Thirsty Topics podcast
A weekly podcast dedicated to trending topics on social media, pop culture and entertainment. Lawrence and Meryl have healthy discussions with multiple perspectives.
Thirsty Topics podcast
Mudang, AI Influencers, and Alligator Alcatraz for 7/15/25
What happens when tradition meets innovation? This week, Lawrence and Meryl dive into a wedding moment that's redefining celebration as Lawrence shares how his cousin replaced the traditional bouquet toss by giving each woman a rose, acknowledging everyone's worth rather than singling out just one person. It's a subtle yet powerful shift that speaks volumes about evolving social customs.
Technology continues blurring the lines between reality and fiction as we explore the phenomenon of AI-generated influencers taking over social media. Meet Mia Zalou, the completely digital personality with over 160,000 Instagram followers who "attended" Wimbledon recently. When digital characters begin influencing real purchasing decisions and cultural conversations, where do we draw the ethical boundaries? Lawrence and Meryl question who profits from these virtual personalities and what happens when we can no longer distinguish between authentic human experience and artificial creation.
The conversation takes serious turns through discussions about controversial detention facilities like "Alligator Alcatraz," debates surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein files, and lightens with news of Mattel's groundbreaking diabetes Barbie that's changing representation in children's toys. We celebrate Mudang the pygmy hippo's first birthday, analyze the TSA's decision to end the shoe removal requirement, and reflect on Ozzy Osbourne's powerful final performance with Black Sabbath—a poignant reminder of honoring legends while they're still with us.
From Happy Gilmore 2 announcements to Superman's digital Superdog companion, we're examining how entertainment, politics, technology and culture continue their complex dance. Join us for conversations that matter, delivered with the authentic perspective you've come to expect from Thirsty Topics. Follow us across all platforms and visit ElrodTVNetwork.com for more thought-provoking content that keeps you connected to the pulse of today's world.
Great conversations and a place where independent filmmakers can be highlighted.
Hello, and thank you for listening to Thirsty Topics podcast! I'm Lawrence Elrod, and every week Meryl Klemow and I dive deep into the stories that matter, the conversations that shape our world."
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Everyone, welcome to this week's episode of Thirsty Topics. I'm Lawrence Elrod and I'm Meryl Clemo. Hey, Meryl, how are you today?
Speaker 2:Hey, I'm so good, I'm really good. How about yourself?
Speaker 1:You know what I am doing. Fantastic, I have to say.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I know it's in here. I feel like July is a good like. I hope none of my friends are watching this, but I've been telling everyone that I'm so busy and that I'm like busy doing other things, that I'm really not doing anything. And so it's been. I'm just like, oh, I'm traveling left and right and I have so many like social obligations, but I kind of don't, so it's good to just, you know, do nothing sometimes, except for this, of course doing nothing sometimes is probably the best thing you can do for your mind and body.
Speaker 1:So there's nothing Exactly.
Speaker 2:We all have to tell some fibs or just tell people we can't hang out.
Speaker 1:There you go, there you go. Well, I tell you we've got a great, great show coming up here. I'm all pumped up because I went to my cousin's wedding over the weekend.
Speaker 2:It was beautiful oh cool, is it a girl cousin, boy cousin, in-between cousin?
Speaker 1:It's a girl cousin. She's really, really nice and you know, I had a chance to go down and see a lot of family members I haven't seen in a long time, some out of state, so it was kind of like a wedding slash celebration, slash reunion, all at the same time Were you one of the people that stayed late at the wedding.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we stay kind of late. Yeah, you can never know which way it's going to go, because there's been some weddings that I'm like it's 4 am and I'm still dancing, or there's others that at like 9.30, you know, I secretly leave.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was a lot of fun and you know, my body paid for it the next day, but that's okay.
Speaker 2:Did they have good food?
Speaker 1:You know what? The food was excellent. I mean, it was really good food. The venue was really nice and, you know, my cousin did something that I've never seen before, but it's so, so, classy. Yeah, you know the part where the bride throws the bouquet. Yes, Well, what she did? She gave a really great speech and basically, in summary, it was basically about every one of you are special. So instead of throwing the bouquet, she gave each woman a rose.
Speaker 2:Oh, my God, Okay, that is the best thing I've ever seen and heard. And what a way to make everyone feel special, instead of one random person that usually doesn't want to catch it or not, you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, feel special instead of one random person that usually doesn't want to catch it, or not, you know, yeah, I mean, I've never seen that before, but that was so so classy oh, that's so wonderful.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I hope it's something that catches on. I know that's a I. That's the first time I've heard that and that makes so much more sense so I think that's a great way to start to show off.
Speaker 1:What do you think?
Speaker 2:Me too. Do you want to go first?
Speaker 1:Let's see. Since I'm on the run, yeah, I'll go ahead and go first. This is going to be a hard one here. Well, I'm quite sure everyone remembers the little mini. Oh.
Speaker 2:Oh the sweetest.
Speaker 1:Mudang just turned one years old, so the people at the zoo where Mudang is located is you know, giving them the you know animal version of the happy birthday cake and all the celebration. Yeah so that is really, really nice to see that Mudang is enjoying their life, having a great time and still putting smiles on people's face, so that's a great story.
Speaker 2:Mudang hysteria last year was at an all-time high. I thought Mudang was almost as big as the Beatles at some point, but I feel like its cake also is probably like a watermelon and carrots and everything I would imagine, so it's the cutest thing, probably like a watermelon and carrots and everything I would imagine.
Speaker 2:So it's the cutest thing. And I've got on TikTok like pygmy hippo algorithm and they're just this. I honestly feel like if infant human babies look like that, I would be birthing like a bunch of little hippos, because I like the way they look more than baby infants. But that's a different story. But it's so cute. It seems like mudang has a very good life, like it. You know it has a nice habitat and it's not, it's doing its thing. You know that it would do in the wild and I'm sure it doesn't have, of course, like as much space in the enclosure, but as far as zoos go, this seems like it has a good, good life.
Speaker 1:Yeah I agree, I agree and you know I love that that story went viral, because there's a lot of stories that go viral for all the wrong reasons. I'm one of those weird people that I love seeing stuff that puts a smile on people's face.
Speaker 2:I know, you know, we're lucky that so far no, no parent has accidentally dropped their child into Moody's enclosure, thank goodness or no, idiots have jumped over in there.
Speaker 1:No parent has accidentally dropped their child into Mudin's enclosure. Yes, thank goodness or no, idiots have jumped over in there.
Speaker 2:Exactly. Hippos are one of those things like lions and bears that are like why are you so cute if you're meant to destroy us? The animals like polar bears and hippos that are sometimes the deadliest are so cute.
Speaker 1:Yes, that is so true, that is so so, so, so cute. Yes, that is so true, that is so, so true.
Speaker 2:So cuddly. Well, mudeng is a real influencer, but my next story is about a non-real influencer. An Instagram influencer by the name of Mia Zalou, or Zalou, has taken the internet by storm with her recent photo series at Wimbledon. Except she isn't real, so she's completely ai generated and she was appearing to have the time of her life at the london-based tennis uh match, the grand slam. She has long blonde hair, striking blue eyes, flawless skin, and then when you go to her bio, it says that she's a digital creator and influencer ai. So, while the online personality's creator is unknown, the account shares content with more than 160,000 followers on a regular basis.
Speaker 2:I just think this is crazy and scary. So, basically, you know she's AI, she looks gorgeous. It does look like it could be like a real girl, like I know girls that look like this in Los Angeles, but yeah, she's completely ai and I mean I've heard of this too, about um. This is crazy, but I've heard women will make and even men will make ai women that then get paid to like men will chat with them and men don't know that they're talking to like a ai. You know, pretend woman, but they think that they are, and so really there's someone else. It could be like a 60-year-old man just behind the computer pretending to be someone. Wow, I feel like it's a new generation of catfishing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's taking it to an off time.
Speaker 2:I know it says that her creation comes amid a growing wave of AI generated influencers. It's just so weird. And then there's another one, a 25 year old virtual model created by a Spanish company, the Clueless, and yeah, they have 400,000 followers. So I guess my first question to you is would you follow an AI influencer? Absolutely no. Ai influencer Absolutely no. Me neither.
Speaker 1:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:Me too, and also like what are we influencing Just the fact that someone's gorgeous and like at tennis matches? I'm not really influenced by that, you know.
Speaker 1:And you know, the thing too is some of the AI out there is so good that it's really difficult to tell a difference, and I think that kind of blurs the line of truth and fiction, because you think you're looking, Because I saw this one story about, I guess, this viral video going around of an AI-generated Mark Lubio oh really, yes, yes, generated.
Speaker 1:Uh. Mark olivio oh really, yes, yes, and that kind of draws into again. When you see something, don't automatically jump on board. You really have to verify the source, verify that it's real, before you jump on board, because you can make people say things that they've never said yeah, yeah, it's scary and it's also interesting.
Speaker 2:I wonder how it works with. Like you know, brands will pay real life money to real life influencers and then that's how a lot of people make their living and deals. But I wonder, with AI generated, like how a company, if they would pay the creator of that? You know, if, like Colgate, toothpaste or something, wanted this AI influencer to do an ad, would toothpaste or something wanted this ai influencer to do an ad? Would they just pay, like the company that generated, or would? How would the exchange?
Speaker 1:of hands work pretty much. You know what. That's a great question, because I know one of the sticking points uh to the active strike that have the active strike that happened uh recently is that you know the biggest sticking point was the ai version of it. Now I haven't read the contract to know how it works, but you know, I can see someone abusing it to the point of taking a famous star, creating an AI post or yeah.
Speaker 1:You're thinking, the star that you love, that you follow, and all of this is like, oh wow, they're endorsing this product and you find out they're not even real. So, I know. I think that's where AI can be very dangerous.
Speaker 2:I know Me too, and I think we're going to see more of a break off where, like, it's good for people, maybe just the young people will like that, that's their new. Like you know, they'll be growing up with more of this. But for me, I think I'm right at the cutoff where I'm like I don't want ai actors or, like you know, content creators and stuff. Like I'll, I'd like to keep it human for the rest of time and stuff. So I agree, yeah, because I mean they're even starting to have ai podcasters and I see people. It looks pretty real where it's like two people sitting, where it would look like it. So you and I could just upload our consciousness, then we could go.
Speaker 2:We'll be, we'll be sleeping on the couch, wow, yeah it's a whole yeah, I'd be interested to hear from our other listeners but for me seeing like a very attractive, gorgeous person just at wimbledon doesn't really influence me either way. Like I mean, if she had neck like a necklace on or something that I like, then maybe I'll go check out that piece of jewelry. But like I'm not really influenced as like a human about her oh, exactly exactly, and you know now.
Speaker 1:You know scams are are at an all-time high, so you got to be careful about about what you think is real and what's not. You know absolutely so well about making a comeback. Absolutely Well, making a comeback. Do you remember the movie Happy Gilmore? Yes, how could I not? Well, they are coming out with a Happy Gilmore 2. Whoa. So don't know all the details yet, but I know I did see one of the actors being interviewed on Good Morning America, just to say that yes, it is official, yes, it is coming out. I think they even showed some clips of the movie, so I'm assuming it's going to be coming out pretty soon, if they've already got clips out there. So what do you think? Would you go see?
Speaker 2:it. Okay, here's my true but very unpopular opinion. Get ready everyone. Okay. So from like, a comedian standpoint, I like Adam Sandler absolutely. From what I've heard, he's worked so hard and he's so funny. And when I hear about early Adam Sandler stories I have much respect for him, especially as a comedian and the fact that he took a lot of his friends with him on the journey. So there's parts about the Adam Sandler professional that I really like. But for me personally, I have never gotten never gotten the like.
Speaker 2:I don't find Adam Sandler movies very funny at all and I think it's awesome that he still like wears, you know, his outfits and that he's been able to like make his own living.
Speaker 2:He's clearly got something that works. But just like, for me as a human, his sense of humor and like, especially his movies just have never, um, done it for me. So I probably wouldn't go see it because I feel like I don't want to be a B-I-T-C-H when I just sit at the movies and just look at the screen. Sometimes my boyfriend's like you're not allowed to watch a movie if you just have such a weird face on the whole time. So I feel like this is a complete insane opinion, but I personally have not seen like an adam sandler movie that I really liked and I've tried over and over I bet to me like I bet I would like a sense of humor more as like behind the scenes. I'm sure he's very funny like in meetings or you know. I know he's funny on snl but um no, I'll probably not be seeing it because I don't find his movies that good okay, you'll be getting the hate mail.
Speaker 1:No, I'm just kidding.
Speaker 2:I will. Well, that's the thing. It's good for him that he's able to dress Schlebi and then have everyone call him a national treasure and stuff. That's good for him. He's built his brand that way. So I think everyone could have the first and maybe he went like my sense of humor. So it's every. You know it's all different. But no, I'm not an Adam Sandler girly, but I respect those that are.
Speaker 1:Now, you know I like some of his movies. You know I think they're pretty good, some maybe not so much. But I know the original Happy Gilmore I really did love. It was actually a funny movie. I loved it, especially, you know, trying to play golf. I'm not saying play golf, because I'm not here Trying to play golf. I kind of got the whole thing and it made a lot of sense to me. I'm hoping that the second one is on a bus, because you know what happens sometimes when you remake a classic. Yeah.
Speaker 2:I know, I know, but from what I've heard, the part that I do love about him Is I've heard so many stories about how, when he was an up-and-coming comic, he would ride the train late at night and then go perform at a club at midnight and then do another one at 1, and he would write his notes over and over, and so from that aspect I like him more than his movies. Almost it's like I like the person more than the actual art.
Speaker 1:No, I definitely understand you. One of the than his movies, almost. You know like it's like. I like the person more than the actual art. No, I definitely understand you. I mean one of the things about adam sandler. You know he's great both in front and behind um and again he has the type of humor where I don't think it's a middle ground.
Speaker 2:I think either you like it or you don't yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm just like missing the chip of my brain that like likes, and it's not like I think I'm too good, like I like a lot of stupid stuff, but so it's not. You know, it's not like the, that I don't feel like it's not below me or whatever. It's just yeah, it's not. I just don't like laugh at it nope, I totally understand, totally totally understand um, well, oh, this next one.
Speaker 2:A lot of influencer stuff. I thought this was super interesting. Um, livy dunn, who I don't know. You know who this is? Who livy dunn is? Oh no, I don't. Okay. So she's a social media star. And then she, um, is a former college gymnast I think she was at uh lsu at louisiana state. And then she's also well known because because she's dating baseball player Paul Skeens of the Pirates.
Speaker 2:So she was just rejected by a New York City co-op board after she submitted a $1.6 million offer to purchase Babe Ruth's house, his former apartment, so she's only 22. She said she planned to buy the unit in cash and she was going to live there with her boyfriend, pittsburgh pirate star, paul skeens. Um, the it was a three bedroom, 2.5 bathroom in the upper west side, listed for 1.5 million, which actually seems very like that's not bad. I mean, like here you can't find like a crappy house for under a million and to have it be like big groups form her house. So anyway, she submitted a cash offer of 1.6 million, just above the asking price, and they were very excited to close on the deal and then the week that she was supposed to get her keys to a brand new apartment. She got the call that the co-op board denied her. Now she has 8 million TikTok followers.
Speaker 2:She made a video, kind of you know, saying she was bummed that she didn't get the apartment, and the video was met with a lot of different opinions. Some people were like, of course, why would like a fancy new york place want you and your eight million tiktok people? You know it's going to become like a zoo pretty much. Um, because this is someone like, especially she has a very big male audience and I think maybe old school New York apartment people just didn't want their place becoming somewhere that people would stop and take a lot of photos and then others are just like that's just plain mean. And also, why wouldn't they give Babe Ruth's apartment to a baseball player and his girlfriend Two athletes, you know, I mean that's true and his girlfriend, two athletes.
Speaker 1:You know I mean that's true, I guess the way I look at it is. You know, I think you kind of blur the line a little bit when you start denying people the right to buy a place that's for sale to anyone.
Speaker 2:I know.
Speaker 1:Because that can be abused in so many ways. And I guess I'm looking back as to you know previously, you know how people who look like me that kind of discrimination at redlining for years before things changed. It does still happen, not as much as it did back then, but I don't know. I just think that you start going into the real bad lines where you just arbitrarily make a decision. No, we don't want you there.
Speaker 2:Absolutely.
Speaker 1:As long as they're not violating anyone's privacy, Obviously she's an influencer or a ruckus or anything like that. I don't see what the big deal is. I guess I'm weird like that. I just don't see what the big deal is.
Speaker 2:I get it, I totally get that. That's a very good point about like there should be no discrimination, absolutely like. The other side of it that I kind of see is the fact that like maybe these people do want their building itself like their privacy, and I think if the news broke, like these are kind of almost going into main street, type people that like paparazzi might be there and like they get a ton of people just outside. So I could see from like a almost privacy and security standpoint that they're like we don't want these people now with like millions of millions of followers, like that's going to be. People are going to be standing outside, people are going to be like taking pictures of us. So I could almost I could see that point. But it's like, how do they know that it would be like that? Maybe they would keep it very private, but at that point anyone could just Google and say where's Babe Ruth's old apartment. Then all of a sudden you would know where these people live.
Speaker 1:That's true. The thing is, I'm quite sure that true Babe Ruth fans probably already know where their apartment is.
Speaker 2:Exactly. It would be like her fans and like her fans are kind of crazy, like she has a lot of like boy fans that would like come to her games and just like she she comes with a lot of attention, you know, good or bad, and so I can see the hesitancy of some people just being like we don't want this in our like nice apartment building. But you're right that that is, that is a form of discrimination, you know. But but like, yeah, it's just, I guess when it comes to housing it is tough because it's like where does it draw the line? It's like what if someone has, like a new crying baby? You know what if you don't want a new crying baby in your, in your apartment complex? Like I, I don't know, like that's a tough call yeah, that's true, that's true.
Speaker 1:I mean, um, obviously there's some fluencer can go wherever she wants, so it's not. Yeah, I guess in the grand scheme of things, it's not that big a deal. Um, I just think we just need to be careful about these kind of instances, you know exactly if it's done for the right reason and you, you have some fairly legitimate points. That's one thing, but the scary part is when people start using these rules to um, to to do things they shouldn't be doing absolutely, absolutely.
Speaker 2:And the other point, too, is that I actually think these would be two people that would take very nice care of the apartment, like here you have a baseball player and like who else would be would appreciate it more than someone that actively plays baseball, and then she, you know, they have the money to cover the rent all the time, and also like she's only getting more and more mature. So it's like here are these two people that may end up like treating be the best tenants you could imagine, you know, and they're gonna pay in cash.
Speaker 1:So it's just like I could see both sides of it yeah, and you know some people can also argue well, what if another famous athlete bought the place that has a big following?
Speaker 2:exactly potentially run into the same issue exactly, or like it's like okay, then you better not have anyone with any sort of like no actors there, no, you know famous writers or anything like you get then. Then you have to just put your foot down and say we only want, like non-public facing people to live there, oh yeah, and you know.
Speaker 1:the reality is too. When you're talking about an apartment, not even a home, an apartment, you know, 1.5 million. The average person can't even pay a third of that. Let alone I know reality is someone ultra wealthy or ultra wealthy and famous would be people that would be interested in that place yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2:The fact that, like california has me trained so wrongly that I'm like 1.5 is so affordable, even though it's not for me but it's like I I just can't believe that it's that little, because when I say little, believe me, I understand I couldn't afford it. But the house is here. You can't even find a little stupid family house for less than a million dollars. I would think even just for the historical sake of it, it would be like three or four million dollars, yeah.
Speaker 1:I was a little surprised at that low price though.
Speaker 2:I know, you know who I think is going to move in. There is the ai influencer. I feel like she'll be during the day.
Speaker 1:We'll be looking there yes, and you know what technology may find a way to make that happen one day oh, that's true well, talk about things that happen. Do you remember a guy named Jeffrey Epstein?
Speaker 2:Oh my God, how can I forget?
Speaker 1:Well, the White House is under a lot of heat right now because one of the things that was said was hey, they're going to be releasing all these files, including the Jeffrey Epstein file, and basically recently I would say within the last week or so they walked it back saying there is no such file. So now you have a whole lot of people crying foul, including legal supporters, saying, hey, this isn't right, you need to release that file. Now, again, this is allegedly, allegedly, and this is something that was allegedly said by Elon Musk. Is that the reason I've seen files not being released because Donald Trump is on that file? My gosh, it's true or not? Again, we say allegedly, but I Don't know. What do you think about?
Speaker 2:this whole thing. I Believe it. Like I feel like there's so many on both sides. There's Political figures. I think there's like Uh, royalty Figures on this list. Like I think the names of people on it would be Just like the diddy parties.
Speaker 2:I feel like the Names would shock us and I'm sure there's a good diagram of a lot of the same people at these. But I mean, there's no doubt that, like Trump was definitely on the list. There's a million photos of them back in the day together, partying together. So I feel like at this point, you would think that this kind of situation that Trump runs, you would think he'd just be like, yeah, I was on it, like that was a weird time. Anyway, like you know, he would take other people down with him because I think he knows that most of his base already knows that he was on it and maybe just overlooks it or doesn't care. But it's getting weirder and weirder because I know one of the things he did promise was that the files were on someone's desk and about to be released, and now he's making people angry by doubting him.
Speaker 2:So he should just be like yeah, I'm on the list. Here are the other thousands of people that are on the list too.
Speaker 1:You know like yeah, and you know, I guess there's two ways to look at it. From one aspect, just being a friend or associate with them is obviously a bad thing, but there's nothing illegal or immoral about that, right, okay? But let's say there's a picture of you with someone you shouldn't be with, aka an underage person. Right, that's true? Yep, that's a whole different look. Again, we don't know. We don't even know if he's on this list or not. Again, we don't know, because you know, and reality is, and let's just face it, meryl, based on everything we've seen out of this administration, hypothetically, if he is on the list, there's no way in hell that list is coming out.
Speaker 2:No.
Speaker 1:No, and I could be totally wrong. I could be totally wrong, but that's just my opinion.
Speaker 2:Or they would spin it and they're like he was actually at those parties, but it was to take care of everyone else that was there and make sure that he was doing the right. They would say it's so ridiculous, like he was there closing a deal or something. And so this goes for. Honestly, I think if both sides, like I said, like if obama's on this list or whoever is like, it'd be the same shady-ish behavior, but they wouldn't promise that they would release the list. You know, that's the whole thing with the other administration is every they hide stuff. At least trump was pretending that he was going to release it but like never did so.
Speaker 2:I don't know which one is even worse, but but they both make people mad. Um, and I know a lot of his aides like there was someone that just said that the list is on her desk and then people are. People were like, uh, okay, could someone just go over to her desk and grab it? And then you have people lying in like press conferences, just straight to the media's face. If, if it's really not on her desk, then that person should be be held liable for lying to the people. So I don't know if we're ever going to see it, but I think we will see some amended version.
Speaker 1:You know what We'll see. I mean again, I still believe that if he is truly on the list again we don't know there's no way in hell. At least watch up, as an office, that we're going to see the daylight of that.
Speaker 2:Exactly. I saw there was this one interview when Bill and Melinda Gates got divorced and she was talking about some of the reasons that they got divorced and then she was saying that she was really uneasy with the relationship that Bill Gates had with Epstein and I couldn't believe that that came out. You know she was really classy about it. But she said she met Epstein like once or twice and that he was just a not great man and that she was really upset about Bill Gates's friendship with him. And then she didn't say like anything quite obvious, but you could really tell by her statement that that like that almost was one of the big factors of their divorce.
Speaker 1:And I mean that speaks volumes. Yeah, that's true and let's face it, We've all had friends over the years. That some may look on the outside like, wow, you're friends with that person.
Speaker 2:Yeah, oh, yeah.
Speaker 1:We've had. We've had people like that in our lives. That's normal, you know. But again, you know when you're talking about a big political figure. And again, if that list does exist, it would be interesting to see who else is on that list.
Speaker 2:Exactly, and I do have lots of weird friends, but I don't know if I have friends that would fly weird underage people to different islands. I don't know that. You never know what people do in their spare time. But I would almost think my friends are more probably like shoplifting bubble gum when they were 17 or something. But but yeah, it's really interesting. But I think when I I feel like a lot of stuff this past term is trump's making his own people that believed in him upset too. You know like he's upsetting a lot of people because they're like, yeah, we're gonna see it. And then remember when Elon is like I love that Elon just is like an angry ex and he tweets out like the reason he's not showing it is because he's on the list.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, I mean he made some incredible accusations. But in all honesty, merrill, it kind of throws fuel on that fire, though, when you say yes, we're on the list and then say, then say sitting on my desk, and then shortly you recant that. Oh, I never had that list. No, it really throws fire on that conspiracy like yeah why did you say that then, if there was no list to begin with?
Speaker 2:I know and actively like so many, so many videos of just them like hanging out at parties, and they kind of ran in the same circle, so it's like no surprise, just release it. Anyway, as we wait for that, the good news is that the first ever Barbie doll with type 1 diabetes is out now. Mattel just put out a press statement announcing that they now have that Barbie doll. I think this is so cute. It comes with like a little like insulin bag or something or monitor. The doll wears a glucose monitor and an insulin pump. It's wearing a little blue polka dot outfit. It comes with a purse and, if I recall part one diabetes is kind of the one that you like can't help, right, like it's not the lifestyle.
Speaker 2:I think part two is sometimes caused by lifestyle, um, but not all the time. But part one is kind of like you're born with it, um, so I don't know. I think this is sweet, of course, like I don't see any harm in this, basically because, like I think haters might say, oh, this is encouraging like americans to have diabetes and to be obese, but this isn't that type of it and it's not like they're not. This isn't like 800 pound, like going to disneyland barbie. This is like I'm born with a conditioned barbie and I think I love that and I love like any. I mean I'm all for, like wheelchair barbie and blind barbie, you know, anything that makes kids feel represented. I love that so much.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think what this does and I guess, when you step back because some people may say, well, why would you make a Barbie that has this disease? And I guess, if I'm on the outside looking in, I think what it does is it forces parents to have those conversations with children. Yeah, what it does is talk about, obviously, what diabetes is, but also how it affects your everyday life as far as your activities, your diet and everything like that. So I think that this could spark some positive influences on kids as far as okay, don't wait until you become an adult, up in age, and go. Okay, now it's our time to take a look at what I eat high exercise and stuff.
Speaker 2:Exactly yeah.
Speaker 1:That's something that should be taught young, and then something that's encouraged as they get older. Exactly so, I think, and again, I could be wrong but I think that's probably as they get older. Exactly so I think and again, I could be wrong, but I think that's probably what this is geared towards.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and my kind of thing is, if someone doesn't want this, then you could easily not buy a diabetes Barbie doll, you know. Then skip past it and buy whatever Barbie you want to for your kid. They said they're also. The Barbie Fashionistas line includes more than 175 looks across, various skin tones, eye colors, disabilities um, I love this. A blind barbie doll, a barbie doll, down syndrome, barbie doll with hearing aids, among others. Um, I mean, I'm just like obsessed with that, because why wouldn't? I think that's so cool and it just should be normal, like that kids are able to just be like oh, that one has a hearing aid, just like me.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, I see no problem with that.
Speaker 1:I think you hit it right on the head, because representation is very important. Because if someone has especially if a child has diabetes or some other illness, or maybe they're in a wheelchair, and they see this quote-unquote, perfect doll, they may feel a certain way about themselves. So to be able to see, um, a doll that looks like them is so important. It's like, yes, you matter too. Yes, exactly too. So I think what mattel is doing is a great thing.
Speaker 2:I really do me too, and that's just reflective of more everyday life. Like I was just on a walk and I saw like a guy running with like one of you know he was clearly missing a leg, but he had like one of the like the robotic legs and it was just like that should just be normal, like that shouldn't be something that we all like have to stop and look and talk about. Of course I was looking, but I was thinking about how that's just like part of our everyday thing that we see, you know oh yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1:And you know the one thing about kids is kids pay attention to more than we as adults think they do yeah, yeah so you know, like, for example, when barack obama became president, you know, and again, regardless of what your politics are, whatever the important thing is, again, whether or not you like this politics, but he shows a young black boy that, yes, you could aspire to become president of this country one day exactly and they can believe they can do it because, hey, there's someone else that did it before me yep, and I think it's cool.
Speaker 2:Honestly, if I was a parent, I probably would. Even if I didn't have a kid that had diabetes or anything like in the mix of their toys, I probably would have a Barbie that has Down syndrome or a Barbie that has different skin colors and stuff, just because it should be so normal to be like okay, I'm playing with this one today, or they're all meshing together. I don't think you have to wait on the particular specific disability that you have to have different types of dolls.
Speaker 1:I agree, I definitely agree. So I'm going to tip my hat off to Mattel and I believe this is a great thing and maybe, just maybe you know, other toy builders will follow suit.
Speaker 2:Exactly, absolutely.
Speaker 1:Well, talking about another interesting conversation, this is probably more on the controversial side. Have you heard of alligator alcatraz?
Speaker 2:I have, Scarcely enough. I have.
Speaker 1:Yes, unless someone just arrived under a rock that doesn't know what this is. In Florida, I believe it is, they're building. Someone just arrived under a rock that doesn't know what this is. In Florida, I believe it is they're building a holding facility for illegal migrants. So this place, I guess, is like swampland-type land that's infested with alligators and all these other type of things, like you're in the amazon yeah when they build it.
Speaker 1:it's not going to be a brick building or like you would think, but it's more like, um, I think probably more of a metal type institution. You know, with wire, chain link things and stuff like that. It's almost like a temporary thing, but it's going to be used permanently and the whole idea is, you know well, if the guards don't get them, if someone escapes the alligators, we'll get them. I don't even think that's funny, I think that's just horrible, I know.
Speaker 2:And then I saw pictures of people like standing in front of it almost cheering it on and everything Like standing in front of it almost cheering it on and everything Like what scares me.
Speaker 2:I mean I've been to the real Alcatraz Alcatraz in San Francisco like two or three times because they give tours and it's really eerie. And you know, you take the boat over and like I don't see. I haven't seen sharks on the times that I've gone over. But of course, back in the day, like it used to be, and even now, like it definitely is, it's not like the kind of thing where you see hundreds of sharks swimming around with their fins out, but there are sharks and it definitely is like hardly anyone could make it and it's definitely so scary. But my thing with all of this is that so many people are getting taken away and arrested without due process or without any sort of court or the innocent people that this is so scary. Thinking of the people that don't deserve to be put away there, that will be put away there, I think that's the scariest.
Speaker 1:You know you hit on a great point. I was watching Good Morning America and a few other publications. What's interesting is that when they started detaining immigrants and going after them real hard, they had a primary concentration on immigrants that had very violent crimes that they've committed. Fast forward months later, the majority of the immigrants that are picked up now has not had any crimes whatsoever done and it's like, as some of these immigrants are literally in the process where, yes, they're an immigrant, and I think the word illegal is thrown around too loosely because immigrants that were going through the process at the time so, in other words, they're, they're, the america knows they're here, they're going through the process. Right, exactly, yeah, like. Well, what is the real goal here?
Speaker 2:yeah, I wonder how much. I'm sure I could find it easily, but like how much the alligator alcatraz is costing us as taxpayers and what the cost of a peep will be and everything. And I think a lot of it is for show too. A lot of it is obviously demonstrating like look at this medieval thing that's going to happen to people if they try to escape.
Speaker 1:But you know, I guess and this goes back to thinking about the floods that happened in Texas, okay, now you know, we all know, that hurricanes and weather hits Florida and some of those coastal places very, very frequently, especially during tornado season, I can see a scenario where, depending on how this facility is built, you can have true disasters come. Oh my gosh. Yeah, and I don't think anyone's asking these questions.
Speaker 2:No, that sounds like. Has there been a movie about that? That sounds like a plot of a movie. I don't know if a natural disaster happens at a prison and people are wrongly there. It seems like a movie.
Speaker 1:I've never seen it, but I see this movie possibly happening and I'm gonna tell you there's so many things that could go wrong with this.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you're so right.
Speaker 1:And you know, the crazy thing, merle, is that when something goes wrong, everybody starts pointing fingers at each other and it's like, okay, I get, everybody wants to blame the other person, but what happens to all those people that suffer because of a stupid mistake? Yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 2:Yeah, very, very weird. And the people that are just going there like happily posing for pictures in front, I just will never get that. It's like okay, even if a person did something wrong and they deserve to be put there, something tells me that that person just didn't out of a vacuum become a bad person, like they probably had a lot of hurt and they inflicted hurt on other people and they were hurt.
Speaker 1:So, yeah, it's just not a good thing all around no, I agree, and the the thing to look at it this way, they're still human beings yeah, exactly so, all right.
Speaker 2:Well, I think alligator Alcatraz will have some checkpoints security checkpoints but we'll no longer have the tsa where we won't have to take our shoes off. Um, this is so funny because this last month I actually just signed up for the percent for tsa pre-check. I paid the 80 dollars, I went through the whole thing. I went to staplesples and got my number and all this kind of stuff and then like right, as soon as they're like no, no longer. But so after two, nearly two decades, passengers going through airport security in the US will no longer have to take their shoes off. The Transportation Security Administration will be eliminating the security requirement, effective immediately. You know, they said like the key to our approach is layered security.
Speaker 2:The rule was being evaluated under the biden administration. However, she credited christy gnome, credited president trump with taking the initiative to eliminate it. Obviously it's annoying for all of us to have to take our you know shoes off and say that we're carrying liquids and all that kind of stuff. But I don't really like I don't know to me I'd rather I don't know a lot of people that would knowingly like hide bombs and hide powders and stuff like that at this point in their shoes, because it seems pretty obvious and it is kind of gross, like taking off your shoes and knowing that you're, you know you're touching all the little other feet stuff.
Speaker 2:Um, this, this announcement on this time, just seems weird to me because, especially with like the wars and the iran stuff and it just seemed like, uh, like it seemed like we're not at a very relaxing time of airport security and travel in general. Like you know, there's been talks of cyber hacks and all this kind of stuff. So I know the shoe thing is separate, but to me to like relax on a tsa rule now just seems a little weird because, like I feel like airline safety has been a lot in the news lately yeah, that's true.
Speaker 1:I mean I'll be the first to admit it's a pain in the ass. I've taken shoes off, put them back on. I mean it like when I fly it actually dictates what I wear to the airport, because I yeah yeah, shoes I could slip off, slip right back on absolutely.
Speaker 2:Yeah, people that wear like like Doc Martens or boots that lace up, I'm like who are you?
Speaker 1:and you know I, I have Doc Martens too. I love my love my shoes yeah. I will not wear it to the airport for that specific reason.
Speaker 2:Exactly Even the socks that you wear. I bet you think about too.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, I mean, if they have a way to make sure that we're all safe, I'm on board with it. But I'm quite sure that they did a lot of testing and a lot of research into this before making that decision.
Speaker 2:Yeah, me too. Me too, I think so too. So I mean that's a nice thing. That's a very nice thing to have that we don't need to do that anymore and now we just have to put our liquids and then we still have to put our laptop in a separate case. But I do think the shoes off already adds to like a tense thing where you're shuffling with other people, and then that's everyone's feet smell, and it's just like I feel the tsa agents are probably very happy about that not having to constantly tell people to take off your shoes and to like look at our dirty little feet oh yes, oh yes.
Speaker 1:And then you know the other thing too. Let's face it it's not very sanitary for thousands of people to be putting their feet on the same place.
Speaker 2:You know what I mean oh my god, I had a college professor who got ringworm on her feet from the airport. Are you serious? Yep, she like I guess she forgot to wear socks and then she like, she just like, did it barefoot and then, like, the next day she got a weird, like all these things, and it ended up being ringworm.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, I know it's so gross.
Speaker 2:I feel like I would have to do a wax treatment on my feet to get the next 500 layers of skin off.
Speaker 1:I'm pretty sure that she never forgot to wear socks again.
Speaker 2:No, definitely not. Usually they even have little ankle booties and stuff for you if you forget it, but not, not this airport.
Speaker 1:Wow, it's so gross. Yes, yes. So I'm quite sure she's very happy about this new rule.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but I guess I just like you know who knows what happened with the Washington DC and the helicopter crash, who knows? At this point, but like I felt like, like internationally, especially with all the weird unrest going on, I don't feel a million percent relaxed on planes for many different reasons, but one of them being just hackers and scared things. And you know, like we all, we will never forget 9-11 and so it's just like I wish there was also. I wish there was some way to have like even better times a million. But maybe we'll find that out.
Speaker 1:That's true, that's true. Well, talk about something fun. My last subject for today is actually a fun one, and this is the obsession that everyone has with Superdog. For those that don't know, superdog is the little furry feathered companion for Superman in this new upcoming movie that's coming out, and it's a cute little dog that has a crooked ear, regular ear white, you know kind of scruffy looking, you know kind of fun loving dog and everybody's just loving it. Now, what's interesting is it's not even a real dog, it's AI generated.
Speaker 2:Oh see another AI influencer, so they couldn't even even a real dog. It's AI generated. Oh see another AI influencer, so they couldn't even use a real dog.
Speaker 1:That's what I'm saying I mean I'm curious on watching a movie just to see. Okay, now, if the dog is doing like crazy stunts and stuff like that, yeah, yeah. But if it's more of a normal happy, fun, lucky dog, it kind of makes you wonder why not just use a regular dog.
Speaker 2:I know, See, that's what I mean. I love cartoons and I love AI-generated stuff, but I don't want to get to the point where all the things we start to think are cute or anything are all AI. But yeah, that's interesting. I haven't seen it yet. I had some friends that when they dressed their kids up and it was very cute. I saw it on social media. But I definitely want to see Superman and it does seem like one of the movies that you should see. You should try to see it in the theaters if you can.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, definitely, definitely. And, like I said, I wasn't planning on going to see it, in all honesty, but I'm just curious about this little Superdog, just to see.
Speaker 2:I want to see Superdog. I will definitely cry. I really hope Superdog doesn't kick the bucket.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I guess there's rumors that Superdog may be in a Superwoman movie, because I've never seen a Superwoman movie or cartoon. I'm sorry. There was a Superwoman cartoon years ago, I believe. I mean we're talking talking years and years ago. Maybe that's coming to the big screen as well too.
Speaker 2:We'll see. That's cool. This summer is doing a good job with all of the little. Last year we had Twister and whatever other ones we had, but then this year with Jurassic, rebirth or whatever, and Superman, I feel like I'm happy with the blockbusters this year the F1.
Speaker 1:They're starting to be a little bit diverse. I mean, don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with you know horror, high action, you know animate, um, you know marvel type movies where you know you have superheroes and stuff. Those are good. But you know, I I think you still have to have a diverse option to choose from when you go to the movies.
Speaker 2:Totally. Do you have a favorite Superman like person that was Superman?
Speaker 1:I would say probably one of the first or second Superman movies, with Gene Hackman who played, uh, lex luther. Oh cool, I think that was a pretty cool one, I really like. I mean, I'm talking years ago, though, but and then there was these other three villains from superman's home world that came down to try and take over the uh, the earth. Uh, I think that was probably one of the best ones that I saw no, I'm a.
Speaker 2:I don't have any superman favorites, so I definitely have a spider-man. I thought, um, who's the one that's like married to zendaya? Tom, tom piddleston or something, or tom someone. I think he's real. He was really good and cute. Whoever the tom was, um, I had to look up because I thought he was so cute. My, my boyfriend was like, please make sure he's over 18 before you start lusting after him. I feel bad that I'm attracted to this young man, this young Spider-Man. I think he indeed was in his 20s, which made me feel way better. But nope, I'm a Superman opportunist. I'm open for anyone. I can't wait to see Super Dog. I think open for anyone, I can't wait to see Super Dog. I think that'll be very cute. Yes, yes, it will. Well, my last one. I thought was very sweet.
Speaker 2:The original lineup of Black Sabbath reunited for the first time in 20 years this past Saturday in the UK for the last performance for singer Ozzy Osbourne, who has been kind of not doing well health-wise for the past couple of years and now it seems like it's gotten incrementally more intense.
Speaker 2:Um, I thought ozzy did amazing. He like I watched a bunch of videos and he sat down most of the time, um, and then he stood up a few times from his winged throne and I just thought it was so cool and like he went out on a bang um, and of course, like the mama I'm coming home, there wasn't a dry eye, I'm sure, in the theater and here in the in the venue itself, and it sounded like he just had so many. He had Metallica, guns and roses slayer. So many people did sets ranging from two to seven songs in length. Guns and roses won the prize for the greatest amount of just yeah, four Sabbath covers before finishing off with their own songs. And I just think, like Ozzy has had such a big influence on so many of the rock and metal bands today and he's a true rock star and you know, yeah, he's just, he's a legend that is true, that is true, that is true.
Speaker 1:And, um, you know, one thing we have to do is and and I'm glad they did what they did, because you really have to give people their flowers while they're here to smell them- yeah, yep, and you could tell, like Ozzy may have been, he's weird, he's definitely wild, but he's.
Speaker 2:He's loved the music since day one, and so it's cool to see someone that has really like stayed true to music and I think he loves a lot of the up-and-coming music people. I've seen him videos, so yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean, our older generation has paved the way for the new generation.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And it's amazing, and it doesn't matter whether it's pop, whether it's R&B, whether it's rap, classical, you know there's a lot of songs that are sampled from older songs.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:And a lot of the new generation. They have songs that they're crazy about, that they love. Wow, this is great.
Speaker 2:Not even realizing the true history that, hey, that's actually been sampled after another artist that paved the way for them exactly, yeah, all these songs, like he has a lot of different types of sounding, sounds like a lot of versatility and I just think it's so cool. So, um, and of course, he couldn't be the man that he is without his, without Sharon Osbourne, like his wife. So Sharon really like, like, I think they really are each other's, like other halves. You know they make they're there for each other for the long haul.
Speaker 1:So I agree and you know, the one thing I would say about their marriage is I think it's something that married couples need to take a look at. Yeah, it's good to be there when everything's going great, the money's great's healthy, everybody's great okay, but the true test of your relationship is when things aren't so great exactly.
Speaker 2:You know, and it's something you have to deal with. It's when you throw in the normal things and that's hard enough, but when you have like a rock star and drugs and you know all this kind of stuff, it makes it even harder.
Speaker 1:That's right. That's right and that's where those saying goes for rich or for poor. A lot of people say those vows but really don't understand what they mean.
Speaker 2:Yep and Sharon's also showing the in sickness and in health type, for with Ozzy too.
Speaker 1:That's right. It's a shame, Merle, but you don't really see that anymore. You know, I know.
Speaker 2:So I shouldn't break up with my boyfriend just because he sneezed, because he has allergies. Just kidding, he never watches this.
Speaker 1:Just kidding, I'd be very happy with that comment.
Speaker 2:No, he'll say, yes, please set me free Totally. He I'm not going to be very happy with that comment. He'll say, yes, please set me free Totally. He knows I'm obsessed Crazy train.
Speaker 1:Well, this was another great episode. Yes, it was. And talk about great things. What do you have coming up, Meryl?
Speaker 2:Oh, my gosh Will. Speaking of Ozzy Osbourne and stuff like that, I have some shows called. I've talked about this on here before but there's a show I love to do in la called the horror horror nerd, where you know, they take a different theme of something in the horror genre, um, and then every comedian gets like five minutes. So you do five minutes on like chucky the doll or whatever the theme is, and so I have two of those coming up, um, one of them is august 23rd, uh, and it's in san diego. So, yeah, it's a place called the yellow door, a venue, um, and it's so fun, I love it so much. The woman that runs, it is just amazing. She's like runs this whole whole thing. It's all these different comedians doing their take on like old school movies and Freddy Krueger. It's just so fun.
Speaker 1:That sounds like a lot of fun.
Speaker 2:It's really silly. We get a projection screen and if anyone likes horror music or not music, horror movies you should come to it.
Speaker 1:Nice Everyone. Thank you for watching us. Always make sure that you follow us. We're on all the major social us. Always make sure that you follow us. We're on all the major social media platforms. Make sure that you tune in on podcasts. We're on all the major podcast stations. Also, you can watch us. I promise we won't break your lens.
Speaker 1:Watch us actually on your screen, whether it's your iPhone, whether it's your TV, it doesn't matter. You can go to LRodTVNetworkcom and that way you can watch this show, as well as other shows and all the support we really appreciate, and we're looking forward to growing and doing a lot of different things. Yes, I am Lawrence L Rod.
Speaker 2:And I'm Meryl Clemo. Have a great day everyone. Bye-bye.
