Love Hate Relationship

John Mayer and the Bhopal Gas Tragedy

Love: John Mayer Alex takes his Love segment to proffer a defense of his admiration for guitarist, songwriter, and occasionally problematic figure, John Mayer. He discusses the eras of Mayer’s career (complete with clips), his controversies [https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/john-mayers-sexually-racially-charged-playboy-interview-sparks-outrage-959433/]over the years [https://www.who.com.au/taylor-swift-john-mayer-everything-you-need-to-know).], and why it’s cool if you don’t like him, or if you do. Andy is reasonably horrified at the phrase “David Duke cock,” but finds the guitar-p[laying pleasant enough. Hate: The Bhopal Gas Tragedy Andy gets serious for this episode’s hate topic, and discusses the events and (lack of) fallout from the Bhopal Gas Tragedy [https://open.spotify.com/episode/0jgqFnzYVHaZBPylc25MFd]. He gives a history lesson on the garbage regulations that allowed it to happen, how thousands of people still live in a toxic waste site, and how basically no one in the Western World seems to really know about this. Alex, meanwhile, yells a bunch about capitalism and racism, so, you know…Tuesday.

Julia, Farrah, Dev, Bruce

This month’s Relationship question opens with Julia Cotton (Hellraiser) realizing that she, in fact, had an affair with her dead sister’s husband [https://www.enotalone.com/topic/459111-realized-i-had-an-affair/]. Andy is appropriately appalled at this being a thing that needed to be realized while Alex gets to the uncomfortable brass tacks of honesty and the consequences that follow it. The next question comes from Farrah Abraham (16 and Pregnant, Teen Mom) and concerns her pregnant daughter, whom she herself gave up for adoption, cutting off communication [https://www.reddit.com/r/relationship_advice/comments/1aytzzd/myf36_bio_daughterf18_is_pregnant_and_she_wrote/?rdt=63407]. Alex dwells for a while on the subject of adult children getting to choose whether or not they keep their parents around, and Andy is touchingly kind to remind her what is and is not her fault, especially when giving birth as a teenager. Question number three has Dev (Master of None) asking for advice on how to navigate his girlfriend wanting to buy a bunch of new furniture and wanting him to pay for half despite his lack of interest in it [https://www.reddit.com/r/relationship_advice/comments/1ayub4c/girlfriend_23f_got_annoyed_that_i_26m_refused_to/]. Taking the easy route, both Alex and Andy talk about the value of compromise, as well as what it means to decorate a space together and call it yours. The final question has Bruce Wayne (Batman), trying to figure out how to deal with his wife and children’s fighting after a clear misunderstanding about whether she values the youngest sister over the two elder boys [https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/comments/1aybqyz/aita_for_telling_my_wife_its_her_fault_that_our/]. The poster is reminded to not be an absolute a**hole and that there’;s an absolute value to sitting down and clarifying stuff, even when your teenagers don’t want to listen.

The Venture Bros. and the Telecommunications Act of 1996

LOVE: THE VENTURE BROS. Andy takes this episode’s Love segment to discuss one of the most iconic Adult Swim shows, The Venture Bros. He talks its evolution from Hardy Boys/Johnny Quest parody to something unique unto itself (all while being irreverent and hilarious and so, so nerdy), while Alex sees how many Marvel, glam rock, and Hanna Barbera references he can point out in under 40 minutes. HATE: TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996 Alex uses his Hate to discuss the little understood Telecommunications Act of 1996. He gives its historical context, the politics surrounding it, and why he blames it for the downfall of most media, especially local news and radio. Andy meanwhile gets fun reminders of all the reasons Bill Clinton sucked.

Elizabeth, Ned, Violet, Becky

For this month’s Relationship questions, we begin with Elizabeth Solley (The Fog) inquiring about why a dude she was dating only really started liking her Facebook posts after they split up because he was so distant all of the time [https://www.enotalone.com/topic/458913-he-didnt-want-me-but-didnt-want-me-to-leave/]. Both Alex and Andy have thoughts on the value of emotional distance, especially after very short relationships, and further questions are asked about why so much is being invested in a couple of likes…on Facebook… The next one has Ned Schneebly (School of Rock) asking what to do when his girlfriend asks him to step down from participating in his long-time best friend’s wedding because she didn’t get a token invite into the wedding party [https://www.reddit.com/r/relationship_advice/comments/19fnmtc/i_24m_am_a_groomsman_and_my_gf_24f_is_not_a/]. There is an unsurprising lack of respect for this weird and singular idea of decorum, and everyone is reminded that brides, grooms, etc., get to do what they want on their big days. Next is Violet Crawley (Downton Abbey) looking for advice on contending with her belligerent daughter holding time with her grandkids hostage because she doesn’t like her new partner [https://www.enotalone.com/topic/458847-my-daughter-is-threatening-to-keep-my-grandchildren-away-unless/]. Andy commends a certain stick-to-your guns respect for oneself while Alex reminds her that sometimes it’s awful to miss out on a loved one’s childhood, but parents can’t do anything once the kid’s 18. Finally, Becky Donaldson Katsopolis (Full House) wonders if she did something wrong by double-checking her husband’s packing job on their daughters’ suitcase before going on a vacation [https://www.reddit.com/r/AmItheAsshole/comments/19ffeeu/aita_for_checking_my_daughters_bags_after_my/]. There is much discussion of weaponized incompetence vs. clear communication, and two childless men try really hard not to act like they understand this struggle on too personal a level.

Squatting and Comic Book Royalties

LOVE: SQUATTING Alex talks about his favorite of the Fundamental Movement Patterns, the Squat. He discusses its essentialness, not just as an exercise but as a means to live. Andy meanwhile learns about the Get-Up Test, and everyone has questions about their mortality. HATE: COMIC BOOK ROYALTIES Andy takes the Hate to discuss the abysmal conditions of the current comic book royalties system, discussing how the people behind billion-dollar IP are so frequently left behind in terms of compensation, often to the point of poverty. Alex discusses the pitfalls of the work-for-hire model, and we all remember how awesome Jack Kirby was.