Podcast 295

Nighttime Winter Walk. Warm days in the upper midwest mean warm nights. A good night to get out for a walk and talk. As the week progresses, the news will get heavier as coverage of the State of The Union message gets rolling, along with Davos, and financial concerns starting to take center stage. So, this is a great opportunity to take a walk and talk about some of the less controversial stories. Did you know that January 19th is officially the saddest day of the year? Why? What does a person do to combat this oppressive depression? In the UK, a five year old child was not able to attend a friend’s birthday party. No, the parents did not RSVP but they were surprised to find a professional bill for ‘services rendered’, due to the fact that they did not RSVP and their child did not attend, when he was scheduled to. Now the parents are being sued. In Wisconsin, legislators are ready to reintroduce the 70 mph speed limit, which is a good thing because no one drives 65, anywhere in the state, and least of all in 94, or 90-94, or any of the state highways. What Wisconsin needs though, is a law that requires residents of the badger state to get the hell out of the left lane if they want to go slow. A friend’s dinner suggestion of a ‘satellite internet’ was greeted by The Bob Davis Podcasts with skepticism. Lo and Behold, Mr Elon Musk plans to introduce a ‘space internet’, and eventually carry the signal all the way to Mars. If it works better than the Podcast’s current ISP, and can feature better customer service, it’s a lock. The number one movie in the country right now is ‘American Sniper’, the story of the late Chris Kyle. Michael Moore called him a coward on twitter, and a firestorm has ensued. Research shows quite a lot of controversy about characterizations of snipers in general. Moore got hammered in social media, while Actress Jane Fonda was hammered in Frederick Maryland, by Vietnam Vets who will never forget the picture of Fonda posing for the cameras on a North Vietnamese Anti Aircraft gun, during her trip to the enemy’s country during the Vietnam War. Fonda now says the photo was a huge mistake she has had to live with her whole life, but she still says the trip to Communist North Vietnam was ‘incredible’. Finally, some words about a recent podcast about the Tea Party, and a heads up on some speaking engagements for Bob Davis in the near future. Sponsored by Mycompletebasement.com

Podcast 288 – Sunny Lohmann

Sunny Lohmann. Political Humorist Sunny Lohmann from Sunny TV is back in the saddle after welcoming her daughter into the world and moving to … California. Yes. California where the American flag flies and it is warm all the time. Or so Sunny says. Sunny talks about how Cali is different from Minnesota, and not just when it comes to the weather. While Minnesotans operate on shame, California has something called ‘humble bragging’. Californians brag about how much time and money they donate to causes, while Minnesotans are reluctant to show their wealth (if they have any). Should you give homeless people money? (Editor’s Note: And yes, a new story about Burlap Man … a homeless man in Chicago.) What has Sunny been doing since last winter? How does raising a child effect video production? This was a week in which terrible news broke concerning the massacre terror attack at the French Satire Magazine, Charlie Hebdo, which comes up in this podcast, especially Hollywood’s reaction. Sunny is very interested in Hollywood’s Golden Globes Awards show, and Bob and Sunny have favorite TV shows and movies up for awards. Sunny and Bob Davis also get serious talking about terror, Sunny’s discussion of Islam on Sunny TV and the reaction to it, and her plans for Sunny TV going forward. Sunny talks about her baby’s colic and co-sleeping. What are Sunny’s top stories of 2014, moving into the New Year. What about The President’s planned ‘security conference’ in reaction to the Paris attacks? Sunny has a solution to Obama Care, discusses gas prices (and new gas taxes) in Minnesota and California. Will low gas prices last? Should the President take credit for them? And what about shows nominated for Golden Globes, as Hollywood breathes a sigh of relief on the heels of the Sony Hack and Charlie Hebdo. Does Hollywood have any guts? What would happen if Putin invaded the United States? Finally, who are the best candidates for President in 2016, and Sunny’s reaction to the effort to unseat Speaker of The House John Boehner. What movies has Sunny seen (She’s a new mom, so not many), some of the new stars and new shows, why Bob is glad Sons of Anarchy is off the air (Is a bad TV show a crime against society?) and is Game of Thrones real? Catch up with Sunny and Bob to start your week. Sponsored by X Government Cars and Depot Star

Podcast 280

FaceBook Politics. Comments on Facebook provoke a podcast about rhetoric in place of political involvement and activism with people on the right side of the political spectrum. Social media, specifically Facebook but increasingly Twitter as well, has become a dumping ground of snark, rhetorical, even nonsensical comments that don’t advance issues, don’t persuade, don’t make arguments and in short spread despair and resignation. One of the chief problems with right wing politics is its inability to define itself, use terms that actually have meaning, make cogent arguments with supporting examples and evidence, or even to understand how the political process works. In this podcast you’ll hear a few of the comments on The Bob Davis Podcasts Facebook page. Taken out of the context of social media, you can see, or hear readily what’s wrong with so called Republicans, and others on the right in this country. Despite all the shouting, screaming, pounding, snark and complaints about ‘principle’, Republicans already appear poised to accept former Florida Jeb Bush as a presidential candidate. Why are so called ‘activists’ unable to take control of their party (at least in Minnesota)? Because there is no organization behind the rhetoric. Without involvement in politics, opinions are…well let’s put it this way; Everybody’s got one. Just opinions. Why get involved. How to get involved. What to do when you get involved. Why incessant whining about the two-party system is a waste of your time, and everyone else’s, and once involved, what the goal is…in Podcast 280. What can you learn from political involvement? Can involvement make you a better person? Why the typical excuse of, “some of us work”, or “I’m too old”, is total crap and why this particular ailment seems to be exclusively Republican these days. The party that used to call itself ‘The Party For People To Think’, is the party that can’t think. If you believe nothing can change … If you believe you have no voice; Listen to Podcast 280. Sponsored by Depotstar