Stuff Smart People Like

It’s a stat! For the Forty-Force episode, the fellows welcome guest panelist, Paul to discuss the statistical particulars that you can’t learn from a Jedi… Plus the Smart Suggestions abound, as always.

This week sees us playing it fast and loose. In lieu of a main topic, the guys try out the Doug Loves Movies staple, the “Leonard Maltin Game”. Don’t worry, we have plenty of smart suggestions before that fun. Stick around after the show to hear some ‘outtakes’.

How many links can one podcast suggest? If this week is any indication, several is the answer. The fellas delve into some Smart Suggestions with a number of related mentions. Then the p-cast takes a turn for the literary: NaNoWriMo is the topic and guest Jim, along with our own Ben, is the expert. Write on.

The smart suggestions (necessarily) take on a political flavor, but Dean didn’t get the memo. The main discussion centers on Jordan’s politically-related Facebook habits and the fact that despite earning a PhD in psychology he still doesn’t know better than to confront impassioned internet political rants with cold hard facts. Finally, from the stuff smart people like players, a campaign ad from a candidate who truly wants the job. Download the .Mp3 Smart Suggestions: Jordan: 538 Blog | Google politics | Vote Smart Ben: ProPublica Dean: Comixology Ed: Madness Songs from this episode: Playhaus - She Makes Love Come Tumbling Down Sage - Stay Close The Sugarettes - Love in Stereo 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 | smartppllike

Everyone is back and the complete panel is restored. As they hit the big 4-0 episode mark, the guys call a meeting of the Editorial Board to provide the official SSpplL endorsement for the presidency. Who will it be? A world of possibilities opens up when one is not limited to the time, space and nonfiction shackles holding back our current electoral system. And as always, these fellas are chock-full of Smart Suggestions. Download the .Mp3 Smart Suggestions: Jordan: Hebrew National sued | Sea Wolf - Old World Romance (Spotify) Ben: Summer Chrome Extension Ed: Freaks and Geeks Dean: Fix-it Felix Jr App (iTunes) | Wreck-it Ralph Main Topic: Politics/Endorsement Neil deGrasse Tyson Hot Shots! Part Deux Lloyd Bridges The Contender 24 Dennis Haysbert The Walking Dead Andrew Lincoln Deep Impact The Fifth Element Purple Rain Dave Independence Day The West Wing 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 | smartppllike

The skeleton crew of “just” Ben and Ed find themselves cold and alone on this episode. So what better topic to explore than comics? Ed sings the praises of DC and their New 52 event (among other things) and Ben finds some mature comics he found in that staid institution, the public library. But first the duo make some smart suggestions. Listen, won’t you? Download the .Mp3 Smart Suggestions: Ed: Sound Opinions Ben: The Humble eBook Bundle Main Topic: Comics DC’s New 52 New 52 Batman Scalped Y the Last Man Fables Before Watchmen Whatever happened to the caped crusader? American Gods (novel) Saga Alabaster Wolves Donald Glover Spiderman (article) 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 (give it up your mouse has been defeated).

A discussion of a shitty beer infographic evolves in to a general brew discussion, the cons of Nielsen ratings, the pointless nature of political “debates,” and the munchkin world series. Oh yeah, smart suggestions are in there somewhere too. Download the .Mp3 Smart Suggestions: Ben - Civilization 5 Ed - The Heavy - “Glorious Dead” Dean - The Bugle (Podcast) Main Segment: In which I reconsider my entire political outlook (beer infographic) 99% invisible - The Best Beer in the World (Podcast episode) 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 (give it up your mouse has been defeated).

Talk about your quick turn around, while the guys catch up with the new recording schedule, they play a round of lightning quick headline reaction. Plus Jordan discovers science, Ed bench presses the internet, Ben laughs at music and Dean touts his favorite proportions (more math, less va-va-voom!).  Download the .mp3 Smart Suggestions Jordan: The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark Ed: Fitocracy Ben: Illegal Art | Extended Play Ep Illegal Art Remix Tape Dean: Me, Myself and Math - NYTimes Main Segment: Lightning Round Google News 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 (give it up your mouse has been defeated).

In this episode, the society of smarts tackles crowd-funding. Specifically, Kickstarter’s recent decision to protect “backers’” investments by requiring more planning and disclosure of “risks and challenges” by those seeking funds. Dean comes down hard against backing someone’s “Good time.” Ben raw-dogs the smart suggestion segment (as he does many things it seems). Jordan once again suggests an artist no one has ever heard of in a feeble attempt to up his indie cred. Finally, Ed tries to revert to a zen lifestyle but his calm is broken by a surprise guest appearance from his cat - “Captain Pancakes.”  Download the .mp3 Smart Suggestions Ben: Distrust that Particular Flavor | Disneyland with the Death Penalty Ed: zen habits (A Primer on Full-Screen Living) | Q10 | Instapaper Jordan: Two Door Cinema Club - “Beacon” | Jordan’s 2012 spotify playlist Dean: Ben Folds Five and Fraggle Rock | “Call me maybe” choir version Main Segment: Kickstarter Kickstarter changes submission rules Whom you love: The biology of sexual orientation [relaunch] 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 (your mouse must be getting tired).

The lads discuss their favorite places to find stuff on the internet, the sad state of what passes for “news” in the current 24 hour media cycle, the value of Jordan’s fantasy season is weighed against the value of Matt Forte’s ankle (spoiler: it doesn’t work out well for Mr. Forte), and Dean invents a “Huay-larious!” new Holiday.  Download the .Mp3 Smart Suggestions (Blogs): Ben: cyborgology.com Ed: kottke.org (BIRGing) Jordan: The Skeptical Statistician Dean: ESPN Stats & Info Blog Main Segment (Accuracy in Media Reporting): Literally Unbelievable (Facebook reactions to “stories” on the Onion). Roger Ailes’ Secret Nixon-Era Blueprint for Fox News Politifact Factcheck.org ProPublica Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) Songs from the podcast CArCan - Stand by Me In the Rain Chris Merritt - The Wire 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 (your mouse must be getting tired).

This week the panel takes time to recap those crazy cons, dive into some Smart Suggestions and speculate on a few odd super powers. Ben was really quiet this week. Hmm, convention-lag or just plain gone? You decide! Download the .mp3 Smart Suggestions Ed: 90days90reasons Jordan: Google Skymap Dean: Mission Log | Google’s Star Trek Doodle Main Segment 2012 Republican National Convention 2012 Democratic National Convention Politifact Fact check: Paul Ryan at the RNC - USA Today Fact check: Obama and Biden at the DNC - USA Today Democrats change platform to add God, Jerusalem - Yahoo! News Positions on Jerusalem - Wikipedia 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 (your mouse must be getting tired).

The Smart Suggestion segment takes a Seinfeld-esque turn when the panel offers aspects of popular culture that they just “don’t get”. The conversation then turns to the ridiculous lengths that athletes will go to to cheat and the even more ridiculous lengths investigators will go to to nail the aforementioned cheating athletes. As is becoming the norm, Jordan couldn’t be bothered to show up. Download the .mp3 Smart Suggestions (Things in popular culture we “don’t get”): No specific links this week. More of a discussion than a recommendation segment. Main Segment: Performance Enhancing Drug Use Cabrera Associate Attempted to Fabricate Defense Armstrong Gives up Doping Fight, is it a Confession? Bigger Stronger Faster Documentary (free on youtube) 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 (your mouse must be getting tired).

This week the panel welcomes a special guest: Jesse. Jesse brings his ten plus years of experience in Ed’s fantasy football league and general awesomeness to the main discussion of fantasy sports. Ed briefly gloats about his clairvoyance regarding Romney’s VP decision and smart suggestions are thrown in for good measure. Download the .mp3 Smart Suggestions Jordan: Mindhacks.com Jesse: 6 isolated groups that had no idea civilization existed Ed: Silly Little Game Opening Question Stories Swerving to Miss Moose, Norwegian man hits Bear Giant Catfish Burgles Couple’s Home Anti-Putin Stunt Earns Punk Band Two Years In Jail Main Segment The League Rich Eisen Interview on Sklarbro Country Knitters Outraged After U.S. Olympic Committee Squashes Knitting Olympics—and Disses Knitters Paul Ryan Picture | Matthew Morrison Picture Tom Morello Rages Against Paul Ryan Tom Petty to Michelle Bachmann: Quit Playing ‘American Girl’ Silversun Pickups Reclaim Song from Romney Campaign 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 (your mouse must be getting tired).

Sometimes we just can’t help ourselves and we talk about serious stuff. In this episode Dean, Jordan and Ben discuss a rather controversial news story regarding capital punishment. But before that, we serve up some topical smart suggestions. Download the .mp3. Smart Suggestions: Ben: Disney’s Mars and Beyond (part 5 of 6 on Youtube, the best animated sequence.) Jordan: Passion Pit - Gossamer (Spotify) Dean: Matt Honan article on personal cybersecuriity | Google 2-step authentication Main Topic: The Atlantic opinion peace on the state of the death penalty in Texas USA Today article 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 (your mouse must be getting tired).

This week the guys offer their Smart Suggestions and talk the politics of chicken. However, Dean screws up the main segment audio and replaces it with an underwhelming apology. The prevailing thought is that Chick-fil-a operatives infiltrated and shut the ‘cast down from the inside (update: no evidence supports this whatsoever). Download the .mp3 Smart Suggestions: Ben: Catching Hell: Netflix link  ESPN 30 for 30: Amazon Link Ed: Runpee.com Jordan: Mars Rover Landing Dean: Kid President Main Topic: Enjoy these links in lieu of actual audio. :) Manager Goes Rogue: SFGate.com | Time Graph Comparing Opinions on Gay Marriage to Chick-fil-a Areas Chick-fil-A: Deep Fried Civil War 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 (your mouse must be getting tired).