Hooray, we say! Why? Because we managed to complete our 300th podcast adventure without killing each other or anyone else, except, possibly a couple of deserving individuals with words. Our "ridiculous" topics include the following, plus more, as we celebrate this milestone with champagne and sound effects:
Lessons Unlearned: Thanks to Saturday's AP, who informs us about a Minnesota man whose anger-management classes apparently failed to sink in. Join us for the rest of the tale.
Paying Twice for Medical Nightmares: JoNel Aleccia's "Who foots the bill for medical mistakes?" posted Friday in Health Writer makes a stunning point. Listen up as we explain what we have learned about 40 states still allowing patients or their insurers to be billed for horrific "no-brainer" medical errors. Beyond ridiculous, we assure you!
No Competent Scientist Goes Unpunished: L.A. Times writer Marla Cone's "Outspoken Scientist Dismissed from Panel on Chemical Safety" published Friday is a real example of beneath ridiculous. Seems award-winning toxicologist Deborah Rice, chair of a federal panel responsible for helping the EPA determine whether a flame retardant widely used in electronic equipment is toxic, was dismissed because of complaints of bias by guess who? A lobbying group for chemical manufacturers! You must join us for this segment; there's a lot more to this story. A LOT more.
Economic Downturn Our Fault: Yep, you read that correctly. According to a fascinating piece, "Hey Homeowners, Bush Blames You-Not Iraq-for Our Tanking Economy" posted by Tom Englehart and Frida Berrigan Friday on Tomdispatch, during an interview of George and Laura Bush by Ann Curry, Bush opines that the war might help with jobs and the economy is down because too many houses have been built. Let that one fully sink in. On a somewhat related note, John Leland's "Facing Default, Some Walk Out on New Homes", published Friday in the N.Y. Times points out the ridiculous fact that last year 29% of people buying new homes paid nothing down so that in fact they became renters with risk rather than homeowners, allowing them to walk away from their homes with relatively little loss. Brilliant move by lenders. Just brilliant.
Border-line Ridiculous: Washington Post writer David A. Fahrenthold's "Fur Flies at Beauty Pageant (But It's Not What You think)" published Saturday seems more in the unbelievable category to us. Don't miss this segment--it's about a beauty pageant and muskrat skinning contest all rolled into one in Golden Hill, Maryland, with two 16 year old pageant entrants also skinning muskrats with great expertise. We kid you not.
We are very grateful for your continuing support and spreading of the word about our show. We plan to be back Thursday, March 6.
