric gameplay
  • Josh recommends:
    • Balatro (gameplay video w/ Markiplier), a crazy mobile game twist on Poker
• Bad at Tech (15:48-34:44)
  • Exposing the Honey Influencer Scam – MegaLag
  • The lawsuit – LegalEagle
  • Better off Ted – Lie Detector
• Bad at Italian & Bad at Husbanding (34:44-54:48)
  • Buon Capodanno!
  • Traditional Polar Plunge on NYD into the Tiber River in Rome
  • The Magic Coffee Table
• What I’m reading (54:48-1:07:48)
  • Ben: The Gulag Archipelago, 1918-1957 by Alexandr Solzhenitsyn
  • Josh: Dawnshard by Brandon Sanderson
• Feature: New Year’s Bingo (1:07:48-end)
  • Make your own New Year’s Bingo Card
• Join in the discussion on:
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast
  • Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts
• Check out our website(s):
  • http://www.badatmagic.live
  • Our YouTube Channel
• Support us on: 
  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/
• Credits:
  • Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich
  • Transition music by Jarus Rich
  • Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

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Show Notes

• Ben and Josh are bad at parenting, husbanding, cancel culture, and remembering facts about Christmas and Magic in this very special listener-requested return to the BBC game show “Mastermind”. 
• Intro (0-34:04)
  • League of Legends spinoff Teamfight Tactics (TFT)
  • Does Spotify Wrapped include December?
  • Jon Stewart on “rules, loopholes, and norms” with Senator Bernie Sanders
• Bad at Parenting (34:04-39:49)
• Bad at Husbanding (39:49-52:16)
• Bad at Society (52:16-1:07:48)
  • How Liberal America Came to Its Senses – The Atlantic
  • Link to Instagram sketch about the end of cancel culture that Josh doesn’t want you to watch
  • Colin Jost & Michael Che on SNL
  • Re: Nikki Minaj talking about COVID-19 (Ep. 56, start at 1:12:05)
• What I’m reading (1:07:48-1:17:06)
  • Ben: The Gulag Archipelago, 1918-1957 by Alexandr Solzhenitsyn
  • Josh: Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson
• Christmas/Magic Mastermind (1:17:06-end)
  • First B@M Mastermind episode: Ep. 14: Bad at Magic: Mastermind Edition
  • The Rise and Fall of Nicol Bolas
  • Magic Hall of Famer Jon Finkel’s bad date with Gizmodo intern Alyssa Bereznak
  • Magic: the Gathering’s Comprehensive Rules (the “Comp Rules”)
• Join in the discussion on:
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast
  • Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts
• Check out our website(s):
  • http://www.badatmagic.live
  • Our YouTube Channel
• Support us on: 
  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/
• Credits:
  • Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich
  • Transition music by Jarus Rich
  • Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

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Show Notes

• The hosts react to the UHC murder, research bread bag clips, recount life-threatening hijinks from long ago, and enjoy the heck out of Arcane: League of Legends Season 2.
• Intro & Follow-up (0-17:52)
  • The Murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson
• Bad at English (17:52-25:34)
  • Emordnilaps
  • The Holotypic Occlupanid Research Group (bread bag ties website)
    • Great article about said site
• Bad at Bike Riding (25:34-46:49)
• What I’m Reading (46:49-1:05:43)
  • Josh: Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson
  • Ben: Silence by Shūsaku Endō
    • Movie trailer
  • The book Josh Forgot: The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
    • Outlander Book Review
• Arcane: League of Legends, Season 2 (1:05:43-end)
  • Season 2 Trailer
  • How good is Arcane: League of Legends?
• Join in the discussion on:
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast
  • Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts
• Check out our website(s):
  • http://www.badatmagic.live
  • Our YouTube Channel
• Support us on: 
  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/
• Credits:
  • Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich
  • Transition music by Jarus Rich
  • Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

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Show Notes

• Ben and Josh are bad at Travel (skiplagging), Business (email), Reading, and reviewing current films. This time they take on the 2010 Edgar Wright film Scott Pilgrim vs. The World based on the Canadian graphic novel (manga?) by Bryan Lee O’Malley. And love it. 
• Intro & Follow-up (0-21:42)
  • We Are 138 by the Misfits (1:38)
  • The Making of Back to the Future was a Sh*t Show
• Bad at Travel (21:42-33:41)
  • Skiplagging (NY Times)
    • Official site
• Bad at Business (33:41-57:35)
  • Atlantic email article 
• What I’m Reading (57:35-1:13:26)
  • Josh: 
    • Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson
    • Edgedancer (Stormlight Archive #2.5) by Brandon Sanderson
  • Ben: 
    • Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
• Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (1:13:26-end)
  • Hardcore Henry trailer (not Serious Sam)
  • Doom (2005) FPS Sequence
  • The Oracle of Bacon
  • The Making of the Super Mario Bros. Movie
  • Metric – Black Sheep (Brie Larson Version)
  • Chris Evans at ECCC talking about his role in Scott Pilgrim
• Join in the discussion on:
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast
  • Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts
• Check out our website(s):
  • http://www.badatmagic.live
  • Our YouTube Channel
• Support us on: 
  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/
• Credits:
  • Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich
  • Transition music by Jarus Rich
  • Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

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Show Notes

• CONTENT WARNING: the hosts of the Bad at Magic podcast feel the election of Donald Trump to a second term as US President will be bad for the United States and fully intend to use their platform to air their grievances. If you don’t want to hear this, you can stop listening at about 1:14:15. You were warned. Also, Josh pwns Halloween (again) with a spot-on family-themed quest for the holy grail; Ben joins Slytherin house in his office’s themed competition; and Both enjoy the Magic: the Gathering Foundations pre-release. 
• Intro & Follow-up (0-29:02)
  • Fleshman Family Halloween Costumes (Monty Python and the Holy Grail)
  • Try a Harry Potter Kahoot!
    • For Beginners
    • Charms Spells and Curses
    • Who’s Who
    • Quote Battle
    • Eternal Glory
• Bad at Magic (29:02-46:13)
  • Magic Foundations
  • Gamers Guild – North Phoenix
• B@Tech (46:13-51:38)
  • they mapped and simulated a fruit fly brain!
  • No Dumb Questions – Episode 192: Predicting Chaos
• What I’m reading (51:38-1:14:15)
  • Josh: 
    • Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson (Stormlight Archive Book Two)
  • Ben: 
    • Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering by Malcolm Gladwell
    • Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond
  • Cities: Skylines II Found a Solution for High Rents: Get Rid of Landlords
• 2024 US Presidential Election Recap (1:14:15-end)
  • Election Results
  • Why Trump couldn’t go to Albuquerque
  • “Judge!” No, Project 2025 Does Not Eliminate Public Schools
  • Trump Is Telling Us What He Would Do. Believe Him.
  • God Visits a Prayer Group – Key & Peele
• Join in the discussion on:
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast
  • Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts
• Check out our website(s):
  • http://www.badatmagic.live
  • Our YouTube Channel
• Support us on: 
  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/
• Credits:
  • Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich
  • Transition music by Jarus Rich
  • Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

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Show Notes

• Ben and Josh take on social norms in door holding, raising sociopathic children, the difference between the Return of the King book and Movie, and why Josh is wearing nail polish. Join them in fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada for MagicCon 2024.
• Intro (0-8:59)
• Follow-up (8:59-23:47)
  • Jerry Seinfeld on melding soap
  • Man locks staff in escape room
• Bad at Parenting Magic (23:47-35:09)
  • Timmy, Johnny, and Spike, Making Magic Dec 3, 2013 by Mark Rosewater
• Bad at Tech (35:09-47:25)
  • Credit Cards Don’t Require Signatures. So Why Do We Still Sign? Oct 14, 2024 by Oyin Adedoyin in the Wall Street Journal (PAYWALL)
    • “Signing a check at a restaurant or for a rudimentary purchase paid by credit card is still incredibly common, but here’s the thing: Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express all dropped the requirements to sign back in 2018. It’s been genuine years, and still people continue to unnecessarily sign papers that will never be read, scrutinized, seen or even required under audit. They’re not used to stop fraud, and it’s literally fine to leave without signing, but here’s the thing — there’s no way I’m gonna stop signing. That would be weird. I’m not gonna be the guy who drunkenly explains to a bartender at last call that no, trust me man, you don’t actually have to sign anymore, I read it on the internet.“
  • The hitchhiking robot
• What I’m Reading (47:25-1:04:40)
  • Josh: The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
  • Ben: The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
    • LOTR Extended Edition – The Death of Saruman
    • Why LOTR feels like Tolkien (even when it doesn’t)
• Feature (1:04:40-end)
  • MagicCon Vegas 2024
• Join in the discussion on:
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast
  • Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts
• Check out our website(s):
  • http://www.badatmagic.live
  • Our YouTube Channel
• Support us on: 
  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/
• Credits:
  • Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich
  • Transition music by Jarus Rich
  • Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

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Show Notes

• Ben and Josh conclude the epic trilogy of The Lord of the Rings with Return of the King. Also, Ben uses his wife’s good scissors, Josh gets road raged at, and the hosts encourage you to update your internal simulators for the loved ones in your life.
• Intro & Follow-up (0-9:20)
  • LOTR Bechdel Test (0:15)
• Bad at Technology (9:20-18:43)
  • How a ‘NULL’ License Plate Landed One Hacker in Ticket Hell
  • Ben vs. Bureaucracy story: The Illinois Tollway (Episode 11, starts @ 27:17)
  • Josh’s Software Company: PoolNotes.com
• Bad at Love (18:43-42:23)
• What I’m Reading (42:23-52:25)
  • Josh: The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
    • Parks and Recreation: Andy at Hogwarts
  • Ben: The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien
• Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (52:25-end)
  • Return of the King (1980) – Eowyn vs Witchking
  • Tolkien Tuesday: The Memes of Lord of the Rings
  • Mandatory “Taking the Hobbits to Eisengard” 
  • Frodo doesn’t know Legolas’ name
  • That damn pumpkin
• Join in the discussion on:
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast
  • Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts
• Check out our website(s):
  • http://www.badatmagic.live
  • Our YouTube Channel
• Support us on: 
  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/
• Credits:
  • Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich
  • Transition music by Jarus Rich
  • Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

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Show Notes

• Ben and Josh Review Peter Jackson’s The Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers. They also discuss the apocalyptic shakeup in the Magic: The Gathering Commander community following the recent card bannings as well as Josh’s son’s first winning record in the Duskmourn prerelease. They also overanalyze the love language of “Acts of Service” by adding subcategories and magnitude. 
• Intro & Follow-up (0-28:57)
  • Arizona Proposition 134
  • Virginia Congressman Derrick Anderson posing with a family that’s not his
• Bad at Magic (28:57-1:01:32)
  • Tolarian Community College on The Commander Bans
  • The Commander Rules Committee (CRC) official FAQ on the bans
• Bad at Love (1:01:32-1:12:38)
  • Check out the infographics on our Facebook page
    • Like and follow while you’re there!
• What I’m Reading (1:12:38-1:25:09)
  • Josh: 
    • Dresden Files: Small Favor by Jim Butcher
  • Ben: 
    • The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (1:25:09-end)
  • Brokeback Mountain?
  • taking the hobbits to isengard
• Join in the discussion on:
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast
  • Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts
• Check out our website(s):
  • http://www.badatmagic.live
  • Our YouTube Channel
• Support us on: 
  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/
• Credits:
  • Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich
  • Transition music by Jarus Rich
  • Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Show Notes

• Ben and Josh plug their favorite Kickstarters, slide down the long tail (again), teach kids how to crochet, review the Anthropocene, and finally review The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring!
• Intro & Follow-up (0-23:21)
  • The Academic 133+ XL (deck box)
  • The Long Tail 
  • Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption
  • Mormon mission to El Salvador–the murder capital of the world
• Bad at Parenting (23:21-37:31)
  • Eevee crochet kit
• Bad English Workplace Edition™ & What I’m Reading (37:31-1:07:38)
  • Stop building pedistals
  • Josh is reading:
    • White Night by Jim Butcher
  • Ben is reading:
    • The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
• Feature (1:07:38-end)
  • Viggo Mortensen blocks an unscripted thrown knife
  • The Lord of the Rings mythology Explained (by CGP Grey)
  • The One Ring Explained (by CGP Grey)
  • @airplanefactswithmax on Instagram
• Join in the discussion on:
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BadAtMagicPodcast
  • Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/badatmagic/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@badatmagic/podcasts
• Check out our website(s):
  • http://www.badatmagic.live
  • Our YouTube Channel
• Support us on: 
  • Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badatmagic/
• Credits:
  • Bad at Magic Logos by Jonica Rich
  • Transition music by Jarus Rich
  • Outro music from Cascading by Ammon Rich