Stuff Smart People Like

In the latest episode of Stuff Smart People Like, the panel talks about winners and losers at the Oscars. Dean shows his expertise in the entertainment field. Jordan disappears into a puff of smoke. As always, the hour ties up with suggestions.

The panel discusses the circumstances of Jordan’s absence as well as the (bright?) future of automated ground transportation. For ease of use and efficiency all panel members this week were replaced by individually simulated speech replication devices. The opinions of these computer programs do not necessarily represent those of Stuff Smart People Like or its subsidiaries. No robots were harmed in the making of this podcast.

Maybe there’s more to things than we know. Perhaps the powers that be are trying to blind the masses to the real reasons behind unexplained phenomena. Perhaps we don’t even fully comprehend our own history! In this episode we talk about the nature of conspiracy and what makes them so appealing. Stick around for our usual Smart Suggestions and Ed’s last word. Download the .mp3 Main Segment UFO Hoax Still Dazzles Rule by Secrecy: The Hidden History That Connects the Trilateral Commission, the Freemasons, and the Great Pyramids Wikipedia: Moon Landing Conspiracy Theories Smart Suggestions: Ed: MightyText Ben: Discovr People App (iTunes) Jim: Write About Dragons Dean: Sleep Cycle App (iTunes) This is a podcast post, click here to download the MP3 audio, click here to subscribe via iTunes, click here to visit our blog, and click here to show us some love. Have feedback or suggestions? Then click here. And as long as you’re still clicking, why not follow us on Twitter: Ben | Ed | Jordan | Dean | Jim | smartppllike

Maybe there’s more to things than we know. Perhaps the powers that be are trying to blind the masses to the real reasons behind unexplained phenomena. Perhaps we don’t even fully comprehend our own history! In this episode we talk about the nature of conspiracy and what makes them so appealing. Stick around for our usual Smart Suggestions and Ed’s last word.

This week Dean returns to hosting glory, having relegated Ed to the one mic we can’t figure out how to un-mute. Luckily Jordan, Ben and Jim step up to provide some discussion of the tax code and just where Jordan gets his fit on. Then it’s a ride on the Smart Suggestion engine and Paul Harvey jumps on the Last Word caboose. As always, no real transportation was used in the making of this podcast. Download the .mp3 Main Segment: Monopoly Rules: Deluxe Edition Tax The Skeptical Statistician: On Taxes Smart Suggestions: Jordan: Heartthrob Ben: Radio Free Gunslinger Jim: Suddenly, a Knock on the Door: Stories | Ira Glass reads some Dean: Perfect Cup of Tea - Stephen Twining | A Perfect Cup of Tea with Cindi Bigelow Last Word: Dodge Ram Ad featuring Paul Harvey This is a podcast post, click here to download the MP3 audio, click here to subscribe via iTunes, click here to visit our blog, and click here to show us some love. Have feedback or suggestions? Then click here. And as long as you’re still clicking, why not follow us on Twitter: Ben | Ed | Jordan | Dean | Jim | smartppllike

This week Dean returns to hosting glory, having relegated Ed to the one mic we can’t figure out how to un-mute. Luckily Jordan, Ben and Jim step up to provide some discussion of the tax code and just where Jordan gets his fit on. Then it’s a ride on the Smart Suggestion engine and Paul Harvey jumps on the Last Word caboose. As always, no real transportation was used in the making of this podcast.

This week Dean punked out at the last minute and was unable to host. Thankfully Ed swooped in like some badass new-god to host the episode and all was well. After some smart suggestions the guys talk about public unease (ickiness?) with and feasibility of cloning a Neanderthal. Predictably that throws Jordan’s godless liberal-sense into a tizzy and after a long somewhat coherent rant the convo slowly sidles into a discussion of scientific literacy among journalists. As a plus the episode ends with a new segment wherein we read and sometimes deride fan mail and reviews (but not necessarily in that order).

The crew discusses the tricky world of content copyright with regard to a song from a recent episode of Glee and a film from Sundance that was entirely shot in Disney theme parks without permission. Smart suggestions range from free to $70 and none are musical, as Jordan could not make this cast because his “People” neglected to take care of his clinical reports. Pfft, amateur….

This podcast is 100% natural free of all additives and acronyms, although the same cannot be said about it’s members. For the main discussion the guys tackle the recent “Armstrong” scandal, with a peppering of baseball and a sprinkling of Te’O. The smart suggestions this week tend toward the audio side of things with Dean bucking the trend and going with video (he’s a pretty terrible listener). Also, despite his indie “Cred”, it becomes quite clear during the smart suggestions that Jordan has next to no knowledge of, or respect for, the children’s program Yo Gabba Gabba.

We’ve done it! The big Hawaii 5-0 (feel free to hum the theme song, gramps)! But its not all laughter and high-fives… The guys tackle the fairly serious topic of academic honesty. And of course we’ve got some wonderful smart suggestions which you will find hyperlinked below, for your convenience.

Ben and Jordan couldn’t attend this week, so Jim agreed to jump in. Ed, Jim and Dean share their best holiday gifts and share a few strategies for keeping those shiny new resolutions everyone seems so worked up about.

Given the impending new year, we thought it best to look back on the last 47 episodes from the past year to review our smart suggestions. After all this time, will we still like our suggestions? Will their be some that we want to take back? Will Jordan remember any of his? Tune in to find out.

This week on the podcast after our usual smart suggestions we discuss the results of a podcast-specific secret Santa. Turns out it wasn’t all that secret. Despite the fact that he possesses a high quality microphone, Jordan elected to join the podcast via a landline phone from inside an aluminum trailer. So if you have issues with the audio, take it up with him.

It’s a time for some holiday cheer, but not before the fellas read some headlines. The panel shares a couple of Smart Suggestions, then scans the ‘net for any interesting stories before remembering their favorite holiday specials. Grab your cocoa, your trusted local rag and settle in for a cozy chat by the fireside.

Without Ed around to absorb all the “lameness” out of the discussion the guys sink to discussing Ben’s social network habits and the general question of privacy in the new online-all-the-time world.