Cheers to Gadgets | Crazy Patents, Inspector Gadget, Planned Obsolescence (CLP-Ep. 40)

In honor of our appearance on Home Gadget Geeks on Thursday, we're raising out glasses to gadgets. We learn about patent trolls; some fun facts about everyone's favorite syndicated cartoon, "Inspector Gadget;" and Emily finds out that Planned Obsolescence isn't just a conspiracy theory.

This episode's wine: Da Vinci Chianti, 2014
This episode's cheese: Colby Jack

Listen/subscribe/leave a review on iTunes, Google Play Music, Stitcher, Overcast, or podcatcher of choice!

Find us on Snapchat | Twitter | Facebook

In honor of Home Gadget Geeks, which we will be on Thursday night at 9 p.m. Eastern Daylight Standard Time, we're talking about gadgets!

Emily starts off talking about the polymath Leonardo da Vinci's "gadgets," including his Robotic Knight and his three-wheeled cart. James even goes so far as to "out" him!

James talks about how old iPods are worth a lot of money, and how Emily would like her stolen iPod back, terrible music and all. He also talks about the Newton and how "The Simpsons" helped Apple push for better technology.

James tells us about some crazy patents, including a mechanical man with a mustache and a top hat ringing a bell on a train to scare off cows. Emily is incredibly excited about a new version of childbirth for her future child.

Emily gets into some of the trivia about Inspector Gadget, including some of the precursors to current technology. Want to see the guy playing the theme from "Inspector Gadget on beer bottles? Check this out!

Emily also learns about planned obsolescence as she researched Inspector Gadget. She thought it was a conspiracy theory, but she ended up finding out how it actually plays out, including in gadgets like iPhones, and even nylon stockings. And she also requests a version of "Boom, Boom Dollar" on a Playstation 4 version of Dance Dance Revolution. Is that so much to ask.

James tells us about patent trolls and how the Obama administration has fought this. How dare someone try to patent toast?! And, if you have any incites about how to program our own robot, James, to understand emotions, let us know!

Featured promo:

Unskippable

Find more great podcasts on Twitter by searching the hashtag #PodernFamily!

Special thanks to our classy sponsors on Patreon: Debt Shepherd, PodUnderground & Jason Bryant from Mat Talk Online and the Short Time Wrestling podcast.

Special thanks to Adam Centamore for his book, "Tasting Wine & Cheese: An Insider's Guide to Mastering the Principles of Pairing," which inspires us to try new wine and cheese pairings in every episode!

Cheers!