Grumpy Old Geeks

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.

Joining the discussion is Dave Bittner, a cybersecurity expert and podcast host, known for his insightful takes on tech issues. Dave and Jason dive into Gen X’s struggles, from financial woes to teens relying on AI for companionship. They tackle a dangerous data breach involving a dating app and share humorous thoughts on age verification laws. Plus, there's a quirky chat about furry conventions and even a nod to the legendary satirist Tom Lehrer. It's a hilarious, sobering look at today's digital landscape.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.