On this ride, your hosts Steve and Mal hurtle from Point A to Point B while considering the human capacity for manipulation, from humble bragging to scripted politeness to outright fraud, the better for them to appreciate the good old honest vibe.
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Show notes:
Fuzzy dice: this from a Wikipedia article on these objects:
“[One] explanation for hanging these in a car has been proposed that “displaying the dice meant the driver was ready and willing to be ‘dicing with death’ in the dangerous and unregulated world of street racing”.
In some segments, such as the lowrider community, research indicated that even the most dedicated individuals “did not attach any significance to the dice” that were hung from their car’s rearview mirror.
A 1993 study found no correlation between the use of fuzzy dice and the degree of a driver’s reckless driving behavior.”
[Edit to add (delayed reaction):] Wait, there was a study on the correlation between the use of fuzzy dice and reckless driving? Seriously? The article discussing that, cited in Wikipedia, is Hemenway, David; Solnick, Sara J. (1 April 1993). “Fuzzy dice, dream cars, and indecent gestures: correlates of driver behavior?”. Accident Analysis & Prevention. 25 (2): 161–170. The abstract of the study can be found at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8166776/. So now you know.
That wonderful Criminal Minds clip can be found at: https://youtu.be/Rqkv_lIGKRM?si=FJ3gWU2NBJwCw1Lh
Awards Steve has gotten: on IMBD he is known for having been a Production Assistant on “Amityville 3-D.”
Before that he and his college suite-mate Gip Lockwood were finalists in the Cross Campus two-dorm egg toss event, circa 1975. They came in second, Steve with egg on his face, ebullient.
Awards Mal has gotten: finalist in a Harry Potter trivia contest at Goldfinch Books in Maplewood, NJ (by rights, won; graciously congratulated the spurious winner)
Also earned by Mal: best cosplay costume at a cosplay show in or near Redacted about a year or so ago.
Andrew Palumbo (New Palumbo), like his father the late, great Chris Palumbo, and Chris’s father before him, runs the excellent auto repair shop in Millburn, NJ, now known as New Palumbo’s, formerly known as New Palumbo’s Exxon and before that Palumbo’s Exxon. The Redact-mobile wouldn’t be what it is today if not for New Palumbo’s.
And finally (for now), if this ep. does nothing else for you then at least, thanks to these show notes, it enables you to enjoy this little video featuring a duet of eloquent car horns in traffic — “La Cucaracha” meets “Tequila.” https://youtu.be/WLXQgcx8qTI?si=IasJAdiMF4OvItP5 ¡Olé!