697: Office of Defects

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 ...