182 When Machines Can Copy Software From A Screenshot
Send us Fan Mail A bot that hunts RFPs for you sounds like a cheat code until you have to decide what you trust, what you verify, and what you never delegate. We walk through a real hybrid AI setup where Grok handles internet-facing scraping and link gathering, then a local LLM takes over for summarizing, classifying, and formatting clean output you can actually use for sales pipeline work. It’s the kind of automation that turns “I should check that site someday” into a Monday-morning CSV you can act on. From there, we get into the uncomfortable but necessary part: AI security and access control. We talk about MCP bridging, why we keep hard separation from credentials, and how easy it is to accidentally weaken your own guardrails when an agent is listening for commands. We also compare local LLM performance on a Mac Studio versus an older Nvidia card, and why raw speed changes whether AI is a fun experiment or a practical daily tool. Then we zoom out to what’s changing fast: AI-assisted coding that can recreate software behavior from UI images, the tedious reality of debugging AI-generated apps, and what “copying” even means when source code isn’t available. We round it out with policy and power, including license plate camera surveillance and major shifts in ATF posture around forms, suppressor transfers, and the possibility of selling certain post-1986 government-purchased full-auto firearms to the public. Subscribe for more candid, technical conversations, share this with a friend who’s building agents, and leave a review if you want us to keep pushing deeper. What part of AI automation do you want us to test next? Support the show Want to hear old episodes? All subscribers have access to the full back catalog of episodes and specials! Just Two Good Old Boys (Just Two Good Old Boys +) Communicate with us directly on x.com by joining the Good Old Boys community! https://x.com/i/communities/1887018898605641825 Can't donate? Listen to Amy Clare Smith Music Check out Gene's other podcasts - podcast.sirgene.com and unrelenting.show Read Ben's blog and see product links at namedben.com
September 27, 2026Episode 1812 hr 2 min
181 Travel Status Games And What They Cost
Send us Fan Mail Diesel costs more than gas in places it never used to, and that single fact ripples into shipping, groceries, and basically every price tag you touch. We dig into why the diesel versus crude oil relationship feels “off,” what global refining constraints might be doing, and how energy decisions like coal gasification and cleaner syngas concepts can look brilliant on paper and still fail in the real world. From there we jump hard into tech and AI, because the conversation keeps pointing back to the same question: how do you run modern systems efficiently? IBM’s NorthPole processor is a perfect example, pushing AI inference with on-chip memory and architecture choices that challenge the default “just add GPUs” mindset. We also talk about the weirdly impressive reality of AI-built software, including a slick task manager style app that appears to come from a tiny prompt, plus the uncomfortable side of code provenance and trust. The episode stays informal and wide-ranging: conference travel, vendor dinners, airport parking hacks, and why some of us don’t want vehicles that can be remotely disabled. We also hit Hollywood’s shrinking job market, the idea that managers may be uniquely good at “managing AI,” and a few practical life topics like Proton Mail, Signal, sleep studies, CPAP tradeoffs, GLP-1s, and peptides. If you like candid conversations about cybersecurity culture, AI trends, privacy tools, energy economics, and the messy reality between headlines and real life, this one’s for you. Subscribe so you don’t miss next week, share this with a friend who loves tech and systems talk, and leave a review with your hottest take: are GPUs still the future, or is inference-first hardware about to take over? Support the show Want to hear old episodes? All subscribers have access to the full back catalog of episodes and specials! Just Two Good Old Boys (Just Two Good Old Boys +) Communicate with us directly on x.com by joining the Good Old Boys community! https://x.com/i/communities/1887018898605641825 Can't donate? Listen to Amy Clare Smith Music Check out Gene's other podcasts - podcast.sirgene.com and unrelenting.show Read Ben's blog and see product links at namedben.com
August 5, 2026Episode 1748 min
174 Ben's Cooking Episode Summer 2026
Send us Fan Mail Shrimp and grits Ingredients Grits: 2 Tbsp. beef tallow 1 medium shallot, finely chopped (about 1/4 cup) 3 cups chicken broth 1 cup whole milk 1 tsp. kosher salt 1/4 tsp. black pepper 1 cup uncooked quick-cooking grits Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 1/2 cups) 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream Shrimp: 2 Tbsp. beef tallow 1 lb. jumbo raw shrimp (about 16 shrimp), peeled fuck de-veining 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 1 pack Andouille sausage 1/2 cup finely chopped yellow 1/4 cup finely chopped green bell pepper 1/4 cup finely chopped celery 1 small tomato, seeded and finely chopped minced garlic to taste Tony’s to taste 1/2 tsp. black pepper 2 cups chicken broth 2 Tbsp. heavy whipping cream 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon) 1 Worcestershire sauce 1/2 cup thinly sliced scallions Directions Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large saucepan over medium-high. Add shallot, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 2 minutes. Add broth, milk, salt, and pepper to saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium-high. Slowly whisk in grits, and reduce heat to medium. Cook, whisking often, until grits are thickened and tender, about 5 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat; whisk in cheese, cream, and remaining 1 tablespoon butter until smooth. Cover and keep warm. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over high. Add shrimp, and sprinkle with salt; cook, undisturbed, until golden brown, about 2 minutes. Flip shrimp, and cook, undisturbed, until lightly browned but not cooked through, about 1 minute. Transfer to a plate. Reduce heat in skillet to medium-high; add sausage, and cook, stirring occasionally, until browned, about 4 minutes. Stir in onion, bell pepper, and celery; cook, stirring often, until tender and beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add tomato, garlic, Cajun seasoning, and black pepper to skillet; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir broth, cream, lemon juice, and Worcestershire into skillet; cook, stirring occasionally and scraping up browned bits from bottom of skillet, until slightly reduced and thickened, about 10 minutes. Return shrimp to skillet, and coat in sauce; cook until cooked through, about 1 minute. Red Beans and Rice Ingredients: Pickled Pork 2 cups water 1 cup apple cider vinegar 1/4 cup kosher salt 6 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed 2 tablespoons sugar 2 tablespoons yellow mustard seed Tabasco to taste 3 bay leaf 1/4 teaspoon whole black peppercorns Ice too cool it down 1 1/2 pounds fresh boneless pork butt, cut into cubes Tony’s to taste For the beans 2 tablespoons Beef Taleo 1 pack of Zummos Andouille Sausage halved and sliced 1 medium onion, chopped 2 medium green bell peppers, chopped 3 stalks celery, chopped 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 5 cloves garlic, minced 12 ounces pickled pork, cut into 1-inch pieces 5 bay leaves 1 teaspoon dried thyme Tabasco to taste Tony’s to taste 2 quarts water 1 pound red kidney beans, rinsed Pickled Pork Combine all of the ingredients except the ice and the pork in a saucepan set over high heat and bring to a boil. Maintain a simmer for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat, add the ice and stir, enough to cool it down . Put the pork into a 1-gallon zip-top bag and add the cooled pickling liquid. Remove as much air as possible, then seal the bag and place in the refrigerator for 3+ days, turning the bag occasionally. Red Beans and Rice Heat the Beef Taleo in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, celery, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until the onions and celery are semi-translucent and the bell peppers are tender. Add the garlic and cook until aromatic . Add the pickled pork and Zummos Andouille Sausage, bay leaves, thyme, hot sauce, tony’s, water, and beans to the pot and increase the heat to high. Cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture comes to a boil, approximately 6 to 8 minutes. Decrease the heat to maintain a simmer, cover, and cook for 1 1/2 hours, stirring every 30 minutes. Uncover, increase the heat slightly to maintain a steady simmer and continue to cook until the beans are tender and the sauce is thickened to your liking, another 30 to 40 minutes. If you prefer an even creamier texture, mash some of the beans. Redfish and Shrimp Puttanesca: Ingredients Approximately 1/2 cup olive oil 1 cup finely chopped onion red and white 8 cloves minced garlic 2 (28-ounce) cans Roma plum tomatoes, broken into pieces, with juice 1 cup tightly packed, pitted, and halved Kalamata olives 2 tablespoons tomato paste 4 tablespoons drained capers 2 tablespoons minced anchovy fillets (about 8 fillets) 1/2 cup fresh chopped oregano and coarsely chopped fresh Italian 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves dried crushed red pepper flakes Salt as needed 1 pound penne pasta, cooked to al dente 1 pound head on Shrimp (16-24) 1 pound Redfish fillet cut into 1/4” cubes Bay leaves Directions In a large pot heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the onion and saute until soft and lightly caramelized. Add the garlic and lightly caramelize. Add the tomatoes and the remaining ingredients except for seafood and simmer until the sauce is thickened and slightly reduced, about 40 minutes. Adjust seasoning, to taste. Add Redfish and allow to cook for 10 min. Add shrimp and allow to cook for 10 min; Add penne pasta to the pan and toss for 1 minute. Support the show Want to hear old episodes? All subscribers have access to the full back catalog of episodes and specials! Just Two Good Old Boys (Just Two Good Old Boys +) Communicate with us directly on x.com by joining the Good Old Boys community! https://x.com/i/communities/1887018898605641825 Can't donate? Listen to Amy Clare Smith Music Check out Gene's other podcasts - podcast.sirgene.com and unrelenting.show Read Ben's blog and see product links at namedben.com
December 18, 2024Episode 20246 min
Just Two Good Old Boys Christmas Celebration
Send us Fan Mail This is our Christmas card to our listeners and especially to our monthly supporters! Ben and Gene wish you a very Merry Christmas! Support the show Want to hear old episodes? All subscribers have access to the full back catalog of episodes and specials! Just Two Good Old Boys (Just Two Good Old Boys +) Communicate with us directly on x.com by joining the Good Old Boys community! https://x.com/i/communities/1887018898605641825 Can't donate? Listen to Amy Clare Smith Music Check out Gene's other podcasts - podcast.sirgene.com and unrelenting.show Read Ben's blog and see product links at namedben.com
November 7, 2024Episode 9122 min
091 BONUS Just Two Good Old Boys Elections Special
Send us Fan Mail Did the election night in Pennsylvania and the Rust Belt catch everyone off guard, or was it a masterstroke of strategy? We unravel the surprising victory of Trump and the eerie calm that followed in cities like DC and Baltimore, which were braced for chaos. As we ponder over the lack of expected unrest and the implications of these results, our personal stories and firsthand experiences paint a vivid picture of a nation in disbelief and contemplation. The unexpected voter shifts among Hispanic and Black male voters, as well as the Amish and Jewish communities, give us plenty to dissect about what this might mean for the political landscape. Trump's strategic choices, including picking Vance as a running mate, seem to have played a crucial role in his sweeping success. We speculate on the possibility of a future Vance presidency and what that could entail. The conversation also touches on the role of capable leadership in shaping the administration, with names like Elon Musk entering the fray. For some, this election harkens back to the Reagan era, signaling a robust rejection of wokeism. Join us for an engaging discussion that not only revisits the past but also looks ahead at what these results might mean for the future. Support the show Want to hear old episodes? All subscribers have access to the full back catalog of episodes and specials! Just Two Good Old Boys (Just Two Good Old Boys +) Communicate with us directly on x.com by joining the Good Old Boys community! https://x.com/i/communities/1887018898605641825 Can't donate? Listen to Amy Clare Smith Music Check out Gene's other podcasts - podcast.sirgene.com and unrelenting.show Read Ben's blog and see product links at namedben.com
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