Episode 609: Forge Majeure

Episode notes

Jordan brings the case against his friend Jacob. Jordan and Jacob are both blacksmiths. Jacob has been Jordan’s apprentice for the past few years, and he says it’s time he gets a new title, like “journeyman.” Jordan says Jacob is still learning and needs more experience first! Who’s right? Who’s wrong?

Thanks to reddit user u/Beejtronic for naming this week’s case! To suggest a title for a future episode, keep an eye on the Maximum Fun subreddit at maximumfun.reddit.com!

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Evidence from FORGE MAJEURE

A selfie of two men outdoors in daylight in front of a trailer, loaded with blacksmithing materials and products

Jacob (left) and Jordan together last year at the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire

Four matching handmade kitchen knives, displayed next to each other on a tree stump. There is a butcher knife, a paring knife, a full-sized chef's knife, and a smaller chef's knife. The hilts are made of a beautiful dark wood. On each blade, near the hilt, there is a set of Anglo-Saxon runes that translate to

A set of chef's knives Jordan made

A handmade cast-iron skillet, displayed on what appears to be a brick fire pit. The pan is wide and shallow. The fire pit is surrounded by yellowed autumn leaves.

A cast-iron skillet Jordan made

A handmade knife with a long, narrow blade. It is displayed on a tree stump, leaning point-down against a blackened, burned cow skull. The hilt is red and black, and has a texture similar to a snake's scales.

A knife Jacob made

A handmade knife, laid flat against a tree trunk. The blade appears to be about four or five inches long.

Another knife Jacob made

A screenshot showing three Zoom windows, arranged vertically. The top window shows Producer Valerie, wearing a black turtleneck and headphones. She is laughing. The middle window shows Jordan and Jacob high-fiving in the studio in Gainesville, Florida. The bottom frame shows Bailiff Jesse, wearing a blue button-down shirt. He is laughing.

Jordan (left) and Jacob laughing

In this episode...

John Hodgman

Host

Jesse Thorn

Host

Jennifer Marmor

Producer

Daniel Arón Speer

Video Editor

AJ McKeon

Audio Editor

Megan Rosati

Social Media Specialist

About the show

Have your real-life disputes settled in Fake Internet Court! Despite no legal background, Judge John Hodgman and Bailiff Jesse Thorn are the arbiters of justice that you need. No case is too big or too small. They judge them all!

Is a hot dog a sandwich? When does a collection become a hoard? Is it ever ok to flush soup down a toilet? Only one can decide! Submit your dispute at maximumfun.org/jjho!

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Episode 609: Forge Majeure

Judge John Hodgman