Lex Fridman Podcast - #479 – Dave Plummer: Programming, Autism, and Old-School Microsoft Stories

Dave Plummer is a programmer, former Microsoft software engineer (Windows 95, NT, XP), creator of Task Manager, author of two books on autism, and host of the Dave’s Garage YouTube channel, where he shares stories from his career, insights on software development, and deep dives into technology.
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EPISODE LINKS:
Dave’s X: https://x.com/davepl1968
Dave’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DavesGarage
Dave’s Secondary YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@davepl
Dave’s GitHub: https://github.com/PlummersSoftwareLLC
Dave’s Books: https://amzn.to/41qd5IB

SPONSORS:
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OUTLINE:
(00:00) – Introduction
(01:14) – Sponsors, Comments, and Reflections
(10:16) – First computer
(15:54) – Dropping out of high-school
(23:35) – Joining Microsoft
(25:47) – MS-DOS
(28:59) – Windows 95
(35:46) – The man behind Windows
(40:42) – Debugging
(45:59) – Task Manager
(51:08) – 3D Pinball: Space Cadet
(56:07) – Start menu and taskbar
(1:07:06) – Blue Screen of Death
(1:09:15) – Best programmers
(1:17:16) – Scariest time of Dave’s life
(1:24:44) – Best Windows version
(1:26:34) – Slot machines
(1:30:17) – Autism and ADHD
(1:49:37) – Fastest programming language
(1:53:42) – Future of programming

PODCAST LINKS:
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CBS News Roundup - 08/29/2025 | World News Roundup Late Edition

A federal appeals court says President Trump's tariffs are not legal. A widely-used customs exemption for low-value international shipments has ended. The governor of Texas signed the newly-redrawn maps into law.

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Global News Podcast - WHO warns of growing cholera crisis

The World Health Organization says a resurgence of cholera in a number of African countries is putting more strain on already stretched health services. The WHO says more than 400,000 cases and nearly 5,000 deaths have been recorded worldwide this year, fuelled by conflict, poverty and flooding. Also: President Trump cancels Secret Service protection for the former US Vice-President Kamala Harris, and why more Germans are opting for non-alcoholic beer.

The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment.

Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk

Planet Money - Lisa Cook and the fight for the Fed

The Federal Reserve has been under intense pressure from President Donald Trump as he pushes for more control over the historically independent agency. The Fed is tasked with keeping inflation and unemployment under control, and it’s supposed to be insulated from politics so it can do whatever is necessary for the economy. But Trump has been openly saying he wants interest rates to be lower. A lot lower.

And on Monday, Trump posted a bombshell. He said that he was removing Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, “for cause.” Lisa Cook has told NPR she intends to remain in office, and is now suing Trump. 

On today’s show: inside the Fed Board of Governors. How realistic is a plan to control monetary policy through loyalists on the Board? We hear from former Board governors to understand what the job is, and what we might be in for. 

Further listening on the Fed and Fed independence:

- A primer on the Federal Reserve's independence
- Happy Fed Independence Day
- The case for Fed independence in the Nixon tapes
- A Locked Door, A Secret Meeting And The Birth Of The Fed
- Trump's unprecedented attack on the Fed
- Turkey's runaway inflation problem 
- Should presidents have more of a say in interest rates?

Listen free at these links: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, the NPR app or anywhere you get podcasts.

Find more Planet Money: Facebook / Instagram / TikTok / Our weekly Newsletter.

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PBS News Hour - World - What consumers can expect as de minimis exemption ends

Americans are no longer able to import cheap foreign goods tariff-free. The Trump administration ended the de minimis exemption, which allowed packages valued under $800 to enter the U.S. with no import tax. Last year, there were nearly four million such packages a day. Amna Nawaz discussed the latest with Clark Packard. He is a trade expert at the libertarian Cato Institute. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

PBS News Hour - World - WFP’s Cindy McCain describes dire conditions after visit to famine-gripped Gaza

Israel launched its Gaza City offensive, labeling it a Hamas stronghold. It’s home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians already facing starvation and yet another round of forced displacement. The U.N. warns that Israel’s evacuation orders are a “recipe for disaster." William Brangham discussed more with Cindy McCain of the World Food Programme, who just returned from a mission to Gaza. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

PBS News Hour - World - Frustrations rise in Israel as war endures and hostages remain in Gaza

Israel said it recovered the body of a hostage kidnapped and killed during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attacks, along with the remains of another hostage it did not identify. The announcement was yet another reminder of how the country lives in the shadow of Oct. 7. Nick Schifrin and producer Karl Bostic report on the country’s mood, 693 days since the war began. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Consider This from NPR - President Trump, entertainer-in-chief

Before he entered politics, most Americans knew Donald Trump as an entertainer.

As the host of the hit show “The Apprentice” he was catapulted to a new level of fame. 

That persona has carried over to Trump’s political life as he embraces his role as entertainer-in-chief. 

In this term, unlike the first, Trump has taken aim at cultural institutions.

He initiated a takeover of the Kennedy Center, has declared that Smithsonian exhibits must submit to White House scrutiny, and he’s successfully sued – and won settlements from – multiple broadcasting giants.

Throughout Trump’s second term, he’s dramatically expanded the authority of the executive branch. Now, he’s using his power to reshape American culture. 

For sponsor-free episodes of Consider This, sign up for Consider This+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Email us at considerthis@npr.org.

This episode was produced by Kai McNamee.

It was edited by Courtney Dorning and Justine Kenin.

Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.

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The Gist - Edward Wong: At the Edge of Empire, China, Family, and Power

New York Times correspondent Edward Wong has reported from Beijing to Baghdad, covering the rise of China and the reach of American power. In his new book At the Edge of Empire: A Family’s Reckoning with China, Wong blends geopolitics with personal history, from his father’s time in Mao’s army to his own years navigating censorship and nationalism in modern China. Mike talks with Wong about ideology, disillusionment, and what China’s trajectory means for the United States and the world. Plus: On the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Mike reflects on how rumors and misinformation shaped the disaster response, and what lessons still echo in today’s media landscape.

Use Code gist at the link to get an exclusive 60% off an annual incogni plan: https://incogni.com/gist

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