Topic: Ge

Adam Curry recounts his refusal to connect his new GE refrigerator to Wi-Fi, fearing the utility company would remotely shut it down during peak demand. Jason Calacanis discusses the future of lens replacement therapy and superhuman perception. While Calacanis is excited about biohacking, Curry remains skeptical of brain implants like Neuralink, preferring to use AI to reduce his digital bandwidth.

Residents in Detroit and other parts of Michigan are expressing fear over the construction of large AI data centers, citing concerns about rising utility bills and massive water usage. A "man on the street" interview highlights the anxiety of seniors regarding $200 water bills. Despite local opposition, GE has reportedly sold out its power-generating turbines through 2030 to meet the needs of these facilities.

A facility leader from GE Vernova appeared at a White House event to discuss a $750 million investment in U.S. manufacturing. The expansion of the Greenville, South Carolina facility is expected to triple the output of gas turbines to meet demand in both the U.S. and Saudi Arabia, potentially creating 1,800 jobs. Observers noted that such public endorsements by the President often lead to significant increases in the involved company's stock price.

A discussion on the durability of modern goods leads to a critique of "planned obsolescence" in Chinese-made LED bulbs compared to older American versions. The hosts reference the historical "light bulb conspiracy" where a consortium of manufacturers allegedly colluded to limit the lifespan of tungsten filaments. They recall specialized "turtle bulbs" from the 1990s that were designed to last decades but were removed from the market.

The Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) is identified as a key distributor of smart grid grants under the 2009 Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Major corporations like IBM and GE are reportedly receiving billions to develop an interconnected network that includes tracking livestock via RFID chips. The hosts suggest the "smart grid" is a tool for total instrumentation of the economy and environment.

John Deere workers and GE electricians have initiated strikes over profit-sharing and corporate policies. Simultaneously, a report surfaced regarding a Chicago police officer who allegedly died shortly after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, with the death investigation noting the vaccination despite pre-existing conditions. The hosts discuss how these incidents are being handled by local authorities and the potential impact on public perception of mandates.

John Sculley argues that the true value of the Internet of Things lies in industrial and commercial applications rather than consumer gadgets. He cites GE's use of sensors in jet engines to monitor fuel consumption and safety in real-time as a primary example. He also discusses "Smart Cities" initiatives by IBM and Cisco aimed at optimizing traffic patterns and energy use in commercial buildings.

Major tech companies including IBM, GE, and Verizon are forming a consortium to create common standards for Hadoop, an open-source software used for large-scale data processing. While the industry promotes Hadoop as a revolutionary tool for extracting useful information from vast datasets, skeptics argue that "big data" is often a money-sucking scam that fails to deliver truly relevant consumer insights or effective targeted advertising.

Adam Curry explains that Japan operates on two incompatible electricity networks: a 50 Hertz system in the northeast built by AEG and a 60 Hertz system in the southwest built by GE. This technical divide prevented the transfer of power from the south to the north during the Fukushima nuclear crisis. The hosts also note regional differences in subway etiquette between Tokyo and Osaka.

Philadelphia has become the first U.S. city to ban the 3D printing of firearms. The hosts argue that the "scary gun" narrative is being used as a pretext to restrict 3D printing technology more broadly, protecting the interests of large corporations like GE that are moving into industrial additive manufacturing.

A debate ensues regarding whether Bitcoin is a currency, a commodity, or a "game." The hosts analyze an interview where a Bitcoin Foundation representative compares Bitcoin's price volatility to that of GE stock and discusses the possibility of the asset hitting zero.

A Boeing 737 crashed in Kazan, Russia, killing all 50 people on board, including executives from GE Capital who were reportedly involved in a billion-dollar deal. The hosts note the lack of Western media coverage regarding the American corporate interests on the flight. Technical analysis suggests the plane stalled during a "go-around" maneuver at approximately 2,000 feet.

The discussion turns to small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) and the potential for "backyard nukes" the size of a grapefruit to power homes for centuries. The hosts criticize the lack of public exploration of this technology. They also discuss the "smart grid" and smart meters as tools for training consumers to use less electricity while prices continue to rise.

While the U.S. has a 350-year supply of coal, the Clean Air Act and new regulations are forcing the closure of domestic coal plants. In Texas, electricity is being imported from coal plants in Mexico built by GE, effectively moving the pollution across the border rather than eliminating it. The hosts describe this as a form of "corporatism" that benefits large entities like GE at the expense of domestic energy independence.

The Federal Register indicates that GE Healthcare has been approved by the DEA to import small quantities of cocaine analogs. The company intends to use the substance to validate production and quality control systems for future drug submissions. The hosts joke about the potential for "synthetic coke" and the alertness of NBC news anchors.

The hosts critique a BP commercial promoting tourism in the Gulf of Mexico, calling it "total bullcrap" designed to repair the company's image after the oil spill. They also discuss how corporate "underwriting" on PBS by companies like GE, Pfizer, and Chevron functions as a way to control reporting. They argue that these companies don't advertise products on public television but rather buy influence over the network's content.

The hosts thank various donors, including Dara and Stuart Gold, and discuss the "value-for-value" model of the show. They argue that advertisements from companies like GE and Boeing on mainstream news networks are not intended to sell products to consumers. Instead, these ads are characterized as "payoffs" to ensure the media outlets align with corporate and government agendas.

General Electric (GE) is identified as the builder of the troubled Japanese reactors, with references made to a 2002 scandal involving falsified maintenance reports. The hosts criticize Bing and Lady Gaga for tying disaster relief donations to social media engagement and product sales, labeling it unconscionable marketing.

Listeners have forwarded various domain names to the show, including TedRumsfeld.com and Chemtrail.us. A theory is presented suggesting the nuclear plant disaster occurred just as the facility reached its 40-year decommissioning date, allowing for an insurance payout to fund new GE Hitachi reactors.

GE and Intel have partnered to create "QuietCare," a system of motion sensors for senior living communities that monitors resident behavior for "significant changes." The hosts view this as an intrusive surveillance tool for the elderly. Additionally, Intel is building "Identity Protection Technology" into its chips, which is linked to its recent acquisition of McAfee.