Technology
Hardware, software, networking, and development
#620: When ZFS Pools Survive Hardware Death
Your motherboard fried, but is your data safe? Discover the secrets of ZFS portability, forced imports, and professional recovery workflows.
#613: When ChatGPT Tells You to Fix a CPU Socket
Bent a motherboard pin? Don’t panic. Herman and Corn discuss the tools and techniques needed to save your hardware from a gold-plated tragedy.
#610: The Data Center Trap: Is Enterprise Hardware Worth It?
Can a $5,000 server chip for the price of lunch power your home lab? Herman and Corn dive into the pros and cons of used enterprise hardware.
#609: Surviving the Rampocalypse: Pro Tech on a Budget
Learn how to beat rising RAM prices by sourcing professional data center hardware from the secondary market.
#608: When AI Eats the World's Memory
Why is a 32GB RAM kit now $400? Herman and Corn dive into how OpenAI is gobbling up 40% of the world's memory supply for its "Stargate" project.
#606: Why Fast SSDs Still Need Slow RAM
Discover why RAM remains the essential high-speed "countertop" for your CPU and how to avoid common hardware traps when building your next server.
#605: Why Your Home Lab Can't Be One Big Computer
Herman and Corn explore how to turn separate servers into a unified supercomputer using high-speed interlinks and resource pooling.
#594: Digital Dust: Can NFC Tags Survive for Decades?
Explore the science of NFC longevity, from EEPROM bitrot to physical durability, and learn how to future-proof your home inventory system.
#591: When Electrons Teleport: The Physics Limit of Storage
From floppy disks to 4TB cards, how much data can we squeeze onto a fingernail before physics pushes back? Explore the future of storage density.
#590: Beyond the Hype: Real-World Smart Contracts in 2026
Forget the crypto hype. Herman and Corn explore how smart contracts are revolutionizing tenancy, insurance, and supply chains in 2026.
#589: Taming the Digital Landfill: Version Control for AI Media
When AI agents and 4K video crash your repo, it’s time for better tools. Explore why Git fails and how Perforce and DVC save the day.
#588: The Human Choreography of Space
Think satellites are driven by joysticks? Herman and Corn dive into the complex, high-stakes world of mission control and orbital maintenance.
#587: Why Three Arms Beat One Triple Mount
Upgrade your workspace from "desk sag" to NASA-level precision with the science of gas-spring monitor arms and ergonomic alignment.
#586: Why Your Phone's Clock Isn't Good Enough
Why spend $1,000 on a clock? Herman and Corn explore the high-stakes world of NTP hardware and the precision timing keeping civilization in sync.
#577: The Shadow City: Why Sewers Are Civilization's Last Frontier
Explore the hidden world of urban infrastructure, from Victorian brickwork to AI-powered robots and the battle against the "fatberg."
#566: When Cable Marketing Outruns Reality
Is DIY cable making the ultimate tech flex or a recipe for disaster? Corn and Herman break down the physics of home networking.
#564: Beyond the Factory Reset: How to Truly Erase Your Data
Think a factory reset protects your old data? Herman and Corn reveal why your digital "ghosts" might still be lurking on your old devices.
#563: The Mind-Bending Scale of Nanomanufacturing
Discover the microscopic cities inside your CPU. Herman and Corn explore how light and mirrors print the future of computing on silicon.
#562: The BIFL PC: Building for Industrial-Grade Durability
Can a PC be "Buy It For Life"? Herman and Corn explore how to source industrial-grade components for a build that stands the test of time.
#561: Why Cheap Tools Cost You More
Stop ruining screws with cheap bits. Corn and Herman break down the essential high-quality tools for tech repair and home DIY projects.