The 404 Podcast

(Credit: Gamespot)

A heated discussion over which supernatural species is superior (zombies or vampires) leads us into a truly geeky episode of The 404. To help settle the controversy, we have on today's show CNET's own Scott Stein.

Also on today's show, we solve the mystery behind yesterday's Gawker DDoS attacks that flooded the blog network. It wasn't us, we swear. Next, we analyze a disturbing trend of Obama Joker posters popping up in California and whether or not they're making a statement or are just confusing.

We'll also find out if you can actually sue Amazon for losing your homework and whether or not a new Resident Evil movie is a good idea. All this, plus a special call from Jason Howell and some submissions for Justin Yu's new glasses!

...And to our Japanese astronaut friend, we're not sure deep space is the ideal venue to test out everlasting underwear.

EPISODE 396

This weekend, Justin Yu made an appearance on Tom Merritt's and Roger Chang's podcast, East Meets West. Ostensibly, it sounds like a podcast about technology and Asian and Western cultures, right? Nope. Turns out it's half an hour where Tom and Roger ream Justin and The 404 for our use of "curse words."

(Credit: Mark Licea/CNET)

Also in the news this weekend, "Adventureland" came out. Contrary to its marketing campaign, it's not a film in the vein of "Superbad," but is actually kind of deep. As for way less deep films, "Fast and Furious" topped the charts with a cool 72.5 million bones. Michael McCarthy, ace reporter Caroline McCarthy's little brother, joins the show today to lend us his opinion on movies and provide a laugh track.

Twitter, for all the problems that it's caused in the world, may have actually saved the life of a suicidal woman. Apparently, if you @reply Demi Moore, you can get saved. There's some more bummer technology stories in there, too.

In happier news, Rick Moranis might make an appearance in "Ghostbusters III." We just hope that Seth Rogan, Michael Cera, Paul Rudd, and Jonah Hill aren't the new Ghostbusters. Also, Queen Elizabeth II gets an iPod from Barack Obama filled with show tunes. And finally, Domino's gives away 11,000 pizzas, accidentally.

Listen to this episode of East Meets West and let us know what you think. We're available via voice mail at 1-866-404-CNET (2638) or via e-mail at the404 [at] cnet [dot] com. Does bad language really bother you? Does it make us juvenile? Or are we just getting lectured by padre?

Sun leen fai lok! For all you non-Chinese speakers out there, that's "Happy New Year" in Chinese--go hug something yellow. We kick off the Year of the Ox with a ban on Jeff's Engrish impressions and cruise through a few No Duh stories from the Internet. Turns out alcohol has a hand in unwanted sex and gamers are antisocial!? Whodathunk?

To celebrate the Chinese lunar Year of the Ox, Wilson and I pull Jeff through another show. Ohhhhh. Just kidding, we give Jeff a hall pass and explain a few things about the new year customs. Still waiting on those stuffed envelopes, buddy. Anyway, there's not a lot of news in the media today so we take the road less traveled and talk about some issues from the "no sh*t" pile, including one study that conclusively shows that avid video gamers have antisocial personalities and lack a solid social foundation. Wow, really? Is your next study going to finally link acne to gaming as well? Tell us something we DON'T know, scientists, like how obesity is a virus that can be contracted and treated just like the common cold! Wait, that's another story we talk about today. Can you believe that? Scientists are claiming that obesity can be "caught" and transmitted through sneezes and coughs just like the flu! Half of me just think that this is Wendy's absurd new marketing campaign, like that whole chicken head thing. That was fake...right?

If there's such a thing as too much fun, we don't want to hear about it. Richard Blakeley grabs the guest mic and washes his hands of the CES 2008 prank once and for all. He also gets meta on the state of Internet video, helps us make fun of Twitter just a little more, and dishes tips on how to pick the perfect couture halter-top ensemble.

Unless you've been inhaling chloroform for the past year, chances are you've heard the name Richard Blakeley. Yeah, he's the senior video editor for Gawker Media, but that's not why he's (in)famous. He's the guy behind Gawker's TV-Turnoff stunt at last year's Consumer Electronics Show. We thought it was hilarious, but apparently the CEA didn't think so and subsequently banned him from future shows--worst news ever, huh? Immediately following the incident, the uptight mainstream media called the stunt a step backward for bloggers, and you know what? We're kind of pissed at Richard Blakeley too...for thinking of it first. Next year, we're going to sneak Richard into CES inside an oversize trench coat,just like in The Little Rascals and get our collabo-prank on: GawkerX404! I can see the headlines now:

"Hooligans unleash swarm of bedbugs on CES 2010"

"Fiery bag of dark matter pervades showroom floor"

"Blakeley, Bakalar, Yu, and Tang get jail time for horseplay turned homicide"

Comic Sans really is a terrible look for a font. It might've been cool to write an essay about Christopher Columbus in it in third grade, but now it makes you seem uneducated. Do like Obama and stick with Helvetica or Georgia. Anyway, on today's show we tackle the hard issues and correct a few mistakes, like coming down too hard on Obama for screwing up the Presidential Oath. Also, a rather large helping of Calls from the Public calling Wilson out on his b.s.--no surprise there! (Wilson's note: Just because Jeff and Justin don't believe it, doesn't mean I'm wrong. Here's a link to the Florida gun law and here's a link to the voter turnout issue.)

(Justin's note: Shut up Wilson)

Okay, we may have gotten ahead of ourselves on Episode 261. Like an overly aggressive parent, Jeff and I (Justin) might've been too hard on the little guy after he botched the inauguration oath. Turns out Chief Justice John Roberts, the guy reciting the speech for Obama to repeat, messed up a few of the words and even switched some around, causing our would-be Pres (now Pres!) to speak too soon. Okay, Barack, we'll give you the benefit of the doubt; you were set up to screw up. Plus you were probably nervous--anyone in that situation would be! At least they did a redo, but this time sans bible. Let's just blame the whole thing on Roberts, now known to the popular media as the "Oaf of Office." *Queue rimshot*

Wilson's back and feeling mellow after yesterday's inauguration, so we take advantage of his good spirits to ream him for taking the day off. He gives us an in-depth review of his party at the Apollo and the movie Gran Torino. We also cover a superwide range of hilarious stories today, including Google crimes, the Razzies, school bus stories, the Phantom Bathroom Smearer, and Phacebook Phishers.

According to this article, Australians apparently have terrible manners when it comes to using cell phones and other tech gadgets in public. Some of the statistics listed are: 48 percent of Australians admitted to using a phone on the toilet at one point or another; 80 percent said they would use one during a meal; and 48 percent said they'd have no problem talking on a phone while another person is trying to sleep in the same room. OK, that all sounds pretty rude and all, but I'm sure that if you surveyed a random sample of Americans, you'd hear the same, if not worse! Like how many Americans do you think have had a phone ring during a wedding, or worse--a funeral? I'm sure that at least 80 percent of movie screenings in America are rudely interrupted by the ring of a cell phone. All three of us on the show admit that we've talked on the toilet, and how is that even a problem if the person doesn't know? It's a win-win situation. Just because nature calls doesn't mean you can't make one too! Australia: PROCEED! Love, The 404.

The 404 started a bit late today, in honor of our new president's inauguration. It's just Justin and I today, as Wilson took the day off to fantasize about Barack Obama. Don't worry kiddies, Wilson will return tomorrow (or so he says). Plenty to discuss on this historic day, so we'll give you our take on the inauguration and what we thought of Obama's speech.

Justin and I then dive into today's stories, which include iPods held for ransom, Keanu Reeves and the Cowboy Bebop movie, Google Drive, and Taco Bell weddings. Don't ask. All this plus a very special Calls from the Public session!

EPISODE 261

Major props to Capt. Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger III of U.S. Airways Flight 1549 for ditching the plane in the Hudson River after a double-engine failure and flying over the George Washington Bridge. Jeff Bakalar remains frightened for his life by flying.

U.S. Airways Flight 1549 chillin' in the Hudson River.

(Credit: jkrums)

In addition, the Watchmen movie debacle is settled between Warner Bros. and Fox, giving Justin Yu an early birthday present. Speaking of which, Wilson Tang will be joining the soon-to-be 25-year-old Mr. Yu for an Asian karaoke lovefest. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Rickrolls the Interwebs about a year and a half way too late, but nice try. Barack Obama wants Will Smith to play him in the movie version of Obama's life. Can't wait to hear Will Smith's classic catchlines. In some sad news, Circuit City liquidates, and 30,000 people lose their jobs. I guess we're kind of just stuck with the cats at Best Buy for now. Also, we chat about the movies coming out this weekend. Sweet Lou is excited about Paul Blart: Mall Cop, while Justin Yu waxes poetic about the semantics between Hotel for Dogs or Dog Hotel. Wilson can't wait to catch Clint Eastwood's latest film, Gran Torino. Jeff plans to stay in and finally watch Wall-E.

Finally, Mr. Tang clarifies that in the Great State of Florida, one does not have to back away from a life-threatening situation in order to use a firearm in self-defense. Check this link out and be frightened.

One more thing: no show on Monday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.--get your butt to DC!

The 404 is happy to welcome the host of the On The DL Podcast, Dan Levy, to today's show. We spend the first half complaining about our deadbeat friends and the strains of running a wildly successful show, then move onto a few stories about Hitler youth, Spider-Man's special guest, the First Family's privacy, and the FCC's overreaction to Darren Aronofsky at this year's Golden Globes.

It's not every day that we welcome a fellow podcaster to guest-host the show, but we're more than happy to share the mic with Dan Levy, the host of the On The DL Podcast, a show similar to ours but with a more sports-centric theme. We spend a good chunk of time asking Dan about the growing popularity of his show, how he books such famous guests, and what it means to be a schmaltz. Dan stays on in the second half to help us pour through a ton of stories, including one in particular about New Jersey bearing three children named Adolf Hitler Campbell, JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell, and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell. Do you think that Child Protective Services should step in and consider this child abuse on behalf of the parents? These kids don't have a choice in the matter, but it's no surprise that they're going to receive a truckload of sh*t every morning in roll call. I can only speak for myself, but if the teacher suddenly called little Adolf Hitler for show and tell, I'd be OUT OF THERE. On that note, be sure to check out OntheDl Podcast here, and don't forget to subscribe in iTunes!