Grumpy Old Geeks – Episode 688: Why, Combinator?
Hosts: Jason DeFilippo & Brian Schulmeister
Guest: Dave Bittner
Release Date: March 14, 2025
1. Opening Anecdotes: Canadian Road Trip and Political Sentiments
Jason and Brian kick off the episode by sharing stories from Brian's recent Canadian road trip during March break. Brian describes traveling through Ottawa, Quebec City, and Montreal, highlighting Canada's natural beauty and the palpable anti-Elon Musk sentiment he encountered. He recounts seeing "punch Nazis" with "Fuck Elon" spray-painted on Tesla cars, culminating in Brian quipping, "Fuck Elon. Spray painted all over the place" [00:26].
Jason humorously probes whether such graffiti requires bilingual (English and French) inscriptions to avoid tickets in Quebec, to which Brian responds, "Well, they would probably get a ticket in Quebec. Actually, it's French first" [01:16].
2. Celebrating PI Day and Misremembered Origins
The conversation shifts to PI Day, celebrated on March 14th. Brian and Jason delve into the origins of the celebration, debating its inception date. Jason mentions, "A huge chunk of Pinterest content is already in copyright violation because users regularly pin images they don't own" [04:20], leading to a humorous disagreement about the accurate historical timeline of PI Day festivities.
3. Financial News: Deliveroo's Profit Turnaround and Market Reactions
Jason discusses Deliveroo's first-ever annual profit, reporting a net gain of £2.9 million compared to a £31.8 million loss the previous year. Deliveroo attributes this turnaround to increased customer spending and strategic retail partnerships. However, the announcement was met with skepticism as "Deliveroo again. CEO Will Shue warned that weak customer sentiment was dragging on growth" [08:48]. The hosts critique Deliveroo's accounting practices, noting the suspiciously optimistic financial reporting that failed to impress investors, resulting in an 8% drop in shares [09:47].
4. Surge in Scams: AI and Cryptocurrency Exploits
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the alarming rise in scams in the US, with Americans losing $12.5 billion in 2024—a fivefold increase from the previous year. Brian remarks, "Everybody's like having a cow" [10:03], emphasizing the widespread panic. They discuss various scam tactics, including imposters posing as family members and advanced methods like AI-driven deepfake voice cloning. Jason highlights Consumer Reports' findings: "Only Descript and Resemble AI had any real measures in place to combat misuse" [12:18], criticizing the lack of robust safeguards in most AI voice cloning tools.
5. Government Turmoil: FCC's New Council and CISA Layoffs
The hosts examine the Federal Communications Commission's efforts to bolster national security amid ongoing layoffs at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Jason outlines the FCC's three-part agenda focused on reducing dependencies on foreign adversaries and mitigating cyber vulnerabilities [13:03]. They express concern over the abrupt firing of CISA employees, which Jason describes as a threat to national security: "These cuts could weaken the government's ability to detect and respond to cyber threats" [18:25]. Brian adds, "Judge William Alsop... called the initiative a sham" [15:05], highlighting judicial pushback against the administration's actions.
6. Critique of Y Combinator's Influence on Tech
Jason fervently criticizes Y Combinator (YC), a prominent startup accelerator, for its role in fostering disruptive and often problematic companies. He lists notable YC-backed entities like DoorDash, Airbnb, Twitch, and OpenAI, asserting, "For every YC innovation that improves life, another erodes it" [22:39]. Jason argues that YC has significantly impacted industries by making services more app-dependent and fueling privacy concerns, encapsulating his disdain with, "They're making basic tasks require an app, a login and your personal data" [23:17].
7. Academic Exodus: American Scientists Flee to Europe
The discussion turns to a concerning trend of American scientists relocating to Europe, particularly France, due to diminishing support and restrictive regulations in the US. Brian mentions, "Marseille University in France has said that 40 US scientists have answered the call it put out earlier this month offering safe harbor to fleeing Americans" [24:14]. Jason sarcastically comments, "Offering safe harbor to fleeing Americans is not something that you'd hear because they're not fleeing from like Mozambique embassies" [25:17], emphasizing the gravity of the situation and its implications for US scientific research.
8. Elon Musk and Cyber Attacks on X (Formerly Twitter)
Jason highlights Elon Musk's recent claim that Ukraine was behind a significant cyber attack on X, which experts dispute. He notes, "A pro Palestinian hacking group called Dark Storm Team has claimed responsibility and Musk still says no, it was Ukraine" [26:14]. The hosts criticize Musk's unfounded accusations and point out the security oversights that facilitated the attack, such as lack of Cloudflare protection: "Security analysts found that several X servers weren't even protected by Cloudflare" [27:11].
9. Tech Saboteur: Davis Liu's Downfall
The hosts nominate Davis Liu, a software developer convicted of sabotaging Eaton Corp’s IT infrastructure, as the episode’s "Tech Genius of the Year." Jason narrates Liu’s vendetta against the company, describing his actions: "deleting user profiles, causing endless system crashes, and basically turning Eaton's IT department into a scene from Office Space" [28:48]. They discuss the severity of his crimes and his plans to appeal, with Brian humorously suggesting, "He may get a pardon and a new job at Doge" [29:08].
10. Pinterest's AI Training Controversy
Jason criticizes Pinterest's decision to update its Privacy Policy to utilize all user-generated content for training AI models. He argues that this move exacerbates existing copyright violations, stating, "Pinterest is leveraging user generated content without direct consent, but it's also feeding AI with a massive pool of stolen work" [31:14]. The hosts debate the ethical implications, with Brian agreeing emphatically, "Potentially, 100%" [31:18].
11. HUD's Blockchain and Cryptocurrency Plans
Brian voices skepticism over the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) proposal to use blockchain and stablecoins for tracking grant spending. He notes the criticism from within HUD, comparing the initiative to "monopoly money" [32:11]. Jason echoes concerns about financial instability, adding, "Skeptics warn this could introduce financial instability into housing programs" [32:25].
12. Waymo's Autonomous Taxis and Parking Fines
The hosts discuss Waymo’s fleet of over 300 driverless taxis in San Francisco, which accumulated 589 parking tickets in 2023, costing the company over $65,000 in fines. Jason humorously laments, "A self-driving car. It should know the rules" [32:30]. They critique the lack of intelligent parking algorithms, comparing the behavior to human drivers ignoring street cleaning rules.
13. Media and Entertainment Critiques: Severance, Black Mirror, and More
Jason and Brian express their disdain for the TV show Severance, dubbing it an "insult and a scam," and criticize its high production costs. They also discuss upcoming shows like Paradise on Hulu and Black Mirror Season Seven, highlighting their generally negative outlook on current media trends. Jason sarcastically remarks on his dislike for Severance's plot continuity, while Brian anticipates backlash from fans [34:53].
14. Podcasting Gear and Technology Tips
Jason shares his frustration with expensive podcasting equipment and introduces the Zoom PodTrack P2 as a budget-friendly alternative at $99. He explains its functionality, allowing two USB mics to record both locally and as a computer interface, although he notes limitations with his Electro Voice RE20 mic [45:06]. The hosts humorously debate the merits and drawbacks of various podcasting tools, emphasizing the importance of accessible technology for aspiring podcasters.
15. Disney World Adventures: Dining and Rides
Brian and Jason recount their recent Disney World trip, detailing their experiences with various themed restaurants and attractions. They praise establishments like The Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen and Roundup Rodeo Barbecue for their immersive environments, despite humorous complaints about periodic interruptions mimicking Toy Story characters [64:39]. They also discuss rides such as Tron and the revamped Splash Mountain (now Tiana's Bayou Adventure), sharing both positive experiences and logistical challenges faced during the trip.
16. Hermit Crabs: A Nature Documentary Surprise
Dave Bittner joins briefly to discuss a fascinating discovery involving hermit crabs forming conga lines and swapping shells in unison. Brian and Jason express mixed reactions, with Jason finding the behavior "disturbing" [81:03], while Brian appreciates the natural spectacle. They link this intriguing behavior to broader themes of animal social structures and the unexpected complexities of seemingly simple creatures [75:27].
17. Listener Engagement and Shoutouts
The episode concludes with shoutouts to Patreon supporters and listeners who contributed to the show. Jason and Brian express gratitude for their audience's support, encouraging more donations to keep the show running. They also address listener feedback and humorous critiques, maintaining their signature grumpy yet engaging rapport [82:08].
Notable Quotes:
- Brian on anti-Elon sentiment in Canada: "Fuck Elon. Spray painted all over the place" [00:26]
- Jason on PI Day origins: "I was very shocked. The celebration started in 1988 when a physicist at San Francisco's Exploratorium noticed the date matched the first digits of PI" [04:20]
- Jason on Deliveroo's financial reporting: "Always beware when those companies start doing stock buybacks Always, always. Beware" [09:57]
- Jason critiquing Y Combinator: "They're making basic tasks require an app, a login and your personal data." [23:17]
- Brian on CISA layoffs: "This marks the third wave of CISA job cuts since January 20, with over 130 employees already let go earlier this year." [18:23]
- Jason on Pinterest's AI misuse: "Pinterest is leveraging user generated content without direct consent, but it's also feeding AI with a massive pool of stolen work." [31:14]
- Brian on Rollout of Virtual Concerts: "My problem with this is there better be an on and off switch for this shit, because I don't want it just leaping in doing it no matter what." [48:29]
Conclusion: In Episode 688, Jason DeFilippo and Brian Schulmeister offer their trademark grumpy yet insightful take on a myriad of tech-related topics, from financial missteps and cybersecurity concerns to critiques of influential tech accelerators and media productions. Their candid discussions, peppered with humor and notable quotes, provide listeners with a comprehensive overview of current tech woes and societal issues, all delivered with no filter and unwavering honesty.