Mindless Wolves

[00:00:10] Wait, we're supposed to talk about things in our podcast?

[00:00:13] Ooh, controversial Alzheimer's drug from Cassava Sciences fails clinical testing.

[00:00:20] Yeah, got most of them.

[00:00:22] Is set by fraud allegations and government probes.

[00:00:25] Cassava pulls plug on all ongoing studies of Simufalam.

[00:00:30] Yes.

[00:00:32] Or Simufalam.

[00:00:33] One of the two.

[00:00:35] So long as it's Ethiopian wolves.

[00:00:38] One of my stories is about Ethiopian wolves.

[00:00:41] So it's a great tie in.

[00:00:44] Are there even wolves there?

[00:00:46] Yes, there are wolves in Ethiopia.

[00:00:49] Let me look.

[00:00:52] Critically endangered highlands.

[00:00:54] Okay.

[00:00:57] I got some funny animal stories.

[00:00:59] Okay.

[00:01:03] There are between 120 and 160 currently.

[00:01:07] Bro, they don't look like wolves.

[00:01:09] What do they look like?

[00:01:10] They look like fucking foxes.

[00:01:11] What are you talking about?

[00:01:13] Okay, well my story that I have this week is about Ethiopian wolves.

[00:01:17] And their unusual appetites.

[00:01:20] Appetites for what?

[00:01:22] Going extinct?

[00:01:23] No.

[00:01:24] Look.

[00:01:25] Look at this dude.

[00:01:26] Look how chill he looks like a fox.

[00:01:28] That does not look like a wolf.

[00:01:30] He does look like a fox.

[00:01:31] But I'm sure there's reasons they call it a wolf.

[00:01:33] Yeah, I mean, I'm sure he's closer related to that.

[00:01:36] But he's, you know, closer related to dinosaurs than anything right now.

[00:01:41] Get it?

[00:01:42] Because he's in danger.

[00:01:44] Yes, I got it.

[00:01:46] Okay.

[00:01:46] I was just making sure.

[00:01:49] Well, hello there.

[00:01:50] Welcome back to my...

[00:01:51] You know what's not endangered?

[00:01:53] Episode 95.

[00:01:54] This is the start of it right now.

[00:01:56] Ripley's going.

[00:01:56] I'm here too.

[00:01:57] I'm Jordan.

[00:01:58] I was doing the intro.

[00:02:00] I don't know.

[00:02:00] Wow.

[00:02:01] Just interrupt me like that.

[00:02:02] That's rude.

[00:02:04] This one's mindless and I'm proud of it.

[00:02:07] And we've got some news stories for you today.

[00:02:10] Like what?

[00:02:10] They might be old stories.

[00:02:11] I don't know if they're new or not.

[00:02:12] It might be an old story.

[00:02:13] I keep trying to find updates on those monkeys from South Carolina.

[00:02:16] I guess people stopped caring about them.

[00:02:18] Because after the update from like two weeks ago that said there were six left,

[00:02:22] they just stopped reporting on them.

[00:02:24] They're like, the rest died, but we don't want to let you know that.

[00:02:27] They may have.

[00:02:28] I don't know.

[00:02:31] Okay, I'm ready to talk about the wolves since we already brought it up.

[00:02:34] Okay.

[00:02:34] Okay.

[00:02:35] Did you want me to start recording?

[00:02:37] You are recording.

[00:02:39] Well, that's good.

[00:02:40] Oh, my Lord.

[00:02:41] Okay.

[00:02:42] So.

[00:02:44] Tell me about these little fox guys.

[00:02:45] I like the way this is phrased.

[00:02:46] It says Ethiopian wolves known as carnivores.

[00:02:51] Yes.

[00:02:52] So recently they were observed feeding on nectar from Ethiopian red hot poker flowers.

[00:02:59] Mm-hmm.

[00:03:00] This is the first time a large carnivore has been documented consuming nectar, hinting

[00:03:04] at surprising adaptability in the animal kingdom.

[00:03:07] What I think is funny about this is they're like, oh, they're so adaptable.

[00:03:11] Did they just not have anything else to eat?

[00:03:13] Or were they like genuinely like, no, these wolves have a sweet tooth, you know?

[00:03:17] You know why they're dying out?

[00:03:19] Right here.

[00:03:19] Look, they like to live together, but they like hunting alone and eating alone.

[00:03:23] So they just like, they hunt little rats and things.

[00:03:26] That's a fox.

[00:03:27] That's a fox behavior.

[00:03:28] That's not a wolf behavior.

[00:03:29] Wolves hunt together.

[00:03:30] Like that's kind of their main thing of being a wolf.

[00:03:34] The internet says that the biggest threat to this species is surprise, surprise humans.

[00:03:40] That'd be crazy.

[00:03:41] Subsistence farming in Ethiopia's highlands is overtaking large swaths of their range,

[00:03:45] restricting them to higher and higher altitudes.

[00:03:48] The overgrazing of livestock is only exacerbating this habitat loss.

[00:03:54] You could see why I was like hesitant about wolves in Ethiopia because they look like foxes and I highly doubted that there were wolves in Ethiopia.

[00:04:07] Yes, I do get it.

[00:04:08] I think wolves are kind of everywhere.

[00:04:13] They're a very hardy species.

[00:04:18] Close to foxes.

[00:04:21] Let's see.

[00:04:22] Nope.

[00:04:25] Also called the red jackal, the simian jackal or simian fox.

[00:04:31] I thought a simian was a primate.

[00:04:33] Simian?

[00:04:34] I don't know.

[00:04:35] It's spelled with an E, not an A.

[00:04:37] It's a canine native to Ethiopian highlands known as the horse jackal and similar to the coyote in size and build

[00:04:46] and is distinguished by its narrow skull and red and white fur.

[00:04:50] Bro, they're just describing a fox.

[00:04:53] Why did they name them wolves?

[00:04:56] I don't know.

[00:04:58] Why is this a wolf?

[00:05:02] Don't give me an ad, fucking Wikipedia.

[00:05:04] I'm not here for ads.

[00:05:07] Current range.

[00:05:09] Naming.

[00:05:09] Okay.

[00:05:10] No, that's not helpful.

[00:05:12] I like how most of the names for this are historically not wolf.

[00:05:20] Okay.

[00:05:21] Well.

[00:05:21] Jackal, fox, jackal, jackal, coyote, wolf.

[00:05:24] Like most of them are not wolf.

[00:05:27] They're classified as wolves due to their genetic and morphological traits, which align more closely with other wolf species like gray wolves.

[00:05:36] So, they're genetic evidence.

[00:05:38] So, it's genetics.

[00:05:38] They share a common ancestor with gray wolves and coyotes, but diverged from that lineage about 100,000 years ago.

[00:05:46] So, that's why they look like a more distinct species.

[00:05:48] That's so long ago to be like, yeah, there's still a wolf.

[00:05:51] While smaller and slimmer than most wolves, Ethiopian wolves have characteristic wolf features like long legs, a bushy tail, and a narrow pointed muzzle suited for hunting rodents.

[00:06:02] Yeah, that sounds like a fox to me.

[00:06:03] Yeah.

[00:06:04] That sounds zen.

[00:06:05] I don't know a lot of wolves that hunt rodents.

[00:06:07] And this brings up what you said.

[00:06:09] They are social animals that form packs, but like solitary hunting.

[00:06:15] Yeah.

[00:06:16] And then their high altitude habitat and dietary specialization set them apart from other wolves while still maintaining their classification within the broader wolf lineage.

[00:06:26] This really feels like somebody just wanted them to be a wolf, so they called them wolves.

[00:06:31] Yeah.

[00:06:32] I'm looking at their lineology right now with taming millions of years ago.

[00:06:41] So, like they're closer to like African wild dogs and jackals than they are like coyotes and gray wolves and things.

[00:06:51] It's like, hmm.

[00:06:53] But.

[00:06:54] It's like, what is the difference between a wolf and a fox?

[00:06:56] You shit that?

[00:06:57] I did, sorry.

[00:06:58] Dang.

[00:06:58] Hmm.

[00:07:02] Despite its close relation to the gray wolf, convergent evolution has resulted in a skull similar in shape to that of jackals.

[00:07:10] Yeah, I'm okay.

[00:07:11] What is a jackal exactly?

[00:07:13] A jackal?

[00:07:13] I don't know.

[00:07:14] I'm on Wikipedia.

[00:07:15] I've only seen them in like Scooby-Doo films.

[00:07:17] What?

[00:07:19] What are you talking about?

[00:07:22] Which Scooby-Doo film has jackals in it?

[00:07:28] Anyway.

[00:07:30] Jackals are canids native to Africa and Eurasia, while the word jackal has historically been used for many canines of the sub-tribe.

[00:07:39] Canina.

[00:07:40] In modern use, it is most commonly refers to three species.

[00:07:45] A black-backed jackal, a side-striped jackal of central and southern Africa, and the golden jackal of south-central Europe and Asia.

[00:07:54] The African golden wolf was also formerly considered jackal.

[00:07:59] Hmm.

[00:07:59] It looks like a coyote with different markings on it.

[00:08:02] That's kind of what I'm looking at.

[00:08:04] Yeah.

[00:08:06] Interesting.

[00:08:06] Interesting.

[00:08:07] Hmm.

[00:08:08] Hmm.

[00:08:08] One thing I like, it points out the differences between wolves and foxes.

[00:08:11] Is there a vocalization?

[00:08:13] It says, wolves communicate through howls, which can carry over long distances, while foxes use high-pitched yips, barks, and unique sounds, such as the fox scream.

[00:08:23] And I want to know why, because it says fox scream in quotations.

[00:08:28] Fox screaming?

[00:08:30] Don't look up fox scream, please.

[00:08:32] Fox screaming right here on your computer device.

[00:08:38] Computer device?

[00:08:41] Okay.

[00:08:42] Also, red foxes, their name is Vulpes Vulpes.

[00:08:46] Yeah.

[00:08:47] Where do you think Pokemon got it from?

[00:08:49] Moon, moon.

[00:08:50] Moon.

[00:08:51] Why do foxes scream?

[00:08:54] For breeding.

[00:08:57] Territorial disputes.

[00:08:58] That's like why any animal makes sounds.

[00:09:00] What do you mean?

[00:09:01] I also scream when I breed.

[00:09:03] Why animal makes sound.

[00:09:05] Why animal sound?

[00:09:07] Its volume and pitch is loud and shrill.

[00:09:10] Yep.

[00:09:11] That's you.

[00:09:11] It may be short or drawn out, and it varies slightly depending on the situation, whether it's mating or aggression.

[00:09:17] Yes, that is the characteristics of screaming.

[00:09:20] That's for foxes?

[00:09:23] Fox screams often lead to reports of mysterious or distressing noises in rural and urban areas, especially during winter nights where mating activity peaks.

[00:09:32] Fox.

[00:09:35] I do not want to hear an example, but thank you.

[00:09:37] Do you remember that old song, The Fox Say?

[00:09:40] What does the fox say?

[00:09:42] Yeah, I hated that song.

[00:09:45] It's so annoying to me.

[00:09:47] Yeah, well, I mean, we were like juniors in high school when that song came out, so I don't think it was for our generation.

[00:09:53] No, it's not, but I just hate it so much.

[00:09:55] And every once in a while I'll hear it, and I'm like, who still plays this and why?

[00:09:58] Do you remember the pineapple pen?

[00:10:01] Mm-hmm.

[00:10:01] It was like, apple pen, pineapple pen.

[00:10:05] It was the dumbest thing ever.

[00:10:06] I've never heard that.

[00:10:07] It's literally so fucking stupid.

[00:10:08] I've heard of that, but I'll attribute it to you now.

[00:10:11] It's okay.

[00:10:11] Of course.

[00:10:13] Also, I think our bookshelf is haunted.

[00:10:16] Yeah.

[00:10:18] Or she's staring at an octopus.

[00:10:20] For those of you not in the room.

[00:10:24] Our cat is sitting in a box staring at our bookshelf.

[00:10:27] And that's the whole story.

[00:10:28] All right.

[00:10:28] I think it's because the octopus has a face on it, so she thinks it's like another animal.

[00:10:33] Why can't she just sit and enjoy things?

[00:10:35] Not everything's a conspiracy.

[00:10:36] I don't sit and enjoy things.

[00:10:37] That's a you problem.

[00:10:38] You're a me problem.

[00:10:39] That's also true.

[00:10:40] I don't know what.

[00:10:43] I think I saw this, and it's Christmas time.

[00:10:50] Okay.

[00:10:51] If we celebrate Christmas.

[00:10:52] If it's not, that sucks.

[00:10:54] Okay.

[00:10:56] Go on.

[00:10:57] But I guess it could work out for anything.

[00:10:59] Yeah, there's two times a year.

[00:11:00] Christmas time and not Christmas time.

[00:11:02] It doesn't necessarily have to be for Christmas.

[00:11:05] I guess it could be for whatever.

[00:11:07] Somebody got paid for this.

[00:11:08] That bothers me.

[00:11:09] Like, I'm sitting over here, and you're sitting over here, and doing things not great for money

[00:11:17] fun times.

[00:11:18] Yes.

[00:11:19] And this person did a psychology study on how to give a good gift.

[00:11:28] That's what they got paid for, for however long this study went on.

[00:11:33] I just want you to know people don't make that much money for studies.

[00:11:35] I don't think they make that much money, but the fact of me is somebody made money by going,

[00:11:40] did you like that gift?

[00:11:41] Okay.

[00:11:41] I don't think, I'm sure, what are the, like, what were they basing this off of?

[00:11:46] What are the qualitative results?

[00:11:48] Psychology.

[00:11:49] Okay, but like.

[00:11:50] It's not a study that does numbers.

[00:11:51] It's a study of feelings.

[00:11:53] So there's really nothing, like, how are you going to prove this?

[00:11:56] Like, it's a generalized study of, did that gift make you feel happy?

[00:11:59] From one to ten, how happy?

[00:12:00] That's it?

[00:12:01] I feel like there needs to be more qualitative data than that.

[00:12:04] Like, what did you want them to qualitative on this, huh?

[00:12:06] Okay, so it's like, what's the emotional connection of the gift?

[00:12:11] Like.

[00:12:12] Okay.

[00:12:13] Social and cultural influences.

[00:12:16] How did this make you feel culturally?

[00:12:18] You wanted them to ask.

[00:12:20] Is this a cultural gift for you?

[00:12:22] Our culture dictates what gifts are seen as appropriate.

[00:12:25] Our social status also does, depending on how much money you can pay for it.

[00:12:30] Okay.

[00:12:31] How does that equate to giving a good gift?

[00:12:35] Gift.

[00:12:35] Some psychologists argue that gift giving has evolutionary roots, serving as a tool for building alliances, demonstrating resources, or showcasing desirable gifts.

[00:12:43] Quiet.

[00:12:43] Stop talking about that.

[00:12:44] We're not looking at the psychology of why we're giving gifts.

[00:12:47] This is a study about how to give a good gift according to psychology.

[00:12:51] Okay, go on.

[00:12:52] All right.

[00:12:52] It's not looking at like, oh, is this culturally appropriate?

[00:12:55] Oh, is this going to be scientifically inclusive?

[00:12:57] It's not looking at that.

[00:12:59] It's looking at how to give a good gift.

[00:13:01] Okay, go on.

[00:13:01] And basically what it is, it opens up with American consumers are projected to spend roughly $960 billion during the holiday season.

[00:13:13] And according to retailers, about 20% of those sales get returned.

[00:13:19] Right?

[00:13:20] I feel like that's a higher than normal average.

[00:13:23] I don't know.

[00:13:24] It could be.

[00:13:26] That's not my point.

[00:13:28] I like the way you said that.

[00:13:28] I don't care.

[00:13:29] I don't know.

[00:13:30] I don't know.

[00:13:31] I don't care.

[00:13:32] Either way.

[00:13:33] Right?

[00:13:34] But most people tend to make a lot of mistakes when giving presents, right?

[00:13:37] So it basically goes through a bunch of questions.

[00:13:42] And the problem I have with this is it's questions that were asked by the news source to the researcher that he then just answered.

[00:13:53] And I'm like, I don't see anywhere in here where he gave like a study that was done as opposed to just answers that he thought were psychologically relevant.

[00:14:04] You know, so it makes it sound like it was just an interview of a psychologist instead of like an actual study, which is kind of funny to me.

[00:14:12] I'm like, this says, all right, that's cool.

[00:14:15] According to science.

[00:14:16] You're like, no, it's according to one psychologist.

[00:14:17] According to this scientist.

[00:14:18] According to one psychologist.

[00:14:21] That's who you interviewed.

[00:14:24] But it's like, your review touches on many ways that gift givers go astray due to social norms.

[00:14:32] Can you provide some examples?

[00:14:33] You know, this example is gift wrapping.

[00:14:35] We have $50 to spend.

[00:14:36] We could spend $40 on the gift and $10 on the wrapping.

[00:14:39] Or we could spend $50 on the gift and nothing on the wrapping.

[00:14:42] We tend to go with nicer wrapping.

[00:14:44] Recipients would rather have $10 put into the gift.

[00:14:47] But the norm says that you wrap it nicely and spend that $10 on the wrapping.

[00:14:52] First, if you're spending $10 on wrapping one gift, you did it wrong anyway.

[00:14:56] Also, yeah.

[00:14:56] No, like, is even one roll $10?

[00:15:00] Like, how much is it for the average?

[00:15:01] I got three for $15, but they're like giant rolls that will last a while.

[00:15:05] So that's why I'm like, it's...

[00:15:09] Or consider partial gifts.

[00:15:10] For example, if you go to like a registry, you see a couple wants eight plates, eight dinner plates.

[00:15:16] But each plate is $25.

[00:15:18] You could give them $100 worth of plates, but you give them four out of eight.

[00:15:22] Givers will see this as giving them part of what they want.

[00:15:25] But recipients see it as not minding as much as we might think as the giver and just appreciating that they got some of it.

[00:15:32] Yeah, I will say, like, I noticed this during our wedding.

[00:15:35] People are really weird about giving gifts.

[00:15:36] Like, we were just like, you don't have to give a gift.

[00:15:38] You can give us some honeymoon fund money.

[00:15:40] But, like, we weren't super concerned about the gifts.

[00:15:42] But people freaked out.

[00:15:43] And they're like, no, like, I have to give you something.

[00:15:46] Yeah, that's why we had...

[00:15:48] The only thing on the registry was the honeymoon fund.

[00:15:52] And I'm like, whatever you can give, you can give.

[00:15:53] If it's $5, $10, $1, I don't care.

[00:15:57] Like, it's all going towards something.

[00:15:59] I'm sure there's some people who care about the value of it, but...

[00:16:01] Right, but traditionally, I think the gift registry, especially for a wedding, was for buying, you know, looking towards furniture or kitchen essentials, like pots and pans and a toaster and silverware.

[00:16:16] Couples who are moving in together for the first time.

[00:16:18] Because it's traditionally, it was you and I would be living with our parents, then we get married and go somewhere to live by ourselves.

[00:16:25] And I'm not taking all the silverware from my mother's house.

[00:16:29] And you're presumably only stealing the most expensive things from your father's house.

[00:16:34] So, you know, we needed those things from outside family to be like, here's to help you get started in life.

[00:16:41] But we had been together for almost 10 years.

[00:16:44] So, I was like, we don't need these things.

[00:16:47] As you got to know what I said, I was like, we've lived together for a while.

[00:16:50] Like, please stop, don't give us anything.

[00:16:51] Yeah, I'm like, we already lived together a while.

[00:16:53] No plates.

[00:16:54] Like, we could use some more forks, I guess, because we run out of forks every once in a while.

[00:16:58] That's because we need to do the dishes more.

[00:16:59] No, it's just because we started using the dishwasher and we put them in there, but we only run the dishwasher like once a week.

[00:17:05] When it's full, yeah.

[00:17:06] So, we just run out of silverware and I'm like, I guess I'll do the dishes then.

[00:17:14] I get distracted so easily because sometimes our cats are so cute.

[00:17:17] I'm like, I got to take a picture of them right now.

[00:17:19] Yeah.

[00:17:20] But this one, this is the part that the little section of this little blurb that I found would be helpful.

[00:17:26] Is resist the urge to give in to novelty items or a focus on the aha moment of unwrapping a gift.

[00:17:33] Right?

[00:17:34] Because gift givers tend to focus on that moment of giving the gift, the initial surprise of, aha, you got this.

[00:17:40] It's so lovely.

[00:17:41] It's amazing.

[00:17:42] But recipients of gifts usually look at things as long-term utility, how much you, you know, how many experiences, how many uses that what you could get out of it.

[00:17:51] The example they gave was like a chocolate fountain.

[00:17:53] Like if you're walking through the store and somebody says, ooh, a chocolate fountain, that'd be fun.

[00:17:58] And then you get them a chocolate fountain for say Christmas.

[00:18:01] They open it and they're like, oh, that's the thing.

[00:18:03] This is the thing from the store.

[00:18:05] It'll be so exciting.

[00:18:06] It's cool.

[00:18:07] And then right after that, you're going to use it, what, once a year, maybe on a holiday.

[00:18:11] And it's just going to sit there, you know.

[00:18:15] I was like, that's my least favorite part of receiving gifts is like people expect.

[00:18:19] No, people expect you to react a certain way.

[00:18:23] And if you don't react like super excited and like, oh my God, like people get offended.

[00:18:27] And I'm like, would I really like something?

[00:18:29] You know, I'm just like, oh, wow.

[00:18:31] I like this a lot.

[00:18:33] That is not true.

[00:18:34] I've seen you get overly excited about certain things that you want a lot.

[00:18:38] What your issue is, is you put out a list of like eight things that you want.

[00:18:45] And then you'll get thing number nine that someone thinks that you'll like.

[00:18:48] Like, and you're not prepared mentally for the amount of excitement that you're supposed to show.

[00:18:54] You've only mentally prepared for the eight things that you really wanted.

[00:18:57] So when you get something out of the norm, you don't know how to react.

[00:19:00] And then you feel pressured to react a different way.

[00:19:02] But if it's something that was on your list that you want, then you react normally just fine every time.

[00:19:08] My parents just used to get really mad because like, they'd be like, you don't seem excited.

[00:19:12] And I'm like, no, I really like it.

[00:19:15] I'm like, why do I have to be like, oh my God.

[00:19:18] Oh my God.

[00:19:18] Was that back when they picked stuff out for you?

[00:19:20] You didn't tell them what you wanted, right?

[00:19:22] Yeah.

[00:19:23] See, that's what I'm saying.

[00:19:24] Like you, you can tell the differences in it.

[00:19:27] Like if it's, excuse me, if it's something you're not expecting, your, your initial reaction won't be as enthusiastic,

[00:19:34] even though you might still be the same level of excited internally.

[00:19:38] I just, I need to be prepared.

[00:19:42] Yes.

[00:19:42] That's what I'm saying.

[00:19:45] That was one of the things in here too is like, uh, what he, what this psychologist notices a lot of people tend to ask for what they want.

[00:19:53] And when you give them what they want, as opposed to giving them something that you think you want, that's in the same category.

[00:19:59] It's still, uh, it's still, unless it's less like emotional response than just giving them the thing that they asked for, what they want.

[00:20:06] But I get it.

[00:20:07] It feels less personal, especially nowadays when you're like, here's a list of links from Amazon, click on one and hit buy, you know?

[00:20:15] So I used to get people personalized gifts and they'd get really excited and then they wouldn't use it.

[00:20:21] It's like everybody says they want personal gifts, but then like they don't actually, I feel like.

[00:20:25] What were your personalized gifts that you've gotten me that I haven't used?

[00:20:29] For you?

[00:20:30] No, no, not that.

[00:20:31] Like for other people.

[00:20:32] It doesn't count between us.

[00:20:34] Because like.

[00:20:36] Well, I can't think of it right now.

[00:20:38] Well, then your argument is moot.

[00:20:40] What's, what's your favorite kind of gift to get?

[00:20:42] What's my favorite kind of gift to get?

[00:20:45] I'm glad you asked.

[00:20:46] That's the last little section on this category.

[00:20:49] It's, as people are happier when they get gifts that are shared experiences or experiences together rather than material things.

[00:20:56] And I think that's a lot of it.

[00:20:58] If you're struggling or you don't have a lot of material things and you really want a couple material things.

[00:21:04] Yeah, you'll get the enjoyment of it and that.

[00:21:07] But the overarching like more joy or more happiness and, and, you know, social bonding you'll get is from experiences or experienced gifts.

[00:21:16] I think that's why my parents like the us getting them like gift cards.

[00:21:19] Because like they said, it feels like us buying them dinner, even when we're not able to go and see them and buy them dinner in person.

[00:21:26] I like experiences, but I feel like the last time we got any was right before COVID.

[00:21:31] I remember like your parents that year for Christmas got all of us like, oh, you can go to this special event.

[00:21:38] You can go to this special event.

[00:21:39] And then COVID happened like a month before.

[00:21:41] Which special event?

[00:21:42] Like, I can't remember what it was, but it was like a beer festival or something.

[00:21:45] Like your parents gifted us two tickets too for Christmas in 2019.

[00:21:49] And it was supposed to take place in like April or May of that year.

[00:21:53] And then COVID happened and none of us could use.

[00:21:56] They're like Groupon or whatever.

[00:21:58] Oh, I think I remember something about that.

[00:22:00] They kept saying, oh, we'll reschedule, reschedule, reschedule.

[00:22:03] And then they just canceled it and nobody got refunded.

[00:22:06] Mm-hmm.

[00:22:07] Yay.

[00:22:08] Yeah, well, either one.

[00:22:10] But no, I still like experiences.

[00:22:12] I mean, it's going out to dinner or going and doing something.

[00:22:16] Or planning a trip or doing whatever.

[00:22:18] I think with you, I prefer planning a trip because like, you know, we've been together

[00:22:21] for a long time and it's like we have everything.

[00:22:23] Yeah, going to dinner is boring.

[00:22:24] I hate it.

[00:22:25] Well, it's like we buy what we want most of the time, you know?

[00:22:27] So it's like, I like going in, like we went to Six Flags for your birthday.

[00:22:30] Like, I want to do stuff like that where we get to go out and do something together.

[00:22:34] That's fun.

[00:22:37] I agree.

[00:22:39] What do you mean you agree?

[00:22:41] I just made that whole point.

[00:22:43] What's your favorite part of the holidays?

[00:22:46] Huh?

[00:22:46] What's your favorite part of the holidays?

[00:22:47] What do you mean?

[00:22:48] Like, what do you like about the Christmas time?

[00:22:51] What do I like about it?

[00:22:52] Mm-hmm.

[00:22:53] Oh, just how cozy it is.

[00:22:59] Like, I like all the lights and decorations.

[00:23:02] Like, I feel like the lights make it more fun.

[00:23:04] I wonder if Christmas lights have made it to where like, you know, seasonal affective disorder

[00:23:10] happens a lot in the wintertime because it's darker and there's less sunlight.

[00:23:13] I wonder if that's like a part of the joy of Christmas with the lights is like, it's like

[00:23:19] an artificial light that makes you happy.

[00:23:22] I don't believe that artificial lights make people happy.

[00:23:28] Like, I still think it's more of the natural light is what makes people happy.

[00:23:34] Um, artificial lights can significantly influence happiness and well-being.

[00:23:40] Um, bright warm lighting can mimic natural sunlight, which increases serotonin.

[00:23:47] Uh, cooler blue tone lights are linked to increased alertness and focus.

[00:23:52] I do know that because of all those studies about like social media apps tend to be blue

[00:23:57] and like studies say that like if you read them before bed, it keeps you awake because

[00:24:01] it's increased to like alertness and focus.

[00:24:04] They can also create ambience by soft warm lighting contributing to relaxation and comfort.

[00:24:10] Speaking of blue lights, we've got a new account.

[00:24:14] Go ahead and talk about it.

[00:24:15] It's blue.

[00:24:16] Yes, we did make a blue sky account.

[00:24:18] Um, unfortunately our social media intern is doing terribly, might have to fire her.

[00:24:23] So, um, we should be posting on blue sky soon.

[00:24:26] Mindless Prattle just like everywhere else.

[00:24:28] You can also follow me and Jordan on blue sky.

[00:24:31] Um, you know, if we fire that intern, this would just be a lot of monologuing.

[00:24:39] The intern will promise to do better.

[00:24:41] That's really, she's the intern.

[00:24:43] Shut up.

[00:24:44] I am the intern.

[00:24:45] I am the worst and I'm trying to get better.

[00:24:47] I'm sorry.

[00:24:50] Ah, it's fun.

[00:24:51] Yeah, we go, uh, go check it out.

[00:24:54] There's a blank page with your name on it.

[00:24:56] Technically it's got our name on it, but.

[00:24:58] Yes, I will.

[00:24:59] I'll, I'll, I'll get better.

[00:25:00] I just.

[00:25:02] I don't know.

[00:25:02] Would you stop kicking this table?

[00:25:04] Sit still.

[00:25:06] I can't.

[00:25:06] It's been like 20 minutes.

[00:25:07] I gotta use the bathroom.

[00:25:08] Oh my lord.

[00:25:09] It's not been that long.

[00:25:11] What?

[00:25:11] I'm trying to wait until we're done.

[00:25:12] I guess we're done now because I ain't gonna sit with a fidgety.

[00:25:16] All right?

[00:25:17] I got a spinner over there.

[00:25:19] I don't need one in the chair next to me.

[00:25:23] Have you ever checked out a chat GPT's other GPT's?

[00:25:29] His other, like he puts on some other pants?

[00:25:32] Like they have ones that aren't like geared towards like just chatting.

[00:25:35] Like you can make a whole website.

[00:25:38] You can do an image creator.

[00:25:40] There's one that'll like show you your birth chart.

[00:25:44] You can make a presentation.

[00:25:46] The ones I really like, there's one called size space that'll search a bunch of research

[00:25:51] papers for you and help you find research for your classes and things like that.

[00:26:00] But yeah, there's some fun ones.

[00:26:02] Like this one's called planty.

[00:26:05] And it says, I'm your fun and friendly plant care assistant.

[00:26:09] Ask me how to best take care of your plants.

[00:26:11] Plenty.

[00:26:13] Yeah, the courses I'm doing through Harvard have their own version to help you with like

[00:26:18] coding problems.

[00:26:19] And I think it's one that they may like the faculty and staff made or one of the old alumni

[00:26:26] somewhere in there.

[00:26:27] I think that's, I'm remembering correctly.

[00:26:29] But they have one that you can ask it questions related to the course and it'll give you like

[00:26:34] prompted guides to get you towards thinking about how to solve the problem instead of just giving

[00:26:39] you the solution.

[00:26:40] Like if you ask chat GPT or something like that.

[00:26:42] Well, that's what I, I, like we talked about it before, but I think it's really the way

[00:26:45] you use it because my chat GPT, I'll be like, Hey, I need to do this.

[00:26:49] And then it'll give me like, based on like the work I've already given it, it'll be like,

[00:26:53] Oh, here's ways you can tighten this up or like, here's ways you can format this.

[00:26:57] And then I do my own work based on that.

[00:27:00] But I know a lot of people are just using it to like copy and paste their essays and shit.

[00:27:05] Speaking of which, we have sad news.

[00:27:08] The book has been delayed.

[00:27:10] It will not be done by New Year's, but it'll still be good.

[00:27:17] Yeah.

[00:27:18] I'm mentally handicapped, but I'll fix it.

[00:27:24] Yeah.

[00:27:24] That's the wording you want to go with.

[00:27:26] My disability has been disabilitying lately.

[00:27:28] So I will get better, I guess.

[00:27:32] Maybe.

[00:27:33] You ever seen the Pixar movie Soul?

[00:27:36] Mm-hmm.

[00:27:36] Didn't we watch it together?

[00:27:37] I don't know.

[00:27:39] Yeah, I thought we watched it together.

[00:27:40] How would I remember things?

[00:27:42] Okay.

[00:27:42] I got no memories.

[00:27:44] I thought that was me.

[00:27:45] No, my storage is empty.

[00:27:48] Anyway, he loses his little spark.

[00:27:51] That's you with the writing.

[00:27:52] That's me writing.

[00:27:52] Gotta find your little spark.

[00:27:54] I'll push you off a well.

[00:27:56] How about that?

[00:27:57] No, thank you.

[00:27:58] What?

[00:27:58] That's how they do it in the movie.

[00:28:02] It is.

[00:28:03] Soul.

[00:28:03] Oh, we're just talking about this.

[00:28:06] I guess I don't remember it either.

[00:28:08] I'm just saying, look, there's a giant hole.

[00:28:11] And they're like, yeah, look, it leads down to Earth.

[00:28:13] And the people, when they find their spark, they jump into the hole.

[00:28:16] Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[00:28:17] I'll just give you a kickstart.

[00:28:19] Like, get down there.

[00:28:19] See, the thing is, I have my spark.

[00:28:21] It's just a little dim right now.

[00:28:23] Okay.

[00:28:23] That's not a spark.

[00:28:25] But, yeah.

[00:28:27] You eating that hair over there?

[00:28:29] Nom, nom, nom, nom, nom.

[00:28:29] Okay, I gotta use that there.

[00:28:30] Let's tie this up.

[00:28:32] This ain't no Christmas wrapping, Jackal.

[00:28:34] All right?

[00:28:37] Are you closer to a fox or a jackal?

[00:28:39] A fox.

[00:28:39] You should be screaming.

[00:28:41] And we, uh, we are family.

[00:28:46] Um, where did it go?

[00:28:48] I just lost everything I was writing.

[00:28:50] So, never mind.

[00:28:51] Take us away, Jeeves.

[00:28:53] No, I did the intro.

[00:28:54] All right.

[00:28:55] This has been Mindless Prattle.

[00:28:57] I'm your deficient social media intern, Ripley.

[00:29:00] That one over there is Jordan.

[00:29:01] We hope you've enjoyed everything your ears have heard today.

[00:29:04] I know mine have.

[00:29:06] If you want to know the differences between foxes and wolves and all their screaming,

[00:29:11] make sure to follow us at Mindless Prattle on literally every social media website.

[00:29:18] I lost my train of thought.

[00:29:22] I'm so great at outros.

[00:29:24] Ripley, that's Jordan.

[00:29:24] There's any tracks up there.

[00:29:25] And we will see you.

[00:29:26] That train's just free balling it.

[00:29:28] Next time.

[00:29:30] Goodbye.

[00:29:30] He just liked that train in the Polar Express.

[00:29:33] I don't know if you've seen it at the Frozen Lake.

[00:29:34] They're like, there's tracks on the other side.

[00:29:36] And they just start drifting all over the place.

[00:29:38] You know the train of thought in Sharkboy and Lava Girl?

[00:29:40] Yeah, that one too.

[00:29:41] That's me.

[00:29:42] No, that one actually, like, is on tracks, though.

[00:29:44] It's like drifting, but it's on tracks.

[00:29:47] And it's like, oh, perfect.

[00:29:48] The tracks are just, like, being made as it's going.

[00:29:51] You're on tracks.

[00:29:52] No.

[00:29:52] Also, goodbye.

[00:29:53] The one in your brain is like the Polar Express.

[00:29:57] Just, we're looking for tracks.

[00:30:01] We don't know where to go.

[00:30:03] We'll have her post some things.

[00:30:05] Well, I hope you had fun.

[00:30:07] I know I did.

[00:30:08] We'll see you next time.