It is a talk about compiler optimisations and how next generation CPUs are able to see further into the code than before, thus allowing certain optimisations to get in the way of a faster program.
I remember every so often Fred bringing up the topic of complexity of modern day CPUs in regard to optimisation, usually whenever someone is bothering him about it

On another note, I've been building more tools for my game, it has been jugging along nicely.