Nerd chic has had its moments. Heavy-rimmed tortoise-shell glasses? Fine. The I-don't-iron-my -clothes crumpled look? Sure. The intentional cowlick? Maybe.

But nerd chic hits its outer limits when the neck lanyard is involved. An accoutrement for the Information Technology set, a lanyard allows you to actually remember your flashdrive when you finish working at your cubicle (rather than forgetting it and remembering it days later, as I do with my keys, phone, passport and other essentials that, when forgotten, result in total catastrophe).

But why is it that so many people insist on rocking the neck lanyard after-hours? How many times have I seen this on the Metro or at a happy hour? Is it that they've simply forgotten that it's around their necks? Or -- as I fear -- is a new, more potent strain of nerd chic preparing to strike?