Plausibly Live! - The Official Podcast Of The Dave Bowman Show

There are any number of people who are annoying. But in all of history, we learn that the all-time champion of being annoying was none other than the greatest philosophical mind ever known. That’s right… Socrates is hands down the winner of being the most annoying person to ever live. Why? In Socratic Debate, he would begin his discourses with what has become known as the “What Is Question.” For example, “What is beauty?” Or “what is Justice?” After one of his listeners would give an answer, Socrates would issue his elenchus, or “refutation.” In this refutation, he would detail his explanation of why the answer just given was completely and totally wrong. That would get old after a bit. And it no doubt contributed more than a small measure to the cup that would finally kill him. Still, it is Socrates who provides the greatest influence on Plato, who in turn provides influence to the great republican philosophers of the Enlightenment by defining what exactly a republic is. Or at least what it should be. Or

In the summer of 1922, the Republican Party was in deep trouble. Tradition holds that all Presidents see their party lose seats in Congress during the mid-terms, but the Administration was facing the loss of seats to it's OWN party! While the republicans had trended to become more conservative, there was a significant segment of the party leaning full on into the progressive movement of the era. These progressive Republicans, led by Senator Robert Lafollette were gaining ground fast. All they - and the Democrats - really needed to take Congress was a scandal. And few Presidents in history were better equipped to give the nation a scandal than Warren G. Harding...

The Rabbi and the soon to not be a Friar are back to complain about teenagers and alarm clocks, Tik Tok and pre-season NFL football. Plus they get into the latest developments in the Ukraine War, the Yellowstone National Park body count, why medieval Friars were some of the most disgusting people to ever live, and Alec Baldwin who needs to be careful about what he is shooting at! It's a brand new episode of What the Frock!

Eric and Dave are joined by Judd and Preacher Dave to talk about homemade submarines, tragic crimes involving submariners in New London, Soviet Submarines of the future and cell phones!

I have long held that the Anti-Federalist of 1788 is the ideological grandfather of today’s libertarian*. Many of the same issues of today find a distant echo in the complaints of the Anti-Federalists. In those distant echo’s of the past are many ideas and knowledge points which both the Federalist and Anti-Federalist not only knew, but understood. Many of the things that would have stood out to the readers and listeners of 1788 were familiar to them, but to our modern ears and eyes, either make no sense or we simply do not even recognize them as meaningful. Let’s start with the names. The Federalists papers, written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, signed their papers with the nom de plume “Publius.” There were, of course, multiple reasons for this. The the use of a fictitious name removed the built in prejudice from the reader, either for or against the actual author. The name “Publius” was partially chosen to represent the idea, specifically “of the people,” reflecting the Federalist p

The Rabbis tell us that some of the most important parts of the scriptures are the stories that we do not like. The tales of failures and embarrassing happenings that don't seem to fit the overall narrative of a loving G-d reaching out to his people. The stories of death and murder and assault and war and strife that often leave us wondering, "Why is this here?" At the end of the day, there are - more often than not - important lessons in these chapters that if we are willing to put in the effort, will prove instructive. We have this idea that the American Revolutionary war was a series of great events that usually saw the Continentals getting the best of the British or the Hessians or the spies sent to find out our plans. We love to read and hear about the magnificent and inspiring victories and the mighty leaders who stood resolutely against tyranny. Those are the takes we enjoy and from which we take our motivation. But on this day in 1780, one of the darkest events of the entire war took place on the f

Rabbi Dave is an a mood today. "Why?" the Good Friar Rod will ask? Because Dave had dreams that were smashed by his twelve year old son. Meanwhile there is a bigger question. Is it actually possible that some of our political "leaders" really are as stupid as they sound? Or is it all just an act, because, seriously, you would have to be a moron to actually believe some of the things that they are saying in public. John Hinckley, Jr... you know, the guy that shot the President... is having a tough go of things lately. He want to perform his original music at concerts for which people will pay him gobs of money, but the venues keep cancelling his shows because, well... he's still John Hinckley, Jr. Of course, you can probably guess who's fault this all is... Alec Baldwin pulled the trigger. Who says so? Well... that would be the FBI. The same FBI that I am told is lying about everything else... NASA is headed back tot he moon, but sans actual astronauts. It's a test of the new system that cannot be duplicat

In 1967, Nichelle Nichols was not happy. She was holding the television role as Lt. Uhura on the sci-fi show, Star Trek, but her role was limited and didn't seem to have much chance of growing into anything that would mean stardom and fame. She had decided to quit and return to the stage. What she didn't understand was that she had already changed not just television, but America. A chance encounter at an NAACP event led to her staying on the show and becoming an icon. In many ways, Nichelle Nichols would change the future. But first, like us as we contemplate the dangers of absolutism and what and how to move forward, there was work to be done.

Over the past couple of days we have watched both sides use exactly the same language to describe their outrage/joy over the events at the former President's home. As usual, your opinion about it all it says more about you than it does about the actual issue at hand, but that said, it leads to another consideration: How do we "fix" whatever it is that is wrong. Or... can it even be fixed? I supposed that I think that it is possible, but what it will take isn't going to be pleasant for whatever side loses the debate...

By the time the sun rose over Guadalcanal on August 9, 1942, the US Navy was just beginning to come to terms with the tragedy that had occurred in the dark night before. Many Naval Historians consider the action of the night of August 8-9, 1942 to be the worst defeat ever suffered by the US Navy, including Pearl Harbor. Just two days before the Marines had landed on the island and seized the airstrip which the Japanese had begun to build there. Just nine months after the war began, it was a bold move, made with confidence and élan. But now, that confidence was gone. destroyed at the point of Long Lance torpedoes fired by Japanese cruisers that had gone virtually undetected. Five Allied heavy cruisers were sunk or heavily damaged and more than a 1000 sailors had perished. Shock and dismay flooded through the Navy and its Commanders. The Marines ashore understood that nothing was going to be easy now. What had seemed to be an easy victory the day before, was now in serious doubt. But as the sun rose over the

Rabbi Dave goes to a casino and actually wins! So why is he having an issue with it? Meanwhile the Good friar pushes Dave’s buttons when it comes to callers to Talk radio shows, which was supposed to be a rant about “being crazy for money” on the air. That’s Dave’s pet theory for how people like Hal Sutton and Alex Jones get millions of dollars from stupid people. If your nickname is “Redbeard,” you probably shouldn’t steal a parrot. Never trust a scientist, especially a French one. The Jenner’s and the Kardashian’s are having a spat over lips, while one of their friends is wearing a new bikini that has some people, not Rod and Dave, upset. All this week on What the Frock?

Eric and Dave talk about a really bad Ai written article on submarines, the tension over Taiwan, and a sober discussion of the coming storm... TheSubVet TheSubVet.com FaceBook Group For Daily Submarine News https://www.facebook.com/groups/thesubvet

The last half of July and the first days of August have been a whirlwind. Thank you to everyone who texted and eMailed or commented about the situation. I appreciate it very much. I wish that I could tell you that everything is alright, and back to normal at last. It's not. And it will be - I imagine - several more weeks to months before things return to an even bubble. That said, it's Thursday. This week, the state of Kansas rejected a ballot measure that would purportedly have allowed the state Legislature to pass laws restricting abortion by affirming that the State Constitution contained "no such right (to abortion)." The reaction has been predictable - the left and Democrats aren't just celebrating, they are seeing this as a predictor of what will happen in November. In some cases, it is being pointed out that "blood red" counties voted the measure down by two thirds margins. The problem here is multilayered, but it stems from a basic misunderstanding of liberty and the impact of the original Roe v Wa

On August 2, 1776, the members of the Second Continental Congress gathered to finish what they had begun back in July. Now, each of the men was called forward, one at a time, to affix his name to the final version of the document which had already electrified the world. On what should have been a joyous day, the full weight of what was happening was hitting home. Benjamin Harrison of Virginia, joked with Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts that when the King hung them, Harrison would die quickly because of his weight, while Gerry would dangle and dance “for hours” because he was so small. For a moment, the joke broke the unexpected gloom of the morning. There was one man who did not sign that day. He had already signed back on July 4th. As the President of the 2nd Continental Congress, John Hancock had the honor of speaking on behalf of the new nation and had put his flourished signature on the document before any one else. When the members of Congress had seen his giant “John Hancock,” the comment had been mad

At long last the summer voyages are over and the Rabbi and Friar have returned. After four thousand miles across the country at 80mph because nowadays that is "safe," and a couple of gas stops in Oregon, Dave has a serious message for America. Listen up, because you need to hear this and this nations driver need to their act together and star driving like we're supposed to. In the ensuing days, Dave managed to get his Facebook account nuked. Or maybe not. Who knows? Facebook isn't saying. But it's now absolutely clear where that line which cannot be crossed is found. The parties in New York City have found a new home, and the entire state of Oregon is just flat out stupid. All of you. And just in case you really didn't want to know about it, AOC is mad and Samantha Bee is at long last going away...

Eric and Dave are back along with Judd to talk submarines, hurricanes, women on subs, politics and submarines!

My least favorite phrase is: "Everybody knows..." I have been known to hang up on callers who sprinkle their diatribe with that idiotic phrase. First off, NOT "everybody knows." If "everybody knew," then there would no conflicts, no happiness, no conversation, no science, no exploration and no need to learn anything... well... new. Or, in my case, something old. Which might be new to you. Because NOT "everybody knows." We think of our country today as "more divided than ever." I mean, "everybody knows" that, right? Putting aside for the moment, the US Civil War, is this a time when we are the "most divided ever?" On July 26, 1788, a small but miracle took place in Albany, NY. Today, we just assume that everything was perfect and united and that "everybody knows" it happened. But it was just by a scant three votes, that New York voted to ratify the new constitution. Today, "everybody knows" that our government, of, by and for the people was easy to establish because it makes sense and it served our liberty

Somewhere around 13.5 Billion years ago, something happened that began the path to where we are today. I know that, like abortion, that debate is something that I will not change your mind about, nor will you change mine. The "Big Bang" is certain in my mind, because it is the BEST scientific theory* fitting the observed facts. The recent release of the new photographs from the James Webb Space Telescope are nothing short of breathtaking. And they are reminder of what I have come to believe - that I do not need faith to tell me that there is a G-d. I need faith to tell me that in all of this I matter in any way shape or form. And these days I find myself wondering more than ever, does it matter?

It's a common idea today that "we don't trust the media." There's almost a mantra that this is a relatively new thing, and that no matter what side of the political fence you happen to be on, the "media" is automatically presumed to be fully serving as a water carrying propaganda arm of the other side. In recent days, we have seen another story that reignites this debate. Just three days after the Dobbs ruling by the Supreme Court, the Indiana Star reported that women were coming from Ohio for "reproductive care." Among the patients referred to the Indiana clinic was a 10 year old incest victim. Or... was there?

For the moment, at least, the Rabbi and the Friar are back. Rod's voice is now fully recovered and there is much to catch up on. Dave is convinced that he has the world's dumbest cat, while he also has some travel advice if you're coming to the Pacific Northwest. Fireworks were entertaining on the 4th of July, and it turns out that Nancy Pelosi has really big... well... breasts. Refrigerators are being opened by Instagram models and stupid people are hiring fake hit men. All this week on What the Frock?