# No Agenda 003 > A structural warning for San Francisco's tallest residential tower leads a breakdown of global currency shifts, subprime automotive collapses, and hidden musical codes in Milan. - **Show:** [The No Agenda Show](https://search.noagendashow.net/index.md) - **Episode:** 3 - **Published:** 2007-11-09 - **Length:** 37m - **Topics:** [Millennium Tower](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/millennium-tower.md), GM Loss, Currency Parity, [WGA Strike](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/wga-strike.md), [Linda Stein](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/linda-stein.md), Da Vinci Code, AT&T Surveillance - **Web page:** https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/3-no-agenda-003 ## About this episode The San Francisco skyline faces a potential structural crisis as the Millennium Tower, dubbed the Tower of Death, rises near the Bay Bridge. Concerns mount over the building's water-filled honeycomb counterweights and its vulnerability to seismic failure during peak commute hours. Meanwhile, General Motors reports a staggering $38.6 billion non-cash charge, signaling a massive valuation allowance against deferred tax credits that exposes the company's precarious reliance on subprime financing over automotive manufacturing. Global currency markets shift as the US dollar falls below parity with the Canadian dollar, prompting supermodel Gisele Bündchen to demand contract payments in euros. In the media sector, the Writers Guild of America strike intensifies as Jack Myers highlights the opaque nature of online advertising accounting. Legal drama unfolds in New York where an assistant confessed to the yoga-stick murder of Ramones manager Linda Stein, while in Texas, Dutch backpackers Miriam and Wesley recount their six-week detention in an isolation cell following a visa expiration near the Mexican border. Art historians claim a musical staff is hidden within Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper through mirrored superimposition. This discovery coincides with a broader debate on the restricted access to global landmarks like Stonehenge and the Mona Lisa. Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak conclude this Podshow production with a critique of Congressman Tom Lantos for his selective outrage over Yahoo China while ignoring domestic AT&T surveillance. ## Chapters Each chapter's transcript is at its own link. The whole transcript is at https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/3-no-agenda-003/transcript.md. ### 1. San Francisco Traffic, Millennium Tower Construction Risks (0:01–4:10) San Francisco traffic patterns show unusual congestion entering the city during evening commute hours. Discussion focuses on the construction of the Millennium Tower, referred to as the Tower of Death, which is the tallest residential building west of the Mississippi River. Concerns are raised regarding the building's proximity to the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and its potential for catastrophic failure during an earthquake, despite a water-filled honeycomb grid structure designed to counterbalance swaying. Keywords: [san francisco](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/san-francisco.md), [bay bridge](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/bay-bridge.md), [millennium tower](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/millennium-tower.md), tower of death, [earthquake safety](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/earthquake-safety.md), [urban development](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/urban-development.md) [Chapter transcript](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/3-no-agenda-003/chapter/1.md) ### 2. US Dollar Devaluation, Canadian Dollar Parity, Euro Strength (4:10–8:27) The American dollar has reached a historic low, falling below the value of the Canadian dollar. Supermodel Gisele Bündchen has reportedly requested payment in euros for modeling contracts, signaling a shift in global currency confidence. While the falling dollar has increased the value of international business deals for some, it has led to significant domestic inflation, doubling costs for bridge tolls and other services since 2000. Keywords: [us dollar](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/us-dollar.md), [canadian dollar](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/canadian-dollar.md), [euro](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/euro.md), [inflation](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/inflation.md), [bill gates](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/bill-gates.md), gisele bündchen [Chapter transcript](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/3-no-agenda-003/chapter/2.md) ### 3. General Motors $28 Billion Loss, Subprime Financing Crisis (8:27–10:07) General Motors reported a massive $28 billion quarterly loss, prompting questions about the company's financial structure. The loss is attributed to complex financing problems and potential exposure to the subprime mortgage crisis rather than just automotive manufacturing. Analysis suggests that modern car companies operate primarily as financing entities, making their balance sheets difficult for the general public to interpret without specialized reporting. Keywords: [general motors](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/general-motors.md), [gm](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/gm.md), [subprime mortgages](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/subprime-mortgages.md), financing, [bloomberg](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/bloomberg.md), [accounting](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/accounting.md) [Chapter transcript](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/3-no-agenda-003/chapter/3.md) ### 4. Decline of Specialized Journalism, Tech Reporting Quality (10:07–12:37) Modern news reporting has shifted toward headlines and opinion due to the lack of cost-effectiveness in deep investigative journalism. Journalism schools are criticized for producing generalists rather than beat reporters with specialized knowledge, leading to poor technical coverage in Silicon Valley. This lack of expertise results in the promotion of "vaporware" and speculative tech stories that lack substance or immediate availability. Keywords: [journalism](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/journalism.md), j-school, tech reporting, [vaporware](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/vaporware.md), open social, [media industry](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/media-industry.md) [Chapter transcript](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/3-no-agenda-003/chapter/4.md) ### 5. Writers Guild of America Strike, Online Advertising Revenue (12:38–16:54) Reuters projects that online advertising revenue will double by 2011, coinciding with the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike. Media analyst Jack Myers suggests that the strike is complicated by the "smoky" nature of advertising accounting, which makes it difficult for writers to secure a fair percentage of digital profits. A proposed solution involves advertising agencies creating a 1% fund from their commissions to compensate writers, though the idea is considered unlikely to be implemented. Keywords: [wga strike](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/wga-strike.md), [reuters](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/reuters.md), jack myers, [advertising revenue](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/advertising-revenue.md), media buying, [press release](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/press-release.md) [Chapter transcript](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/3-no-agenda-003/chapter/5.md) ### 6. Linda Stein Murder Investigation, Assistant Confession (16:54–18:51) The murder of Linda Stein, former manager of the Ramones and high-end real estate broker, has been linked to her personal assistant. Reports indicate the assistant struck Stein with a "yoga stick" following a verbal altercation. The incident ended the mystery surrounding the 62-year-old's death, which occurred in her Manhattan apartment. Keywords: [linda stein](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/linda-stein.md), ramones, [murder](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/murder.md), yoga stick, [seymour stein](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/seymour-stein.md), [manhattan](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/manhattan.md) [Chapter transcript](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/3-no-agenda-003/chapter/6.md) ### 7. Da Vinci Musical Code, Last Supper Preservation (18:51–21:58) A musical staff was reportedly discovered hidden within Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" by superimposing a mirrored image of the painting. The artwork, located in a church in Milan rather than the Louvre, faces ongoing deterioration because it was painted as a fresco not designed for permanent durability. Public access to the original masterpiece remains restricted to protect the fragile remains from further environmental damage. Keywords: [leonardo da vinci](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/leonardo-da-vinci.md), the last supper, musical code, [louvre](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/louvre.md), fresco, voom hd [Chapter transcript](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/3-no-agenda-003/chapter/7.md) ### 8. Tourism Restrictions, Stonehenge Access, Mona Lisa Security (21:59–24:37) Personal anecdotes highlight the increased security and restrictions at global landmarks like Stonehenge and the Louvre. In the 1970s, visitors could sit on the stones at Stonehenge and view the Mona Lisa without bulletproof glass or massive crowds. The discussion touches on the "preciousness" of art and historical sites, noting how public access has been curtailed following incidents of vandalism, such as the slashing of Rembrandt's "Night Watch." Keywords: [stonehenge](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/stonehenge.md), [mona lisa](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/mona-lisa.md), [louvre](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/louvre.md), [rijksmuseum](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/rijksmuseum.md), [tourism](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/tourism.md), [rembrandt](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/rembrandt.md) [Chapter transcript](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/3-no-agenda-003/chapter/8.md) ### 9. General Motors Accounting, Deferred Tax Credits (24:37–26:09) A detailed breakdown of General Motors' financial report reveals that the $38.6 billion non-cash charge was largely related to valuation allowances against deferred tax credits in the US, Canada, and Germany. Despite the staggering headline loss, the company's operational performance actually improved compared to the previous year. The massive write-down was required by accounting rules because the company could no longer carry those credits indefinitely while expecting continued losses. Keywords: [general motors](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/general-motors.md), [tax credits](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/tax-credits.md), gmac, [accounting](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/accounting.md), net loss, earnings report [Chapter transcript](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/3-no-agenda-003/chapter/9.md) ### 10. Yahoo China Controversy, AT&T Surveillance Concerns (26:10–27:41) Congressman Tom Lantos is criticized for his aggressive stance against Yahoo regarding the identification of a Chinese dissident, while simultaneously ignoring domestic surveillance issues involving AT&T. The discussion suggests that US intelligence agencies have broad access to citizen emails through telecommunications providers. There is speculation that political pressure on tech companies is often driven by a lack of campaign contributions rather than genuine human rights concerns. Keywords: [yahoo](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/yahoo.md), tom lantos, [at&t](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/at-t.md), [surveillance](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/surveillance.md), [echelon](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/echelon.md), [privacy](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/privacy.md) [Chapter transcript](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/3-no-agenda-003/chapter/10.md) ### 11. Dutch Backpackers Detained, Texas Border Patrol Incident (27:41–36:14) Two Dutch tourists from Amsterdam, Miriam and Wesley, were detained for six weeks in a Texas jail after their visas expired while hitchhiking toward Mexico. Wesley was reportedly held in an isolation cell for four weeks after failing a psychological test, while Miriam was held in a crowded cell with 80 other women. The couple claims they were denied legal representation and phone calls before eventually being released and returning to the Netherlands, where they are now considering legal action for negligence. Keywords: [amsterdam](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/amsterdam.md), [texas](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/texas.md), [border patrol](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/border-patrol.md), [immigration](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/immigration.md), [hitchhiking](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/hitchhiking.md), isolation cell [Chapter transcript](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/3-no-agenda-003/chapter/11.md) ### 12. Outro and Sign-off (36:14–37:23) The hosts conclude the program, reflecting on their meetings during the week in the San Francisco Bay Area. They announce the next scheduled recording for the following Friday. The show is credited to Podshow and Limelight. Keywords: [no agenda](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/no-agenda.md), [adam curry](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/adam-curry.md), [john c. dvorak](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/john-c-dvorak.md), [podshow](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/podshow.md), [limelight](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/limelight.md) [Chapter transcript](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/3-no-agenda-003/chapter/12.md) - [Previous episode](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/2-no-agenda-002.md) - [Next episode](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/4-no-agenda-004.md) --- This is the markdown version of a page on The No Agenda Show for AI agents. Every public page on this site has one: add `.md` to its URL, or request it with `Accept: text/markdown`. - [Site index for agents (llms.txt)](https://search.noagendashow.net/llms.txt) - [Home](https://search.noagendashow.net/index.md) - [Search transcripts](https://search.noagendashow.net/search.md) - [All episodes](https://search.noagendashow.net/episodes.md) - [Topics](https://search.noagendashow.net/topics.md) - [People](https://search.noagendashow.net/people.md)