The Lesser Nerds Podcast » moon

Ten Enduring Myths about the US Space Program

Crashboy — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 15:59:55 +0000

U.S. President JFK didn’t necessarily want to beat the Soviets to the moon. While the race into space was a metaphor for the cold war and an alternative to actual war, putting “Made in USA” boots on the moon first apparently wasn’t the big priority we all think:

“Space offers no problems of sovereignty…why, therefore, should man’s first flight to the moon be a matter of national competition? Why should the United States and the Soviet Union, in preparing for such expeditions, become involved in immense duplications of research, construction and expenditure?”

Also? Apparently the Fisher Pen company that boasted it “brought the astronauts home” after a broken circuit breaker was discovered after The Eagle had landed was a lie. Talk about a conspiracy…

Geeks On A Plane

Art Carlson — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 04:00:23 +0000

We are tired of these monkey fighting geeks on this Monday to Friday plane! But hey, it’s better than a crocodile. Apparently, that’s exactly what brought down a passenger plane in Congo this week, according to the plane’s one survivor. So remember – live reptiles in your carry on?… Baaaad. Also bad? The thought that Goodfellas might very well have starred Tom Cruise and Madonna. (insert shudder here) That according to the film’s producer who this week told GQ that there was serious consideration given to the two biggest stars at the time.

Hey, Georgie is thinking about making three brand new Star Wars films which would be sequels to the 6 extant ones. Burning question – will there be Ewoks? At least there was some good news from space this week – it turns out the moon has more water than we thought. Which means we’ll be able to go there and completely tear it apart. Yay us!

Are you using Ping yet? (naw, neither are we) So we decided to get A List music geek and radio legend Alan Cross to answer the age old question – Who’s a bigger jerk, Zuckerberg or Jobs?

All that plus, Angry Birds, celebrity deathmatch (kinda), and why Penn Jilette might be to thank for the longer bath time of your wife.

How To Succeed In Business (Without Really Trying)

Crashboy — Wed, 26 May 2010 15:44:41 +0000

(FIXED silent episode problem)

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.