Caustic Soda

Latest Episodes:

Ghost Towns Mar 25, 2012

Show notes

Some of the most wretched and caustic ghost towns are discussed, including "blue sky mine" Wittenoom, Picher's chat piles, Oradour-sur-Glane's nazi massacre legacy, the dioxin-tainted roads of Times Beach, Centralia's ongoing coal fire, and more. All this and pop culture too! PS - Don't worry Soda Jerks, we didn't forget Chernobyl - it will get its own episode at some point! Music: "G'Bye Now" by Martha Tilton Images Videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPdIBbBETw4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTDAJMXZQKo Links Detroit's Beautiful, Horrible Decline Ordos, China: A Modern Ghost Town

Sexually Transmitted Infections Part 2: Syphilis Mar 19, 2012

Show notes

RN Katie Scoular returns for the science and rather unpleasant history of that old Neapolitan bone-ache: syphilis. Plus news & pop culture. Music: "Hot Nuts" by Williams Washerboard Band Charity o' the Week: http://www.optionsforsexualhealth.org/ Images Links The National Archives released files from the 1946 Guatemala experiments. Quiks & Quarks "Solving Syphilis" Videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qW3AJ9xPSWE

Hoarding Mar 12, 2012

Show notes

Joe, Kevin, and Toren have gathered up so much information on compulsive hoarding in this episode it's threatening to tip over and crush us all under its weight! Food hoarders, animal hoarders, cosmic-powered hoarders -- they're all here! Music: "Put 'Em In A Box" by Doris Day Caustic Charity: Institute for Challenging Disorganization. Images Videos http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVg-_e-jPO4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqJkJt1UF-E

Followups 6 Mar 05, 2012

Show notes

Ian Boothby, The Simpsons comics writer and co-host of Sneaky Dragon podcast, joins Kevin, Joe and Toren to talk about cyclopean albino sharks, crab parasites, octopus wrestling, prehistoric krakens, the Glore Psychiatric Museum, cement butt implants, ancient Roman lead poisoning, alkaline hydrolisis and other funerary awkwardness. All this plus how to stay in the eye of a tornado and... BADGERS! Music: "Panic Patrol" by Kenny Graham Caustic Charity Adopt an octopus! Images Links Sneaky Dragon Bongo Comics http://www.stjosephmuseum.org/glore.htm Videos

Cocaine Feb 27, 2012

Show notes

Kevin, Joe, and Toren cover cocaine-laced products with papal approval, cocaine intake options, some personal insight on cocaine addiction from a friend of the show, plus cocaine-centric songs and movies! In case you hadn't figured it out, this week's topic is cocaine! Music: "Cocaine Blues" by Luke Jordan Images Movies Blow Kevin: 7/10 Joe: 6/10 Toren: 7/10 True Romance Kevin: 9/10 Joe: 9/10 Toren: 8/10 Half Nelson Kevin: 10/10 Toren: 8/10 (would have been higher if I knew why it was called 'Half Nelson')

Burns Feb 20, 2012

Show notes

The secret world of burns is investigated with the help of veteran firefighter Allan Newell. How does one distinguish the four degrees of burns? What's the 'rule of nines?' How did burning at the stake work? Also news and pop culture. Plus: Which is the lesser of two evils? Having 50% of your body burned in a car fire or getting mercury poisoning? Music: "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" by The Ink Spots Charity of the week: Burn Camps: http://www.canadianburnfoundation.org/donate.php Images Links GQ - Burning Man Videos

True Bugs Feb 13, 2012

Show notes

Forensic entomologiest Gavin Pitts joins the hosts to talk about the hemiptera order of insects, more commonly known as 'true bugs.' Assassin bugs, chagas disease, bat bugs and water bugs that take down reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals are all on topic! Plus: The Lesser of Two Evils - would you rather spend a few years in an Uzbekistan bug pit or trying to farm out a living under the Khmer Rouge? Music: "I'm Just a Jitterbug" by Chick Webb & Ella Fitzgerald Charity de Jour: The Chagas Disease Foundation Images

Tsunami Feb 06, 2012

Show notes

This episode Joe, Kevin, and Toren look at the giant waves known as tsunami. You'll hear about the biggest and deadliest waves known to man, incredible stories of survival during one of nature's deadliest disasters, and tsunami vs. kittens! Music: "Tidal Wave" by Fletcher Henderson Images Links The Passionate Eye - Tsunami Caught On Camera - only available for 45 days after last airing, sorry. If there's another airing this will work again so I'm keeping the link up. Hideaki Akaiwa - Badass of the Week XKCD on "Tidal Wave" (we recorded before this went up, but agree with him!) Videos Hereafter Tsunami scene (can't embed)

Demons Jan 30, 2012

Show notes

Succubi, oni, pishacha - call them what you will. Whether they're scapegoats for serial killers or epilepsy, demons have been a part of human culture for aeons. The boys talk history, news and pop culture, plus as a special bonus: practical tips on how to summon a demon! Music: "Kamakilas" by S. Satoh (from Son of Godzilla) Images Links List of Demon Names Legend of the Five Rings Half in the Bag - Jack and Jill Movies Night of the Demon Toren: 5/10 The Keep Toren: 5/10 Hellraiser Toren: 6/10 Kevin: 7/10 The Evil Dead Kevin: 8/10 Joe: 7/10 Evil Dead 2 Toren: 8/10 Kevin: 9/10 Joe: 8/10 Army of Darkness Toren: 9/10 Kevin: 8/10 Joe: 9/10 Drag Me To Hell Toren: 7/10 Kevin: 7/10

Pol Pot Jan 23, 2012

Show notes

Continuing the Evil Dudes in History series, Kevin, Toren, and Joe look at Cambodian Communist leader Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. Music: "Call Me Irresponsible" Images Videos Pol Pot (can't embed, sorry) Links Photos from S21 Forced Marriage and the Khmer Rouge

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