Episode 27 - Sit Down, Be Bumble (1/22/19)

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, this movie has us shaking on our knees!/”Flight of the Bumblebee”? more like “Plight of the Michael Bay”!/This is a B-movie that earned and A! (I couldn’t think of anything, so take your pick between these three.)

Today, we tackle the new movie “Bumblebee” (2018) which was like… Actually okay? I mean, “Fantastic Beasts 2” I would say we soured on, but this movie I don’t think was that bad. We talk about movie tastes and trends in China as well as the Transformers reboot itself. (Or should I say, re-bot!)

Next, we delve into the years 1996 and 1997 to uncover another two songs in the playlist of our lives. Lastly, we have some baller Picks of the Week!

Endnotes:
Transformer Box Office - https://www.boxofficemojo.com/franchises/chart/?view=main&id=transformers.htm&sort=opentheaters&order=DESC&p=.htm
Lindsay Ellis “The Whole Plate” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRXI__Wixas&list=PLJGOq3JclTH8J73o2Z4VMaSYZDNG3xeZ7
Patrick H Willems “MIchael Bay: An American Auteur” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyx7YRU4trs
Every Frame a Painting “Bayhem” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2THVvshvq0Q
Yay, Ninja Sex Party! - http://ninjasexparty.com/
1996 DNC was lit - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8yqWU0UzeY
No link for Aulden’s RPG… :(
Marvel makes good stuff, maybe that’s the secret to their success. - https://www.wolverinepodcast.com/

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Episode 26.5 - The Myers-Bings Test (1/4/19)

BONUS POD! What’s your opinion on the Myers-Brigs test? Does it reveal hidden depths to your personality? Or is it a bunch of bogus invented by two non-trained bored writers? (Warning: the writer of this episode title is biased)

Along with RHB, Melanie Peck, we took the famed 16 personalities test and looked into how it applied to us. We also argue over the validity of the test as well as personality tests in general. Take it yourself! Tell us what you think! Regardless of what the results are, you’re all still human bings to us!

End Notes:
Take the test yourself! - https://www.16personalities.com/
Learn why it’s meaningless! - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5pggDCnt5M, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NQqSnkI32A

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Episode 26 - Jingle Bings, Jingle Bings (1/4/19)

The happiest of New Year’s greetings to you gentle audience! An episode about holidays is in store for you upon this hour!

This time, we are joined by REAL HUMAN BING Melanie Peck to break down an important subject that’s only a bit late… Christmas! What’s it like to celebrate it in China? What are the traditions we have created? Does Santa Claus exist? Not only that, but we break down all the bad Netflix Christmas movies for you. Are any of them classics you must watch every year? (Spoiler, no.)

Next, we check in on, as is our tradition, our New Year’s resolutions and get really depressed about making goals and failing… Anyways! We end off with our favorite resolution of every year, Picks of the Week! Jingle on Bings, jingle on.

End Notes:
”The Grim Dystopia of A Christmas Prince” (Jenny Nicholson is better at making jokes than us…) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsHT1fYouYU
Esquire’s Ranking of all Netflix Original Christmas movies, we somewhat agreed with these… (Christmas Chronicles is bad, but it’s not the third worst!) - https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/g25383267/all-netflix-original-christmas-movies-ranked/
Illumination Entertainment is mediocre. It sands off it’s edges to be as inoffensive as possible. (Grinch 2018) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjInxtfVJNI
Into the Spiderverse is great guys, the hype is real. - https://film.avclub.com/superhero-dimensions-collide-in-a-funny-gorgeously-psy-1830700647
God of War is GOTY good? - https://www.polygon.com/best-games-2018/2018/12/21/18149534/god-of-war-game-of-the-year-2018
Maybe Mel won’t have to wait that long to see new Reba after all… - http://theboot.com/reba-mcentire-new-tv-show-2018/

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The Snob Hour - Hamlet (11/16/18)

The Snob Hour! For snobby people who think commoners are gross and icky, but won’t say it out loud because they’re too polite! Just what you’ve all been waiting for!

This time, listen to a solo Jacob episode all about his favorite Shakespeare play, “Hamlet.” How was Benedict Cumberbatch? Why were there so many Chinese people in the audience? Was it any good? All these questions and more are within!

End Notes:
Full Cumberbatch interview (To be fair, I didn’t watch this entire one, so maybe he says more interesting things in it…) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0ky_tQxwgo

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The Snob Hour - The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night (11/16/18)

The Snob Hour! For snobby people who think commoners are gross and icky, but won’t say it out loud because they’re too polite! Just what you’ve all been waiting for!

This time, listen to a solo Jacob episode where he extols his thoughts on the book adapted into a play, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.” Topics like the autism spectrum, dance choreography, acting chops, multimedia presentations, and more!

End Notes:
Working on the Spectrum (Nice behind the scenes dealio) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2bV75ITXJw

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Episode 25 - Fantastic Bings and Where to Find Them (11/16/18)

Beasts? Where can you find them, you might ask? Why, here of course!

Upon this fortnight, two brave companions did stride into the cinematic complex, to witness the latest theatrical release of Harry Potter’s Wizarding World. “Fantastic Beats and Where to Find Them: The Crimes of Grindewald”.

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Also, we find out who the real Fan of Bingbing is. Cause guess what, it ain’t the Chinese government! (If you don’t understand, don’t worry, because we don’t either). With a bonus appearance of Ai Weiwei.

Last but not least, we look at stuff we like in Picks of the Week, featuring Jacob being snobby, and Aulden picking Christmas movies.

End Notes:

The Wizards - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFEofWMW0KM

Fan Bingbing - https://www.theverge.com/2018/10/23/17991988/fan-bingbing-disappearance-reappearance-china-tax-evasion-social-media

Ai Weiwei - http://www.aiweiwei.com/

The Holiday Calender - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km7gv28_uX0

National Theatre Live - http://ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk/

Episode 24.5 - BONUS POD! Les Bingerables (10/5/18)

Now this is how you write a musical. Andrew Lloyd Webber, eat your heart out

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Keywords: Improv, bad, pizza, musical, Les Miserables, singing by amateurs, we will be kicked out of our apartment soon.

(I know Andrew Lloyd Webber didn’t write anything for Les Mis, he’s just an easy figure that represents Broadway, don’t @ me!)

End Notes:
Buy tix! (Stage Les Mis is fine I guess) - https://www.lesmis.com/
Don’t by tix! (How did Tom Hooper make so many bad choices?) - https://www.amazon.com/Miserables-Hugh-Jackman/dp/B00BI5IXL4

Episode 24 - The Need For Slow (9/15/18)

What is up Bingers? We’re back for Season/Year 3 of “Two White Guys in China!” the Podcast! We missed you <3

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This week, we break down our summers specifically the little talked about region of Rochester, NY. Aulden shares his Canadian insights on a foreign land telling us about the cultural differences, exotic foods, and strange traditions of Western New York state.

Also this week is another segment of PLAYLIST TO OUR LIVES, the section where we look at the top song at the time of our birthdays. This time? R&B and the introduction of rap into the mainstream! Last but not least, PICKS OF THE WEEK!

End Notes:
Thanks Margaret Strong! - www.museumofplay.org
Sterling Renaissance Festival, give em 5 stars! - https://www.yelp.com/biz/sterling-renaissance-festival-sterling-2
They Were Eleven (1996), Steve Blum (Legend) plays two separate characters - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Were_Eleven
The Dover Boys (1942), the Reanimated one is awesome too. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR0eBWDVAtw
Dragon Strike Instructional Video (1992) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF1_IHliRhI
洛天依】Luo Tianyi - 權御天下 Sun Quan The Emperor (English Translation + Pinyin) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJms1CGHjn8
All 4 One - http://all-4-one.com/
Boyz II Men - www.boyziimen.com
TLC and Lil Mama sing “Waterfalls” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOLupVW8KdQ
Weird Al versus Coolio - http://www.vulture.com/2011/12/gangstas-parodist-revisiting-weird-al-vs-coolio.html
Chance The Rapper New 2018 Singles - https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.47723/title.chance-the-rapper-surprises-fans-with-4-new-singles
Masaaki Yuasa - https://otakumode.com/news/5bbc7380223489b570a75333/An-Interview-With-Anime-Film-Director-Yuasa-Masaaki

Video: Aulden's Journey to the Strong Museum (7/14/18)

The world famous Strong Museum in Rochester, NY. Its mission? To explore play and the ways in which it encourages learning, creativity, and discovery and illuminates cultural history. Not included in that? Two man-children wandering around aimlessly around commenting randomly on what they see.

But hey, we never said we found the answers to life's questions WELL now did we?