Topic: Delivery

Adam Curry reads from the 1860 diary of botanist William Brewer to demonstrate that California has historically been a "hellscape" of torrential rains and violent earthquakes. The conversation shifts to modern logistical issues, such as Amazon drivers using private vehicles and the security risks of contractors entering rural properties without identification.

U.S. Capitol Police are investigating a series of unsolicited pizza deliveries to the homes of multiple lawmakers and law enforcement leaders. Authorities view these incidents as a form of targeted harassment intended to signal that the perpetrators know the private addresses of public officials. The "heightened threat landscape" has prompted increased security for both Democrats and Republicans.

The hosts discuss recent failures in Amazon Prime's guaranteed two-day delivery service. One host notes that multiple orders for computer and audio gear arrived late, despite the Prime subscription fee. They speculate on whether Amazon is engaging in a "bait and switch" regarding delivery times as the company shifts more logistics to its own delivery fleet.

A major donor, Sir Animus, expressed concern over the USPS 10-year plan and the use of Surface Transfer Centers, which have delayed his physical mail donations. His note included a reflection on the potential of COVID-19 as a successful biological attack and a quote from Abraham Lincoln regarding national suicide.

Koch Industries, through its subsidiary Molex, is developing digital technology for home-based drug delivery. The system involves wearable sensors and injectable tubes interfaced with a smartphone app to monitor patient compliance and health metrics. The hosts describe this as a significant step toward invasive telemedicine.

NBC's Jake Ward reports on drone delivery trials by Wing, an Alphabet subsidiary, in Christiansburg, Virginia. The drones deliver small items like coffee and Girl Scout cookies. The hosts mock the impracticality of the technology and the potential for drones to be shot down in residential areas.

Delivery drivers for Amazon and Whole Foods have developed a hack to secure more routes by hanging cell phones in trees near dispatch locations. By placing devices in close physical proximity to the stores, the drivers' software can "snag" delivery assignments the instant they are generated by the algorithm. This practice illustrates the extreme measures gig economy workers take to gain a competitive advantage in automated systems.

The Drizly app is highlighted for its 60-minute alcohol delivery service, which is now operating in several states including Texas. The discussion touches on the evolution of Texas liquor laws, noting that while drive-in liquor stores were once common, modern services like Instacart and Drizly have modernized booze accessibility.

While some report a "happiness vibe" from people enjoying time away from work, others observe growing cabin fever. In Texas, restaurants have pivoted to curbside pickup and alcohol delivery to stay afloat, while some specialty shops, like cupcake bakeries, have begun baking fresh bread to meet local demand.

The Texas-based grocer HEB is praised for its effective community communication and stocked shelves, while Whole Foods is criticized for severe shortages. Whole Foods reportedly suffered from a 50% reduction in deliveries due to its "just-in-time" inventory system managed by Amazon. The hosts suggest that the artisan-focused model of Whole Foods is failing under the pressure of a real supply chain disruption.

The hosts investigate why some subscribers are not receiving the show's newsletter, identifying Google's strict DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) policies as a likely cause. They discuss technical workflows for verifying email delivery and sorting user feedback.

Viscountess Dame Patricia of Biscayne Bay and Sir Donald of the Fire Bottles contribute to the show. Sir Donald marks five years of listening and requests "delivery drone karma" for the holiday season. The hosts discuss the transition of listeners from other podcasts like Atomic Insights to the No Agenda community.

Dvorak reports receiving suspicious emails from MailChimp, leading to a discussion about the history of the US Postal Service. The hosts decide to test the "General Delivery" system by having Dvorak send a letter to Adam Curry at a general Austin post office address.

A study reveals that nearly 28% of food delivery drivers admit to tasting customers' food before delivery. The behavior is attributed to the "side hustle" nature of the gig economy, where drivers for apps like DoorDash and Postmates may be struggling with hunger.

Merck has partnered with UPS to facilitate home delivery and administration of vaccines. Under this model, UPS-contracted nurses will transport vaccines the "last mile" to patients' homes to perform the injections. This logistical shift is viewed with skepticism, particularly regarding the aggressive marketing of the HPV vaccine to young girls and boys.

A host describes a bureaucratic nightmare with the United States Postal Service at a new home in Southeast Austin. The local post office failed to provide mailbox keys, eventually gave the host a neighbor's key, and claimed the address did not exist in their system. The conflict involves a "cluster box" system where the builder and the post office disagree on who is responsible for expanding capacity for new residents.

A listener shares an anecdote about "bulldozer parents" who frequently visit elementary school lunchrooms to bring fast food and pizza for their children. One school principal reported that parents dropped off over 3,600 non-essential items and lunches in a single year. This behavior is cited as an extreme example of modern over-parenting that undermines student independence.

Deborah Gureghian, the general manager of a pizza restaurant where Cesar Sayoc worked as a delivery driver, provided a conflicting account of his character to CNN. She described Sayoc as a "model employee" who was always on time and cordial, despite his vocal hatred of Jews, Black people, and the LGBTQ community. Gureghian, who identifies as a "proud lesbian," claimed she could not fire him solely for his political views under Florida law.

Amazon is launching a "Delivery Partners Program" that allows entrepreneurs to start their own delivery businesses with a fleet of branded vans. This move aims to expand Amazon's logistics network beyond reliance on UPS and FedEx. Separately, the market is watching the healthcare venture between Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffett, and JPMorgan, which has already impacted the stock prices of major pharmacy chains.

The artwork for Episode 1018, titled "Bunny Wars," features Mark Zuckerberg in a Russian military hat. A significant slowdown in listener donations is attributed to the severe "Nor'easter" storms on the East Coast, which have disrupted power and mail delivery for millions. The hosts note a "very poor showing" of only 19 donations over $50, speculating that bank checks are stuck in the postal system.