Ticketmaster: How a Company that Does Nothing Came to Own Everything (Part 1)

Ticketmaster: How a Company that Does Nothing Came to Own Everything (Part 1)

On this week's episode, Meg Sinick joins me for the saga of Ticketmaster: the company that swallowed up and digested the live music industry by making a product that literally no one wants. Find out: * How service fees and exclusive contracts turned the thriving music scene into a $300 Lil Jon meet-and-greet atop a pyramid of bleached skulls * Why the concentrated hate of millions of concertgoers only makes Ticketmaster more powerful * How Taylor Swift finished what Eddie Vedder started (and also Kid Rock was there) References: Budnick, Dean, and Josh Baron. Ticket Masters: The Rise of the Concert Industry and How the Public Got Scalped. New York: Plume, 2012. https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/reports/Ticket_Sales_Report.pdf [https://ag.ny.gov/sites/default/files/reports/Ticket_Sales_Report.pdf] https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19970504/2537429/paul-allen-caught-in-the-middle----his-varied-business-ventures-sometimes-collide-with-those-of-microsoft-the-firm-he-helped-found [https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19970504/2537429/paul-allen-caught-in-the-middle----his-varied-business-ventures-sometimes-collide-with-those-of-microsoft-the-firm-he-helped-found] https://conduition.io/coding/ticketmaster/?ref=404media.co [https://conduition.io/coding/ticketmaster/?ref=404media.co] https://faqs.axs.co.uk [https://faqs.axs.co.uk/] https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/live-at-wharton-music-man-ron-delsener/ [https://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/live-at-wharton-music-man-ron-delsener/] https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qoim5FInvN4 [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qoim5FInvN4] https://manicpresents.com/about/ [https://manicpresents.com/about/] https://musicsustainability.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/628/2025/08/The-LiveNation_Ticketmaster-Merger_-A-citizens-guide.pdf [https://musicsustainability.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/628/2025/08/The-LiveNation_Ticketmaster-Merger_-A-citizens-guide.pdf] https://nclnet.org/live_event_ticketing_guide/ [https://nclnet.org/live_event_ticketing_guide/] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33288959 [https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=33288959] https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/ahead-trial-attorney-general-bonta-lays-out-case-against-live-nation [https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/ahead-trial-attorney-general-bonta-lays-out-case-against-live-nation] https://playbill.com/article/what-you-need-to-know-about-ticketmasters-verified-fan-ticket-buying [https://playbill.com/article/what-you-need-to-know-about-ticketmasters-verified-fan-ticket-buying] https://prospect.org/2022/12/21/ticketmasters-dark-history/ [https://prospect.org/2022/12/21/ticketmasters-dark-history/] https://pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdf/10.1257/089533003765888449 [https://pubs.aeaweb.org/doi/pdf/10.1257/089533003765888449] https://stackoverflow.com/questions/10185618/event-brite-qr-code [https://stackoverflow.com/questions/10185618/event-brite-qr-code] https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e91157c96fe495a4baf48f2/t/68e58e39bce25b729b47932e/1759874617679/2025-NIVA-State-of-Live-Report.pdf [https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e91157c96fe495a4baf48f2/t/68e58e39bce25b729b47932e/1759874617679/2025-NIVA-State-of-Live-Report.pdf] https://web.archive.org/web/20240402023930/https://help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/9663528775313-How-are-ticket-prices-and-fees-determined [https://web.archive.org/web/20240402023930/https://help.ticketmaster.com/hc/en-us/articles/9663528775313-How-are-ticket-prices-and-fees-determined] https://web.archive.org/web/20241209042105/https://www.ticketmaster.com/mobile-tickets [https://web.archive.org/web/20241209042105/https://www.ticketmaster.com/mobile-tickets] https://www.404media.co/scalpers-are-working-with-hackers-to-liberate-non-transferable-tickets-from-ticketmasters-ecosystem/ [https://www.404media.co/scalpers-are-working-with-hackers-to-liberate-non-transferable-tickets-from-ticketmasters-ecosystem/] https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/online-ticket-sale-fees/ [https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/online-ticket-sale-fees/] https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/11/23/microsoft-co-founder-paul-allen-buys-control-of-ticketmaster/ [https://www.chicagotribune.com/1993/11/23/microsoft-co-founder-paul-allen-buys-control-of-ticketmaster/] https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-07-17-9507210012-story.html [https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-07-17-9507210012-story.html] https://www.classaction.org/media/heckman-et-al-v-live-nation-entertainment-inc-et-al.pdf [https://www.classaction.org/media/heckman-et-al-v-live-nation-entertainment-inc-et-al.pdf] https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/16/media/taylor-swift-tickets-resale-market/index.html [https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/16/media/taylor-swift-tickets-resale-market/index.html] https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2022/03/09/music-industry-revenue-us-2021/ [https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2022/03/09/music-industry-revenue-us-2021/] https://www.fivehorizons.com/archive/articles/testimon.shtml [https://www.fivehorizons.com/archive/articles/testimon.shtml] https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/paperless-ticket-trend-leaves-unbanked-outside-the-gate [https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/paperless-ticket-trend-leaves-unbanked-outside-the-gate] https://www.hypebot.com/adele-plots-ou-tour-with-indie-promoters-snubbing-live-nation-aeg/ [https://www.hypebot.com/adele-plots-ou-tour-with-indie-promoters-snubbing-live-nation-aeg/] https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/2025/06/27/live-nation-ticketmaster-among-issues-at-indie-music-venue-conference/84342601007/ [https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/2025/06/27/live-nation-ticketmaster-among-issues-at-indie-music-venue-conference/84342601007/] https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/nj/Press/files/Lowson,%20Kenneth%20et%20al%20News%20Release.html [https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/nj/Press/files/Lowson,%20Kenneth%20et%20al%20News%20Release.html] https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/ticketmaster-pays-10-million-criminal-fine-intrusions-competitor-s-computer-systems-0 [https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/ticketmaster-pays-10-million-criminal-fine-intrusions-competitor-s-computer-systems-0] https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-01-31-fi-5143-story.html [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-01-31-fi-5143-story.html] https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-09-ca-136-story.html [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-09-ca-136-story.html] https://www.natb.org/why-natb/ [https://www.natb.org/why-natb/] https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32898804 [https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32898804] https://www.newspapers.com/image/176472943/?match=1&terms=ticketmaster%20fees%20service%20facility [https://www.newspapers.com/image/176472943/?match=1&terms=ticketmaster%20fees%20service%20facility] https://www.newspapers.com/image/35017641/?match=1&terms=ticket%20scalpers [https://www.newspapers.com/image/35017641/?match=1&terms=ticket%20scalpers] https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-rare-humanism-behind-paul-allens-technological-vision [https://archive.is/yDfQA]

Grok: Elon's Truth-Seeking AI Liar that Became Hitler (Part 2)

Grok is here to seek truth and tell lies… and we're all out of truth. Join me and my guest Matt Johnson to find out: * What Grok has in common with turn-of-the-20th-century tsarist propaganda * The 3 Jewish-adjacent facts that make it okay for Elon Musk to joke about Jews * Why LLMs sometimes become MechaHitler, but never CyberMao References: * Arendt, Hannah. The Origins of Totalitarianism. Penguin Classics, 2017. * https://academictorrents.com/details/5f96d43576e3d386c9ba65b883210a393b68210e [https://academictorrents.com/details/5f96d43576e3d386c9ba65b883210a393b68210e]  * https://anewz.tv/science/artificial-intelligence/3045/elon-musks-xai-releases-grok-3-its-latest-flagship-ai-mode/news [https://anewz.tv/science/artificial-intelligence/3045/elon-musks-xai-releases-grok-3-its-latest-flagship-ai-mode/news]  * https://apnews.com/article/parody-ad-ai-harris-musk-x-misleading-3a5df582f911a808d34f68b766aa3b8e [https://apnews.com/article/parody-ad-ai-harris-musk-x-misleading-3a5df582f911a808d34f68b766aa3b8e]  * https://archive.ph/pLqkg [https://archive.ph/pLqkg]  * https://blog.x.com/en_us/topics/company/2023/supporting-peoples-right-to-accurate-and-safe-political-discourse-on-x1 [https://blog.x.com/en_us/topics/company/2023/supporting-peoples-right-to-accurate-and-safe-political-discourse-on-x1]  * https://counterhate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Toxic-Twitter_FINAL.pdf [https://counterhate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Toxic-Twitter_FINAL.pdf]  * https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/18/tech/grok-3-release-elon-musk/index.html [https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/18/tech/grok-3-release-elon-musk/index.html]  * https://futureoflife.org/open-letter/ai-principles/ [https://futureoflife.org/open-letter/ai-principles/]  * https://futureoflife.org/open-letter/pause-giant-ai-experiments/ [https://futureoflife.org/open-letter/pause-giant-ai-experiments/]  * https://github.com/xai-org/grok-1 [https://github.com/xai-org/grok-1]  * https://github.com/xai-org/grok-prompts/blob/main/grok4_system_turn_prompt_v8.j2 [https://github.com/xai-org/grok-prompts/blob/main/grok4_system_turn_prompt_v8.j2]  * https://github.com/xai-org/grok-prompts/commit/82a9ce73bcd1422d2abd899ee7340e545f729e0b [https://github.com/xai-org/grok-prompts/commit/82a9ce73bcd1422d2abd899ee7340e545f729e0b]  * https://gizmodo.com/most-embarrassing-blunders-elon-musks-grok-ai-news-1851416945 [https://gizmodo.com/most-embarrassing-blunders-elon-musks-grok-ai-news-1851416945]  * https://gizmodo.com/round-them-up-grok-praises-hitler-as-elon-musks-ai-tool-goes-full-nazi-2000626156 [https://gizmodo.com/round-them-up-grok-praises-hitler-as-elon-musks-ai-tool-goes-full-nazi-2000626156]  * https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/intimate-media [https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/intimate-media]  * https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/manipulated-media [https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/manipulated-media]  * https://help.x.com/en/using-x/x-premium [https://help.x.com/en/using-x/x-premium]  * https://mashable.com/article/elon-musk-x-twitter-ai-chatbot-grok-fake-news-trending-explore [https://mashable.com/article/elon-musk-x-twitter-ai-chatbot-grok-fake-news-trending-explore]  * https://mashable.com/article/twitter-ad-share-revenue-creators-elon-musk-favorites-eligibility [https://mashable.com/article/twitter-ad-share-revenue-creators-elon-musk-favorites-eligibility]  * https://mashable.com/article/twitter-x-creator-fund-ad-revenue-sharing [https://mashable.com/article/twitter-x-creator-fund-ad-revenue-sharing]  * https://observer.co.uk/news/international/article/how-the-hitchhikers-guide-inspired-elon-musk [https://observer.co.uk/news/international/article/how-the-hitchhikers-guide-inspired-elon-musk]  * https://observer.com/2024/07/openai-founders-career/ [https://observer.com/2024/07/openai-founders-career/]  * https://spectrum.ieee.org/open-source-ai-grok-llm [https://spectrum.ieee.org/open-source-ai-grok-llm]  * https://techcrunch.com/2022/10/27/elon-musk-fired-top-twitter-execs-including-ceo-reports-say/ [https://techcrunch.com/2022/10/27/elon-musk-fired-top-twitter-execs-including-ceo-reports-say/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/03/twitter-layoffs-elon-musk/ [https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/03/twitter-layoffs-elon-musk/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2023/11/17/elon-musk-x-antisemitic-conspiracy-theory-actual-truth/ [https://techcrunch.com/2023/11/17/elon-musk-x-antisemitic-conspiracy-theory-actual-truth/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2023/11/29/elon-musk-says-go-fuck-yourself-to-advertisers-leaving-x/ [https://techcrunch.com/2023/11/29/elon-musk-says-go-fuck-yourself-to-advertisers-leaving-x/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/26/elon-musk-says-all-premium-subscribers-on-x-will-gain-access-to-ai-chatbot-grok-this-week/ [https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/26/elon-musk-says-all-premium-subscribers-on-x-will-gain-access-to-ai-chatbot-grok-this-week/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/05/secretaries-of-state-urge-x-to-stop-its-grok-chatbot-from-spreading-election-misinformation/ [https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/05/secretaries-of-state-urge-x-to-stop-its-grok-chatbot-from-spreading-election-misinformation/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/14/meet-black-forest-labs-the-startup-powering-elon-musks-unhinged-ai-image-generator/ [https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/14/meet-black-forest-labs-the-startup-powering-elon-musks-unhinged-ai-image-generator/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/04/x-is-hiring-staff-for-security-and-safety-after-two-years-of-layoffs/ [https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/04/x-is-hiring-staff-for-security-and-safety-after-two-years-of-layoffs/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/03/black-forest-labs-the-startup-behind-groks-image-generator-releases-an-api/ [https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/03/black-forest-labs-the-startup-behind-groks-image-generator-releases-an-api/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/10/x-is-testing-a-free-version-of-ai-chatbot-grok/ [https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/10/x-is-testing-a-free-version-of-ai-chatbot-grok/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/07/elon-musks-x-gains-a-new-image-generator-aurora/ [https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/07/elon-musks-x-gains-a-new-image-generator-aurora/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/08/xai-is-testing-a-standalone-ios-app-for-its-grok-chatbot/ [https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/08/xai-is-testing-a-standalone-ios-app-for-its-grok-chatbot/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/18/grok-says-its-skeptical-about-holocaust-death-toll-then-blames-programming-error/ [https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/18/grok-says-its-skeptical-about-holocaust-death-toll-then-blames-programming-error/]  * https://time.com/6260185/elon-musk-ai-culture-wars/ [https://time.com/6260185/elon-musk-ai-culture-wars/]  * https://venturebeat.com/ai/doomer-advisor-joins-musks-xai-the-4th-top-research-lab-focused-on-ai-apocalypse [https://venturebeat.com/ai/doomer-advisor-joins-musks-xai-the-4th-top-research-lab-focused-on-ai-apocalypse]  * https://web.archive.org/web/20231108084721/http://www.independent.co.uk/tech/elon-musk-cocaine-ai...

Grok: Elon's Truth-Seeking AI Liar that Became Hitler (Part 1)

Grok is here to seek truth and tell lies… and we're all out of truth. Join me and my guest Matt Johnson to find out: * What Grok has in common with turn-of-the-20th-century tsarist propaganda * The 3 Jewish-adjacent facts that make it okay for Elon Musk to joke about Jews * Why LLMs sometimes become MechaHitler, but never CyberMao References: * Arendt, Hannah. The Origins of Totalitarianism. Penguin Classics, 2017. * https://academictorrents.com/details/5f96d43576e3d386c9ba65b883210a393b68210e [https://academictorrents.com/details/5f96d43576e3d386c9ba65b883210a393b68210e]  * https://anewz.tv/science/artificial-intelligence/3045/elon-musks-xai-releases-grok-3-its-latest-flagship-ai-mode/news [https://anewz.tv/science/artificial-intelligence/3045/elon-musks-xai-releases-grok-3-its-latest-flagship-ai-mode/news]  * https://apnews.com/article/parody-ad-ai-harris-musk-x-misleading-3a5df582f911a808d34f68b766aa3b8e [https://apnews.com/article/parody-ad-ai-harris-musk-x-misleading-3a5df582f911a808d34f68b766aa3b8e]  * https://archive.ph/pLqkg [https://archive.ph/pLqkg]  * https://blog.x.com/en_us/topics/company/2023/supporting-peoples-right-to-accurate-and-safe-political-discourse-on-x1 [https://blog.x.com/en_us/topics/company/2023/supporting-peoples-right-to-accurate-and-safe-political-discourse-on-x1]  * https://counterhate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Toxic-Twitter_FINAL.pdf [https://counterhate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Toxic-Twitter_FINAL.pdf]  * https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/18/tech/grok-3-release-elon-musk/index.html [https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/18/tech/grok-3-release-elon-musk/index.html]  * https://futureoflife.org/open-letter/ai-principles/ [https://futureoflife.org/open-letter/ai-principles/]  * https://futureoflife.org/open-letter/pause-giant-ai-experiments/ [https://futureoflife.org/open-letter/pause-giant-ai-experiments/]  * https://github.com/xai-org/grok-1 [https://github.com/xai-org/grok-1]  * https://github.com/xai-org/grok-prompts/blob/main/grok4_system_turn_prompt_v8.j2 [https://github.com/xai-org/grok-prompts/blob/main/grok4_system_turn_prompt_v8.j2]  * https://github.com/xai-org/grok-prompts/commit/82a9ce73bcd1422d2abd899ee7340e545f729e0b [https://github.com/xai-org/grok-prompts/commit/82a9ce73bcd1422d2abd899ee7340e545f729e0b]  * https://gizmodo.com/most-embarrassing-blunders-elon-musks-grok-ai-news-1851416945 [https://gizmodo.com/most-embarrassing-blunders-elon-musks-grok-ai-news-1851416945]  * https://gizmodo.com/round-them-up-grok-praises-hitler-as-elon-musks-ai-tool-goes-full-nazi-2000626156 [https://gizmodo.com/round-them-up-grok-praises-hitler-as-elon-musks-ai-tool-goes-full-nazi-2000626156]  * https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/intimate-media [https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/intimate-media]  * https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/manipulated-media [https://help.twitter.com/en/rules-and-policies/manipulated-media]  * https://help.x.com/en/using-x/x-premium [https://help.x.com/en/using-x/x-premium]  * https://mashable.com/article/elon-musk-x-twitter-ai-chatbot-grok-fake-news-trending-explore [https://mashable.com/article/elon-musk-x-twitter-ai-chatbot-grok-fake-news-trending-explore]  * https://mashable.com/article/twitter-ad-share-revenue-creators-elon-musk-favorites-eligibility [https://mashable.com/article/twitter-ad-share-revenue-creators-elon-musk-favorites-eligibility]  * https://mashable.com/article/twitter-x-creator-fund-ad-revenue-sharing [https://mashable.com/article/twitter-x-creator-fund-ad-revenue-sharing]  * https://observer.co.uk/news/international/article/how-the-hitchhikers-guide-inspired-elon-musk [https://observer.co.uk/news/international/article/how-the-hitchhikers-guide-inspired-elon-musk]  * https://observer.com/2024/07/openai-founders-career/ [https://observer.com/2024/07/openai-founders-career/]  * https://spectrum.ieee.org/open-source-ai-grok-llm [https://spectrum.ieee.org/open-source-ai-grok-llm]  * https://techcrunch.com/2022/10/27/elon-musk-fired-top-twitter-execs-including-ceo-reports-say/ [https://techcrunch.com/2022/10/27/elon-musk-fired-top-twitter-execs-including-ceo-reports-say/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/03/twitter-layoffs-elon-musk/ [https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/03/twitter-layoffs-elon-musk/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2023/11/17/elon-musk-x-antisemitic-conspiracy-theory-actual-truth/ [https://techcrunch.com/2023/11/17/elon-musk-x-antisemitic-conspiracy-theory-actual-truth/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2023/11/29/elon-musk-says-go-fuck-yourself-to-advertisers-leaving-x/ [https://techcrunch.com/2023/11/29/elon-musk-says-go-fuck-yourself-to-advertisers-leaving-x/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/26/elon-musk-says-all-premium-subscribers-on-x-will-gain-access-to-ai-chatbot-grok-this-week/ [https://techcrunch.com/2024/03/26/elon-musk-says-all-premium-subscribers-on-x-will-gain-access-to-ai-chatbot-grok-this-week/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/05/secretaries-of-state-urge-x-to-stop-its-grok-chatbot-from-spreading-election-misinformation/ [https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/05/secretaries-of-state-urge-x-to-stop-its-grok-chatbot-from-spreading-election-misinformation/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/14/meet-black-forest-labs-the-startup-powering-elon-musks-unhinged-ai-image-generator/ [https://techcrunch.com/2024/08/14/meet-black-forest-labs-the-startup-powering-elon-musks-unhinged-ai-image-generator/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/04/x-is-hiring-staff-for-security-and-safety-after-two-years-of-layoffs/ [https://techcrunch.com/2024/09/04/x-is-hiring-staff-for-security-and-safety-after-two-years-of-layoffs/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/03/black-forest-labs-the-startup-behind-groks-image-generator-releases-an-api/ [https://techcrunch.com/2024/10/03/black-forest-labs-the-startup-behind-groks-image-generator-releases-an-api/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/10/x-is-testing-a-free-version-of-ai-chatbot-grok/ [https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/10/x-is-testing-a-free-version-of-ai-chatbot-grok/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/07/elon-musks-x-gains-a-new-image-generator-aurora/ [https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/07/elon-musks-x-gains-a-new-image-generator-aurora/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/08/xai-is-testing-a-standalone-ios-app-for-its-grok-chatbot/ [https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/08/xai-is-testing-a-standalone-ios-app-for-its-grok-chatbot/]  * https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/18/grok-says-its-skeptical-about-holocaust-death-toll-then-blames-programming-error/ [https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/18/grok-says-its-skeptical-about-holocaust-death-toll-then-blames-programming-error/]  * https://time.com/6260185/elon-musk-ai-culture-wars/ [https://time.com/6260185/elon-musk-ai-culture-wars/]  * https://venturebeat.com/ai/doomer-advisor-joins-musks-xai-the-4th-top-research-lab-focused-on-ai-apocalypse [https://venturebeat.com/ai/doomer-advisor-joins-musks-xai-the-4th-top-research-lab-focused-on-ai-apocalypse]  * https://web.archive.org/web/20231108084721/http://www.independent.co.uk/tech/elon-musk-cocaine-ai...

Marty: the Robot Doofus Haunting the Supermarket

Marty is a fully automated dipshit that wanders around the Stop & Shop getting in everyone's way and posing for selfies. Sometimes it hugs a cancer kid. References: * https://bjsantiago.focalpointcoaching.com/about-me [https://bjsantiago.focalpointcoaching.com/about-me] * https://books.google.com/books?id=aTHFDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA95#v=onepage&q&f=false [https://books.google.com/books?id=aTHFDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA95#v=onepage&q&f=false] * https://doi.org/10.1108/09590550310507731 [https://doi.org/10.1108/09590550310507731] * https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2022-09/Consumer%20Benefits%20from%20Increased%20Competition%20in%20Shopping%20Outlets%20Measuring%20the%20Effect%20of%20Wal-Mart.pdf [https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2022-09/Consumer%20Benefits%20from%20Increased%20Competition%20in%20Shopping%20Outlets%20Measuring%20the%20Effect%20of%20Wal-Mart.pdf] * https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/6602016-5600-Troconis/ [https://embed.documentcloud.org/documents/6602016-5600-Troconis/] * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahold_Delhaize [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahold_Delhaize] * https://jabil.com/industries/defense-and-aerospace.html [https://jabil.com/industries/defense-and-aerospace.html] * https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f0XXRYKkAHY [https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f0XXRYKkAHY] * https://marketing.taskus.com/A185QmFkZ2U= [https://marketing.taskus.com/A185QmFkZ2U=] * https://mashable.com/article/stop-and-shop-marty-robots-birthday [https://mashable.com/article/stop-and-shop-marty-robots-birthday] * https://mashable.com/feature/marty-grocery-store-stop-and-shop-robot-covid-pandemic [https://mashable.com/feature/marty-grocery-store-stop-and-shop-robot-covid-pandemic] * https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/supply-chain-lead-podcast/id1495371611?i=1000669925351 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/supply-chain-lead-podcast/id1495371611?i=1000669925351] * https://stores.foodlion.com/ [https://stores.foodlion.com/] * https://stores.giantfood.com/ [https://stores.giantfood.com/] * https://stores.hannaford.com/ [https://stores.hannaford.com/] * https://stores.stopandshop.com/ [https://stores.stopandshop.com/] * https://techinformed.com/spillage-on-aisle-12-the-rise-of-the-retail-robot/ [https://techinformed.com/spillage-on-aisle-12-the-rise-of-the-retail-robot/] * https://thecounter.org/supermarket-robot-automation-ai-organized-labor-stop-and-shop/ [https://thecounter.org/supermarket-robot-automation-ai-organized-labor-stop-and-shop/] * https://web.archive.org/web/20200919083640/https://www.badger-technologies.com/news/press-releases/woodmans-markets-rolls-out-badger-technologies-grocery-robots.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20200919083640/https://www.badger-technologies.com/news/press-releases/woodmans-markets-rolls-out-badger-technologies-grocery-robots.html] * https://web.archive.org/web/20200919090310/https://www.badger-technologies.com/news/press-releases/badger-technologies-introduces-patrolbot.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20200919090310/https://www.badger-technologies.com/news/press-releases/badger-technologies-introduces-patrolbot.html] * https://web.archive.org/web/20200919094018/https://www.badger-technologies.com/news/press-releases/att-and-badger-technologies-working.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20200919094018/https://www.badger-technologies.com/news/press-releases/att-and-badger-technologies-working.html] * https://web.archive.org/web/20201002074857/https://apnews.com/article/19a0e615c7fe4a5c8fd754a85f509cb1 [https://web.archive.org/web/20201002074857/https://apnews.com/article/19a0e615c7fe4a5c8fd754a85f509cb1] * https://web.archive.org/web/20210917171846/https://www.badger-technologies.com/news/press-releases/badger-technologies-uv-disinfect-robot.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20210917171846/https://www.badger-technologies.com/news/press-releases/badger-technologies-uv-disinfect-robot.html] * https://web.archive.org/web/20211016171338/https://www.badger-technologies.com/news/press-releases/badger-technologies-and-stcr.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20211016171338/https://www.badger-technologies.com/news/press-releases/badger-technologies-and-stcr.html] * https://web.archive.org/web/20240721224646/https://www.badger-technologies.com/news/press-releases/stop-and-shop-nrf-promo.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20240721224646/https://www.badger-technologies.com/news/press-releases/stop-and-shop-nrf-promo.html] * https://web.archive.org/web/20240806144745/https://www.badger-technologies.com/news/press-releases/stop-and-shop-upgrade-marty-the-robot.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20240806144745/https://www.badger-technologies.com/news/press-releases/stop-and-shop-upgrade-marty-the-robot.html] * https://web.archive.org/web/20240912023036/https://www.badger-technologies.com/news/press-releases/mccoys-building-supply-deploys-badger-robots.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20240912023036/https://www.badger-technologies.com/news/press-releases/mccoys-building-supply-deploys-badger-robots.html] * https://web.archive.org/web/20250615184221/https://www.badger-technologies.com/news/press-releases/badger-technologies-deploys-patrolbot-autonomous-security-robot-at-the-national-veterans-memorial-and-museum.html [https://web.archive.org/web/20250615184221/https://www.badger-technologies.com/news/press-releases/badger-technologies-deploys-patrolbot-autonomous-security-robot-at-the-national-veterans-memorial-and-museum.html] * https://www.aholddelhaize.com/brands/ [https://www.aholddelhaize.com/brands/] * https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/why-sticking-a-pair-of-eyeballs-on-a-sign-actually-changes-behavior [https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/why-sticking-a-pair-of-eyeballs-on-a-sign-actually-changes-behavior] * https://www.automate.org/robotics/blogs/who-is-marty-the-robot-and-why-do-we-need-retail-service-robots [https://www.automate.org/robotics/blogs/who-is-marty-the-robot-and-why-do-we-need-retail-service-robots] * https://www.badger-technologies.com [https://www.badger-technologies.com/] * https://www.badger-technologies.com/dam/jcr:178f5552-ef38-4e31-8965-7ef2055115d8/Woodmans%20Case%20Study_Final.pdf [https://www.badger-technologies.com/dam/jcr:178f5552-ef38-4e31-8965-7ef2055115d8/Woodmans%20Case%20Study_Final.pdf] * https://www.badger-technologies.com/dam/jcr:20adf450-23a7-47d5-89ed-e4dea4c4a201/Badger-Robot-ROI-Whitepaper.pdf [https://www.badger-technologies.com/dam/jcr:20adf450-23a7-47d5-89ed-e4dea4c4a201/Badger-Robot-ROI-Whitepaper.pdf] * https://www.badger-technologies.com/dam/jcr:765f7259-97cb-4ff1-a0fb-86f5eedbf403/Badger-Data_Monetization_5_Ways.pdf [https://www.badger-technologies.com/dam/jcr:765f7259-97cb-4ff1-a0fb-86f5eedbf403/Badger-Data_Monetization_5_Ways.pdf] * https://www.badger-technologies.com/news/press-releases/stop-and-shop-upgrade-marty-the-robot.html [https://www.badger-technologies.com/news/press-releases/stop-and-shop-upgrade-marty-the-robot.html] * https://www.badger-technologies.com/platform/badger-in-the-store.html [https://www.badger-technologies.com/platform/badger-in-the-store.html] * https://www.badger-technologies.com/resource/badger-resources.html [https://www.badger-technologies.com/resource/badger-resources.html] * https://www.bizjournals.com/tampa...

Horizon Worlds: Mark Zuckerberg's legless VR utopia (Part 3)

Suit up, jack in, and Zuck out. I'm joined by guest Anderson Gronvold [https://www.instagram.com/anderson_gronvold] as we abandon meatspace for metaspace. Find out why you can't afford to miss out on Meta's flagship VR experience. Legs optional! 🦵 References: Harris, Blake J. (2019). The History of the Future: Oculus, Facebook, and the Revolution That Swept Virtual Reality. Dey Street Books. https://about.fb.com/news/2021/10/creating-jobs-europe-metaverse/ [https://about.fb.com/news/2021/10/creating-jobs-europe-metaverse/]  https://apnews.com/article/the-facebook-papers-maid-abuse-94909f43c725af09522704348e35bd25 [https://apnews.com/article/the-facebook-papers-maid-abuse-94909f43c725af09522704348e35bd25]  https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/09/facebook-reveals-staffing-plan-to-be-your-vr-chat-concierge-service/ [https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2019/09/facebook-reveals-staffing-plan-to-be-your-vr-chat-concierge-service/]  https://atlantablackstar.com/2026/01/25/mark-zuckerberg-under-fire-after-hiring-trumps-former-adviser-as-meta-president/ [https://atlantablackstar.com/2026/01/25/mark-zuckerberg-under-fire-after-hiring-trumps-former-adviser-as-meta-president/]  https://bpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/sites.mit.edu/dist/0/833/files/2020/05/ST_Construc-and-reconstruc-of-self.pdf [https://bpb-us-e1.wpmucdn.com/sites.mit.edu/dist/0/833/files/2020/05/ST_Construc-and-reconstruc-of-self.pdf]  https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/joeroganexperience/episodes/1863---Mark-Zuckerberg-e1mu8n0 [https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/joeroganexperience/episodes/1863---Mark-Zuckerberg-e1mu8n0]  https://epublications.marquette.edu/zuckerberg_files_videos/250/ [https://epublications.marquette.edu/zuckerberg_files_videos/250/]  https://fortune.com/crypto/2023/07/28/snoop-dogg-metaverse-nfts-sandbox-price-declines/ [https://fortune.com/crypto/2023/07/28/snoop-dogg-metaverse-nfts-sandbox-price-declines/]  https://games.slashdot.org/story/99/10/15/1012230/John-Carmack-Answers [https://games.slashdot.org/story/99/10/15/1012230/John-Carmack-Answers]  https://gizmodo.com/meta-horizon-worlds-sees-10x-growth-since-december-1848562017 [https://gizmodo.com/meta-horizon-worlds-sees-10x-growth-since-december-1848562017]  https://kotaku.com/facebook-metaverse-horizon-worlds-vr-oculus-quest-2-cha-1848436740 [https://kotaku.com/facebook-metaverse-horizon-worlds-vr-oculus-quest-2-cha-1848436740]  https://kotaku.com/fortnites-latest-crossover-is-martin-luther-king-1847563562 [https://kotaku.com/fortnites-latest-crossover-is-martin-luther-king-1847563562]  https://kotaku.com/meta-connect-facebook-mark-zuckerberg-vr-feet-legs-1849643784 [https://kotaku.com/meta-connect-facebook-mark-zuckerberg-vr-feet-legs-1849643784]  https://kotaku.com/the-metaverse-is-already-here-for-cows-and-it-s-very-sa-1848335331 [https://kotaku.com/the-metaverse-is-already-here-for-cows-and-it-s-very-sa-1848335331]  https://medium.com/@gobblegobble/mocap-the-money-part-c16b78de6170 [https://medium.com/@gobblegobble/mocap-the-money-part-c16b78de6170]  https://medium.com/the-lab-apply-digital/metaverse-review-horizon-worlds-b9f003ea84af [https://medium.com/the-lab-apply-digital/metaverse-review-horizon-worlds-b9f003ea84af]  https://observer.ug/business/facebook-and-content-moderation-why-its-always-under-attack/ [https://observer.ug/business/facebook-and-content-moderation-why-its-always-under-attack/]  https://patents.google.com/patent/US10192403B2/en [https://patents.google.com/patent/US10192403B2/en]  https://patents.google.com/patent/US10909405B1/en [https://patents.google.com/patent/US10909405B1/en]  https://patents.google.com/patent/US10976826B1/en [https://patents.google.com/patent/US10976826B1/en]  https://patents.google.com/patent/US3050870A/en [https://patents.google.com/patent/US3050870A/en]  https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/09/vr-zuckerberg-shares-details-on-some-of-facebooks-ai-aid-to-the-red-cross-in-puerto-rico/ [https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/09/vr-zuckerberg-shares-details-on-some-of-facebooks-ai-aid-to-the-red-cross-in-puerto-rico/]  https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/10/zuckerberg-apologizes-for-his-tone-deaf-vr-cartoon-tour-of-puerto-rico-devastation/ [https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/10/zuckerberg-apologizes-for-his-tone-deaf-vr-cartoon-tour-of-puerto-rico-devastation/]  https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/13/facebook-mulled-multi-billion-dollar-acquisition-of-unity-book-claims/ [https://techcrunch.com/2019/02/13/facebook-mulled-multi-billion-dollar-acquisition-of-unity-book-claims/]  https://techcrunch.com/2022/05/06/meta-integrating-venues-into-horizon-worlds/ [https://techcrunch.com/2022/05/06/meta-integrating-venues-into-horizon-worlds/]  https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/jordan-peele-nope-meta-virtua-reality-horizon-worlds-1235313750/ [https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/jordan-peele-nope-meta-virtua-reality-horizon-worlds-1235313750/]  https://washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/02/07/facebook-metaverse-horizon-worlds-kids-safety/ [https://washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/02/07/facebook-metaverse-horizon-worlds-kids-safety/]  https://web.archive.org/web/20220216143908/https://www.vox.com/recode/22776461/facebook-meta-metaverse-monopoly [https://web.archive.org/web/20220216143908/https://www.vox.com/recode/22776461/facebook-meta-metaverse-monopoly]  https://web.archive.org/web/20220817170129/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/mark-zuckerberg-metaverse-selfie-horizon-worlds/ [https://web.archive.org/web/20220817170129/https://www.dailydot.com/debug/mark-zuckerberg-metaverse-selfie-horizon-worlds/]  https://web.archive.org/web/20230921175333/https://ai.meta.com/blog/powered-by-ai-oculus-insight/ [https://web.archive.org/web/20230921175333/https://ai.meta.com/blog/powered-by-ai-oculus-insight/]  https://web.archive.org/web/20240912192513/https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2003/11/4/hot-or-not-website-briefly-judges/?page=1 [https://web.archive.org/web/20240912192513/https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2003/11/4/hot-or-not-website-briefly-judges/?page=1]  https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/09/myanmar-facebooks-systems-promoted-violence-against-rohingya-meta-owes-reparations-new-report/ [https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/09/myanmar-facebooks-systems-promoted-violence-against-rohingya-meta-owes-reparations-new-report/]  https://www.androidcentral.com/quest-2-2021-most-sold [https://www.androidcentral.com/quest-2-2021-most-sold]  https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-12-15/the-metaverse-via-oculus-is-awkward-if-you-re-a-woman-and-beware-of-griefers [https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-12-15/the-metaverse-via-oculus-is-awkward-if-you-re-a-woman-and-beware-of-griefers]  https://www.businessinsider.com/stolen-data-of-533-million-facebook-users-leaked-online-2021-4 [https://www.businessinsider.com/stolen-data-of-533-million-facebook-users-leaked-online-2021-4]  https://www.buzzfeednews.c... [https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/meghara/how-fake-news-and-online-hate-are-making-life-hell-for]