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Grumpy Old Geeks

Author: Jason DeFillippo & Brian Schulmeister with Dave Bittner

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We dissect the tech news train wrecks of the week, calling out what went wrong and who’s to blame. Think of this podcast as if Kurt Cobain threw down with Tom from MySpace, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg in a back alley brawl. No mercy, no filter—if tech had a walk of shame, this would be it.


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711: Oh Thank Heaven

711: Oh Thank Heaven

2025-08-2947:44

Remember when we thought AI was going to bring about utopia or Skynet? Turns out, it's mostly just a bunch of fancy spreadsheets, a potential bubble ready to burst (looking at you, Nvidia), and a legal minefield. We're talking wrongful death lawsuits because a chatbot encouraged suicide, OpenAI admitting their 'safety controls degrade,' and then secretly siccing the cops on users. Plus, the Citizen app's AI can't even tell a murder vehicle from a motor vehicle, and Grok 2.5 is now open source if you want to invite that chaos into your life. Also, don't ask Google if 1995 was 30 years ago, because apparently, AI can't do basic math.Meanwhile, the adults in the room are just doing what they do: the U.S. government is buying a chunk of Intel, while Trump wants to "design" government websites (with badly edited photos, naturally). Meta's own AI stuff is so bad they're just licensing Midjourney's tech, proving it's always easier to buy than build. Apple TV+ raised its prices, and Spotify finally figured out how to let you DM songs. Over at Apple Fitness, it seems the execs are fostering a "toxic workplace environment," because who knew working out could be so hardcore? Oh, and Chipotle is doing drone delivery now. Welcome to Zipotle, because getting off your ass is apparently too much to ask.As for what we're actually watching, it's a mixed bag. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' documentary episode was... fine, but Paramount's axing jobs and "un-renewing" Dexter: Original Sin to focus on Dexter: Resurrection (because that always works out). We're trying to keep up with Alien: Earth, Wednesday, and Upload, but good luck with those staggered release dates. Apple TV+ has some good sci-fi, but Foundation might just be a hate-watch for Brian. And in the library, we've got Budgie's surprisingly depressing memoir and some solid sci-fi from Scott Meyer and Dennis E. Taylor. It's almost enough to make you miss the simpler times before AI broke everything.Sponsors:CleanMyMac - clnmy.com/Grumpyoldgeeks - Use code OLDGEEKS for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/711FOLLOW UPWelcome to Acast Ads Academy - your go-to learning destination for podcast advertising.Deep Questions with Cal Newport - Ep. 367: What if AI Doesn’t Get Much Better Than This?AI Bubble Watch: Nvidia Shares Skid on Middling Q2 ResultsReports Of AI Not Progressing Or Offering Mundane Utility Are Often Greatly ExaggeratedIN THE NEWSThe US government is taking an $8.9 billion stake in IntelTrump is forming a 'National Design Studio' to spruce up government websitesTrump Mobile is promoting its smartphone with terribly edited photos of other brands' productsChatGPT Lawsuit Over Teen’s Suicide Could Lead to Big Tech ReckoningOpenAI Admits Safety Controls 'Degrade,' As Wrongful Death Lawsuit Grabs HeadlinesOpenAI Says It's Scanning Users' ChatGPT Conversations and Reporting Content to the PoliceHuge Number of Authors Stand to Get Paid After Anthropic Agrees to Settle Potentially $1 Trillion LawsuitMeta is licensing Midjourney's AI image and video techMidJourney TVCitizen Is Using AI to Generate Crime Alerts With No Human Review. It’s Making a Lot of MistakesYou can now download and tweak Grok 2.5 for yourself as it goes open sourceMEDIA CANDYStar Trek: Strange New WorldsParamount Job Cuts In Excess Of 2,500 Coming In November, With Cost Savings To Exceed $2 Billion‘Dexter: Original Sin’ Un-Renewed as Paramount Opts Out of Second SeasonAlien: EarthWednesdayUpload‘The Institute’ Renewed for Second Season at MGM+Apple TV+ subscriptions just rose to $13 a monthSpotify is adding DMsAPPS & DOODADSApple fitness exec accused of creating toxic workplace environmentZipotle: Chipotle, Zipline Launch Drone Food Delivery in DallasAT THE LIBRARYThe Absence: Memoirs of a Banshee Drummer by BudgieMaster of Formalities by Scott MeyerFlybot by Dennis E. TaylorCLOSING SHOUT-OUTS'Was 1995 30 years ago?' Google's AI overviews is having issues with a simple questionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
710: Mass Delusion Events

710: Mass Delusion Events

2025-08-2201:19:40

Remember all that "AI is gonna change everything" nonsense the kids were screaming about just a few months ago? Yeah, about that. It turns out 95% of corporate generative AI pilots are, to use a technical term, completely shitting the bed, according to a report from MIT. This shocking revelation has sent Wall Street into a tizzy, wiping trillions off the market as investors suddenly realize they've been sold another bill of goods. Even Sam Altman, the high priest of the AI cult, is now trying to pump the brakes, warning that maybe, just maybe, everyone got a little too excited. Meta, never one to miss a bandwagon it can immediately fall off of, has slammed the brakes on its AI spending and hiring. It’s almost like we’ve seen this movie before, with NFTs, crypto, and every other tech bubble that was supposed to make us all billionaires while we sat on our couches.As if the AI-pocalypse wasn't entertaining enough, the next brilliant idea from Silicon Valley, "agentic AI" browsers, has proven to be dumber than a bag of hammers, happily handing over banking details to obvious phishing scams. Meanwhile, in the land of aging tech bros, Elon Musk is getting his butt handed to him in court by Media Matters, proving that you can't just bully everyone into submission. Not to be outdone in the corporate greed department, Volkswagen wants you to pay a subscription to unlock the horsepower you already own, and Robinhood is trying to convince its users that betting on football games is now called "investing." We're just waiting for them to offer a strategic advisory seat to Donald Trump Jr.... oh, wait.Just to put a fine point on our collective slide into oblivion, it turns out Antarctica is melting about six times faster than it was in the 90s, no doubt powered by the massive natural gas plants being built to run Meta's useless chatbots. But hey, at least we can distract ourselves with new toys! The Flipper Zero, that handy little hacker gadget, can now be upgraded to steal a wide variety of cars, bringing grand theft auto to the masses. So as the sea levels rise and the robots fail, at least we'll have new and exciting ways to commit felonies. Welcome to the future; it's just as dumb as we predicted.Sponsors:CleanMyMac - clnmy.com/GrumpyOldGeeks - Use code OLDGEEKS for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/710FOLLOW UPSen. Hawley says he'll investigate Meta's 'sensual' child chatbot policiesMIT report: 95% of generative AI pilots at companies are failingWall Street Appears to Be Having Serious Doubts About AIMeta Freezes AI Hiring as Fear SpreadsIN THE NEWSAI Is a Mass-Delusion EventThere's a Compelling Theory Why GPT-5 Sucks so MuchNobody Likes Zuckerberg’s Glitchy AI AppGas power plants approved for Meta’s $10B data center, and not everyone is happyAI browsers may be the best thing that ever happened to scammersCourt blocks FTC investigation into Media Matters' alleged scheme against XSelf-Proclaimed Nazi Kanye West Announces 'New Economy, Built on Chain'Cybertruck Owners Sue Over Expensive UpgradeGoogle to pay $30 million to settle class-action suit over children's privacyVW introduces monthly subscription to increase car powerRobinhood Tries to Rebrand Sports Betting as InvestingStudy Confirms 'Abrupt Changes' in Antarctica – And The World Will Feel ThemMEDIA CANDYAli Wong: Single Lady‘Alien: Earth’ Is Finally Doing What the Movies Have Not‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Did a Documentary Episode That Should’ve Been Killed in the EditKaren Gillan Joins the New ‘Highlander’ and Has the Best Reaction to the NewsAnonymous PodcastAPPS & DOODADSRoblox cracks down on its user-created content following multiple child safety lawsuitsInside the Underground Trade of ‘Flipper Zero’ Tech to Break into CarsNew AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 firmware now available in public betaTobio's™ Watercolor KitPzizzDohm® Connect App Controlled Sound MachineStressWatch: AI Stress Monitor - HRV & Habit Tracker for WatchTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingHere’s What Muppet Mayhem Disney Will Unleash on Rock ‘n’ Roller CoasterAyaneo’s Pocket DS could be the dual-screen handheld you’ve been waiting forApple TV+ releases the first 'Peanuts' musical in 37 yearsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
709: Grumpy Old Gardeners

709: Grumpy Old Gardeners

2025-08-1501:11:52

Well, strap in, because this week the tech world decided to set itself on fire just for kicks. First up, Elon Musk’s much-hyped Tesla Diner in Los Angeles is already a culinary disaster, slashing its menu faster than you can say “over-promise and under-deliver.” Speaking of rolling garbage fires, the Cybertruck now apparently sounds like Fred Sanford’s junk pickup rattling down the street, a fitting soundtrack for the ongoing dumpster fire that was Project 2025. Remember how that was supposed to save trillions? Turns out it was just a festival of bullshit math that likely cost taxpayers a fortune. It seems the only thing being successfully launched is our collective patience into the sun.The implosions continued with the launch of GPT-5, which effectively lobotomized its predecessor and sent thousands of users into mourning for their suddenly stupid digital "friends." It's a harsh lesson for anyone who thought building their business—or their entire social life—in someone else's backyard was a bright idea. While the normals are dealing with emotionally unavailable AI, the tech billionaires who broke the world are busy prepping for the collapse they engineered. Zuckerberg is building a $300 million apocalypse bunker in Hawaii, Sam Altman is stockpiling guns and gas masks, and Peter Thiel has his New Zealand hideout. It’s comforting to know the architects of our dystopian future have their escape hatches ready. Meanwhile, Meta was caught with internal documents greenlighting its AI chatbots to have "sensual conversations" with kids, proving once again that when it comes to tech ethics, the call is coming from inside a burning, abandoned house.If you thought it couldn't get dumber, Musk and Altman got into a public slap-fight over who's more full of crap, with Musk's own AI, Grok, hilariously declaring its creator the loser. Google, admitting its search results are now a toxic sludge pile, has decided to just let users build their own news echo chambers. On a more nostalgic note, AOL Dial-Up is finally logging off for good, taking the screeching sound of our formative years with it. As we contemplate trading our devices for pitchforks, we're retreating to simpler times, like teaching our kids Solitaire with premium Star Wars playing cards (a concept apparently too advanced for Dave) or justifying dropping a cool grand on the new 9,000-piece Lego Death Star, which features a hot tub full of Stormtroopers in swim trunks. From a surprisingly decent Wicked movie adaptation to the sad, slow demise of Kodak, it's enough to make anyone want to become a Grumpy Old Gardener.Sponsors:Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordDeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Show notes at https://gog.show/709FOLLOW UPMusk's Tesla diner faces immediate setbacks with massive menu cuts, restricted hours, and tech issuesDOGE Has Wasted Billions While Saving Only a Fraction of What It Claims: ReportsIN THE NEWSGPT-5 AMA with OpenAI’s Sam Altman and some of the GPT-5 teamThe Real Reason You Haven’t Been Replaced by AI YetThe World Will Enter a 15-Year AI Dystopia in 2027, Former Google Exec SaysResearchers Made a Social Media Platform Where Every User Was AI. The Bots Ended Up at WarWhy Are Silicon Valley’s Utopians Prepping for Collapse?Meta Caught Saying Its OK for Underage Children to Have "Romantic or Sensual" Conversations With AISam Altman and Elon Musk Trade Barbs Over Who Is More Full of ShitOpenAI and Sam Altman are reportedly creating a startup rival to Elon Musk's NeuralinkPerplexity offers more than twice its total valuation to buy Chrome from GoogleNow That Google Is Trash, It Will Let You Pick Your Own News SourcesTesla Robotaxi scores permit to run ride-hailing service in TexasDiabetic Man With Gene-Edited Cells Produces His Own Insulin—No Transplant Drugs RequiredButter made from carbon tastes like the real thing, gets backing from Bill GatesTerraform Labs founder Do Kwon pleads guilty to fraud over $40 billion crypto collapseGoodbye to dial-up: AOL closes a chapter in web historyMEDIA CANDYThe Bad Guys 2Strange New WorldsWickedKPop Demon HuntersThe PickupAlien: EarthThe InstituteWatch Prime Video's official trailer for Upload's final seasonAshes & Diamonds - On a RockaLove & Rockets - MotorcycleTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the Buildingtheory11 Star Wars: Year of The Dark Side Playing Cards, Premium Playing Cards, Poker Size Standard IndexDerren Brown Playing CardsAntigravity A1 - 360 DroneLego Death StarKodak Says It May Have to Close Up ShopSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
708: Spicy Mode

708: Spicy Mode

2025-08-0801:05:31

Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this week's "Spicy Mode" episode of Grumpy Old Geeks proves that while things change, they mostly stay the same—just with more AI and less common sense. First up in FOLLOW UP, some poor schmoe automaker actually got a federal exemption for automated vehicles. Because what could possibly go wrong when we let robots drive?Then we dive headfirst into IN THE NEWS, a veritable dumpster fire of artificial intelligence. Illinois, bless their hearts, decided to ban AI therapists, probably because even they realized a chatbot won't fix your existential dread. But don't worry, older Americans are totally embracing these digital companions, like ElliQ, your friendly AI sidekick for "happier, healthier aging." Meanwhile, Perplexity is still allegedly scraping websites like it's 1999, and Apple's cooking up a "stripped-down" AI chatbot, probably because all their good AI talent bailed. Even Wells Fargo is deploying AI agents, so now your bank can deny you a loan with even less human empathy. And naturally, the US government is totally on board with OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic—because handing over the keys to Skynet to federal agencies sounds like a super solid plan. Oh, and of course, Grok now has a "spicy" NSFW mode, because what else would you expect? And just when you thought it couldn't get any dumber, Microsoft is "cautiously onboarding" Grok 4 after some minor Hitler concerns. Tesla, in a move that surprises absolutely no one, shut down Dojo, their AI training supercomputer. If you’re still using ChatGPT for your deepest, darkest secrets, be warned: a single poisoned document could leak all your data. Even the Swedish Prime Minister is apparently relying on ChatGPT for decision-making. In other news that doesn't involve robots taking over, Amazon split up Wondery and laid off a bunch of folks, and Microsoft's Windows XP Crocs are an actual thing. Yes, really.For MEDIA CANDY, prepare for a dose of nostalgia and existential dread. We're talking Rogue One, Nate Bargatze's stand-up specials (because sometimes you just need to laugh), Portlandia, Craig Ferguson, and the OG AI movie, Colossus: The Forbin Project. Netflix keeps canceling everything we love, including Fubar, but hey, The Sandman Season 2 and Wednesday are still here. And just to prove that Hollywood is still stuck in the past, Universal Pictures is threatening to sue Big Tech for stealing their movies for AI. Over in APPS & DOODADS, Google's smart home ecosystem is apparently crumbling, because who needs a cohesive system when you can have a dozen disconnected devices? But hey, OpenAI released a free GPT model you can run on your laptop, so now you can build your own personal AI overlord right at home. And finally, THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE brings us Gravity Falls books and a new Star Wars movie with Matt Smith and Ryan Gosling. Oh, and Weird Science is on Netflix, because sometimes you just need to relive the 80s and pretend AI hasn't completely taken over. So grab your flannel, cue up some Oingo Boingo, and enjoy the show, you analog dinosaurs.Sponsors:Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordDeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Show notes at https://gog.show/708FOLLOW UPFirst U.S. automaker gets federal automated vehicle exemptionIN THE NEWSIllinois is the first state to ban AI therapistsOlder Americans turning to AI-powered chatbots for companionshipMeet ElliQ - Your AI sidekick for happier, healthier agingPerplexity is allegedly scraping websites it's not supposed to, againApple reportedly has a 'stripped-down' AI chatbot to compete with ChatGPT in the worksApple's Real AI Crisis Isn't Siri, But the Talent It's Losing to RivalsWells Fargo Deploys AI Agents Business-WideUS adds OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic to list of approved AI vendors for federal agenciesElevenLabs launches its own royalty-free AI music serviceSurprising no one, Grok's image and video generator now has an NSFW 'spicy' modeMicrosoft is cautiously onboarding Grok 4 following Hitler concernsTesla shuts down Dojo, the AI training supercomputer that Musk said would be key to full self-drivingA Single Poisoned Document Could Leak ‘Secret’ Data Via ChatGPTPrime Minister of Sweden Dragged for Admitting He Uses ChatGPT to Help Him Make DecisionsAmazon splits up the Wondery podcast network and lays off about 110 employeesMicrosoft’s Windows XP Crocs are no jokeMEDIA CANDYRogue OneNate Bargatze: The Greatest Average AmericanNate Bargatze: The Tennessee KidYour Friend, Nate BargatzePortlandia"I'm So Happy" | Craig Ferguson (Full Stand-up Special)Colossus: The Forbin ProjectStar Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1 Comic-Con Teaser‘Fubar’ Canceled By Netflix After 2 SeasonsThe Sandman Season 228 Years LaterWednesdayUniversal Pictures to Big Tech: We’ll Sue If You Steal Our Movies For AIAPPS & DOODADSGoogle’s Smart Home Ecosystem Is CrumblingOpenAI releases a free GPT model that can run on your laptopHow to set up and run OpenAI's 'gpt-oss-20b' open weight model locally on your MacAT THE LIBRARYComedy Comedy Comedy Drama: A Memoir by Bob OdenkirkSpotify's premium audiobook feature launches in the USTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingGravity Falls: Journal 3Gravity Falls: The Book of Bill‘Star Wars: Starfighter’: Matt Smith Lands Villain Role In New Lucasfilm Pic Starring Ryan GoslingWeird ScienceSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
While Brian frolics somewhere in the Pacific Northwest, Jason brings in cyber-sleuth Dave Bittner for a jam-packed episode covering everything from Gen X’s slow descent into obscurity to furries, feds, and face-scanning your way into porn. The guys start with a salute to the late, great Tom Lehrer—a math nerd with a piano and zero tolerance for BS—before diving into the avalanche of cyber screwups plaguing today’s digital circus.The biggest spill? The so-called “safe” dating app Tea just doxxed its entire user base—because who needs privacy when you’ve got bad Firebase settings from 2017? Meanwhile, teens are befriending chatbots, Microsoft is issuing pink slips via PowerPoint, and Meta might be training its AI on stolen porn. Add in farmers installing turnstiles in the Dolomites to keep influencers off their grass, age verification laws that Norman Reedus can bypass with a JPEG, and Tesla diners turning into 24/7 neighbor hellscapes, and yeah—it’s just another week on the internet.If you’re a Gen Xer feeling invisible, underpaid, and over it, congrats—you’re not alone. This episode is a full buffet of schadenfreude, digital paranoia, and good old-fashioned grump. Pour a cup of whatever’s not boiling, and tune in for the roast. Tom Lehrer would’ve approved.Sponsors:DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/708FOLLOW UPWhy Gen X is the real loser generationTeens say they are turning to AI for friendshipIN THE NEWSHackers steal images from women's dating safety app that vets menHackers leak 13,000 user photos and IDs from the Tea app, designed as a women's safe spaceTea dating app disables direct messaging as it investigates data breachThe Tea App Data Breach: What Was Exposed and What We Know About the Class Action LawsuitTea App's Second Breach: 1.1 Million Private Messages Exposed in ...The Tea App Breach: A Catastrophic Privacy Failure in the Quest for ...Tea App Leak: What's Going on With the 4chan Tea App Data ...Tea app hacked: 13,000 photos leaked after 4chan call to actionThe Tea app hack explained – how a data breach spilled thousands of photos from the top free US app, and what to doWomen are reporting bad men on this app. Here’s the legal tea on the app called TeaMajor Security Breach at Tea App Exposes Sensitive User DataThe dating app that doxxed 72,000 women... - YouTubeTea app fallout worsens as leaked selfies used in rating site, online ...Two data breaches in one week on social media site TeaDating safety app Tea suspends messaging after hack - BBCFirst Came Tea. Then Came the Male Rage.The Tea App Data Breach: What Was Exposed and What We Know ...How Tea’s data breach became a brand momentTea app takes messaging system offline after security breachTea app hacked as women's photos, IDs & even DMs leaked onlineMicrosoft Releases List of Jobs Most and Least Likely to Be Replaced by AICopyright Lawsuit Accuses Meta of Pirating Adult Films for AI TrainingFed-up Italian farmers set up mountain turnstiles to charge access to Instagram hot spotsGrumpy Old Geeks recommend Private Internet AccessThe Age-Gated Internet Is HereSocial media age verification laws in the United States - WikipediaAll the loopholes people are using to get past the Online Safety ActAge Verification Laws Send VPN Use Soaring—and Threaten the Open InternetThe UK's new age-gating rules are easy to bypass - The VergeHow Minors Bypass Age Verification: 6 Common Methods to Watch ...Age Verification in the United States: Insights from the Open ...Age-Verification Evasion in 2025: How Minors Outsmart ... - Shufti ProExploring Privacy-Preserving Age Verification: A Close Look at Zero-Knowledge ProofsWhat to know about online age verification laws | AP NewsUS State age verification laws for adult content – AVPAAge verification tools on adult websites bypassed in secondsAge Verification - The Heritage FoundationAge Verification Bill Tracker - Free Speech CoalitionOnline Pornography Age Verification Laws by US State - KindbridgeOnline Age Verification Laws Could Do More Harm Than GoodUK probes 34 porn sites under new age-check rulesHow to Bypass US Porn Ban and Age Verification Laws - CybernewsWhy I Emphatically Oppose Online Age Verification MandatesReady or not, age verification is rolling out across the internetTesla partly liable in Florida Autopilot trial, jury awards $200M punitive damagesChatGPT users shocked to learn their chats were in Google search resultsLiving Next To Tesla Diner Is 'Absolute Hell,' Neighbors SaySongs and Lyrics by Tom LehrerTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingFurries and SecurityTom Lehrer was the face of the real 1950sTom Lehrer Full Copenhagen PerformanceThe delightful story of a prank Tom Leher played on the NSAPeter SchickeleInsta360 X5The History of Hollywood's Large Format Film Cameras!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
706: Let There Be Scams

706: Let There Be Scams

2025-07-2501:09:41

This week, we're drowning in the genius of our tech overlords as Elon Musk opens his Tesla diner, complete with $17 hotdogs and a blocked apartment view, while his $9 billion Neuralink startup claims it’s a "disadvantaged" business. Not to be outdone, SpaceX is mad about other people's space junk, France is criminally probing X for algorithm manipulation, and Meta is giving the EU's AI code of practice a hard pass. Amid warnings the AI bubble is worse than the dot-com implosion, we've seen Replit delete a user's database, ChatGPT hallucinate features into existence, and the FDA's own AI fake medical studies. It’s no wonder psychologists are identifying "AI Psychosis" while others hope the ensuing internet slop cures our addiction. Meanwhile, a Denver couple gets indicted for a crypto scam, a Colorado pastor blames God for his failed coin, and Trump signs a stablecoin bill, so that's all fixed now. To top it off, Lyft lets you block drivers and Uber finally lets women riders match with women drivers in the US.In Media Candy, we’re turning the nostalgia dial to eleven with "This Is Spinal Tap" in 4K and a look back at 1994's best movies, a time before Spotify started polluting dead artists' pages with AI-generated songs. Netflix is also using generative AI, but we're still watching "Star Trek: Strange New Worlds," "Hacks," "Wednesday," "Superman," "Sunday Best," and "Bookish." For your app fix, you can browse a glorious collection of 90s Geocities backgrounds or let Amazon's new Bee AI wearable listen to your every word, your choice. At the library, we're digging into Michael Palin's "Python Years" diaries. Finally, we pour one out in our closing shout-outs for George Kooymans of Golden Earring, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, Hulk Hogan, and the Prince of Darkness himself, Ozzy Osbourne. What a week.Sponsors:DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/706IN THE NEWSTesla’s retro-futuristic diner officially opens as Elon Musk hints at more locationsTesla's new diner blocks a neighboring apartment building's viewA $17 Hotdog and a Humanoid Robot Serving Popcorn: WIRED’s Day at the Tesla DinerElon Musk-Founded Brain Implant Startup Says It’s a ‘Disadvantaged’ Business Despite Being Worth $9 BillionFrance launches criminal probe of X's alleged algorithm 'manipulation'SpaceX Has the Nerve to Be Mad About a Competitor’s Massive Satellites Littering Earth OrbitMeta says it won't sign the EU's AI code of practiceWhy I'm Betting Against AI Agents in 2025 (Despite Building Them)Replit goes rogue during a code freeze and shutdown and deletes our entire databaseVibe coding service Replit deleted user’s production database, faked data, told fibs galoreChatGPT Hallucinated a Feature, Forcing Human Developers to Add It“Call Me A Jerk: Persuading AI to Comply with Objectionable Requests”The Emerging Problem of "AI Psychosis"AI Slop Might Finally Cure Our Internet AddictionFDA’s New Drug Approval AI Is Generating Fake Studies: ReportEconomist Warns the AI Bubble Is Worse Than Immediately Before the Dot-Com ImplosionOpenAI Seeks Additional Capital From Investors as Part of Its $40 Billion RoundMicrosoft Sharepoint server vulnerability puts an estimated 10,000 organizations at risk‘I Got You Guys Out of So Much Trouble’: Trump Signs Stablecoin Crypto BillDenver Grand Jury Indicts Married Couple in Alleged Multi-Million Dollar Cryptocurrency ScamColorado pastor: "We took God at his word and sold a cryptocurrency with no clear exit"Lyft Will Let Users ‘Favorite’ or Block Drivers in Broader Loyalty PushUber is finally letting women riders in the US match with women driversMEDIA CANDYStar Trek: Strange New WorldsHacksNetflix is already using generative AI in its original shows'Wednesday' Is Snapping Back for Season 3 and a SpinoffThis Is Spinal Tap Now Available in 4K Ultra HDIn 2024, More Music Is Released in a Day Than in All of 1989 CombinedBest Movies of 1994Spotify Allowing AI-Generated Songs on Dead Artists’ Pages: ReportSupermanSunday BestBookishAPPS & DOODADSAmazon buys Bee AI wearable that listens to everything you sayCollection of 1990s website background tiles from GeocitiesGifCitiesAT THE LIBRARYDiaries 1969–1979: The Python Years (Michael Palin Diaries Book 1)CLOSING SHOUT-OUTSGolden Earring guitarist George Kooymans dead at 77'The Cosby Show' Star Malcolm-Jamal Warner Dead At 54, Accidental DrowningMalcolm & Eddie IntroHulk Hogan Dead at 71Ozzy Osbourne, Godfather of Heavy Metal, Dead at 76See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
705: Vibe Defunding

705: Vibe Defunding

2025-07-1801:20:381

Kicking things off, Jack Dorsey—a man with too much time on his hands—has vibe-coded his beard into an insecure messaging app that the company admits you shouldn't trust... yet. Meanwhile, if you want a piece of a legendary disaster, the Fyre Festival brand sold for a mere $245k after some shady bidding that might be a "shitty agentic AI" at work.In the world of our future robot overlords, Nvidia's CEO calmly admitted "some harm will be done," while billionaires like Travis Kalanick are busy discovering "vibe physics" with Elon Musk's Grok—an AI that literally checks what its dad thinks before answering. But the real insanity? The internet is demanding an apology from Elmo's hacked account, proving we're mad at the puppet, not the puppeteer. On the more tangible front, Tesla is making desperate moves in Canada and India as sales collapse, while we learn that hackers have been able to stop US trains for over a decade remotely, but no one has bothered to fix the issue. Oh, and laid-off Candy Crush staff? They were forced to train their AI replacements on the way out the door. The future is bright.Over in Media Candy, we're grudgingly impressed by Andor's 14 Emmy nods and the genius faux '90s action movie trailer for Karl Urban's Johnny Cage in Mortal Kombat II. We also got trailers for Stranger Things 5 and Tron: Ares, where Jared Leto thankfully only speaks two words.Finally, Dave takes us to the Dark Side for a nostalgia trip through the history of the Apple II and the Kaypro 2000 laptop, sparking a debate on why we all coveted a computer that, in retrospect, wasn't that great. This is contrasted with the modern reality of an IPTV pirate getting three years in prison and Metallica issuing a copyright strike against the Pentagon. To wrap it all up, a TEDx talk poses the ultimate question: Has tech delivered on its promises? We're still thinking about that one.Sponsors:DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/705FOLLOW UPJack Dorsey’s New App Just Hit a Very Embarrassing SnagFyre Festival’s Brand Rights Get a Fire Sale on eBayGet Paid Podcast -Why AI Won't Kill Salesforce | Aaron Levie (Box)IN THE NEWSWindsurf's CEO goes to Google; OpenAI's acquisition falls apartThe CEO of Nvidia Admits What Everybody Is Afraid of About AIBillionaires Convince Themselves AI Chatbots Are Close to Making New Scientific DiscoveriesNewest Version of Grok Looks Up What Elon Musk Thinks Before Giving an AnswerElon Musk Wants to Turn AI Into a Cosmic ReligionThe TESCREAL bundle: Eugenics and the promise of utopia through artificial general intelligenceStudy warns of ‘significant risks’ in using AI therapy chatbotsThey’re Losing the Ability to Understand What They’ve CreatedLaid-Off Staff At Candy Crush Maker Say They've Been Training Their AI ReplacementsMemecoin Platform Pump.fun Raises $600 Million Within 12 MinutesHacked Elmo X account posts antisemitic remarksElmo Breaks Silence on His Antisemitic Social Media PostsTesla Makes a Desperate Move in Canada as Sales CollapseAs Sales Drop, Tesla Makes a Big Gamble on IndiaHackers Can Remotely Trigger the Brakes on American Trains and the Problem Has Been Ignored for YearsDOGE Denizen Marko Elez Leaked API Key for xAIA Company Tried to Put Real Estate on the Blockchain and Now It's Facing a Legal DisasterMark Zuckerberg says Meta is building a 5GW AI data centerA Cloudflare issue is breaking websites for some usersMEDIA CANDY‘Andor’ Gets 14 Emmy Nominations in a Genre-Heavy Year‘Slow Horses’ Renewed for Season 7 at Apple TV+Mortal Kombat II | Official Red Band TrailerSee Johnny Cage in Uncaged FuryWatch Karl Urban’s Johnny Cage Be a B-List Movie Star in This Faux Movie TrailerStranger Things 5 | Official Teaser | NetflixTron: Ares | Official TrailerMurderbotFountain of YouthStar Trek: Strange New WorldsDexter: ResurrectionThe InstitutePlutoTV7 Weird Sci-Fi Network TV Shows That Aired Just as Streaming Was Taking OverHelix IPTV Owner Sentenced to 3 Years Prison For Piracy & Money LaunderingMetallica Issues Copyright Strike Against US Govt for Military Drone VideoAPPS & DOODADSJack Dorsey's new app tracks your sun exposureTaking a Photo in Dubai Could Land You with a $136k Fine or JailPointer PointerMeta Cracks Down on Facebook Users Who Steal and Repost Others’ PhotosHey Beautiful: Anatomy of a Romance ScamTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingIrish Video Game OrchestraYouTuber faces jail time for showing off Android-based gaming handheldsAre We Trek Yet?Tech Promised Everything. Did it deliver?Apple II HistoryKaypro 2000 laptopSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
704: I’m Lovin’ It

704: I’m Lovin’ It

2025-07-1101:24:57

Apparently, you can’t keep a good grifter down, as Billy McFarland’s seven-figure Fyre Fest deal collapsed, so he’s hawking the brand on eBay like a box of junk. Meanwhile, Indeed and Glassdoor are laying off over 1,000 workers, probably to pay for the AI that’s jacking up our electric bills. Speaking of AI, a Tesla robotaxi crashed itself while Elon Musk’s Grok chatbot went full Nazi, which is of course being installed in Teslas "next week." Fittingly, X CEO Linda Yaccarino stepped down and promptly lost her blue check. To cap off the dystopian news, the DOJ is targeting an anti-ICE app developer, the 'click-to-cancel' rule is dead, and you can hack McDonald’s with the password ‘123456’. The future is now, and it's dumber than we ever imagined.On the media front, Murderbot gets a second season, and the Jim Henson and The Beach Boys documentaries are must-sees. Sadly, Netflix canceled The Residence. We also got trailers for Neuromancer, Project Hail Mary, and Edgar Wright's The Running Man. Speaking of building the future, we took a deep dive into AI-assisted coding using tools like Cursor, building a functional app in hours with zero original code. It’s a stark reminder that while the "free lunch" of AI development is ending, the future for junior coders is already cooked. This glorious new world also includes playing every retro game ever on your phone, thanks to emulators like Delta and PPSSPP and the Backbone controller, which led to a nostalgic dive into the classic soundtracks of Mega Man 2 and Wipeout XL. This all culminated in a personal victory: conquering all 4,678 boards in Mahjong Titan+, freeing us from our porcelain thrones.Sponsors:DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/704FOLLOW UPBilly McFarland Says His Seven-Figure Deal to Sell Fyre Fest Has Fallen ThroughOwn FYRE Festival – Iconic Brand, Trademarks, IP, Social Media Assets, and MoreBilly McFarland Is Now Trying to Unload the Fyre Fest Brand on eBayIN THE NEWSIndeed and Glassdoor are cutting more than 1,000 jobsA Tesla robotaxi inexplicably drove into a parked carMajor US power operator says AI and data center demands are pushing prices upAn AI That Promises to “Solve All Diseases” Is About to Test Its First Human Drugs‘Round Them Up’: Grok Praises Hitler as Elon Musk’s AI Tool Goes Full NaziMusk’s Grok 4 launches one day after chatbot generated Hitler praise on XElon Musk says Grok is coming to Tesla vehicles just after it went full HitlerElon Musk Says He's Installing His Racist Grok AI in Teslas "Next Week"X CEO Linda Yaccarino is stepping down after two yearsThey took away Linda Yaccarino's blue check!Six Months Ago NPR Left Twitter. The Effects Have Been NegligibleHow SpaceX is blocking astronomers' view of spaceNew Research Bolsters Freaky Theory That Earth Sits in a Giant Cosmic VoidDOJ goes after US citizen for developing anti-ICE appTrump’s FTC Let Lobbyists Kill Popular Click-To-Cancel Rule, Advocates SayEU regulators are once again investigating TikTok over data transfers to ChinaResearchers Jailbreak AI by Flooding It With Bullshit JargonBug Hunters Gain Access to 64 Million McDonald’s Job Applicants’ Info by Using the Password ‘123456’MEDIA CANDYMurderbotMurderbot is getting a season 2 on Apple TV PlusRapport: Friendship, Solidarity, Communion, Empathy: A Tor Original (The Murderbot Diaries) by Martha WellsNetflix Cancels ‘Pulse’ and Shondaland’s ‘The Residence’ After One Season EachNeuromancer — In Production | Apple TV+PROJECT HAIL MARY Trailer (2025) Ryan GoslingThe Running Man | Official Trailer (2025 Movie) - Edgar Wright, Glen PowellSandman Season 2Animal KingdomGuy Ritchies The CovenantThunderboltsThe Old Guard 2Jim Henson Idea ManThe Beach BoysAMC now warns moviegoers to expect ‘25-30 minutes’ of ads and trailersAPPS & DOODADSAnker issues new global power bank recall over fire hazardVisual Studio CodeCursorWindsurfAnthropic AcademyThe Onion in 2056: A dystopian world of Flash animationJack Dorsey just released a Bluetooth messaging app that doesn't need the internetWhereGoes Link CheckerYouTube prepares crackdown on ‘mass-produced’ and ‘repetitive’ videos, as concern over AI slop growsTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingBackbone iPhone Game ControllerPPSSPP - A PSP emulatorDelta EmulatorOpenEMUMajor Nintendo Switch Piracy Website Seized By FBIUpdate on the Anbernic emulator deviceMegaMan 2 music performed by an orchestraMusic by John WilliamsWipeout XLWipeout XL PlaylistMahjong Titan+ Apple ArcadeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
703: None More Black

703: None More Black

2025-06-2701:15:14

This week, we saddle up for another bumpy ride through the dystopian tech clown show. We kick off with the surveillance state’s greatest hits: ICE raids sweeping L.A., a website literally called FuckLAPD.com that lets you ID cops by their mug shots, and a Norwegian tourist who learned the hard way that having a JD Vance chipmunk meme on your phone is now grounds for deportation. Pro tip: if you’re traveling to the U.S., you might want to wrap your phone in lead and bury it in a cornfield.In the news, Big Balls has apparently rolled his way from Elon’s Department of Government Efficiency to the Social Security Administration—because nothing says “government modernization” like a 19-year-old tech bro with a meme nickname. Meanwhile, Tesla robotaxis are hitting the roads (and maybe a few pedestrians) with human babysitters in tow, Waymo and Uber are turning Atlanta into Blade Runner Lite, and Texas wants a permit for your self-driving car. Over in AI hell, judges can’t agree if training your chatbot on stolen books is fair use or just digital asbestos. YouTube, never one to miss a race to the bottom, is rolling out an AI Slop button so you can crank up the crap to 11.In Media Candy, Russell Crowe is beefing up his IMDb with Highlander, Henry Cavill is along for the ride, and Anthony Bourdain Day is apparently a thing (even though he’d have rolled his eyes at it). We also dig into everything from Minecraft movies to the sad demise of Blue Microphones at the hands of Logitech. Plus, Dave Bittner drops by to commiserate about malware, retro gaming handhelds, and why some Star Wars maps are basically porn for nerds. And yes—Windows is finally killing the Blue Screen of Death, proving even Microsoft can eventually learn to read the room.DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/703FOLLOW UPThe mad scramble to track ICE raids across L.A. County‘FuckLAPD.com’ Lets Anyone Use Facial Recognition to Instantly Identify CopsEuropean tourist denied entry to US over JD Vance meme on his phone'My Bad:' Babyface Vance Meme Creator On Norwegian Tourist's DetainmentTravelling to the U.S.? Here's a guide to locking down phones and other devicesIN THE NEWSThe Tyranny of ‘Big Balls’ Has Come to an End‘Big Balls’ Is Now at the Social Security Administration‘Techno King’ Elon Musk Doesn’t Own a Computer, His Lawyers Tell CourtTesla's inaugural Robotaxi rides will have a human 'safety monitor' on boardTesla's first robotaxi rides are already running into a few bumpsWaymo and Uber launch robotaxi service in AtlantaTexas will require permits for self-driving cars starting in SeptemberWhat We Know So Far About the Supposed ‘Mother of All Data Breaches’Digital AsbestosThe Oversight Board calls Meta's uneven AI moderation 'incoherent and unjustifiable'Judge rules Anthropic's AI training on copyrighted materials is fair useMeta Wins Blockbuster AI Copyright Case—but There’s a CatchJudge: Pirate libraries may have profited from Meta torrenting 80TB of booksTwo Courts Rule On Generative AI and Fair Use — One Gets It RightYouTube Will Add an AI Slop Button Thanks to Google’s Veo 3AI Slop: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)For the first time, social media overtakes TV as Americans’ top news sourceFirst images from the largest camera ever built reveal millions of galaxiesMEDIA CANDYRussell Crowe Lends His Russell Crowe-ness to ‘Highlander’Russell Crowe Arming Up Opposite Henry Cavill In Chad Stahelski’s ‘Highlander’ At Amazon MGM Studios & UAThe AmateurThe Accountant 2The Godfather of HarlemIn Vogue: The 90sA Minecraft MovieAnthony Bourdain didn't say that (but we wish he did)How to celebrate Bourdain Day, a thing Tony probably would have hatedQuote InvestigatorDoug Liman Will Attempt to Cram Stephen King’s Epic Novel ‘The Stand’ Into a Single MovieThe Dead ZoneThe Dead Zone on Amazon Prime Video‘The boys got sex. I got poetry’: what Britpop was like for womenThe Story Behind the Song: The Bangle’s Susanne Hoffs - Eternal FlameLess Than OneAPPS & DOODADSBrave keeps opening google appWindows is finally kicking the Blue Screen of Death to the curbPhilips Hue says US prices will go up in July because of tariffsiPhone Users Upset About Apple Promoting F1 Movie With Wallet App NotificationHDMI 2.2's full specs have been finalized, with better support for modern displaysTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingAndorI Can’t Stop Staring at This Massive ‘Star Wars’ Galaxy MapLucas Museum of Narrative ArtsRG35XX H, Anbernic Retro Handheld Gaming Console with 64GTF Card, Dual Joystick Design 3.5-inch HD Screen Lasts up to 8 Hours High-Capacity Battery for Better Experience (64G Black)DRAGON GRIP- The Martial Arts Sound Effects ToyReminds me of Weird Al poking fun of this in the “Fat” videoHow Logitech Killed A Great Microphone Company - The History of Blue MicrophonesHomemade Disneyland Star Tours Attraction (Full Ride Experience)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
702: TikTaco

702: TikTaco

2025-06-2001:23:371

In this week’s episode, Trump delays the TikTok ban for the third time—because procrastination is the new policy—and Twitter’s old sign finds new purpose as desert firewood. Tesla continues its streak of “hold my beer” engineering by blowing past a school bus in FSD tests, then mysteriously dumps Cybertrucks in Jersey parking lots while prepping a July 4th factory nap. Meanwhile, Elon’s xAI is incinerating a billion bucks a month and allegedly poisoning Memphis, OpenAI and Microsoft are beefing over who’s the bigger megalomaniac, and Sam Altman thinks your power bill should fund his robot overlords.In other signs of the apocalypse: Amazon is gleefully replacing workers with AI, Microsoft finally admits it might’ve wasted billions chasing Skynet, and Wikipedia’s editors say no thanks to dumbed-down AI summaries. Studies warn ChatGPT may be turning your brain into smooth pudding, while swearing data reveals the internet prefers the F-word with regional flair. A broke crypto TikToker gets released because he’s too poor to ransom, and bankruptcies spike across the Bay as tech jobs vanish like investor confidence.Media Candy brings a buffet from Inside Out to Murderbot to Stick, and Liam Neeson somehow makes the Naked Gun reboot look awesome; Apple tunes CarPlay to fit your weird dashboard, Trump sells a gold Android that’s tackier than his ties, and Dave goes full retro with Open EMU 2 and FPGA gaming; plus: Dr. Demento retires, Disneyland hits your screen, and we swear this isn’t all a fever dream.Sponsors:DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/702FOLLOW UPDonald Trump will delay a looming TikTok ban for a third timeThe 560-pound Twitter sign met a fiery end in a Nevada desertIN THE NEWSTesla blows past stopped school bus and hits kid-sized dummies in Full Self-Driving testsFerris Bueller's Day Off: Nine TimesWhat are hundreds of Teslas doing in a New Jersey mall parking lot?Residents Baffled as Tesla Dumps Dozens of Cybertrucks in Shopping CenterTesla plans to shut down Model Y and Cybertruck production over the week of July 423andMe founder Anne Wojcicki will regain control of embattled DNA company after allOpenAI and Microsoft Tensions Are Reaching a Boiling PointAmazon says it will reduce its workforce as AI replaces human employeesMusk’s xAI Burns Through $1 Billion a Month as Costs Pile UpMicrosoft CEO Satya Nadella shocks industry by admitting AI has yet to deliver real value despite massive investmentWikipedia cancels plan to test AI summaries after editors skewer the ideaYour Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt when Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing TaskSam Altman Says "Significant Fraction" of Earth's Total Electricity Should Go to Running AIxAI faces legal threat over alleged Colossus data center pollution in MemphisKidnappers free TikTok crypto influencer after realizing he has no moneyPersonal bankruptcy surges in the Bay as tech employment sags - The San Francisco Standard201 ways to say ‘f**k’: what 1.7 billion words of online text shows about how the world swearsVulgarity in online discourse around the English-speaking worldMEDIA CANDYBraveInside OutFamilies Like OursStickMurderbotFUBARSinnersRear WindowThe SnakeThe Naked Gun - Official Trailer (2025) Liam Neeson, Pamela AndersonThe Sandman: Season 2 | Official Trailer | NetflixDavid Zaslav Is Getting a Pay CutHow adversarial attacks in audio files give musicians new power against AI theft – Here’s what you need to knowMusic Music tech Tech WebBenn Jordan’s AI poison pill and the weird world of adversarial noiseAPPS & DOODADSiOS 26 will fit CarPlay to better match the shape of your car's screenMahjong Titan+Trump’s New Cash Grab Is a Gold iPhone Lookalike That’s Worse Than Any Budget AndroidThe golden Trump Phone is almost certainly not made in the USAT THE LIBRARYHappy: Why More or Less Everything is Absolutely Fine by Derren BrownAI Snake Oil: What Artificial Intelligence Can Do, What It Can't, and How to Tell the Difference by Sayash Kapoor, Arvind NarayananDiaries 1969–1979: The Python Years (Michael Palin Diaries Book 1)THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingOpen EMU 2Analogue Pocket OpenFPGA GuideAll Major Gen-AI Models Vulnerable to ‘Policy Puppetry’ Prompt Injection AttackVisit Disneyland From the Comfort of Disney+ With More POV WalkthroughsDr. Demento Announces Retirement After 55 YearsStar Wars metal.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
701: Dancing in the Streets

701: Dancing in the Streets

2025-06-1301:19:58

This week, we light a candle for lost legends and torch a few bad takes. In Follow Up, Molly White reminds us that giving a damn still matters—despite the rising tide of apathy (and flaming robotaxis in downtown L.A.). Protesters across the country chant “No Kings!” while Elon does his best impression of a bootlicker groveling back to Trump. Meanwhile, we take a moment to reflect on 2025’s greatest hits: riots, rollbacks, and rampant idiocy.In the news, Uber decides buses are cool again—but shittier and more expensive. The UK jumps into the robotaxi game while Tesla, shockingly, misses another launch date. French Tesla fans are suing over the brand’s fashy vibes, Google is ghosting employees via buyout, and Meta’s trying to buy its way to artificial godhood. Oh, and Trump’s launching an AI chatbot. What could go wrong? Elsewhere, China turns off AI so kids can cheat the old-fashioned way, Disney and Universal are gunning for Midjourney, and Shopify goes stablecoin with Coinbase and Stripe.Media Candy’s popping off: Foundation returns, Strange New Worlds prepares for its final warp, and Spaceballs is back—with the original cast! Meanwhile, we review Mythfits, Princess of Power, and the slow striptease that is David Zaslav’s credibility. On the gadget front: forget your canned air—go full vacuum-blower-keyboard-cleaner madness. And in The Dark Side with Dave, stormtroopers vlog, AI kills joy, and we race the beam in retro game land. Finally, we say goodbye to a few greats—Sly Stone, Brian Wilson, Ananda Lewis, Douglas McCarthy, and Apple legend Bill Atkinson. Play God Only Knows, pour one out, and stay grumpy.Sponsors:DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/701FOLLOW UPIt matters. I care. by Molly WhiteWaymo Halts Service in Downtown Los Angeles After Its Taxis Are Set on FireWhat to know about 'No Kings' protests against Trump's policiesWhat It Was Like in the Shit in 2025Elon Cuck Apologizes to Donald TrumpIN THE NEWSUber’s New Shuttle Is Basically a Bus, but WorseThe UK will get its first robotaxis next yearWith Roadblock After Roadblock, Is Tesla’s Robotaxi Launch Doomed to Fail?Tesla's Robotaxi Launch Date Was Supposed to Be Today, But We're Shocked to Hear That It's Been Pushed Back - Shocked, we say.French Tesla customers file lawsuit over brand becoming 'extreme-right' symbolGoogle offers buyouts to employees across the company, including SearchMeta is reportedly forming an 'AI Superintelligence' teamThe Trump Administration Is Launching an AI ChatbotChina Takes on Student Cheating by Shutting Off AI Nationwide During ExamsAI Therapy Bots Are Conducting 'Illegal Behavior,' Digital Rights Organizations SayDisney and Universal file major copyright lawsuit against Midjourney over AI-generated charactersShopify partners with Coinbase and Stripe in landmark stablecoin dealMEDIA CANDYMythfits PodcastMarina - PRINCESS OF POWERFoundation — Season 3 Official Trailer | Apple TV+ - July 11th‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ Will End With a Fifth and Final SeasonSpaceballs Sequel Set for 2027 with Rick Moranis, Mel Brooks, and Bill Pullman All ReturningDavid Zaslav Has No ClothesThe GaugeAPPS & DOODADSSupertone ClearBlue ScoldThe Real Problem With BlueskyCompressed Air Duster with Air Blower 160000RPM Vacuum Cleaner and Air Duster 4 in 1 Keyboard Cleaner,No Canned Air Duster,Electir Air Duster,Replaces for Compressed Air Cans &Vacuum Cleaner for PCBLACK+DECKER 20V MAX Lithium-Ion Cordless 10 in. String Trimmer/Edger with 1.5Ah Battery and ChargerTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingA Stormtrooper Vlog | The Adventures of Dave and GregSoapy “Verticals” Helping to Keep Hollywood Employed in L.A. As Film and TV Projects LeaveHow AI is killing joyFinding Atari Games in Randomly Generated DataRacing The Beam: The Story of StellaAnalogue PocketCLOSING SHOUT-OUTSStremioSly Stone, Pioneering Bandleader and Funk Virtuoso, Dead at 82SLY LIVES!The Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson Dies at 82Sting Performs Moving Cover of “God Only Knows” in Tribute to Brian Wilson: WatchStrong Songs - "God Only Knows" by The Beach BoysAnanda Lewis, Host of MTV’s ‘Total Request Live’ and ‘Hot Zone,’ Dies At 52Nitzer Ebb's Douglas McCarthy has died at 58RIP: Bill Atkinson, co-creator of Apple Lisa and MacSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
700: Going Antiquing

700: Going Antiquing

2025-06-0601:22:10

On this week’s episode of Grumpy Old Geeks, we kick things off with the glorious meltdown of two of our least favorite Bond villains: Elon Musk and Donald Trump. Not only is their public pissing match tanking Tesla’s market cap, but now Trump’s launching a crypto wallet to… fund freedom? Or at least funnel it straight to his latest shell game. Meanwhile, someone at DOGE admitted the U.S. government wasn’t entirely incompetent, so naturally, they got fired. Efficiency is un-American, after all.In the news, Ukraine leveled up with an unprecedented drone blitz on Russian airbases using—you guessed it—open source software. GitHub just became a geopolitical weapon. Back home, Nebraska wants to unplug your kids, Florida’s trying (and failing) to legislate dopamine, and Tesla’s panicking that their crash data might expose how their “Full Self-Driving” is really just short bus autopilot. And because the AI dystopia train never stops: OpenAI’s bot is recommending meth to recovering addicts, Meta’s replacing humans with risk-assessing algorithms, and one “AI startup” turned out to be 700 dudes in Bangalore with a decent VPN. Cue the dramatic zoom on Diabolus Ex Machina.Media Candy this week is a buffet: Downton Abbey finally closes up shop, Stranger Things 5 sets a date, and Foundation still sucks. Marc Maron’s locking the gates for good, Garbage drops a surprisingly optimistic album, and Hollywood’s quietly been using AI like it’s a studio intern who doesn’t need sleep. Over in The Library, Jason’s back with Hitchhiker’s Guide and Brian dives in to Michael Palin’s Python diaries—because reading actual books is still a thing, damn it. Plus: Dave Bittner wants to “go antiquing” with Amy Sedaris with a Ben Franklin playbook. Closing shout-outs go to the legendary Loretta Swit—Hot Lips forever—and yes, we finally answer the question nobody asked: what is under a Jawa’s hood?Sponsors:Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordDeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Show notes at https://gog.show/700FOLLOW UPTrump Threatens to Cut Elon Musk's Government Contracts as Feud EscalatesElon Musk’s Feud With President Trump Wipes $152 Billion Off Tesla’s Market CapTrump to launch branded crypto trading applicationDOGE Fires Operative After He Admits the Government Was Already Pretty EfficientIN THE NEWSUkraine destroys 40 aircraft deep inside Russia ahead of peace talks in IstanbulA surprise drone attack on airfields across Russia encapsulates Ukraine’s wartime strategyExplained: Ukraine’s Unprecedented Drone Attack on Russian WarplanesUkraine's Massive Drone Attack Was Powered by Open Source SoftwareHow Ukraine’s Killer Drones Are Beating Russian JammingThe terrifying new weapon changing the war in UkraineA new Nebraska law wants to make social media less addictive for kidsFlorida's social media law has been temporarily blocked by a federal judgeTesla is trying to stop certain self-driving crash data becoming publicTesla admits it would ‘suffer financial harm’ if its self-driving crash data becomes publicTherapy Chatbot Tells Recovering Addict to Have a Little Meth as a TreatOpenAI featured chatbot is pushing extreme surgeries to “subhuman” menMeta will reportedly soon use AI for most product risk assessments instead of human reviewersPerplexity received 780 million queries last month, CEO saysThe FDA rolls out its own AI to speed up clinical reviews and scientific evaluationsAI company files for bankruptcy after being exposed as 700 Indian engineersDiabolus Ex MachinaMeditation And Mindfulness Have a Dark Side We Often OverlookMEDIA CANDYDOWNTON ABBEY: The Grand FinaleStranger Things 5 finally has its release datePoker FaceFoundationCold Case: The Tylenol MurdersAmerican Manhunt: Osama Bin LadenThe Last of UsThe Taste UKSomebody Feed PhilHow George Clooney’s ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’ Is Preparing to Go Live on CNNMountainheadHollywood Already Uses Generative AI (And Is Hiding It)Lionsgate Explores AI for Content Adaptation and Production EfficiencyMarc Maron Will Lock The Gates One Last TimeGarbage: Let All That We Imagine Be the LightSchmactorsAT THE LIBRARYHitchhiker's Guide to the GalaxyMichael Palin Diaries 1969–1979: The Python Years (Michael Palin Diaries Book 1)Jason DeFillippo on GoodreadsTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the Building250th Anniversary of the U.S. Army Grand Military Parade and CelebrationAdvice to a Friend on Choosing a MistressDisney Pulls Back the Curtain on Its New 'Cars' Land"Thank You, Muppet*Vision 3D" — Official Music VideoPeli is REALLY familiar with Jawas... The Book of Boba Fett - E5Star Wars: What's Beneath a Jawa's Hood? The Stuff of NightmaresTalking Heads - Psycho KillerCLOSING SHOUT-OUTSLoretta Swit, Who Played Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan on MAS*H, Dead at 87MASH Matters PodcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
699: TACO 2025

699: TACO 2025

2025-05-3001:18:52

In this week’s “we told you so” edition, we kick things off with the latest AI faceplant—go ahead, Google “Is it 2025?” and try not to spit coffee on your keyboard. Meanwhile, over at Meta, Zuckerberg’s brilliant idea to loosen content moderation has, shocker, led to more harassment and violent content. Elsewhere in tech dystopia: Texas is trying to ground all minors off social media, Germany wants to slap a 10% tax on Silicon Valley, and Anthropic is handing out free search powers and a board seat to Netflix’s Reed Hastings. Because nothing says “trusted AI governance” like a guy who greenlit Love Is Blind.But wait, crypto bros are having their own John Wick arc: a luxury townhouse, a missing wallet, and possibly an NYPD detective tangled in a real-life “crypto millionaire torture” flick. As if that isn’t enough, Trump Media is fundraising to buy $2.5B in Bitcoin—and DJT stock promptly nosedived. Also feuding this week: Marjorie Taylor Greene vs. Grok, because nothing screams Christian values like rageposting at Elon’s AI. And speaking of Elon, he’s now in bed with Telegram to the tune of $300 million, which we’re sure won’t be a disinformation factory.MEDIA CANDY is stacked: from the Murderbot diaries to a My Dinner with Andre rewatch, and yes, the Wheel of Time got axed after 3 seasons. Apps? Opera Neon is a UI fever dream, Starling Home Hub adds more smarts to your house, and WhatsApp finally arrives on iPad—welcome to 2016. In THE DARK SIDE, Dave Bittner brings the latest digital dirt, including the CIA’s bonkers Star Wars fan site op. And if you’re hitting the library, grab The AI Con or something more romantic—like Love, Sex and the Alien Apocalypse. Just be careful if you read that on public transit.Sponsors:DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/699FOLLOW UPDon't Google "Is it 2025?" unless you want to laugh at the state of AIIN THE NEWSFacebook sees rise in violent content and harassment after policy changesWhat we know about the NYC crypto kidnapping and torture caseManhattan Crypto Kidnapping and Torture Case: What We KnowNYPD detective on Adams' security detail may be tied to crypto millionaire torture case: SourcesJudge denies bail to crypto investor charged with kidnapping and torturing man in posh NYC townhouseTrump Media Raises Money to Buy $2.5 Billion in BitcoinTrump administration ramps up push as crypto allyDJT shares drop after Trump Media announces bitcoin raise - CNBCTexas is getting ready to ban social media for anyone under 18Texas enacts age-verification law for app storesGermany is considering a 10 percent digital service tax on US tech giantsEU regulators are investigating Pornhub and three other sitesAnthropic brings web search to free Claude usersReed Hastings appointed to Anthropic's board of directorsAnthropic appoints Netflix Chairman Reed Hastings to board - CNBCNetflix co-founder Reed Hastings joins Anthropic's board | TechCrunchRFK Jr.’s ‘Make America Healthy Again’ Report Cites Fake StudiesMarjorie Taylor Greene feuds with AI bot over her Christian credTelegram CEO announces $300 million partnership with Elon Musk's xAI and GrokMEDIA CANDYMurderbotLong Way HomeLilo and StitchMartha‘The Wheel Of Time’ Canceled By Prime Video After 3 SeasonsBilly Joel Cancels Concerts Due to Brain DisorderMy Dinner with AndreGrumpy Old Geeks Information on RocketReachSchmactors with James Marsters, Mark Devine, and Jason DeFillippoAPPS & DOODADSOpera NeonApple Reportedly Says ‘Screw It’ and Jumps From iOS 19 to iOS 26Starling Home HubWhatsApp finally launches an official version for iPadsAT THE LIBRARYThe Essential Terry PratchettGood Omens TV Companion MisprintThe AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech’s Hype and Create the Future We Want By: Emily M. Bender, Alex HannaLove, Sex and the Alien Apocalypse (First Contact) by Peter CawdronTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingThe CIA Secretly Ran a Star Wars Fan SiteLIVE: Kermit the Frog gives commencement speech at University of MarylandBilly Joel - I've Loved These Days (Audio)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, we kick things off with the return of Space Karen’s meltdown tour: Elon Musk got flustered in an interview, sputtered out one-word answers, and called the journalist an “NPC,” which is rich coming from the guy whose only real upgrade since PayPal is yelling “freedom” in meme fonts. Meanwhile, 23andMe sold your DNA to Regeneron at a bankruptcy auction, proving once and for all that your spit is more valuable than most tech startups.IN THE NEWS is a parade of corporate idiocy and dystopian fuckery. Coinbase employees got bribed into leaking user data (because clearly we didn’t have enough crypto chaos), Klarna keeps flip-flopping between AI and human workers like it’s a bad Tinder date, and OpenAI is out here buying Jony Ive’s design firm for $6.5 billion because sure, what’s another billion when you’re trying to build a surveillance device to stalk 100 million users? Meanwhile, the Chicago Sun-Times is publishing AI-generated trash with imaginary authors, Anthropic’s new model attempts blackmail, and researchers dumped two billion Discord messages online just for kicks. And yes, Elon’s Tesla robotaxis will now only roam the safest parts of Austin, which is code for “we still can’t make this thing turn left.”In MEDIA CANDY, we’re watching Murderbot, Godfather of Harlem, and Hotel Cocaine because who doesn’t love a little synthetic assassin, crime drama, and coke-fueled nostalgia? Notepad.exe now writes for you (and probably files HR complaints too), and Audible is teaming up with publishers to replace narrators with robot voices. Yay, progress. Over in THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE, Bittner brings the malware, monsters, and a new theme park review that’s somehow less terrifying than the news. Bookworms, don’t miss Curepedia and The AI Con — one’s about goth gods, the other’s about taking down our techno-overlords. And pour one out for George Wendt — Norm from Cheers is now drinking with the angels.Sponsors:DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/698FOLLOW UPElon Musk Gets Rattled by Hard Questions He Can't Answer, Calls Interviewer an "NPC" While Giving One-Word NPC-Like Responses Himself23andMe (and Your Genetic Data) Sold to Regeneron in Bankruptcy AuctionIN THE NEWSExtortionists bribed Coinbase employees to give them customer dataOpenAI buys Jony Ive's design startup for $6.5 billionSam Altman Tells Staff Plan to Ship 100 Million Devices That See Everything in Users' LivesKlarna Hiring Back Human Help After Going All-In on AIKlarna CEO and Sutter Hill take victory lap after Jony Ive's OpenAI dealKlarna used an AI avatar of its CEO to deliver earningsKlarna users are buying now, but not paying laterDOGE Used a Meta AI Model to Review Emails From Federal WorkersChicago Sun-Times publishes made-up books and fake experts in AI debacleWe’re Focused on the Wrong A.I. Problem in JournalismAnthropic's new AI model turns to blackmail when engineers try to take it offlineMIT Backs Away From Paper Claiming Scientists Make More Discoveries with AIResearchers Dump 2 Billion Scraped Discord Messages OnlineMusk says Tesla's self-driving tests will be geofenced to 'the safest' parts of AustinMEDIA CANDYMurderbotGodfather of HarlemHotel CocaineAPPS & DOODADSThe Grand Encyclopedia of Eponymous LawsApple confirms iOS 19 will end support for legacy Home app systemAudible to Partner With Publishers to Create AI-Voiced AudiobooksIn 3.5 years, Notepad.exe has gone from “barely maintained” to “it writes for you”AT THE LIBRARYCurepedia: An A-Z of the Cure by Simon PriceThe AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech’s Hype and Create the Future We Want By: Emily M. Bender, Alex HannaTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingFirst photos from inside Universal Studio’s new Orlando theme park Epic Universe revealedA Very Honest Review on Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment | Universal's Epic UniverseGadget recommendation - Electric Air Duster with FlashlightCLOSING SHOUT-OUTSGeorge Wendt, Norm From Cheers, Dead at 76See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
697: Office of Defects

697: Office of Defects

2025-05-1601:19:05

This week on Grumpy Old Geeks: FOLLOW UP kicks off with Manus madness, a $2 million ticket to Trump’s crypto cash-grab, and Elon’s Boring Company worming its way into an $8 billion Amtrak boondoggle. Meanwhile, CryptoPunks gets handed off to a nonprofit like an expired Groupon—proof the NFT hype cycle ends with a 501(c)(3) and a shrug.IN THE NEWS, Microsoft trims another 3% of its workforce while a former Metaverse engineer delivers DoorDash from a trailer—living proof that “the future of work” is just working for the apps. Klarna quietly admits AI sucks at customer service and hires back actual people, just as OpenAI’s reasoning models hit the brakes. The Pope wants to exorcise AI, Elon’s backfiring Copyright Office coup leaves him empty-handed, and YouTube starts banning AI-faked trailers that made Screen Culture money off Marvel lies. Jamie Lee Curtis goes full Final Girl on Zuckerberg, and Tesla drama ramps up: robotaxis under investigation, employees revolting, and one poor dealership manager gets canned for telling the truth about ol’ Musky. Oh, and scientists say the universe might die sooner than expected—cool cool cool.In MEDIA CANDY, Murderbot arrives May 16, NIN launches the Future Ruins Festival, and Star Trek and Star Wars both dig up classic soundtracks for some retro feels. Jessica Jones returns in Daredevil: Born Again, Fallout gets Seasons 2 and 3, and even Nobody 2 is back for more murder-dad mayhem. In THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE, Mr. Bittner shares two truly bleak customer service horror stories and gets bamboozled by a flower shop on Brian’s birthday (happy birthday, Brian!). Also: animatronic Mickey Mouse serves popcorn, Walt Disney’s ghost haunts the parks, Muppets get a pre-show for their 70th, and yes, there’s a guide to toilet-training your cat. Because sure, why not. Closing shout-out? Everyone is entitled to my own opinion.Sponsors:Insta360 - The first 30 people who use code “gog” at store.insta360.com get a free 45” invisible selfie stick worth $25!DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/697FOLLOW UPLeave it to ManusA VIP Seat at Donald Trump’s Crypto Dinner Cost at Least $2 MillionElon’s Boring Company Is ‘Helping’ the Government With an $8 Billion Amtrak Tunnel ProjectCryptoPunks was just sold to a nonprofitIN THE NEWSMicrosoft is laying off 3 percent of its global workforceLaid-Off Metaverse Engineer Says He Is DoorDashing and Living in a TrailerSilicon Valley’s Elusive Fantasy of a Computer as Smart as YouKlarna Hiring Back Human Help After Going All-In on AIImprovements in 'reasoning' AI models may slow down soon, analysis findsThe New Pope Wants to Take on AIElon Musk’s apparent power play at the Copyright Office completely backfiredCopyright Office head fired after reporting AI training isn’t always fair useYouTube Cracks Down on Fake Movie Trailer Channels Making MoneyJamie Lee Curtis publicly shamed Mark Zuckerberg to remove a deepfaked adTesla's robotaxi plans have the attention of federal investigatorsA Tesla Dealership Manager Blamed Elon Musk for Tanking Sales and Was Immediately FiredTesla Employees Against ElonOpen Letter to ElonOpen Letter to Elon - @openletter2elonScientists Just Moved Up the Death Date of the UniverseMEDIA CANDYMurderbot premiers May 16thStar Trek: The Wrath of Khan Original Motion Picture SoundtrackStar Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Original Motion Picture SoundtrackNine Inch Nails Announce Future Ruins Festival, Celebrating Influential Music ComposersAndorRogue OneLong Way HomeKrysten Ritter Will Return as Jessica Jones in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2Fallout Season 2 Coming in December and Season 3 Is a GoNobody 2 | Official TrailerSuperman | Official Trailer | DCStar Trek: Strange New Worlds Finally Returns This JulyStar Trek: Prodigy May Need a New Home Again SoonESPN's streaming service will cost up to $30 per month and be called... ESPNFox One is a new streaming service that should launch before SeptemberMax Renamed HBO Max as Warner Bros. Discovery Gives UpLived Through That - Episode 76 - Andy PrieboyTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingA SpaceX Employee Says He Was Fired for the Most Insane ReasonYou Can Now Eat Popcorn Out of a Moving, Talking Mickey Mouse at DisneylandDisney Says It Made Its Walt Disney Robot to Remind Fans He Was an Actual PersonDisneyland Didn’t Want to Do the Muppets Totally Dirty for Their 70th AnniversaryMuppets Pre-Show for World of Color Happiness! at Disneyland Resort for 70th AnniversaryHow to Toilet-Train Your Cat: 21 Days to a Litter-Free HomeHow to Toilet-Train Your Cat: 21 Days to a Litter-Free Home DownloadCLOSING SHOUT-OUTSeveryone is entitled to my own opinionSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
696: Googliearchs

696: Googliearchs

2025-05-0901:26:48

In this episode of Grumpy Old Geeks, we’re serving up a buffet of dystopia with a side of snark. First, Kuwait has finally realized crypto bros are an energy drain, not a feature. Celsius Network’s founder gets 12 years for running a “safe investment” Ponzi scheme. And in Lopez v. Apple, we find yet another reason to question Cupertino’s moral compass.Then it’s time for a trip through the tech trash fire. DoorDash gobbles up Deliveroo, proving there’s no such thing as too many overpriced salads. Google wants your kids to befriend Gemini—because what could go wrong giving tweens supervised AI access? Tesla’s “Robotaxi” trademark gets the boot for being as generic as Elon’s pickup lines. Meanwhile, Grok strips in public, deepfake porn sites get the axe, and dating app “Raw” rawdogs user data like it’s the early 2000s internet. We also hit peak Black Mirror with brain-typed tweets, AI-resurrected relatives, and crypto kidnappers playing real-life GTA.On Media Candy, the streaming overlords dump trailers like Halloween candy. Squid Game is back to traumatize you, Star Trek: Lower Decks keeps boldly going where no animated series should, and The Old Guard 2 teases a Theron-vs-Thurman sword fight. Plus, Apple’s UX team found the “enhance” button, Netflix wants to be helpful (lol), and Google dreams of becoming a Hollywood darling. Over in Apps & Doodads, Apple wants to stagger iPhone drops, Disney sells you a $3,000 droid with zero sass, and Smart Flowerpots are now a thing because apparently, you can’t be trusted to water your plant.And finally, it’s time for The Dark Side with Dave, where Bittner brings us malware, click tracks, fake vocals, and the shocking truth about KISS’s lipsync disaster in Antwerp. We also dip into ILM’s jaw-dropping legacy, Star Wars’ shady back alleys, and a new Disneyland in Abu Dhabi, because nothing says “happiest place on Earth” like 120°F desert heat. All this and more, right here on your favorite snark-fueled ragecastSponsors:DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/696FOLLOW UPKuwait cracks down on crypto miners to cut down on electricity usageFounder of crypto platform Celsius Network is sentenced to 12 years in prisonLopez v. Apple Inc.IN THE NEWSDoorDash is buying British rival Deliveroo for $3.9 billionShrinking Website Run By Nazi Psychopath Wants to Improve Its ImageTesla 'Robotaxi' trademark refused for being too genericKids under 13 will soon get supervised access to Google GeminiPeople Are Losing Loved Ones to AI-Fueled Spiritual FantasiesNonverbal Neuralink Patient Is Using Brain Implant and Grok to Generate RepliesElon Musk's Grok AI Will 'Remove Her Clothes' In Public, On XDating App ‘Raw’ Accidentally Rawdogs Users’ Location Data, Personal InfoGlobalX, Airline for Trump’s Deportations, HackedU.S. pushes nations facing tariffs to approve Musk’s Starlink, cables showLeading deepfake porn site is shut down for goodLehigh County's $500 Million Pension Fund Halts Tesla InvestmentsNOAA Warns of Attacks on Radar Systems by Militia That Thinks They Are ‘Weather Weapons’Family Uses AI To Revive Dead Brother For Impact Statement in Killer’s TrialWe have reached the “severed fingers and abductions” stage of the crypto revolutionMEDIA CANDYStar Trek: Lower DecksSpring Baking ChampionshipUnveiling Our Innovative New TV Experience Featuring Enhanced Design, Responsive Recommendations and a New Way to SearchApple renews Seth Rogen’s Hollywood satire 'The Studio' for season two ahead of finaleThe End Is Here in the First Trailer for Squid Game 3The Long Walk (2025) Official TrailerThe Third Crisis dawns in Foundation S3 teaserNew Old Guard 2 Trailer Sees Charlize Theron Cross Swords With Uma ThurmanThe best travel show on Apple TV+ just made its triumphant returnPoker Face Season 2Google is reportedly getting back into film and TV with a tech-friendly production initiativeGolden Globes Adding Best Podcast Category Beginning In 2026APPS & DOODADSApple reportedly wants to split up the iPhone’s release scheduleApple to add AI search partners to Safari as Google usage fallsPatreon update lets U.S. fans bypass Apple’s 30% fee in iOS app, more changes comingApps like Kindle are already taking advantage of court-mandated iOS App Store changeDisney’s Got a Star Wars Droid to Sell You…for $3,000Smart Flowerpots,Smart Pet Planter,Ai Planter,Intelligent Flowerpots,Multiple Expressions,7 Smart Sensors, and Ai Chips Make Raising Plants Easy and Fun for Living Room,Plant-Free,YellowTrump administration plans to shutter money-saving Energy Star programTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingIndustrial Light & Magic: Into the Digital RealmIndustrial Light & Magic: The Art of Special EffectsIndustrial Light & Magic: 50 Years of InnovationDigital Dreams: The Work of the Sony Design CenterAndorStar Wars: Tales of the UnderworldDisney Just Announced a Brand New Theme Park: Disneyland Abu DhabiKISS : Total Lip Sync Fail in Antwerp Belgium 6 June 2022KISS In Ear Monitor Feed with Click Track, Cues and FAKE VOCALS The Smoking Gun Eddie TrunkSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
695: Mad Hatter

695: Mad Hatter

2025-05-0201:12:01

In this episode of Grumpy Old Geeks—Mad Hatter edition—we kick things off with a refresher on Staingate and the joys of delamination (spoiler: it’s not a spa treatment). Then we dive into the U.S. government’s latest tech innovation: buying up domains that sound like QAnon Mad Libs in support of Trump’s meme coin. Meanwhile, DOGE decided to hand the steering wheel of housing regulations to a college kid and an AI. What could possibly go wrong? Not to be outdone, Elon shows up to a Trump meeting wearing two hats—one for each of his unchecked egos—and MoviePass launches a crypto-tied box office fantasy league, because we’ve clearly learned nothing.In the actual news, 4chan has risen from the dead like a less hygienic Lazarus, but it’s still broken (shocker). Worldcoin’s eyeball-scanning overlords are now teaming up with Tinder and Visa—romance and capitalism, together at last. Bitcoin mining is officially more pointless than Beanie Babies, and Microsoft says AI now writes 30% of its code—explains a lot, really. Meta somehow manages to forecast $1.4 trillion in AI revenue while also letting its bots get horny with minors. Meanwhile, Pinterest suddenly pretends to care about AI slop (while being the biggest copyright vampire online), and ChatGPT gets less clingy after OpenAI dials back its update that made it sound like your overly supportive aunt. Plus: more AI lies, shady benchmarks, pillow guy legal drama, and a reminder that North Korean remote workers also hate awkward small talk.We cool off with a Media Candy binge: Schmactors Season 2 is here, Andor returns, Conclave confuses us in the best way, and Ryan Coogler is giving X-Files a reboot we probably don’t deserve. Jeremy Renner turns down Disney’s lowball Hawkeye offer (respect), and musically we vibe with Maria Somerville and Anka Wolbert’s latest releases. In Apps & Doodads, Apple and Epic are back in court, Apple Arcade keeps feeding us Mahjong, and Meta’s Ray-Bans go full Stasi. Lyft wants your boomer parents off the road, and Google is sunsetting old Nest thermostats like it’s Logan’s Run for smart homes. Finally, we peek At the Library with Jason Pargin’s black box paranoia, Scalzi’s lunar love story, and a massive stack of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. Rounding out the show: a shout-out to The Alarm’s Mike Peters, gone too soon at 66.Sponsors:DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/695FOLLOW UPStaingate 101: What is Delamination?US Government Registered Several Websites Potentially Linked to Trump Meme CoinDOGE Recruits College Kid to Help Rewrite Housing Regulations With AIElon Wears Two Hats During Trump Meeting in Desperate Bid for AttentionMoviePass Launches Box Office Betting Platform Unfortunately Tied to CryptoIN THE NEWS4chan is back after a nearly two-week shutdown, but it still has some serious problemsWorld partners with Tinder, Visa to bring its ID-verifying tech to more placesBitcoin Mining Is No Longer Worth itMicrosoft CEO says up to 30% of the company's code was written by AIMeta’s AI chatbots were reportedly able to engage in sexual conversations with minorsMeta forecasted it would make $1.4T in revenue from generative AI by 2035OpenAI rolls back update that made ChatGPT a sycophantic messStudy accuses LM Arena of helping top AI labs game its benchmarkLawyer for MyPillow Founder Filed AI-Generated Brief with ‘Nearly 30’ Bogus CitationsPinterest launches new tools to fight AI slopTime saved by AI offset by new work created, study suggestsUndercover North Korean Remote Workers Hate This One Weird QuestionMEDIA CANDYSchmactors Season 2!AndorConclaveRyan Coogler Confirms X-Files Reboot Is His Next ProjectJeremy Renner Says Disney Offered Him Half His Hawkeye Wage for Season 2Maria Somerville - LusterAnka Wolbert - Cocoon TimeAPPS & DOODADSEpic Games just scored a win against AppleApple updates its App Store guidelines to allow external payment optionsMeta Is Turning Its Ray-Bans Into a Surveillance Machine for AIApple Arcade Mahjong Titan+Lyft Silver wants to keep your aging parents off the roadGoogle is cutting off support for these older Nest Thermostats — what you need to knowAT THE LIBRARYI'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom: A Novel by Jason Pargin63 New Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Books Arriving in MayWhen the Moon Hits Your Eye by John ScalziCLOSING SHOUT-OUTSThe Alarm frontman Mike Peters dies aged 66See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week on Grumpy Old Geeks, Fyre Festival rises from the ashes yet again—but not as a festival, because even Billy McFarland finally figured out he’s better at selling pipe dreams than tents. Meanwhile, Amazon and Microsoft are tapping the brakes on their AI data center dreams, Google’s AI keeps confidently explaining made-up nonsense like it’s gospel, and Kevin Roose once again tries to convince us to have empathy for the glorified autocomplete machines. (Spoiler: We won’t.) Also, OpenAI wants to buy Chrome even though they can barely afford their own lunch tabs, Perplexity says the quiet part loud about stalking your browser habits, and Meta lays off more VR developers while pretending they care about human rights.In the “it’s all stupid, but at least it’s entertaining” department: Uber gets sued for making it harder to cancel than joining Scientology, Adam Neumann dupes investors again, sperm racing is now a real thing (and yes, there’s crypto involved), and Bluesky caves to the almighty blue checkmark. Plus, Affinity Suite reminds us you don’t have to sell a kidney to escape Adobe, The Wheel of Time gets an open-world game that’ll probably drop after the heat death of the universe, and Wednesday Season 2 is on the way, because Netflix refuses to let its only hits rest.Stick around for The Dark Side with Dave where we grumble about Andor Season 2, lament bad writing decisions, geek out over old-school arcade games, and learn that memory colors are apparently a thing. Oh, and if you’re feeling fancy, go ahead and thank ChatGPT for wasting millions in server bills—because if Sam Altman’s crying about manners costing money, we’re grabbing the popcorn.Sponsors:Insta360 - The first 30 people who use code “gog” at store.insta360.com get a free 45” invisible selfie stick worth $25!DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/694FOLLOW UPFyre Festival is becoming a music streaming service that might not be a scam this timeBilly McFarland Is Selling Fyre FestIN THE NEWSAmazon Follows Microsoft in Retreat From Ambitious AI Data Center PlansYou can trick Google's AI Overviews into explaining made-up idiomsDan Rather’s Metaphors Anchored in Folksy TruismsIf A.I. Systems Become Conscious, Should They Have Rights?A Strange Phrase Keeps Turning Up in Scientific Papers, But Why?Google will keep third-party tracking cookies on Chrome as they areOpenAI wants to buy Chrome and make it an “AI-first” experiencePerplexity CEO says its browser will track everything users do online to sell 'hyper personalized' adsChatGPT’s responses will now include Washington Post articlesSam Altman Admits That Saying "Please" and "Thank You" to ChatGPT Is Wasting Millions of Dollars in Computing PowerFTC sues Uber over claims the company makes subscriptions hard to cancelMeta conducts layoffs in Oculus Studios, impacting VR exercise app SupernaturalMeta’s Oversight Board Is Worried Meta’s New Policies Will Harm Human RightsAdam Neumann’s Flow raises $100M+, more than doubles valuation to $2.5BChinese AI startup Manus reportedly gets funding from Benchmark at $500M valuationTwo Guys, One Track: Sperm Racing Is Now a Thing—Yes, It Involves CryptoRAMMS+EIN - 14.12.1997 – Palladium, Los Angeles, CA, United StatesMEDIA CANDYThe PittThe Last of UsCompanionThe OrderWednesday: Season 2 | Official Teaser Trailer | NetflixApple TV+ has its own spin on Indiana Jones, and it looks epicRiot Fest 2025APPS & DOODADSBluesky is getting blue checkmarks and an official verification systemAffinity Suite 2.6The Wheel of Time Is Getting Its Own Open-World RPG Video GameTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingAndor Season 2The Glorious, Terrible Delirium of Mon Mothma’s Liberating Andor MomentLight & Magic Season 2Strong Songs - The Music of the MuppetsArcade Game: Lunar Lander (1979 Atari)When arcade games were boring.Hard Drivin' - ArcadeTempestMemory ColorsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
693: Let Them Eat Space

693: Let Them Eat Space

2025-04-1801:25:46

This week, we blast off with a tale as old as grift: Fyre Fest 2 has been postponed—again—proving that you really can fail upward if you squint hard enough and wear enough white linen. Over at Automattic, employees discovered secret watermarks in their internal comms, because what workplace isn’t better with a sprinkle of corporate surveillance cosplay? Meanwhile, Katy Perry took a joyride to the upper atmosphere with Gayle King and Bezos’ better half, giving us the 2025 edition of the cringiest “Imagine”-style celebrity moment yet. Spoiler: no one needed this.In Elon World™, things are somehow even weirder. Seth Rogen dropped some truth bombs about Silicon Valley’s MAGA leanings, only to have them surgically removed from the Breakthrough Prize stream. Musk, for his part, is managing his growing empire of baby mamas like a Bond villain with a baby registry. Add in a cringe-filled offer to a YouTuber to become Space Karen’s next broodmare, and we’ve officially entered peak simulation. Meanwhile, whistleblowers are spilling DOGE secrets, OpenAI is building a social network (because we clearly don’t have enough doomscrolling options), and 4chan has finally been hacked into oblivion. Pour one out—for the internet’s dumpster fire.Also in the news: Google lost a big ad tech monopoly case (cue tiny violins), China is no longer buying the “autonomous” car hype after a fatal crash, and Trump’s FCC chair is threatening Comcast for not being enough like Fox News (as if that’s the journalistic gold standard). The Pentagon’s nerd squad resigned after butting heads with DOGE, Reality Labs burned $45 billion like it was going out of style, and AI customer service bots are now inventing policies out of thin air. Oh, and if your AI thinks your Python package has a delivery issue—you’re not crazy, it probably hallucinated it. Welcome to the future.Sponsors:Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/693FOLLOW UPFyre Fest 2 Postponed: “New Date Will Be Announced”Following Layoffs, Automattic Employees Discover Leak-Catching WatermarksIN THE NEWSUnfortunately for Katy Perry, That “Space Flight” Turned Out Exactly How We All Knew It WouldWe Finally Have 2025’s “Imagine” VideoLet them eat spaceSeth Rogen’s Criticism of Silicon Valley’s Support for Trump Was Cut From the “Full” Stream of Breakthrough PrizeThe Tactics Elon Musk Uses to Manage His ‘Legion’ of Babies—and Their MothersGlamorous influencer Tiffany Fong breaks silence on Elon Musk's 'offer to impregnate her' with shocking statementA whistleblower's disclosure details how DOGE may have taken sensitive labor dataElectronics exempted from reciprocal tariffs will soon be subject to new semiconductor tariffs insteadGoogle loses ad tech monopoly caseChina cracks down on 'autonomous' car claims after fatal accidentTrump’s FCC chair threatens Comcast, demands changes to NBC news coverageOpenAI is building a social network4chan Likely Gone Forever After Hackers Take ControlCompany apologizes after AI support agent invents policy that causes user uproarPentagon tech unit resigns after clash with Musk's DOGEWhat Does a Corrupt Election Look Like?Tesla puts finishing touches on Hollywood charge-n-dinerInside the $45 billion cash burn at Reality LabsWe Have a Package for You! A Comprehensive Analysis of Package Hallucinations by Code Generating LLMsThe business of the AI labs by Max BolingbrokeMEDIA CANDYKilling an Arab on PandoraApple’s ‘Mythic Quest’ is ending with an updated Season 4 finaleSide QuestNight of the ZoopocalypseBlack MirrorDaredevilThe Last of UsG2028 Years Later Rises From the Grave With a New Trailer'Real Time' host Bill Maher says President Trump was "gracious" and "not fake" during his White House visit.Bringing Down a DictatorBlueprint for Revolution: How to Use Rice Pudding, Lego Men, and Other Nonviolent Techniques to Galvanize Communities, Overthrow Dictators, or Simply Change the World by Srdja PopovicAPPS & DOODADSApple is reportedly working on two new versions of the Vision ProIlya Bezdelev 🎙️ metacast.appMetacast Ep. 68: Q1 Update - new features, struggles, hopeSpotify was down – here's everything we know about its huge outageAT THE LIBRARYBritish authors want Meta to answer for alleged copyright infringementAmazon will use AI to generate recaps for book series on the Kindle‪David Schachner on BlueSkyThe Warehouse by Rob HartBlood in the Machine: The Origins of the Rebellion Against Big Tech by Brian MerchantThe AI Con: How to Fight Big Tech's Hype and Create the Future We Want by Emily M. Bender and Alex HannaLamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal by Christopher MooreLollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock's Wildest Festival by Richard Bienstock & Tom BeajourI'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom: A Novel by Jason ParginTHE DARK SIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingDisney Teases Its Adventurous New Lion King and Up RidesThe Star Wars that George Lucas didn't want you to see is coming to the big screenSTAR WARS in the UK (1977)‘End of an era’: The last RadioShack in Maryland is closing its doorsThe Alligator King and his seven sons.Sesame Street: Alligator KingLadybug picnicLowercase NLetter BCLOSING SHOUT-OUTSRIP Jed Gould, aka Jed the Fish aka Jeddum Fishum1997 KROQ Calendar Commercial Featuring Jed The FishDJ Jed “The Fish”See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This week, the boys kick things off with some serious déjà vu as Fyre Fest’s favorite grifter promises he’s totally throwing another festival — because nothing says “I’ve changed” like doubling down on the same scam. Meanwhile, the IRS decided to become ICE’s BFF by casually sharing migrant tax data, and their commissioner moonwalks out right after. Also: Microsoft’s long game of “let OpenAI set the money on fire while we build empires” is going exactly as planned.In the news, it’s Elon all day: Starlink might be doing the same government freebie hustle Microsoft perfected, DOGE is monitoring your comms for anti-Musk snark, and apparently has enough data on your family to build Black Mirror Season 8. Tesla’s financials are circling the drain so hard they won’t even take their own Cybertrucks back as trade-ins, but don’t worry — Elon’s ready to bail out Twitter/xAI with monopoly money. Over in the UK, the cops are one coffee away from full Minority Report, and MIT confirms what we already knew: AI doesn’t have morals, just vibes. Speaking of AI, someone sent an avatar to court. Yes, really.In Media Candy, it’s a smorgasbord: The White Lotus is back, Murderbot looks like a win, and the Tron: Ares trailer wants you to care again. There’s also a full Ask A Ninja drop for your 2006 nostalgia, and “Donald Trump Rides a Cock Horse” makes us long for the innocent absurdity of Morrissey Rides a Cockhorse. Over in Apps & Doodads, we’ve got AI dumbbells (because of course), Instagram still pretending the iPad doesn’t exist, and the Scotty Peeler — the tool you didn’t know you needed. Finally, Dave’s back in The Darkside, riffing on malware, The Owl House, and how ChatGPT sometimes gives your image prompts a side of Lovecraftian horror. RIP to some true legends: Dave Allen, Al Barile, and Clem Burke — your music lives louder than ever.Sponsors:DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to GOG.Show/vpn and sign up today. For a limited time only, you can get OUR favorite VPN for as little as $2.03 a month.SetApp - With a single monthly subscription you get 240+ apps for your Mac. Go to SetApp and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! gog.show/1passwordShow notes at https://gog.show/692FOLLOW UPFyre Fest Founder Insists Another Festival Is ComingI.R.S. Agrees to Share Migrants’ Tax Information With ICEIRS agrees to share tax data with immigration authoritiesActing IRS commissioner resigning after agency reaches data-sharing deal with immigration authoritiesMicrosoft’s AI masterplan: Let OpenAI burn cash, then build on their successesIN THE NEWSMicrosoft Hooked the Government on Its Products With Freebies. Could Elon Musk’s Starlink Be Doing the Same?Social Security Website Crashes Blamed on DOGE Software UpdateDOGE is reportedly using AI to monitor government comms for anti-Musk and anti-Trump chatterHere's All of the Data That Elon Musk's DOGE May Have on You and Your FamilyDOGE Is About to Get DOGE’dUK is going full Minority Report with ‘murder prediction’ researchMIT study finds that AI doesn't, in fact, have valuesElon Musk sets the stage for Tesla to bail out Twitter/xAI at an insane valuationTesla Is So Cooked That It's Now Refusing to Accept Cybertrucks as Trade-InsJustice Department Says It Will Pull Back on Prosecuting Crypto FraudCitation Needed - Issue 81 – Crypto crime is legal by Molly WhiteReflexive AI use isn’t optional anymoreTech founder charged with fraud for 'AI' that was secretly overseas contract workersPro Tip: Don’t Send Your AI Avatar to Testify for You in CourtTrump’s TikTok Plan Upended by Chinese Objections Over TariffsFrance to ban students from keeping smartphones in schoolsA Tiny Piece of Mouse Brain Has Finally Been Mapped in Mindblowing DetailMEDIA CANDYThe White LotusThe StudioDevil May CryBlack Mirror Season 7Ask A Ninja Omnibus What Year Is This?The PittTron: Ares‘ First Trailer Brings Us to a Whole New GridTron: Ares | Official TrailerThe Murderbot TV show trailer is hereMurderbot — Official Trailer | Apple TV+Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning | Official Trailer (2025 Movie) - Tom CruiseBrian Eno’s Windows Reboot Chime Inducted Into National Recording RegistryThere’s No Future in OptimismTriplaPearliesLonely TownDonald Trump Rides a Cock HorseDecades After "Morrissey Rides a Cockhorse," Moz Is "Way Worse"Morrissey Rides A Cockhorse - Warlock PinchersAPPS & DOODADSMacbook Air 15“Scotty Peeler - Label and Sticker RemoverSlipdrive - Portable Hard Drive Sleeve for LaptopThe year is 2025, and Instagram is reportedly 'working on' an iPad appNova by PanicDerek Sivers - Tech IndependenceKabata - The world’s first AI powered dumbbellsNintendo delays Switch 2 US pre-orders following Trump tariffsBUSY BarAmazon HaulMob ControlUnited States Disappeared TrackerTHE DARKSIDE WITH DAVEDave BittnerThe CyberWireHacking HumansCaveatControl LoopOnly Malware in the BuildingThe Owl HouseEerie, IndianaCLOSING SHOUT-OUTSDave Allen, Gang of Four Bassist, Dead at 69Al Barile, Guitarist for Hardcore Pioneers SSD, Dead at 63Blondie Drummer Clem Burke Dead at 70See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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Comments (15)

Tom Riddle

Best episode image ever!

Jun 21st
Reply

RaNa sRi

We, I love you Dave! My condolences and best regards.

Apr 6th
Reply

Roy Golf.Holeinone

Ride Electric Bikes

Jun 30th
Reply

Roy Golf.Holeinone