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 <a href="https://store.insta360.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">store.insta360.com</a> get a free 45” invisible selfie stick worth $25!DeleteMe - Head over to <a href="http://JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">JoinDeleteMe.com/GOG</a> and use the code "GOG" for 20% off.Private Internet Access - Go to <a href="https://gog.show/vpn" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">GOG.Show/vpn</a> 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 <a href="https://setapp.sjv.io/c/4484313/343321/5114" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SetApp</a> and get started today!!!1Password - Get a great deal on the only password manager recommended by Grumpy Old Geeks! <a href="https://gog.show/1password" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">gog.show/1password</a>Show notes at <a href="https://gog.show/697" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://gog.show/697</a>FOLLOW UP<a href="https://manus.im/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Leave it to Manus</a><a href="https://www.wired.com/story/trumpcoin-dinner-ticket-bidding/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">A VIP Seat at Donald Trump’s Crypto Dinner Cost at Least $2 Million</a><a href="https://gizmodo.com/elons-boring-company-is-helping-the-government-with-an-8-billion-amtrak-tunnel-project-2000601700" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Elon’s Boring Company Is ‘Helping’ the Government With an $8 Billion Amtrak Tunnel Project</a><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/13/nft-phenom-cryptopunks-was-just-sold-to-a-nonprofit/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CryptoPunks was just sold to a nonprofit</a>IN THE NEWS<a href="https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/microsoft-is-laying-off-3-percent-of-its-global-workforce-154755787.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Microsoft is laying off 3 percent of its global workforce</a><a href="https://gizmodo.com/laid-off-metaverse-engineer-says-he-is-doordashing-and-living-in-a-trailer-2000602465" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Laid-Off Metaverse Engineer Says He Is DoorDashing and Living in a Trailer</a><a href="https://archive.is/oYXku" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Silicon Valley’s Elusive Fantasy of a Computer as Smart as You</a><a href="https://gizmodo.com/klarna-hiring-back-human-help-after-going-all-in-on-ai-2000600767" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Klarna Hiring Back Human Help After Going All-In on AI</a><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/12/improvements-in-reasoning-ai-models-may-slow-down-soon-analysis-finds/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Improvements in 'reasoning' AI models may slow down soon, analysis finds</a><a href="https://gizmodo.com/the-new-pope-wants-to-take-on-ai-2000600652" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The New Pope Wants to Take on AI</a><a href="https://www.theverge.com/politics/666179/maga-elon-musk-sacks-copyright-office-perlmutter" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Elon Musk’s apparent power play at the Copyright Office completely backfired</a><a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/05/copyright-office-head-fired-after-reporting-ai-training-isnt-always-fair-use/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Copyright Office head fired after reporting AI training isn’t always fair use</a><a href="https://gizmodo.com/youtube-cracks-down-on-fake-movie-trailer-channels-making-money-2000600973" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YouTube Cracks Down on Fake Movie Trailer Channels Making Money</a><a href="https://www.engadget.com/social-media/jamie-lee-curtis-publicly-shamed-mark-zuckerberg-to-remove-a-deepfaked-ad-225448916.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Jamie Lee Curtis publicly shamed Mark Zuckerberg to remove a deepfaked ad</a><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/12/teslas-robotaxi-plans-have-the-attention-of-federal-investigators/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tesla's robotaxi plans have the attention of federal investigators</a><a href="https://futurism.com/tesla-manager-fired-blaming-elon-musk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">A Tesla Dealership Manager Blamed Elon Musk for Tanking Sales and Was Immediately Fired</a><a href="https://teslaemployeesagainstelon.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tesla Employees Against Elon</a><a href="https://openlettertoelon.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Open Letter to Elon</a><a href="https://x.com/openletter2elon" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Open Letter to Elon - @openletter2elon</a><a href="https://futurism.com/universe-end-sooner-hawking-radiation" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Scientists Just Moved Up the Death Date of the Universe</a>MEDIA CANDY<a href="https://tv.apple.com/ca/show/murderbot/umc.cmc.5owrzntj9v1gpg31wshflud03" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Murderbot premiers May 16th</a><a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/2fM9r2JGdpKJ0LT3NKlQ25?si=chLmC6tORtm-Ci6sxS5R7w" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan Original Motion Picture Soundtrack</a><a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/44TnXcUjTIHPBBROepl99a?si=656LoUMPTYebBFh0c6SkGQ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Original Motion Picture Soundtrack</a><a href="https://consequence.net/2025/05/nine-inch-nails-future-ruins-festival/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nine Inch Nails Announce Future Ruins Festival, Celebrating Influential Music Composers</a><a href="https://www.disneyplus.com/browse/entity-faba988a-a9f5-45f2-a074-0775a7d6f67a" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Andor</a><a href="https://www.disneyplus.com/browse/entity-5ec74210-f970-42b7-a39f-8653c0a9eab8" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Rogue One</a><a href="https://tv.apple.com/show/long-way-home/umc.cmc.26p8x4co2wl0ztetek4gmkf6r?mttnsubad=umc.cmc.26p8x4co2wl0ztetek4gmkf6r" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Long Way Home</a><a href="https://gizmodo.com/krysten-ritter-will-return-as-jessica-jones-in-daredevil-born-again-season-2-2000601922" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Krysten Ritter Will Return as Jessica Jones in Daredevil: Born Again Season 2</a><a href="https://gizmodo.com/fallout-season-2-coming-in-december-and-season-3-is-a-go-2000601276" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fallout Season 2 Coming in December and Season 3 Is a Go</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5X2pt95cIo" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Nobody 2 | Official Trailer</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox8ZLF6cGM0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Superman | Official Trailer | DC</a><a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-trek-strange-new-worlds-season-3-release-date-streaming-2000602815" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Finally Returns This July</a><a href="https://gizmodo.com/star-trek-prodigy-netflix-licensing-renewal-season-3-2000602463" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Star Trek: Prodigy May Need a New Home Again Soon</a><a href="https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/espns-streaming-service-will-cost-up-to-30-per-month-and-be-called-espn-164532920.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ESPN's streaming service will cost up to $30 per month and be called... ESPN</a><a href="https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/fox-one-is-a-new-streaming-service-that-should-launch-before-september-152650429.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Fox One is a new streaming service that should launch before September</a><a href="https://consequence.net/2025/05/hbo-max-renamed-warner-bros-discovery/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Max Renamed HBO Max as Warner Bros. Discovery Gives Up</a><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lived-through-that/id1586577211?i=1000708448806" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Lived Through That - Episode 76 - Andy Prieboy</a>THE DARK SIDE WITH DAVE<a href="https://twitter.com/bittner" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Dave Bittner</a><a href="http://www.thecyberwire.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The CyberWire</a><a href="https://thecyberwire.com/podcasts/hacking-humans.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Hacking Humans</a><a href="https://thecyberwire.com/podcasts/caveat.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Caveat</a><a href="https://thecyberwire.com/podcasts/control-loop" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Control Loop</a><a href="https://thecyberwire.com/podcasts/only-malware-in-the-building" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Only Malware in the Building</a><a href="https://futurism.com/the-byte/spacex-employee-fired-bathroom-crohns" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">A SpaceX Employee Says He Was Fired for the Most Insane Reason</a><a href="https://gizmodo.com/you-can-now-eat-popcorn-out-of-a-moving-talking-mickey-mouse-at-disneyland-2000601936" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">You Can Now Eat Popcorn Out of a Moving, Talking Mickey Mouse at Disneyland</a><a href="https://gizmodo.com/disney-says-it-made-its-walt-disney-robot-to-remind-fans-he-was-an-actual-person-2000597559" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Disney Says It Made Its Walt Disney Robot to Remind Fans He Was an Actual Person</a><a href="https://gizmodo.com/disneyland-didnt-want-to-do-the-muppets-totally-dirty-for-their-70th-anniversary-2000602187" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Disneyland Didn’t Want to Do the Muppets Totally Dirty for Their 70th Anniversary</a><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yk4V8ik4u54" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Muppets Pre-Show for World of Color Happiness! at Disneyland Resort for 70th Anniversary</a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/605418.How_to_Toilet_Train_Your_Cat" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">How to Toilet-Train Your Cat: 21 Days to a Litter-Free Home</a><a href="https://ebook-hunter.org/how-to-toilet-train-your-cat-by-paul-kunkel_591f58363a3e15084ae70a5a/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">How to Toilet-Train Your Cat: 21 Days to a Litter-Free Home Download</a>CLOSING SHOUT-OUTS<a href="https://www.jefftiedrich.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">everyone is entitled to my own opinion</a>See Privacy Policy at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy</a> and California Privacy Notice at <a href="https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info</a>.

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