In Episode 740 of AwesomeCast, hosts Michael Sorg, Katie Dudas, and Dave Podnar go full geek across Pittsburgh happenings, practical gadgets, and a dash of nostalgia. From the chaotic charm of Picklesburgh to high-tech fire truck cameras, we spotlight local events, incredible DIY tools, and how Pokémon made its way to the Pope. Discover how furries raised nearly $90,000 for a cat rescue, explore Chuck E. Cheese’s adult-only arcade concept, and find out if AirPods Pro can double as hearing aids. Plus, LEGO Babylon 5, TSA updates, and more tech-fueled fun.

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Picklesburgh 2024 Preview

Massive footprint across multiple bridges in Pittsburgh

Features include pickle-themed food and drinks, “pickle riding,” and the Pickle Triathlon

Local traffic heads-up: American Mile Race overlaps on Friday night

Anthrocon’s Generous Impact

Anthrocon 2024 raises over $89,000 for Nose-to-Tail Rescue

Volunteers celebrated for their dedication and cat-themed cause

Awesome Gadget: Electric Chipper Shredder

Dave Podnar reviews Harbor Freight’s Portland Electric Chipper

Affordable alternative to rental wood chippers for yardwork and DIY mulch

High-Tech Safety for First Responders

Sorg previews an SAE podcast with Oshkosh & Pratt Miller

Motorsports camera tech adapted for fire trucks to alert to high-speed dangers

Oshkosh is behind USPS’s futuristic electric mail trucks

Cat Tales & Adoption Resources

Monty the Cone-Cat joins the show

Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh praised for facilities and kitten yoga

Link shared to support adoptions

AirPods Pro 2 as Hearing Aids

Discussion on Apple’s assistive features and built-in hearing tests

Comparison to expensive traditional hearing aids

Chuck E. Cheese’s “Chuck’s Arcade” for Adults

Adult-only arcade concept launches in select markets

Plays on nostalgia with games, prizes, and maybe subpar pizza

McDonald’s Mini Happy Meal Toy Inception

Sorg breaks down the layers of toy-inside-a-toy Happy Meal surprise

App ordering and airport travel tips shared

LEGO Babylon 5 Spaceship Build

Fan-created rotating Earth ship model captures show’s sci-fi engineering

Tribute to a beloved but underrepresented sci-fi series

Pope Francis Signs a Pokémon Card

Reddit user gets a holographic Popplio card signed by the Pope

Hilarious, heartfelt intersection of faith and fandom

TSA Ends Mandatory Shoe Removal (Somewhat)

New screening tech may eliminate outdated policies

Sorg, Katie, and Dave celebrate a win for frequent travelers

Bonus Topics for Patreon Members:

Thoughts on Gmail’s new subscription management

A critical revisit to a previously featured app

Jack Dorsey’s encrypted Bluetooth chat app breakdown

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