Episode 163

1. Starship Troopers, Nazis and the problem with satire.

Do We Really Need to Explain the Nazis Metaphor in Starship Troopers, Mr. Trump? <https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/we-really-need-to-explain-nazis-metaphor-starship-troopers-trump/>

2. Star Trek at 60: why are we still here?

The universal language of space is… Star Trek? Mais oui.

From <https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/09/astronaut-on-iss-celebrates-60-years-of-star-trek-with-prop-badge/>

3. South Park isn’t South Park anymore?

South Park creators announce South Park’s getting a new name

From <https://www.polygon.com/south-park-america-trey-parker-matt-stone-paramount/>

Halloween and the disappearing sex minigame.

Halloween: The Game Appears to Patch Out a Sex Minigame — and Players Think They Know Why

From <https://www.ign.com/articles/halloween-the-game-appears-to-patch-out-a-sex-minigame-and-players-think-they-know-why>

Christopher Nolan and the mechanics of film criticism.

‘To Be Able to Identify the Mechanism Does Not Invalidate the Mechanism’ — Christopher Nolan Lays Out a ‘Fundamental Flaw’ With Amateur Film Criticism

From <https://www.ign.com/articles/to-be-able-to-identify-the-mechanism-does-not-invalidate-the-mechanism-christopher-nolan-lays-out-a-fundamental-flaw-with-amateur-film-criticism>

Medieval manuscripts and ancient viruses.

Medieval manuscripts are “biological time capsules” for deadly sheeppox virus

From <https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/09/medieval-manuscripts-are-biological-time-capsules-for-deadly-sheeppox-virus/>

CDs are coming back.

CD sales are booming as physical media continues its resurgence

From <https://www.theverge.com/entertainment/990794/cd-sales-are-booming-as-physical-media-continues-its-resurgence>

Why are people buying CDs in 2026 when they can stream almost anything?