In this episode of Grumpy Old Geeks, we break down the latest chaos in tech, pop culture, and humanity’s never-ending quest to out-stupid itself. Hackers are raiding Ticketmaster accounts (again), and Chegg is circling the drain after ChatGPT obliterated its business model. Meanwhile, Amazon is hawking boner pills that tanked Hims’ stock, 23andMe is laying off nearly half its staff, and Bluesky is quietly stealing users who’ve had it with Elon’s dumpster fire over at X.
Driverless Waymo cars take over LA, nuclear safety gets outsourced to AI, and Apple wants to track your luggage with AirTags (but only on planes they like). Oh, and let’s not forget Mark Zuckerberg’s bizarre karaoke moment with Get Low.
On the pop culture front, The Penguin finale cements it as TV’s best comic book adaptation, Moana smashes Disney streaming records, and The Beatles are back—kind of—thanks to AI. Plus, Mattel accidentally linked kids’ toys to a porn site, and some genius in a bear costume is faking car accidents for insurance money. It’s all as dumb, messy, and oddly entertaining as you’d expect. Tune in for the snark, stay for the schadenfreude!
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Show notes at https://gog.show/674
FOLLOW UP
Hackers Keep Stealing Tickets From People’s Ticketmaster Accounts
Trump Media Execs Dumped Millions in Stock After the Election
Study Finds Eggs Might Protect Brain Health And Lower Cholesterol
IN THE NEWS
FTX bankruptcy estate sues Anthony Scaramucci, FWD.us, others
Chegg Is On Its Last Legs After ChatGPT Sent Its Stock Down 99%
AI travel influencers are here. Human travelers hate it.
Bluesky reaches 15 million users; people look for alternatives to X
Jason on Bluesky
Brian on Bluesky
Graysky
Bluesky scoops up the developer of popular third-party app, Graysky
23andMe is laying off 40 percent of its staff
Amazon Gets Into the Boner Pill Business, Hims Stock Goes Limp
Waymo's driverless cars in LA County are now available to everyone
Telecom Builds AI ‘Grandmother’ Bot to Talk to Phone Scammers and Waste Their Time
Anthropic, feds test whether AI will share sensitive nuclear info
New artificial intelligence search solution deployed at Diablo Canyon Power Plant
The Manhattan Project (1986)
AI Expert Warns Crash Is Imminent As AI Improvements Hit Brick Wall
'Hawk Tuah' girl launches Pookie Tool, an AI-powered dating advice app, and it's fine?
The Onion Purchases Alex Jones’ InfoWars in Bankruptcy Auction
MEDIA CANDY
Countdown: Paul vs. Tyson
Paul vs. Tyson
Super League: The War for Football
Shrinking
Nobody Wants This
Silo Season Two
Moana is Disney’s Biggest Movie on Streaming Ever
The Penguin Finale Cemented It as One of the Best Comic Book Shows Ever
The Beatles are nominated for two Grammys thanks to AI
Gates McFadden InvestiGates: Who do you think you are?
ERIC SAYS
The story of Love And Rockets, the former Bauhaus members who helped sell goth to America
Mark Zuckerberg Just Released a Cover of Lil Jon's "Get Low" and Yes, He Says the Line About Balls
Spotify’s Plans For AI Generated Music, Podcasts, and Recommendations, According To Its Co-President, CTO, and CPO Gustav Söderström
APPS & DOODADS
Good News: Instagram Chief Says App Won’t Refresh Right When You Open It Anymore
Meta Will Get Its Unwanted Day in Antitrust Court
Apple Has Begun Selling iPhone 16 Replacement Parts
Apple teams up with airlines for new ‘Share Item Location’ AirTags feature in iOS 18.2
"Wicked" toys from Mattel featuring link to porn site pulled from shelves, now available on eBay
Sound Studio 4
Redact
Tangle News
AT THE LIBRARY
This photography book shows people just standing in front of Danzig's house
Beacon 23: The Complete Novel by Hugh Howey
THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE
Dave Bittner
The CyberWire
Hacking Humans
Caveat
Control Loop
Only Malware in the Building
Andor Will Gloriously Rebel Once More in April 2025
Andor Season 2 Will Pit Your Favorite Miserable Imperials Against Each Other
How to migrate from X to Bluesky without losing your followers
Person dressed in bear costume to fake attacks on cars for insurance payout, California officials say.
CLOSING SHOUT-OUTS
Tony Todd, ‘Candyman’ and ‘Final Destination’ Actor, Dead at 69
Tony Todd Made One of Deep Space Nine‘s Greatest Episodes Shine
Happy Birthday Gigi Edgley!
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