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Month: March 2021

119: Jordan Peterson as Martin Luther version 2

P&C drink and review the latest Pastry Archy offering from DuClaw, then discuss the similarities between Martin Luther and Jordan Peterson.

Crowhill is convinced Dr. Peterson is on the edge of a major transformation, and can see similarities between Dr. Peterson and Dr. Luther — especially in how they deal with the righteousness of God.

Peterson seems unable to deal with the moral weight of God’s existence in a healthy way. It crushes him. It terrifies him. As it did Luther.

JP will have to solve this. And soon.

There are also parallels between the social and cultural environments in 1517 and 2021.

And if you enjoyed this episode, be sure to check out Dr. Peterson’s interview with Bishop Barron.

118: Milo Yiannopoulos

P&C drink and review Shiner’s Candied Pecan ale, then discuss the recent shenanigans of Milo Yiannopoulos.

Milo used to be the flamboyant gay darling of the far right, until he seemed to advocate pedophilia, and then he dropped off the radar. We haven’t heard much of Milo until he recently decided to come out as ex-gay! He’s relegated his husband to the status of housemate, he’s leading an online devotion to St. Joseph, and he’s starting a new center for the much-despised “conversion therapy.”

Is this just another attention-getting prank? What are we to make of Milo?

And why is “conversion therapy” such a unique problem? You can get goof-ball therapy to change any aspect of your personality that you like, except this? Why?

117: Monarchies, plus Meghan Markle

P&C drink and review St. Michael’s Amber Ale, then discuss monarchies.

They ask the obligatory question — is Meghan Markle oppressed? — then discuss Piers Morgan, and the royal clown show in general. They move on to an overview of the idea of monarchy, and whether such a thing is a good idea in the modern world.

It turns out that countries with constitutional monarchies do pretty well. P&C offer some ideas why that might be.

116: “Conspiracy” with Kenneth Branagh

P&C drink and review Pigweed’s Cocoa / Peanut Butter Porter, then, with special guest Longinus, review the movie Conspiracy.

The movie covers the Wannsee Conference of 1942, where Reinhart Heydrich gathers German leaders to discuss the “evacuation” of Jews from German-occupied territory. Heydrich (played by Kenneth Branagh) puts an exclamation point on “German efficiency.”

At first there is a lot of squabbling about the right approach from a legal / procedural point of view, but Heydrich leads them inexorably to a predetermined solution.

The horrifying story calls to mind a quote from C.S. Lewis: “The greatest evil is … now done … in clean, carpeted, warmed and well-lighted offices, by quiet men with white collars and cut fingernails and smooth-shaven cheeks who do not need to raise their voices.”

115: Elie Wiesel’s “Night”

P&C review Glutenberg, a gluten-free IPA, then, along with special guest Longinus, discuss Elie Wiesel’s Night.

The boys have covered some hard topics, but this was the most difficult. The book chronicles Wiesel’s experiences leading up to and then during his confinement in Auschwitz. The story takes you through all the small steps on his journey from being a boy who wants nothing more than to study Kabbalah to an innocent who is sentenced to a living Hell.

114: March 545: five topics in five minutes each

P&C Review Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ from Lagunitas, then do five topics in five minutes each.

  • What are the actual numbers on police murders, vs. what people believe.
  • Thoughts on fat shaming.
  • LSD therapy for depression and death anxiety?
  • Meta humans, created by AI. What are the consequences?
  • Is there a health benefit to looking at breasts?

113: Equity vs Equality

P&C drink and review Crowhill’s anise-flavored porter, then discuss the differences between equality and equity.

The words are often confused and misused. Generally speaking, equality focuses on equal treatment while equity focuses on equal outcomes.

Equity is the right choice in some situations, but not in others. But “equity” has become the modern rallying cry, as if it’s a cure-all. Equity is particularly misplaced when it’s applied to groups rather than to individuals, so the combination of equity and identity politics creates a particularly bad outcome.

112: UFOs and alien visitation

P&C drink and review O’Hara’s Irish stout, then talk about unidentified flying objects.

Is there some great conspiracy to hide evidence that aliens have come to earth, or is it just a big nothing-burger?

P&C discuss the Fermi paradox and the Drake equation, and review some of the arguments that aliens have visited earth — and find them wanting.