Implausipod Fri, 20 Mar 2026 13:10:39 -0400 https://www.implausipod.com en-us © 2026 Implausipod yes Support this Podcast 115367ae-fa5a-562a-9f53-11986eec1ce4 drimplausible@implausipod.com Dr Implausible episodic false Art, Technology, Gaming, and PopCulture

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Dr Implausible drimplausible@implausipod.com https://storage.buzzsprout.com/1wp9s85et0k5t9i9uw6htpw573ob?.jpg Implausipod DrImplausible Grats 2025 Grats 2025 The third time is definitely charming, as we take a brief moment this Festivus for some thanks and shout-outs to those who've followed along on this journey, and a quick recap of 2025 on the Implausipod.  Thanks for visiting us along the way. :)

The Newsletter and the archives are here: https://implausi.blog/newsletter/

Dr Implausible can be reached at drimplausible at implausipod dot com 

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]]> The third time is definitely charming, as we take a brief moment this Festivus for some thanks and shout-outs to those who've followed along on this journey, and a quick recap of 2025 on the Implausipod.  Thanks for visiting us along the way. :)

The Newsletter and the archives are here: https://implausi.blog/newsletter/

Dr Implausible can be reached at drimplausible at implausipod dot com 

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]]> Dr Implausible Buzzsprout-18289860 Tue, 23 Dec 2025 07:00:00 -0700 425 grats, festivus, thank you, recap 1 bonus false E0055 Fallout season 1 - part 2 E0055 Fallout season 1 - part 2 With season 2 of Fallout about to arrive in New Vegas, let's have a quick roundtable with our impressions of the first season.  This is part 2, as I don't like the episodes getting too long. Season 2 awaits on December 17th, 2025.

Listen to part 1 here: 



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]]> With season 2 of Fallout about to arrive in New Vegas, let's have a quick roundtable with our impressions of the first season.  This is part 2, as I don't like the episodes getting too long. Season 2 awaits on December 17th, 2025.

Listen to part 1 here: 



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]]> Dr Implausible Buzzsprout-18289855 Tue, 16 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0700 1641 fallout, television, streaming 1 55 full false E0054 Fallout season 1 - part 1 E0054 Fallout season 1 - part 1 With season 2 of Fallout about to arrive in New Vegas, let's have a quick roundtable with our impressions of the first season.  This is part 1, as I don't like the episodes getting too long.

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]]> With season 2 of Fallout about to arrive in New Vegas, let's have a quick roundtable with our impressions of the first season.  This is part 1, as I don't like the episodes getting too long.

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]]> Dr Implausible Buzzsprout-18289827 Mon, 15 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0700 2150 fallout, television, streaming 1 54 full false E0053 WYCU Part 2 Bladerunner(s) E0053 WYCU Part 2 Bladerunner(s) We continue with our look at the WYCU, stopping at the Bladerunners, and figuring out how they fit within the timeline?  Let's journey to the dark... future(?) of 2019 and find out what happened on those off-world colonies, as we look at Blade Runner (1982), iRobot (2004), Soldier (1998), and Blade Runner 2049 (2017).

 (Also, a spoiler warning: we cover a lot in these 4 films). 

We're doing something different in our (re)watch: we've been watching the titles chronologically.  Not by release, but by where they fit within the timeline.  

Check out part 1 of the WYCU here, and take a look at our WYCU overview over on the Implausiblog

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]]> We continue with our look at the WYCU, stopping at the Bladerunners, and figuring out how they fit within the timeline?  Let's journey to the dark... future(?) of 2019 and find out what happened on those off-world colonies, as we look at Blade Runner (1982), iRobot (2004), Soldier (1998), and Blade Runner 2049 (2017).

 (Also, a spoiler warning: we cover a lot in these 4 films). 

We're doing something different in our (re)watch: we've been watching the titles chronologically.  Not by release, but by where they fit within the timeline.  

Check out part 1 of the WYCU here, and take a look at our WYCU overview over on the Implausiblog

Visit our newsletter


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]]> Dr Implausible Buzzsprout-18271487 Sat, 13 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0700 1861 wycu, weyland-yutani cinematic universe, bladerunner, irobot, alien, predator, bladeunner 2049, scifi, science fiction 1 53 full false E0052 WYCU Part 1 Predator(s) E0052 WYCU Part 1 Predator(s) Welcome to Phase 1 of the WYCU, as we start our look at the Weyland-Yutani Cinematic Universe. We've been talking about this over the last few months over on the blog, but with the three new titles released in the shared universe in 2025, it's time to get caught up on one of the original CUs, one that spans at least three movie franchises: Aliens, Predator, Blade Runner, (and a few more surprises too?)

 (Also, a spoiler warning: there's probably lots in our look at these 9 films). 

But we're doing something different in our (re)watch: we've been watching the titles chronologically.  Not by release, but by where they fit within the timeline.  

We'll also be taking this opportunity to return to Appendix W: as the original Predator most definitely fits on the list. Let's get to da choppa!

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]]> Welcome to Phase 1 of the WYCU, as we start our look at the Weyland-Yutani Cinematic Universe. We've been talking about this over the last few months over on the blog, but with the three new titles released in the shared universe in 2025, it's time to get caught up on one of the original CUs, one that spans at least three movie franchises: Aliens, Predator, Blade Runner, (and a few more surprises too?)

 (Also, a spoiler warning: there's probably lots in our look at these 9 films). 

But we're doing something different in our (re)watch: we've been watching the titles chronologically.  Not by release, but by where they fit within the timeline.  

We'll also be taking this opportunity to return to Appendix W: as the original Predator most definitely fits on the list. Let's get to da choppa!

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]]> Dr Implausible Buzzsprout-17441080 Sat, 29 Nov 2025 16:00:00 -0700 2866 wycu, alien, predator, predator 2, movie, weyland-yutani cinematic universe, xenomorph 1 52 full false E0051 Tron(s) E0051 Tron(s) Welcome to the Implausipod, where we are looking at one of the more influential franchises in both cyberpunk and science fiction, as we use the recent release of Tron:Ares (2025) to look at the impact of the franchise as a whole - including Tron (1982) and Tron: Legacy (2010) - on the ideas and development of our virtual worlds.

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]]> Welcome to the Implausipod, where we are looking at one of the more influential franchises in both cyberpunk and science fiction, as we use the recent release of Tron:Ares (2025) to look at the impact of the franchise as a whole - including Tron (1982) and Tron: Legacy (2010) - on the ideas and development of our virtual worlds.

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]]> Dr Implausible Buzzsprout-17441045 Wed, 12 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0700 1142 ai, artificial intelligence, tron, tron legacy, tron ares, virtual reality, VR, video games, computing 1 51 full false E0050 Streets Ahead E0050 Streets Ahead Welcome to the Implausipod, where a wrong turn and a 20 minutes detour due to poor signage led to an inquiry into the evolution of autonomous vehicles. We'll examine how the idea has appeared in popular culture, both within and outside science fiction. Turns out when it comes to self-driving cars, we're thinking street ahead.

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]]> Welcome to the Implausipod, where a wrong turn and a 20 minutes detour due to poor signage led to an inquiry into the evolution of autonomous vehicles. We'll examine how the idea has appeared in popular culture, both within and outside science fiction. Turns out when it comes to self-driving cars, we're thinking street ahead.

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]]> Dr Implausible Buzzsprout-17441059 Sat, 08 Nov 2025 19:00:00 -0700 1611 autonomous vehicles, self-driving cars, Knight Rider, Six Million Dollar Man, Stephen King, ai, direction systems, artificial intelligence, disney, magic highway 1 50 full false E0049 Spirit of the AI-dio E0049 Spirit of the AI-dio A look into the rise of ghost artists on Spotify, both AI generated and not, and what the history of Performer's Rights Organizations mean for art and creativity in the 21st century, and how that may make us question the very nature of creativity itself.

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]]> A look into the rise of ghost artists on Spotify, both AI generated and not, and what the history of Performer's Rights Organizations mean for art and creativity in the 21st century, and how that may make us question the very nature of creativity itself.

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]]> Dr Implausible Buzzsprout-17441034 Mon, 07 Jul 2025 21:00:00 -0600 1518 artificial intelligence, spotify, ascap, creativity, ethology, music, muzak 1 49 full false E0048 Star Wars: Andor Season 2 Week 4 E0048 Star Wars: Andor Season 2 Week 4 Andor concludes!  (and Rogue One awaits?)  Join us as we wrap up the second and final season of Star Wars: Andor with the fifth in our five-part series looking at the show.  We'll recap the final three episodes, released on May 13, 2025 (titled  "Make It Stop", "Who Else Knows?" and "Jedha, Khyber, Erso") and provide our overall impression of the series as well.  (If you're just joining us, our Andor recap began with Episode 44, available on Implausipod dot com, or selected discerning podcast hosts.

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]]> Andor concludes!  (and Rogue One awaits?)  Join us as we wrap up the second and final season of Star Wars: Andor with the fifth in our five-part series looking at the show.  We'll recap the final three episodes, released on May 13, 2025 (titled  "Make It Stop", "Who Else Knows?" and "Jedha, Khyber, Erso") and provide our overall impression of the series as well.  (If you're just joining us, our Andor recap began with Episode 44, available on Implausipod dot com, or selected discerning podcast hosts.

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]]> Dr Implausible Buzzsprout-17048093 Sat, 17 May 2025 16:00:00 -0600 1484 star wars, andor, review, disneyplus, recap, scifi, television, season 2 1 48 full false E0047 Star Wars: Andor Season 2 Week 3 E0047 Star Wars: Andor Season 2 Week 3 Star Wars: Andor, part 4 of 5, looking at the three episodes released on May 6th, 2025, titled  "Messenger", "Who Are You" and "Welcome to the Rebellion".  Things are heating up as the new Media Reality of the Star Wars universe begins to unfold, with more dangerous actors and actions coming to the forefront as well. 

Feel free to follow along with our previous coverage of Season 1 (which we recapped in Episode 44), and episodes 1 through 6 of Season 2 in Episodes 45 and 46.

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]]> Star Wars: Andor, part 4 of 5, looking at the three episodes released on May 6th, 2025, titled  "Messenger", "Who Are You" and "Welcome to the Rebellion".  Things are heating up as the new Media Reality of the Star Wars universe begins to unfold, with more dangerous actors and actions coming to the forefront as well. 

Feel free to follow along with our previous coverage of Season 1 (which we recapped in Episode 44), and episodes 1 through 6 of Season 2 in Episodes 45 and 46.

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]]> Dr Implausible Buzzsprout-17048085 Mon, 12 May 2025 12:00:00 -0600 1619 star wars, andor, review, disneyplus, recap, scifi, television, season 2, media reality 1 47 full false E0046 Star Wars: Andor Season 2 Week 2 E0046 Star Wars: Andor Season 2 Week 2 Part 3 of our 5 part look at Star Wars Andor, with week 2 of season 2 and the three episodes released on April 29, 2025  ("Ever Been to Ghorman", "I Have Friends Everywhere" and "What a Festive Evening").  We'll continue following the threads as they weave together, mirroring the first season in some ways and charting new territory in bringing the most cyberpunk Star Wars story seen to date.  And if you want to catch up, feel free to catch the previous two episodes on the Implausipod dot com website.

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]]> Part 3 of our 5 part look at Star Wars Andor, with week 2 of season 2 and the three episodes released on April 29, 2025  ("Ever Been to Ghorman", "I Have Friends Everywhere" and "What a Festive Evening").  We'll continue following the threads as they weave together, mirroring the first season in some ways and charting new territory in bringing the most cyberpunk Star Wars story seen to date.  And if you want to catch up, feel free to catch the previous two episodes on the Implausipod dot com website.

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]]> Dr Implausible Buzzsprout-17048055 Fri, 09 May 2025 08:00:00 -0600 1385 star wars, andor, review, disneyplus, recap, scifi, television, season 2, cyberpunk 1 46 full false E0045 Star Wars: Andor Season 2 Week 1 E0045 Star Wars: Andor Season 2 Week 1 We return to Star Wars Andor over the next 4 weeks, starting with first three episodes released on April 22, 2025, titled  "One Year Later", "Sagrona Teema" and "Harvest".  Join us for a recap of the three episodes, and commentary on the themes we see within, and that have carried over from Season 1 (which we recapped in Episode 44).

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]]> We return to Star Wars Andor over the next 4 weeks, starting with first three episodes released on April 22, 2025, titled  "One Year Later", "Sagrona Teema" and "Harvest".  Join us for a recap of the three episodes, and commentary on the themes we see within, and that have carried over from Season 1 (which we recapped in Episode 44).

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]]> Dr Implausible Buzzsprout-17047980 Sun, 04 May 2025 08:00:00 -0600 1449 star wars, andor, review, disneyplus, recap, scifi, television, season 2 1 45 full false E0044 Star Wars: Andor Season 1 E0044 Star Wars: Andor Season 1 What can we learn about the Star Wars universe from the lives of its regular inhabitants?  What is life like under an authoritarian Empire? How does the resistance form, and who is behind it?  And how can a show that first aired in 2022 capture the current age in 2025?  Join us for a recap of the first season of Andor as a refresher before the second one airs beginning on April 22, 2025.

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]]> What can we learn about the Star Wars universe from the lives of its regular inhabitants?  What is life like under an authoritarian Empire? How does the resistance form, and who is behind it?  And how can a show that first aired in 2022 capture the current age in 2025?  Join us for a recap of the first season of Andor as a refresher before the second one airs beginning on April 22, 2025.

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]]> Dr Implausible Buzzsprout-16983572 Tue, 22 Apr 2025 20:00:00 -0600 2858 star wars, andor, review, disneyplus, recap, scifi, television 1 44 full false E0043 Appendix W 99 - Terminus Est E0043 Appendix W 99 - Terminus Est In the grim darkness of the 41st millennium, some things come to and end. Join us as we look at the impact of the Appendix W on real world events through a look at one of the most iconic blades in fiction: Severian's Terminus Est from Gene Wolfe's 1980 novel The Shadow of the Torturer.  But much like the blade, there is much, much more hidden below the surface of this episode.

Bibliography

Chris Hables Gray- “There Will Be War!”: Future War Fantasies and Militaristic Science Fiction in the 1980s. (n.d.). Retrieved September 3, 2023, from https://www.depauw.edu/sfs/backissues/64/gray.htm

Kaldor, M. (1981). The Baroque Arsenal. Hill & Wang Pub.

https://www.amc.com/blogs/george-lucas-reveals-how-star-wars-was-influenced-by-the-vietnam-war--1005548

https://fanexpohq.com/fanexpovancouver/costume-policy/

https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/1Xpzeld6/the-imperium-is-driven-by-hate-warhammer-is-not/

Heather Cox Richardson interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDX0hxyYcJw


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]]> In the grim darkness of the 41st millennium, some things come to and end. Join us as we look at the impact of the Appendix W on real world events through a look at one of the most iconic blades in fiction: Severian's Terminus Est from Gene Wolfe's 1980 novel The Shadow of the Torturer.  But much like the blade, there is much, much more hidden below the surface of this episode.

Bibliography

Chris Hables Gray- “There Will Be War!”: Future War Fantasies and Militaristic Science Fiction in the 1980s. (n.d.). Retrieved September 3, 2023, from https://www.depauw.edu/sfs/backissues/64/gray.htm

Kaldor, M. (1981). The Baroque Arsenal. Hill & Wang Pub.

https://www.amc.com/blogs/george-lucas-reveals-how-star-wars-was-influenced-by-the-vietnam-war--1005548

https://fanexpohq.com/fanexpovancouver/costume-policy/

https://www.warhammer-community.com/en-gb/articles/1Xpzeld6/the-imperium-is-driven-by-hate-warhammer-is-not/

Heather Cox Richardson interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDX0hxyYcJw


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]]> Buzzsprout-16530739 Wed, 05 Feb 2025 20:00:00 -0700 1738 terminus est, warhammer40k, warhammer40000, 40k, w40k, gene wolfe, appendix w, media analysis, cosplay, current events 1 43 full false E0042 Incipient Diaspora E0042 Incipient Diaspora What happens when a change is on the horizon, one that is approaching that will force you to move but is outside your control?  When a community knows it will be disrupted, it may be facing an Incipient Diaspora.  For the US denizens of the TikTok app, facing a ban in that country on January 19, 2025, we can observe how they reacted and prepared, and what lessons can be learned from the ongoing situation.

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]]> What happens when a change is on the horizon, one that is approaching that will force you to move but is outside your control?  When a community knows it will be disrupted, it may be facing an Incipient Diaspora.  For the US denizens of the TikTok app, facing a ban in that country on January 19, 2025, we can observe how they reacted and prepared, and what lessons can be learned from the ongoing situation.

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]]> Dr Implausible Buzzsprout-16453686 Fri, 17 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0700 1343 tiktok, meta, facebook, third place, sociology, economics, mordecai kurz, ray oldenburg, implausipod 1 42 full false E0041 Dr Who Xmas 2024 E0041 Dr Who Xmas 2024 Joy to the World, the 2024 Dr Who Christmas Special, gets a deep look in this episode of the Implausipod. This is the part two of our Dr Who double header. If you haven't already, check out our discussion of the 14th series, or 1st Disney series in the previous episode.  Our cyber-series will continue in 2025. 

Thanks to Dr Aiden Buckland for joining us once again. They can be reached at doctoraidenwho@gmail.com  

Dr Implausible can be reached at drimplausible@implausipod.com

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]]> Joy to the World, the 2024 Dr Who Christmas Special, gets a deep look in this episode of the Implausipod. This is the part two of our Dr Who double header. If you haven't already, check out our discussion of the 14th series, or 1st Disney series in the previous episode.  Our cyber-series will continue in 2025. 

Thanks to Dr Aiden Buckland for joining us once again. They can be reached at doctoraidenwho@gmail.com  

Dr Implausible can be reached at drimplausible@implausipod.com

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]]> Buzzsprout-16351385 Mon, 30 Dec 2024 15:00:00 -0700 1580 dr who, scifi, science fiction, television, guest, dr aiden buckland, ncuti gatwa, millie gibson 1 41 full false E0040 Dr Who Goes Boom E0040 Dr Who Goes Boom We welcome a special guest back to the podcast to discuss the 14th series of the new Dr Who era, which aired in May and June of 2024, and highlighted the adventures of the 15th Doctor played by Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson's Ruby Sunday.

This is the part one of a Dr Who double header, as we'll discuss the 2024 Christmas Special in the next episode.  Our cyber-series will continue in 2025. 

Thanks to Dr Aiden Buckland for joining us once again. They can be reached at doctoraidenwho@gmail.com  

Dr Implausible can be reached at drimplausible@implausipod.com 

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]]> We welcome a special guest back to the podcast to discuss the 14th series of the new Dr Who era, which aired in May and June of 2024, and highlighted the adventures of the 15th Doctor played by Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson's Ruby Sunday.

This is the part one of a Dr Who double header, as we'll discuss the 2024 Christmas Special in the next episode.  Our cyber-series will continue in 2025. 

Thanks to Dr Aiden Buckland for joining us once again. They can be reached at doctoraidenwho@gmail.com  

Dr Implausible can be reached at drimplausible@implausipod.com 

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]]> Buzzsprout-16351343 Sun, 29 Dec 2024 20:00:00 -0700 2688 dr who, scifi, science fiction, television, guest, dr aiden buckland, ncuti gatwa, millie gibson 1 40 full false Grats 2024 Grats 2024 Twice is enough for it to be a tradition, right?  Yeah, I think we'll go with that.  Welcome to our second annual end-of-year holiday thank you episode, something to offset the Festivus celebrations you may be having on this day before the day before Christmas.   Thanks for stopping by whenever you do. :)

The Newsletter and the archives are here: https://implausi.blog/newsletter/

Dr Implausible can be reached at drimplausible at implausipod dot com

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]]> Twice is enough for it to be a tradition, right?  Yeah, I think we'll go with that.  Welcome to our second annual end-of-year holiday thank you episode, something to offset the Festivus celebrations you may be having on this day before the day before Christmas.   Thanks for stopping by whenever you do. :)

The Newsletter and the archives are here: https://implausi.blog/newsletter/

Dr Implausible can be reached at drimplausible at implausipod dot com

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]]> Buzzsprout-16298668 Tue, 24 Dec 2024 12:00:00 -0700 480 happy holidays, grats, festivus, thank you 1 6 bonus false E0039 The California Ideology E0039 The California Ideology What do you think of when you heard the word California?  What do you think it's "ideology" might be?  If you work in or on high technology, that California ideology may be shaping the way that you work, the projects that you work on, and the business models that high technology pursues. 

What does it all mean?  The thinking that is driving the pursuit of certain developments in technology, such as robotics and artificial intelligence, and the rise of accelerationism need to be understood by looking at the underlying philosophies.  Join us as we dig deep to find out what's going on.

Bibliography

Altman, S. (2024, September 23). The Intelligence Age. https://ia.samaltman.com/

Barbrook, R., & Cameron, A. (1995). The Californian Ideology. Mute, 1(3). http://www.imaginaryfutures.net/2007/04/17/the-californian-ideology-2/

Bell, D. (1973). The coming of post-industrial society: A venture in social forecasting. Basic Books.

Daub, A. (2020). What Tech Calls Thinking: An Inquiry into the Intellectual Bedrock of Silicon Valley. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Hayles, N. K. (1999). How We Became Posthuman: Virtual Bodies in Cybernetics, Literature, and Informatics (1 edition). University Of Chicago Press.

Hu, T.-H. (2016). A Prehistory of the Cloud (Illustrated edition). The MIT Press.

Manovich, L. (1996). On Totalitarian Interactivity. https://www.manovich.net

McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. The New American Library.

Schumpeter, J. A. (1962). Capitalism, socialism and democracy (First Harper Torchbook ed). Harper & Row.

Tribe, M. (2001) "Introduction" in Manovich, L. (2001). The language of new media. MIT Press.

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]]> What do you think of when you heard the word California?  What do you think it's "ideology" might be?  If you work in or on high technology, that California ideology may be shaping the way that you work, the projects that you work on, and the business models that high technology pursues. 

What does it all mean?  The thinking that is driving the pursuit of certain developments in technology, such as robotics and artificial intelligence, and the rise of accelerationism need to be understood by looking at the underlying philosophies.  Join us as we dig deep to find out what's going on.

Bibliography

Altman, S. (2024, September 23). The Intelligence Age. https://ia.samaltman.com/

Barbrook, R., & Cameron, A. (1995). The Californian Ideology. Mute, 1(3). http://www.imaginaryfutures.net/2007/04/17/the-californian-ideology-2/

Bell, D. (1973). The coming of post-industrial society: A venture in social forecasting. Basic Books.

Daub, A. (2020). What Tech Calls Thinking: An Inquiry into the Intellectual Bedrock of Silicon Valley. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Hayles, N. K. (1999). How We Became Posthuman: Virtual Bodies in Cybernetics, Literature, and Informatics (1 edition). University Of Chicago Press.

Hu, T.-H. (2016). A Prehistory of the Cloud (Illustrated edition). The MIT Press.

Manovich, L. (1996). On Totalitarian Interactivity. https://www.manovich.net

McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. The New American Library.

Schumpeter, J. A. (1962). Capitalism, socialism and democracy (First Harper Torchbook ed). Harper & Row.

Tribe, M. (2001) "Introduction" in Manovich, L. (2001). The language of new media. MIT Press.

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]]> Buzzsprout-15913712 Sat, 07 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0700 2146 technology, media theory, social media, economics, new media, lev manovich, california ideology, ideology, philosophy, implausipod 1 39 full false ICEBreaker 004 - Opti-minus ICEBreaker 004 - Opti-minus Was the reveal of the Tesla Optimus 3 at the recent We Robot event a miss?  How can you fail when unveiling a potentially groundbreaking technology? By using it to fake the appearance of a different tech, one that you're not even close to bringing to market.

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]]> Was the reveal of the Tesla Optimus 3 at the recent We Robot event a miss?  How can you fail when unveiling a potentially groundbreaking technology? By using it to fake the appearance of a different tech, one that you're not even close to bringing to market.

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]]> Buzzsprout-15952942 Wed, 23 Oct 2024 19:00:00 -0600 259 implausipod, ICEbreaker, technology, ai, artificial intelligence, telepresence, robotics, telerobotics, tesla, tesla optimus 1 4 bonus false ICEBreaker 003 - Joker 2 Joke Harder ICEBreaker 003 - Joker 2 Joke Harder Is Joker 2 "anti-content", or is it just a challenging watch?  Join us for a quick ICEBreaker to discuss our first impressions of the film, and some thoughts that have crossed my mind in the day since.  Consider this a spoiler warning.

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]]> Is Joker 2 "anti-content", or is it just a challenging watch?  Join us for a quick ICEBreaker to discuss our first impressions of the film, and some thoughts that have crossed my mind in the day since.  Consider this a spoiler warning.

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]]> Dr Implausible Buzzsprout-15887327 Mon, 07 Oct 2024 21:00:00 -0600 305 joker, joker 2, movie, movie review, cinema, film studies, todd philips, anti-content, joaquim phoenix, lady gaga 1 3 bonus false E0038 AI Refractions E0038 AI Refractions Looking back in the year since the publication of our AI Reflections episode, we take a look at the state of the AI discourse at large, where recent controversies including those surrounding NaNoWriMo and whether AI counts as art, or can assist with science, bring the challenges of studying the new medium to the forefront.

Links and Referenced Episodes:
ALS.org story on Casey Harrell
NaNoWriMo Statement
AI Risk Database 
Implausi.blog Positive AI Archive
Implausipod E0012 AI Reflections
Implausipod E0020 The Sphere Before and After
Implausipod E0025 Echanger
Implausipod E0028 Black Boxes and AI
Implausipod E0031 GPT Squared

Full Bibliography is included in the transcript

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]]> Looking back in the year since the publication of our AI Reflections episode, we take a look at the state of the AI discourse at large, where recent controversies including those surrounding NaNoWriMo and whether AI counts as art, or can assist with science, bring the challenges of studying the new medium to the forefront.

Links and Referenced Episodes:
ALS.org story on Casey Harrell
NaNoWriMo Statement
AI Risk Database 
Implausi.blog Positive AI Archive
Implausipod E0012 AI Reflections
Implausipod E0020 The Sphere Before and After
Implausipod E0025 Echanger
Implausipod E0028 Black Boxes and AI
Implausipod E0031 GPT Squared

Full Bibliography is included in the transcript

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]]> Buzzsprout-15804659 Sat, 05 Oct 2024 17:00:00 -0600 2388 ai, artificial intelligence, chatgpt, implausipod, nanowrimo, microsoft, carl sagan, science, creativity, media studies, art 1 38 full false E0037 Soylent Culture E0037 Soylent Culture What is Soylent Culture?  Whether it is in the mass media, the new media, or the media consumed by the current crop of generative AI tools, it is culture that has been fed on itself.  But of course, there's more. Have a listen to find out how Soylent Culture is driving the potential for "Model Collapse" with our AI tools, and what that might mean.

Bibliography

McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. The New American Library.

Shumailov, I., Shumaylov, Z., Zhao, Y., Gal, Y., Papernot, N., & Anderson, R. (2024). The Curse of Recursion: Training on Generated Data Makes Models Forget (No. arXiv:2305.17493). arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2305.17493

Shumailov, I., Shumaylov, Z., Zhao, Y., Papernot, N., Anderson, R., & Gal, Y. (2024). AI models collapse when trained on recursively generated data. Nature, 631(8022), 755–759. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07566-y

Snoswell, A. J. (2024, August 19). What is ‘model collapse’? An expert explains the rumours about an impending AI doom. The Conversation. http://theconversation.com/what-is-model-collapse-an-expert-explains-the-rumours-about-an-impending-ai-doom-236415

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-background_steel

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]]> What is Soylent Culture?  Whether it is in the mass media, the new media, or the media consumed by the current crop of generative AI tools, it is culture that has been fed on itself.  But of course, there's more. Have a listen to find out how Soylent Culture is driving the potential for "Model Collapse" with our AI tools, and what that might mean.

Bibliography

McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. The New American Library.

Shumailov, I., Shumaylov, Z., Zhao, Y., Gal, Y., Papernot, N., & Anderson, R. (2024). The Curse of Recursion: Training on Generated Data Makes Models Forget (No. arXiv:2305.17493). arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2305.17493

Shumailov, I., Shumaylov, Z., Zhao, Y., Papernot, N., Anderson, R., & Gal, Y. (2024). AI models collapse when trained on recursively generated data. Nature, 631(8022), 755–759. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07566-y

Snoswell, A. J. (2024, August 19). What is ‘model collapse’? An expert explains the rumours about an impending AI doom. The Conversation. http://theconversation.com/what-is-model-collapse-an-expert-explains-the-rumours-about-an-impending-ai-doom-236415

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-background_steel

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]]> Buzzsprout-15791252 Sun, 22 Sep 2024 19:00:00 -0600 1404 soylent culture, ai, artificial intelligence, chatgpt, model collapse, media theory, marshall mcluhan, new media 1 37 full false ICEBreaker 002 - Excession ICEBreaker 002 - Excession Whoops!  Somehow the details of an Excession - an Unknown Unknown - got cut from Episode 36.  Fans of Irony will be enjoying this, I'm sure.  Kick back for another Icebreaker in this bonus episode, an addendum to Nescience and Excession, with an actual explanation of the thing that was in the title.

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]]> Whoops!  Somehow the details of an Excession - an Unknown Unknown - got cut from Episode 36.  Fans of Irony will be enjoying this, I'm sure.  Kick back for another Icebreaker in this bonus episode, an addendum to Nescience and Excession, with an actual explanation of the thing that was in the title.

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]]> Buzzsprout-15791135 Sat, 21 Sep 2024 08:00:00 -0600 336 excession, scifi, unknown unknown, bonus episode, implausipod 1 2 bonus false E0036 Nescience and Excession: Jameson and Nostalgia E0036 Nescience and Excession: Jameson and Nostalgia Further detail looking at The Nostalgia Curve from Episode 35, and comparing it with the Fredric Jameson's "Nostalgia for the Present" (1989) to see what the established literature says about the topic.  We go into Jameson's writing on science fiction and Philip K Dick's "Time Out of Joint" (1959), and take a deep look at the Rumsfeld Matrix in order to introduce the idea of Nescience: the intentional act of not engaging with a known-unknown.

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]]> Further detail looking at The Nostalgia Curve from Episode 35, and comparing it with the Fredric Jameson's "Nostalgia for the Present" (1989) to see what the established literature says about the topic.  We go into Jameson's writing on science fiction and Philip K Dick's "Time Out of Joint" (1959), and take a deep look at the Rumsfeld Matrix in order to introduce the idea of Nescience: the intentional act of not engaging with a known-unknown.

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]]> Buzzsprout-15676490 Sun, 15 Sep 2024 20:00:00 -0600 1601 nostalgia, nostalgia curve, fredric jameson, philip k dick, science fiction, memory, nescience, donald rumsfeld, known unknown 1 36 full false E0035 The Nostalgia Curve E0035 The Nostalgia Curve The box office for the summer of 2024 has been driven by titles relying heavily on the audiences nostalgia, with titles like Deadpool and Wolverine and Alien: Romulus leading the charge.  But nostalgia as a driver for the movies isn't new, and we're seeing nostalgia across all areas of our society as well.  So what's going on?  What are the factors that places something along The Nostalgia Curve?

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]]> The box office for the summer of 2024 has been driven by titles relying heavily on the audiences nostalgia, with titles like Deadpool and Wolverine and Alien: Romulus leading the charge.  But nostalgia as a driver for the movies isn't new, and we're seeing nostalgia across all areas of our society as well.  So what's going on?  What are the factors that places something along The Nostalgia Curve?

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]]> Buzzsprout-15669349 Sat, 31 Aug 2024 06:00:00 -0600 1999 nostalgia, nostalgia curve, star trek, deadpool, alien, deadpool and wolverine, alien romulus, hollywood, gaming, ttrpg 1 35 full false E0034 Dial-up Pastorale E0034 Dial-up Pastorale What is behind the recent trend seeking a wistful return to a more idyllic age of the internet, real or imagined? We'll call this the Dial-up Pastorale. The trend became apparent in a number of papers and blog-posts that have popped over the last few months (or at least came to my attention).  Let's find out what is going on.

(Parts of this episode appeared in the May issue of our newsletter. You can sign up for that here.

Bibliography:
Chayka, K. (2024, May 1). The Revenge of the Home Page. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/the-revenge-of-the-home-page

Farrell, M. and Berjon, R. (2024). We Need To Rewild The Internet. https://www.noemamag.com/we-need-to-rewild-the-internet

Habermas, J. (2022). Reflections and Hypotheses on a Further Structural Transformation of the Political Public Sphere. Theory, Culture & Society, 39(4), 145–171. https://doi.org/10.1177/02632764221112341

Habermas, J. (with Lawrence, F. G.). (1989). The structural transformation of the public sphere: An inquiry into a category of bourgeois society (T. Burger, Trans.). MIT Press.

Star, S. L. (1999). The Ethnography of Infrastructure. American Behavioral Scientist, 43(3), 377–391. https://doi.org/10.1177/00027649921955326

Varoufakis, Y. (2024). Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism. Melville House.

White, M. (2024, May 1). We can have a different web. Citation Needed. https://www.citationneeded.news/we-can-have-a-different-web/

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]]> What is behind the recent trend seeking a wistful return to a more idyllic age of the internet, real or imagined? We'll call this the Dial-up Pastorale. The trend became apparent in a number of papers and blog-posts that have popped over the last few months (or at least came to my attention).  Let's find out what is going on.

(Parts of this episode appeared in the May issue of our newsletter. You can sign up for that here.

Bibliography:
Chayka, K. (2024, May 1). The Revenge of the Home Page. The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/infinite-scroll/the-revenge-of-the-home-page

Farrell, M. and Berjon, R. (2024). We Need To Rewild The Internet. https://www.noemamag.com/we-need-to-rewild-the-internet

Habermas, J. (2022). Reflections and Hypotheses on a Further Structural Transformation of the Political Public Sphere. Theory, Culture & Society, 39(4), 145–171. https://doi.org/10.1177/02632764221112341

Habermas, J. (with Lawrence, F. G.). (1989). The structural transformation of the public sphere: An inquiry into a category of bourgeois society (T. Burger, Trans.). MIT Press.

Star, S. L. (1999). The Ethnography of Infrastructure. American Behavioral Scientist, 43(3), 377–391. https://doi.org/10.1177/00027649921955326

Varoufakis, Y. (2024). Technofeudalism: What Killed Capitalism. Melville House.

White, M. (2024, May 1). We can have a different web. Citation Needed. https://www.citationneeded.news/we-can-have-a-different-web/

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]]> Buzzsprout-15353380 Wed, 07 Aug 2024 07:00:00 -0600 1277 internet, online communities, retro computing, social media, dialup pastorale 1 34 full false E0033 TikTok Tribulations E0033 TikTok Tribulations What happens if your community disappears? How do online groups deal with the challenges of maintaining their social ties across fickle and fleeting platforms? And are there lessons to be learned by the TikTok creators from the online MMO communities that were shut down in the early 2000s?

Bibliography:

Bartle, R. (2003). Designing Virtual Worlds. New Riders Press.

Granovetter, M. (1973). The Strength of Weak Ties. American Journal of Sociology, 78(6), 1360–1380.

Jenkins, H. (2006). Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide. NYU Press.

Koster, R. (2004). A theory of fun for game design. Paraglyph Press.

Rheingold, H. (2000). The Virtual Community: Homesteading on the electronic frontier. MIT Press.

Sennett, R. (2012). Together: The rituals, pleasures and politics of cooperation. Yale University Press.

The Matrix Online Videos—Giant Bomb. (2012, July 12). https://web.archive.org/web/20120712062536/http://www.giantbomb.com/the-matrix-online/61-9124/videos/

There Is Another: The End Of Star Wars Galaxies - Part 01 - Giant Bomb. (2012, January 7). https://web.archive.org/web/20120107150559/http://www.giantbomb.com/there-is-another-the-end-of-star-wars-galaxies-part-01/17-5439/

von Hippel, E. (2005). Democratizing Innovation. The MIT Press.

Links:

City of Heroes: Homecoming

Implausipod Episode 16 - Spreadable Media

The Implausi.blog Newsletter

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]]> What happens if your community disappears? How do online groups deal with the challenges of maintaining their social ties across fickle and fleeting platforms? And are there lessons to be learned by the TikTok creators from the online MMO communities that were shut down in the early 2000s?

Bibliography:

Bartle, R. (2003). Designing Virtual Worlds. New Riders Press.

Granovetter, M. (1973). The Strength of Weak Ties. American Journal of Sociology, 78(6), 1360–1380.

Jenkins, H. (2006). Convergence Culture: Where Old and New Media Collide. NYU Press.

Koster, R. (2004). A theory of fun for game design. Paraglyph Press.

Rheingold, H. (2000). The Virtual Community: Homesteading on the electronic frontier. MIT Press.

Sennett, R. (2012). Together: The rituals, pleasures and politics of cooperation. Yale University Press.

The Matrix Online Videos—Giant Bomb. (2012, July 12). https://web.archive.org/web/20120712062536/http://www.giantbomb.com/the-matrix-online/61-9124/videos/

There Is Another: The End Of Star Wars Galaxies - Part 01 - Giant Bomb. (2012, January 7). https://web.archive.org/web/20120107150559/http://www.giantbomb.com/there-is-another-the-end-of-star-wars-galaxies-part-01/17-5439/

von Hippel, E. (2005). Democratizing Innovation. The MIT Press.

Links:

City of Heroes: Homecoming

Implausipod Episode 16 - Spreadable Media

The Implausi.blog Newsletter

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Support the show

]]> Buzzsprout-15146242 Mon, 10 Jun 2024 21:00:00 -0600 1746 tiktok, social media, new media, online communities, mmorpg, city of heroes, star wars galaxies, the matrix online, democratization, innovation 1 33 full false E0032 Baked In: Social Media and Tech Determinism E0032 Baked In: Social Media and Tech Determinism How much of your experience online is dictated by the environment you're in, and how it was constructed?  What is you rebuild Twitter, and it still ends up being toxic?  Did you fail, or succeed without knowing it?

These are the kinds of questions that arise when we look at technology from a deterministic point of view: that technology is the driver of cultural and social change and growth.  And while this ideology has its adherents, many of the assumptions about technology, and tech determinism are already Baked In to the way we deal with tech in the world.

Listen on as we explore what this is all about...

Sign up for the Newsletter here: https://implausi.blog/newsletter/

Bibliography:
Chee, F. Y., Mukherjee, S., Chee, F. Y., & Mukherjee, S. (2023, November 10). Musk’s X has a fraction of rivals’ content moderators, EU says. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/technology/musks-x-has-fraction-rivals-content-moderators-eu-says-2023-11-10/

Drolsbach, C., & Pröllochs, N. (2023). Content Moderation on Social Media in the EU: Insights From the DSA Transparency Database (arXiv:2312.04431). arXiv. http://arxiv.org/abs/2312.04431

FediForum.org. (n.d.). FediForum | Happiness in the Fediverse. Retrieved May 26, 2024, from https://fediforum.org/2024-03/session/4-d/

Green Blackboards (And Other Anomalies)—Penny Arcade. (n.d.). Retrieved May 19, 2024, from https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19/green-blackboards-and-other-anomalies

Oldemburgo de Mello, V., Cheung, F., & Inzlicht, M. (2024). Twitter (X) use predicts substantial changes in well-being, polarization, sense of belonging, and outrage. Communications Psychology, 2(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-024-00062-z

Rheingold, H. (2000). The Virtual Community: Homesteading on the electronic frontier. MIT Press.

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]]> How much of your experience online is dictated by the environment you're in, and how it was constructed?  What is you rebuild Twitter, and it still ends up being toxic?  Did you fail, or succeed without knowing it?

These are the kinds of questions that arise when we look at technology from a deterministic point of view: that technology is the driver of cultural and social change and growth.  And while this ideology has its adherents, many of the assumptions about technology, and tech determinism are already Baked In to the way we deal with tech in the world.

Listen on as we explore what this is all about...

Sign up for the Newsletter here: https://implausi.blog/newsletter/

Bibliography:
Chee, F. Y., Mukherjee, S., Chee, F. Y., & Mukherjee, S. (2023, November 10). Musk’s X has a fraction of rivals’ content moderators, EU says. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/technology/musks-x-has-fraction-rivals-content-moderators-eu-says-2023-11-10/

Drolsbach, C., & Pröllochs, N. (2023). Content Moderation on Social Media in the EU: Insights From the DSA Transparency Database (arXiv:2312.04431). arXiv. http://arxiv.org/abs/2312.04431

FediForum.org. (n.d.). FediForum | Happiness in the Fediverse. Retrieved May 26, 2024, from https://fediforum.org/2024-03/session/4-d/

Green Blackboards (And Other Anomalies)—Penny Arcade. (n.d.). Retrieved May 19, 2024, from https://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/03/19/green-blackboards-and-other-anomalies

Oldemburgo de Mello, V., Cheung, F., & Inzlicht, M. (2024). Twitter (X) use predicts substantial changes in well-being, polarization, sense of belonging, and outrage. Communications Psychology, 2(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44271-024-00062-z

Rheingold, H. (2000). The Virtual Community: Homesteading on the electronic frontier. MIT Press.

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]]> Buzzsprout-14896508 Sun, 26 May 2024 11:00:00 -0600 1629 social media, technology, technological determinism, howard rheingold, community, computer mediated communication, communication, fediverse 1 32 full false E0031 GPT Squared E0031 GPT Squared Are the new GPTs - Generative Pre-trained Transformers - powering the current wave of AI tools actually the emergence of a new GPT - General Purpose Technology - that we will soon find embedded into every aspect of our lives? Earlier examples of GPTs include tech like steam power, electricity, radio, and computing, all tech that is foundational to our modern way of life. Will our AI tools soon join this pantheon as another long wave of technological progress begins?

Bibliography
Bresnahan, T. F., & Trajtenberg, M. (1995). General purpose technologies “Engines of growth”? Journal of Econometrics, 65(1), 83–108.

Kurz, M. (2023). The Market Power of Technology: Understanding the Second Gilded Age. Columbia University Press.

Nye, D. E. (1990). Electrifying America: Social meanings of a new technology, 1880-1940. MIT Press.

Rosenberg, N. (1982). Inside the black box: Technology and economics. Cambridge University Press.

Winner, L. (1993). Upon Opening the Black Box and Finding it Empty: Social Constructivism and the Philosophy of Technology. Science Technology & Human Values, 18(3), 362–378.

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]]> Are the new GPTs - Generative Pre-trained Transformers - powering the current wave of AI tools actually the emergence of a new GPT - General Purpose Technology - that we will soon find embedded into every aspect of our lives? Earlier examples of GPTs include tech like steam power, electricity, radio, and computing, all tech that is foundational to our modern way of life. Will our AI tools soon join this pantheon as another long wave of technological progress begins?

Bibliography
Bresnahan, T. F., & Trajtenberg, M. (1995). General purpose technologies “Engines of growth”? Journal of Econometrics, 65(1), 83–108.

Kurz, M. (2023). The Market Power of Technology: Understanding the Second Gilded Age. Columbia University Press.

Nye, D. E. (1990). Electrifying America: Social meanings of a new technology, 1880-1940. MIT Press.

Rosenberg, N. (1982). Inside the black box: Technology and economics. Cambridge University Press.

Winner, L. (1993). Upon Opening the Black Box and Finding it Empty: Social Constructivism and the Philosophy of Technology. Science Technology & Human Values, 18(3), 362–378.

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]]> Buzzsprout-14799673 Sun, 31 Mar 2024 15:00:00 -0600 1483 technology, artificial intelligence, black box, economics, technology, GPT. general purpose technologies, innovation, academic research, rabbit, chatgpt 1 31 full false E0030 Appendix W 04 - Dune E0030 Appendix W 04 - Dune With the release of Dune part 2 in cinemas, we return to Appendix W with a look at Frank Herbert's original novel from 1965.  Dune has had a massive influence on the Warhammer 40000 universe in many ways, especially when looking at the original release of the Rogue Trader game in 1987, in everything from the weapons and wargear, to space travel and technology, to the organization of the Imperium itself.  Join us as we look at some of those connections.

Dr Implausible can be reached at DrImplausible at implausipod dot com

Look for Appendix W episodes of the podcast on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@appendixw/channels or in the archives at https://www.implausipod.com/

The original Appendix W blog post can be found here: https://implausi.blog/2021/08/appendix-w-2/

Samuel Butler's novel can be found on Project Gutenberg here:
https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1906/pg1906-images.html#chap23


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]]> With the release of Dune part 2 in cinemas, we return to Appendix W with a look at Frank Herbert's original novel from 1965.  Dune has had a massive influence on the Warhammer 40000 universe in many ways, especially when looking at the original release of the Rogue Trader game in 1987, in everything from the weapons and wargear, to space travel and technology, to the organization of the Imperium itself.  Join us as we look at some of those connections.

Dr Implausible can be reached at DrImplausible at implausipod dot com

Look for Appendix W episodes of the podcast on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/@appendixw/channels or in the archives at https://www.implausipod.com/

The original Appendix W blog post can be found here: https://implausi.blog/2021/08/appendix-w-2/

Samuel Butler's novel can be found on Project Gutenberg here:
https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1906/pg1906-images.html#chap23


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]]> Buzzsprout-14666807 Mon, 11 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0600 1343 warhammer, warhammer40000, warhammer40k, W40K, appendix w, games workshop, science fiction, scifi, cordwainer smith, dune, foundation, bolo, dune part 2, isaac asimov, frank herbert, ee doc smith, lensmen, edgar rice burroughs 1 30 full false E0029 Why is it always a War on Robots? E0029 Why is it always a War on Robots? Why does it always come down to a Butlerian Jihad, a War on Robots, when we imagine a future for humanity.  Why does nearly every science fiction series, including Star Wars, Star Trek, Warhammer 40K, Doctor Who, The Matrix, Terminator and Dune have a conflict with a machinic form of life?

With Dune 2 in theatres this weekend, we take a look at the underlying reasons for this conflict in our collective imagination in this weeks episode of the Implausipod.

Dr Implausible can be reached at DrImplausible at implausipod dot com

Samuel Butler's novel can be found on Project Gutenberg here:
https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1906/pg1906-images.html#chap23

Bibliography:
Bassala, G. (1988). The Evolution of Technology. Cambridge University Press.

Butler, S. (1999). Erewhon; Or, Over the Range. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1906

Dennett, D. (1995). Darwin’s Dangerous Idea. Simon and Schuster.

Ford, M. (2016). The Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of Mass Unemployment. Oneworld Publications.

Herbert, F. (1965). Dune. Ace Books.

Johnston, J. (2008). The Allure of Machinic Life. MIT Press. https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262515023/the-allure-of-machinic-life/

Petroski, H. (1992). The Evolution of Useful Things. Vintage Books.

Popova, M. (2022, September 15). Darwin Among the Machines: A Victorian Visionary’s Prophetic Admonition for Saving Ourselves from Enslavement by Artificial Intelligence. The Marginalian. https://www.themarginalian.org/2022/09/15/samuel-butler-darwin-among-the-machines-erewhon/

Weitzman, M. L. (1998). Recombinant Growth. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 113(2), 331–360. https://doi.org/10.1162/003355398555595

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]]> Why does it always come down to a Butlerian Jihad, a War on Robots, when we imagine a future for humanity.  Why does nearly every science fiction series, including Star Wars, Star Trek, Warhammer 40K, Doctor Who, The Matrix, Terminator and Dune have a conflict with a machinic form of life?

With Dune 2 in theatres this weekend, we take a look at the underlying reasons for this conflict in our collective imagination in this weeks episode of the Implausipod.

Dr Implausible can be reached at DrImplausible at implausipod dot com

Samuel Butler's novel can be found on Project Gutenberg here:
https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/1906/pg1906-images.html#chap23

Bibliography:
Bassala, G. (1988). The Evolution of Technology. Cambridge University Press.

Butler, S. (1999). Erewhon; Or, Over the Range. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1906

Dennett, D. (1995). Darwin’s Dangerous Idea. Simon and Schuster.

Ford, M. (2016). The Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of Mass Unemployment. Oneworld Publications.

Herbert, F. (1965). Dune. Ace Books.

Johnston, J. (2008). The Allure of Machinic Life. MIT Press. https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262515023/the-allure-of-machinic-life/

Petroski, H. (1992). The Evolution of Useful Things. Vintage Books.

Popova, M. (2022, September 15). Darwin Among the Machines: A Victorian Visionary’s Prophetic Admonition for Saving Ourselves from Enslavement by Artificial Intelligence. The Marginalian. https://www.themarginalian.org/2022/09/15/samuel-butler-darwin-among-the-machines-erewhon/

Weitzman, M. L. (1998). Recombinant Growth. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 113(2), 331–360. https://doi.org/10.1162/003355398555595

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]]> Buzzsprout-14614433 Sat, 02 Mar 2024 15:00:00 -0700 1340 technology, artificial intelligence, robots, robotics, chaptgpt, agi, science fiction, scifi, dune, butlerian jihad, echanger 1 29 full false E0028 Black Boxes and AI E0028 Black Boxes and AI How does your technology work? Do you have a deep understanding of the tech, or is it effectively a "black box"?  And does this even matter? We do a deep dive into the history of the black box, how it's understood when it comes to science and technology, and what that means for AI-assisted science.

Dr Implausible can be reached at drimplausible at implausipod dot com

Bibliography:
Bijker, W., Hughes, T., & Pinch, T. (Eds.). (1987). The Social Construction of Technological Systems. The MIT Press. 

Koskinen, I. (2023). We Have No Satisfactory Social Epistemology of AI-Based Science. Social Epistemology, 0(0), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/02691728.2023.2286253 

Latour, B. (2005). Reassembling the social: An introduction to actor-network-theory. Oxford University Press. 

Latour, B., & Woolgar, S. (1979). Laboratory Life: The construction of scientific facts. Sage Publications. 

Pierce, D. (2024, January 9). The Rabbit R1 is an AI-powered gadget that can use your apps for you. The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/9/24030667/rabbit-r1-ai-action-model-price-release-date 

rabbit—Keynote. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2024, from https://www.rabbit.tech/keynote 

Sutter, P. (2023, October 4). AI is already helping astronomers make incredible discoveries. Here’s how. Space.Com. https://www.space.com/astronomy-research-ai-future 

Weitzman, M. L. (1998). Recombinant Growth*. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 113(2), 331–360. https://doi.org/10.1162/003355398555595 

Winner, L. (1993). Upon Opening the Black Box and Finding it Empty: Social Constructivism and the Philosophy of Technology. Science Technology & Human Values, 18(3), 362–378. 

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Support the show

]]> How does your technology work? Do you have a deep understanding of the tech, or is it effectively a "black box"?  And does this even matter? We do a deep dive into the history of the black box, how it's understood when it comes to science and technology, and what that means for AI-assisted science.

Dr Implausible can be reached at drimplausible at implausipod dot com

Bibliography:
Bijker, W., Hughes, T., & Pinch, T. (Eds.). (1987). The Social Construction of Technological Systems. The MIT Press. 

Koskinen, I. (2023). We Have No Satisfactory Social Epistemology of AI-Based Science. Social Epistemology, 0(0), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/02691728.2023.2286253 

Latour, B. (2005). Reassembling the social: An introduction to actor-network-theory. Oxford University Press. 

Latour, B., & Woolgar, S. (1979). Laboratory Life: The construction of scientific facts. Sage Publications. 

Pierce, D. (2024, January 9). The Rabbit R1 is an AI-powered gadget that can use your apps for you. The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2024/1/9/24030667/rabbit-r1-ai-action-model-price-release-date 

rabbit—Keynote. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2024, from https://www.rabbit.tech/keynote 

Sutter, P. (2023, October 4). AI is already helping astronomers make incredible discoveries. Here’s how. Space.Com. https://www.space.com/astronomy-research-ai-future 

Weitzman, M. L. (1998). Recombinant Growth*. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 113(2), 331–360. https://doi.org/10.1162/003355398555595 

Winner, L. (1993). Upon Opening the Black Box and Finding it Empty: Social Constructivism and the Philosophy of Technology. Science Technology & Human Values, 18(3), 362–378. 

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]]> Buzzsprout-14575421 Mon, 26 Feb 2024 05:00:00 -0700 1615 technology, artificial intelligence, black box, science studies, social constructivism, social shaping of technology, STS, SCOT, ANT, innovation, academic research, rabbit, chatgpt 1 28 full false E0027 The Old Man and The River E0027 The Old Man and The River The parable of the Old Man and the River tells us it isn't now deep the water is, but how swift the water flows when it comes to looking at pop culture.  There's magic in how crystal clear those swift waters flow.   Join us for a review of the theories underpining the value of studying pop culture for academic analysis, what that means for the future of the Implausipod, and hints at who the old man might be.

Contact us at drimplausible  at implausipod dot com

Bibliography:
Benjamin, W. (2008). _The Work of Art in the Age of Its Technological Reproducibility, and Other Writings on Media_. Hippo. https://www.abebooks.com/9780674024458/Work-Art-Age-Technological-Reproducibility-0674024451/plp

Bourdieu, P. (1999). _On Television_. The New Press.

Daub, A. (2020). _What Tech Calls Thinking: An Inquiry into the Intellectual Bedrock of Silicon Valley_. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Flew, T., & Smith, R. (2018). _New Media: An Introduction, Third Canadian Edition_. Oxford University Press.

Griffin, E. (2003). _A First Look at Communication Theory_ (5th ed.). McGraw-Hill. https://www.mheducation.com/highered/product/first-look-communication-theory-griffin-sparks/M9781264296101.html

Katz, E., Haas, H., & Gurevitch, M. (1973). On the Use of the Mass Media for Important Things. _American Sociological Review_, _38_(2), 164–181. https://doi.org/10.2307/2094393

McLuhan, M. (1964). _Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man_. The New American Library.

Williams, R. (1974). _Television: Technology and cultural form_. Fontana.

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]]> The parable of the Old Man and the River tells us it isn't now deep the water is, but how swift the water flows when it comes to looking at pop culture.  There's magic in how crystal clear those swift waters flow.   Join us for a review of the theories underpining the value of studying pop culture for academic analysis, what that means for the future of the Implausipod, and hints at who the old man might be.

Contact us at drimplausible  at implausipod dot com

Bibliography:
Benjamin, W. (2008). _The Work of Art in the Age of Its Technological Reproducibility, and Other Writings on Media_. Hippo. https://www.abebooks.com/9780674024458/Work-Art-Age-Technological-Reproducibility-0674024451/plp

Bourdieu, P. (1999). _On Television_. The New Press.

Daub, A. (2020). _What Tech Calls Thinking: An Inquiry into the Intellectual Bedrock of Silicon Valley_. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Flew, T., & Smith, R. (2018). _New Media: An Introduction, Third Canadian Edition_. Oxford University Press.

Griffin, E. (2003). _A First Look at Communication Theory_ (5th ed.). McGraw-Hill. https://www.mheducation.com/highered/product/first-look-communication-theory-griffin-sparks/M9781264296101.html

Katz, E., Haas, H., & Gurevitch, M. (1973). On the Use of the Mass Media for Important Things. _American Sociological Review_, _38_(2), 164–181. https://doi.org/10.2307/2094393

McLuhan, M. (1964). _Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man_. The New American Library.

Williams, R. (1974). _Television: Technology and cultural form_. Fontana.

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]]> Buzzsprout-14446788 Mon, 12 Feb 2024 20:00:00 -0700 1404 media studies, audience, audience research, media theory, communication studies, agenda setting, cultivation theory, uses and gratifications, media effects, frankfurt school, marshall mcluhan, pierre bourdieu 1 27 full false Implausipod E0026 - Silicon Dreams Implausipod E0026 - Silicon Dreams Silicon Dreams are those glittering visions of mythic intensity that inspire the continued development of revolutionary technologies.  Listen to this episode of the Implausipod to learn more about where they come from, and how the mythic imagination has been behind the development of virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and other tech innovations.

Contact the show at drimplausible @ implausipod dot com

Bibliography:
Bainbridge, W. S. (1983). The Space Flight Revolution: A Sociological Study.

Bainbridge, W. S. (2002). The Spaceflight Revolution Revisited. In Stephen Garber (Ed.), Looking Backward, Looking Forward: Forty Year of U.S. Human Spacelight Symposium. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. http://mysite.verizon.net/wsbainbridge/dl/spacerevisit.htm

Brunner, J. (1975). The Shockwave Rider. Harper and Row.

Frenkel, J. (Ed.). (2001). True Names and the Opening of the Cyberspace Frontier. TOR.

Frye, N., & Lee, A. A. (2007). The great code: The Bible and literature. Penguin Canada.

Hafner, K., & Lyon, M. (1996). Where Wizards Stay up late: The Origins of the Internet. Simon and Schuster.

Mosco, V. (2005). The Digital Sublime: Myth, Power, and Cyberspace (1 edition). The MIT Press.

Ray Bradbury (Director). (1973, September 16). The Veldt. http://archive.org/details/the-veldt

Rheingold, H. (1991). Virtual Reality. Summit Books.

Saul, J. R. (2005). On Equilibrium. Penguin Canada.

Stephenson, N. (1992). Snow Crash. Bantam Books.

Vinge, V. (1981). True Names. Bluebird.

Womack, J. (2004). Some Dark Holler (pp. 355–371). Ace Books.

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]]> Silicon Dreams are those glittering visions of mythic intensity that inspire the continued development of revolutionary technologies.  Listen to this episode of the Implausipod to learn more about where they come from, and how the mythic imagination has been behind the development of virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and other tech innovations.

Contact the show at drimplausible @ implausipod dot com

Bibliography:
Bainbridge, W. S. (1983). The Space Flight Revolution: A Sociological Study.

Bainbridge, W. S. (2002). The Spaceflight Revolution Revisited. In Stephen Garber (Ed.), Looking Backward, Looking Forward: Forty Year of U.S. Human Spacelight Symposium. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. http://mysite.verizon.net/wsbainbridge/dl/spacerevisit.htm

Brunner, J. (1975). The Shockwave Rider. Harper and Row.

Frenkel, J. (Ed.). (2001). True Names and the Opening of the Cyberspace Frontier. TOR.

Frye, N., & Lee, A. A. (2007). The great code: The Bible and literature. Penguin Canada.

Hafner, K., & Lyon, M. (1996). Where Wizards Stay up late: The Origins of the Internet. Simon and Schuster.

Mosco, V. (2005). The Digital Sublime: Myth, Power, and Cyberspace (1 edition). The MIT Press.

Ray Bradbury (Director). (1973, September 16). The Veldt. http://archive.org/details/the-veldt

Rheingold, H. (1991). Virtual Reality. Summit Books.

Saul, J. R. (2005). On Equilibrium. Penguin Canada.

Stephenson, N. (1992). Snow Crash. Bantam Books.

Vinge, V. (1981). True Names. Bluebird.

Womack, J. (2004). Some Dark Holler (pp. 355–371). Ace Books.

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]]> Buzzsprout-14428351 Sun, 04 Feb 2024 18:00:00 -0700 1142 technology, science fiction, sci-fi, cyberpunk, vr, virtual reality, myth, imagination, innovation, academic research 1 26 full false Implausipod E0025 - Echanger Implausipod E0025 - Echanger Echanger - a French verb meaning to trade, to replace, or to swap, is a metaprocess of translation, that covers three main factors contributing to technological unemployment - automation, virtualization, and agentrification, the replacement of workers with generative AI tools.  Join us for our introduction and overview of the concept of echanger, in the third of our two part series inspired by the Sphere in Las Vegas.

Dr Implausible can be reached at drimplausible@implausipod.com

Bibliography:
Autor, D., Chin, C., Salomons, A. M., & Seegmiller, B. (2022). New Frontiers: The Origins and Content of New Work, 1940–2018 (Working Paper 30389). National Bureau of Economic Research. https://doi.org/10.3386/w30389

Hatzius, J. et al. (2023)The Potentially Large Effects of Artificial Intelligence on Economic Growth . (Briggs/Kodnani). Retrieved December 5, 2023, 

Ford, M. (2016). The Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of Mass Unemployment. Oneworld Publications.

Leontief, W. (1979). Is Technological Unemployment Inevitable? Challenge, 22(4), 48–50.

Susskind, D. (2020). A World Without Work: Technology, Automation, and How We Should Respond. Metropolitan Books.

They’re not human? AI-powered K-pop girl group Mave: eye global success. (2023, March 17). South China Morning Post.

Tupac Coachella hologram: Behind the technology - CBS News. (2012, November 9). 


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]]> Echanger - a French verb meaning to trade, to replace, or to swap, is a metaprocess of translation, that covers three main factors contributing to technological unemployment - automation, virtualization, and agentrification, the replacement of workers with generative AI tools.  Join us for our introduction and overview of the concept of echanger, in the third of our two part series inspired by the Sphere in Las Vegas.

Dr Implausible can be reached at drimplausible@implausipod.com

Bibliography:
Autor, D., Chin, C., Salomons, A. M., & Seegmiller, B. (2022). New Frontiers: The Origins and Content of New Work, 1940–2018 (Working Paper 30389). National Bureau of Economic Research. https://doi.org/10.3386/w30389

Hatzius, J. et al. (2023)The Potentially Large Effects of Artificial Intelligence on Economic Growth . (Briggs/Kodnani). Retrieved December 5, 2023, 

Ford, M. (2016). The Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of Mass Unemployment. Oneworld Publications.

Leontief, W. (1979). Is Technological Unemployment Inevitable? Challenge, 22(4), 48–50.

Susskind, D. (2020). A World Without Work: Technology, Automation, and How We Should Respond. Metropolitan Books.

They’re not human? AI-powered K-pop girl group Mave: eye global success. (2023, March 17). South China Morning Post.

Tupac Coachella hologram: Behind the technology - CBS News. (2012, November 9). 


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]]> Dr Implausible Buzzsprout-14232183 Mon, 01 Jan 2024 19:00:00 -0700 1226 echanger, technological unemployment, economics, automation, robotics, ai, llm, openai, chatgpt, virtualization, avatars, the sphere 1 25 full false E0024 The 15th Doctor - Xmas 2023 E0024 The 15th Doctor - Xmas 2023 In our final episode on the 2023 Dr Who specials, we take a look at the 2023 Christmas Special and the introduction of the 15th Doctor as played by Ncuti Gatwa.  We'll take a quick take at some of the larger themes of the show, and how it connects with the past and the (possible) future(s) of Dr Who.

Dr Implausible can be reached at drimplausible@implausipod.com

Our guest Dr. Aiden Buckland can be reached at doctoraidenwho@gmail.com

Recommended Reading:
Cornell, P. (1995). The discontinuity guide. Doctor Who Books.

Booth, P. (2010). Digital Fandom: New Media Studies. Peter Lang.

Booth, P. (2012). Time on TV: Temporal Displacement and Mashup Television. P. Lang.

Booth, P., & Jones, C. O. (2020). Watching Doctor Who: Fan Reception and Evaluation. Bloomsbury Publishing.




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]]> In our final episode on the 2023 Dr Who specials, we take a look at the 2023 Christmas Special and the introduction of the 15th Doctor as played by Ncuti Gatwa.  We'll take a quick take at some of the larger themes of the show, and how it connects with the past and the (possible) future(s) of Dr Who.

Dr Implausible can be reached at drimplausible@implausipod.com

Our guest Dr. Aiden Buckland can be reached at doctoraidenwho@gmail.com

Recommended Reading:
Cornell, P. (1995). The discontinuity guide. Doctor Who Books.

Booth, P. (2010). Digital Fandom: New Media Studies. Peter Lang.

Booth, P. (2012). Time on TV: Temporal Displacement and Mashup Television. P. Lang.

Booth, P., & Jones, C. O. (2020). Watching Doctor Who: Fan Reception and Evaluation. Bloomsbury Publishing.




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]]> Dr Aiden Buckland Buzzsprout-14226831 Mon, 01 Jan 2024 18:00:00 -0700 1967 doctor who, scifi, science fiction, television, guest interview, dr aiden buckland, media studies, pop culture, the 15th doctor, die hard, christmas 1 24 full false Grats 2023 Grats 2023 Not quite a full Festivus message, just a few quick tidings of joy and a message of gratitude here as 2023 draws to a close.  All the best to you and your loved ones, and we'll chat again soon.

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]]> Not quite a full Festivus message, just a few quick tidings of joy and a message of gratitude here as 2023 draws to a close.  All the best to you and your loved ones, and we'll chat again soon.

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]]> Buzzsprout-14195452 Sat, 23 Dec 2023 16:00:00 -0700 161 2023, festivus, thank you, happy holidays 2 bonus false Implausipod E0023 - The Giggles Implausipod E0023 - The Giggles Join us for the final of our three episodes on the 2023 Season of Specials for Dr Who, with the return of familiar nemesis (both within the show and to yours truly as well) and the introduction of the 15th Doctor through an unique turn of events.  We're joined by our guest Dr. Aiden Buckland to discuss this momentous episode.

Dr. Buckland can be contacted at doctoraidenwho@gmail.com  

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]]> Join us for the final of our three episodes on the 2023 Season of Specials for Dr Who, with the return of familiar nemesis (both within the show and to yours truly as well) and the introduction of the 15th Doctor through an unique turn of events.  We're joined by our guest Dr. Aiden Buckland to discuss this momentous episode.

Dr. Buckland can be contacted at doctoraidenwho@gmail.com  

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]]> Dr Aiden Buckland Buzzsprout-14122000 Fri, 22 Dec 2023 21:00:00 -0700 2874 doctor who, scifi, science fiction, television, guest interview, dr aiden buckland, media studies, pop culture, neil patrick harris, the 15th doctor 1 23 full false Implausipod E0022 - Wild Blue Yonder Implausipod E0022 - Wild Blue Yonder While I can't say I'm a sci-fi fan who hasn't scene Doctor Who any longer, my experience is still on the lower end of the scale, so we'll bring back our friend and guest Dr Aiden Buckland an academic and Dr Who fan to help guide us through some of the intricacies of the "Wild Blue Yonder", the second of the 2023 Dr Who Specials.

 You can contact our guest at doctoraidenwho@gmail.com 

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]]> While I can't say I'm a sci-fi fan who hasn't scene Doctor Who any longer, my experience is still on the lower end of the scale, so we'll bring back our friend and guest Dr Aiden Buckland an academic and Dr Who fan to help guide us through some of the intricacies of the "Wild Blue Yonder", the second of the 2023 Dr Who Specials.

 You can contact our guest at doctoraidenwho@gmail.com 

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]]> Dr Aiden Buckland Buzzsprout-14118371 Sun, 10 Dec 2023 15:00:00 -0700 2002 doctor who, scifi, science fiction, television, guest interview, dr aiden buckland, media studies, pop culture 1 22 full false Implausipod E0021 - Postcard From Earth Implausipod E0021 - Postcard From Earth We continue with part two of our three part look at The Sphere  in Las Vegas, this time with a review of the film on the "screen", Darren Aronofsky's "Postcard From Earth".  We look closer at whether the film can be separated from the theatre, and if Postcard, and the experience at the Sphere approaches what Andre Bazin called "Total Cinema"> Join us for our first movie review on this episode of the Implausipod.

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]]> We continue with part two of our three part look at The Sphere  in Las Vegas, this time with a review of the film on the "screen", Darren Aronofsky's "Postcard From Earth".  We look closer at whether the film can be separated from the theatre, and if Postcard, and the experience at the Sphere approaches what Andre Bazin called "Total Cinema"> Join us for our first movie review on this episode of the Implausipod.

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]]> Buzzsprout-14118325 Sat, 09 Dec 2023 18:00:00 -0700 1320 cinema, film, filmmaking, las vegas, media studies, robots, echanger, total cinema, IMAX, andre bazin, film studies 1 21 full false Implausipod E0020 - The Sphere Before and After Implausipod E0020 - The Sphere Before and After In the first of episode of a two-parter, we visit The Sphere, in Las Vegas Nevada with a before and after personal reflection of my first encounter with the site, and how my expectations meshed with the reality of the experience.  We ponder the site both inside and out, and whether The Sphere is the future of filmmaking, or if it is just a one-shot globe in the dark.  Also: Robots!  What's up with that.  Join us and find out.

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]]> In the first of episode of a two-parter, we visit The Sphere, in Las Vegas Nevada with a before and after personal reflection of my first encounter with the site, and how my expectations meshed with the reality of the experience.  We ponder the site both inside and out, and whether The Sphere is the future of filmmaking, or if it is just a one-shot globe in the dark.  Also: Robots!  What's up with that.  Join us and find out.

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]]> Dr Implausible Buzzsprout-14103307 Wed, 06 Dec 2023 17:00:00 -0700 1675 cinema, film, filmmaking, las vegas, media studies, robots, echanger, total cinema, IMAX 1 20 full false Implausipod E0016 - Spreadable Media Implausipod E0016 - Spreadable Media Spreadable media is a theory of how media is distributed in online culture, but is the theory, originally proposed in 2013, still relevant in 2023 when everyone is trying to "go viral" online?  We take a deep dive at the theory, and look at how at it's core it is really a question of value, and how competing ways of determining the value of a cultural good continually clash against one another.

Music for this episode provided by Calvin Becker, and one of his bands, the UnderLites.  You can listen to them at www.theunderlites.com and you should check out his music at calvinbecker.com

(Implausi-note: had some technical issues with this one, which delayed it's release so it's probably showing up out of sequence.  It's not perfect, but I feel it's close.  Thanks for your patience.)

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]]> Spreadable media is a theory of how media is distributed in online culture, but is the theory, originally proposed in 2013, still relevant in 2023 when everyone is trying to "go viral" online?  We take a deep dive at the theory, and look at how at it's core it is really a question of value, and how competing ways of determining the value of a cultural good continually clash against one another.

Music for this episode provided by Calvin Becker, and one of his bands, the UnderLites.  You can listen to them at www.theunderlites.com and you should check out his music at calvinbecker.com

(Implausi-note: had some technical issues with this one, which delayed it's release so it's probably showing up out of sequence.  It's not perfect, but I feel it's close.  Thanks for your patience.)

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]]> Buzzsprout-14074904 Sat, 02 Dec 2023 08:00:00 -0700 2443 spreadable media, media studies, participatory culture, cultural studies, Henry Jenkins, Stuart Hall, Calvin Becker, NFTs, memes, memetics, stickiness, spreadability 1 16 full false Implausipod E0019 - The 14th Doctor Implausipod E0019 - The 14th Doctor What does a sci-fi fan who's never seen Doctor Who think of their first exposure to a full episode of the series?  Can you even be a sci-fi fan if you haven't?  Well, we're about to find out.  Welcome our guest, an academic and Dr Who fan Dr Aiden Buckland who helps guide yours truly Dr Implausible through some of the details of "The Star Beast".

 You can contact our guest at doctoraidenwho@gmail.com

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]]> What does a sci-fi fan who's never seen Doctor Who think of their first exposure to a full episode of the series?  Can you even be a sci-fi fan if you haven't?  Well, we're about to find out.  Welcome our guest, an academic and Dr Who fan Dr Aiden Buckland who helps guide yours truly Dr Implausible through some of the details of "The Star Beast".

 You can contact our guest at doctoraidenwho@gmail.com

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]]> Dr Aiden Buckland Buzzsprout-14072417 Fri, 01 Dec 2023 14:00:00 -0700 2631 doctor who, scifi, science fiction, television, guest interview 1 19 full false Implausipod E0018 - Appendix W E03 - The Game of Rat and Dragon Implausipod E0018 - Appendix W E03 - The Game of Rat and Dragon  In episode 18 of the Implausipod we return to Appendix W with a little known but pivotal short story for both science fiction generally and Warhammer 40000 specifically, and the creation of the Warp, and the daemons that dwell within: Cordwainer Smith's "The Game of Rat and Dragon" from 1955.

Read along here:
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29614/29614-h/29614-h.htm

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]]>  In episode 18 of the Implausipod we return to Appendix W with a little known but pivotal short story for both science fiction generally and Warhammer 40000 specifically, and the creation of the Warp, and the daemons that dwell within: Cordwainer Smith's "The Game of Rat and Dragon" from 1955.

Read along here:
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/29614/29614-h/29614-h.htm

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]]> Buzzsprout-13892715 Thu, 02 Nov 2023 07:00:00 -0600 1251 warhammer, warhammer40000, warhammer40k, W40K, appendix w, games workshop, science fiction, scifi, cordwainer smith, psychic cats, caturday, warp, chaos, instrumentality of man, instrumentality, daemon, dune, foundation 1 18 full false Implausipod E0017 - Not a Techno-Optimist Implausipod E0017 - Not a Techno-Optimist If you had asked me on October 15th, 2023, how to self describe myself, I might say I was a techno optimist. But on October 16th, Mark Andreesen, the founder of Netscape, released the Techno-optimist manifesto, and I can no longer say that I'm a techno optimist.  

In this episode we'll walk through the quick scan of the document, and the red flags that it raised while looking through it, and where some of the problems lay in the underlying assumptions of the manifesto.

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]]> If you had asked me on October 15th, 2023, how to self describe myself, I might say I was a techno optimist. But on October 16th, Mark Andreesen, the founder of Netscape, released the Techno-optimist manifesto, and I can no longer say that I'm a techno optimist.  

In this episode we'll walk through the quick scan of the document, and the red flags that it raised while looking through it, and where some of the problems lay in the underlying assumptions of the manifesto.

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]]> Dr Implausible Buzzsprout-13859916 Fri, 27 Oct 2023 12:00:00 -0600 1549 techno-optimism, media studies, innovation, economics, venture capital, technology 1 17 full false Implausipod E0015 - EEE Embrace Extend Extinguish Implausipod E0015 - EEE Embrace Extend Extinguish EEE, or Embrace Extend Extinguish has been making the rounds again in 2023 as a number of silicon valley tech companies have been coming under the spotlight for their business practices, and some striking similarities are showing to a strategy outlined by Microsoft in an internal memo back in the 1990s.  Everything old in tech is new again. 

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]]> EEE, or Embrace Extend Extinguish has been making the rounds again in 2023 as a number of silicon valley tech companies have been coming under the spotlight for their business practices, and some striking similarities are showing to a strategy outlined by Microsoft in an internal memo back in the 1990s.  Everything old in tech is new again. 

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]]> Buzzsprout-13692165 Sat, 30 Sep 2023 22:00:00 -0600 1506 eee, fediverse, internet, innovation, economics, path dependency, technology, microsoft, antitrust, google, amazon, bill gates, facebook, meta, threads 1 15 full false Implausipod E0014 - Dumpshock Implausipod E0014 - Dumpshock What happens when you're forcibly ejected from Virtual Reality?  You may experience "dumpshock" - a bewildering disorientation from the rapid change in context, and you may experience something similar on the internet if you shift from an ad-saturated to an ad-free environment.  Like a fish out of water, you have no anti-environment by which to understand your reality, and the discovering one can leave you flopping around.

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]]> What happens when you're forcibly ejected from Virtual Reality?  You may experience "dumpshock" - a bewildering disorientation from the rapid change in context, and you may experience something similar on the internet if you shift from an ad-saturated to an ad-free environment.  Like a fish out of water, you have no anti-environment by which to understand your reality, and the discovering one can leave you flopping around.

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]]> Dr Implausible Buzzsprout-13608737 Mon, 18 Sep 2023 04:00:00 -0600 895 dumpshock, advertising, fediverse, matrix, cyberspace, cyberpunk, shadowrun, Marshal McLuhan, Slavoj Zizek, postmodernism 1 14 full false Implausipod E0013 - Context Collapse Implausipod E0013 - Context Collapse Tiktok has a noise problem, and it's indicative of a larger issue ongoing within social media, that of "context collapse".  But even context collapse is expanding outside its original context and evidence of it can be seen in the rise of generative AI tools, music and media, and the rise of the "Everything App".   Starting with a baseline in information theory and anthropology, we'll outline some of the implications of noise and context collapse in this episode of the Implausipod.

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]]> Tiktok has a noise problem, and it's indicative of a larger issue ongoing within social media, that of "context collapse".  But even context collapse is expanding outside its original context and evidence of it can be seen in the rise of generative AI tools, music and media, and the rise of the "Everything App".   Starting with a baseline in information theory and anthropology, we'll outline some of the implications of noise and context collapse in this episode of the Implausipod.

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]]> Buzzsprout-13516713 Sat, 02 Sep 2023 17:00:00 -0600 1314 new media, media studies, context collapse, media ecology, tiktok, youtube, twitter, information theory, ai, generative ai, anthropology 1 13 full false Implausipod E0012 - AI Reflections Implausipod E0012 - AI Reflections AI provides a refection of humanity back at us, through a screen, darkly.  But that glass can provide different visions, depending on the viewpoint of the observer.  Are the generative tools that we call AI a tool for advancement and emancipation, or will they be used to further a dystopic control society?   Several current news stories give us the opportunity to see the potential path before us leading down both these routes.  Join us for a personal reflection on AI's role as an assistive technology on this episode of the Implausipod.

References:
Bostrom, N. (2014). Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies. Oxford University Press.

Deleuze, G. (1992). Postscript on the Societies of Control. October, 59, 3–7.

Eubanks, V. (2018). Automating Inequality. Macmillan.

McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. The New American Library.

Quan-Haase, A. (2015). Technology and Society: Social Networks, Power, and Inequality. Oxford University Press.

Russell, S. (2019). Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control. Viking.

Links:
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/08/microsoft-ai-suggests-food-bank-as-a-cannot-miss-tourist-spot-in-canada/

https://tomglobal.org/about

https://www.makersmakingchange.com/s/

 https://sfba.social/@brennansv/110911923848423204

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/23/health/ai-stroke-speech-neuroscience.html

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06443-4

https://arstechnica.com/health/2023/08/ai-powered-brain-implants-help-paralyzed-patients-communicate-faster-than-ever/

https://blog.jim-nielsen.com/2023/temporarily-abled/

https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-removes-embarrassing-offensive-ai-assisted-travel-articles-2023-8

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]]> AI provides a refection of humanity back at us, through a screen, darkly.  But that glass can provide different visions, depending on the viewpoint of the observer.  Are the generative tools that we call AI a tool for advancement and emancipation, or will they be used to further a dystopic control society?   Several current news stories give us the opportunity to see the potential path before us leading down both these routes.  Join us for a personal reflection on AI's role as an assistive technology on this episode of the Implausipod.

References:
Bostrom, N. (2014). Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies. Oxford University Press.

Deleuze, G. (1992). Postscript on the Societies of Control. October, 59, 3–7.

Eubanks, V. (2018). Automating Inequality. Macmillan.

McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man. The New American Library.

Quan-Haase, A. (2015). Technology and Society: Social Networks, Power, and Inequality. Oxford University Press.

Russell, S. (2019). Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control. Viking.

Links:
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2023/08/microsoft-ai-suggests-food-bank-as-a-cannot-miss-tourist-spot-in-canada/

https://tomglobal.org/about

https://www.makersmakingchange.com/s/

 https://sfba.social/@brennansv/110911923848423204

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/23/health/ai-stroke-speech-neuroscience.html

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-023-06443-4

https://arstechnica.com/health/2023/08/ai-powered-brain-implants-help-paralyzed-patients-communicate-faster-than-ever/

https://blog.jim-nielsen.com/2023/temporarily-abled/

https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-removes-embarrassing-offensive-ai-assisted-travel-articles-2023-8

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]]> Buzzsprout-13472740 Sat, 26 Aug 2023 21:00:00 -0600 1376 AI, artificial intelligence, chatgpt, generative art, ai art, current events, academic, academic research, media studies, innovation 1 12 full false Implausipod E0011 - Media, Mailbag, and Paths Not Yet Taken Implausipod E0011 - Media, Mailbag, and Paths Not Yet Taken Welcome to the Implausipod.  This episode covers a number of short segments, starting with some thoughts on the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike actions and what that means for Media Consumption (and commentary), as well as a dive into feedback and mail that the channel has received over the last year, addressing questions from the most important part of this show: the listeners.

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]]> Welcome to the Implausipod.  This episode covers a number of short segments, starting with some thoughts on the WGA/SAG-AFTRA strike actions and what that means for Media Consumption (and commentary), as well as a dive into feedback and mail that the channel has received over the last year, addressing questions from the most important part of this show: the listeners.

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]]> Dr Implausible Buzzsprout-13422668 Thu, 17 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0600 980 mailbag 1 11 full false Implausipod E0010: AOL, Fediverse, and Eternal September Implausipod E0010: AOL, Fediverse, and Eternal September What does the relationship between a 40 year old game console company, and ancient internet protocol, and American Online have to teach us about the current issues faced by new users to the Fediverse?  Let's find out on this episode of the Implausipod.

References:
Deleuze, G., & Guattari, F. (1987). _A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia_. University of Minnesota Press.

De Zengotita, T. (2006). _Mediated: How the media shapes your world and the way you live in it_. Bloomsbury 

Kissane, E. (n.d.). _Mastodon is easy and fun except when it isn’t—Erin Kissane’s small internet website_. Retrieved July 29, 2023, from [https://erinkissane.com/mastodon-is-easy-and-fun-except-when-it-isnt](https://erinkissane.com/mastodon-is-easy-and-fun-except-when-it-isnt)

Op’tLand, R. (2009). Another Endless November: AOL, WoW, and the Corporatization of a Niche Market. _Journal For Virtual Worlds Research_, _2_(3). [https://doi.org/10.4101/jvwr.v2i3.660](https://doi.org/10.4101/jvwr.v2i3.660)

Ritzer, G. (2000). _The McDonaldization of society_ (New Century). Pine Forge Press.

Swisher, K. (1998). _AOL.com: How Steve Case beat Bill Gates, nailed the netheads, and made millions in the war for the Web_. Random House.


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]]> What does the relationship between a 40 year old game console company, and ancient internet protocol, and American Online have to teach us about the current issues faced by new users to the Fediverse?  Let's find out on this episode of the Implausipod.

References:
Deleuze, G., & Guattari, F. (1987). _A Thousand Plateaus: Capitalism and Schizophrenia_. University of Minnesota Press.

De Zengotita, T. (2006). _Mediated: How the media shapes your world and the way you live in it_. Bloomsbury 

Kissane, E. (n.d.). _Mastodon is easy and fun except when it isn’t—Erin Kissane’s small internet website_. Retrieved July 29, 2023, from [https://erinkissane.com/mastodon-is-easy-and-fun-except-when-it-isnt](https://erinkissane.com/mastodon-is-easy-and-fun-except-when-it-isnt)

Op’tLand, R. (2009). Another Endless November: AOL, WoW, and the Corporatization of a Niche Market. _Journal For Virtual Worlds Research_, _2_(3). [https://doi.org/10.4101/jvwr.v2i3.660](https://doi.org/10.4101/jvwr.v2i3.660)

Ritzer, G. (2000). _The McDonaldization of society_ (New Century). Pine Forge Press.

Swisher, K. (1998). _AOL.com: How Steve Case beat Bill Gates, nailed the netheads, and made millions in the war for the Web_. Random House.


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]]> Buzzsprout-13373854 Tue, 08 Aug 2023 22:00:00 -0600 1521 fediverse, aol, usenet, mastodon, twitter, america online, media studies, new media 1 10 full false Implausipod E0009 - Recursive Publics and Social Media Implausipod E0009 - Recursive Publics and Social Media What are "recursive publics" and "social imaginaries", how have they impacted the development of the modern internet, and what impact do they have on the state of the internet in 2023 with the implosion of Twitter, Reddit, and the rise of the Fediverse?  Stay tuned as we take a 50000 foot view of the rise of the public sphere of geeks.

References:
Anderson, B. R. O. (1991 [2006]). Imagined communities: Reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism. Verso.

Habermas, J. (1989). The structural transformation of the public sphere: An inquiry into a category of bourgeois society (T. Burger, Trans.). MIT Press.

Kelty, C. (2005). Geeks, Social Imaginaries, and Recursive Publics. Cultural Anthropology,_20(2), 185–214. [https://doi.org/10.1525/can.2005.20.2.185](https://doi.org/10.1525/can.2005.20.2.185)

Taylor, C. (2004). Modern social imaginaries. Duke University Press.

Warner, M. (2002) "Publics and Counterpublics". Public Culture 14(1): 49-90.

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]]> What are "recursive publics" and "social imaginaries", how have they impacted the development of the modern internet, and what impact do they have on the state of the internet in 2023 with the implosion of Twitter, Reddit, and the rise of the Fediverse?  Stay tuned as we take a 50000 foot view of the rise of the public sphere of geeks.

References:
Anderson, B. R. O. (1991 [2006]). Imagined communities: Reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism. Verso.

Habermas, J. (1989). The structural transformation of the public sphere: An inquiry into a category of bourgeois society (T. Burger, Trans.). MIT Press.

Kelty, C. (2005). Geeks, Social Imaginaries, and Recursive Publics. Cultural Anthropology,_20(2), 185–214. [https://doi.org/10.1525/can.2005.20.2.185](https://doi.org/10.1525/can.2005.20.2.185)

Taylor, C. (2004). Modern social imaginaries. Duke University Press.

Warner, M. (2002) "Publics and Counterpublics". Public Culture 14(1): 49-90.

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]]> Buzzsprout-13329924 Tue, 01 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0600 883 public sphere, social imaginary, media studies, social media, twitter, threads, reddit, facebook, linux, foss, activitypub, recursive public 1 9 full false Implausipod E0008 - Audience Commodity Implausipod E0008 - Audience Commodity Getting started with a brief rundown of an old article that details the rise of the Audience Commodity: Smythe (1977) "Communications: Blindspot of Western Marxism"
we use that to explain the recent events of the internet of the last month or so, including the Twitter-pocalypse, the Reddit Meltdown, the rise of ChatGPT, and some general media theory too.

Other links and references:

Baran, P. A., & Sweezy, P. M. (1966). Monopoly Capital. Monthly Review Press.

Smythe, D. W. (1981). Dependency Road: Communications, Capitalism, Consciousness, and Canada (Revised ed. edition). Praeger.

Eastwood, J., Hongsdusit, G., & Keegan, J. (2023, June 23). How Your Attention Is Auctioned Off to Advertisers – The Markup. https://themarkup.org/privacy/2023/06/23/how-your-attention-is-auctioned-off-to-advertisers

Keegan, J., & Eastwood, J. (2023, June 8). From “Heavy Purchasers” of Pregnancy Tests to the Depression-Prone: We Found 650,000 Ways Advertisers Label You – The Markup. https://themarkup.org/privacy/2023/06/08/from-heavy-purchasers-of-pregnancy-tests-to-the-depression-prone-we-found-650000-ways-advertisers-label-you

Note: this episode was also loaded to our youtube channel

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]]> Getting started with a brief rundown of an old article that details the rise of the Audience Commodity: Smythe (1977) "Communications: Blindspot of Western Marxism"
we use that to explain the recent events of the internet of the last month or so, including the Twitter-pocalypse, the Reddit Meltdown, the rise of ChatGPT, and some general media theory too.

Other links and references:

Baran, P. A., & Sweezy, P. M. (1966). Monopoly Capital. Monthly Review Press.

Smythe, D. W. (1981). Dependency Road: Communications, Capitalism, Consciousness, and Canada (Revised ed. edition). Praeger.

Eastwood, J., Hongsdusit, G., & Keegan, J. (2023, June 23). How Your Attention Is Auctioned Off to Advertisers – The Markup. https://themarkup.org/privacy/2023/06/23/how-your-attention-is-auctioned-off-to-advertisers

Keegan, J., & Eastwood, J. (2023, June 8). From “Heavy Purchasers” of Pregnancy Tests to the Depression-Prone: We Found 650,000 Ways Advertisers Label You – The Markup. https://themarkup.org/privacy/2023/06/08/from-heavy-purchasers-of-pregnancy-tests-to-the-depression-prone-we-found-650000-ways-advertisers-label-you

Note: this episode was also loaded to our youtube channel

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]]> Buzzsprout-13185814 Sat, 08 Jul 2023 17:00:00 -0600 794 audience commodity, media studies, social media, twitter, threads, reddit, facebook, television, chatgpt 1 8 full false Implausipod E0007 - The Peripheral S01E01-02 Implausipod E0007 - The Peripheral S01E01-02 The Implausipod returns to cyberpunk with an look at the first two episodes of The Peripheral, the adaptation of the 2014 William Gibson novel that aired on Amazon Prime on October 21st, 2022.  In this podcast episode, we take a look at the show about communication between two future dystopias, and provide some background behind the tech that appears on screen. Mild spoilers may exist for those who haven't seen the episodes, but hopefully this episode helps explain some of the more esoteric elements in the first two episodes as they aired.

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]]> The Implausipod returns to cyberpunk with an look at the first two episodes of The Peripheral, the adaptation of the 2014 William Gibson novel that aired on Amazon Prime on October 21st, 2022.  In this podcast episode, we take a look at the show about communication between two future dystopias, and provide some background behind the tech that appears on screen. Mild spoilers may exist for those who haven't seen the episodes, but hopefully this episode helps explain some of the more esoteric elements in the first two episodes as they aired.

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]]> Ray Buzzsprout-11560710 Mon, 24 Oct 2022 15:00:00 -0600 793 the peripheral, cyberpunk, science fiction, literature, scifi, william gibson, cybernetics, matrix, amazon prime, lisa joy, jonathan nolan, landwarrior, telepresence, virtual reality 1 7 full false Implausipod E0006 - Appendix W E02 - Starship Troopers Implausipod E0006 - Appendix W E02 - Starship Troopers In episode 6 of the Implausipod we'll continue our exploration of Appendix W with one of the more direct inspirations for the Warhammer 40000 universe and the iconic space marines or Adeptus Astartes, with the appearance of the OG Mobile Infantry from Starship Troopers, with by Robert A. Heinlein in 1959!  

In it we discuss the origins of the military sci-fi subgenre, the origins of some iconic 40K weaponry, and discuss which came first: Heinlein's Mobile Infantry or Marvel's Iron Man?  Also, what are some of the differences between the book and the film?  Hope you enjoy!

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]]> In episode 6 of the Implausipod we'll continue our exploration of Appendix W with one of the more direct inspirations for the Warhammer 40000 universe and the iconic space marines or Adeptus Astartes, with the appearance of the OG Mobile Infantry from Starship Troopers, with by Robert A. Heinlein in 1959!  

In it we discuss the origins of the military sci-fi subgenre, the origins of some iconic 40K weaponry, and discuss which came first: Heinlein's Mobile Infantry or Marvel's Iron Man?  Also, what are some of the differences between the book and the film?  Hope you enjoy!

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]]> Ray Buzzsprout-11418219 Sat, 01 Oct 2022 05:00:00 -0600 1239 warhammer, warhammer40000, warhammer40k, W40K, appendix w, games workshop, science fiction, scifi, starship troopers, robert heinlein, marvel, iron man, space marine, space marines, adeptus astartes 1 6 full false Implausipod - ICEbreaker 0001 - Loab Implausipod - ICEbreaker 0001 - Loab Living in our cyberpunk present, sometimes we need to break the ICE.  This ICEbreaker is a quick hit on a current event or story from the last week, and how it links with the cyberpunk literature of the past.  These episodes are outside of our main story arcs, more like a rapid-fire bonus episode. In this episode, we'll take a look at a "demon" in the internet, that keeps appearing in the various AI Art tools like Dall-E and Midjourney.  Let's have a look at the "loab"

Links:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2022/09/07/meet-loab-the-ai-art-generated-demon-currently-haunting-the-internet/

https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5vjw3/why-does-this-horrifying-woman-keep-appearing-in-ai-generated-images

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]]> Living in our cyberpunk present, sometimes we need to break the ICE.  This ICEbreaker is a quick hit on a current event or story from the last week, and how it links with the cyberpunk literature of the past.  These episodes are outside of our main story arcs, more like a rapid-fire bonus episode. In this episode, we'll take a look at a "demon" in the internet, that keeps appearing in the various AI Art tools like Dall-E and Midjourney.  Let's have a look at the "loab"

Links:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2022/09/07/meet-loab-the-ai-art-generated-demon-currently-haunting-the-internet/

https://www.vice.com/en/article/g5vjw3/why-does-this-horrifying-woman-keep-appearing-in-ai-generated-images

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]]> Ray Buzzsprout-11303460 Mon, 12 Sep 2022 08:00:00 -0600 419 ICEbreaker, aiart, loab, cyberpunk, william gibson, loa, vodoun, dalle, midjourney 1 bonus false Implausipod E0005 - Appendix W E01 - Dragon's Domain Implausipod E0005 - Appendix W E01 - Dragon's Domain In episode 5 of the Implausipod we'll start our exploration of Appendix W, with a timely look at one of the inspirations for the space hulks within the Warhammer 40000 universe, and a surprise visit from a monster originally introduced in the pages of Rogue Trader: the enigmatic Enslavers! These both appeared in S01E08 of British sci-fi series Space:1999, and it ended up being an influence on other films like Alien (and Aliens) as well.  Join us on a trip 47 years into the past to explore the source of some iconic science fiction tropes. Enjoy!

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]]> In episode 5 of the Implausipod we'll start our exploration of Appendix W, with a timely look at one of the inspirations for the space hulks within the Warhammer 40000 universe, and a surprise visit from a monster originally introduced in the pages of Rogue Trader: the enigmatic Enslavers! These both appeared in S01E08 of British sci-fi series Space:1999, and it ended up being an influence on other films like Alien (and Aliens) as well.  Join us on a trip 47 years into the past to explore the source of some iconic science fiction tropes. Enjoy!

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]]> Ray Buzzsprout-11301170 Sun, 11 Sep 2022 20:00:00 -0600 1164 warhammer, warhammer40000, warhammer40k, W40K, appendix w, games workshop, science fiction, scifi, alien, space1999, dragon's domain, space hulk, killteam 1 5 full false Implausipod E0004 - Introducing Appendix W Implausipod E0004 - Introducing Appendix W Welcome to episode 4 of the Implausipod, introducing the Appendix W. Originally introduced on our blog last year (find it here: https://implausi.blog/?cat=17 ),  the Appendix W is a collection of the titles that defined the Warhammer 40000 universe and it early development, drawing on titles from science fiction, comics, movies, tv, anime, and heavy metal album covers.


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]]> Welcome to episode 4 of the Implausipod, introducing the Appendix W. Originally introduced on our blog last year (find it here: https://implausi.blog/?cat=17 ),  the Appendix W is a collection of the titles that defined the Warhammer 40000 universe and it early development, drawing on titles from science fiction, comics, movies, tv, anime, and heavy metal album covers.


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]]> Buzzsprout-11023318 Sun, 04 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0600 979 warhammer, warhammer40000, warhammer40k, W40K, appendix n, appendix w, games workshop, science fiction, scifi, dune, dungeons and dragons, game studies 1 4 full false Implausipod E0003 - Cyberpunk Primer Implausipod E0003 - Cyberpunk Primer Welcome to Episode 3 of the Implausipod.  In this episode, we're taking a quick look at the subgenre of science fiction called cyberpunk.  It's been mentioned a few times in the first few episodes, so I thought it warranted a closer look.  So we'll draw a through line between Bladerunner and the Matrix, and from Neuromancer to the Diamond Age, and touching on the intervening points.  As cyberpunk is a transmedia genre (existing in various versions in film, television, fiction, rpgs, video games, comic books, etc.), we'll cover some of the main tropes and conventions of the genre, and key titles.  This isn't an exhaustive guide, but I hope it's enough to get your feet wet. 

This episode will also help align our episode numbering with the remainder of Season 4 of Westworld, which will help us stay on topic.  Well, help me at least.

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]]> Welcome to Episode 3 of the Implausipod.  In this episode, we're taking a quick look at the subgenre of science fiction called cyberpunk.  It's been mentioned a few times in the first few episodes, so I thought it warranted a closer look.  So we'll draw a through line between Bladerunner and the Matrix, and from Neuromancer to the Diamond Age, and touching on the intervening points.  As cyberpunk is a transmedia genre (existing in various versions in film, television, fiction, rpgs, video games, comic books, etc.), we'll cover some of the main tropes and conventions of the genre, and key titles.  This isn't an exhaustive guide, but I hope it's enough to get your feet wet. 

This episode will also help align our episode numbering with the remainder of Season 4 of Westworld, which will help us stay on topic.  Well, help me at least.

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]]> Buzzsprout-10966667 Sun, 07 Aug 2022 13:00:00 -0600 1756 cyberpunk, science fiction, literature, scifi, william gibson, neal stephenson, bruce sterling, pat cadigan, cybernetics, matrix, blade runner 1 3 full false Implausipod E0002 - Genre - Westworld S04E03 Implausipod E0002 - Genre - Westworld S04E03 Welcome to Episode 2 of the Implausipod! In this episode we'll look at the use of genre in Westworld, centred around Season 4 Episode 3 Annees Folles.  The show has had an deep and ongoing relation with genre since it's beginning, and has grown since Season 2.  Westworld asks us if genre is an aesthetic, which can be transposed upon the structure of the media that we participate with?  We look at the larger genres that Westworld is situated in and tries to break out of, including cyberpunk, the western, and others, and look at how genre is employed in KW Jeter's novel Noir and in the TTRPG Shadowrun.

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]]> Welcome to Episode 2 of the Implausipod! In this episode we'll look at the use of genre in Westworld, centred around Season 4 Episode 3 Annees Folles.  The show has had an deep and ongoing relation with genre since it's beginning, and has grown since Season 2.  Westworld asks us if genre is an aesthetic, which can be transposed upon the structure of the media that we participate with?  We look at the larger genres that Westworld is situated in and tries to break out of, including cyberpunk, the western, and others, and look at how genre is employed in KW Jeter's novel Noir and in the TTRPG Shadowrun.

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]]> Buzzsprout-10959908 Mon, 25 Jul 2022 07:00:00 -0600 1100 westworld, cyberpunk, genre, aesthetic 1 2 full false Implausipod E0001 - Emergence - Westworld S04E02 Implausipod E0001 - Emergence - Westworld S04E02 Welcome to the Implausipod!  I'm your host Dr Implausible.  In this episode, we offer a brief introduction, and then discuss some of the broader themes of arising out of Season 4, Episode 2 of HBO's "Westworld" series, originally airing on 2022-07-03.  We offer a quick comparison with Jonathan Nolan's earlier work and cyberpunk science fiction, before looking at the some basic concepts of emergence that are appearing in, and may have had an influence on, the show.  

Finally, in the interest of brevity and maintaining momentum, we'll lay out a quick guide to the future of this podcast.  We're aiming for the first "arc" to run parallel to season 4 of the show, after which we will turn to some related materials that are linked to our larger project.

Thanks for joining us, we're glad to have you with us.

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]]> Welcome to the Implausipod!  I'm your host Dr Implausible.  In this episode, we offer a brief introduction, and then discuss some of the broader themes of arising out of Season 4, Episode 2 of HBO's "Westworld" series, originally airing on 2022-07-03.  We offer a quick comparison with Jonathan Nolan's earlier work and cyberpunk science fiction, before looking at the some basic concepts of emergence that are appearing in, and may have had an influence on, the show.  

Finally, in the interest of brevity and maintaining momentum, we'll lay out a quick guide to the future of this podcast.  We're aiming for the first "arc" to run parallel to season 4 of the show, after which we will turn to some related materials that are linked to our larger project.

Thanks for joining us, we're glad to have you with us.

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]]> Buzzsprout-10959707 Wed, 13 Jul 2022 22:00:00 -0600 917 westworld, hbo, emergence, complexity 1 1 full false