Mark and Toddcast

Like most modern materials, rubber is ubiquitous, but also hides a darker history than most of us know. And, like many of the materials that have built our world, its history involves a crucial mix of both science and global exploitation. Find out how the rubber met the road in this week's episode. In the news: Naomi comics, the last of the VW Beetles, you're always being recorded, Facebook fined $5 billion (yawn), the first photo of quantum entanglement, and the Corpse Flower blooms in America's Vancouver. Smell ya later!

Mark is back from his business trip to China, and he talks about his adventures to the Great Wall, not knowing that language, and traveling alone. He interviews a American ex-pat who is a social media influencer, and makes a video that ended up getting over one million views. And, most importantly, he brings back snack foods and souvenirs! Enjoy!

There are approximately 748 Democrats running for their party's Presidential nomination -- how many do you know? In this episode, Mark reads a random name and Todd has to figure out if its the name of a candidate, or someone currently on Oregon's death row for murder. All that, and a special drop-in from the Unipiper, who gives us the Pepsi/New Coke challenge. In the news: Madonna's new album!, the FBIs vast collection of facial photos, more psychedelic mushrooms go legal, Alex Jones has to pay Pepe the Frog $15,000, the last Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor closes, and more. Enjoy!

On this special episode, we visit W.L. Henry Elementary School in Hillsboro, Oregon to take a tour with principal Lisa Aguilar Fasel. W.L. Henry is a completely dual-lingual school, which means half the day is taught in English, and half in Spanish. It has a 90% Hispanic student population, and is implementing an amazing environment for learning and for emotional growth. The first half of the episode is a sit-down interview, and the second is a walking tour of the school. It's a fascinating and reassuring look at public education from a person whose goal it is to foster the inherent value of each and every student.


Please take the time to visit our sponsor Sonic Sketches, even if it's just to visit the website. A Sonic Sketch is a fantastic idea for a great gift - check them out and use the offer code MARKTODD for free shipping in the U.S.!

It was Memorial Day, which means the Wilhelm Portland Memorial Funeral Home had its annual open house tour - and this year we both went. With over 7 miles of corridors and over 90,000, the Wilhelm is as astonishing place, and this week we talk all about it. Also covered: Cinetopia acquired by AMC, Burgerville closes a location while In-N-Out starts a new one, human composting, malaria vaccine, San Fran says "no" to facial recognition, and Mr. Pee and Poo flush down from Vancouver to teach us about what we can put in the toilet.

Mark is out for a second week with a continuing mystery respiratory/vocal ailment and can't speak, so no new show this week. Instead, enjoy this short compilation of sports announcers shredding their vocal cords, cracking voices, and goats screaming.

this week's episode we take a look into the beginings -- and ending -- of the fabled Library of Alexandria. Why was it special? And just what happened to it? Find out on this week's show. Also: Pepsi sues Indian farmers over potatoes, Daimler to build electric semis in Portland, chalking tires unconstitutional, Oregon Zoo train track won't be rebuilt, a baby T-Rex on eBay, and the Stroopwaffel McFlurry may be coming to a town near you. Think you're not going to listen? But YA ARE, BLANCHE, YA ARE!

The first photograph of a black hole was gigantic news in both the scientific community and the world at large. This week we take a look at how the picture was captured, what it means, and how we got here. In the news: Amazon is listening, Julian Assange is separated from his cat, the Willamette Falls project is a go, Republicans crush Net Neutrality again, Molalla woman's reversed organs, and the heartwarming story of one woman and the four bees that live in her eyes. All this, plus bell's palsy! Enjoy!

This week we celebrate the work of James West, an African-American inventor, who has over 200 patents, including the condenser technology found in over 85% of microphones that are still being sold. This week in the news: Google ends AI ethics council a week after it was formed, McDonald's AI changes menu based on your car license plate, Oregon votes for permanent Daylight Saving(s) Time, 51 facts you thought were correct are wrong, and the Loony Toons-esque ways the CIA tried to get rid of Fidel Castro in the 60s. Enjoy!

For the 40th anniversary of the Three Mile Island nuclear meltdown, we take a look at the details and timeline of what happened, and the aftermath of the incident. Also, Todd makes one giant leap towards his inevitability. News: Lawmakers address "Internet of Things," 4,000 mile American bike trail, electromagnetic weapons, Herpes.....In.....Spaaaaaceee, a library on the moon, man-of-the-week puts naked mannequins in yard to protest fence removal, and LOTS MORE! Grab a plate of tasteless carbs and join us!