Use Your Words

Presented today is part two of a discussion that we had regarding the second amendment.  We were joined by a friend of ours to discuss the various proposed and currently implemented gun control laws in the United States.  Josh wanted to discuss this and ends up being slightly surprising with what he was willing to go along with gun control.

Presented today is part one of two of a discussion that we had regarding the second amendment.  We were joined by a friend of ours to discuss the various proposed and currently implemented gun control laws in the United States.  Josh wanted to discuss this and ends up being slightly surprising with what he was willing to go along with gun control.  Due to this conversation being slightly long (close to 2:30) this has been broken up into two parts.  Part 2 will be released on 12/13/2019.

With the release of the report from the intelligence committee on the case for impeaching Trump, it has been revealed that secret subpoenas were issued (legality of them aside) on the same day that requests for phone records were sent out to people.  When the data provided by the subpoenas was released in the report, immediately people started criticizing the release of Shiff's political opponents and a private citizen's phone records - and they are not related to the investigation at all.  This is in stark opposition to the position taken by Democrats in the past with the NSA collecting phone metadata on citizens.  Let's take a look at it. Links used in this commentary: https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/12/adam-schiff-attack-on-free-press/ https://www.thedailybeast.com/adam-schiff-no-we-didnt-subpoena-john-solomons-phone-records https://www.wsj.com/articles/adam-schiff-is-watching-11575591692 https://www.foxnews.com/politics/devin-nunes-adam-schiff-phone-records-impeachment-fantasy-land https://

Banning plastic straws is the new Harlem Shake - it is trendy to use alternative methods of sucking down your drink in the sun to show how much you care about the environment.  But is this trend toward using alternatives and banning plastic straws fully motivated by saving the environment or by monetary reasons?  If we banned plastic straws in the United States fully - how much of the plastic in the ocean would be reduced?  Let's look at the information and see if maybe there is something that is more helpful.

A new thing that will be happening at Use Your Words is the commentary of things going on in a more timely manner.   Trump earlier in the year suggested looking into buildings and other programs to deal with the homeless problem in  California (which has 1/4 of the homeless population of the United States) and immediately everyone lost their collective mind about it.  But then a few months later a mayor of a California city asked the governor of California not only for money to build facilities but ALSO to be given approval for forced internment and conservatorship of the homeless population in California.  This is scary on multiple levels.   Sources used for this commentary https://www.commondreams.org/news/2019/09/11/internment-camps-homeless-housing-advocates-horrified-trump-push-crackdown https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/mbmz94/a-california-mayor-wants-to-build-a-homeless-shelter-thats-basically-a-jail https://www.ijpr.org/post/redding-mayor-envisions-forcing-homeless-people-stay-temporary-shelt

This week on Use Your Words we relax a little bit and talk about things we are thankful for.  This is a more relaxed, less structured episode, but if anything it helps you get to know us more as well as hear about potential upcoming projects we are working on.  Can you spot it?

Should the voting age be lowered from 18 to 16?  There is a nationwide movement to do this - with people arguing that since teens are allowed to drive (and driving is much more dangerous and requires split-second decisions as opposed to research) they should be allowed to vote at the same time.  There is also the argument that only a small percentage of Americans are able to name all three branches of the American government, with teens performing just as well or slightly better.  Then there is the argument that getting people involved in politics earlier than later potentially leads to lifelong engagement in politics.   Do these (and other arguments) lead to lowering the voting age?  How do other countries do it?

Kayne West is the new hip and popular thing in the Christian culture.  People are calling him the best thing to happen to chrisdomdon in a long time, giving him the spotlight on church stages, in memes, and in music covers.  Even Chris Tomlin has caught the Kayne fever.  But are we being led astray?  Is this a marketing ploy or a genuine conversion (and to be honest - we as humans can NEVER determine if a conversion is a true conversion - that is for God and God alone) or is this as some people say a modern day Saul to Paul?  Paul and Aaron (with Josh being dragged in) talk about this.

This week the guys talk about the technological singularity.  While they talk about it - Josh seems to get stuck on the idea of higher intelligence capabilities of computers - but the guys do agree on one thing - AI and the future will be interesting, to say the least.  Paul and Josh also disagree on the application of AI in war - with Josh taking the role of the pessimist.

Since this week is Halloween Aaron wanted to share his recent tour through an abandoned asylum.  While he did indicate he was somewhat disappointed - since he originally bought the ticket thinking it was a historical tour and not a ghost hunting tour he still ended up enjoying it.  Through the course of this Paul and Aaron attempt to talk about if as Christians one should go partake in these activities - but this question never gets answered as they keep getting sidelined by other things - such as Paul's desire to do a 4d presentation of a scary movie with a bunch of people and how he would do it. The discussion does dip into the seriousness for a moment when we talk about the actual origins of ghost stories, and why people want to believe in ghosts. We also learn a little bit of Aaron history and Paul can not contain himself with the laughter at it.

Before the show really gets going - Josh wanted to try his hand at acting...and well....listen to the first few moments to hear how well that went..... But once things started..... Something that was on Aaron's mind was when is it appropriate to say NO to someone.  Sometimes saying no takes the form of a direct "No" and sometimes it takes the form of an indirect No through body language/etc.  When is it appropriate to say no.  Who is allowed to "say" no?  How much should the no be allowed to influence?

If you've gone to a movie recently, you've probably seen the ad running in front of the movie talking about digital piracy and how illegal it is.  But in reality - how bad is it really? This week Paul wanted to talk about digital piracy.  As someone who once partook of digital piracy when he was in college (and now regrets it) he has a unique perspective on this.  Why is digital piracy so accepted?  Why is it so prevalent on sites like YouTube?  How can it be stopped?  What is the cost of piracy?  Its a lot more expensive then one thinks and the acceptance of it in America is a little on the crazier side.  Let's talk about this - and as a bonus - see how much Josh actually pays attention to the conversation.

In this special live episode at the Wisconsin Podcast Festival, the guys play a game of fake news vs real news and give away 50 dollars.  We then also talk about how Aaron (even though it's his dream) unfortunately cannot be a professional video game player as most e-sports players will be retiring at his age.  Sit back, relax, listen.

This week Aaron wanted to discuss the concept of doing whatever makes you happy is ok to do.  We hear from everyone that you must do what you need to do to be happy - but is this sound advice?  While Aaron brings up this conversation and thinks it might be simplistic of course it can't be.  First Paul and Josh debate the meaning of happiness, pleasure, and joy.  Then we discuss is it possible to be selfish with your time and energy and is it ok to be selfish in this regard?  Also a week wouldn't be complete without Josh going on a tangent about the environment, electric cars, and electric motorcycles.

This week Paul wanted to talk about Antifa.  They really have become a problem in society as a whole.  There is the ability and right to protest and then there is Antifa which seems to only cause problems in their wake wherever they go.     Watch Crowder's video here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmNz2jGzsDA   Daryl Davis on de-radicalizing KKK members https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORp3q1Oaezw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw0vS0qvYo0

Paul talks a little more on cancel culture - bringing up examples of cancel culture from the last few days.  He wanted to talk about it more to bring up his opinions that didn't fit in with the previous conversation.  September is also Suicide Prevention month and this makes it a great reminder on how to get help and assistance if it is needed help.   Interact with the show: Facebook: https://fb.me/UseYourWordsPodcast Fb messenger: https://m.me/UseYourWordsPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/useyourwordspodcast/ Twitter: @UYWPodcast Email: uywords@gmail.com Website: http://uywords.com   Interact with Aaron on Social Media: Instagram: amusicman95 Snapchat: RonJohn2395 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaMusicman95   Interact with Paul on Social Media: Twitter: @pdearmen Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/armentpau

Education (and especially the four year college degree) is pushed as required to everyone in high school.  True college degree holders overall might make more money, but they go into more debt, start making money later, and generally have a lot more hoops to go through to even get close to having a decent life (with no guarantee they will actually get a good job).  Why is blue collar work looked at as negative?  Why is there a shortage of blue collar workers?  Is it shameful to work as a blue collar worker?   Interact with the show: Facebook: https://fb.me/UseYourWordsPodcast Fb messenger: https://m.me/UseYourWordsPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/useyourwordspodcast/ Twitter: @UYWPodcast Email: uywords@gmail.com Website: http://uywords.com   Interact with Aaron on Social Media: Instagram: amusicman95 Snapchat: RonJohn2395 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaMusicman95   Interact with Paul on Social Media: Twitter: @pdearmen Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/armentpau

The guys have a conversation on patience and all that it entails.  From the practical everyday patience to why are we so impatient with God.  Aaron also asks the great question of when is someone being too patient.   Interact with the show: Facebook: https://fb.me/UseYourWordsPodcast Fb messenger: https://m.me/UseYourWordsPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/useyourwordspodcast/ Twitter: @UYWPodcast Email: uywords@gmail.com Website: http://uywords.com   Interact with Aaron on Social Media: Instagram: amusicman95 Snapchat: RonJohn2395 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaMusicman95   Interact with Paul on Social Media: Twitter: @pdearmen Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/armentpau

A current trend in social media land is Cancel Culture.  When someone (politician, comedian, pop culture figure, joe schmoe) utters an opinion or word that goes against what the mob has declared is the correct thing to say/do there are calls for canceling/boycotting the person and their source of income.  What can be done about it?  Is it something we should participate in?  Is it just? Interact with the show: Facebook: https://fb.me/UseYourWordsPodcast Fb messenger: https://m.me/UseYourWordsPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/useyourwordspodcast/ Twitter: @UYWPodcast Email: uywords@gmail.com Website: http://uywords.com   Interact with Aaron on Social Media: Instagram: amusicman95 Snapchat: RonJohn2395 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaMusicman95   Interact with Paul on Social Media: Twitter: @pdearmen Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/armentpau

In this short and quick bonus episode, Paul goes over some alternatives to Google Services that he has moved to or is investigating for use.  Bonus episodes will come out once in a while, and will typically be ten minutes or less.