Howard Stern fans (like me) are reeling over the recent decision of distribution partner Clear Channel to pull the Stern show in many cities. Rest easy. We have the step-by-step instructions on how to download the show daily with your PC. All you need is a piece of software called Pix News Pro ($40) and access to a newsgroup server. Spread the word.

Here are the instructions from TechSono:
1. Download PixNewsPro.
2. Create a Downloader for your news server. If you don’t know your server URL, call your ISP.
3. Add the alt.binaries.howard-stern newsgroup to your Downloader.
4. If your ISP does not carry the Stern newsgroup, subscribe to TechSono News Service.
5. Set PixNewsPro to download only MP3 files.
6. Click the Scan button.
7. PixNewsPro will now start to download Stern audio files.
The files are large and posted in pieces, so be patient while the program works.
8. Click the “Open” button on the Downloader window.
When PixNewsPro is done creating a file, you will see it in the Downloads folder.
9. Double-click on a file to play it like any MP3 file.

Looks like the internet is still a haven for wacky programming projects. Case in point: the interactive world mood chart.

Here’s a fun and tecnical diversion the whole family can enjoy for free. A website that turns basic stats about you into an actual barcode. With RFID threatening to make barcodes obsolete, take a moment to enjoy this blast from the near past.

>>Don’t miss this great section on how to decipher any barcode.

What costs nearly $300 and only holds 1,000 songs? Backlash against the iPod Mini’s hefty price tag is mounting. Forrester Research claims that a cheapo iPod is unlrealistic thanks to hard drive prices. To become the next Walkman, the price needs to get to $199. Just not there yet.

Buzzword Alert Department: Interesting article from Wired on an upcoming trend. Instead of taking advantage of Indian workers who will work for peanuts, why not exploit ex-cons who will work for peanuts right here?

Three Canadian engineering students have developed a new laptop anti-theft device targeted to busy travelers. By pocketing a small beeper-ish device, the laptop goes into “alert” mode and will emit a piercing death siren if someone moves the laptop more than 15 feet. I guess it seems odd to me that if you are forgetful enough to walk away from your laptop in a busy place like an airport or restaurant (where most thefts occur), wouldn’t it be just as easy to also forget the beeper when you wander off? And can anyone bear to carry more battery-operated devices?

Ok, so meeting Prince Charles last night may not qualify as a high tech event, but I did spend some time chatting with England’s future king about computer viruses of all things. “Are they geting worse?” HRH asked, “and can anything be done?”

The best part was telling him the theory that viruses are actually created by the anti-virus companies. He not only was blown away by the concept (which I assured him was totally unproven), he actually kept on the topic for some time, wondering if this was some modern way of “creating work for the workers.”

Unnamed sources on the Internet claim Microsoft was poised to pounce on the cell phone market as early as last year but the software giant ran into one small snag: It couldn’t get FCC approval to have cell phones equipped with Ctrl-Alt-Del keys or a restart button. “Also,” a Microsoft spokesperson is rumored to have said, “cell phones such as Samsung’s that use the ‘End’ button to both start up and shut down a phone are just too confusing for the average consumer.”