Topic: Falcon

Delta Air Lines has filed a lawsuit against CrowdStrike following a faulty software update that caused widespread flight cancellations and an estimated $500 million in losses. The complaint alleges that CrowdStrike forced the update even on systems where automatic updates were disabled. It further claims that the company exploited an "unauthorized door" within the Microsoft operating system.

An engineer at CrowdStrike describes the company's internal environment as highly compartmentalized and compares it to the TV show "Alias." The engineer claims the faulty update could not have reached the Content Delivery Network (CDN) unless it was intentional, as the Falcon sensor is a mature product with rigorous testing standards. CrowdStrike's claim of a "bug in the validator" is met with skepticism.

A whistleblower from Iowa revealed that the state's CTO signed a contract to provide CrowdStrike's Falcon application to municipalities for free, leading to a 75% adoption rate and widespread exposure during the outage. The segment also revisits the 2016 DNC server investigation, noting CrowdStrike's long-standing and controversial ties to political and intelligence entities.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon, first flown in 1974, remains a cornerstone of many air forces despite its 50-year-old design. Historical context includes the 1970s Lockheed bribery scandal involving Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, which nearly led to the company's downfall. While the airframe is old, modern versions continue to be manufactured by Lockheed Martin.

A knighting ceremony is held for Dame Karen, "Keeper of the Travel Hounds," who celebrated her birthday with a donation from her partner. The hosts reminisce about the "3x3" segment, a historical comparison of news coverage across ABC, CBS, and NBC. A discussion on fine wine features Spring Mountain Vineyard's 2004 Elivette, noted for its connection to the 1980s soap opera Falcon Crest.

Israel announced plans to land a probe on the moon in 2019, using a Falcon 9 rocket built by Elon Musk's SpaceX. The hosts express skepticism about the mission's success and mention that Musk has been "unmasked" as a top donor to a Republican PAC. They joke about the possibility of a "moon race" and the return of Saturn V technology.

An IT memo reveals the deployment of CrowdStrike's Falcon antivirus, a cloud-based solution using behavioral analytics. The hosts express concern over centralizing malware protection in the cloud and the potential for the security agent itself to act as a point of failure.

The SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch is scrutinized, specifically the decision to send a Tesla Roadster with a "Starman" mannequin into orbit. Claims are made that the live stream footage appeared to be a studio-produced hoax, while an alternative theory suggests the car might serve as a space burial for a member of the global elite, such as David Rockefeller.

Predictions for Super Bowl LI involve a geopolitical analysis of the team owners. Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots is noted for his friendship with Donald Trump, while Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank is associated with Home Depot. Speculation suggests the "elites" might rig the game against the Patriots to spite the President.

The show concludes with a consumer tip about finding high-quality electronics and bikes at local pawn shops. Final thoughts are shared on the Super Bowl, and the hosts sign off with their traditional credits and a reminder of the next broadcast on Thursday.

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket exploded minutes after liftoff, destroying two tons of essential supplies destined for the International Space Station. This marks the third failure of an American-connected space mission in a year, following previous disasters by Orbital Sciences and a Russian cargo ship.

A host describes an experiment at the Oakland airport where he swapped a TSA-marked boarding pass for a clean one at the gate, proving the security scribbles are largely performative. The conversation shifts to SpaceX's plans to land a Falcon 9 rocket on its legs, which the hosts dismiss as old technology similar to the 1969 lunar module.

The U.S. and Turkey conduct the "Anatolian Falcon" air force exercise, which focuses on the suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD). The hosts suggest this is a precursor to establishing a no-fly zone over Syria. They also look into Burhan Ghalyoun, leader of the Syrian National Council, and his ties to Paris and the Golan Heights pipeline interests.

In 2005, then-Senator Barack Obama reportedly invested $90,000 in SkyTerra, the predecessor to LightSquared. The company, now led by Phil Falcone, faces scrutiny over allegations that its satellite broadband network interferes with military GPS systems and that the White House pressured officials to provide favorable testimony.

The U.S. Air Force launches the Falcon HTV-2, an unmanned hypersonic aircraft capable of traveling at 20 times the speed of sound, from Vandenberg Air Force Base. Ground crews lose contact with the craft shortly after separation from its Minotaur rocket. The hosts speculate on the craft's true destination and purpose.

The documentary "Feathered Cocaine" claims that Osama Bin Laden has been living in Iran as a guest of the government, frequently engaging in falconry in Balochistan. The film suggests that Bin Laden's falcons are equipped with GPS transmitters that could be used for triangulation, but US officials have allegedly ignored this intelligence. The hosts debate the validity of the "rat line" smuggling theories presented in the film.

A mysterious spiraling light seen across Eastern Australia is linked to the launch of a private Falcon 9 rocket from Florida. While some observers estimated the object's speed at 20,000 kilometers per hour, experts suggest it was a spent rocket stage venting fuel in the upper atmosphere. John Dvorak shares his own experiences viewing missile launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base.

John C. Dvorak discusses his plans to consult with engineers at Falcon Electric regarding high-end UPS devices to protect computers from power surges. The hosts debate whether a personal mesh network could maintain connectivity if the broader internet infrastructure were disabled by an EMP. They express skepticism regarding the actual threat posed by North Korea, labeling it a "bogeyman" tactic.

Dvorak describes seeing Tom Perkins' world-famous automated sailing ship while traveling to a dinner party at Larry Ellison's residence. He clarifies that while the ship is a technological marvel built in Turkey, he has no desire to attend parties on boats. The dinner took place at Ellison's house, which Dvorak characterizes as a "crash pad" designed like a Four Seasons lobby where guests must remove their shoes.