Mass For Shut-ins: The Gin And Tacos Podcast

Story: Why does the President, and only the President, require natural born citizenship in the Constitution? If you think you know why, you're likely only half-correct. It has a lot to do with the way the document's authors understood the history of politics in monarchies.  Guest: Astra Taylor (@astradisastra) is a documentarian and author whose recent book, Democracy May Not Exist, But We'll Miss It When It's Gone, and film, What is Democracy?, have both received great critical acclaim. We talk about what democracy means, how people can carve out the time to think about such theoretical issues, and why I'm disappointed that she isn't a Frederick Wiseman fan.   Cocktail of the month: El Presidente, plus a look at blue curacao. Question Cathy returns with the mailbag.   Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@gin_and_tacos), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos.  Thanks: Astra Taylor, all the bands that contribute music (Waxeater,

Flying was luxurious (and costly) before 1977. Then deregulation happened. Now flying is cheap and bad. Pioneering low-cost / no-frills airlines like People Express showed us the way. In its short life (1981-1987) People Express introduced many lamentable aspects to U.S. air travel: paying to check bags, exchanging comfort for low prices, and going to Newark for some reason. And wait until you hear about their "innovative" ticketing procedure.  As Homer Simpson said, it introduced a generation of hicks to air travel. The hicks were all of us, it turns out. Because People Express failed, but today the whole industry operates on its business model. Minicasts are short stories for fans of quick, to-the-point podcasts and as a nice change of pace from the longer full episodes of Mass for Shut-ins. Get full episodes on Stitcher, Apple Music, Spotify, and more.

A 90,000-seat stadium is built to host a single event, then torn down. And it was in, of all places, Toledo, Ohio. In 1919 boxing was the king of the sports and entertainment world, and a match between two household names - Jack Dempsey and the little-remembered Jess Willard - was such a big event that its promoter could afford to build a stadium and use it like a Kleenex. In honor of the 100th anniversary of the fight, here's the whole improbable story. Enjoyment of sports is not required for this one. Minicasts are short stories for fans of quick, to-the-point podcasts and as a nice change of pace from the longer full episodes of Mass for Shut-ins. Get full episodes on Stitcher, Apple Music, Spotify, and more.

Story: Today's new cars are crammed full of tech to compensate for unusually poor rear and blind spot visibility. They've also gotten much heavier since 2000 - and more dangerous to for pedestrians. All of these are unintended consequences of regulatory changes in the auto industry after the Firestone Tires / SUV rollover debacle of the late 90s. I tie all those threads together for you. Guest: Amanda Litman (@amandalitman) co-founder of Run for Something. We talk about how people like you are running for (and winning) elected office, and why that's so important right now. I ask rhetorical questions like, why isn't the DNC throwing money at Run for Something (@runforsomething) to do the kind of local candidate recruitment it desperately needs. If you've thought about running, go take a look.  Cocktail of the month: Rum Runner Question Cathy returns with the mailbag. Note on terminology for the story: here's an illustration of A, B, and C pillars on a car. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and

After World War I, German utopian pacifist architect Herman Sörgel proposed a scheme to keep European nations busy (and not fighting wars!) for 100 years by damming the Strait of Gibraltar, the Dardanelles, and the Strait of Sicily. This would produce enormous amounts of hydroelectricity AND lower the Mediterranean Sea by over 600 feet. That would connect Africa and Europe into one supercontinent with thousands of square miles of new dry land. No more need to fight about territory, Herman believed. Atlantropa was surprisingly popular and well-known during the Interwar period - and believe it or not, it is technically feasible. It would just be staggeringly expensive and, as Sörgel predicted, require decades of cooperative effort. See what the Mediterranean might look like if Atlantropa were real.  Minicasts are short (approx. 5-8 min) stories for fans of quick, to-the-point podcasts and as a nice change of pace from the longer full episodes of Mass for Shut-ins.

Two police forces. Two sets of laws. Two postal systems. Two kinds of money. For 74 years the UK and France governed the island colony of the New Hebrides (since 1980, the independent nation of Vanuatu featured on Season 9 of Survivor) under a bizarre condominium arrangement. The islands were governed by the respective nations, with totally different laws and bureaucracies, on alternating days. And if you had a complaint, you appealed to...the king of Spain. Read that all again. The New Hebrides flag was a flag of the UK and French flags. If your flag is the flags of two other countries, something is wrong. How did this last for 74 years? The power of bureaucracy and indifference! Since independence the nation has faced some challenges we discuss here, but we're rooting for Vanuatu. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@gin_and_tacos), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos.  Thanks: Seth Wilson, all the bands that contribute musi

In a life-or-death situation, would you engage in cannibalism? What do people even taste like? In 1931, journalist and author William Seabrook wrote a book in which he answers that question for you...which is both extremely kind of him (so you don't have to find out on your own) and really gross and weird. One hint: People taste like another thing we shouldn't be eating. Minicasts are short (approx. 5-8 min) stories for fans of quick, to-the-point podcasts and as a nice change of pace from the longer full episodes of Mass for Shut-ins.

Story: Diamond Jim Brady's Million Dollar Sauce. Famous gourmand and eccentric rich person of the Gilded Age goes to ludicrous lengths to steal the recipe for what is purported to be the world's most delicious sauce for Filet of Sole. How far would you go to satisfy a food craving? Spoiler alert - you wouldn't go as far as Diamond Jim.  Guest: Amanda Kolson Hurley, author of the new book Radical Suburbs. We talk about what makes some suburbs interesting and why most of them aren't. Fans of urban planning, architecture, and America's vast range of issues with affordable and sustainable housing will find Amanda and her book fascinating. Extended version of the interview available on Patreon. Cocktail of the month: The Suburban Question Cathy returns with a special Patreon-only mailbag. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@gin_and_tacos), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos.  Thanks: Amanda Kolson Hurley, all the bands that cont

If you've ever wondered, "Is it possible to guarantee winning the lottery by buying one ticket for every possible combination of numbers?" this is the Minicast for you. Does it work? Is it legal? Is it even POSSIBLE to do? You're about to find out. Minicasts are short (approx. 5-8 min) stories for fans of quick, to-the-point podcasts and as a nice change of pace from the longer full episodes of Mass for Shut-ins.

Guest: Dr. Daniel Immerwahr, associate professor of history at Northwestern University and author of the new "How to Hide an Empire: the history of the greater United States." We talk about the many ways in which America has maintained (and still maintains) an empire through territorial occupation, a network of military bases fanned out across the globe, and domination of international standards. Tales of various Guano Islands Act (1856) possessions are told, and you don't want to miss them. Extended version of the interview available on Patreon. Cocktail of the month: Suffering Bastard Question Cathy returns with a special Patreon-only mailbag. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@gin_and_tacos), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos.  Thanks: Dr. Immerwahr, all the bands that contribute music (Waxeater, IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and liste

Fish are served as fish. Chickens as chicken. Turkeys as turkey. But when it comes to other commonly consumed animals in the English-speaking world we use different words for the animal and the food. Cows, pigs, sheep, and deer become beef, pork, mutton, and venison. Why? Well, it starts with the Norman conquest of England in 1066 and has to do with social class divisions between speakers of Old English and Anglo-Norman (the predecessor of modern French). You'll never look at the meat department the same way again. Minicasts are short (approx. 5 min) stories for fans of quick, to-the-point podcasts and as a nice change of pace from the longer full episodes of Mass for Shut-ins.

A young Long Island housewife named Penelope Ashe saw her debut novel, Naked Came the Stranger, go straight to the best-seller list despite the mystery surrounding its reclusive author, its racy content, and its little-known publisher.  It pushed the limits of what "obscenity" meant in 1969. But gratuitous sex scenes aside, Penelope Ashe had an even bigger secret... Minicasts are short (approx. 5 min) stories for fans of quick, to-the-point podcasts and as a nice change of pace from the longer full episodes of Mass for Shut-ins.

Guest: Dr. Rebekah Tromble (Leiden University), professor of political communication, led a team chosen by Twitter to conduct research on overall "health" of conversation on the platform. As soon as the company announced its plan to sponsor research, right-wingers flipped out and began a campaign of threats and harassment aimed largely at Rebekah. Six months later, her life is (mostly) back to normal and the research is moving ahead as planned. This is a fascinating story about how becoming a target of a coordinated online harassment effort is so much worse and more overwhelming than we imagine.  Question Cathy returns with the mailbag. Please support Mass for Shut-ins, an independent and ad-free podcast, via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@gin_and_tacos), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos.  Thanks: Dr. Tromble, all the bands that contribute music (Waxeater, IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

Story: Andrew Johnson gets incredibly drunk at his inauguration and makes a scene you'll have to hear about to believe. He calls out every member of the Cabinet by name (Wu-Tang style), makes up his own oath of office, and nearly drives his colleagues to weep from shame. And he owed it all to Civil War-era medicine's inability to treat serious illness except with Patent Medicines (i.e., alcohol, opium, or alcohol with opium) Guest: Dr. Stephen Pettigrew, Senior Analyst on the NBC News decision team. He's one of the people who decides when races are "called" by the network on election night. He gives us a fascinating look behind that curtain, and there's some great insight about the challenges posed by alternative voting methods like mail-in ballots.  Cocktail of the Month: Doctor Chase's Soothing Cordial. In the spirit (pun intended) of the Johnson story, I found the recipe for a Civil War era patent medicine. I'll give you one hint: the first ingredient is opium. Like, just a big piece of opium. Question Cat

Ms. Julia Chase, 53, of Hagerstown, MD took the White House public tour on April 3, 1956. She wandered away from her group and spent two hours creeping around the Executive Manson...starting fires. Five in total.  You won't believe what happened next (teaser). Minicasts are short (approx. 5 min) stories for fans of quick, to-the-point podcasts and as a nice change of pace from the longer full episodes of Mass for Shut-ins.

Story: Shakespeare Comes to America - How was a minor American industrialist, Henry Clay Folger, able to buy up so much of Shakespeare that more of Ol' William's written output is now in Washington DC than in all of England? It's a tale of an agricultural depression and the decline of the British aristocracy. You know, Downton Abbey style. The Brits needed money. American robber barons had it. Suddenly, every piece of Europe's culture was for sale at the right price. Guest: Leeman Kessler, an ordinary dude who ran for local office in his town of Gambier, OH and won. We talk about how other ordinary people, SUCH AS YOU, can run for local office. If you've ever thought about it, Leeman proves definitively that you have nothing to be afraid of. And if you think you're not up to the job, dismiss that nonsense right now. Tons of people WAY dumber than you hold local office. Learn more about Leeman, who also has a podcast, at his website. He does an HP Lovecraft impression (non-racist) and, for the second straight

During the Cold War, the Pentagon tried to come up with a non-military use for nuclear warheads to justify building even more of them. Project Plowshare was one of the results. Because detonating nukes underground to help mine natural gas is...a thing that could not go obviously and terribly wrong. Yeah fracking is bad. But fracking could have been so much worse. Minicasts are short (approx. 5 min) stories for fans of quick, to-the-point podcasts and as a nice change of pace from the longer full episodes of Mass for Shut-ins.

  Question Cathy joins me for an entire episode of user submitted questions about the midterm election. Topics we cover include Beto-mania, the Democrats' challenge in retaking the Senate, alternative voting methods, and the risks of political hobbyism (and the best ways to get involved if you can). Episode 012 (forthcoming) will return to the normal format shortly. If you're dying for a story, check out Episode 010 or the recent Minicasts. Support Mass for Shut-ins via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@gin_and_tacos), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos. Brand new seriously kick-ass t-shirts are available. Buy one why don't ya. Thanks: all the bands that contribute music (Waxeater, IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

Story: Ten Cent Beer Night - In 1974 the Cleveland Indians turned to the forbidden fruit of promo giveaways to cure their ailing attendance. Results are predictable, except the part where a guy was nearly killed with a gallon jug of Thunderbird. That surprised everyone. They played the Texas Rangers that night, but their real opponent was human nature. Guests: This is a shortened episode (story only) because Question Cathy and I will be back with Episode 011 very shortly. It will be a special episode with nothing but your questions from the mailbag. Submit a question on patreon, Twitter, or Facebook.   Support Mass for Shut-ins via Patreon. Contact me via Facebook, Twitter (@gin_and_tacos), or the venerable website Gin and Tacos. Brand new seriously kick-ass t-shirts are available. Buy one why don't ya. Thanks: All the bands that contribute music (Waxeater, IfIHadAHiFi, The Sump Pumps, Oscar Bait), Zachary Sielaff, Question Cathy, and all Patreon supporters, subscribers, and listeners.

Story: The Disappearing Prime Minister - Australia is a crazy place. It's huge, empty, and full of things that can kill you. And every once in a while one of their Prime Ministers will disappear without a trace. Not figuratively, either.  Guests: Mike Bridavsky, owner / engineer of Russian Recording, member of Memory Map, and LIL BUB's (@IAMLILBUB) human dude. Yes, the same BUB who became a darling to millions as a famous Internet Cat. Bub raises $100k annually, and over a half-million dollars total so far, for charities like Lil Bub's Big Fund for the ASPCA. BUB also delights fans and has lots of fun projects (including the pilot episode of a series Animal Planet canceled for being too weird) at lilbub.com Cocktail of the Month: Genever. It's not a cocktail. It's an ancestor of gin that lurks in the shadows at well-stocked liquor stores, leading many a gin drinker to wonder what exactly it is. Take my hand. I will explain all. Question Cathy returns with the mailbag. Support Mass for Shut-ins via Patreon. Co