John Hodgman (author of “That is All” and the resident expert on The Daily Show) and surprise drop-in guests Aimee Mann (Oscar-nominated singer/songwriter and front woman of ‘Til Tuesday) and John Roderick (singer/songwriter of Seattle indie rock outfit The Long Winters) join Cole and Vanessa at the Chateau Marmont to discuss The Hunger Games, young adult fiction, Zork, Justin Long, Battle Royale, Dick Gregory, early computers, the Tripod Trilogy, stickball fights, hobo bindles, and the anniversary of John Belushi’s death in the very hotel they are recording in.
Leave your answer to the firsts question (the first computer you ever had, and what you primarily used it for) on our website for a chance to win a copy of “That is All” or “More Knowledge Than You Require” signed by our favorite deranged millionaire John Hodgman!
I believe the Hunger Games is to apocalyptic future fiction as Star Wars is to science fiction. Instead of the fiction being a warning, it becomes more about the mythology.
As for feeling like “You’ve had it coming” in Battle Royale, I think it has a lot to do with Japanese youth culture and the push for success in academic placement tests. The cut-throat nature is similar to the cut-throat nature in Japanese schools due to academic placement.
So I was sitting back, relaxing to this fun-time podcast, starting to fall asleep, when I was
WRENCHED AWAKE BY A PRINCIPAL THROW-STABBING A GIRL IN THE FACE WITH A KNIFE
Jonathan Coulton was right to kill your cats, Mr Hodgman.
The power supply broke in my Mom’s old computer, I used it as an excuse for her to buy a new one so I can play Age of Mythology.
R.I.P. Ensemble Studios
My first PC was in 1998, and I used it to DIAL up the Internet.