681: Trough of Disillusionment
Grumpy Old Geeks25 Tammi 2025

681: Trough of Disillusionment

In this episode, Brian and Jason kick things off by highlighting the troubling state of the gaming industry, with 11% of developers laid off in 2024, according to a GDC survey. Meanwhile, Elon Musk finds a new way to perplex us all by admitting he pays people to play video games for him.

They then unpack a whirlwind of news, including Trump’s controversial pardon of Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht and his ongoing crusade against perceived social media bias. Elon Musk’s antics take center stage as he mocks America’s tech elite, clashes with Trump over the flashy “Stargate” AI project, and battles AI cost concerns as hype begins to wane. On the corporate front, Amazon halts drone deliveries after crashes, Instagram blocks political hashtags, and Neko, a body-scanning startup co-founded by Daniel Ek, secures a whopping $260M at a $1.8B valuation.

In media candy, the hosts revisit the charming chaos of the Lilo & Stitch franchise and dive into music documentaries like Yacht Rock and Echo in the Canyon. And let’s not forget Netflix’s price hikes and yet another mediocre Star Trek installment with Section 31. Dave wraps things up with The Dark Side, covering Star Wars: Skeleton Crew, ham radio tools, and even a shoutout to Morse code. Packed with biting commentary, this episode is a mix of tech absurdity, media nostalgia, and the trademark Grumpy Old Geeks snark!


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/1password

DeleteMe - Head over to JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.


Show notes at https://gog.show/681


FOLLOW UP

Eleven percent of game developers were laid off in 2024, according to GDC survey

Elon Musk Admits to Paying People to Play Video Games for Him


IN THE NEWS

Joe Rogan, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos: Tech Titans, Celebs at Inauguration

Trump Orders Government to Stop ‘Trampling’ Conservatives on Social Media

Silk Road Mastermind Ross Ulbricht Seen Leaving Prison Holding a Small Plant

President Trump Pardons Silk Road Creator Ross Ulbricht After 11 Years in Prison

Elon Musk Plays DOGE Ball—and Hits America’s Geek Squad

Instagram blocked searches for #democrats and other political hashtags

Why You May Automatically Be Following Trump and Vance Now

AI-Generated Junk Science Is a Big Problem on Google Scholar, Research Suggests

What is the ‘Stargate’ AI project?

Trump's $500 Billion AI Deal Includes Funding by UAE Royal Family Linked to Astonishing Number of Scandals, Including Human Torture

Trump Showing Love to Sam Altman Is Clearly Driving Elon Musk Into a Jealous Fury

Satya Nadella says he’s ’good for $80 billion’ after Elon Musk claims Stargate Project doesn’t have the cash

Trump staff ‘furious’ after Musk trashes AI project

AI Hype Is Dropping Off a Cliff While Costs Soar, Experts Warn

Amazon puts its drone deliveries on hold following two crash incidents

‘Neo-Nazi Madness’: Meta’s Top AI Lawyer on Why He Fired the Company

Apple must face suit over alleged policy of underpaying female workers

Amazon to close Quebec facilities, but says it's not because of that new union

Neko, the body-scanning startup co-founded by Spotify's Daniel Ek, snaps up $260M at a $1.8B valuation


MEDIA CANDY

Lilo & Stitch

Lilo & Stitch 2 - Stitch Has a Glitch

Leroy & Stitch

Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentary

The Wrecking Crew!

Echo in the Canyon

Lolla: The Story of Lollapalloza

Netflix plans now cost between $8 and $25 after yet another subscription price hike

Everything to Remember Before Star Trek: Section 31

Section 31 Is a Mediocre Action Movie, and an Even Worse Star Trek One

Fail Better with David Duchovny - Catching Up with Gillian Anderson

James Cameron: Special Video Message at the SCSP AI+Robotics Summit


APPS & DOODADS

Introducing Operator

Developer Creates Infinite Maze That Traps AI Training Bots

Best Cooking Equipment for Meal Kits (2025), Tested and Reviewed

Trump Executive Order Generator


AT THE LIBRARY

The Breakthrough Effect by Douglas E. Richards

Not Till We Are Lost (Bobiverse Book 5) by Dennis E. Taylor


THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE

Dave Bittner

The CyberWire

Hacking Humans

Caveat

Control Loop

Only Malware in the Building

Star Wars: Skeleton Crew

Ham Radio Prep

Ham Study

GLAARG

GGMorse

Morse Code - I Love You

Parks on the Air ® (POTA)

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jaksot(735)

07: Must learn balance Daniel-san!

07: Must learn balance Daniel-san!

In this episode the geeks talk about how they've gotten screwed by bad business practices and dish out some serious wisdom on how you can avoid the same fate. Subscribe to the Grumpy Old Geeks in iTun...

6 Touko 201355min

06: Yeah, that sounds expensive.

06: Yeah, that sounds expensive.

We have our first guest! Rudy Jahchan of Timey Wimey TV and Galacticast fame kindly joined us this week for an awesome conversation about coding, getting old, and how Hollywood works. There is a bit o...

29 Huhti 20131h 7min

05: We're all screwed...

05: We're all screwed...

How Facebook is screwing up their privacy initiative, what you need to get started with security and some awesome sci-fi books! Subscribe to the Grumpy Old Geeks in iTunes and give us a five star rati...

22 Huhti 201358min

04: How we got our groove

04: How we got our groove

This week the guys talk about free online education, how free software can bite you in the ass, and wonky design. Subscribe to the Grumpy Old Geeks in iTunes and give us a five star rating. You know y...

16 Huhti 201356min

03: You just gotta hump it!

03: You just gotta hump it!

In this episode the guys talk about how modern mobile computing has taken the romance out of the music and the yellow pages, more tips on how to make money doing something you dig, Brian gushes both g...

9 Huhti 20131h

2: No, we are still not the media.

2: No, we are still not the media.

In this episode of Grumpy Old Geeks the guys examine the folly of herd behavior and changing your profile picture to join a cause as well as offer up a million dollar idea for the taking. Brian rips A...

29 Maalis 20131h

1: How to make money on the Internet. Sorta.

1: How to make money on the Internet. Sorta.

In the inaugural episode of Grumpy Old Geeks we meet the guys for the first time as they walk us down a bit of memory lane. Jason explains to Brian how people make money on the Internet and some nefar...

25 Maalis 20131h 18min

Suosittua kategoriassa Politiikka ja uutiset

aikalisa
rss-ootsa-kuullut-tasta
tervo-halme
ootsa-kuullut-tasta-2
politiikan-puskaradio
viisupodi
rss-podme-livebox
otetaan-yhdet
et-sa-noin-voi-sanoo-esittaa
rss-vaalirankkurit-podcast
rss-asiastudio
rss-tasta-on-kyse-ivan-puopolo-verkkouutiset
rss-tekkipodi
io-techin-tekniikkapodcast
linda-maria
the-ulkopolitist
rss-polikulaari-humanisti-vastaa-ja-muut-ts-podcastit
rss-kaikki-uusiksi
rss-hyvaa-huomenta-bryssel
rss-merja-mahkan-rahat