The Chimps with Zoom Access are joined by ApeCast friend James Ford and the three discuss David’s overshare of Holocaust history with his four-year-old son. Plus a crazy Rorschach of the News and some deep dive recommendations for what to do with your week.

Don brings up an article for discussion about age and changing norms. David reveals a dark secret he’s been keeping since the ApeCast started. Also, apparently Playboy finally came out with a line of sex toys.

David is dealing with a sense of self loathing—he even wrote about it! The chimps talk around the ideas of looking at one’s life and feeling like you came up short and wallowing in blame and shame.

Jumping into 2023, the Chimps throw out some predicted headlines for the coming year, predictions of the future, a Rorschach, and six things to do this week. Chock full of goodness!

Due to poor planning and old men falling asleep, Don and David failed to record this week. So here’s an episode culling from past Christmas ApeCasts including some from December 2017, 2018, and an ApeCast featuring guest Rory Zacher from December 2021. Happy Holidays, good listeners, and we’ll get back to things in 2023.

Observation—the more things change over time, the more the world and especially the Literate Apes stay exactly the same.

The question of the day is are all books written just vanity projects or something more?

Don is concerned with the increasingly casual anti-semetism out in the world; David doesn’t really care much. Like white women and black people, I guess.

Don is starting over and is now actually starting. Except his analogies leave David perplexed.

David’s recent “Post-It Notes” indicated his feeling that parenting is either form of or cause of mental illness. Given Don’s deep resevoir of pertinent experience, the Apes talk parenting, mental illness, and David’s weird new pronunciation of that ink on skin phenom.

The Chimps hold court about the possibility of another Trump presidency, the marvels of Marvel’s “Wakanda Forever,” and a Rorschach that includes Chicago’s The Hideout, the NYT’s coverage of puberty blockers, and the joys of being Chris Evans. Also, a really terrible Sly Stallone impression.

Don comes back to Chicago for a week and discovers a few things much needed. David gave him a couch and fun. They convene at the Cornerstone Cafe for breakfast and recorded the ApeCast amongst other diners and also have a lovely breakfast. They did NOT get free breakfast despite the huge reach of their podcast.

Like a Back to School or Breaking News Episode. She Who Will Not Be Named (by earnest request) wrote a love letter to her lover from the summer for The Ape. Don and David decided not to publish it because, as the co-editors, they have the right to reject submissions. As one can imagine, this went about as well as the marriage. No Rorschach, no Six Things, just spillin’ the tea.

Don goes on a non-date and David seems unusually invested in the outcome. Plus a good discussion of the final farwell of the McRib, Kanye West, and other tawdry crap in the world.

Don finds some success and failure in his part-time gig as a Wichita sub and David revels in being a peripheral character to buddies from college. Also: SPED.

Don visits his high school for the first time in four decades and the experience exposes a definitive difference between our two hosts.

It’s time to check in with Don after being thrown off the cliff. Turns out David didn’t know that Jerry Orbach was the candelabra but has solid advice about getting off yer ass and regaining confidence. Also, apparently Don loves the Jews.

David has taken to running in cemetaries and made an odd discovery. Don is fascinated by the idea that there is a ‘most dangerous’ kind of human. Plus a great Rorschach and some choice things to do for the week.

David is having a mental meltdown over the most recent Kid Rock video. Don has a theory as to why the MCU Phase 4 is a bit of a turd. The chimps dive into the paradox of being deeply suspicious of Big Pharma while still downing pills like candy. It’s a godd, old-fashioned ApeCast!

Some advice for newly minted father of three John Beardmore from the least qualified source (Don). A quick discusiion of staying cool during floods and car impairment. Rorschach of the News including the dewath of Ken Star and idiots complaining about a black Ariel. And six things to do this week.