Robot or Not?

What makes an animal a pet? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Did both of Jason’s parents both come from the Midwest, or only one? What are the true boundaries of America’s heartland? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

From Sour Cream & Onion to BBQ, what are the “real” potato chip flavors? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

If you don’t go anywhere, is it a vacation? What if you go somewhere, but you don’t relax? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Is cheesecake cheese, cake, pie, tart, or none of the above? Does the angle of the pan matter? Does crust content matter? Do any of us matter, really? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

As recently highlighted on “The Good Place”, it’s a classic ethical conundum that John wants absolutely no part of. And what if the trolley drives itself? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Never believe what a robot tells you. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

A dog interlude. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

What makes a movie a holiday movie? How do they celebrate winter holidays in warm climates? Merry Christmas to all, especially in Australia! John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Okay, time to call it. Time of death— wait, wait, everybody hold on. How do we define death? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

How can we call something alive? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

It would seem like ice cream versus frozen yogurt would be the main debate. But the pronunciation of a third competitor completely derails us. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

We discuss the names of meals and when they happen, and make an interesting(?) digression into human sleep cycles. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

From leafy greens to sugary Jell-O concoctions, all sorts of things are called salads. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Continuing our confused series of episodes about food-related topics, it’s time for John and Jason to talk about Jason’s favorite food style and what happens when you put food on a grill. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

If everything can be a smoothie, then nothing is. So we try to define what makes a smoothie and acts as a bulwark against the milkshake. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

I don’t know what it is, but I know it when I see it. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

We don’t know quite what an old-fashioned donut is, but we know what we like… and what we don’t. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

What makes machine intelligence “real AI”? And what is the difference between strong and weak AI? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

The very definition of video entertainment from Japan. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

What makes something a sport, and not an exercise or a game? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Exploring Jason’s favorite food, what a “favorite food” even is, and the hazy dividing line between condiments and other edibles. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

What’s science fiction? And more importantly, is Star Wars science fiction, fantasy, or something else? John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

Is everything a computer chip? Is nothing a computer chip? Jason thinks this is gonna be good. John thinks it’s obvious. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.

What is the canon of bagels? Why are some ingredients allowed in an Everything Bagel but not any other bagel style? What makes raisins an acceptable ingredient, yet bars blueberries? Mr. Siracusa, native of the great state of New York, educates Mr. Snell, one of those California hippie types, about what a real bagel is. John Siracusa and Jason Snell.