Binary System Podcast #519 – WTNV #292 “Collectibles (1999)” and Beastar

This episode originally broadcast on August 20, 2026. The original podcast post is here: https://pixelatedgeek.com/2026/08/binary-system-podcast-519-wtnv-292-collectibles-1999-and-beastars/It’s another flashback episode as Leonard Burton tries to distract us from the fact that Cecil is still missing. This week’s trip to the archives takes us to 1999, where a young Cecil is dipping his toes into the information superhighway and spending way too much on Beanie Babies from the brand-new online auction site: eBay. Ahhh, remember when eBay was new, and the experience of finding just that right bit of ephemera was still fresh, and upper executives of the company weren’t spending months terrorizing journalists for saying mean things about them? (Okay, that last bit has nothing to do with tonight’s episode, but dear Lord, have you read about that whole mess?)Anyway, this being Night Vale, the Beanie Babies are alive, the DJ’s are surprisingly nurturing, the secret police force is useless and not paying attention, and the local pastor is trying to stop young people from being, well, young.In other news, Legoshi in Beastars is still being impulsive and we say the phrase “Shi-Shi Gumi” a lot. We’re also catching up on Better Call Saul, and Jordan Peel’s film Nope is weird scary fun.This episode’s outro is a clip from Yet Another Analog Dance Track by TeknoAXE.It can be really easy to slip into doom and despair at the state of the world right now, but there are things you can do to help. Check out Stand With Minnesota for links to fundraisers and other ways you can show your support. If we haven’t made it abundantly clear where we stand on this, FUCK ICE.Looking for a present for that hard-to-shop-for person? Want to buy them (or yourself) a square foot of a castle in Scotland? Look no further! You can support the restoration of Dunan’s castle, legally call yourself Lady or Laird, AND if you use this link to get there, you can support this podcast too! ScottishLaird.co.uk.For updates, fan art, and other randomness, come follow us on Facebook, Tumblr, and Instagram!