Iteration 214 - The Lamentations of the Nerdy

the direct download link for this episode is here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/thesimulationist/Iteration_214_-_The_Lamentations_of_the_Nerdy.mp3

and also here: https://archive.org/download/thesimulationist/Iteration214-TheLamentationsOfTheNerdy.mp3

send us email at thesimulationist@gmail.com

We begin the podcast this week with a bit of a rave by Josh about how cool he finds the Men in Black franchise, but also a conspiracy thought about why a shadowy organization would make a chart-topping R&B dance number. And a discussion comparing and contrasting the worlds of Ghostbusters versus the Men in Black. Then Ryan brings us a discussion about race. We talk about the crows in Dumbo, and Ryan talks over Josh a bunch and it's not particularly satisfying, but hopefully Josh got his point out, even though neither of these guys are equipped for making judgments on what actually is and isn't racist. At this point, we try to make an awkward transition into an analogy between being from a culture that is being appropriated and a comic book nerd whose Batman isn't quite the same as the old Batman. Ryan expresses his inability to properly give a rating to the Batman Versus Superman film.

References and Recommendations:

Galavant! (TV series): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3305096/

Batman Versus Superman: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2975590/

Iteration 205 - Beauty and the Beast

the direct download link for this episode is here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/thesimulationist/Iteration_205_-_Beauty_and_the_Beast.mp3

send us email at thesimulationist@gmail.com

In this iteration, we begin with talk about the Waghi tribe of Papua New Guinea who uses The Phantom as a sigil that they draw on their war shields. Then we talk a little bit about Suicide Squad, and the fan-made version of Metroid 2. Josh gets back into Dwarf Fortress, and gets annoyed with it. Josh plays some board games at Interactivity! And for a main topic, we discuss the Disney film the Beauty and the Beast, mainly about the role of Gaston. Ryan thinks Gaston gets short shrift, but Josh is a bit less forgiving. Ryan wants to take the sorceress to task, but Josh thinks the castle staff had it coming. And we ask about the extent of the Beast's curse, and why it seems to extend to the surrounding countryside, because it causes the people to forget the castle.

References and Recommendations:

Interactivity Board Game Cafe: http://www.ibgcafe.com/

Critical Role: http://geekandsundry.com/shows/critical-role/

Iteration 197 - The Animal Singularity and Other Topics

the direct download link for this episode is here: http://traffic.libsyn.com/thesimulationist/Iteration_197_-_The_Animal_Singularity_and_Other_Topics.mp3

Send us email at thesimulationist@gmail.com

We start our show off with banter about Math class versus French class. Then we move onto a discussion of the Warcraft movie. Whether or not it's better to make a film to appeal only to fans. And how we would make a D&D movie if it was up to us. Then we talk about Kevin Smith's new movie Yoga Hosers. Josh gets addicted to Cookie Clicker. Ryan watches an old movie called The Pillow of Death and has a beef about its ending in which the wrong characters end up as a couple at the end. And Josh shares a thought about the Animal Singularity.

References and Recommendations:

Warcraft (2016 film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0803096/

Yoga Hosers (2016 film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3838992/

The Pillow of Death (1950 film): http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0037989/