The music industry seems to be even more complex with each passing week.  How do they even keep track of “sales” anymore?  What is a “sale”.  To help the nerds make sense of it all, music historian Alan Cross pops by the Flimm building to discuss that, as well as the birthday of David Bowie, and just where the audience participation lyrics in Billy Idol’s “Mony Mony” might have come from.

Did you get a new tv over the holiday?  If you did, it’s likely to be outdated in just a few months.  Then again you probably already knew that.  The CES show is just around the corner and TVs will be front and center as some of the biggest names in electronics converge on Las Vagas to show their wares.  But as the nerds reveal, the CES itself is on the verge of needing some life support of its own.

So if you’re a big producer of beverages like,…oh… let’s say PepsiCo for example, and some guy sues you for finding a mouse in his Mountain Dew, what would your best argument be?  Let’s hope it was better than Pepsi’s actual defense which is…. well, listen and judge for yourself.

All that plus, Microsoft helps you avoid the “ghetto”, Crashboy learns who the f*@k Cee lo Green is, and how Facebook can help you even after you’re dead.

While on the subject of kids, the boy peruse a list of things you probably believed as a kid.  It turns out that Art still believes your face “will freeze that way”.  However, the nerds show their somewhat warped side by each revealing one unique thing they believed as a child. (hint, they involve witches and tar)

Do you know what you’re getting your mom for Christmas?  If not, just pop on over to “The Giftinator”, a flow chart from the folks at Mashable that lets you pick mom’s perfect gift depending on her degree of tech savvy.  Its fatal flaw?…. assuming mom’s have a degree of tech savvy.

Good news for the boys…. a new study this week reveals that swearing is actually good for you, or at least good for relieving  pain.  The release of the foul word seems to also release pain within your body.  All this can be found within the awesomely titled professional publication, the “Journal Of Pain” (yes, it actually exists) (yes, we looked it up)

All that plus, what’s a ringtone?… what’s object permanence , and what the hell is “daddy butter”.  All on the special Christmas edition of Lesser Nerds

The internet is speaking so massively and uniformly, and so many are doing it on smart, simple to use pieces of technology with a half bitten mirrored apple on them, you have to know it would make Steve smile.  The nerds take a pause a drink a cup of apple juice to the man in the mock turtleneck.

Would you take a pill that would stop you from getting drunk while drinking?  Apparently some people have an interest in just such a pharmaceutical wonder since they’re working on a pill that does exactly that.  No more making an ass out of yourself after work with the buddies. (well, at least not alcohol related)

Halloween is almost here… do you have your overpriced amazingly realistic animated door decoration yet?  The nerds geek out at this year’s hot scare tactic. (but balk at the price tag)

Do you miss Andy Rooney yet?  After all, it’s been less than a week since we’ve had access to his pithy yet wry observations about glove compartments.  So to celebrate the insanely long career of news’ most curmudgeonly curmudgeon, we present you Andy Rooney Out Of Context.
Where do you spend your online time?  Google?  Sure.  But a new study this week tells us that we spend on average 8 hours a month on Facebook.  Just imagine how much more we’ll spend on the new timeline feature.

All that plus, the woman who’s broadcasting her birth live on the intertubes, an update on faster than light particles, and a keen eyed look at the first computer designed especially…. for the ladies.

Who doesn’t love Shweddy Balls?  Apparently a mom’s group in the States is in a bit of a tizzy over Ben & Jerry’s new flavor which pays tribute to the now famous SNL sketch.  But Crashboy is suspicious of their intentions.

Are you a redhead?  Do you have sperm?  Do you want to donate some of your sperm?  Well, too bad for you because the largest sperm bank in the world no longer wants your ginger seed.  Apparently there’s too much supply and not enough demand.  The nerds discuss the pros and cons of making a little deposit.

Facebook had quite a week, didn’t they.  First they annoy most of their user base with yet another face lift, then they announce a major shift in the entire site with their new “Timeline”.  Might it be time for Google+?

The tech world was rocked this week by the news that scientists had recreated images from people’s brains.  Translation?… Get ready for a DVR for your noggin’.  Hopefully it will be ready in time for the kids whose father retouched family vacation pictures to digitally insert Ewoks.

All that plus, an update on our Android users, Einstein get’s schooled, and just how much you’d pay for an IKEA shelf you just finished building

Feeling lucky, punk?  Google’s not.  All indicators are pointing in the direction of the “I’m Feeling Lucky” button going the way of the dodo.  You won’t hear any weepy eulogies here however.  Are you ready for .coke?  How about .nyc?  The intertubes are about to get a whole lot more crowded now that ICANN has opened the floodgates to hundreds of new domain names.  You can have one too if you happen to have a few hundred thousand dollars sitting around.

Does excessive gaming change the wiring of your brain?  A new study out of China says yes.  But the nerds find the study to be a bit less compelling than the accompanying graphic which tells Crashboy a bit more about himself than he’d like to know.

What’s fair use these days?  After all the internet has become one big heaping plate of plagiarism.  This week the nerds look at what is and isn’t considered fair use in the wake of the lawyer initiated demise of a witty Twitter feed that used Peanuts comic strips.

All that plus, Lesser Nerds updates on the trials and tribulations of a CHiPs star, a Facebook app for the iPad, and why that Kobe steak might not be quite as appetizing as you think.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we actually cared enough to do that.  Alas, the “choose your own adventure” books are distant memories from our past.  Or are they.  It turns out one of the founders of the books is attempting to stage a comeback, in tablet form.  Will it work?  The nerds are hopeful.

The nerds are less hopeful however about Apple’s new subscription model that lets you virtually subscribe to your favorite magazine.  The lads from Cupertino seem to be aiming for a bigger piece of the pie than the magazine industry was ready for, and Google is breathing down their necks.

We also spend a bit of time this week helping those sitting at their desks stuck in a productivity gap.  Art takes us to a virtually indescribable web based time killer, and Crashboy tips us off to the idea of rebooting your computer when you find yourself procrastinating.  Why?  Listen and see.

If you watched the events in Egypt and wondered at the possibility of a similar internet shut down happening here, you’re not alone.  The idea of a decentralized internet to keep Big Brother’s hands out of your tubes is occupying the minds of many people, including a Columbia law professor who is trying to build a gadget to keep your internet private.  Maybe he could also help them come up with a way to stop our new wireless technology from interfering with current GPS.

If you’ve found the relationship options on Facebook to be limited and not really applying too much to you, you were probably very happy this week at the announcement of their LGBT options, as well as a few more confusing ones that were clearly written by a lawyer.

All that plus, the confusing death of Uncle Leo, erotic Jurassic Park fan fiction, and what the world looks like through the eyes of a hot booty.

Please get rid of that embarrassing picture of me from St. Patrick’s Day last year.  Thanks.”

What do you suppose the chances of that working are?  Probably about the same as the chances that a new service to erase your pictures from the internet will fly.  The nerds give two thumbs down to the idea of turning your online images into a time bomb.

Hey, you know that fancy new car you bought… the one with the awesome keyless entry system?  Yeah, turns out it’s actually really an easy way for thieves to steal your car without breaking a single window.  Want to know how?  We chat with the Swiss Mister who did the study and ask him why he didn’t actually steal anyone’s car.  Maybe the thieves in South Africa are getting a double dip if they do this.  After all, they’re already stealing the SIM cards out of the traffic lights in Johannesburg, and using them to make lots of expensive phone calls.

Speaking of phones, one company has now made it easy, a little too easy, to file your taxes using only your smartphone camera.  How does it work?  Crashboy tells us.  Then Art reciprocates by telling us about up’n'coming rapper Chet Haze.  Aside from being the only rapper in recent memory named “Chet”, he also has another distinguishing characteristic…. a very well known father.

All that plus: things real people DON’T say about advertising, when is a Cordoba NOT a Cordoba, and what exactly is happening in the bedrooms in the land of the flaccid sun.

This week Art tells us about a Michigan couple whose marital unhappiness has reached such heights, the husband is currently facing hacking charges for reading her email.  And in the vein of tech problems, Crashboy shares the absolute worst part of coming home for Christmas.

Do you know what an earworm is?  No no, not the Chekov kind, the music kind.  One company thinks they have an online cure for that song stuck in your head.  The nerds find it might create more problems than it cures though.  Maybe the song is an old children’s ditty you remember from your kindergarten days.  You know, the one they payed the copy write fees for?  What?? Your kindergarten didn’t pay fees for the songs it used in class??!!  You must not be from Germany then.  That’s the country where you’ll find the piracy police currently patrolling the tiny desks and chairs of the classroom for any infringements.

All that plus, Art gloats over two accurate predictions, pirates just can’t get enough of naked blue people, and some of the weirdest news stories of 2010.  All on the epic, viral, wow factor podcast of mama grizzlies and the American people, Lesser Nerds.

All that plus, the kids today and their fancy gadgets, Angry Birds get beaten on by Papa Smurf and the boys, and why bringing a USB key into a Brazilian church might get you exorcised.  All on Sen. Jim Boehner’s (R) favorite podcast, Lesser Nerds.

Also true to form is Crashwife, who this week was subjected to yet another recording of her exploits, this time with her permission, however.  Sit back and relax as the made in heaven combination of hotel WiFi, iTunes music store and an innocent iPad conspire to drive the Crashcouple to distraction.

Speaking of driving, did you have any problems behind the wheel this weekend?  It turns out, driving after a daylight savings time switch is a wee bit troublesome for some.  The nerds take the opportunity to look at some of the quirks of our twice yearly ritual.

Art finds himself somewhat stunned this week by the growing influence of Google on our everyday lives.  As an example, the nerds look at a war that was actually started by an error on Google maps.  No, we’re not making this up.  Then, it’s a quick jaunt into the world of climate change to see how one guy decided to let his Twitter do battle with the twits.

All that plus, the wonders of finger power, the iPod’s place in history, the perils of autocorrect, and the best newspaper apology ever.  All on the official podcast of Star Trex, Lesser Nerds.

Although we give short shrift to all things political this week, we did have to pause to marvel at the sheer audacity of the New York congressman who attempted to win his debate by placing his opponent’s ex-wife in the front row!  Not that it worked. In fact, he might have had better luck with Suzette, a chatbot program that fooled judges into thinking it was human by distracting them.

It turns out space may very well be the final frontier for some lucky volunteers..  this according to NASA who have announced plans for their “100 Year Spaceship.”  (interpretation? one way trip).  But for the less intrepid space lover, you could instead opt for the full operating manual of the USS Enterprise which was released this week!

All that plus, Angry Bird plushies (you heard us), why Facebook users should be nervous on December 11th, and the most disturbing personal collection we’ve ever come across – all on Winona Ryder’s preferred podcast, Lesser Nerds.

Would you want Yoda telling you where to go?  Turns out you can, now that his voice is being used by Tom Tom.  Yes, it’ll come in handy on Degobah, but still….  Last week, Crashboy told us Prince hates the internet so this week, we have a look and try to figure out why. (answer- he’s weird)  Generation Y doesn’t hate the internet though.  In fact, a new study says social networking will be a permanent part of their lives. This will have a ripple effect it seems, as Twitter will eventually make all your friends hate you.

All that plus, turning a page was patented by Microsoft?, iPhone vs Android redux, and Art’s nomination for headline of the year!

We also revisit a few salient topics this week.  Art tries desperately to put his profanity laden tirade from last week’s show into some sort of meaningful perspective, while Crashboy speculates on the possibility that our poll might very well have been hijacked by the good folks at the Parents’ Television Council.  And if that wasn’t enough, Mark Ryder of vajazzleville.com drops by the Flimm Building to drop off a few DIY kits for our listeners.

Plus, the switch to Google Chrome, the story behind Saddam’s sex tape, and what you can tell your spouse when the term “wild Asian ass” comes up in your search history.  All that and more on British Petroleum’s favorite podcast, Lesser Nerds.

The nerds are getting down to business this week.  For example, just how much time and money was lost this week when Google turned it’s homepage into a Pac-Man emulator? More importantly, does anyone care?  If anyone does, it might well be a go getter like Alec Brownstein… the young whippersnapper who landed himself a job by appealing to the hubris of his potential employers.  How did it turn out?  We ask him ourselves!

Business is booming for the info ladies of Bangladesh – those two wheeled mavens of  modern tech who pedal their way through the townships doling out advice on anything from crop diseases to contraception. (two topics related only through alliteration)

Bill Gates used to be in the business of seeing the future (before HE started ridding the world of crop diseases).  So, ten years ago when he made some bold predictions about the future of computers, how well did he do?  The nerds have a look.  For example, did he predict the end of instant messaging?

Plus, the best phony Twitter accounts, William Shatner gives Art a touch of Tourette Syndrome, and how we might be able to tell which space pioneer pleased the ladies more.  Oh, and if you thought vajazzling was gone… think again.

Then, it’s time to scratch our heads at the continuing bad behavior by one of our heretofore fave companies, Apple.  It seems the cops who busted down the door of the lost iPhone blogger were working at Apple’s behest. (In related news, cigarettes cause cancer, and Ricky Martin is gay.)

Following up on last week’s discussion, the nerds look at a site that playfully tells you how crappy your Facebook privacy setting are, and take the social network to task over their pathetic new security features.

And if that wasn’t enough, Art rails yet again about our culture of fear, as Crashboy brings us up to date on how people could actually hack your car. (and why they would even want to)  All that, plus our Geek Dad book winners,  why ICBMs have to fly so damned high, and in a listener suggested vajazzling update, the nerds scale the heights of awkwardness with a discussion of kagel.  All on this week’s edition of Lesser Nerds.

Then we go REALLY down under where we meet Matt — an Aussie who loves the show so much he’s willing to be our intern for a while, despite the somewhat arduous commute between the Flimm Building and Swinburne University. Art relates his loathing for skiing, but he and Crashboy both profess love for Hipstamatic, the app that will turn your iPhone into a 70′s era toy camera. Ah, the days of cool bygone tech…. unlike Google who are trying to inch their way into your living room by getting into the TV business. The nerds debate whether Google and Sony will keep you on the couch. Good thing they don’t do that on Facebook!

Speaking of which, the big show now has its own Facebook fan page! Slide on over and join. We promise we won’t spam the crap out of you.

Plus, what a happy meal looks like after a year on the shelf. And we ask the age old question… what would YOU do for five bucks?

All on the St. Augustine of Hippo edition of Lesser Nerds.

Speaking of greasy salesmen, it turns out companies are bidding on advertising to YOU,.. in real time on the interweb!  Welcome to the brave new world of instant ads…  not quite like it was back in Mad Men times.  Good thing you can now get yourself a genuine limited edition Mad Men doll (Christina Hendricks actual measurements not included)

The Nerds wonder what Google thinks of Apple’s 120,000 iPad preorders. And remember a few weeks back when the nerds had a good chuckle at Amazon’s expense for suggesting Astro Glide lube to shoppers buying bulk communion wafers?  Turns out, that was just the tip of the iceberg!

Plus, Ask Art this week poses the age old question,… what’s better – real Star Wars, or Family Guy Star Wars?  The answer might surprise you.  And we give full props to the fine folks at edgypodcastreviews.com, who apparently thought we were kinda keen.  Plus why James Brown’s body is missing… all on the special St. Swithun’s Day edition of Lesser Nerds.

The subsequent discussion shows Art’s ignorance, although he’s not dumb enough to have any interest in the stupidly named “Tiger Text”, an app for cheating spouses.

By the way, if you actually read this write up every week, it may be a sign you are addicted to the internet.  Good thing the medical community is now actually considering making your compunction an actual disease!  Too late for the winner of Apple’s billionth download contest however, who actually got a congrats call from Steve Jobs….. and didn’t believe it!

The nerds also find themselves this week with a bit of an Olympic hangover.  And what better way to cure it than with… pole dancing??  We also look at the time frame for NASA to cross James Cameron with George Lucas … on the surface of the moon.  And speaking of Star Wars (have we mentioned Star Wars in the podcast before), seems the fightin’ Rebs at old Miss aren’t too fond of the possibility their new mascot might be Admiral Ackbar

And if all that wasn’t enough for one show…. Crashboy foams at the mouth over the upcoming Max Headroom DVD, plus we give you a vajazzling update.

Why? Because we care.

We look at the “Twoddler”, a stunning and promising new technology that will be obsolete by the time you read this. If so, it will join the list of everyday things that have become extinct over the last decade.

Art Carlson confesses his desire to get an ultraviolet tattoo, while Crashboy reciprocates by confessing his crush on the girl who builds Millennium Falcon beds (the show’s not called “Lesser Nerds” for nothing).

We also look at rhinos, cougars and swine flu. Just in time for the holidays!

No matter how big a fan I will ever be of Kevin Smith, I will never be as big a fan of Kevin Smith as Kevin Smith is of Kevin Smith.

Please make sure you clear your Google search history before your wife comes home. Crashboy gives a crash course in Google Voice and why it may be scary. The nerds do good in the world by discussing breast movement, and catch up with a 21st century hobo stealing someone’s WiFi. Michael Jackson hated Thriller? Art insists his voice doesn’t need Autotune. And we ask, “what’s an ass burger?”

00:00 – The boys can’t pronounce a syndrome highlighted on The Amazing Race. Does this mean they’ve got it, too? And why Kevin Smith is an ass.

05:10 – I Am T-Pain is a pain in the ass, and Art insists it doesn’t do squat for him.

06:48 – Bouncing Canadian breasts. Google search results here. One of the boys insists he hasn’t had a finger up his butt… and the other suggests he might enjoy it.

11:35 – Two words: Cordless toothbrush

12:50 – Michael Jackson: Thriller is c**p

14:28 – Google App for iPhone, and why Apple shit a brick

17:55 – Two hours of pushin’ brooms, Josh Sullivan of 52 Friends insists he’s not gettin’ any during his Kerouac-esque year-long road trip and tells the boys about a scary experience with one of the hosts who let ‘em sleep on their couch for a week.

24:02 – Jedi says Tesco discriminated against him

26:43 – Art answers your questions, admits to a sexually transmitted threepeat

]]> http://www.lessernerds.com/2009/09/episode4/feed/ 0 52 Friends,Amazing Race,App Store,Apple,Asperger's Syndrome,autotune,breasts,cancer,Google,Google Voice,hobo,iPhone I can explain it in a simple phrase: cordless toothbrush. No matter how big a fan I will ever be of Kevin Smith, I will never be as big a fan of Kevin Smith as Kevin Smith is of Kevin Smith. Please make sure you clear your Google search history befor... Crashboy gives a crash course in Google Voice and why it may be scary. The nerds do good in the world by discussing breast movement, and catch up with a 21st century hobo stealing someone's WiFi. Michael Jackson hated Thriller? Art insists his voice doesn't need Autotune. And we ask, "what's an ass burger?" 00:00 - The boys can't pronounce a syndrome highlighted on The Amazing Race. Does this mean they've got it, too (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asbergers_syndrome)? And why Kevin Smith is an ass. 05:10 - I Am T-Pain is a pain in the ass (http://iamtpain.smule.com/), and Art insists it doesn't do squat for him. 06:48 - Bouncing Canadian breasts. Google search results here. One of the boys insists he hasn't had a finger up his butt... and the other suggests he might enjoy it. 11:35 - Two words: Cordless toothbrush 12:50 - Michael Jackson: Thriller is c**p (http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/jackson-hated-thriller-album_1117300) 14:28 - Google App for iPhone, and why Apple shit a brick (http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/18/google-says-apple-flatly-rejected-voice-app-for-iphone/) 17:55 - Two hours of pushin' brooms, Josh Sullivan of 52 Friends (http://www.myspace.com/fiftytwofriends) insists he's not gettin' any during his Kerouac-esque year-long road trip and tells the boys about a scary experience with one of the hosts who let 'em sleep on their couch for a week. 24:02 - Jedi says (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/18/jedi-religion-tesco-hood-jones) Tesco discriminated against him 26:43 - Art answers your questions (http://www.lessernerds.com/ask/), admits to a sexually transmitted threepeat the Nerds yes