Tweak and Geek

In this episode, we discuss the ins and outs of Blockchain and try to figure out how to use it.

In this episode, we talk a bit about The Cloud where computing happens these days… There is no cloud!

In our first attempt at using a short “eplet” format, Craig and Pat briefly discuss a couple of techniques for technology workers to use in staying relevant in a fast-moving field.

This week’s episode has us discussing the use of abstraction in engineering and in pet management. Lamest News of the Week The serious story: Hobby Lobby reaches settlement on importing Biblical artifacts. http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/05/us/hobby-lobby-ancient-artifacts-trnd/index.html The lame part: The actual name of the court case! https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7iIRjahNvNcclpUZXdDaU83eE0/view Abstraction Some real reference for further reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abstraction_(software_engineering) Abstraction is the […]

This time on Tweak and Geek, we discuss the emerging computing trend of Machine Learning, what it is and means, and whether Skynet is sending a Terminator back in time to murder your parents. Lamest News of the Week http://www.reuters.com/article/us-belgium-primeminister-ear-idUSKBN18Q1FM Machine Learning? https://xkcd.com/1838/ This media has nothing to do with the podcast story but Craig […]

Craig and Pat have returned from a seven-year hiatus to assault your ears with geekery again! In this episode, we talk a bit about what Software Engineering is like as a field, and address questions from Quora like “Can anyone do this?” and “Do we get overpaid?” (Spoiler: No and No.) Lamest News of the […]

In this episode of Tweak and Geek, we recap our 2009 predictions… at great length! We’ll also try to convince you to eat maggots. Sure, we might have said it was Episode 36 in the intro, but you trust us on the maggots anyway, right? 2009’s Predictions * Announcement of Successor to Xbox 360 (not […]

On this Tweak and Geek, we debate the relative merits of coming to the software profession in different ways. Are You a Blue-Collar or White-Collar Developer? Craig – I have met some people with a classical CS background, and they have no sense of reality, i.e. getting a job done. However, I’ve found that people […]

This week’s Tweak and Geek has Craig, Pat, and Mike exploring new evidence about the intricacies of quantum gravity. Whoa, that’s heavy! HA HA HA! Oh, and we cover lame news, too. Gravity? A theory of quantum gravity may have been disproved by a recently-observed exploding star. This is cool, because it means that there […]

In this holiday episode, Mike, Craig, and Pat talk about a few things we’re thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving!

Time for the latest in Microsoft’s offerings to Operating Systems everywhere. Windows 7 Craig- * Likes: Shake to minimize, swoosh up on the taskbar, speed, compatibility, upgrade process, New Windows Media Player, Window Snap, New Paint, calc and wordpad, throw to other monitor * Dislikes: Sidebar everywhere, need a hack to get quicklaunch back, Pat- […]

On this very special episode of Tweak and Geek, Craig tries his level best to SCARE you! We started by making up stories about what we’d give away, but here’s a hint. If we’re at home giving stuff out, it’ll be whatever candy was closest to the checkout. We check out some techie costumes! Scariest […]

In this Very Special episode of Tweak and Geek, Very Special guest host Rudi joins us to discuss Stargate, Google Wave… oh, and we probably fanboi out about Apple again. Stargate Universe Impressions, predictions… Reminds us of tons of shows and movies: Last Starfighter, BSG, Lost in Space, Voyager… What’s with the steam when the […]

In this episode of Tweak and Geek, we pitch sci-fi shows for the new season and take a listen to blogthereligions.com Tweak and Geek presents: The best SciFi series pilots that you’ll never actually see Craig – “2012” On a mining ship in the near future (2012), the crew, while mining an asteroid in the […]

Since the last Tweak and Geek, Laurie and Pat got married. To each other, even. Craig didn’t, so ladies, don’t you worry! We talk about lots of stuff, but mostly wonder what Apple was going to tell us on Wednesday. Listen to find out why Craig needs to eat a hat! The Hobbit film might […]

We’ve been quieter than we promised. Oops! What’s been going on in our hiatus? Mike had a baby, Craig bought a house, Laurie and Pat set a date. Now on to the nerdism. Comic-Con Review with Pat and Laurie Nerds! Game Reboots Article on the Guardian, “Which Game Series” would you reboot? Article talks about […]

This week, our growing array of hosts discuss the iPhone 3GS, some rules for time travellers, and Lame News! iPhone 3GS Announced on Monday! Faster Processor, Video, 3MP Camera, Voice Control(!), Compass, Landscape in other apps like mail, Copy/Paste (new s/w), Search, Multimedia messages (but ATT won’t let them), Tethering Capabilities (but ATT won’t let […]

We’re baaaaack, and we’ve expanded our regular voices, adding Laurie and Mike as permanent hosts. We’ll talk Star Trek, Kindle, lame news, and more! Star Trek Windows 7 Kindle DX Laurie’s research lab was on CBS. (http://www.liai.org/files/Alessandro_Sette_CBS_Evening_News_May_07_2009.mov — this used to be a link, but that was ruining the podcast feed. STOP TRYING TO HELP […]

This time on Tweak and Geek, Laure and Mike step up to the plate while Pat and Craig are on hiatus. Lost Spoiler alert! Laurie and Mike talk Lost. Time travel, Ben’s new role as Locke’s whipping boy, and a potential third faction are discussed. Blackberry Woes Laurie and Pat are having issues with their […]

This time on Tweak and Geek, we’ll take you from the Whopper Bar to the new Shuffle to pursuing Chimp-Man through the wilderness of Texas. Whopper Bar This looks insidious. Google Calendar Needs Notification Why can’t it send accept/deny emails? Google, you’re On Notice.   Info on the new Shuffle $79, Talks to you, Special […]

For our 24th episode, we present a show entirely of suggestions from our listeners. OK, we might say something about orphans, too. D – Let’s talk about Windows 7 and the Starter Edition Windows 7 SKU List Good news: Most consumers only have to worry about 2 SKUs – Home Premium and Ultimate Bad news: […]

This Tweak and Geek episode has us discussing antipatterns — that is, things you shouldn’t do, like programming poorly or NOT listening to Tweak and Geek. We also bring our Lame News feature out again. Anti Patterns Recently, Craig has become interested in software design patterns. They’re time-tested solutions to general problems. Although they do […]

This week, we talk about a recipe straight from heaven’s doorstep! Bacon Explosion Although this is not technically a technology related post, I learned about the most innovative thing man has ever created, the bacon sausage roll! This is the ultimate perfect food for people. Ingredients: 2 pounds thick cut bacon 2 pounds Italian sausage 1 […]

This time on Tweak and Geek, we’ll talk about technology in the scariest of places. Not the Dungeons of Dread or the Torture Chamber; the REAL scary place — outdoors! Listener Driven (NOT!) — you see, Pat can’t count, and… we’ll have that episode soon, we promise. It just won’t be #22. Technology for the […]

WARNING: AUDIO PROBLEMS! On this short episode of Tweak and Geek, we’ll talk about embracing-and-extending the rules of everyone’s favorite fallback for decision-making; Rock-Scissors-Paper! Unfortunately, this recording was damaged — you’ll hear some clicking and artifacts — but with some heroic assistance from our sometimes guest host Mike Swindler, we think you can listen without […]

The Top 25 Most Dangerous Programming Errors have been released. Not in a horrifically violent prison break-out or anything, though; a news release did the trick. We’ll review these, and review some Lame News, on this Tweak and Geek. Programming Errors SANS Institute Releases Most Dangerous 25 Programming Errors “Today in Washington, DC, experts from […]

We interrupt our usual Geekiness with a special episode celebrating the return of the TV Weird-Action-Suspense-Drama LOST! Please treat this entire podcast as a spoiler alert. If you do not want to know anything that has happened or might happened in the season opener and beyond – do not listen and do not read the […]

This time on Tweak and Geek, we talk about Powerpoint and presentations, and discuss the state of sci-fi TV in the new season. The Bacon Explosion Presentations! Businessweek presentation about presentations. Pat wrote about this topic a couple of months ago, too. Every geek we know more or less hates Powerpoint with a passion verging […]

This short episode has us reviewing Wired.com Threat Level’s Seven Best Capers of 2008.

Did Star Wars or Star Trek influence culture and technology more? We’ll be the judge of that! It’s also time for Lame News. Star Tech Scott Johnson’s blog poses the question which is more influential on technology: Star Wars or Star Trek? In his opinion, Star Trek is the most influential. What do we think? […]

In this short episode, we react to a provocative voicemail.

This special year-end edition of Tweak and Geek has us talking about some highlights from 2008 geek news, and making some predictions about 2009. Highlights of 2008 Bill Gates Steps down as chairman of Microsoft (Steve Ballmer throws a chair:  http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/0,1000000097,39216371,00.htm ) Vista’s horrible (?) failure. (Windows 7 announced this summer: http://blog.pricegrabber.com/blogbytes/2008/06/30/windows-7-announced/) First real internet presidential […]

On this short, we discuss an article from CodingHorror and weigh the merits of throwing programmers or hardware at tough problems.

It’s a special Christmas Tweak and Geek! We’re excited  to have Laurie here to tell us what a true geek girl wants under the tree. We learn what Lomography is, and Craig and Pat give their own wish lists. Gifts for the girl geek! Laurie? PINK Guitar controllers! http://www.geeksugar.com/1523810 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001GPCNS0 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001H4PKH6 Lomography cameras http://www.geeksugar.com/slideshow/2571971 Plush […]

In this point-five, we discuss a neat blog entry on using a genetic algorithm to draw the Mona Lisa, and how the masses of anonymous internet geeks responded. The original blog entry from the Roger Alsing Weblog.

It’s been quite a while, but we’re back. It’s a shorter format, we have a guest, and of course, we talk about something having to do with the iPod touch (and iPhone!!!) iPod Touch Software 2.2 – Kind of late, but here we are New Features: Search and address bar are now side by side […]

In our first shiny new “point-five” episode, we talk turkey with an avid listener.

We’re back, and we’re at least as controversial as gay marriage! We take the frightening move of going OFF SCRIPT, then come back to Earth to talk about office and cube culture. We didn’t plan this part… If you think Prop 8 in California was controversial, check this story out! Tweak and Geek now has […]

This episode of Tweak and Geek will keep you riveted to your seats, with exciting stuff like a how-to on throwing an election party, the saga of Pat’s dead Gameboy Advance, and SQL NULL! Election Night, Party Time! Is anyone having an election night party? What are some good ways to celebrate? Elephant and Donkey […]

We continue our guest host string with Laurie, Pat’s fiancee and iPod user. With her help, we apply some Kryptonite to Heroes, talk about the end of the world, and respond to some voicemail. Hands-on with the New Nano Laurie purchased the new model of the iPod Nano, and gives us a hands-on review. Heroes […]

This episode of Tweak and Geek features our first Secret Mystery Guest Host, Michael Swindler. OOPS, that secret is totally out of the bag now. So are the new iPods, Microsoft’s retort to Mac commercials, a replacement for Adobe Acrobat Reader, and more of the witty banter you’ve come to expect. Random stuff… The new […]

Craig got a Wii! No, seriously, he DID get one this time. In this episode, we discuss the Wii and Virtual Console, some roadblocks that can impede the techie job search, the “final” Stargate SG1 movie, and… well, just listen! Craig has crazy adventures — but finds a Wii! At a MUSIC STORE, of all […]

We’re here again… You can hardly keep us away! We talk about Comic-Con, the Pope’s hat, and recap some of the madness and hilarity from our first 10 episodes. Comic Con 2008 – Chewbacca is big. Pat saw a Stargate Atlantis panel, met some folks including Peter Mayhew and Penny Arcade, and saw lots of […]