Transcript
Talkin2Todd: Okay. I think we're ready
Todd: Look at that. Record time.
Talkin2Todd: record
Todd: I mean, technically, you've been in a lot of preparation. I just showed up, but I mean. Record time.
Talkin2Todd: How is that any different?
Todd: I... Because I showed up later. Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Oh.
Todd: Yeah, that's why.
Talkin2Todd: We'll be right back.
Todd: Levels levels.
Talkin2Todd: Levels levels.
Todd: Hey, do you want to share what you've learned this week?
Talkin2Todd: Let's... Pretty quick to jump to the end of the show already, but sure, why not? I'm in.
Todd: I mean, i just I thought this was pretty interesting.
Talkin2Todd: Yet Columbia House is shutting down.
Todd: The 12 cassettes for a penny Columbia house.
Talkin2Todd: Yes, the six CDs for a dollar, Columbia House. That's the one.
Todd: Was that the thing that you learned? that Columbia House is. for a brief... for a brief moment still a thing?
Talkin2Todd: Until September 15th, it is still a thing. Yes, that's what I'm like, wait, what? How is this still a thing?
Todd: Let me ask you this. Were you a member in the 80s?
Talkin2Todd: Absolutely, I was.
Todd: And and how many how many cassettes did you buy after the 12 that you got for a penny?
Talkin2Todd: Okay, so... How many did I intentionally buy? Or how many did I buy because I didn't? Hmm. Because I didn't get them returned in time. Because those are two different things.
Todd: Absolutely.
Talkin2Todd: Either way, the it's still the answer is still not many but Yeah. Did you do this?
Todd: I did. And to your point, the question of how many did you mean to buy and how many did you end up buying are two. different. numbers. Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah, well... Toddlers, if you're if you're listening and you're interested, it's not too late. for you to still be.
Talkin2Todd: a member of the Columbia House family. because they're still taking orders through September 15th. So you can sign up now and get a dozen 8 -tracks for a dollar and then not have to buy anymore.
Todd: Yeah, and since they're shutting down, I'm off the hook for Evervine again. I love this. Where do I sign up?
Talkin2Todd: Yeah, now you just need to find yourself an 8 -track player.
Talkin2Todd: Hi, toddlers. Welcome to Talking to Todd. weekly podcast with Dwayne Johnson and Todd Prins, where failure is always an option. Thanks for joining us. Hey, Todd.
Todd: Hey, how's it going?
Talkin2Todd: Pretty good. Pretty good. How are you?
Todd: Not too bad. Not too bad Really broken up about this Columbia House News, taking it pretty hard. Not really. Just in case and we get any actuallys just off of some other things here. At one point they were offering 12 CDs.
Todd: for a penny. Yeah. Now they made a, how can you make any money?
Talkin2Todd: Wow.
Todd: Well, when you forget to return the card and then then they charge you like $18 .99 for that one CD, you're like, oh, that's how you...
Talkin2Todd: Oh, that's
Todd: That's how you make the money. yeah
Talkin2Todd: Yep, that's where they, yeah, that's how they get you. It is.
Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Absolutely.
Todd: D -
Talkin2Todd: how they get you.
Todd: do Do you know what they've been doing, however? i mean they're shutting down do you know what they've actually been doing
Talkin2Todd: VHS tapes?
Todd: Mail order DVD business. Selling a limited a limited catalog of mostly dated movies.
Talkin2Todd: So...
Talkin2Todd: So blockbuster. No wonder they're shutting down.
Todd: Yeah. Yeah. My guess is is they're like they're the they're going to like they're going to all the the grocery stores and the convenience stores. and buying all the DVDs that are in the DVDs for a dollar bin.
Todd: Right. Like. it's It's all the Jean -Claude Van Damme movies you've never heard of.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah. the
Talkin2Todd: Right. Yes. Because there's a big, huge bin in the back of every Walmart. full of these.
Todd: Yeah. Yeah. I think the problem is apparently they basically adopted the Netflix. business model. but they started in 2016. mailing.
Todd: Dated DVDs.
Talkin2Todd: Oops.
Todd: I wonder why they're going out of business.
Talkin2Todd: Oops. Yeah, well there you go.
Todd: Anyway.
Talkin2Todd: Let's see. How about some feedback, follow -up, and updates?
Todd: Sure. Sounds good.
Talkin2Todd: From Danny.
Talkin2Todd: I'm 10 minutes in and I already have two alternative titles. Number one. Looking at you, Ed Norton.
Talkin2Todd: And number two. You just punted on first down.
Talkin2Todd: Both. Excellent suggestions.
Todd: Yeah, but I don't think we, I don't. We don't want to make Ed Norton mad. Not because he'll turn into a Hulk, but because reportedly he's kind of a jerk. So let's let's not tempt him.
Talkin2Todd: Danny also. Because this is what we pay him for.
Talkin2Todd: figured out that if we bought a ticket to The organ.
Talkin2Todd: performance? I don't know, whatever.
Todd: the the final the the The end of the performance.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah, the final note change.
Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Okay, so... Not to go down a rabbit hole here, but... Is the ticket you're buying... for When they make the change To the last note.
Talkin2Todd: or when they take all the bags off of the keys and end the song.
Todd: I'll get back to you on that. I don't know.
Talkin2Todd: Okay.
Todd: You're the one that brought this, but i'll you know what? You know let you know what?
Talkin2Todd: You're the one that brought this originally. I just I now it hits my feed.
Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: This is the this is where we live now
Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Anyway, the amortization tables If you bought that ticket for $2 ,640, The future value, assuming you could get somebody to pay you for it.
Talkin2Todd: is 201 billion. Plus.
Talkin2Todd: at 3 % inflation. Danny recommends.
Todd: Mm.
Talkin2Todd: the investment. I think that's what I got out of this.
Todd: Okay, number one, Danny, don't put all my money in 2020. 2640 organ tickets. No. no Number two.
Todd: So there is this notion in economics. I didn't pay a lot of attention to economics, but what is a thing worth? It's worth. It's worth exactly what somebody will. pay you for it. so So if I walk in and go, I have a ticket, it's worth $200 billion. dollars Well, not me.
Todd: my ancestors. uh go hey this is where 200 billion.
Talkin2Todd: Yes.
Todd: either One, somebody will go, that's a great deal. because hyperinflation in the last 600 years has destroyed the economy or number two they'll say give you 10 bucks for it And they'll be like, but Danny said that this would be a good investment.
Talkin2Todd: yes
Todd: Who's Danny? Doesn't matter. Ten bucks, huh?
Talkin2Todd: You know. Toddler 401k.
Todd: Oh, him.
Talkin2Todd: He's famous.
Todd: Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Talkin2Todd: oh oh oh yeah Yeah, I didn't know him by Danny.
Todd: Yeah, him.
Talkin2Todd: Okay.
Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Todd: By the way, the composition is scheduled to finish on September 4th. 2640. I believe what you're buying. is walking in. hearing the final Chord being played.
Todd: And then going to silence. Where you then are allowed to clap. Happy. And. at the end of the performance
Talkin2Todd: And only then, no clapping on key changes.
Todd: Yeah. Yeah, no, no. Everybody, everybody please. We don't want to throw them off. like Let's have some decorum here.
Talkin2Todd: uh let
Todd: and just I'm looking at this article, though. i'm just Once again, we talked about this before, but this is just wild, right? Which is... That. The... The performance began on September 5, 2001.
Todd: The performance began. And the. composition starts. with silent Pause. for almost two years.
Todd: Strong work. Have we started? Yes. I can't tell. Oh that's because it's a pause. What?
Talkin2Todd: We started the same composition. on this podcast a year and a half ago, and nobody knew it until right now.
Todd: Heh.
Todd: Yeah, there we go. Yeah. This is...
Talkin2Todd: Copyright.
Todd: This is where I just want to go. Platypus. There. That's the first actual word. the The next word of the joke.
Todd: is scheduled. to to come out in eight years.
Todd: Is it walks?
Talkin2Todd: So I said to the man,
Todd: Damn it. Yes, it is.
Talkin2Todd: I don't know.
Todd: Planet Puss walks into a bar. Now you just, you ruined the first 20 years of the joke.
Talkin2Todd: Oh, you just blew the joke.
Talkin2Todd: From toddler negative 18, Sarah Judson Brown. We talked about, I quizzed you about hamburgers at McDonald's.
Todd: Yes. I did poorly.
Talkin2Todd: She sent me. She sent me a meme. Sociologists say Western civilization began its decline when McDonald's took out those little cheeseburger stools.
Talkin2Todd: Which seems accurate. Do you remember sitting on a little hamburger? A little cheeseburger stool in McDonald's. I don't think Arizona and Iowa Falls ever had them.
Todd: I... No, I was going to say. i
Todd: McDonald's didn't come to town until after. We had left. Right? I mean you came back.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah, I came back.
Todd: i never lived I never lived in an Iowa Falls that had a McDonald's.
Talkin2Todd: You.
Todd: That was for the big towns.
Talkin2Todd: You're... Yes, we had Dairy Queen. We had Hardee's.
Todd: but not McDonald's. And there is a difference.
Talkin2Todd: But not McDonald's. there Yes, there is.
Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Todd: So. No, i i don't I don't remember that. I'm trying to remember what I would have sat in at Mr. Quick. which is. also what we had.
Talkin2Todd: Oh, that is right. That is what we had.
Todd: Yeah. Sorry, guys. We're just going down memory lane here now.
Talkin2Todd: Oh, wow.
Todd: we should probably move on. What other feedback do we get?
Talkin2Todd: We...
Talkin2Todd: We get a letter. 25 minutes ago. So just making it in under the wire.
Talkin2Todd: From the Taylor Center.
Talkin2Todd: Jesse writes... Hello? very senior fellow Dwayne and visiting scholar Todd.
Talkin2Todd: Our teams have been overjoyed with the success of the Todd's Tech Corner theme. as it's on heavy rotation at the Taylor Center. It's on heavy rotation around here too, just gotta say. So popular, in fact, that the Legal Eagles received a request.
Talkin2Todd: The interns that watch. VSF Duane's parking spot at the center. to be able to help him into the building. Thank you. Oh. Approach the legal eagles and ask the theme. also be made for DeWayne's Technical Corner.
Talkin2Todd: because they felt it was the right thing to do for their favorite for their favorite very senior fellow.
Todd: The legal eagles looked up from a classic yeah ESPN basketball game they were watching on FUBU.
Todd: Check.
Talkin2Todd: Yep.
Todd: Send me a Slack message that said, we're buying more credits. Mortgage the cow. Again, they went into their multimedia studio, taking their miniature Mont Blanc pens, which is code for it's about to get funky.
Todd: Several hours later, they handed me a flash drive with two MP3 files on it, which are attached below. The note read, quote, when duan's day gets fouled up, this should bring some good funk to it.
Todd: We're all out of AI credits again, and we're running out of cows. Laters.
Talkin2Todd: I have also relayed your feedback on Todd's Tech Corner theme to the Legal Eagles. and they have some more classic basketball games to watch first but they will get to it eventually Have a great week.
Talkin2Todd: Best Dr. T. Chair. Professor. Bringing the funk. Taylor Center for Technology Policy. Clark County, Ruby Valley.
Talkin2Todd: Napa Valley. Napa, this is new. That. the The tagline just keeps evolving.
Talkin2Todd: So I got to say. We got this 27 minutes ago.
Talkin2Todd: Neither of us have listened to it.
Talkin2Todd: Buckle up toddlers.
Talkin2Todd: Some fantastic work.
Todd: I think that's going to be on heavy rotation in the official's car driving. Two. To and from. hey I can't wait. i Does your crew listen? to this podcast.
Talkin2Todd: occasionally.
Todd: I'm hoping they haven't just. Because what I really want to do is, like, the first the first night you guys are you're driving to... El Gona. And you're like. Hey, guys.
Todd: Boom.
Talkin2Todd: The best night of his life was the was the night you didn't know he was here. That is...
Todd: but
Talkin2Todd: Oh, amen, brother. That is fantastic.
Talkin2Todd: I... I also I also have to say. on the on On Todd's Tech Corner.
Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Again. It's been on heavy rotation. It struck me this week. that. the The line. Treating every update like it's breaking news is a dig.
Todd: Oh absolutely. Oh you didn't pick that up? Oh I picked that up immediately.
Talkin2Todd: Of course. Of course you did.
Todd: Oh, no, no, no. Absolutely. Oh, my goodness. Another another point one update and we got to cover it. Yep. Oh, no, no. Total dick.
Talkin2Todd: Oh dear. uh so Do I need to play the Tech Corner bumper? Do we have any Tech Corner updates?
Todd: No. No.
Talkin2Todd: Okay.
Todd: Not this week. Nope.
Talkin2Todd: Okay. And we didn't. I didn't ref this week, so... We've got no technical corner updates either. so But we do have a fantastic theme. Thanks, Jesse. Appreciate that.
Talkin2Todd: Outstanding work as always. Oh, you know what else we have?
Talkin2Todd: We have an I'm Actually from last week. We were talking about Game Changers and I said it was on Dropbox.
Todd: Which didn't sound right.
Talkin2Todd: Nope. Didn't sound right when I said it. Lucas and Hannah came home over the weekend and we watched more Game Changers. And it's on.
Talkin2Todd: Drop out. Not drop pox. so You can also get it on YouTube. some of them. But... If you look at my YouTube feed,
Talkin2Todd: It's enough filled with Game Changers clips. Great.
Todd: I mean, when you said, hey, I got this wrong, I'm like, oh, I can't believe you got this wrong. And then it was like, drop out. Yeah. You know what? doesn't really make that big a difference. i
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Todd: Oh, wow.
Talkin2Todd: you
Todd: they even They have a website and everything.
Talkin2Todd: they do They have an app for your Apple TV, Todd.
Todd: Really?
Talkin2Todd: Yes, they do
Todd: I. this is This is odd. I'm going here, and of course I can't... can't I can't get to the website because the it's wanting me to confirm all of my privacy choices.
Todd: Which, uh... Which, fun fact... I've mentioned him just recently on the show. John Gruber, blogger John Gruber. coined the term, calling them, these boxes, dickovers.
Todd: it's It's the stuff that they put in front that you can't even get to the content. I think that's now in, it was used in the Wall Street Journal or something recently. Anyway, here's what I find interesting.
Todd: Reject all. Click it. Nothing happens. Nothing happens. Nothing happens. Nothing happens. Oh, you there is a reject all button. Don't track me. but you can't get past it. Okay.
Todd: You know what? We're just going to close that now. Thank you.
Talkin2Todd: uh the
Todd: okay
Talkin2Todd: The good news. If you would like to log in. and watch some of these.
Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Lucas will share his login and password with you, and that is totally acceptable. According to Sam Reich. who is the CEO. They want you.
Talkin2Todd: to share the passwords. This is not Netflix. This is not HBO. As long as you know somebody who subscribes and they're willing to share their login and password with you.
Talkin2Todd: which means I'm willing to share Lucas's login and password with you if you want.
Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Anyway. so So there's that. A little bit of follow -up.
Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: On Sunday, Noah Cameron for the Royals. A one hit. Complete game shutout. It was the first one -hit complete game shutout.
Talkin2Todd: for the Royals since Zach Granke did it in 2009.
Talkin2Todd: Todd, why are we covering this?
Todd: It's the only game the Royals won this month.
Talkin2Todd: Well...
Talkin2Todd: can I kind of asked for that.
Todd: Nope. We cover baseball things that have something to do with a yambo pitch.
Talkin2Todd: Yes, we do. Noah had two Yambo pitches. one at 84 and one at 91. He ended up throwing 115 pitches in that complete game shutout.
Todd: Nobody throws 115 pitches anymore.
Talkin2Todd: I know, right? but Here's the thing. The last time. He took a complete game. he took a shutout with like two hits into the end of the eighth inning, he got pulled and the Royals got shelled in the ninth because their bullpen sucks.
Talkin2Todd: And so Q did actually learn his lesson and just left Cameron in to write it out. You know what? If we're going to lose. Anyway. Let's lose with the guy that got us here. so Anyway.
Talkin2Todd: yeah
Todd: And we don't really need him next year anyway. After he goes through surgery.
Talkin2Todd: Right, because we've already because we're getting a discount. It's buy four, get one free on Tommy John surgeries. And we've already had four this year.
Todd: Yeah. yeah Yeah, it's great.
Talkin2Todd: So.
Todd: just eden Okay, by the way, here's here's my thought.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Todd: Okay, if we need if we want Yambo pitches to take off.
Talkin2Todd: Yes.
Todd: Here's a thought. We get some, you know how the Ohio State has the Buckeyes that goes on the helmets?
Talkin2Todd: baa
Todd: Right? Yeah. We... We print up some Yambo pitch. Stickers. And then. When we notice this, we mail. those to the player. with a nice form that says congratulations, like a certificate or something with a sticker suitable for their helmet. All it's going to take is a couple of pitchers.
Todd: to start putting yambo stickers on their helmet and people go what is that well it's a yambo pitch thing he's very like you need one guy in a post game to say yeah i took the loss and got shelled but i'm pretty happy because i'm gonna get another yambo pi sticker and like what's that oh yeah i threw 91 on 91 so that's a yambo so i'm pretty i'm pretty stoked
Todd: Yeah. Oh. or Sorry, now just thinking this out loud, what we really need to do, the best way to do this is we got to get. I was going to say we got to get like Taco Bell, but maybe not them to sponsor.
Talkin2Todd: No, not them Never. Never.
Talkin2Todd: I don't know.
Todd: start
Talkin2Todd: i don't I don't know what the question is, but the answer is not Taco Bell.
Todd: i'm just i'm just I'm just thinking what we really need to do is you just need to get you need to get somebody to say to tell the fans. Hey. Uh... Hey. Free taco.
Todd: If there's a yabbo pitch in the seventh inning. Free tacos. for the for everybody right and then everybody's going to be yelling yumbo yum but like
Talkin2Todd: Yep.
Todd: there we go
Talkin2Todd: Yambo Tacos.
Todd: Yeah, yeah. Now that you say that together, I don't know that that's such a great idea. That doesn't sound quite right. but you know we'll keep working on it we'll keep working on it
Talkin2Todd: We'll keep, we're, we're workshopping it. yes the more we talk about it we we uh felderman and i went to the icubs game
Todd: Yeah, yeah
Talkin2Todd: last week, and we introduced three more people to the concept of the yambo pitch. All of them were on board.
Todd: Okay, so at that rate, okay, so three people a week. okay this is gonna all right
Talkin2Todd: Yep.
Talkin2Todd: It's growing faster than our listenership.
Todd: Here's the thing.
Todd: it's true Not as fast as measles in the United States, but faster than our listenership. so it's it's
Talkin2Todd: That is a sad state of affairs in the USA right now.
Todd: Yeah. I mean, it's not really going viral, but right now viral stuff is going viral. So we don't want that. Okay. but Did we have any other follow -up?
Talkin2Todd: Item number two. From our conversation about the Ocho, you said there was there was one of the shows that was only goalies.
Todd: Yep.
Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: And I caught this on the relisten. I didn't catch it real time, but I caught it on the relisten. We didn't say whether only goalies. Was ice hockey? or soccer. So which was it?
Todd: I can't imagine it actually makes a difference.
Talkin2Todd: It doesn't, but I was curious.
Todd: But. I'm pretty sure. Uh... It is. It's ice hockey.
Talkin2Todd: Okay.
Todd: Yeah. Yep, I'm seeing pictures of it. Just not if not from the outro, just of... First of all, There's Canadian flag in the background.
Todd: Don't even...
Talkin2Todd: tracks
Todd: Hockey. Yep. uh And yeah, all goalies game. It was five on five hockey. goalies only. No skaters are allowed. Full goalie gear required.
Todd: Must be a goalie. Uh... And you have to be in your full pads, blockers. And your stick. Let's play.
Talkin2Todd: Even if... Even if you're playing Winger?
Todd: Yeah. No, no, no. It's all goalies.
Talkin2Todd: All goalies. Okay.
Todd: It's all gold. It's it's You have to be. It's not just dressed up in goalie gear. You have to be a goalie on another team. and fully dressed as goalies with the goalie stick.
Talkin2Todd: Oh, God.
Todd: let's Let's go out there. that would be like oh man that would be like nfl but like all punters Okay.
Talkin2Todd: Okay. I'd watch that
Todd: You would for a little bit and and until people got really, really hurt.
Talkin2Todd: You know why? the
Talkin2Todd: Because punting is winning, man. Punting is winning. That's what we say around here. Let's see. the Oh, the third thing on follow -up is you.
Todd: Oh, yeah. Hey, so we were talking about a couple of weeks ago, we talked about the Stanley Cup and then there was a conversation about. But I didn't know what the Stanley Cup. meme was about. and We had a big laugh. Well.
Todd: After we recorded last week's episode. I was watching YouTube. I think Monday night. And the first item. in my YouTube feed recommended to me. Why nobody buys Stanley mugs anymore.
Todd: Well... As soon as Todd's aware of of a trend. Trent is dead. That didn't take long.
Todd: the the The thumbnail says, what happened to Stanley Mugs?
Talkin2Todd: Oh.
Todd: And I didn't watch the 14 minute and 10. second video because again this is one of those FAD moved on. Hit like and subscribe. Thanks for watching my channel. But...
Todd: I would love it is. I don't know things are going great. And then there was this weird podcast. And suddenly...
Todd: I haven't found the podcast because it's talking to Todd, but I've tried every iteration of it and I can't find it to even listen to it.
Talkin2Todd: Oh, let's see. Where are we? Oh, it's time for this. Nope.
Talkin2Todd: A little crosstalk there on the soundboard. Sorry about that.
Todd: i thought I thought you were being like a DJ in the club where you'd... where you dropped you dropped one and then you were then cross -fading to mix them all up. and Yeah. Okay. Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: No, no, I was not.
Todd: Hmm. Hey, Dwayne, have you heard that that AI is being disruptive?
Talkin2Todd: occasionally.
Todd: Yeah. Yeah. Uh. it's it's It's upsetting. It's it's a... It's causing lots of problems, lots lots of different places. There's concern about AI and education.
Todd: Some people are like, oh, it's great because it's helping students learn. And there's other concerns about, no, people, they're just using AI to to cheat. as it were.
Talkin2Todd: Right.
Todd: Yeah, so Brown University. Uh... Professor Roberto Serrano. who teaches A quite difficult econ... 1170 class.
Todd: Normally, That class attracts very few students, but very good ones. He's never had more than 30 students enrolled in a time. And sometimes, some semesters, he has only... 8.
Todd: However, For the spring 2026 session. He decided... There was a... In. In late 2025, there was a shooting on the Brown campus. A couple of people were killed.
Todd: It really affected him. So he decided. Here's the thing. Midterm. Take home. Final. take home. You don't have to come to class. You don't have to come to campus. People don't feel safe.
Todd: Suddenly, in a class that's never had more than 30 people, 86 students. Signed up for the class. to a very... difficult class.
Todd: Dwayne. On the midterm exam, which was exempt which was administered on March 5th,
Todd: What was the average score out of 100? for this very difficult midterm. economics. Class.
Talkin2Todd: where you could take home the midterm exam.
Todd: Yes.
Talkin2Todd: I'm going to say it was a 96.
Todd: It was exactly 96.
Talkin2Todd: I got it right on the nose. The show's over.
Todd: Good night. Drive safe, everybody.
Talkin2Todd: tonight drive san We're done. We're out.
Todd: Hmm. How many?
Talkin2Todd: All right. Do I give myself a bell for that?
Todd: Give yourself a bell for that.
Talkin2Todd: Okay. Okay.
Todd: Next question. Did you read this story?
Talkin2Todd: I did not. No, I just totally, that's totally random guess.
Todd: Okay. How many? How many students out of 86 scored a perfect 100?
Talkin2Todd: The average was 96. And there were how many 86 students?
Todd: 86 students.
Talkin2Todd: 80 of them?
Todd: 40.
Talkin2Todd: Oh, okay.
Todd: 40 students. scored a hundred perfect 100%. Okay. After Dr. Serrano got all of this back, he went, this doesn't seem... Right.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Todd: And some of the answers don't. Seem. written by college students. So he made a change to his class. And he said, Attention.
Todd: The final will not be take home. the final. will now be. in the classroom Dwayne. How many students immediately dropped the class as soon as that was announced?
Talkin2Todd: Uh, 75 %?
Todd: Nope, just 18.
Talkin2Todd: Oh, okay.
Todd: 18 out of the 86. Immediately drop the class.
Talkin2Todd: Okay. Okay.
Todd: Nine. Nine others. didn't even show up for the final.
Talkin2Todd: Okay.
Todd: Now. Of those 27 students, How many of those had a perfect score? on the midterm. Out of the 27.
Talkin2Todd: All of them.
Todd: Not quite. But 22 of the 27 scored. Perfect.
Talkin2Todd: that's what
Todd: and either dropped... or just didn't show up.
Talkin2Todd: Like, you know what?
Todd: Okay.
Talkin2Todd: Fine, I'm out. Yep, you caught me.
Todd: So... Dwayne. What was the average score of the people who took it? of the final. Knowing the midterm was 96.
Talkin2Todd: 71?
Todd: You're high.
Talkin2Todd: 58.
Todd: Want to take another run?
Talkin2Todd: Did they pass? Still high did not pass. The average score did not pass. you shall not pass. 45?
Todd: You know what? Close enough for a bell. The average score. 48.
Talkin2Todd: Oh, sweet lord. No, I'm not. It took me three guesses to get all the way down to 45. I'm not giving, I don't deserve a bell for that.
Todd: yeah
Talkin2Todd: No.
Talkin2Todd: No, I'm not taking i'm not taking your your charity bell. I'm not taking your charity bell.
Todd: Fair enough fair enough anyway
Talkin2Todd: Okay.
Todd: He suspects. Some students may have been using AI.
Talkin2Todd: No.
Todd: But...
Talkin2Todd: I'm shocked, shocked that there's gambling going on in this establishment.
Todd: By the way. His story. The average of the midterm that was 96. Historically, The average grade in the midterm for the course. has ranged between 65.
Todd: And 80. And the exam that he gave them, because it was take -home, was harder than the ones that he had done in the past. Because there's an opportunity to challenge the class a little bit more, given that you have students' unlimited time to do this.
Todd: so
Talkin2Todd: Sure.
Todd: Yeah. Anyway. Uh... I just found this whole thing just like... 48. 48, huh? and 27 students for life. I'm out.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Todd: And here's the thing. At that point, this is Brown. I don't know how much tuition is at Brown, but it's an Ivy. The school's already got your money. If you drop after the midterm. you're not getting any of that money back you're just like
Talkin2Todd: Nope. Okay.
Todd: That's cool. I don't know.
Talkin2Todd: Just eat it.
Todd: $6 ,000 for this class. I'm just anyway. So. There you go. This story has been written up in both... in Inside higher ed and another, an international higher ed as a higher ed journal, as a.
Todd: Hey, guys, something you may want to be aware of.
Todd: You got one, though. You got one perfect. You you nailed the first one. So that's not nothing.
Talkin2Todd: That's not nothing. You want to do a couple of idiots?
Todd: Sure. what Who'd you bring?
Talkin2Todd: Have you followed the Jaden Daniels story, Todd?
Todd: Jaden Daniels is the second year. Quarterback. For the Washington Commanders.
Talkin2Todd: He is.
Todd: Who? Went to school for at least a couple of years out of his portfolio at LSU. and won the Heisman there.
Talkin2Todd: Correct. Yes. Do you know what he did last week?
Todd: I believe his team sent a cease and desist letter
Talkin2Todd: They did. Yeah, his his attorneys. so Sophomore cornerback DJ Pickett. Switched his number. to number five.
Talkin2Todd: which is the number that Daniels wore when he won the 2023 Heisman.
Talkin2Todd: Is Jaden Daniels' number retired at LSU? No it is not.
Todd: Multiple stories point out they haven't given it out since he left the school. Dwayne, when did he win the Heisman? 2023.
Talkin2Todd: All right. 2023, two years ago.
Todd: Yeah. So... They haven't given it out. in the last two years, but it's not retired.
Talkin2Todd: So what? Right. Yeah, so he sent a C -synthesis letter. asking the school to stop using his name, image, and likeness.
Talkin2Todd: because the school gave number five to another player.
Talkin2Todd: For the record.
Talkin2Todd: Hilarity ensued on the internet. I'm now teaching my kids how to count. 1 -2 -3 -4 -JadenDaniel6789.
Todd: I would say this. Hilarity ensued on the internet as long as you are not Jaden Daniels.
Talkin2Todd: Yes.
Todd: Because I think he took some smoke his way.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah. Out of respect for Jayden Daniels, I didn't say five. I don't say five finger discount anymore. I say four finger discount.
Todd: Oh, I thought the joke was going to go the other way. I just say Jamison Winston. Discount.
Talkin2Todd: Oh, see, there you go. Yes. me
Todd: Come on, people. It's Florida State. Let's go. Come on. like We can make these jokes all day anyway.
Talkin2Todd: I made an eagle playing golf yesterday. avoided several high fives out of respect for jaden daniels
Talkin2Todd: Is Subway bold enough to keep the $5 foot long? I guess we'll find out. Just... on and on and yet some of the uh some actual They had teammates trying to give them a high four.
Talkin2Todd: Dave Chappelle will not plead the fifth out of respect for Jaden Daniels. It just goes on and on and on. He took. Oh. And now we're stuck listening to Mambo number four.
Talkin2Todd: Oh, Jaden. I don't know how he thought that this would turn out in his favor.
Todd: So. Mike Florio. has been followed Has written a couple of... pieces about this. He's supposing. that this is...
Todd: Daniel's team. that did this. However, he said, Although I think he said his agent is also his mom.
Talkin2Todd: Oh.
Todd: But... What Mike pointed out was I think what. I think what Jaden is learning is. Doesn't matter what your team does. When they do it in your name.
Talkin2Todd: Yup.
Todd: It may not be your fault, but it is your problem.
Talkin2Todd: Absolutely true.
Todd: Yeah, this isn't great. And and and to be honest, here's the problem. You think about this. That. That kid, by the way. Uh... What a spectacular last name for a corner.
Todd: Pick it. Like, that's... Awesome. That's right up there with Joe Theismann changing his name to Theismann so that. you you think of him to get the thought.
Todd: Like, hey, just throw the ball to pick it.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Todd: Oh, that's great. Anyway.
Talkin2Todd: Oh yeah. yeah you can Are you going to play wide receiver? Nope. defense
Todd: Yeah. He... He was promised. As part of the recruiting, in addition to the, what I'm assuming is a couple of million dollars of NIL money.
Todd: Part of the promise of the current coaching staff was that he could use this number if he came to LSU. The current staff.
Todd: Was not the staff when Jaden Daniels was there. Again, he won the Heisman but they weren't that good. Had he won the national championship.
Todd: maybe they would have retired it Joe Burrow style. But he didn't. But here's the thing, at this point... Given the way that recruiting, you have to re -recruit your players every single year. like I don't know how any college...
Todd: team. There. Nobody can have their number retired. Because... What are you going to do? You're going to lose out on a five -star recruit that you've already agreed to a $10 million dollars n NIL deal. And then he's like, by the way.
Todd: uh i want that number and they're like Yeah, we don't give that number out. He goes, well, I know who does. And you're like. You know what? Let me make a call. Hold on. I gotta call somebody's mom.
Todd: Ugh.
Talkin2Todd: the the The bears had a little bit of a... number controversy. This last... year as well.
Todd: Did it get settled with a 12 -pack of beer or a Rolex?
Talkin2Todd: Uh, Bum. The Bears haven't retired Brian Urlacher's number. Because they can't afford to retire any more numbers?
Talkin2Todd: They've retired too many numbers over their history?
Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: so They haven't retired it, but they just haven't really given it out.
Todd: Yep.
Talkin2Todd: Really?
Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: somebody on offense. Wanted to wear 54.
Todd: I hate these new rules. Okay.
Talkin2Todd: So he is. And they checked with Brian and Brian was okay with it. whatever i but i it led to some interesting discussion on some bears sites and podcasts about You know, maybe we could.
Talkin2Todd: unretire some of these numbers. of people that i mean not to dishonor anybody but unless you're richard dent
Todd: Or Walter.
Talkin2Todd: or Walter Payton.
Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Right?
Talkin2Todd: You know, unless you're... actually in i mean you can't actually you can't even say that you can't say unless you're actually in the hall of fame because you know. Anyway.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah, it's a number controversy. What'd you bring? which what's What would you review this week, Todd?
Todd: did you Were you aware that there's a mayoral race going on in L .A. this year?
Talkin2Todd: ye vaguely
Todd: Yeah, maybe you maybe you remember that Spencer Pratt was in the running. uh is that his Yeah, yeah, yeah, he...
Talkin2Todd: Really?
Todd: He thought he had a shot, and he didn't. He's not in the runoff. So anyway.
Todd: Forget politics about any of this. We don't play the other theme. However, Median Strategies released a poll last week. showing that current mayor Karen Bass had a wide lead. over city council member Nithya Raman.
Todd: In the. in the race for mayor. Which was weird. Because... That isn't what any of the other polls showed.
Todd: Also, what was weird is nobody knew what median strategies were. So people started looking. Uh... Turns out, after the LA Times called or did some looking, Median Strategies... uh Well, they called Median Strategies, and Median Strategies admitted it was all fake.
Todd: They had registered the name and the domain. Last week. and immediately release the results of a poll. now Median Strategy said it was a, quote, social experiment to examine how purported polling information could enter and spread through the political information ecosystem.
Todd: Now. There's some question as to, is this just an attempt to... I'll change the outcome of an election. That's not what everybody's freaked out about because quite frankly What isn't changing the outcome of elections now at this point?
Todd: Dwayne, do you know what the real big concern is of why of their actual motivation and what people are really concerned they might have been doing this for?
Todd: What's one of the worst things that's going on that we've covered here?
Talkin2Todd: Are Nazis involved, Todd?
Todd: I can't say they're not involved but that's not in this story.
Talkin2Todd: Okay, I thought I wondered if maybe this was a money or Nazi story.
Todd: No, no, no, no, no.
Talkin2Todd: No.
Todd: A little more current of what are some of the worst things that are going on.
Talkin2Todd: No.
Talkin2Todd: Did AI hallucinate all of this?
Todd: Nope. People are now investigating. There is concern that they release this poll in order to affect... prediction markets.
Talkin2Todd: Oh, sweet Lord.
Todd: To drive.
Talkin2Todd: Oh my God, this is a prediction market story, but of course it is.
Todd: Two.
Talkin2Todd: This could have gone into follow -up.
Todd: Yeah. So they're now concerned that what they're really doing is releasing this poll to change cal sheet and poly market. oh well oh if this poll says that she's way ahead maybe that would then change the odds that you could get on the prediction and so now that there could be manipulating the prediction markets
Talkin2Todd: Oh sweet lord.
Todd: Median Strategy has denied that they are doing this. However, people have pointed out if they were doing this. if they were doing it to manipulate markets, that would actually be securities fraud. So they can't admit that that's what they were doing. so Anyway.
Talkin2Todd: So social experiment.
Todd: Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: Sure.
Todd: Social experiment to see if I can get better odds. Yep.
Talkin2Todd: What are the odds of that?
Todd: Anyway, so... So there you go, these predictions. Again. Alleged. prediction market manipulation. is only in affecting our you know elections. Cool. That's great.
Todd: This is... This is going great. I just, I love all of this. so Yay.
Todd: Also, would i would I would have to say maybe maybe people need to, before running with polls, should check to see if the company existed more than three days ago.
Talkin2Todd: right
Todd: There's a there's a subset there's a subset of... of idiots here, which is anybody that quoted this poll. Without. Knowing.
Todd: who it was. What was the reasoning behind the poll? who they are. et cetera, et cetera.
Talkin2Todd: Let's see, what are we watching this week?
Talkin2Todd: Reacher. Season 4 dropped on Amazon. first of
Todd: Okay.
Talkin2Todd: Three episodes of season four dropped.
Talkin2Todd: We've watched all three. We're in. It is. just like uh
Talkin2Todd: Kind of like the the other, I mean. It's Reacher. If you like Reacher, you'll like this. We're liking it. So there you go.
Todd: Excellent.
Talkin2Todd: Have a good year.
Todd: We finished, last week I talked about on BritBox, Gone. We did finish that. Again, made it through the entire series. Or season? It was six episodes.
Talkin2Todd: Right.
Todd: Lisa's like... This is the way TV should be.
Todd: i will like I will say this. We sort of, we were talking about it. Without giving away any spoilers.
Todd: We... Until the last... until they wrapped it up. We weren't sure. Who did it? Like... Like there were multiple suspects and the way that they did this whole thing was.
Todd: We're talking like there's 15 minutes left. And Lisa's like, do you know who did it? I'm like, I don't know. And we were throwing out three or four different names with 15 minutes to go.
Talkin2Todd: Really?
Todd: Yes. Yes, which is... kind of fun versus, you know, watching like an NCIS episode. and And in the third minute, you're like, he did it, did what? I don't know, whatever's going down.
Todd: That's the dude.
Talkin2Todd: That's the guy.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Todd: Yeah. He barely had any lines. That's how you know. Anyway, very, very good. We enjoyed it. Also, Last week, so... So soccer is back.
Todd: at least lower level soccer. The championship is is back. running. Premier League starts this weekend. On Sunday, i was I was watching a match.
Todd: And. You got to love soccer announcers. I'm trying to remember who it was. One of the teams was up 2 -0. scored their second goal. 70th minute.
Todd: And the announcer says, and that locks up three points for them. Like, this is a great start to the season. They got three points in the bag. This is going to be a rough start for the other team.
Todd: I didn't even tell Lisa. I'm like, I don't i don't know why. I don't know why soccer announcers do this. By the 92nd minute, it was 2 -2.
Todd: So...
Talkin2Todd: Because, of course, it was announcer's jinx. Nice work.
Todd: Yeah. Yeah. Like. Don't do that. just Let the game play out. just And I've watched enough i've watch enough soccer and football. i mean I've watched matches where a team scores like in the...
Todd: 15th or 16th minute. And the announcer's like, this three points is going to do them well. And you're like, dude, there's a lot of time left. Now, admittedly, because it's soccer, sometimes one goal is all you get in 90 minutes. so it it's It's not that they're that they're never right. But...
Todd: It can happen. so Anyway, yeah, exciting. Here's the good news, though. I started watching at the 65th minute. So it was 1 -0. So I got to see i get to see three of the four goals.
Todd: in the 30 plus minutes, I didn't have to watch the first 65 minutes where there was only one goal. So really that's the way to do it.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah, absolutely.
Todd: What did you learn this week?
Talkin2Todd: I gotta... I got a check from Wells Fargo this week. I mean... they didn't They didn't want to send it. Hmm. But. but they But they did. or at least somebody else sent it on their behalf. Something that i I did not realize, there was a...
Talkin2Todd: lawsuit. couple of years ago. over. win. Wells gave us as employees. stock.
Talkin2Todd: Instead of a bonus.
Talkin2Todd: Somebody decided. that if I had gotten the bonus, it would have contributed to my 401k so Bye. in by giving us stock instead of giving us a bonus, you shorted us?
Talkin2Todd: And so there was a class action lawsuit. And because I worked at Wells during that time.
Talkin2Todd: I was part of the class. And then a check shows up in the mail. It's not a big check. But it's a check. From. i'm Like. Really?
Talkin2Todd: Huh. Okay. Well, I guess I'll go cash that right away. Yes, thank you. what Whatever it is. It'll buy dinner. for us and whatever it's not a it's not a big deal but you know the little bit of of wells fargo stock that they gifted us at one point apparently continues to pay off uh for whatever that's worth danny sorry you're not getting any of this part we're just going to go out to dinner and we're go to be done.
Talkin2Todd: So. But... Bye. i didn't realize that this was going to be a thing and so that's what i learned this week
Todd: When you started off with, apparently there was a class action lawsuit against Wells Fargo, my first call thought was you're going to have to be a lot more specific than that.
Talkin2Todd: She does. Yes. Yeah, that didn't exactly narrow it down, did it?
Todd: Not.
Talkin2Todd: Go.
Todd: Not helpful.
Talkin2Todd: No.
Todd: There's been a few of those.
Talkin2Todd: Okay. How about you? What did you learn this week?
Todd: So, last weekend we we made the made the drive down to the Disclosed Undisclosed location and back up so we had some time to catch up. Lisa got to listen to the last couple of episodes. So, up until...
Todd: Friday night. She had not heard the new Todd's tech. corner. uh Todd's. a Tech Corner theme. So I'm like, you're going to want to hear this now.
Todd: We play it through the first time. And I'm singing. Just not loudly, but I'm singing to it. Not so much that it's it's it's and it's taking away from her. from From her.
Todd: Enjoyment. but And she's like... Wow. Like. Like you, you memorize the words and I'm like. It's... It's kind of catchy, and there's not a lot to memorize. And she's like, yeah okay, whatever, right? Which, again...
Todd: In the following episode, I'm like, I can't get out of my car singing my theme song. That's a problem. And and Lisa reinforced, like, don't do that. So we listened to that episode. And then we listen to the next episode where you play it again.
Todd: As soon as it comes on. Lisa starts singing along. And she's already picked up that. I'm covering every update like it's breaking news.
Todd: She's got all the words. And I look at her. And I'm like. memorized it, huh? She goes, It's kind of catchy. Yeah.
Talkin2Todd: It is kind of catchy.
Talkin2Todd: if If only we could publish it so that it could hit the top 10 list somewhere on somebody's something. and We got to figure out how to license this thing because that may be the most money that any of us might make.
Todd: Here. Here's the problem. Just.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Todd: Real quick.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Todd: When you say license it, we would have to pay Jesse. So.
Talkin2Todd: Oh no.
Todd: Let's not. What are you doing?
Talkin2Todd: but
Todd: yes
Talkin2Todd: The sponsorship is going in the wrong direction.
Todd: This is like the BMW Sony thing. What are you doing?
Talkin2Todd: Well, I really did not think that through.
Talkin2Todd: That licensed music is happy boy. by kevin mcleod You can subscribe to our award winning podcast. With visiting scholar Todd Prenz, wherever you get your pods.
Talkin2Todd: Just search talking on the number two. There's no G and no space. You can stop by and see us at the Tuba City Home Office. Please don't do that. Thanks to our listeners, our sponsors, and our contributors, also our theme writers. We appreciate you. And as always, you can send us your feedback.
Talkin2Todd: to feedback at talkingtotodd .com. Todd?
Todd: I'm not gonna pretend to be a financial advisor, but... You get this check from Wells Fargo.
Talkin2Todd: Yeah.
Todd: First thought. I could put it in my 401k. Or my IRA. could even buy Wells Fargo stock with it. wouldn and Shouldn't do that, but you could, which would be ironic.
Todd: Why did you get this? Because they gave me stock instead of a bonus. Oh, what'd you do with your bonus? I bought the same stock they they would have given me. Okay, sure, you could do that. With... the Kind of.
Todd: Here's the good thing. It's a good thing they didn't just didn send you the stock. Okay, so you could have done that.
Talkin2Todd: Yes.
Todd: Or you can go, hey, we got out for a nice dinner. Or in hear me out. put that money towards. a concert. In. twenty six forty which I hear will be really, really a hot ticket by then. So that's investment grade. It's found money.
Todd: why not put it towards the end of the organ recital?
Talkin2Todd: I certainly could I could. No, I couldn't. I could buy part of one ticket.
Todd: It's the start of it. it's it's you're you're You're putting that mad money in in your... in your organ organ concert Christmas fun.
Todd: I say that out loud now. That doesn't actually sound like as good of an idea. But, you know, hey, you know what?
Talkin2Todd: Okay.
Todd: Give it a shot.
Talkin2Todd: Great. Okay. Oh, sweet Lord. I. and We're going to have something we have to clean up next year next week. and And it's probably this.
Talkin2Todd: This is probably exactly what we have to clean up next week.
Todd: hey Hey, Amy, Todd says I should buy a ticket.
Talkin2Todd: But...
Todd: No? Okay, dinner.
Talkin2Todd: No of course
Todd: Okay, sure.
Talkin2Todd: I don't know. Until then, we're talking to Todd.
Todd: Wells Fargo class action settlement 2026. Unauthorized account settlement. No, that's not it.
Talkin2Todd: Nope.
Todd: 33 million dealer ends over defrauded for paying monthly subscript. Nope, that's not it.
Talkin2Todd: Nope.
Todd: Securities litigate. Nope, that's not it. Home mortgage class action. Nope. Can you put on the memo of these checks what this one's for?
