723: Don’t Want No Samsung

Nov 21, 2025

In this discussion, cybersecurity expert Dave Bittner highlights the exciting news that the classic text adventure game Zork has gone open source, sparking nostalgia among fans. They delve into why modern films often lack realism, critiquing the overly polished visuals that detract from storytelling. The conversation touches on how students struggle with reading in an age of AI tools, raising concerns about educational standards. Bittner also shares useful camping tips, adding a light-hearted touch to the tech-centric dialogue.

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INSIGHT

Video vs Audio Content Tradeoffs

YouTube video production is far more work than audio podcasting and drives different viewer habits.
Shorts get disproportionate views, pushing creators to reconsider long-form formats.

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ANECDOTE

Chef Quit Tesla Diner Drama

Chef Eric Greenspan left the Tesla Diner amid controversy around its opening and related projects.
Jason and Brian view the diner and its associations as reasons to avoid it personally.

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INSIGHT

Nvidia Profits Don’t Solve AI ROI

NVIDIA's record revenue doesn't guarantee broad AI profitability across hyperscalers.
Markets reacted quickly as analysts warned many AI investments still lack clear returns.

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YouTube Experiment and Shorts Surprise

01:33 • 1min

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Monetization, Patreon, and Channel Workload

02:40 • 2min

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Tesla Diner and Chef Departure

04:20 • 2min

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Larry Summers Quits OpenAI Board

06:44 • 1min

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NVIDIA Earnings and AI Bubble Warnings

07:48 • 3min

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Bitcoin Crash and Financial Risk

10:27 • 3min

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Bezos' $6.2B AI Startup

13:05 • 2min

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Most Companies See No AI ROI

14:53 • 2min

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Waymo vs Tesla Robotaxi Concerns

16:41 • 2min

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Meta Antitrust Ruling Verdict

18:13 • 2min

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Tim Cook Succession Talk at Apple

Binance Report and Crypto Pardon Critique

20:46 • 3min

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OpenAI Milestones and Dash Fix

23:28 • 2min

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Grok's Elon Worship and AI Bias

25:08 • 3min

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Intuit Partners with OpenAI

28:23 • 1min

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ChatGPT for Teachers and Education Risks

29:39 • 2min

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Declining Math Skills at UCSD

32:02 • 2min

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Reading Decline and College Preparedness

33:54 • 2min

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PornHub Age Verification Debate

36:18 • 2min

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London Muggers Reject Samsungs

37:48 • 56sec

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The Witcher, Frankenstein, and Guillermo del Toro

38:44 • 3min

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Pluribus Launch and Apple TV Hits

41:40 • 60sec

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Squid Game and Mr. Scorsese Series

42:40 • 1min

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Ken Burns' American Revolution

43:40 • 2min

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Moana Live-Action Trailer Critique

45:44 • 54sec

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Project Hail Mary Trailer Reaction

46:38 • 32sec

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The Dark Side Intro with Dave Bittner

47:10 • 4min

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Zork Open Source Release

51:34 • 5min

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iOS Keyboard Issues and Betas

56:46 • 2min

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Why Movies Don't Feel Real Anymore

58:30 • 4min

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Favorite VFX Shot: Return of the Jedi

01:02:31 • 4min

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Thanksgiving Plans and Family Traditions

Closing Shout-Outs and Music News

• Mentioned in 165 episodes

The Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy

Douglas Adams

The book follows Arthur Dent, an ordinary Englishman, whose house and planet are about to be demolished. He is rescued by his friend Ford Prefect, an alien researcher for the 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy'. Together, they embark on a journey through space, encountering various characters such as Zaphod Beeblebrox, the two-headed, three-armed president of the galaxy, Trillian, a human woman, and Marvin, a paranoid android. The story involves their adventures on the spaceship Heart of Gold, which has an Infinite Improbability Drive, and their quest to understand the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything, which is revealed to be '42'. The novel is known for its humor, satire, and imaginative storytelling.

We open by tracking our video money and mocking the chef who quit Elon’s "epic" bacon diner, before diving into the IN THE NEWS segment where plummeting crypto and Nvidia stocks confirm everything is a sham; we cover Bezos’s new $6.2 billion AI flop, a sleeping Tesla Robotaxi driver, and why OpenAI’s new school tools are a Recipe for Idiocracy with students who can't read; in MEDIA CANDY, we tear apart Disney's lazy Moana remake; THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE we discuss Zork going open source and why movies just don’t feel real anymore before CLOSING SHOUT-OUTS where we are mourning Mani from the Stone Roses, and wishing Bjork a very metal 60th.

We start with a FOLLOW UP on our channel’s performance, wading through the garbage pile of Monetization questions and Stats, including the scourge of Shorts—because apparently, that's what we do now. Speaking of people running from trouble, former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers is ditching his OpenAI board seat after a fresh batch of cringey Jeffrey Epstein emails surfaced. Meanwhile, the financial world is having a meltdown: Nvidia’s Stock is Falling Again after its earnings report, exposing the fact that almost Yet Another Study Shows That Most Companies Aren’t Making Any Money Off AI, and Bitcoin is Getting Absolutely Crushed Right Now, which we happily remind you will Trigger the Next Financial Crisis. Don't worry, Jeff Bezos will head a new engineering-focused AI startup because the world clearly needs more tech billionaires throwing money at things they don't understand, while Apple is reportedly getting ready to replace Tim Cook.

The tech-bro corruption parade continues as a former DOJ official points out that Trump’s Crypto Pardon of the Binance co-founder is exactly what it looks like, and Elon's pet AI, Grok Insists That Elon Musk Is More Physically Fit Than LeBron James and better at everything else, proving the bot has been sampling its boss's Adderall. Even though ChatGPT Achieves a New Level of Intelligence by finally letting you disable its em-dash addiction, companies like Intuit are integrating its tax and accounting products with ChatGPT—because who doesn't want an AI-powered tax audit? This all dovetails nicely with the news that OpenAI is launching ChatGPT for Teachers’ right as students’ math skills hit a low, leading to a literal Recipe for Idiocracy where elite college students Can’t Read Books. The whole thing is broken, including Tesla’s so-called Robotaxi, where a Passenger Alarmed When Tesla Robotaxi “Safety” Driver Falls Completely Asleep at the Wheel. On a lighter note, we check out the new trailers for The Witcher S4, Frankenstein, and Project Hail Mary in MEDIA CANDY, and tear apart the absolutely unnecessary live-action Moana teaser, before mentioning the biggest drama launch on Apple TV, Pluribus.

Next up is THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE, where our tireless security guru Dave Bittner throws in some random facts, like Microsoft making Zork I, II, and III open source and videos on why the iOS Keyboard is Broken and Why Movies Just Don't Feel "Real” Anymore, and we discuss Thanksgiving plans. Finally, in CLOSING SHOUT-OUTS, we end with a shout-out to our generous PATREON supporters and PAYPAL/STRIPE donors, mourn the passing of Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist Mani, and wish the incomparable Bjork a milestone 60th birthday.

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/tWM83ra7Qp8

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Show notes at https://gog.show/723

FOLLOW UP

Tesla Diner Chef and Co-Operator Quits to Open a Jewish Deli

Larry Summers leaves OpenAI board, Harvard instructor role as scrutiny over Epstein emails intensifies

IN THE NEWS

Oops! Nvidia’s Stock Is Falling Again After Its “Blowout” Earnings Report

Bitcoin Is Getting Absolutely Crushed Right Now

How Crypto Could Trigger the Next Financial Crisis

Jeff Bezos will head a new engineering-focused AI startup called Project Prometheus

Yet Another Study Shows That Most Companies Aren’t Making Any Money Off AI