276: TechTime Radio: Steam Machine Dreams, cloned Pets, Robots Stumble, Travel Scams, Paycheck Glitch, Russia Hacks Again, Quirky EV Smells, and Security Camera Louvre "Password Fail" | Air Date: 11/18 - 11/24/25

TechTime with Nathan Mumm

A living room PC that wants to be your next console, a cloned dog that raises bigger questions than it answers, and a museum heist made possible by the world’s laziest password. That’s the lineup we tackle as we break down the most head-scratching, revealing tech stories of the week with equal parts clarity and humor.
We start with Valve’s Steam machine: a sleek, SteamOS-powered box aiming for 4K/60 on your TV. We unpack the real-world hurdles—8GB VRAM limits, upgrade ambiguity, and the make-or-break pricing line—while noting the window of opportunity as Sony stays quiet on PS6 and Microsoft doubles down on cloud and subscriptions. If Valve can balance performance, cost, and openness, they might just rewrite the console conversation.
From there, the show gets wonderfully weird—and instructive. Tom Brady’s reported dog clone spotlights the gap between genetics and identity. A Russian humanoid robot faceplants onstage, underscoring how hard dynamic stabilization really is. A Florida homeowner learns her address has been hijacked by a fake garage-door business, the kind of “legitimacy theater” scam that thrives on stolen photos and Google listings. And a payroll glitch sends $87,000 to a factory worker who spends first and argues later, setting up a courtroom lesson in what “salary” really means.
We also get practical: holiday travel phishing is spiking, with fake Booking, Expedia, and Airbnb pages skimming cards in seconds. We share simple, effective defenses: go direct to official apps, inspect URLs, and enable card alerts. Then we pour Elijah Craig Barrel Proof B520 and compare notes—rich chocolate, caramel, and spice at a hefty 127.2 proof—while reflecting on why the Nintendo Wii’s motion-first design still matters. To top it off, Kia’s gas-scented EV air freshener proves sensory nostalgia can be a clever bridge to cleaner tech.
The jaw-dropper comes from Paris: a Louvre security failure reportedly tied to a camera password you could guess in two tries. It’s a blunt reminder that protecting treasures requires basic cyber hygiene: strong unique credentials, MFA, segmentation, and monitoring. Whether you’re guarding crown jewels or your photo library, the fundamentals are non-negotiable.
Enjoy the ride, share a laugh, and leave with takeaways you can use—from buying choices to security habits. If you’re into smart tech talk without the jargon, hit follow, share with a friend, and drop us a review with your hot take: would you buy Valve’s Steam machine for your living room?

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Chapters

1. Welcome And Format Set (00:00:00)

2. Steam Machine Deep Dive (00:02:07)

3. Console Wars And Pricing Reality (00:10:02)

4. Remote Meeting Blunders Escalate (00:14:09)

5. Holiday Travel Phishing Scams (00:17:56)

6. Whiskey Setup: Elijah Craig B520 (00:19:45)

7. Say What: Tom Brady Dog Clone (00:22:32)

8. Say What: Russian Robot Faceplant (00:26:55)

9. Say What: Home Address Hijacked (00:30:04)

10. Say What: Payroll Glitch Payday (00:33:42)

11. Say What: Gas-Scented EV Freshener (00:37:00)

12. Mike’s Mesmerizing Moment: Gaming Culture (00:39:16)

13. This Week In Tech: Nintendo Wii (00:45:48)

14. Whiskey Mumble And Princess Day (00:50:22)

15. Tech Fail: Louvre Password Heist (00:55:19)