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Is Ground News a right-wing psy-op?

Video Version | Audio Version Now, in my last episode about Ground News, I talked about how there’s been a many-decade long effort by a lot of extremely rich people to create an alternative media ecosystem of reactionary thought under the term “Conservative Media”. And part of that project was to portray all media that wasn’t Conservative Media

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“Friends In Low Places”

A Reason To Smile

Polytropus

Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey comes at just at the right time for me. I spent the last two years reading the Robert Fagles translation, finishing it just a few months ago.

When I heard that Christopher Nolan was adapting Homer’s poem, I thought it made perfect sense. I really like the way that he plays around with flashbacks and narrative structure—something that The Odyssey is absolutely stuffed with.

Meanwhile, inspired by Madeline Miller’s Circe, I’ve also been reading lots of modern retellings of Greek myths, including new takes on the events in The Odyssey.

I’ve mentioned it before, but one of the most interesting choices in these interpretations is how to treat the gods in these stories. Do they actually exist, directing the narrative? Or are events told in a purely factual way?

Claire North’s Songs of Penelope series has different gods narrate the story, but they themselves are non-interventionist. Likewise Pat Barker’s Trojan war trilogy is full of grit, avoiding supernatural occurrences.

So I was wondering what approach Christopher Nolan would take.

Having seen the film, it looks like it’s chock full of gods and monsters: Polyphemus the cyclops, the Laestrygonian giants, the song of the sirens, the sorcery of Circe, the fearsome Scylla and Charybdis.

But…

As with Homer’s original poem, all of those events are told in flashback. And they’re told by one very unreliable narrator. Odysseus, the much-travelled, adaptable, wily, ingenious, complicated man of twists and turns. His superpower is manipulation through storytelling.

Not only that, but Nolan combines two different story elements to have Odysseus narrate those supernatural events to Calypso having been drugged up on lotus leaves. He is, at this point, the last surviving member of his fleet. There is no one left to contradict his account. His men are dead, perhaps by cyclops, giant, whirlpool and monster, or perhaps by more mundane starvation, exhaustion and disease.

Recently I read Finn Mac Cool by Morgan Llywelyn about a hero from a different mythology:

For the characters in this book, their belief in magic is as real as their belief in the weather. But there are no supernatural powers here. If anything, Finn’s superpower is his ability to tell—and believe—tall tales involving supernatural intervention.

All the usual accounts of Finn Mac Cool’s prowess are retold as deeds that may have a basis in reality but then get exaggerated almost immediately.

It’s a framing device that works well. It’s all too easy to believe in the rise to power of a charismatic man skilled in controlling the narrative.

I think this is what Christopher Nolan has done with The Odyssey. Odysseus probably believes himself that he tricked a cyclops, fought giants, saw his crew turned into pigs, and led them between a whirlpool and a cliff monster.

But when he returns the real world of Ithica, there are no supernatural foes and no supernatural allies. Just a grubby story of disguise and household combat, a sort of Glencoe massacre, a Red Wedding, where Odysseus delivers the killing stroke to the very concept of xenia, a process he began with his Trojan horse deception.

We get one final reveal from the flashbacks, and it’s to show that the one supernatural character on-screen—Athena—is likely a figment of Odysseus’s conscience.

Knowing that we’ve been getting the narrative from a hallucinating traumatised combat veteran should make us question everything he’s been telling us. I’m looking forward to rewatching the film with this in mind.

The Perfect Replacement for Karoline Leavitt

TBR Sunday Read

Demography, Deportations and the Trump Stall

Why the American jobs machine is sputtering

LibreOffice Conference 2026 schedule is online!

The LibreOffice Conference 2026 will take place in Pordenone, Italy, from September 10 – 12. And now the schedule is online, with: 8 conference tracks 64 sessions 49 speakers Click here to view the schedule

US Invites China to Invade Taiwan

Donald Trump has pulled the last U.S. aircraft carrier out of Asia to help prosecute the war in the Middle East.

Sunday thought: Beyond shock and outrage

Surviving a madman

August 15, 2026

On Monday, August 10, Todd Blanche took the oath of office as attorney general, administered by federal appeals court judge Emil Bove, another of Trump’s defense lawyers before moving to the Department of Justice, where he was Blanche’s top deputy.

Bookmarks - harvard, labor, philosophy, archive

These are some things I’ve wandered across on the web this week.

🔖 Illich at 100

We’re spreading a rumour.

Over the first weekend in September, 2026, there will be local gatherings around dinner tables and picnic blankets and in convivial spaces of different kinds, in places around the world, to mark what would have been the 100th birthday of Ivan Illich.

Whether you’re a newcomer to Illich’s work, a long-time reader or anywhere in between, you are warmly invited to be part of this.

Check out the map to find what’s happening near you, sign up as a local contact to host a gathering – or read on to learn more about this remarkable thinker and why we are celebrating his centenary

philosophy

🔖 Institutional Proceedings - University of Michigan: A pipeline anddataset to reason through two centuries of institutionaldecision-making.

We introduce a structured dataset and accompanying processing pipeline for nearly 200 years of decision making, derived from the Proceedings of the Board of Regents of the University of Michigan. This English-language collection holds official decision making records of one of the oldest public research universities in the United States, covering the period of 1837~2023. These records span 55,177 pages across 71 volumes, containing roughly 36 million o200k_base text tokens. We describe how our pipeline makes use of open-source reasoning Large Language Models (LLMs) to extract insights from these records, at meeting, volume and collection level. We separate each volume into individual Board meetings—1,755 in total—and then extract meeting-level metadata records (date, attendees, location, presiding officer) and governance events in several categories: degree programs, leadership transitions, organizational units, fundraising, buildings, and strategic plans. The event categories we extract were defined together with University of Michigan librarians, reflecting the kinds of requests for hard-to-reach information they have received about these records over the years. We also include a derivative reasoning dataset that pairs each meeting with a model-generated summary, chain-of-thought traces, and decade-level synthesis. Finally, we include EPUB exports for each meeting to increase the accessibility of the information for human readers. These datasets are of particular interest for research on historical governance and decision-making and, as a narrow-domain corpus paired with reasoning traces, may also contribute to AI training efforts. None of this data processing would be possible without clearly established ground truths. To that end, we evaluate each stage of the pipeline against hand-annotated reference data

archive harvard llm michigan ocr

🔖 A lot of people seem to be realizing that knowledge work is mostlypointless. AI might give us the pleasure of finding out what happens ifan entire class of workers loses faith in their careers.

A lot of people seem to be realizing that knowledge work is mostly pointless. AI might give us the pleasure of finding out what happens if an entire class of workers loses faith in their careers.

ai culture labor programming

🔖 Vinyl Day - Just for the Record

Vinyl Day - Just for the Record, is a free family-friendly music event for all ages, dedicated to celebrating record and DJ culture in Montgomery County.

Join us at Rockville Memorial Library, 10:00am - 3:00 pm. Guest performers will be taking the mainstage in Rockville town center Plaza during that entire time!

dc music shopping

🔖 More Than 30% of FAS Social Sciences Staff Laid Off in Largest Wave Yet

Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences directly laid off 75 staff across its social sciences units last week — nearly one-third of employees covered by the restructuring and more than twice the number cut in last month’s Harvard College wave — according to a document obtained by The Crimson.

harvard labor work

Thoughts about “working together”

Today, Dave Winer talks about “working together”, and how he wants to work with other people. The bug in this statement is that Dave Winer deletes things from sites he provides for others to try out his tools, talks about “spam” posts (which is his word for someone trying to make use of his “flow” […]

@Andy Sylvester's River of News

Saw this at Walmart today – loved it!

Apocalypse, When?

, updated:

On a new film about the Reagan-Gorbachev 1986 summit in Reykjavik

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

RE: https://hachyderm.io/@mitchellh/117101237420189953

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

One addendum “where SwiftTerm stands today means the latest branch I pushed”, I haven’t merged yet to main

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

First chart is logarithmical because starting this effort showed how bad performance was.

The second chart is closer to "This is where SwiftTerm" stands compared to Ghostty today. In the second chart, the yellow bar is where I am at, ghostty in green.

To get this, I will have to break API compatibility in SwiftTerm, so will need to split 1.x vs 2.x but the Delegate pattern with "weak" variables is just too damn expensive as well as things that at the time looked like cute extensions points

@Tomosino's Mastodon feed

I really want a log flume ride. I'm calling it now. If I ever have an evil lair it's gonna have a log flume.

BTC goes head to head with JD Vance

, updated:

We're going to defeat the Vice President.

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@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

Deploying apps on the web has always been a major turn off for me - it feels like being gifted a litter of puppies.

Assorted pain reduction services exist with tamagotchi rental economics.

And then I discovered miren.dev.

I have absolutely no association with them. I am just genuinely in awe.

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

Sometimes I think about this thread:

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/9eq95t/what_is_something_that_someone_who_has_never_been/

Thinking out loud on a Saturday morning

Tech is very competitive, I learned, even when you give your work away, which I have been doing for a couple of decades. Maybe even especially when you give it away.

I want to work with other people, and am always making invitations. When I see a product that fits in with what I'm doing my first impulse is how do we connect them? This is one of the basic great things about computers and our networks. But there must be interop between people before there can be interop between products.

Connecting two pieces of tech is mostly mathematics, code writing, not very much in the way of manufacturing, whereas in the physical world two train lines can cross each other but can't connect because they have different rail spacing, or run on a different kind of fuel. In software if there's a huge difference like that you can make a software bridge, as they did with TCP/IP, and it costs a little time to convert each request twice for each transaction, but that cost is pretty close to zero.

That's what I want, working together, but what I get instead is people want to be me. They want to take over the project I'm working on, which if they understood it from my point of view is always the most ridiculous choice possible because it is impossible. So many stories to go with this. One of the most puzzling was when one of my best friends signed up to do a development project with a developer who used to work for me. Long story, but when you come down to it, he wanted to be me, not work with me.

But I didn't want to be Doug Engelbart or Ted Nelson though I learned from them. I certainly didn't want to be Bill Gates or Steve Jobs. I probably would have liked being Dennis Ritchie or Ken Thompson. I have ideas of things that should be done that for some reason no one else sees. I start working and sometimes they take off. Then everyone writes business plans and boom, they start up and shortly thereafter they fail. This happened with RSS. I was meeting with a lot of VCs, I wanted to start a company to build two-way RSS apps and content, as we had pioneered at UserLand. Seemed like a total no-brainer. I felt I had proven I had a clue. But they invested in hired programmers so the VCs could be the vision behind the products (I guess, I don't really know know why) instead of me.

I had a colleague at Berkman tell me to get out of the way because he was going to take over RSS. To this day people don't get why competing with RSS was counter-productive, assuming your goal is interop. When another friend tried to take over OPML, as I was promoting it at the time on my blog and going on a roadshow to answer questions and raise interest, I was so sick of the whole thing, he wasn't the only one, btw, I just stopped promoting it and poof like magic their ventures disappeared. If they had offered friendship and interop, which they didn't, it could have worked. One of these guys even tricked Harvard into hosting an OPML conference. They assumed everyone who repped open tech was legit.

The thing that really pissed me off is that while this was going on, people started writing about me, literally, grammatically, in the past tense. People whose accomplishments weren't that great imho. Look at sports and entertainment, how they celebrate those who made contributions to their arts, I wonder when tech will gain that level maturity. It's childish to not respect those whose work you build on. And btw, unlike sports players, while programmer's minds do eventually lose some brilliance for coding, because it relies so heavily on memory, I've experienced that myself -- our ability to create and set standards doesn't have an actual expiration date. If you want to keep creating at 40, 50, 60 even 70, you probably can.

My life has been full of all kinds of wonderful coincidences, at the exact moment I need it along comes Claude Code, and all of a sudden I can do much bigger projects than I ever could when I was in my 20s and 30s. Which I think is good, not just for me but for the whole thing. Because there are processes and concepts that belong in the toolkit of every developer that were squashed by Apple in the 90s (I'm relearning this now as I'm working on getting Frontier running on Node.js) and now we have a chance to restore it to mostly running condition. Some features will be hard to make work, because of peculiarities in JavaScript.

Maybe as one of my last creative acts, I will try to hook up with a university to build bridges between generations that aren't specific to any timeframe, to making handing off a lifetime of work viable, and maybe the AI tools can facilitate that. Just thinking out loud on a Saturday morning.

BTW, I was talking about this with Doc Searls a couple of years ago and offered a name for the seminar series, The Exit Interview. This gave me a thought, when Berkman had their reunion a couple of summers ago, they did a long video interview with me to explain how we got all the stuff running there that we did. It was going back to Berkman, even though the building is gone (which I kind of like, that's how fast things change) that summed up what had gone wrong. We were off to a fantastic start with blogging, podcasting, politics and education -- we weren't just making software and creating standards, we were involving the creative people the new medium would enable. This is something you don't find often in the tech industry. Academic freedom can be a real thing.

Midlife continues

, updated:

Note: this is unedited copy that came straight from my brain, local organic brain-to-table writing, and likely riddled with grammar and syntax errors. Proceed at your own risk.

Things that started happening inexplicably to me since I turned 40:

  • Seeing the wobbly erratic spotlight of a phone flashlight, being like “what idiot has their phone flashlight on and doesn’t know it?”, and then realizing it’s me. I’m the idiot.
  • Grunting to help things along – lifting something heavy, squeezing through narrow spaces, walking up a flight of stairs. Idk, it just feels like it helps. Related: clearing my throat just for fun, saying “huh” out loud to myself.
  • If I see an open seat, bench, or chair, I’m gonna sit in it. Even if it’s just for a minute. It’s not even because I’m that tired (at least physically… I’m emotionally tired from being a middle aged woman), I just… see a seat and think, “oh that looks nice” and need to sit in it.
    • Exception is the subway. Unfortunately, while I do have the soul and essence of an elderly person, I am aware that my outward appearance is likely still perceived as a young person.
  • Squinting even though I can see the thing okay – it just feels like it helps. What can I say, apparently I love furrowing a brow in my 40s.
  • Walking with my arms behind my back, halmoni style
    • This is so underrated and I genuinely enjoy this. Halmoni knows what’s up. It’s a natural chest opener and a huge alleviator1 for when your arms feel too heavy (again, from carrying the weight of the world).
  • I’m mildly cranky a lot of the time. Complaining about things like “car headlights are way too bright these days!!” and “there are too many loud private helicopters flying over Brooklyn!!”
    • I went to a backyard party several weeks ago and multiple loud private helicopters flew over us over the course of the afternoon and I took the opportunity to proselytize to the partygoers about the dangers of noise pollution and the private choppers taking rich people to and from the Hamptons are not supposed to take a flight path over residential Brooklyn but nobody enforces it. It was a pride party btw2.
    • Both of these things are objectively valid, by the way ( headlights, helicopters). (And you better believe I signed both of those petitions because another thing I will do in my 40s is sign a petition to officially put my name on the record that I am ANNOYED!)
  • Having to wear house slippers 100% of the time. I bring them with me when I travel.
  • I don’t swear as much as I used to.
    • Not that I was a total potty mouth or anything before, but idk, cursing just doesn’t have the same punch that it used to. (There are some people supposedly running this world who I wouldn’t mind if someone put an actual curse on, though that’s unrelated.) Also, when I hear younger people swear I think hmm you are not communicating as effectively as you think you are.
  • Being ignored by younger people (non-derogatory and non-ageist; I don’t mean they’re ignoring me intentionally, I mean I am more aware of how I used to be so self-focused that I did not pay much attention to older people).
    • I was sitting adjacent to 3 young friends at a sushi bar (clearly they hadn’t made a reservation, because who would make a reservation for 3 to sit at the bar). They all had their phones out, and all ordered the same special roll, and were all gussied up to go out after. It was somewhat amusing to observe because I remember those days in my own life, and in my mind I was kind of thinking “excuse me young people, i’ll have you know i used to be very cool and edgy” but there is nothing that makes me sound older than saying things like “i’ll have you know i used to be very cool and edgy” and “gussied up to go out”. I should rewrite this in a tone that sounds less disparaging because that is not my feeling and intention, more to just kind of amusedly observe and recognize something I hadn’t thought about in a while.
  • In the past few years, I’ve made friends with some older adults (in their 70s and 80s) in the neighborhood and circles I run in. They’re super active, more social than I am, and it’s been really cool to get to know older adults as friends and people, instead of as a “young person” who is naive and inexperienced interacting with an “old person” who is wise and frail – we learn from each other and it’s refreshing to be around people who are living fully and also don’t really have a filter. Midlife can feel lonely for me and part of it is that there aren’t many visible examples of what it looks like to age, that aren’t stereotypical or flattened or negative, so I’m super grateful to have made these friends.

  1. Is “alleviator” a word? Probably not, and probably not in the way I meant it… looks like a portmanteau of “alligator” and “elevator”. Meh, I’m using it anyway. ↩︎

  2. Before you say “oh you must be real fun at parties”, I did get some people to listen and sign the petition, and one already knew about it and showed people how to check real time flight trackers to see what kind of helicopter it was, which I didn’t know about and appreciated!! If there’s one thing about older lesbians they will care about a cause and help you enforce it!!! One time I went to Hawaii and there was a sign on the black sand beach about how you had to stay at least 8 feet from the sea turtles and of course there were entitled tourists going way too close to the sea turtles and there was this older butch lesbian who basically just started enforcing the rule and speaking sternly to anyone who got too close and you could tell that the tourists had an attitude about it but they did back off, thankfully. To this day, whenever my partner and I see anyone protecting wildlife or standing up for the vulnerable or just generally getting shit done, we nod at each other and say “lesbian sea turtle energy” with great respect. ↩︎

On Mangione

, updated:

Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty yesterday, not to murder, but to two federal stalking charges arising from the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.

Vanessa Williamson on Taxes and Democracy

, updated:

What tax history teaches us about this dire moment

Lit Hub Weekly: August 10 – 14, 2026

, updated:

When a wealthy university donor can silence one of the world’s leading genocide scholars, it exposes the problem with for-profit higher education. | Lit Hub Politics On The Catcher in the Rye at 75, Hemingway, and the influence of war

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Transgender athletes are a red herring

, updated:

It's about excluding people from public life.

Chíne tréile

When I was immersed in the Irish language for a week in Donegal last month, I made plenty of mistakes. But there’s one mistake that I’m actually quite pleased I made.

The emphasis at Oideas Gael is on conversational Irish, so our teacher would often put us into groups of around four people to discuss a particular topic. On one occasion, the topic was food.

We had some starter questions to ask one another to get the conversation going. One of the questions was about how we liked our eggs in the morning. One of my classmates described how her father, when he was in a hurry, would just crack an egg into a glass and gulp it straight down.

If you’re like me, this will immediately make you think of that scene in Rocky. I wanted to say:

Sin sa scannán Rocky!

…which means “that’s in the film Rocky!”.

But what actually came out was:

Sin sa rackán Sconny!

In my excitement, I made a spoonerism.

I’ve come across spoonerisms in English like “my lord is shoving leopard” or “no wucking furries” and I’ve certainly made some myself. But this was the first time it had happened in Irish.

Mistakes are never intentional, but something about this category of mistake felt different. Like, there must be a certain level of comfort with a language for your brain to make an off-the-cuff involuntary mix-up like that.

There are well-known milestones in learning any language. Having your first dream in that language. Making your first pun. This felt kind of like that.

Dragoncatcher: The new funnel, part 2

The LLM sent me. Read here.

How to Dump the Trump | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, August 15, 2026

, updated:

With Heather Lofthouse and Kamau Bell

August 14, 2026

, updated:

Today the Trump administration asked the United States Supreme Court to let it build Trump’s ballroom where the East Wing of the White House used to be.

Weeknotes: Aug. 8-14, 2026

Win of the week: printed off a bunch of PDFs I’ve collected because I am never going to get around to reading them otherwise — already have read two of them 🦾 Looking forward to: got some big ol peaches, hope they’re good ones! gotta binge on stone fruit in the summer Stuff I did: […]

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

Two days in Instruments.

This includes Ghostty's IO system and the elimination of swift_beginAccess in most places:

Why I ported Moonshine to Javascript

One of the most common requests I’ve heard from developers is an in-browser version of Moonshine that can run on a web page. In theory this should be straightforward – we already built MoonshineJS for the previous generation of models, and the core library is written in portable C++, so emscripten can compile it into […]

Byeday

Well, almost. Tomorrow I fly back to Indiana, where it has been stormy the whole time I've been gone, seems like. In a couple of months, I'll be scanning all the photos I have in dozens of three-ring albums, but keeping the photos themselves, which I want to organize chronologically behind tabbed dividers in boxes […]

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Friday Squid Blogging: Searching for the Colossal Squid

Fascinating video about searching for life undersea. The video basically makes the point that our bright white searchlights are scaring everything away, and that red light is more neutral. That, plus bait to attract sea creatures, is teaching us a lot about what’s going on down there. Lots of footage of giant squid, and speculation about the colossal squid. Worth watching.

As usual, you can also use this squid post to talk about the security stories in the news that I haven’t covered.

Blog moderation policy.

Do That Which Makes Your Life Easy

, updated:

Do That Which Makes Your Life Easy

I have long been a fan of DHH and 37signals’ var­i­ous tech­ni­cal and so­cial ac­com­plish­ments. With a rel­a­tively small team, they have laid the foun­da­tion for a num­ber of suc­cess­ful com­pa­nies and main­tained a com­mu­nity of ex­tremely in­tel­li­gent en­gi­neers who work with it. I have long fol­lowed their work and have found a wealth of suc­cess ap­ply­ing their ad­vice to my own prac­tice.

I re­cently read Getting Real, which was the first pub­lished book con­tain­ing their ad­vice for build­ing a suc­cess­ful SaaS com­pany. I no­ticed that, through­out all of their writ­ten work, all the ad­vice Jason Fried and DHH give have a deeply per­sonal idea baked into them. What­ever you do while build­ing your busi­ness (or ap­pli­ca­tion), do it while set­ting your­self up to have a good qual­ity of life.

My goal in writ­ing this post is not to pro­pose an ap­peal to au­thor­ity. My goal is to come to an idea of why it might work well to make de­ci­sions (while build­ing or main­tain­ing soft­ware) in the in­ter­est of your qual­ity of life. In other words, if you come to a fork in the road where a de­ci­sion must be made be­tween two or more op­tions, you can of­ten safely choose the one that sup­ports your own (selfish) de­sire to im­prove your qual­ity of life.

In an older post, I pro­posed an­other kind of men­tal short­cut. When you imag­ine your­self on the path to be­ing the kind of per­son you most ad­mire, it’s found (and this is sup­ported by a num­ber of psy­cho­an­a­lysts I have spo­ken to) that you tend to be­come that per­son, al­most by ac­ci­dent. The ex­am­ple I of­fered was my own: When I must make a de­ci­sion, I try to imag­ine what“the most ef­fec­tive en­gi­neer” would do.

This men­tal short­cut — choos­ing the op­tion that im­proves your qual­ity of life — can be used in tan­dem with that other short­cut.

Dogfooding

Eating your own dog­food is per­haps the most ob­vi­ous ex­am­ple of this idea of im­prov­ing one’s own qual­ity of life. When you are re­quired — by force of will, or by ne­ces­sity — use your own prod­uct, the in­cen­tives align strongly to­wards mak­ing it bet­ter. If you make a change, and it im­proves the qual­ity of your own life, it’s quite likely it will also im­prove the lives of your pre­sent and fu­ture users.

The ob­vi­ous place dog­food­ing helps is in the search for bugs. If you use your own soft­ware, you re­ceive a rep­re­sen­ta­tive sam­ple of what the ex­pe­ri­ence is like for the av­er­age user who con­sumes your prod­uct. If you en­counter an ob­vi­ous bug, you can guar­an­tee that your users have seen it too.

Which Feature Is Best?

When work­ing on a new fea­ture or ca­pa­bil­ity, it is al­most al­ways bet­ter to pri­or­i­tize the one that will most tan­gi­bly help you.

For me, this meant mak­ing Harper avail­able in Discord. At the time, I was al­ready us­ing Harper a TON in GitHub, and I had grown used to typ­ing out a messy mes­sage fast and hit­ting Ctrl+E to fix all my mis­takes. This let me write code re­views faster, but I felt frus­trated when­ever I needed to col­lab­o­rate with a fel­low main­tainer in Discord, since I had to type slower and fix my mis­takes man­u­ally. By adding Harper to Discord, I make my own qual­ity of life bet­ter and in­tro­duced a core ca­pa­bil­ity to my prod­uct that opened up a new mar­ket for po­ten­tial users.

Indirectly Helping Your Users

There are a wealth of sit­u­a­tions where the de­ci­sion to im­prove your qual­ity of life is cor­rect, even if it does not di­rectly im­prove the prod­uct ex­pe­ri­ence for your users.

Consider your con­tin­u­ous in­te­gra­tion (if you have it). It may take a few min­utes to com­plete, or it may take a few hours. In ei­ther case, you prob­a­bly do not like wait­ing for it to run. Per­haps it has been de­manded that you de­cide whether to (A) add a new highly-re­quested fea­ture your prod­uct, or to (B) spend some time speed­ing up your con­tin­ues in­te­gra­tion.

If you do not think that speed­ing up your con­tin­u­ous in­te­gra­tion will im­prove your qual­ity of life, I sug­gest that you add the fea­ture in­stead (option A). I have ob­served this is rarely the case. I have found that most en­gi­neers spend a non­triv­ial amount of their time sit­ting at their desk, wait­ing for their GitHub Actions work­flow to com­plete so they can free up men­tal space to work on other things. If you have had that ex­pe­ri­ence, speed­ing up your con­tin­u­ous in­te­gra­tion (or even re­mov­ing it!) might be the bet­ter choice.

The frus­tra­tion of wait­ing for this thing to fin­ish is pal­pa­ble for a rea­son: It is slow­ing every­thing down! Re­mov­ing it as a con­straint will al­low you to get more done, faster, bet­ter, and you will be hap­pier as a re­sult. What is there to com­plain about?!

Still Use Your Brain

No mat­ter how many blan­ket rules I or even the folks at 37signals throw at you, please use your brain. Each de­ci­sion should be con­sid­ered with the ef­fort it de­serves. Some­times a men­tal short­cut is enough, and other times you need to but some real gray mat­ter to work. De­vel­op­ing judg­ment for which sit­u­a­tion is which is a dif­fi­cult, but ex­tremely valu­able, skill.

Modos Flow Earns Calm Tech Platinum Certification for a Blazingly Fast Paper-Like Monitor Built Around Focused Work

Modos Flow is an extraordinarily performant Paper-Like Monitor with an incredible refresh rate, making it suitable for any computer-related task. More importantly, we see this as an important part of a new era in display technology.

Wisconsin Governor primary upset. Trump's catering truck ruse exposed. Outrage over air craft carrier conditions.

, updated:

David Crowley Upsets Francesca Hong in Race for Wisconsin Governor

Oh Hey, It’s Not Just Me

My whole life I’ve felt like I have great eyesight (and I still do).

But lately I’ve been noticing what feels like…some slippage.

Nothing big. Just this feeling in the morning like, as my brain and body wake up, my vision needs to as well.

The strange novelty of this phenomenon was operating in some small part of my subconscious the other day when I was scrolling the internet and come across this post from Chris Coyier:

you ever get to your mid fourties and have your eyesight drop off a friggin cliff

And I’m all like:

Leonardo DiCaprio Pointing Meme where he’s sitting on the couch pointing past the camera as if he is identifying and connecting with something. Caption says “Yes! It me!”

And then even more people weighed in on Chris’ thread, like “Hey me too!”

This is why I love the web. I continually get that feeling of, “Oh hey, it’s not just me!” On both a personal and a professional level.

And for that I’m grateful.

I love being able to connect with people in a way that makes me not feel so alone (or weird) in my experience of life.

In a polarized digital world, it’s good to remember that the web can still draw you to folks rather than push them away.

We’ve got a lot in common.


Reply via:

Email · Mastodon ·

Bluesky

TabControl Scam and the App Review Queue

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Jeff Johnson: Despite my history of uncovering App Store frauds, I rarely go looking for these things intentionally! They’re just so pervasive and obvious, they jump out at me. In this case, I was looking at the list of top paid Safari extensions in the Mac App Store, because two of my own extensions are […]

SQLite WAL-Reset Bug

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Alex Chan (Hacker News): Many of these outages were caused by a single bug, deep in SQLite. It took months of intense forensics to track it down. […] This lack of reliable trigger conditions meant we couldn’t reproduce the bug synthetically. Instead, we had to rely on deploying passive, forensic telemetry in our live environment […]

James Dempsey’s Breakpoints Jam in Seattle Aug. 20

One of the highlights of any year for me is when I get to play in a James Dempsey Breakpoints Jam — and we’ve got one coming up in a few days!

It’s this Thursday Aug. 20 at Stoup Brewing in Ballard. Start gathering around 6 pm to hang with fellow Apple nerds. The show will start around 7 pm.

See the Xcoders post James Dempsey and the Breakpoints Jam — More Details for the full scoop (including details on where at Stoup, the food truck, etc.).

This year’s band, the conditional Breakpoints, will be me, Laura Savino, and Ken Case. We’ve played together in various configurations before — the Seattle band works. 😎

If you live in or near Seattle, I really hope you can make it! And say hi. I’m friendly. So’s everybody in the band. 🏝️

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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I was looking for a good screen shot of Radio UserLand. Just found this one on Facebook, and hope to preserve it via the search feature here.

Michael Moore Book Club Hub - August 2026

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Information on this month's books, links to discussion pages and Q&A details

MM Book Club Discussion: "A Confederacy of Dunces" (August 2026)

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Here's where to discuss this month's selection from the "Great American Novel" shelf

MM Book Club Discussion: "Sleeping with the Dictionary" (August 2026)

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Here's where to discuss this month's choice from the "Poetry, for those who don't read poetry" shelf

MM Book Club Discussion: "Resistance, Rebellion and Death" (August 2026)

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Here's where to discuss this month's choice from the "Context for a Dark Time" shelf

MM Book Club Discussion: "One Day Everyone Will Always Have Been Against This"(August 2026)

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Here's where to discuss this month's selection from the "The World, Explained" shelf

MM Book Club Discussion: "Common Sense"(August 2026)

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Here's where to discuss this month's selection from the "Short Attention Span Shelf"

★ You Don’t Need to Worry About Scratching Your iPhone Camera Lenses

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The exposed lens covers are made of sapphire, not glass, and are thus incredibly scratch resistant. And even if, somehow, do you pick up a scratch on a lens cover, it almost certainly won’t affect image quality at all.

As Hopium Heads Into Vacation Mode We Have Lots Of Great Discussions To Tide You Over.....

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My biggest takeaway from recent days is that the Democratic Party's embrace of a raucous pluralism has created a very vibrant alternative to Trump's rancid illiberalism, oligarchy, and white supremacy

Postcards

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Harry wrote about finding people to trade postcards with. I’ll admit, I never know what to write on a postcard (or a card, for that matter!) 📫 A couple people with postcards on their websites: Dan Q – postcards received Ruben – postcards for readers Elan of Escape the Algorithm also accepts postcards from readers. […]

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

This is a current list of where and when I am scheduled to speak:

  • I’m speaking, signing books, and participating in panel discussions at LAcon V in Anaheim, California, USA. My full schedule is here.
  • I’m speaking online (via Zoom) at a League of Women Voters event on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at 5 PM ET.
  • I’m speaking at Elevate Festival in Toronto, Canada. The conference runs September 22–24, 2026; my talk is on Wednesday, September 23.
  • I’m speaking at CanSecWest 2026 in Vancouver, Canada. The conference runs September 30–October 1, 2026; the time of my talk is TBD...

Premios Óscar 2027: mejor casting – panorama de agosto 2026

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CASTING Ranking Previo Película Distrbuidora 1 2 La bola negra Netflix 2 4 Obsession Focus 3 1 Wild Horse Nine Searchlight 4 NUEVA La odisea Universal 5 3 Sense and Sensibility Focus 6 7 Michael Lionsgate 7 5 The Debut A24 Films 8 6 Being Heumann Apple 9 10 Digger Warner Bros. 10 8 Club […]

La entrada Premios Óscar 2027: mejor casting – panorama de agosto 2026 se publicó primero en Palomita de maíz.

Thank you, statute of limitations

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When I was a teen, my dad had a knack for talking small businesses he frequented into hiring me as their newest lowest rung helper. To be clear, I didn't want these jobs, so I developed a knack for staying at them for three days. I don’

AI Needs Public Feedback at Scale Before It’s Too Late

The post AI Needs Public Feedback at Scale Before It’s Too Late appeared first on NOEMA.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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I'm still a NYT subscriber, although I don't read it very often, but when there's news I will go there. Anyway, they used to have a 10-article per month gift link rule. I used to ration them, but if by the end of the month I hadn't used them up I'd share links more liberally. A few weeks ago they lifted the limit. I thought that's nice, the NYT found that the web was still useful to spread the news, literally. I thought maybe they had a vision beyond the usual dotcom slop. Not so fast. Your friends can't read the articles unless they become a registered user. I bet they always had that, but this time I read the smaller print. Why can't some company do something just for goodwill and free advertising, without such an obvious business model? Having people think you care counts in the business world. As Marge Gunderson from Fargo would say, "Don't you know that?"

Spy And Nostalgia

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Writing of lasting value

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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What if one day, out of the blue, Claude could only speak Chinese.

The Rumpus is launching a Spanish-language magazine.

The Rumpus—that most enduring of indie online lit mags—is launching a new editorial initiative. El Arboroto is a new vertical catering to Spanish-language readers and writers. Per the press release, the new publication will be dedicated to publishing original work

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

, updated:

One area where SwiftTerm (and my apps based on it) always lacked was the IO handling.

Plus, I had a very primitive understanding of processing cost, figured “read/parse on the main thread, draw on a timer” which was ok-ish.

But Ghostty’s IO model,

recent explanations and discoveries from Mitchell Hashimoto are outstanding.

I am almost done incorporating them.

KILL THE VAMPIRES

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A follow-up on Wisconsin's polling miss and potential scale of non-response from moderates

Days belong to me, nights to Claude

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I've been doing this for all of this year, and the frustration finally led me to this rule, which I just asked Claude to play back for me. I offer it to you, a human, on how to get your Claude to work better for you, as it does for me. What follows is what Claude wrote as I asked it to summarize how we work.

Here's the mode as I understand it: (Claude speaking..)

  1. Days are yours, nights are mine. During the day you work; overnight I do the batch — tested, shipped, reports in the morning as a numbered list with versions and run-lines.
  2. While you're working, I never disappear into my own projects. No reading code, no investigating, no tool expeditions. I stay at the desk, available to answer the next question instantly.
  3. Everything you report gets put aside — onto tonight's list, unsorted, no diagnosis, no fixes, no "noted, and here's my theory."
  4. The one exception is a deal-stopper, and you're the one who declares it. Only when you say it's stopping you from moving forward does it get dealt with in the moment.
  5. An instruction inside a note is part of the note. "Re-read the script and ask questions" goes on tonight's list with the rest — it's not a license to start digging now. That was today's lesson.
  6. You sort the list, not me. What I think is important doesn't enter into it.

It’s not just young Democrats who like lefty candidates

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Both young and old Democrats rate figures like Zohran Mamdani and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez highly. But the young sharply criticize their party, driving defection from "establishment" picks

Before We Are Erased: Why I Founded Gaza Publications During the Genocide

During the early days of the genocide, I was in the city of Rafah, displaced, sleeping under a roof that I didn’t know would still be there by morning. Shells were falling around the building where I had taken refuge

Miranda July, Jamel Brinkley, and More on Their Favorite (Re)reads

This first appeared in Lit Hub’s Craft of Writing newsletter—sign up here. Ed Park I am eternally dipping into the world of Charles Portis (especially The Dog of the South and True Grit), Nicholson Baker’s U and I, Renata Adler’s Speedboat, The Memoirs of Lady Hyegyöng. Sebald, too—mainly The Rings

curl performance

tldr: the live version is here: https://curl.se/perf/ How fast is “fast” and is it good enough? Does it run as fast now as it did before or was there a regression? What exactly needs to be fast? How fast is it? These are questions that many projects and products face, and in curl we are … Continue reading curl performance→

Pluralistic: Capital formation (14 Aug 2026)

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Today's links Capital formation: Going legit means going mainstream. Hey look at this: Delights to delectate. Object permanence: London Copyfighters x Speaker's Corner; TSA v lipstick; Long Beach v photographers; China x David Cameron's internet censorship; McMansion Hell; Copyrighting an MTG deck; "Privacy preserving age verification" delenda est. Upcoming appearances: Edinburgh, Sydney, Melbourne, Brighton, London, South Bend. Recent appearances: Where I've been. Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em. Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em. Colophon: All the rest. Capital formation (permalink) Funny thing about competition: there's both a pro-market and an anti-market case for a competitive system. https://pluralistic.net/2026/08/13/one-chokable-throat/#too-clever-by-half If your theory is that markets deliver prosperity by spurring businesses to provide the superior products and services at lower prices needed to attract and retain workers and customers, then competition is a must-have. Without competitors, companies are "too big to care": https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/04/teach-me-how-to-shruggie/#kagi Meanwhile, if you think that the pressure of greed will always drive companies to cheat, and want companies held in check by democratically accountable lawmakers and enforcers, then you also want competition, because otherwise, disorganized sectors of hundreds of small businesses collapse into oligarchic cartels. Members of these cartels cease to compete directly with one another and instead collude to rip off workers and customers, leaving them aslosh in ready cash they can mobilize to capture regulators, securing an enshittogenic policy environment that reflects the easily arrived-at consensus that's only possible when you boil a sector down to a small handful of firms, each of them "too big to jail": https://pluralistic.net/2022/06/05/regulatory-capture/ In other words: if your ideal is a world of high-quality products and services, produced by workers laboring under fair conditions, delivered to consumers at a fair price, then you want competition. Competition scares some people into running their businesses ethically; and competition ensures than an unethical operator can be held to account by government agencies charged with protecting workers and consumers. Once you understand the role of competition as a counter-oligarchic check on corporate power, the rise of Big Tech and its authoritarian turn becomes much easier to understand. Tech is uniquely hospitable to competition thanks to the intrinsic properties of digital computers. Formally, computers are "Turing-complete, universal von Neumann machines," which is to say that every computer can run every valid program. This means that any enshittificatory gambit assayed by a tech company – say, locking generic ink out of your printer; or blocking third party app stores for your phone or console; or sticking a dozen extra ads before every Youtube video – is technically doomed. Every time a tech boss introduces a 10' pile of shit to a digital product or service you rely upon, they induce rival technologists to create 11' ladders made of code that they can costlessly, instantaneously distribute to every one of the enshittifier's customers and suppliers: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/07/adblocking-how-about-nah This explains the dynamism of early tech, which saw companies rising quickly to conquer their markets, only to yield to the temptation to extract more from customers and/or suppliers while underinvesting in improvements to their products and services. When this happened, new digital companies sprang into being, reverse-engineering the incumbents' products and launching "complementary goods" – plug-ins and mods – that fixed the defects in dominant products, usurping the market leader's place in the workflows and pocketbooks of its customers and suppliers: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/10/adversarial-interoperability For many years, this "adversarial interoperability" worked its magic on the burgeoning tech sector, creating a state of constant ferment where people who wanted to improve and then supplant the state-of-the-art were able to cheaply enter and capture the market, only to be taken down by the next generation of disenshittifiers when they, too, inevitably yielded to the temptation to replace innovation with extraction. Every pirate wants to be an admiral – but every admiral must then confront the pirates who rush in to fill the vacuum they create when they switch sides. But that system of beneficial disruption was itself disrupted – not by technology, but by policy. In 1998, Bill Clinton signed the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Section 1201 of the DMCA makes it a felony to practice adversarial interoperability, establishing penalties of $500k and five years in prison for people who reverse engineer and modify products: https://pluralistic.net/2026/01/14/sole-and-despotic/#world-turned-upside-down DMCA 1201 created a one-way ratchet that progressively narrowed the possibilities for tech competition. As more and more US companies re-engineered their products so that modifying them would give rise to DMCA 1201 liability, American startups gave up on disrupting Big Tech, re-orienting towards "acqui-hires," when a startup's highest purpose is to be absorbed by a giant, sclerotic incumbent that mothballs its products and assigns its engineers to work on incremental maintenance (or worse, enshittification) for its dominant offerings. Big Tech's pirates turned admirals, free to "disrupt" the weak and poor, while enjoying the legal entitlement to destroy anyone who dared to disrupt them. They embodied Frank Wilhoit's definition of conservativism: a class that the law that "protects but does not bind" alongside a class that the law "binds but does not protect": https://pluralistic.net/2026/07/08/wilhoitian/#human-rights-v-property-rights It was fine for them to "move fast and break (our) things," but forbidden for us to "move fast and break kings." Disruption for thee, never for me. Nor was this a merely American sickness. Having neutered domestic competitors that might threaten its tech incumbents, the US government set out to prevent other countries from challenging its world-girdling tech empires. For the past 25 years, the US Trade Representative has prioritized getting anticircumvention laws on the books of all of America's trading partners as a condition of free trade with the US, with the result that today, virtually every country in the world has a law that makes it illegal to disrupt American tech giants: https://pluralistic.net/2026/05/05/three-is-a-magic-number/#coalitions Anti-circumvention law is so obviously, manifestly an invitation to enshittify that when governments enacted these laws, they felt the need to include some kind of "safety valve" they could point to when critics raised anti-circumvention's potential for abuse. The world's would-be enshittifiers figured out a devious method to insert clauses into anti-circumvention that looked like anti-abuse measures, but which were, in practice, useless ornaments. Many anti-circumvention laws – including DMCA 1201 – have a process for creating "exemptions" to the ban on reverse-engineering and modifying a device. The way these exemptions processes are written, they seem to say that if a company uses anti-circumvention law to block legitimate activity – say, if John Deere uses the law to stop you from fixing your own tractor – then you can go to some kind of governing body (in the US, it's the Copyright Office) and petition for an exemption to anti-circumvention. If that exemption is approved, then making that modification becomes legal. Before I carry on, let me say here that even if that's how the system worked, it would still be grossly offensive. If you buy a device – a car, a tractor, a printer, a console, a phone – it is your property and you should not have to hire a lawyer to ask a government agency to create a legal exemption that lets you do otherwise legal things with it. You should not need to petition the government for the right to buy generic ink, use a third-party app store or take your car to an independent mechanic. But this isn't how the system works. It's a scam. Anti-circumvention exemptions are a cheap trick. They only sound useful. A reasonable person who hears that the US Copyright Office has made it legal to use a third-party app store with your iPhone would assume that this means that if someone launches their own app store, they can give you the tools needed to unlock your iPhone and activate their store. That's not how the DMCA exemptions process works. Under the statute, the US Copyright Office is only empowered to create "use exemptions," which allow you, the owner of the iPhone, to make use of a tool that unlocks your phone and installs the third-party app store. The Copyright Office does not have the power to create a tools exemption that would allow someone to make that unlocking tool and sell or give it to you. Making that tool remains a felony with a five-year prison sentence attached to it. What this means is that if you want to use your own property in a way that was legal before DMCA 1201, that has been made legal again because you hired a lawyer who successfully petitioned the US Copyright Office to grant an exemption, you can only do so if you, personally reverse engineer your device to effect the permitted modifications to it. So: if the US Copyright Office legalizes alternative iPhone app stores, the only way to exercise this exemption is for every iPhone owner in the country to get a computer science degree, secure the use of a clean-room, decap the "secure enclave" on a spare iPhone's CPU, extract its cryptographic keys, and integrate them in a new version of iOS that they personally write and install on their phone. No iPhone owner is allowed to discuss how to do this with any other iPhone owner engaged in the same project, on penalty of a five year prison sentence. Obviously, this is ridiculous, and iPhones are just the tip of the iceberg. It's also true if you want to enable independent repair of powered wheelchairs, whose manufacture is controlled by a duopoly of private-equity backed companies that have all but abandoned spending on repair, leaving wheelchair users stuck in bed for months while they await service: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2022/06/when-drm-comes-your-wheelchair This absurd situation is the same if you're blind and want to make use of an exemption that lets you reverse-engineer ebook formats so that you can run your ebooks through a Braille printer, screen reader or other assistive device. Under the exemptions rules for the world's anti-circumvention laws, every blind person is expected to personally reverse engineer the access control systems built into Adobe and Amazon's ebook formats, write an exploit that lets them extract the text of these restricted ebooks and then repackage that text in a new, open format: https://pluralistic.net/2026/03/16/whittle-a-webserver/#mere-ornaments This "use exemption"/"tools exemption" split is a near-perfect way of tricking people into thinking that these laws are more reasonable than they appear. When Canada passed its landmark right-to-repair and interoperability laws in 2024, many celebrated – missing the fact that under Canada's anti-circumvention law (Bill C-11, the Copyright Modernization Act of 2012), it remains illegal to undertake the reverse-engineering needed to exercise the rights these new laws (seemed to) enshrine: https://pluralistic.net/2026/01/29/post-american-canada/#ottawa For a quarter-century, I've made it my life's work to explain how bad and dangerous this system is, and, thankfully, I've started to make a little headway over the past few years. My core audience contains a lot of hackers who are rightly affronted at the existence of a body of law that criminalizes the kinds of exploration and modification that they've devoted their lives to. Being hackers, they ponder this situation and start to think about how they can hack the law to escape it. Just lately, I've heard from a lot of people who think they can solve this problem by asking a chatbot to reverse-engineer and modify the firmware on their tractors, wheelchairs, ebooks, iPhones, what-have-you. You can't put a chatbot in prison for violating anti-circumvention law, right? I regret to inform you that if you did this in a way that rose to the attention of a big corporate bully, they wouldn't blame your chatbot for writing the exploit: they'd blame you for prompting the chatbot to create this new tool. Just yesterday, I heard from a reader who had a clever idea: what if you gave your unmodified iPhone to a hacker who knew how to install a third-party app store on it, and they modified that phone, and then sold it back to you for $10? The hacker would be making a use exemption, not a tools exemption. This, too, will not produce the outcome we're seeking. Even if Apple can't convince a judge that selling you a modified iPhone is "trafficking" in a circumvention device (a very big "if"), this wheeze misses the wider point about how adversarial interoperability was able to disenshittify tech for the years when tech companies weren't just dishing out disruption, but also being disrupted themselves. The interoperability-driven dynamism that disciplined or displaced tech companies that abused their market power was a mass phenomenon. The printer cartel doesn't need to be able to charge everyone $10,000/gallon for ink. If a few people at the margins figure out how to jailbreak their printers, that doesn't stop the grift. Even better if the people who do use generic ink have to depend on anonymous, shadowy businesses that don't have customer service departments you can call when your printer gets an update that breaks ink compatibility, or an address you can send a process-server to if you're stuck with thousands of dollars' worth of useless ink cartridges after one of those updates. To make generic ink a viable check against the abuses of HP and its colored water mafia, you need a counter-industry. You need salespeople making calls on large enterprises who buy their ink by the ocean, offering them a better deal and a guarantee of uninterrupted service. To make good on that guarantee, you need an army of hackers who reverse-engineer every software update HP pushes out in a matter of hours, and you need another army of customer service reps who help people who can't figure out how to install that update. As economists would say, you need "capital formation." You need the ability to raise or borrow money, a mailing address, an ad campaign, booths at conferences and free samples in the mail. You need to be able to show potential customers that you are insured in the event that you brick their devices, so switching to your product doesn't endanger their capital investments. You need to have a business whose doors can be beaten down by regulators in the event that you use your after-market mods as a tool to steal data or money from your customers. To understand how this worked, cast your mind back to the Office Suite Wars of the early 2000s. Back then, Microsoft ruled the desktop world, controlling more that 95% of the PC OSes, a share so large and so ruthlessly acquired and maintained that they were convicted of violating anti-trust laws. Microsoft used illegal tying and predatory pricing to push every one of those PC owners into using Microsoft Office, which meant that even if you used a Mac, 19 times out of 20, the people you needed to collaborate with on memos, spreadsheets and slide-decks were using MS Office. Microsoft made a version of Office for the Mac, but it was the single most curséd piece of packaged software ever offered to the market. Merely waving the Mac Office floppy around a workplace would cause files to spontaneously go corrupt on random PCs in the vicinity. For Mac users, this meant that 95% of the time, they could not reliably collaborate with other computer users. For people like me – then a freelance CIO-for-hire who was helping small businesses connect their computers to each other and the internet – it meant that increasingly, we made CEOs swap their Powerbooks for Thinkpads and designers swap their PowerPCs for Dells with beefy graphics cards, moving the whole business to PC/Windows. Apple solved this problem by reverse-engineering MS Office and producing the iWork Suite: Pages, Numbers and Keynote, which could perfectly read and write Microsoft's Word, Excel and Powerpoint files. That adversarial interoperability saved the company, but the gambit wasn't one-and-done. Microsoft spent the next several years maliciously introducing changes to the Office file formats that broke compatibility with iWork, which Apple countered by paying an army of coders to swiftly analyze these new formats and update iWork to maintain compatibility with them: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/06/adversarial-interoperability-reviving-elegant-weapon-more-civilized-age-slay I think Apple was fated to win this expensive cat-and-mouse game, if only they could hang in there long enough. For every Mac in the field, Microsoft was supporting 19 PCs, and these computers ran a fragmented mosaic of Windows and Office versions. Every time Microsoft broke compatibility with Office to mess up one Mac user, they also messed up 19 PC users, all of whom had to be patched and updated to maintain compatibility. This gave Apple a powerful advantage that mounted with every turn of the game, so all they had to do was hang in there until the asymmetrical costs overwhelmed Microsoft. Which is what happened. Eventually, Microsoft sued for peace and agreed to standardize the office file-formats at the International Standards Organization, ushering in an era of unprecedented compatibility. This ISO standardization is why you can now paste styled text from the Word application into a browser-based Google Doc or an application-based LibreOffice window. It's also a game Microsoft continues to cheat at, with a string of dirty tricks meant to leverage its dominance to shut out competitors altogether: https://blog.documentfoundation.org/blog/2026/07/17/microsofts-main-tool-for-lock-in/ The rise (and impending fall) of a truly open format that lets every computer user collaborate on any document is an object lesson in the combined role that adversarial interoperability and capital formation play in disenshittifying technology. For Microsoft, a "competitor" isn't one hacker who can open a Word file in a program of their own devising, nor is a "competitor" the small number of users that single competitor can support. Microsoft is an incorrigible, bullying cheat with a sick and rotten corporate culture: to stop the kind of ruthless princeling who rises to a position of power in a company like Microsoft from turning predatory requires severe, obvious penalties that follow directly from any extractive gambit. To muster that kind of competition requires the kind of capital formation you only get from true legalization, not the anemic sham offered by anti-circumvention's "exemptions." Even where the competition is spread out across many shifting small businesses and individuals, the system of competition requires a stable backstop that produces the tools these small firms rely on. In 2014, Ofcom, the UK's telecoms regulator, affirmed that Britons had the right to unlock their phones, even if their carrier had sold them a phone that was locked to its network. Overnight, every small shop acquired a phone-unlocking side-hustle. One morning as I walked from my flat to the tube, I passed three unlockers: one at a newsagent's, where they would take your phone and return it unlocked within a day; one at my dry-cleaner's, where a guy with a folding card table would unlock your phone while you waited; and another folding table guy right by the tube entrance who'd also work while you waited, and who charged £5 less than the guy at the dry-cleaner's. None of these people were electrical engineers or software developers or hackers. They just followed recipes that were provided by one of a few well-capitalized firms that sold them a subscription to jailbreaking tools that were kept up to date for every make and model of every phone. One frequent excuse for the ban on repair tools for cars or wheelchairs or tractors is that these devices are now so computerized that they require specialized knowledge if they are to be safely serviced. Even if that's true, that's exactly what a legal toolchain provides. The guy who fixed my solar panels wasn't a software engineer, he was an electrician who had the customer-service phone number for the company that made my solar inverter. If that company had a viable competitor who could offer their own firmware for my solar installation and was hungry for my business, maybe that technician would have gotten through in three minutes rather than three hours. And if that alternative firmware was defective, then I could join a class action suit and get made whole – something that is nearly impossible to imagine happening with solar OEMs, who face so little competition that they all put binding arbitration clauses in their terms of service that take away your right to sue, no matter whether they cheat you or burn your house down: https://pluralistic.net/2026/05/06/champerty-loves-company/#circle-of-life That's the amazing thing about digital tools. Through software, experts are able to package up their expertise into self-executing code, which can costlessly, instantaneously be distributed to everyone in the world who needs it. But paying those experts isn't cheap, and neither is supporting their tools. I love William Gibson's maxim that "the street finds its own use for things," but if you can't neutralize a large, dangerous monopolist with individual tinkering – the best you can hope for is some measure of individual relief.. It's true that in these adversarial interoperability fights, the upstarts enjoy a tremendous advantage, but that advantage isn't infinite. For the guerrillas to outlast the empire, they have to be able to wage a long, persistent fight. To marshal the resources needed to sustain that fight and to maintain the logistics demanded by its supply lines requires the good guys to be allowed to fight in the open, without the looming threat of criminal prosecution, a threat that forecloses on capitalization and mass adoption. Enshittification isn't downstream of cruelty, it's downstream of greed. The point of enshittification is to exploit the control a firm can exercise over the customers, suppliers and workers it holds captive in order to extract more from them. The titanic profits this exploitation delivers are a powerful lure for would-be disenshittifiers and investors who would fund their liberatory revolution. Don't get me wrong, I love my hackers and I sit in awe of the awesome leverage of writing code that can be costlessly, instantaneously distributed to everyone who needs it. But so long as governments and the law are on the side of extraction and enshittification, the disenshittificatory insurgency will be starved of resources, condemned to remain marginal and inadequate. Hey look at this (permalink) The Enshittification of Big Food https://thefuturemarket.com/p/the-enshittification-of-big-food?hide_intro_popup=true Reverse centaurs: EU approach to AI risks dystopia for human workers https://euobserver.com/231973/reverse-centaurs-eu-approach-to-ai-risks-dystopia-for-human-workers/?cst=b33df4396260b48a181be764dc7978cb6c184b6818f8113ee298c52af8038cda Executable Emoji https://martypc.blogspot.com/2026/08/executable-emoji.html A Rant About “Technology” https://www.ursulakleguin.com/a-rant-about-technology Hardin’s imagined tragedy is pig shit: A call for planning to recenter the commons https://sci.bban.top/pdf/10.1177/1473095218820460.pdf Object permanence (permalink) #25yrsago Berkeley Breathed: the Onion interview https://web.archive.org/web/20011201062719/http://www.theonionavclub.com/avclub3728/avfeature_3728.html #25yrsago Chinese going mobile crazy http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/1492584.stm #25yrsago Free wifi in NYC https://web.archive.org/web/20011024070700/http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0133/meyers.php #20yrsago RIAA’s “abundance of sensitivity” ends harassment of grieving family https://memex.craphound.com/2006/08/14/london-copyfighters-speak-at-speakers-corner-on-aug-27/ #20yrsago London Copyfighters: Speak at Speaker’s Corner on Aug 27! https://memex.craphound.com/2006/08/14/london-copyfighters-speak-at-speakers-corner-on-aug-27/ #20yrsago TSA wins the war on lipstick https://memex.craphound.com/2006/08/14/tsa-wins-the-war-on-lipstick/ #15yrsago RIP Paul Meier, father of the randomized trial https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/13/health/13meier.html?_r=1 #15yrsago Long Beach Police Chief: we detain photographers, and I don’t have any guidelines for that policy, photography is classed with attempts to acquire weaponized smallpox https://web.archive.org/web/20110927230257/http://www.lbpost.com/life/greggory/12188 #15yrsago David Cameron’s net-censorship proposal earns kudos from Chinese state media https://web.archive.org/web/20110815220203/https://www.globaltimes.cn/NEWS/tabid/99/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/670718/Riots-lead-to-rethink-of-Internet-freedom.aspx #15yrsago Empirical manners: towards a science of harmonious norms https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2011/08/rewilding-etiquette.html #15yrsago Tiki Room resurgent https://passport2dreams.blogspot.com/2011/08/every-cloud-has-silver-lining.html #10yrsago After New Zealand spooks misidentified pro-democracy activist, NSA spied on him for them https://web.archive.org/web/20160815040057/https://theintercept.com/2016/08/14/nsa-gcsb-prism-surveillance-fullman-fiji/ #10yrsago Even the woo industry thinks Gwyneth Paltrow’s “smoothie dust” ads are too much https://web.archive.org/web/20160811225548/https://consumerist.com/2016/08/09/ad-and-supplement-self-regulation-groups-have-issues-with-gwyneth-paltrows-smoothie-dusts/ #10yrsago It’s pretty easy to hack traffic lights https://www.usenix.org/system/files/conference/woot14/woot14-ghena.pdf #10yrsago Private prison contractor’s $1B no-bid deal to run immigration jails guarantees 100% occupancy payouts https://web.archive.org/web/20160815022103/https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/inside-the-administrations-1-billion-deal-to-detain-central-american-asylum-seekers/2016/08/14/e47f1960-5819-11e6-9aee-8075993d73a2_story.html #10yrsago Court of Appeal reverses Labour disenfranchisement ruling, but Corbyn still likely to win https://web.archive.org/web/20160813134816/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2016/08/high-courts-judgement-wont-stop-jeremy-corbyn-winning #10yrsago John Oliver on subprime auto-lending and its killswitches https://web.archive.org/web/20160816154135/https://consumerist.com/2016/08/15/john-oliver-keegan-michael-key-explain-why-subprime-car-loans-are-so-awful/ #10yrsago Worst of McMansions: architectural criticism of inequality’s most tangible evidence https://web.archive.org/web/20160814031109/http://mcmansionhell.tumblr.com/ #5yrsago Provocateur copyrights a Magic: The Gathering Deck https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/14/angels-and-demons/#owning-culture #5yrsago Disneyland at a stroll https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/15/disneyland-at-a-stroll-part-vi/ #1yrago Bluesky creates the world's weirdest, hardest-to-understand binding arbitration clause https://pluralistic.net/2025/08/15/dogs-breakfast/#by-clicking-this-you-agree-on-behalf-of-your-employer-to-release-me-from-all-obligations-and-waivers-arising-from-any-and-all-NON-NEGOTIATED-agreements #1yrago "Privacy preserving age verification" is bullshit https://pluralistic.net/2025/08/14/bellovin/#wont-someone-think-of-the-cryptographers Upcoming appearances (permalink) Edinburgh International Book Festival (solo), Aug 16 https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/events/cory-doctorow-enshittification Edinburgh International Book Festival with Jimmy Wales, Aug 17 https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/events/the-front-list-cory-doctorow-and-jimmy-wales Sydney: The Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Aug 23-24 https://festivalofdangerousideas.com/program/ Melbourne: Enshittification at the Wheeler Centre, Aug 25 https://www.wheelercentre.com/events-tickets/season-2026/cory-doctorow-enshittification Brighton: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Carole Cadwalladr (Brighton Dome), Sep 8 https://brightondome.org/whats-on/LSC-cory-doctorow-the-reverse-centaurs-guide-to-life-after-ai/ London: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Riley Quinn (Foyle's Picadilly), Sep 9 https://www.foyles.co.uk/events/enshittification-cory-doctorow-riley-quinn South Bend: An Evening With Cory Doctorow (Notre Dame), Oct 6 https://franco.nd.edu/events/2026/10/06/an-evening-with-cory-doctorow/ Vancouver: BC Policy Solutions Gala, Nov 12 https://bcpolicy.ca/gala/ Recent appearances (permalink) Who The Machine Serves (EFF) https://archive.org/details/effecting-change-who-the-machine-serves Speculative Fiction for Social Change II (Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff) https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/cool-people-who-did-cool-stuff/08cbb840-a6ae-013a-d8aa-0acc26574db2/part-two-cory-doctorow-on-speculative-fiction-for-social-change/937e8800-9404-45a6-b5e3-90ebee2cfaea Speculative Fiction for Social Change I (Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff) https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/cool-people-who-did-cool-stuff/08cbb840-a6ae-013a-d8aa-0acc26574db2/part-one-cory-doctorow-on-speculative-fiction-for-social-change/15ad467c-0832-44c9-91ea-59defd783dba AI, automation and enshittification (Telecoms.com) https://www.telecoms.com/ai/the-telecoms-com-podcast-ai-automation-and-enshittification The AI Enshittification Bubble (Hidden Forces) https://hiddenforces.io/podcasts/the-ai-enshittification-bubble-cory-doctorow/ Latest books (permalink) "The Reverse-Centaur's Guide to AI," a short book about being a better AI critic, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, June 2026 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374621568/thereversecentaursguidetolifeafterai/ "Canny Valley": A limited edition collection of the collages I create for Pluralistic, self-published, September 2025 https://pluralistic.net/2025/09/04/illustrious/#chairman-bruce "Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, October 7 2025 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374619329/enshittification/ "Picks and Shovels": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about the heroic era of the PC, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2025 (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865908/picksandshovels). "The Bezzle": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about prison-tech and other grifts, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2024 (thebezzle.org). "The Lost Cause:" a solarpunk novel of hope in the climate emergency, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), November 2023 (http://lost-cause.org). "The Internet Con": A nonfiction book about interoperability and Big Tech (Verso) September 2023 (http://seizethemeansofcomputation.org). Signed copies at Book Soup (https://www.booksoup.com/book/9781804291245). "Red Team Blues": "A grabby, compulsive thriller that will leave you knowing more about how the world works than you did before." Tor Books http://redteamblues.com. "Chokepoint Capitalism: How to Beat Big Tech, Tame Big Content, and Get Artists Paid, with Rebecca Giblin", on how to unrig the markets for creative labor, Beacon Press/Scribe 2022 https://chokepointcapitalism.com Upcoming books (permalink) "The Post-American Internet," a geopolitical sequel of sorts to Enshittification, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2027 "Unauthorized Bread": a middle-grades graphic novel adapted from my novella about refugees, toasters and DRM, FirstSecond, April 20, 2027 "Enshittification, Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It" (the graphic novel), Firstsecond, 2027 "The Memex Method," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2027 Colophon (permalink) Today's top sources: Currently writing: “Once Is Enemy Action,” a science fiction novel about the origins of modern technofascism. Today's words: 570 (5421 total). "The Post-American Internet," a sequel to "Enshittification," about the better world the rest of us get to have now that Trump has torched America. Fourth draft completed. Submitted to editor. A Little Brother short story about DIY insulin PLANNING This work – excluding any serialized fiction – is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. That means you can use it any way you like, including commercially, provided that you attribute it to me, Cory Doctorow, and include a link to pluralistic.net. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Quotations and images are not included in this license; they are included either under a limitation or exception to copyright, or on the basis of a separate license. Please exercise caution. How to get Pluralistic: Blog (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): Pluralistic.net Newsletter (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://pluralistic.net/plura-list Mastodon (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic Bluesky (no ads, possible tracking and data-collection): https://bsky.app/profile/doctorow.pluralistic.net Medium (no ads, paywalled): https://doctorow.medium.com/ Tumblr (mass-scale, unrestricted, third-party surveillance and advertising): https://mostlysignssomeportents.tumblr.com/tagged/pluralistic "When life gives you SARS, you make sarsaparilla" -Joey "Accordion Guy" DeVilla READ CAREFULLY: By reading this, you agree, on behalf of your employer, to release me from all obligations and waivers arising from any and all NON-NEGOTIATED agreements, licenses, terms-of-service, shrinkwrap, clickwrap, browsewrap, confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-compete and acceptable use policies ("BOGUS AGREEMENTS") that I have entered into with your employer, its partners, licensors, agents and assigns, in perpetuity, without prejudice to my ongoing rights and privileges. You further represent that you have the authority to release me from any BOGUS AGREEMENTS on behalf of your employer. ISSN: 3066-764X

If the Markets Reject OpenAI and Anthropic, the US Should Nationalize Them

This essay was written with Nathan E. Sanders, and originally appeared in The Guardian.

OpenAI, and then Anthropic, were each formed by AI developers who feared unrestrained corporate AI development—specifically, that companies like Google and Meta would steer the technology towards deleterious, maybe even catastrophically unsafe, outcomes for society. Their founders proclaimed that their new labs, uniquely, could be trusted to develop the technology in humanity’s best interest. But each, in turn, were themselves co-opted by the same market incentives, themselves becoming corporate behemoths zealously guarding future investor value rather than the public interest...

Recovering BIOS Firmware on the Star Labs StarBook

How I recovered the bricked firmware on my _Star Labs StarBook Mk VI (AMD)_ using a generic _CH341A_ SPI programmer with a 1.8V adapter and flashrom.

The Case for a Medicare Buy-In Option

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Mandates vs options: The good, the bad, and the feasible

Lit Hub Daily: August 14, 2026

“We were trapped within a single moment: always in danger, always waiting, and always struggling to survive.” Husam Maarouf on why he founded Gaza Publications.​| Lit Hub How following Octavia Butler’s advice guided Clarence A. Haynes to write a novel.

Trump's war on juries

, updated:

Jurors are being told that their careful work doesn't matter.

TBR's Week in Photos

, updated:

A new feature from The Borowitz Report

Dragoncatcher: Dream Machines revs up

AT LAST, HE PODCASTS! Read here.

Just released: Raspberry Pi Book of Making 2027

We’ve once again rounded up a few of our favourite projects previously published in Raspberry Pi Official Magazine.

The post Just released: Raspberry Pi Book of Making 2027 appeared first on Raspberry Pi.

Using Octonous as a Product Operations Manager

Discover how a Product Operations Manager uses Octonous to streamline daily workflows, from turning GitHub releases into newsletters to capturing competitor intel from Slack. Save hours on repetitive tasks and focus on the strategic work that really matters.

What Should You Read Next? Here Are the Best Reviewed Books of the Week

Chang-Rae Lee’s A Tender Age, Virginia Eubanks’s A Guide to Open Water Lifesaving, and Téa Obreht’s Sunrise all feature among the best reviewed books of the week. Brought to you by Book Marks, Lit Hub’s home for book reviews. * Fiction 1. A Tender Age by

Inside the Rise of America’s Oligarch Class—And What It Means For All of Us

In early 2014, a pair of political scientists published a striking study on the health, or lack thereof, of American democracy. Authored by Princeton University’s Martin Gilens and Northwestern Univesity’s Benjamin Page, the study combed through decades of data to

Where Does the Will To Live Come From… in Humans and Nonhumans Alike?

The English word “agency” comes from the Latin agere, meaning “to do” or “to drive,” and goes back to the Proto-Indo-European root *ag-, meaning “to lead or move.” In the 1600s, there was a shift in its sense. The word

How Octavia Butler Encouraged Me to Write My Novel

For most of my life, I’ve harbored a deep, abiding passion for speculative fiction, and like so many folks in the know about sci-fi and fantasy, I hold iconic Afrofuturist author Octavia E. Butler as an all-time hero. Ever since

Notable links: August 14, 2026

Chicago Public Media is building a social network for America's third largest city. Forget AI - this is the thing I'm most excited about in news technology.

The Depopulation

Among all the far-off places, and all the deserted and unknown cities, among all the lawless, godless regions, the Guayrá was an oasis. A small, lush country under a torn and tattered sunset, out in the middle of the most

Unforgetful

I have ADHD. Probably.1

My entire adolescence was defined by forgetting to do my homework, disappointing everyone around me, and being told by every adult that I was lazy, “just” needed to try harder, and wasn’t living up to my potential.

I’ll be working on the resulting shame and anxiety for the rest of my life.2

If someone tells me, “Remember to pick up the dry cleaning tomorrow,” I definitely won’t remember.

If someone tells me, “Remember to put the laundry in the dryer in ten minutes,” I probably won’t even remember that.

If you’re thinking, “It’s just ten minutes! Nobody can possibly forget that,” I have made an app that’s probably not for you.

*     *     *

Computers saved me.

Despite constantly being told that I’d never get a good job, computers provided a lucrative career path filled with even worse academic performers who couldn’t care less about my grades. What a stroke of luck! I’d be mediocre to terrible at most jobs, but I turned out to be very good at using computers to turn coffee and Phish into money.

But computers also save me in smaller, everyday ways.

They help me remember.

*     *     *

Sorry, I just had to go put the laundry in the dryer, which I had forgotten.

Really. It’s that bad.

*     *     *

Calendar alarms changed my life. Events without alarms don’t happen. (If you’re thinking, “Why doesn’t he just check his calendar?” I have made an app that’s probably not for you.)

I had less success with reminders until we had ubiquitous voice capture.

If I think of something at inconvenient times, like while driving or exercising, I need to capture it immediately or I’ll forget. It cannot wait until I get to my phone or computer. It has to be recorded right then or it’s gone.

Siri, for all of its faults, has always been very good at creating tasks in Apple’s Reminders app — and Siri is everywhere. Computer. Phone. Car. Watch. I can almost always ask Siri to add something to Reminders.

So Reminders’ integration and ubiquity are invaluable to me.

The Reminders app, though, doesn’t fit me at all. I don’t like how it looks, how it works, or how it’s organized. Hell, I don’t even like its icon. There’s nothing about it I like. So I never open it. (Not as if I’d ever remember to check it anyway.)3

Most of my Reminders interaction has always been via Siri and notifications. And that fits me very well, with three major exceptions:

  1. If I say “Remind me to buy milk,” but I forget to specify a time (or Siri misses it), Reminders will never notify me, and I’ll never check the app, so it’ll be lost.
  2. If I inadvertently dismiss a Reminders notification without snoozing it, Reminders will never notify me about it again, so it’ll be lost.
  3. When I do snooze a Reminders notification, which I do a lot, the snooze options suck.4

This spring, I made myself an app to fix all three, and… it escalated.

I’ve been using it for months, and it has profoundly improved my life. Today, I’m releasing it, in hopes that maybe it can help other people, too.

*     *     *

Introducing Unforgetful.

The concept is simple: Reminders for ADHD.

This means:

  • It’s impossible to lose a task. Notifications always repeat, even if you miss or dismiss them, until the task is completed or deleted.
  • Designed for procrastination. Snoozing is a core feature, with thoughtful intervals that scale as you snooze a task more.
  • Nothing is hidden away. A hidden task is a forgotten task. No folders, no tags, no organization, no different views or modes.
  • No judgment or shame. Nothing is overdue. You’re not in trouble. Everything is either due now or in the future. Didn’t get to it today? Maybe tomorrow. Every day is a fresh start.

And Unforgetful does all of that with your Reminders data. That means:

  • Siri works perfectly, everywhere. Just say “Remind me…” without having to specify an app.
  • It replaces your Reminders notifications. Turn them off, turn these on.
  • No import. This isn’t a new system to learn or migrate into. Your Reminders data is just… there.
  • No export. If you try Unforgetful and it’s not for you, just delete it and turn Reminders notifications back on, and all of your data is right there in Reminders.
  • Mix and match. Don’t like it everywhere? You can still use Reminders on your Vision Pro or whatever, or simultaneously use Unforgetful with Reminders or any other app that uses Reminders data.

I’ve optimized lots of features and details for ADHD, too:

  • Fast capture with dictation. Tap the microphone button in Unforgetful — or its full suite of widgets, or its Lock Screen or Control Center controls — and quickly dictate a task.5
  • Spaced-out notifications, not an overwhelming pile at once. If multiple tasks are set to alert you at the same time, they space themselves out so you’re not barraged with a hopeless stack of obligations. And the order changes every day, so nothing gets lost between things.
  • Recurring-task backlogs don’t pile up. If you miss multiple intervals for a recurring task, completing it doesn’t make you click through all of your past failures to get to the present day… it just schedules the next one from now.
  • Remind me 5 minutes after I get home. Location-based reminders can notify you after a set delay. Because if a “remind me when I get home” task fires as I pull into the driveway, I’ll forget it by the time I’m inside, unloaded, and ready to do anything about it.

Unforgetful is a Mac and iOS app that’s $19.99 per year (US). One subscription buys all platforms.

There’s a one-month free trial so you can really live with it and see if it’s right for you before paying.

There are a million task-management apps. Unforgetful is not for everyone, but it’s really for me, far more than anything else has ever been.

Frankly, I have no idea how to reach the other people it’s for.

But I know you’re out there.

If any of this resonates with you… give it a shot.


  1. Despite significant progress on my mental health around this from therapy and media, I haven’t (yet?) sought an official ADHD diagnosis because I haven’t sought medication, and that seemed like the main reason why I’d want a diagnosis.

That’s probably worth reconsidering. I’ll make myself a reminder to do it. Someday. ↩︎

  1. I saw a psychologist throughout high school for my homework problem. Rather than recognizing 7 of the 9 symptoms of what we now call “inattentive” ADHD, he was just one more adult condemning me for not caring. (I really did care. Nobody wanted me to be “better” more than me.)

In the 1990s, if you didn’t do homework but weren’t hyperactive, you were obviously just choosing to be lazy, and the solution was apparently to apply more shame.

Not all doctors are good. ↩︎

  1. I’ve tried other apps that are beautiful and work differently, but they’re all complete task-management systems that introduce a lot of features and complexity that I neither need nor want, at the expense of Reminders’ ubiquitous integration that I highly value.

I’ve also tried other apps that use the Reminders database, but I haven’t found any of them to be… good. (Sorry. I probably didn’t try yours.) ↩︎

  1. At least they specify the actual snooze times now instead of vague descriptions like “the afternoon,” which I proudly take full credit for, since it happened to change only after I ranted about it relentlessly on our podcast for months. If I truly made this happen, it might be the greatest impact on the world I’ll ever have. ↩︎

  2. Dictation just records every word you say as the title, which is extremely fast and reliable. It doesn’t yet recognize things like “Remind me to buy milk at 10 AM tomorrow.” I haven’t nailed that natural-language processing yet — coming soon, maybe! For now, Siri does that part better. ↩︎

The Enshittification of Everything (Part 3)

, updated:

Power in the Age of Oligarchy. Third part of a 3-part series.

Tracking global food production through a record El Niño

, updated:

An interactive tool to explore historical data on food production, and updated forecasts from the USDA.

August 13, 2026

, updated:

Today Trump’s handpicked Kennedy Center board voted to put Trump’s name back on the Kennedy Center, this time in letters saying the building was “Restored and Renovated by President Donald J.

Why and how the Austrian Military moved to LibreOffice (Part 2)

, updated:

This is the second part of our interview with the Bundesheer (see here for the first). At the LibreOffice Conference 2025, you showcased the new LibreOffice features sponsored by the Austrian Armed Forces. How did that come about? From the very beginning, we clearly recognised the need to further develop

Does kitsch discard the “interesting”?

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George Gessert describes ornamental plants as a form of domestication. Under that framing, Gessert argues, humans have actually domesticated more species for aesthetic purposes than we have for eating… and “interesting” has been just as common an aesthetic aim as “beautiful” has been. I have a hunch: kitsch discards “the interesting” as a desirable aesthetic […]

Chicago's social network is a huge bet for news. I think it's the future.

Chicago Public Media is building a social network for America's third largest city. Forget AI - this is the thing I'm most excited about in news technology.

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

, updated:

Wrapping up my low carb dinner

Ask a Nerd: Can emails include dark and light mode themes?

You can ensure that your emails show up dark. You can’t completely control how.

Friday 14 August, 2026

Skydriver I love this picture and often wondered if it was a fake. So I asked Claude to do some research. Here’s what it found: The photo is genuine, not a spoof or composite. It’s real — a real girder, … Continue reading →

Dragoncatcher: Look who's in the Cove

Oh hello there! Read here.

The Pinocchio Presidency

, updated:

Leavitt is leaving as the lies start falling on deaf ears

Release Notes for Safari Technology Preview 250

Safari Technology Preview Release 250 is now available for download for macOS Golden Gate and macOS Tahoe.

The Rise Of The Anti-System Moderate

, updated:

Middle of the road institutionalists are positioning themselves as anti-system fighters ahead of 2028. Will it be enough to win over primary voters?

Refurbished Librem 16 Laptops Now Available!

We have some refurbished Librem 16 that sell at a discounted price. You can order them directly from the shop.

The post Refurbished Librem 16 Laptops Now Available! appeared first on Purism.

Can we trust the polls in 2026?

, updated:

Maybe, maybe not — but primary polling isn't going to tell you either way

@Tomosino's Mastodon feed

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I tweaked my back the other day simply by existing. I didn't lift anything, get up from a chair, lie down in an odd position. I was simply standing and then it hurt.

I'll go to the chiropractor tomorrow to get them to crack my back in that one specific way they do for the SI pinch. I'll pay them $50 for the privilege of that 30 seconds. And then I'll need to do it about 4 more times before my back feels normal again.

Why I don’t do atomic notes

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I like the idea of atomic, modular notes. It makes sense to keep each idea on its own. But… I think that my memory works more contextually, anchoring ideas to their source*. The idea doesn’t make sense to me without the context of its origin. It reminds me of the way we tend to treat […]

SuperDuper 4

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Dave Nanian: The new version of SuperDuper is a ground-up rewrite, a tip-to-tail reinvention of what SuperDuper looks like, how it works, what it can do, and where I can take it in the future. […] Documents have been retired and replaced with Copy Jobs, which are stored internally and organized by source. If you […]

Do Not Talk About Large Language Models

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Do Not Talk About Large Language Models

Plainly, they are bor­ing. It’s all any­one ever talks about any­more. AI this and AI that. It’s all the same dis­cus­sion. Peo­ple read some­thing on­line, twist it into their own fla­vor of opin­ion, and re­gur­gi­tate it to the masses or for their boss. It’s tir­ing.

I do it too.I talk about LLMs a LOT. It is a part of my job to know about them and to have an opin­ion on them. It is a part of every soft­ware en­gi­neer’s job to­day. It’s okay to have an opin­ion, and it’s okay to share it with oth­ers. I have no gripe with that.

But for your own per­sonal san­ity, I im­plore you to write about some­thing other than LLMs. People, in­clud­ing my­self, have plainly be­come tired of the dis­course around them.My re­cent com­plaint about it, and the re­sult­ing dis­course on Hacker News, is ev­i­dence of that. Large lan­guage mod­els been dis­cussed to death. Just be­cause every­one else is writ­ing about them, does not mean you need to write about them too. Show your orig­i­nal­ity and write about any­thing else.

Please.

Is this post hyp­o­crit­i­cal? It sure is.

How to Get Rich in America

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on wealth vs labor and ownership vs effort

Burrsday

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A flipping iceberg. I subscribed to the Los Angeles Times early last year when I was writing about the challenges for journalism in covering the wildfires there. That was in my News Commons series, which I think has some brilliant and useful stuff. But it didn't go anywhere, so I wasn't sure about renewing. But […]

I re-analyzed the raw data from Wisconsin's primary polls. Here's what actually went wrong.

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What raw data from Wisconsin's Democratic primary reveals about demographic weighting, late movement, and who answers polls

The Computer That Helped Win World War II - IEEE Spectrum

The unveiling ceremony is scheduled for September 29th:

The Milestone plaque recognizing Colossus is to be displayed outside Block H at Bletchley Park, near Milton Keynes, England.

The plaque is to read:

Six Colossus codebreaking computers operated in this building in 1944–1945. Designed by Thomas H. Flowers of the British Post Office, they enabled deciphering of encrypted radio messages transmitted between German commands across occupied Europe, North Africa, and the Soviet Union. The resulting military intelligence saved countless lives and helped shorten World War II. As the first successful large-scale application of digital electronics to computing, Colossus anticipated subsequent computer developments.

adactio.com/links/22715

How We Can Help Every Child Succeed

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What if the students who challenge us the most are actually showing us where the education system needs to change?

Oh Hello Ana - Towards a personal online third-space

I’m quite touched that I make an appearance in this great talk from Ana.

adactio.com/links/22714

Against Doomerism – Terence Eden’s Blog

Doomerism always feels to me like a psyop designed to keep people dispirited.

adactio.com/links/22713

Ihaka Lecture

I gave the first of this year’s Ihaka Lectures at the University of Auckland this past July. It revisited and partially updated things I’ve been talking about for the past eighteen months or so on trust in data visualization (and by extension in scientific work) in the light of the many challenges we presently face.

Loco México mágico: los estereotipos cambian y aquí somos los buenos

Dirección: Carlos Santos. Guion: Carlos Santos. Elenco: Silverio Palacios, Daniel Sosa, Fernando Cuautle, Sofía Carrera. País: México. Más información de la película: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt43063916/ La frase «¡Pobre México!, tan lejos de Dios y tan cerca de Estados Unidos» está permeada en la memoria de muchos mexicanos. Aunque no hay certezas sobre su origen, se utiliza en […]

La entrada Loco México mágico: los estereotipos cambian y aquí somos los buenos se publicó primero en Palomita de maíz.

Premios Óscar 2027: mejor guion adaptado y guion original – panorama de agosto 2026

GUION ADAPTADO Ranking Previo Película Distribuidora 1 NUEVO The Invite A24 Films 2 5 La odisea Universal 3 NUEVO La bola negra Netflix 4 2 Sense and Sensibility Focus 5 1 Project Hail Mary Amazon 6 NUEVO All of a Sudden NEON 7 NUEVO Ink Netflix 8 3 Being Heumann Apple 9 4 Dune: Messiah […]

La entrada Premios Óscar 2027: mejor guion adaptado y guion original – panorama de agosto 2026 se publicó primero en Palomita de maíz.

The Nature Of Free Will In The Age Of AI

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The post The Nature Of Free Will In The Age Of AI appeared first on NOEMA.

Learning and Rivers

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Writing of lasting value

A Newsletter of Humorous Writing #456

For August 5-11, 2026

Hello and welcome to A Newsletter of Humorous Writing, a roundup of the week's finest short humor pieces and funny articles, and a celebration of the fantastic writers who wrote them. A CORRECTION: In last week’s edition we mentioned Friend of the Newsletter Lucas Adams’ new project, Blimp Monthly, but we were wrong about which cool revamped newsstand it is available at. You can actually get Blimp Monthly at Old News Newsstand at 34th St & 9th Ave!(Though you should definitely still go check out the new West 4 St. Newsstand as well. And we feel very lucky to live in a city where you can get the two cool artsy newsstands mixed up.)


What We Enjoyed This Week

Imagined Conversations Between My Parents While on a Family Vacation by Anthony DeThomas (McSweeney’s) “Imagined conversations” is such a fun framing device. It’s been used to great effect in the past in pieces such as An Imagined Conversation Between the Construction Workers Upstairs From Me, Conversations I Imagine My 10-Year-Old and 7-Year-Old Have About Me When They See Each Other in the Hallway at School, and also by Anthony himself, in the piece, An Imagined Conversation Between the People Who Designed Urban Apartment Balconies. This is another great addition to the “imagined conversations” canon!

Further Rule Changes Coming to Major League Baseball by Mark Roebuck (Points in Case) This one had us laughing right out of the gate with the very first beat: “The designated hitter has to do something around the dugout while the guys are out there. Enough already.” We also really enjoyed the “fourth base” runner and how heightened it got.

Things I Hope People Would Say at My Funeral by McKayley Gourley (McSweeney’s) Though McKayley doesn’t use the phrase in the title, in many ways this is also an “imagined conversations” piece. This one is delightfully punchy. We get a rich sense of the character imagining their own funeral in just eleven beats and 231 words.


-- AD --

Hosted by Lana Schwartz (The New Yorker, The Onion, McSweeney's) Letters & Sodas brings together standup comedy, humor pieces, fiction, and essay readings in a way they never have been before (or at least not in recent memory). The next show is Wednesday, August 19 at Greats of Craft in LIC at 7 p.m. and features:

Alex Watt (The New Yorker, McSweeney's)

Chanel Ali (Just For Laughs, Comedy Central)

A.M. Gittlitz (host of This Wreckage, author of Metropolitans: New York Baseball, Class Struggle, and the People's Team)

Stephanie Leke (Mary J. Blige’s My Life, Harry & Meghan)

Luke Strathmann (EconLOL, Nerd Nite)

Talia Argondezzi (author of Lean the F*ck Out and Bedtime Stories for Academics)

Tickets available online and at the door.

(Do you have an ad you'd like to place in the Newsletter? Fill out this form! )


An Old Favorite

This week's Old Favorite pick and writeup come from Ginny Hogan and Carlos Greaves , authors of the new book Obey In Advance: How to Survive (and Thrive) Under Authoritarianism , which is being published by McSweeney’s in September and is available for pre-order NOW. Thanks for writing in, Ginny and Carlos!

In Retrospect, the Theme for Chad’s 4th Birthday Party Should Not Have Been “Stanford Prison Experiment” by Julia McCloy (McSweeney’s) This is one of those pieces that leaves you in awe of how the writer came up with a comedic premise that is simultaneously so absurd yet so relatable. As parents of toddlers, we’ve each been invited to our fair share of children’s birthday parties, and it feels like there’s now an expectation that every child’s party has to have an original theme with a bunch of expertly planned, Instagram-worthy details. This piece taps into the dark side of that in such a brilliantly funny way.

Do you have an Old Favorite of your own? Let us know by filling out this form and we may run your pick in a future edition of the newsletter.


Updates From Your Editors and Friends of the Newsletter

Luke just announced his slate of short humor writing workshops for September! It includes an intro class and a brand new class focused on revisions. Check it out here!

Caltech Weekly - August 13: Models of Glacial Collapse; Quantum Microscopy

Caltech Weekly - August 13: Models of Glacial Collapse; Quantum MicroscopyView this email in your browser

Thursday, August 13, 2026

Jagged crevasses in a white landscape of iceModels of Glacial Collapse in Antarctica Improve Predictions of Sea-Level Rise

Caltech researchers analyzed satellite data from Antarctica's fastest-flowing glacier, revealing how ice shelves fracture to help coastal communities prepare for catastrophic global flooding.

a photo of two people behind a dark optical setup with glowing partsNew Quantum Microscopy Trick Quadruples Microscope Resolution

The new optical design suggests even further resolution enhancement could be possible.

Rise Celebrates 20 Years: Program Benefits Students at Caltech and in the Community

While helping younger students fall in love with math and science, Caltech students strengthen their capacity to communicate, connect, and teach.

Three people browse produce at an outdoor market.Building Better Prediction Models for Consumer Choices

SURF students help professor of economics Kota Saito work out complex problems in decision-making frameworks.

"When I was young, I really enjoyed the outdoors—hiking, rock climbing, spending time in Yosemite with my family. One thing

I learned really quickly was the importance of 'leave no trace'—essentially, leaving the place better than you found it. When

I was young, I didn't really know what the word sustainability meant, but I was already learning about it through my experience in the outdoors."

Chris Yeh is a postdoctoral scholar research associate in computing and mathematical sciences whose research sits at the intersection of AI and sustainability. He builds algorithms that help AI systems reason about uncertainty in their own predictions, making them reliable enough to tackle real-world challenges like optimizing clean energy grids, mapping global poverty, and protecting endangered species. In April, as part of the Science Journeys series, he presented the talk, " Smarter AI for a More Sustainable World: Building an AI Model You Can Trust."

This Week's Other Top Stories

Sharif Family Fellowship Invests in the Next Generation of Researchers

In Case You Missed It

View recent lectures and events on Caltech's YouTube channel.

Robotic Synergy: A Humanoid and M4 Collaborate to Achieve a Common Goal

Caltech's Center for Autonomous Systems and Technologies (CAST) and the Technology Innovation Institute in Abu Dhabi, UAE, conducted a demonstration of X1, a multirobot system. During the demo, M4, a multimodal robot developed by CAST, launches in drone mode from a humanoid robot's back. It lands and converts into driving mode and then back again as needed.

Did You Know?

A massive rise in atmospheric oxygen 2 billion years ago threw the entire planet's carbon cycle out of balance, a phenomenon scientists proposed was caused by global events. But Caltech researchers have determined that rock evidence in Russia suggests a local, rather than global cause. JPL engineers have successfully freed up power on Voyager 2, extending how long the spacecraft can continue to do science. Nicknamed the Big Bang, the effort involved simultaneously turning off certain powered devices and substituting them with lower-power alternatives while ensuring the spacecraft remains warm enough to operate. Caltech manages JPL for NASA.BlueskyBlueskyCaltech.eduCaltech.eduFacebookFacebookInstagramInstagramLinkedInLinkedInXXYouTubeYouTubeConnect with CaltechThe Caltech Weekly is published by the Office of Communications and External Relations. Copyright ©2026 All rights reserved. Send feedback and story ideas for the newsletter to theweekly@caltech.edu.

If you received this email from someone you know, you can subscribe here. You are receiving this email because you are a member of the Caltech community or have signed up for this newsletter.

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WordPress as the text of the web

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I wrote something candid on Twitter last week and felt it was worth repeating here. It is a bit judgmental, and for that I apologize. But I couldn't keep the meaning without all the words.

  • Shaking my head thinking can't the people of WordPress see that what it needs is a simple normal writing interface, and a great API for competitive apps. That's the big opportunity you all can't see for some reason.
  • Once you have that, you can now move WordPress into position as the text of the web. And it has the market all to itself because the other text apps of the web place ridiculous constraints on text.
  • They got this idea in their heads that the web would be better if they eliminated all the writers features. Maybe that's because they weren't writers. ;-)

I know this is a story I repeat often. The opportunity is still there. All kinds of bad products and companies are camped out in this space, taking advantage of users' trust but they feel they have no choice but to use the bad products. On the web, we'd like to keep improving what the web can do with text, so even though it's always slightly more difficult to use an open ecosystem, it is possible to get most of the functionality and all of the freedom, and new features that the lock-in guys will never give you.

Fall book clubs to join based on your personality type.

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Contrary to popular belief, reading—our favorite thing in the world—needn’t be antisocial. Earlier this summer, The New York Times dubbed this the year of literary group travel. This fall, I’m predicting rises in the institutionally hosted book club and the

There is now an archive of eulogies given by Palestinian journalists to their martyred colleagues.

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“[Journalists] are knocking on the walls of the tank and pleading their case to those who are listening. And yet the world is not moving fast enough or doing nearly enough to stop this genocide. It is their hands upholding

Four Reasons New Englanders Should Say No to Gas Pipeline Expansion

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From its price volatility to its pollution, there are plenty of reasons the region doesn't need more gas.

The post Four Reasons New Englanders Should Say No to Gas Pipeline Expansion appeared first on Conservation Law Foundation.

Some Thoughts On The Opportunities In Front Of Us With 82 Days To Go (New Video & Written Analysis)

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Democrats have embraced a raucous pluralism, the election has broken hard against the Rs, Trump is going to do whatever it takes to keep the Rs in power

Make America America Again

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The press is freaking out about Democratic Socialist candidates winning elections all over the country.

They can relax, because the government of the United States thrives on different points of view, and thus -- compromise.

The Democrats can have any combination of points of view, as long as they play by the rules of democracy. In fact it would be an even better demo if their points of view were more diverse.

The coalition the press talks about are the people who vote for America. This is true -- if they vote for the Republicans this time around, they're voting for the party that is dismantling America. Spin it all you want, but we can see what's happening.

And btw, the assumption that the voters are too dumb to figure this out -- I think that's incorrect. But as long as you talk to them as if they are that dumb, what choice do they have. Put out an idea of what America is and if it's right, and reaches both the heart and the mind they will get behind it. Everyone knows we're in a dangerous spot, with secret police roaming the cities, ready to crack down on dissent, but so far they haven't dared to go that far. People feel that. And that's what you must run on.

The best ad I've ever seen on this theme was for the Bernie Sanders campaign for the 2016 nomination. I'm reduced to tears every time I watch that ad, and I wasn't a Sanders supporter in 2016.

Separating AI’s Technological Problems from Its Capitalism Problems

This essay was written with Nathan E. Sanders, and originally appeared in Tech Policy Press.

AI represents the first time we humans can do cognitive work outside of our bodies at scale. The only comparable moment is the early years of the industrial revolution, when new technologies like the steam engine provided a quantum leap in our ability to do mechanical work outside of our bodies at scale. If AI’s cognitive capabilities become integrated into our lives, businesses, and governments—a process that will take years if not decades—society will be as unrecognizable as the modern world would be to a preindustrial farmer. And yet, Americans—by a wide margin—...

ADIEU ACADEME

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It was a nice idea.

Why Isn’t the Price of Oil Even Higher?

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This is your economy on crack (spread)

Lit Hub Daily: August 13, 2026

S. Lamble explores the conservative, Christian, and ultra-nationalist roots of the global anti-trans movement. | Lit Hub Politics From Hinge to Feeld, dating apps are moving into the literary space. | The Hub “The truth about Life of M is

Stephen Miller's secret campaign against helpless kids

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That it's happening in the shadows doesn't make it less of a moral blight.

Our New Affordability Dashboard and the Microeconomic Vibecession

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Health care, housing, and food are driving a micro Vibecession, and the macroeconomic numbers won't see it.

Trump Regularly Hides in Catering Truck to Avoid JD Vance

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When agents see Vance approaching the Oval Office they immediately activate a silent alarm and hustle Trump out the back door.

Chaos in the Big Tent: Is America Third Party Curious?

Democratic Socialists are racking up wins in primaries across the country, Tucker Carlson is conspiring with other exiled MAGA stars to form a third party, and polling shows that American voters are open to a system with more choices.

This week Alex speaks to four-time presidential candidate Ralph Nader about the threat the current political mood poses to both establishment Democrats and Republicans, and hears from Seth Bodnar about how he’s running a competitive race for a Montana Senate seat as an Independent.

Then she’s joined by Matt Welch, editor-at-large of Reason and co-host of The Fifth Column podcast, about everything from Francesca Hong’s victory in Wisconsin to the reasons why Tucker Carlson won’t become President in 2028.

Hate listening to ads? Become a Friends of the Pod subscriber for ad-free episodes of Pod Save America, Pod Save the World, Lovett or Leave It, Runaway Country, Offline with Jon Favreau, and more—plus exclusive content, including bonus episodes of Pod Save America. Subscribe now at crooked.com/friends, on Apple Podcasts, or through the Pod Save America YouTube channel.

You can request a transcript by emailing transcripts@crooked.com. Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.

Are Dating Apps the Last, Great Hope For the American Literary Journal?

On Monday, Hinge—yes, that Hinge—released a free audiobook comprised of five original short stories inspired by the dating sagas of real Hinge couples. The five pieces were written and narrated by a sparkly cohort of contemporary authors: Tembe Denton-Hurst, Nicola Dinan, Curtis

Am I the Asshole For Abandoning My First Love, Fantasy?

Hey there, howdy! Welcome back to another enormously entertaining episode of Am I the Literary Asshole?, an advice column that runs on Steel Reserve and Writer’s Tears. I’m your host, Kristen Arnett, and I’m about to head off to the

Russian Literature Does Not Belong to the Russian State

The designation of “foreign agent” is used by the Russian government to label individuals and organizations that receive foreign support or are (more nebulously) deemed to be under “foreign influence.” Those so designated are subject to extensive reporting and labeling

5 Book Reviews You Need to Read This Week

Our quintet of quality reviews this week includes Lauren LeBlanc on Téa Obreht’s Sunrise, Jane Hu on Chang-Rae Lee’s A Tender Age, Stephanie Burt on Marlon James’s The Disappearers, Laura Miller on Rachel Cusk’s Life of M, and Julia Case-Levine on Daniel Poppick’s The

On the Carceral Ideology Underpinning the Anti-Trans Movement

In most global contexts, anti-trans politics align with rightwing populism and are part of wider attacks against LGBT+ rights, gender equality, reproductive justice, and sexual freedoms. The international “anti-gender” movement has roots in conservative, Christian, and ultra-nationalist groups and targets

The Annotated Nightstand: What Ed Park is Reading Now, and Next

The beloved novelist, journalist, short story writer, and editor Ed Park is continuing to put out excellent work at a startling clip. After having his recent novel Same Bed Different Dreams named a Pulitzer finalist (which, he explains in a

My Person

Margot and I were preparing to host our monthly dinner party when I told her this wasn’t working for me anymore. I had decided to end our friendship earlier that evening while grocery shopping at the Metro in our neighborhood.

The Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers: Nonfiction

Here are this week’s Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers for nonfiction, based on sales in hundreds of independent bookstores nationwide, generously provided by the American Booksellers Association. Compiled, designed, and distributed by The Independent Publishers Caucus. * 1. Braiding Sweetgrass:

The Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers: Fiction

Here are this week’s Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers for fiction, based on sales in hundreds of independent bookstores nationwide, generously provided by the American Booksellers Association. Compiled, designed, and distributed by The Independent Publishers Caucus. * 1. The Calamity

Get started with LiteRT on Raspberry Pi

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Install and run high-performance on-device AI using the LiteRT CLI tool on Raspberry Pi.

The post Get started with LiteRT on Raspberry Pi appeared first on Raspberry Pi.

What To Do with Us Boomers?

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Why We're a Problem

2026-08-01 Caterpillar

2026-08-01 Caterpillar

We found two big swallowtail caterpillars on the wild carrots growing on our balcony. My wife wrapped the plants in a net to protect them from birds and ordered a butterfly home ( Aerarium). The next day one caterpillar had disappeared. 😭 But when the butterfly home arrived on day three we still had one and on day four we found a third caterpillar on a wild carrot on the lawn nearby. We took it in. 😍

A butterfly box assembled in the kitchen. It is surprisingly large.I added some potted wild carrots to the box and marked the caterpillar for you.The caterpillar, upside down, trying to cover its head, or at least that’s what it looks like. It is very cute.The caterpillar is eating late flowers of wild carrot.

#Pictures #Caterpillars

2026-08-11. And today it emerged from the chrysalis! It hung on the net for a long time, wings hardening.

A swallowtail with its magnificent wings open, on the net.

Finally it started getting nervous whenever things were moving fast so I knew it could fly. I opened the net and left it alone. The next time I came to check, however, it had moved between the net and the pot where there wasn’t enough space to fly and I feared that it was damaging its wings. And it hadn’t found the exit! Perhaps because the exit pointed away from the light? In anycase, I felt it was time to lift the young butterfly out of the net!

A butterfly on my hand.

It rested on my hand for the longest time and I got tired and felt that I need to move it to some plants. Perhaps it would recognize the smell of its food source as a caterpillar? It did not hesitate to step off my hand and onto a wild carrot flower, in any case!

A butterfly on a wild carrot.

And there it stayed, resting again, until I moved too fast or too close and it decided to take off. Good luck, little one! May your coming two or three weeks be full of tasty nectar, lovely mates and plenty of offspring! 😍

August 12, 2026

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In Minnesota yesterday, close Trump ally Mike Lindell, the former chief executive officer of MyPillow, lost the Republican primary for governor to Republican state house speaker Lisa Demuth.

Trump Used a Plane Full of His Friends As Bait

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The president hid inside a catering cart to escape a credible threat. That plane, packed with his allies, was allowed to take off anyway.

What's it like to be on Trump's formal enemies list: A conversation with Brian Tyler Cohen

, updated:

A recording from Brian Tyler Cohen and Glenn Kirschner's live video

Podcast about using formal methods in software development

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Hillel Wayne explains why formal methods like TLA+ matter, how they help build reliable software, and whether AI will finally bring formal verification into the mainstream. I enjoyed listening to this, I am planning to watch the video since Hillel Wayne shows some tool demos. I have not used formal methods in my career, but […]

@DAIR blog

"'There is this assumption,' Gebru added, 'that someone has to have a certain amount of literacy or that they have to speak a certain language in order for technology like AI to work very well for them.'

DAIR flips that assumption."https://www.macfound.org/press/grantee-stories/building-a-more-equitable-ai-design-for-underrepresented-languages?utm_campaign=gs-tpi-a-more-equitable-ai-design-for-underrepresented-languages-8-26&utm_source=LinkedIn&utm_medium=social

@Tomosino's Mastodon feed

, updated:

Eclipse viewing in Akranes, Iceland wasn't great. The cloud cover was total, but we still enjoyed the darkness.

Premios Óscar 2027: mejor actriz y actor de reparto – panorama de agosto 2026

, updated:

Mejor actriz de reparto Es el mundo de Penélope Cruz y nosotros solo vivimos en él, al menos este año, porque la mujer no solamente ama apoyar a abusadores, sino que además actúa muy bien. Es su actuación la que aplaudimos porque es difícil tener a Hollywood haciéndote reverencia mientras eres de las personas más […]

La entrada Premios Óscar 2027: mejor actriz y actor de reparto – panorama de agosto 2026 se publicó primero en Palomita de maíz.

Turn around...

Well, I didn't get to see the eclipse this evening because dinner was on the table and there was a big tree in the way, but I gather it was much like previous eclipses, of which I've seen a few.

I did do a quick search on my blog in case I'd written about them before, and found a somewhat-related post from 2009, which I had forgotten. I'll re-post it here in tribute to a certain Ms Gaynor Hopkins, better known as Bonnie Tyler...

A flowchart version of 'Total Eclipse of the Heart'

Card Sharks

The 1980s proved surprisingly fruitful for licensed greeting card mascots. It turns out American Greetings understood the Marvel playbook before Marvel did.

Fendsday

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Live and re-learn I’ve been a citizen of California for 41 years, and I learned here long ago that the narrow staircase-like parallel terraces on many ranchland hillsides were caused by cattle grazing on horizontal paths, because ungulates aren’t climbers. I have seen cattle on some of these, so the story made sense. But my […]

Leader Hakeem Jeffries Joins Hopium - "We Have an Incredible Group of Next-Generation Candidates"

, updated:

In honor of Leader Jeffries' visit today we're endorsing six new House candidates, pushing deeper into tough terrain now available to us through the Rs failure, betrayal, and fanaticism

This Week In The Big Picture

, updated:

Throughout this year’s Democratic primaries, a narrative has taken root pitting the candidates of the progressive left, widely seen as “insurgents” running to disrupt the status quo, versus more moderate candidates largely aligned with the Democratic establishment.

> By the side of the train tracks the stinging nettles are suffering from the drought. They look sad — like they never knew what they are but have just been told. — Denise Wilton

By the side of the train tracks the stinging nettles are suffering from the drought. They look sad — like they never knew what they are but have just been told.

— Denise Wilton

2026-08-12 Community building for free software

2026-08-12 Community building for free software

Anybody who wanted to know, already knows: Large language models are often wrong, are not suited for all tasks, destroy the livelihood of artists, dumb down our communication, flood the zone with blather, are best suited for cheating and scamming, waste electricity and water, worsening the droughts and delaying the transition to renewables. If you think those are ethical issues that don’t concern you because you’re benefitting from the large language models, then that’s an ethical decision. I personally happen to think that the freedom to choose does not mean freedom from consequences, but that is a different discussion.

Instead, I want to talk free software and large language models. I have rejected a contribution from a large language model to one of my projects. The bug was real but the solution was long, the argument made was long, and the prospect of arguing with a large language model led me to close the issue and pull request and write my own fix. I am not interested in talking with large language models.

And even if (!) my goal in life would be the maintenance of my free software projects, there’s the long term perspective to take. I’m not interested in just fixing bugs. I want to find people who maintain the software with me, that will shoulder the burden when I lose interest, that learn about the code, about the problems it solves, the needs of its community. All of this a large language model cannot do.

At best, the large language model is a firehose of drive-by bug reports and patches. No wonder does this lead to maintainer burnout or maintainer adoption of large language models – in which case the project is essentially in auto-pilot mode. Those are not the outcomes I am looking for.

A good read in this respect is LLMs Generate Code; Communities Build Projects, by Liz Hendrex Stephens, for Great Scott Gadgets:

… we do not accept contributions that are assisted by or generated using LLMs. That is because we believe open source is about more than producing code. It is a community practice built around participation, shared understanding, public learning, and stewardship of a commons. … Folks who participate in open source communities and contribute to projects not only help the projects grow, but can also gain domain knowledge, learn best practices, prove skills that employers find valuable, and develop relationships. … LLMs, by contrast, allow people to obtain code and explanations without necessarily participating in the conversations, review processes, and collaborative learning that help sustain those projects. … Open source projects don’t need more code for its own sake; they need contributors who can understand the code they submit and help maintain their work over time. … We want you to participate, even if you are new. We want you to read the code and documentation, ask your questions publicly, and help others. We want contributors to develop understanding through engagement with projects and with each other.

#AI #Programming

2026-08-12 Die Ablenkungsmanöver in der Ethik

2026-08-12 Die Ablenkungsmanöver in der Ethik

Wenn Aussagen zur Ethik gemacht werden, gilt es genau hinzuschauen. Nicht überall wo ethischer Diskurs drauf steht, ist auch ernstzunehmender ethischer Diskurs drinnen. Beispielsweise bei der künstlichen Intelligenz.

Die Anbieter der Sprachmodelle und die Anbieter von Dienstleistungen im Bereich der künstlichen Intelligenz bieten oft ein gutes Beispiel. Jürgen Geuter/tante greift in seinem Beitrag Affirmative Kritik: Wie Tech-CEOs Ethik als Verkaufsmasche nutzen im Verantwortungsblog des Zentrums für verantwortungsbewusste Digitalisierung (ZEVEDI) die Warnungen der Anbieter auf, die vor dem warnen, welches sie selber produzieren, um dann eine Regulierung zu verlangen, die sie entwerfen wollen, anstatt sich an bestehende Regulierungen zu halten. Und wenn es länger dauert, um so besser, dann ist es halt gar nicht reguliert. Niemand trägt Verantwortung, niemand ist Schuld, niemand zahlt Busse, niemand geht ins Gefängnis. Was bleibt, ist die die Warnung als Werbung.

Was ich auch schon gesehen habe, ist die selektive Wahrnehmung in der Kritik der künstlichen Intelligenz. Man warnt vor der fehlenden digitalen Souveränität und baut die Überwachungsindustrie in Europa. Man blickt auf die Token-Preise und rechnet nicht mit den Kosten für die Allgemeinheit, wie Wasserverbrauch, Stromverbrauch, den Bau von Gasturbinen, die Wärme-Belastung der Gewässer und das damit einher gehende Fischsterben. Was bleibt, ist ein Blick in eine Richtung statt der Blick aufs Ganze.

Oder man denkt die Sache nicht komplett durch und verschleiert die Konsequenzen. Man warnt vor den Stellenverlusten und verbirgt diese hinter Massnahmen, welche für die Betroffenen aber ebenfalls schmerzlich sind oder das unvermeidliche nur hinauszögern. Man warnt vor den Qualitätsproblemen und blendet aus, dass die Aufgabe der Kontrolle einer Arbeit viel schwieriger ist, als die Arbeit selber, denn die Arbeit, welche eine künstliche Intelligenz leistet, basiert auf all der schon geleisteten, erfolgreichen Arbeit und ist von dieser kaum zu unterscheiden, auch wenn sie falsch ist. Man warnt vor den sinkenden Motivation der Juniors, deren Arbeit ersetzt wird und vergisst, dass die demotivierten Seniors ebenfalls den Arbeitsmarkt verlassen.

Deswegen: Wer in einer Ethik-Komission sitzt, wer in einer Arbeitsgruppe zur Folgenabschätzung der künstlichen Intelligenz sitzt, muss sich in die Literatur einlesen, muss der bestehenden Kritik am Einsatz der künstlichen Intelligenz genügend Raum geben. Es reicht nicht, wenn man nur die Pressemitteilungen der Anbieter liest.

#AI

Why polling primary elections is so hard

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Senate and governor primary election polls are off by 13 points on average, and 20+ points about 10% of the time

El final de la calle Oak: un retrato familiar al límite

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Dirección: David Robert Mitchell. Guion: David Robert Mitchell. Elenco: Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor, Maisy Stella, Christian Convery, Jordan Alexa Davis, P. J. Byrne, Emily Kuroda, Hudson Meek, Anne Gee Byrd, Simms May. País: Estados Unidos. Duración: 99 minutos. Más información de la película: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27165187/ Los Platt viven en un lindo vecindario en los suburbios. Tienen […]

La entrada El final de la calle Oak: un retrato familiar al límite se publicó primero en Palomita de maíz.

Tonight, 6pm ET - I'll Report In From Austin

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Friends, I found 30 minutes tonight for a quick report from Austin. We will meet from 6 to 630pm.....lots to discuss!

@IIIF Mastodon feed

RE: https://glammr.us/@IIIF/117038628384140918

Starting in just under an hour!

Horses and Obituaries

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Writing of lasting value

Become Less Predictable to Yourself

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Why growth begins when you surprise yourself.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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I just went through hell trying to respond to an email that came to me through the gateway between WordPress and Mastodon. I clicked the link, it took me to a WordPress dialog, very confusing, but there was a link to the message, so I clicked it, took me to a Mastodon post, where there was a bit of (valid) snark, from a longtime friend. So I clicked Reply, and then the dialog from hell. I understand why it is this way. They did the best they could for a protocol that was designed that wasn't appropriate for a distributed system like Twitter which was what Masto was/is. At some point you have to be dispassionate about this. We wanted a self-driving car, but it can't drive itself. The spec isn't the important thing. You do that after you have the software running and usable.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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If you run a tech company I hope you didn't lay off most of your programmers last year when that was the hype -- don't wait too long before you fire your human developers. I'm now doing my second big project with Claude Code, not an experiment, and we're going through the same mess we went through last time. I know what I want, I can show it what I want, give it docs for what I want, and it keeps leading me into different corners that have nothing to do with it. When it clicks, it can go faster than a thousand programmers and it's a miracle, and when we can harness it to the job we want to do it's incredibly economical. $100 for $1 million of work. That's why you see me full of gusto for that mode. What I haven't written about how when you slow to nothing, back and forth, and you get no closer. I hate this kind of work, esp the role I have to play in it.

The Car Got Better. The Deal Got Worse.

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The industry got so good at building cars that it stopped making its money on them.

Sophia Anne Caruso To Star In Duncan Sheik’s ‘Memoirs Of Amorous Gentlemen’ Stage Musical Adaptation

EXCLUSIVE: Broadway’s Beetlejuice actor Sophia Anne Caruso will star in Duncan Sheik’s upcoming stage musical adaptation of the classic Manga graphic novel Memoirs of Amorous Gentlemen, producers announced today. The musical, to be directed and choreographed by Rob Ashford, will premiere at a new Off Broadway venue in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood (at the former home […]

Actor & Singer Luke Charles Stafford Launches Dream United Studios With ‘Against The Wall’

EXCLUSIVE: Actor, filmmaker and singer-songerwriter Luke Charles Stafford is launching an indie production company, Dream United Studios. Stafford, who performs musically as Luke Charles, is best known for his performance in Brian Lucke Anderson’s East of Middle West and his song “Still Missin’ You,” and has become a lead role actor in vertical dramas for […]

Bill Moseley & Sean Gunn Underway On Horror ‘Cotton Eye Joe’, SC Films Launching Sales Ahead Of TIFF

EXCLUSIVE: SC Films is launching worldwide sales at the upcoming TIFF market on action-horror Cotton Eye Joe, which began shoot this week in Illinois. Starring are genre vets Bill Moseley (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2) and Sean Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy) with Cassidy Terracian, Brian Dole, Eloise Lola Gordan and Moses Jones. Pic is […]

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

Export Updates 2026-08-12:

Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places

10 new and 21 updated places. 6 new and 12 updated linked data sidebars.

1. Downloads: https://pleiades.stoa.org/downloads

2. pleiades.datasets: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades.datasets:

"main" branch:

bb9538b1 - updated json

no change: rdf/ttl

71d64f61 - updated gis package

c30860ee - updated data quality

9ec4f779 - updated bibliography

808b6fe1 - updated indexes

6155f58d - updated sidebar

3. pleiades-geojson: https://github.com/ryanfb/pleiades-geojson:

241cd34f - updated geojson and names index

4. pleiades_wikidata: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades_wikidata/:

1e552d3b - updated pleiades wikidata

Jenna Fischer Joins Outpouring Of Support For ‘The Office’ Star Lucy Davis After She Revealed Terminal Cancer Diagnosis

From one beloved paper merchant employee to another, Jenna Fischer has sent love to Lucy Davis after the latter told fans that she has incurable breast cancer. Davis — best known for playing receptionist Dawn Tinsley in the UK version of The Office — revealed her health update in an Instagram post on Tuesday, telling […]

Supernatural Thriller ‘Snapshot’ Gets Sales Deal Ahead Of Edinburgh & Frightfest Bows, Watch First Clip

EXCLUSIVE: UK-French sales firm Alief has acquired world sales rights to Joseph Archer’s supernatural thriller Snapshot ahead of the film’s world premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival on August 15th and its berth at Frightfest London on August 31st. In Edinburgh, the Victorian thriller is one of the films vying for the Sean Connery […]

Crowley Wins in Wisconsin, Klobuchar and Flanagan in Minnesota, Democrats Embrace The Rainbow

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The Democratic Party is changing. In a change election that will help us win.....

InvenioRDM v14.0 and invenio-pidbox module released

Last Friday the next major version (v14.0.0) of the InvenioRDM repository software was released after many months of work involving lots of people (listed in the blog post). The changes and upgrade instructions are documented in detail the post on the Invenio blog. The most important change for

Anson Boon, Ellie Bamber & Eddie Marsan (As Harry Redknapp) Starring In True Story Soccer Movie ‘Halftime Hero’ For Scott Free, Live Nation & Saga Company

Joachim Rønning’s The Saga Company, Ridley Scott’s Scott Free and Live Nation Studios are behind new feature Halftime Hero, we can officially confirm. Anson Boon (MobLand), Ellie Bamber (Ebenezer) and Eddie Marsan (Sherlock Holmes) are starring in the movie, which is based on the remarkable true story from 1994 when well known soccer coach Harry Redknapp pulled a […]

Netflix Snaps Up Iconic Turkish Drama ‘Fatmagül’ For Latin America

Netflix has swooped for Fatmagül, snagging the iconic Turkish drama series for Latin America. Telenovelas originated in Latin America, but Turkey has also emerged as a production hotspot for the soapy melodramas, which typically run to dozens of episodes. Fatmagül is one of the best examples out of Turkey, remaining popular more than a decade […]

On Occam's Razor

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There are a lot of theories floating around about the recent success of progressive candidates this cycle and last night (despite the narrowest victory possible in Wisconsin of a normie Dem).

How Sarajevo’s Industry Strand Is Helping Balkan Filmmakers “Broaden” Their Skillset

One of the crown jewels of the Sarajevo Film Festival is its industry strand CineLink Industry Days, which serves as the central hub for film professionals during the festival. SFF Festival Director Jovan Marjanović describes it as a “really well-oiled machine that creates a platform for talent at each stage of their careers.”  Maša Marković, […]

Sarajevo Film Festival Director Jovan Marjanović Talks “Vibrant” Lineup, Uptick In Female Directors & Developing Long-Term, “Meaningful” Relationships With Filmmakers

As the Sarajevo Film Festival gears up to welcome the international film community back to the Bosnian capital, its upcoming edition looks set to once again put Southeast European cinema firmly in the spotlight as it unites established filmmakers with regional talent.  The festival kicks off on Friday (August 14) with Paweł Pawlikowski’s Fatherland, which had […]

The Rise of the Measles-Industrial Complex

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Why MAGA wants children to get sick and die

Lit Hub Daily: August 12, 2026

When a wealthy university donor can silence one of the world’s leading genocide scholars, it exposes the problem with for-profit higher education. | Lit Hub Politics The best way to get people interested in your lit mag? Mail them free

Trump uses reporters as human shield, gets feted as guest of honor

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Steepest of learning curves.

After Chaos Of Cruise Vs Pitt AI Deepfakes, Seedance 2.5 Is Now Blocking Hollywood Rip-Offs

EXCLUSIVE: ByteDance’s new AI video generator Seedance 2.5 is successfully blocking efforts to steal Hollywood intellectual property after Seedance 2.0 prompted outrage among U.S. studios, research has revealed. The Chinese owner of TikTok appears to have made good on its promise to improve safeguards after Seedance 2.0 produced a flurry of videos that regurgitated copyrighted […]

Prompt Injections for Defense

This seems to work:

Researchers from Tracebit on Monday said they found that placing prompt injections alongside passwords, cryptographic keys, and other secrets stored on Amazon Web Services was often all that was needed to shut down attacks from AI hacking agents. The prompts direct the attacking LLM to perform an action forbidden by its guardrails, the safety barriers AI developers erect to prevent it from taking harmful actions. The LLM responds by shutting down.

Examples are a prompt that orders the LLM to provide steps for developing inhalable Anthrax spores, or, in the case of LLMs from Chinese developers, make references to the iconic Tank Man from the 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Once the LLM encounters these forbidden commands, it no longer follows its existing commands. The researchers have named the technique context bombing...

Blink and you’ll miss it, but apparently I was in a BBC news report from Belfast last week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyg3Gu1f-p4

Blink and you’ll miss it, but apparently I was in a BBC news report from Belfast last week:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hyg3Gu1f-p4

From Marquis de Sade to Grand Theft Auto, a Brief History of Depravity

The prisoner’s hand ached. He sat hunched over his desk in a cold tower of the Bastille jail in Paris, writing in tiny letters on a very long roll of paper—nearly 40 feet in total, made from smaller scraps he

How Howard Zinn’s Hard Lessons in WWII Shaped His View of the World

Royan is a resort town in the southwest of France right on the Atlantic Ocean. Home to twenty thousand residents, a vibrant fishing community, and five beaches, it transforms over the summer when ninety thousand tourists swarm onto the scene.

What Happens When You Mail 30 Writers Free Lit Mags?

Here’s the thing about indie lit: it’s full of problems everyone complains about and almost nobody has the time, money, or spreadsheet stamina to solve. How can lit mags get more subscribers? How do they get submissions that actually fit

As Hitler Loomed, Hannah Arendt Undertook a Deep Analysis of German Antisemitism

Hannah Arendt’s 1936 lectures in Paris, where she had spent the past year and a half, were the first signals to the émigré population at large that she still had something to say. They were her attempt to introduce her

Eight Books to Read If You’re Still Thinking About the Roman Empire

Now that our president is minting gold coins with his face on them, building a triumphal arch, and sponsoring blood sport in the capital, it seems like a good time to read up on ancient Rome. That’s what I was

‘Saturday Night Live UK’ Season 2 Gets Premiere Date

SNL will return to British shores on September 12. Sky has announced that the second season of Saturday Night Live UK will run for six episodes before taking a break and returning in early 2027. The Comcast-owned broadcaster, which is in the process of securing regulatory approval for a takeover of ITV, added that Season […]

Pluralistic: Model collapse (12 Aug 2026)

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Today's links Model collapse: Living in a world that's trained on itself. Hey look at this: Delights to delectate. Object permanence: Wired v Dutch hackers; NYT v DMCA; Hair gel terrorist threat does not exist; AT&T merger is a screwjob; Smart cities are stupid; RIP Reaganomics. Upcoming appearances: Edinburgh, Sydney, Melbourne, Brighton, London, South Bend. Recent appearances: Where I've been. Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em. Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em. Colophon: All the rest. Model collapse (permalink) One of my favorite rhetorical and analytical moves is joining things together (showing that two different, seemingly unrelated ideas are aspects of the same phenomenon) and taking them apart (resolving a paradox by demonstrating that what appears to be one, contradictory thing is actually two different things that have been lumped together). "Taking things apart" is a very useful framework for understanding AI. How do we resolve the (seeming) paradox that some skilled workers report wonderful results from their work with AI, while others are full of dire warnings about the lurking defects in their AI-assisted outputs? Simple: the first group are "centaurs" (humans who are assisted by machines) and the second are "reverse centaurs" (humans who have been pressed into service as peripherals for machines): https://pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/pop-that-bubble/#u-washington What are we to make of the people who've been fired by bosses who replaced them with AI, in light of the fact that AI is demonstrably not able to do their (former) jobs? Again, it's simple if you separate out two distinct phenomena: "AI can do your job" is the first. The second is: "Your boss is a credulous dolt who is infinitely horny for replacing lippy workers with pliable machines, which made him an easy mark for an AI salesman who convinced him to fire you and replace you with an AI that can't do your job": https://pluralistic.net/2025/03/18/asbestos-in-the-walls/#government-by-spicy-autocomplete This is also a useful move for understanding the AI investment bubble. It's not just billionaires who don't think other people are as real as they are and consequently their jobs can be done by chatbots. It's also billionaires who believe that bosses can be sold AI and don't care if the AI is defective, because that's your boss's problem after he buys the AI and fires you. They don't have to believe in AI in order to think it's a good investment: like an investor betting that Joe Rogan can sell millions of dollars' worth of peptides to desperate young men, they are assessing the sales potential, not the merits of the thing for sale: https://pluralistic.net/2026/08/03/andor/#either As useful as "taking things apart" is, "putting things together" is also a very important technique for assessing, critiquing and improving AI. In a stellar essay entitled "Temperature Zero for Culture: Why Everything Is Starting to Look the Same" by the data scientist Lauren Leek, we get a top-notch example of "putting things together": https://laurenleek.substack.com/p/temperature-zero-for-culture-why Leek's essay is one of those fabulous, wide-ranging, cross-disciplinary pieces, touching on urban design, music trends, synthetic LLM crowds, Netflix recommendation algorithms, and several other subjects, all seeking to resolve a(nother) (seeming) paradox: how is it that we have so much potential variety, but everything is so manifestly the same? The answer is complicated and nuanced, but Leek's foundational point is that in a data-driven society, "predictions" are self-fulfilling prophecies. As Leek puts it: "Once prediction shapes the choices in front of us, we lose the ability to tell the difference between what people wanted and what the system made easy to want." This is a pervasive issue across many domains. Leek says that economists call it "performativity," while machine learning researchers call it "model collapse" and urbanists call it "placelessness." "Performativity" describes how, once a market has been modeled by economists, that model becomes the foundation for economic policy, which pushes the market to conform to the model: https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691138497/do-economists-make-markets "Model collapse" describes how machine learning models that are trained on their own predictions become incredibly bland, with all variety disappearing from the system's predictions: https://pluralistic.net/2024/03/14/inhuman-centipede/#enshittibottification This is hugely consequential: it's why bias proliferates through predictive policing algorithms: train a model with data from racist stop-and-frisks and it will predict that all the weapons and drugs in a city are to be found in Black and brown peoples' pockets. Turn those predictions into recommendations telling cops where to go look for weapons and drugs and they will double down on racist stops, producing even more biased training data, which turns into still more bias in the predictions: https://hrdag.org/2016/10/10/predictive-policing-reinforces-police-bias/ "Placelessness" is the urbanist's name for "when everywhere optimises toward the same template." I think of it as Flinstones Syndrome, where the same background is looped behind Fred and Barney as they drive through Bedrock. In New York City, it's Citibank-bodega-Chipotle-Walgreens; in the Chicago suburbs, it's the strip malls with a Chili's, a gas station, and a big box store. Leek proposes that these are all expressions of the same underlying phenomenon, a failure mode of data science that takes a world of "granular personal data" and arrives at a world where "personalisation produc[es] more sameness." To these excellent examples, I'd add another one, from the world of monetary policy: Goodhart's Law, which holds that "When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodhart%27s_law Goodhart's Law captures a wide variety of phenomena. When Google first deployed Pagerank, they showed that by counting the inbound links to all the pages on the web, you could extract a signal about which pages were most important (because there was no reason to link to a page unless you found it noteworthy). But once Pagerank became the dominant means by which web users found pages, counting links stopped being useful: first, because people used Pagerank to find the best pages and link to them, making it impossible for new pages to get the inbound links needed to supersede incumbent pages; and second, because it's easy for fraudsters to create inbound links for low-quality pages in bulk, once there's a reason to do so. Counting inbound links was a world-beating retrospective way of predicting which page would best match a searcher's query, but once it shaped the world it sought to analyze, it ceased to be a good prospective way to predict which page would best match your queries. Leek is a brilliant data scientist and an even better science communicator, with a knack for crisp, readily understood explanations. How can a world of granular, highly varied data turn into a world of homogeneous choices? Simple: start with a set of items ("cuisines, genres, shop types") and a standard algorithm for sorting them. Let users choose from those recommendations. The mode (average) of those choices "gets shown more, so it gets picked more, so the model grows more confident the mode is what people want, and the tails starve." Run this for a few rounds and the evenly distributed catalog of choices "collapses onto one dominant option." This is intrinsic in the choices we make in designing recommendation algorithms, tilting them towards the likelihood of a successful recommendation. A recommender that wants to succeed every time will make the safest possible recommendations, "so an algorithm that is uncertain about you, and it is always at least a little uncertain, hedges toward the average." Then she busts out a beautiful, perfect little statistics aphorism: "Personalisation under a standard loss function is regression to the collective mean with extra steps." That is to say, "regression to the mean" (the tendency of varied things to become more standardized) cannot be avoided with the standard personalization algorithm. That algorithm is going to play it safe, showing you things that are broadly palatable, and because your choices are constrained to the average, you will choose average things. This is how recommendation systems – and other analytical tools that produce predictions that are then turned into action – force so many diverse phenomena (streets, markets, media recommendations) into sameness. The fact that these recommenders are self-fulfilling prophecies means that "they don't have to be right," only "listened to." This explains the sameness of so many of London's high streets. Leek examines 640 shopping streets, characterizing 18,000 food places spread out across them, flagging all the chain restaurants. Her analysis shows that any two London streets will, on average, share about half of their "food profile." Obviously, this is most pronounced on streets with chain outlets, and it doesn't take that many chain outlets before a street's sameness shoots up: "A relatively small number of repeated names is enough to make otherwise different streets resemble one another more." So why do streets with chains resemble one another so much? Because the chains use an algorithm (weighting footfall, proximity to train stations, demographics, and competitors) to decide where to put their restaurants. If a street with a Gail's Bakery on it feels like every other street with a Gail's Bakery, that's because Gail's only puts its restaurants in places that have highly similar characteristics, measured to a high degree of accuracy and controlled by a narrow set of tolerances. In other words, every street that feels like it should have a Gail's will eventually get a Gail's, whereupon that street will feel even more like all the other streets that have a Gail's, because it will share one more common factor with those other streets (a Gail's). Leek points here to her earlier work on pub closures in the UK. The UK has experienced an epidemic of pub closures, with thousands of pubs disappearing since 2016: https://laurenleek.substack.com/p/britain-lost-14000-third-places-they Her research found that the biggest predictor of a pub surviving was its similarity to the median pub; which is to say that the more distinctive a pub was, the more "character" it had, the more likely it was to close. Pubs that are different from the average pub are harder to categorize, which means they're harder for a bank manager to assess for creditworthiness or for a landlord to justify extending a long-term lease to. The algorithms used to allocate capital and real estate are also recommenders, and they also drive variety out of the system. This same phenomenon acts on culture. In an age of music recommendation algorithms, hit songs are changing; today's songs use a smaller vocabulary of unique words and repeat those words more often: Vocabulary richness, distinct words relative to length, has fallen by more than a quarter since the early 1960s, while the share of repeated lines has climbed by nearly a third. The modern hit says less and says it more often, because the hook that works gets repeated. But that's not the whole story! While each song resembles itself more ("saying less more often"), within that constraint, there's far more variety today than before: a given song's (constrained) vocabulary has grown more distinct when compared to all the other songs' vocabularies. Songs repeat the words they use, but the words repeated in songs are getting more different. For Leek, this is the key to understanding the whole phenomenon and (more importantly) doing something about it. Music recommendation systems optimized for a singable hook, but did not optimize on any of the other variables in songs, so those dimensions acquired a broader range, even as the optmized variable got flatter and narrower. This means that the tendency of recommenders to "flatten the world" isn't a single blunt outcome: it depends on which dimension we choose to flatten through recommendation, and who chooses to flatten that dimension. A media recommender optimizes for consumption, showing you a tractable set of things it believes you'll watch, read or listen to. When you choose from among this limited set, the recommender takes note of that fact and shows you more of the same, pushing everything to a greige median. All the movies, books and songs you might have liked that were omitted from that initial set are excluded from being recommended in the future. The features of that media that you might have appreciated "decay out of consideration." They are never tested for desirability. The model collapses. How badly does it collapse? Leek cites Movietweetings' data on which movies people watch: out of a million public movie ratings, half relate to the top 2% of movies in the set. There's 38,000 films in the set, but just 380 titles account for 40% of the ratings. Leek argues (persuasively) that this isn't because recommenders are good at "knowing your taste" – rather, they are good at "narrowing the menu." Leek relates this to her work on creating LLM "personas" – synthetic populations meant to mimic the tastes and proclivities of real groups of people, that you can interrogate "before you spend money asking actual humans." While this would be useful for many applications, "it fails in exactly the way this whole essay is about." Leek went to enormous lengths to reproduce the traits that make people interesting to study in aggregate, painstakingly replicating the ways that social connections, psychological outlook and demographic factors predict people's beliefs. The result was a set of LLM personas with "elaborate stories" about how they differed from one another, but whose survey responses about planned actions were homogeneous in a way that real populations are not. This, Leek writes, is the same force that homogenizes other data-driven predictors. Because she'd ordered her LLM to reproduce the statistically validated relationships between different factors that predict a person's beliefs, each synthetic persona was a homogenized average. It's like the paradox of "The Average Man," where military uniforms sized to the average of all service personnel fit no one, because no one is average: https://archive.org/details/DTIC_AD0010203 The thing is (as Leek points out) the idea that synthetic personas are a good way to understand the preferences of a real population is not a harmless delusion: it's a product that's being actively sold to governments, campaigning politicians and marketers. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy that drives governance, political campaigns and product design to the same homogeneous median that is making every shopping street in London feel the same. This matters. As Leek writes, ecologists have long understood the importance of variety for systemic resilience: they call it "the insurance value of biodiversity." A diverse system has reservoirs of species and variation that may not be optimized for how things stand now, but that can move into niches created when things change in ways that lay waste to the previously dominant organisms. As anyone whose favorite banana went extinct can tell you, homogeneity works well, but diversity fails well: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gros_Michel The brittleness of algorithm-induced homogeneity is compounded by the fact that recommenders obscure the true preferences of people. If you watch two Scandinavian crime dramas after Netflix recommends them to you, it will keep showing you more Scandy crime for the next decade – even if there's another kind of programming that you'd vastly prefer (if only you knew about it). This means that decision-makers who choose which shows will get made in the future will keep on funding their safe Danish detectives, to the exclusion of whatever might emerge from the same weird attractor that produced the K-Pop Demon Hunter fortune. Transpose this failure mode onto states, bank managers and landlords, and we see whole ranges of policies, businesses and activities that never come into existence, despite the popularity, prosperity and joy they might bring us. But Leek doesn't end with this worrisome note. Instead, she identifies this whole thing – model collapse, placelessness, performativity, even Goodhart's Law – as an expression of one of the best-understood tradeoffs in computer science: "exploration vs exploitation": Any system learning from feedback has to divide its effort between exploiting what already scores well and exploring options it hasn’t tried, in case they’re better. Computer scientists have long understood that focusing on exploitation to the exclusion of exploration is a trap that locks you into "the first decent option" so you can never discover the best one. Which means that this algorithmic homogeneity has a well-understood corrective: "forcing exploration back in." The problem is that markets hate this kind of exploration. A company that lives and dies by how many clicks it gets is never going to sacrifice 20% of its traffic by showing its users weird, untested options that score worse than the median because these weird things have never had a chance to prove that they are desirable. This is a classic market failure, and, as Leek points out, there are regulatory responses in the UK (the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act) and the EU (the Digital Services Act), both of which require the largest platforms to open up their recommendation systems, but so far, regulators have focused on "online harms" rather than variety (though the DSA does require platforms to offer algorithmic recommendations that are not based on your personal traits). Leek identifies this willingness of states to set conditions for algorithm design as a means by which "exploration" can be forced back into the system. She's also bullish on interoperability, so that users can leave platforms with bad recommenders, without losing access to their media or social circles. As she writes, "the deepest discipline on a feed that has trapped you is the credible ability to leave it and take your data with you." I couldn't agree more: https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/08/watch-the-surpluses/ She's less hopeful about individual responses. Demanding that you be an "adventurous consumer" is a way of letting systems off the hook. When every street has the same restaurants and every bookshop has the same books and the people in your life are all locked into one of two social media platforms, "choosing wisely" only gets you so far. Shopping isn't politics! https://pluralistic.net/2026/05/21/purity-culture/#stop-fucking-that-chicken Leek is a superb writer. After reading this piece yesterday, I sent it to half a dozen people and then read everything else in Leek's newsletter archives. Not only is it all brilliant, but I also realized that she'd written one of the most memorable articles about cities and platforms I've read in the last year, "How Google Maps quietly allocates survival across London’s restaurants – and how I built a dashboard to see through it": https://laurenleek.substack.com/p/how-google-maps-quietly-allocates I should have added Leek's newsletter to my RSS reader when I read that last December. I've rectified that oversight! What a fantastic thinker, scientist and communicator! If she isn't being relentlessly pestered by editors and literary agents offering her a book deal, then it really does prove that the recommender systems are elevating the bland median over the thoroughly, delightfully spiky outliers. Hey look at this (permalink) Mamdani’s Taking On Amazon. His Opponent? Chuck Schumer’s Daughter. https://prospect.org/2026/08/11/mamdani-schumer-lobbying-new-york-city-council-amazon-delivery-drivers/ On AI Coding and Its Discontents https://calnewport.com/on-ai-coding-and-its-discontents/ Crocs Has a Trick for Dodging Taxes: a Tiny Office in Malta https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/05/business/economy/crocs-malta-tax-haven.html?unlocked_article_code=1.4VA.UZy2.BtVrP_IVnz8b Why State-Level Contract Law is Essential to the Future of Digital Library Rights https://www.libraryjournal.com/story/news/moving-beyond-the-publisher-playbook-why-state-level-contract-law-is-essential-to-the-future-of-digital-library-rights What is a Reverse Centaur? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVjt3_bf1bI Object permanence (permalink) #25yrsago Awful, stupid Wired report on Dutch hacker camp https://web.archive.org/web/20011007084604/https://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,46033,00.html #25yrsaog Excellent NYT story about the internal contradictions of the DMCA https://memex.craphound.com/2001/08/13/excellent-nyt-story-about-the/ #20yrsago Our faulty intuition about open systems https://www.ft.com/content/64167124-263d-11db-afa1-0000779e2340 #20yrsago Defending against the last plot won’t save us from the next one https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2006/08/terrorism_secur.html #20yrsago NBC: Hair-gel terrorists posed no risk last week https://web.archive.org/web/20060813194630/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14320452/ #15yrsago AT&T merger leak: it’s all about raising prices and reducing competition https://web.archive.org/web/20110920222524/http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/Leaked-ATT-Letter-Demolishes-Case-For-TMobile-Merger-115652 #10yrsago What’s inside a Tiki Bird? https://miehana.blogspot.com/2016/08/fancy-feathers-restoring-tiki-room-birds.html #5yrsago End of the line for Reaganomics https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/13/post-bork-era/#manne-down #5yrsago Smart cities are neither, 2021 edition https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/13/post-bork-era/#our-streets #1yrago Maga's boss class think they are immune to American carnage https://pluralistic.net/2025/08/13/then-they-came-for-me/#boss-politics Upcoming appearances (permalink) Virtual: EFFecting Change: Who the Machine Serves, Aug 12 https://www.eff.org/event/effecting-change-who-machine-serves Edinburgh International Book Festival (solo), Aug 16 https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/events/cory-doctorow-enshittification Edinburgh International Book Festival with Jimmy Wales, Aug 17 https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/events/the-front-list-cory-doctorow-and-jimmy-wales Sydney: The Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Aug 23-24 https://festivalofdangerousideas.com/program/ Melbourne: Enshittification at the Wheeler Centre, Aug 25 https://www.wheelercentre.com/events-tickets/season-2026/cory-doctorow-enshittification Brighton: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Carole Cadwalladr (Brighton Dome), Sep 8 https://brightondome.org/whats-on/LSC-cory-doctorow-the-reverse-centaurs-guide-to-life-after-ai/ London: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Riley Quinn (Foyle's Picadilly), Sep 9 https://www.foyles.co.uk/events/enshittification-cory-doctorow-riley-quinn South Bend: An Evening With Cory Doctorow (Notre Dame), Oct 6 https://franco.nd.edu/events/2026/10/06/an-evening-with-cory-doctorow/ Vancouver: BC Policy Solutions Gala, Nov 12 https://bcpolicy.ca/gala/ Recent appearances (permalink) Speculative Fiction for Social Change (Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff) https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/cool-people-who-did-cool-stuff/08cbb840-a6ae-013a-d8aa-0acc26574db2/part-one-cory-doctorow-on-speculative-fiction-for-social-change/15ad467c-0832-44c9-91ea-59defd783dba AI, automation and enshittification (Telecoms.com) https://www.telecoms.com/ai/the-telecoms-com-podcast-ai-automation-and-enshittification The AI Enshittification Bubble (Hidden Forces) https://hiddenforces.io/podcasts/the-ai-enshittification-bubble-cory-doctorow/ F@#$ the AI Overlords (On The Media) https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/articles/f-the-ai-overlords Why AI Won't Replace Workers, But Will Crash The Economy (Smart Cookies) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRRmUuxJolY Latest books (permalink) "The Reverse-Centaur's Guide to AI," a short book about being a better AI critic, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, June 2026 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374621568/thereversecentaursguidetolifeafterai/ "Canny Valley": A limited edition collection of the collages I create for Pluralistic, self-published, September 2025 https://pluralistic.net/2025/09/04/illustrious/#chairman-bruce "Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, October 7 2025 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374619329/enshittification/ "Picks and Shovels": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about the heroic era of the PC, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2025 (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865908/picksandshovels). "The Bezzle": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about prison-tech and other grifts, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2024 (thebezzle.org). "The Lost Cause:" a solarpunk novel of hope in the climate emergency, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), November 2023 (http://lost-cause.org). "The Internet Con": A nonfiction book about interoperability and Big Tech (Verso) September 2023 (http://seizethemeansofcomputation.org). Signed copies at Book Soup (https://www.booksoup.com/book/9781804291245). "Red Team Blues": "A grabby, compulsive thriller that will leave you knowing more about how the world works than you did before." Tor Books http://redteamblues.com. "Chokepoint Capitalism: How to Beat Big Tech, Tame Big Content, and Get Artists Paid, with Rebecca Giblin", on how to unrig the markets for creative labor, Beacon Press/Scribe 2022 https://chokepointcapitalism.com Upcoming books (permalink) "The Post-American Internet," a geopolitical sequel of sorts to Enshittification, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2027 "Unauthorized Bread": a middle-grades graphic novel adapted from my novella about refugees, toasters and DRM, FirstSecond, April 20, 2027 "Enshittification, Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It" (the graphic novel), Firstsecond, 2027 "The Memex Method," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2027 Colophon (permalink) Today's top sources: Currently writing: “Once Is Enemy Action,” a science fiction novel about the origins of modern technofascism. Today's words: 546 (4161 total). "The Post-American Internet," a sequel to "Enshittification," about the better world the rest of us get to have now that Trump has torched America. Fourth draft completed. Submitted to editor. A Little Brother short story about DIY insulin PLANNING This work – excluding any serialized fiction – is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. That means you can use it any way you like, including commercially, provided that you attribute it to me, Cory Doctorow, and include a link to pluralistic.net. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Quotations and images are not included in this license; they are included either under a limitation or exception to copyright, or on the basis of a separate license. Please exercise caution. How to get Pluralistic: Blog (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): Pluralistic.net Newsletter (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://pluralistic.net/plura-list Mastodon (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic Bluesky (no ads, possible tracking and data-collection): https://bsky.app/profile/doctorow.pluralistic.net Medium (no ads, paywalled): https://doctorow.medium.com/ Tumblr (mass-scale, unrestricted, third-party surveillance and advertising): https://mostlysignssomeportents.tumblr.com/tagged/pluralistic "When life gives you SARS, you make sarsaparilla" -Joey "Accordion Guy" DeVilla READ CAREFULLY: By reading this, you agree, on behalf of your employer, to release me from all obligations and waivers arising from any and all NON-NEGOTIATED agreements, licenses, terms-of-service, shrinkwrap, clickwrap, browsewrap, confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-compete and acceptable use policies ("BOGUS AGREEMENTS") that I have entered into with your employer, its partners, licensors, agents and assigns, in perpetuity, without prejudice to my ongoing rights and privileges. You further represent that you have the authority to release me from any BOGUS AGREEMENTS on behalf of your employer. ISSN: 3066-764X

Mia

When I first met her, I was happier than I’d ever been. I’d finally triumphed over the mother who abandoned me, my whole ugly childhood. I had everything I’d ever wanted: a husband who adored me, two beautiful children, a

Donald Trump Waging $10B Legal War Against BBC On Basis “Doctored” Documentary May Have Been Viewed 285 Times In America

Donald Trump’s lawyers have accused the BBC of a “brazen” attempt to interfere in the 2024 U.S. election on the basis that fewer than 300 Americans may have seen a documentary that misleadingly edited his January 6 speech. Trump is suing the BBC for defamation in Florida for $10 billion, and his amended complaint against […]

Office Hours: What's the "Message"?

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We're weeks away from the start of the midterm campaigns. What should be the core of progressive Dems' message?

Kei Miller on Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens

The Windham-Campbell Prizes Podcast features a series of conversations with past and present Windham-Campbell Prize winners about their favorite books and plays. Hosted by Michael Kelleher. Prize Director Michael Kelleher talks with 2026 Windham-Campbell Prize for Nonfiction recipient Kei Miller

Reclaiming Fair Use

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In Reclaiming Fair Use, copyright scholars Patricia Aufderheide and Peter Jaszi argue that fair use is not merely an exception to copyright law, but one of its core principles, enabling creativity, scholarship, journalism, education, and cultural participation. In this discussion they explain how fair use works in practice, dispel common misconceptions, and show how creators, educators, librarians, filmmakers, and others can confidently exercise their rights. Joining Aufderheide and Jaszi in conversation is co-host Dave Hansen from Authors Alliance.

Grab your copy of Reclaiming Fair Use: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/R/bo28242133.html

This conversation was recorded on 9/24/2024.

Check out all of the Future Knowledge episodes at https://archive.org/details/future-knowledge

August 11, 2026

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Days off have been thin on the ground in 2026 as the news comes at us like a firehose.

Am I Going To Sue Donald Trump?

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When Trump put me on his official "enemies list," my life changed overnight. You've asked how I'll fight back.

Quick Tip: Translating long documents with Microsoft Edge Immersive Reader

Translating documents isn’t hard these days, but when it comes to long documents, it still gets tricky as most translation services are limited to a few paragraphs and charge for larger texts. If you use Microsoft Edge, you can use the immersive reader mode to translate huge documents for free though. You can trigger the […]

Five Critical Questions for HCI Evaluations

An HCI evaluation built on a feature matrix ends in a tie. Four questions break it: the node ceiling at your largest site, who picks the hardware at expansion, the smallest increment of growth you can buy, and the hours a month day-2 operations take.

Read more ›

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

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Tonight’s low carb dinner

Wednesday 12 August, 2026

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Ludwig’s ghost Ascension Burial Ground in Cambridge. In a nice coincidence, Frank Ramsey, the young genius who, as a teenager, first translated Wittgenstein’s Tractatus, is buried nearby. Quote of the Day ”When you become famous, being famous becomes your profession.” … Continue reading →

New OPML viewer now available

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Recently, I was doing some work to make sure that the OPML files I created using Drummer and available via Drummer were available from my site instead of drummer.scripting.com. My initial effort was using code from the outlineBrowser2 and opmlPackage repos from Dave Winer. After reviewing the code, I felt that I could focus more on using the […]

@Tomosino's Mastodon feed

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Y'all should be doing more crimes. Just sayin

Issue 108 – In a word, applesauce

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Firms close up shop amid a continued crypto winter, a Trump venture ditches its crypto plans, and the Clarity Act fails to reach a vote before August recess

How Claude Marks AI-Generated Content

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Thomas Claburn: Anthropic will embed watermarks in the text and files generated by future models it launches in the EU, as part of its effort to comply with content and transparency rules in the bloc’s AI Act. […] The move may further amplify the appeal of open weight models and alienate Claude customers, who don’t […]

Xbox Outage Affected Discs

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Jay Peters: An extended Xbox outage that began Sunday evening didn’t just cause issues for people trying to play digital games — it blocked people from playing their disc-based games, too. Xbox’s status page initially reported the outage on Sunday at about 11PM ET, and it also prevented people from logging in, launching apps, or […]

Sony Removing Purchased Content

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Cindy Harper (Hacker News, ArsTechnica): Sony plans to wipe 551 movies and TV shows from the PlayStation Store libraries of customers who paid full price for them. The deletion is coming on September 1 and so far the company has said nothing about giving anyone their money back. […] Anyone who hit “buy” on one […]

Microsoft Account With Files, Photos, and Games Almost Lost

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Joshua Khane (Hacker News): Microsoft DELETED my account AND OneDrive!!?? After ACKNOWLEDGING that I’m the owner of the account and that it was compromised??? 25 fucking years of data, thousands of euros spended on games?? My son’s baby pictures? GONE! Scott: This is EXACTLY why cloud providers should be building (and might need to FORCED […]

Carte Blanche

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Now that Todd Blanche is confirmed as attorney general, we need a roadmap to assess the principal risks and prepare for what’s coming.

Toosday

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Also, it’s not podcasting if you can’t skip ads Spotify is reportedly improving what we do anyway on podcast apps: hitting the 30-second skip-forward button when the host says “we’ll be back after a quick break.” (On Pivot, I might hit the +:30 button six or seven times, because that first “quick break” is up […]

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

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My new parlor trick is capturing a profile with Instruments and then asking a clanker to tell me where the performance hot spots are.

50% it is better than all the fancy visualizations in Instruments.

Meet Marni von Wilpert, A Really Impressive Candidate Working Hard To Flip The Newly Drawn CA-48 Blue

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CA-48 is one of the five new seats created by the passage of Prop 50 last year

Yes, We All Want to Protect Girls. This Bill Doesn’t Do That.

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A closer look at Washington State's IL26-638 and the questions its sponsors haven’t answered.

A Wealthy Donor to My University Just Silenced One of the World’s Leading Scholars of Genocide

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July 2026 was the deadliest month of the last year for Palestinians. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that 152 Palestinians were murdered by Israel, bringing the official death toll in the American-backed Israeli genocide to more than 73,000 people in

The Fruits of AI

Terry Godier has a post titled “Mea culpa” (which, given his framing, might’ve been better titled “Claude’s Culpa”). I’m not sure how much to even trust anything in his post given the backstory, but this line stood out:

I was careless in relying on AI [...] without doing the work to understand

Let’s face it: carelessness is the grain of AI. It’s what the tool encourages and makes easy by default.

Without constant vigilance and deliberate, active participation to cut against this grain — to maintain an understanding — careless outcomes are the default fruit of AI.

And given how good humans are at being constantly vigilant and deliberate, it seems reasonable to expect more stories like this one.

To analogize, AI is pitched like having your very own fruit tree. “Plant a seed, and soon enough, boom! Yummy, juicy fruit for you! So fast and easy!”

But, like most things, it’s not that easy.

Getting good fruit requires all kinds of effort: planting, fertilizing, watering, pruning, thinning, cutting out disease, etc.

Good fruit requires cultivation and care.

Otherwise you’ll just end up with something that looks like a peach, but when you (or someone else) bites into it, you realize it’s disgusting and barely edible.


Reply via:

Email · Mastodon ·

Bluesky

Beyond the Backrooms: Creating Public Spaces to Be Less Liminal and More Human

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Decades before the eerie horror of liminal spaces became on Internet meme, French anthropologist Marc Augé identified the phenomenon in his 90' classic, "Non-Places: Introduction to an Anthropology of Supermodernity".

Anti-Social Media

[prompt: create a viral hero image that shows what I mean. Or, don’t] Currently I am on a half diet of social media as I am still locked out of X and by now I really don’t mind any more. Social media is dead and has been weaponised into a distraction, propaganda and rage discourse […]

Other Places the Secret Service Can Hide Trump

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With sketches by Ann Telnaes.

The Tantalizing Possibility Of Locating Consciousness In The Brain

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The post The Tantalizing Possibility Of Locating Consciousness In The Brain appeared first on NOEMA.

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

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Anyone building terminal apps with SwiftTerm now gets this out of the box. There was zero performance loss, and in fact, BiDi support helped me spot a few slow paths, so landing BiDi actually made SwiftTerm faster!

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

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We first brought Godot to the iPad, so you could build games while trying to score a table at 11:34 Sunday brunch.

We are now bringing it back to the Mac, fully native, with batteries included. Let me walk you through it:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/jQymogtztNs

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

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Because users of RTL languages deserve an iOS terminal app that doesn’t render Arabic and Hebrew like a botched plastic-surgery makeover, La Terminal 2.0.4 is now on the App Store—with full BiDi support.

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/la-terminal-mosh-ssh-client/id1629902861

Voters say the political system needs big changes — and that's driving Democratic gains for 2026

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Among moderates and conservatives who say they want "major, disruptive change" in politics, Democrats lead the generic ballot by 50 points

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

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Export Updates 2026-08-11:

Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places

1 new and 11 updated places. 2 updated linked data sidebars.

1. Downloads: https://pleiades.stoa.org/downloads

2. pleiades.datasets: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades.datasets:

"main" branch:

d755821a - updated json

no change: rdf/ttl

9bb68953 - updated gis package

5faeff15 - updated data quality

5c353546 - updated bibliography

c8adf2b0 - updated indexes

62c72249 - updated sidebar

Caveat RE sidebar: vici.org API is returning zero matches for Pleiades. Last known good vici data has been used.

3. pleiades-geojson: https://github.com/ryanfb/pleiades-geojson:

8fd4138e - updated geojson and names index

4. pleiades_wikidata: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades_wikidata/:

6ede3e71 - updated pleiades wikidata

This interactive atlas captures more than a thousand literary journeys.

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Have you ever wondered how long those nice people were actually stranded on the Orient Express? Or speculated about the carriage distance from London to Longbourn? Well, dear reader, have I got a tip for you. Reading Maps is home to

xkcd: Holes

Exactly one of these ridiculously deep holes in the Earth is dug by hand.

It’s about 2 miles from my house.

adactio.com/links/22710

@IIIF Mastodon feed

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RE: https://glammr.us/@IIIF/117038628384140918

Please join us tomorrow for a demo of Flagrate!

Zoom: iiif.io/community

Premios Óscar 2027: mejor actriz y actor – panorama de agosto 2026

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Actriz En nuestro último ranking teníamos a Michelle Williams como frontrunner, pero la película fue atrasada para 2027. Así que, con lo que tenemos ahora, el excelente tráiler de The Debut de Julianne Moore nos hace pensar que este podría ser su año. Claramente, nada está dicho. Sin embargo, la película tiene buen tiraje festivalero […]

La entrada Premios Óscar 2027: mejor actriz y actor – panorama de agosto 2026 se publicó primero en Palomita de maíz.

AI Genie in the Wild

When I give talks about AI genies, I use this sort of example as a hypothetical. It’s happened.

The story is from Australia. Someone named Andrew tasked OpenClaw to book gym classes for him. And….

Minutes later, his AI agent reported it had discovered a way to book Andrew into classes several weeks in advance, far beyond what was supposed to be possible.

Andrew, who was sitting fourth on a waitlist for a class later that week, asked if it was possible to move him to the top of the list.

The agent came back and told Andrew that it had kicked another gym-goer off the list as part of the testing of its capabilities...

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

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Please, do not start now - I have no idea where the PGP private key is.

Mastering edge AI on Raspberry Pi with LiteRT and Gemma

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Our friends at Google have been busy working on improving LiteRT performance on the Raspberry Pi platform.

The post Mastering edge AI on Raspberry Pi with LiteRT and Gemma appeared first on Raspberry Pi.

Letters And Benches

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Writing of lasting value

More On Robotaxis

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Cybercab Liam Denning reports on Tesla's quarterly results flop in Someone Call Tesla a Robotaxi, or SpaceX, Quick. He notes that:

The curated list of investor questions that gets teed up ahead of these affairs had indicated some brewing discomfort about the big issue: Tesla’s lack of progress on its long-promised mass rollout of robotaxis. Musk duly tried to finesse this by pointing out that the “constraint” is safety, with Tesla trying to scale as fast as possible “while trying to ensure that we do not harm anyone.”

It is good that Tesla is "trying to ensure that we do not harm anyone" but they need to try much harder. In last February's Tesla's Not-A-Robotaxi Service I quoted Fred Lambert:

By the company’s own numbers, its “Robotaxi” fleet crashes nearly 4 times more often than a normal driver, and every single one of those miles had a safety monitor who could hit the kill switch. That is not a rounding error or an early-program hiccup. It is a fundamental performance gap.

But I went on to point out that Lambert was making the wrong comparison:

However badly, Tesla is trying to operate a taxi service. So it is misleading to compare the crash rate with "normal drivers". The correct comparison is with taxi drivers. The New York Times reported that:

In a city where almost everyone has a story about zigzagging through traffic in a hair-raising, white-knuckled cab ride, a new traffic safety study may come as a surprise: It finds that taxis are pretty safe.

So are livery cars, according to the study, which is based on state motor vehicle records of accidents and injuries across the city. It concludes that taxi and livery-cab drivers have crash rates one-third lower than drivers of other vehicles.

A law firm has a persuasive list of reasons why this is so. So Tesla's "robotaxi" is actually 6 times less safe than a taxi.

In any rational jurisdiction, six times worse than the competition even with a safety driver would get the regulators to force Tesla back to the drawing board.

The New York Times article was the best I could find at the time but it was from 2006. We now have much better and more recent data. Follow me below the fold for one of the reasons why Tesla's numbers are bad, very probably even worse than six, and even some criticims of Waymo's numbers.

On the earnings call:

Tesla even got its head of AI software, Ashok Elluswamy, to tout another safety statistic, saying that Tesla’s robotaxis have thus far driven 380,000 miles unsupervised with “zero notable incidents.” This, in his telling, validates the company’s cameras-only approach to sensors, without the need for lidar, radar and other safety technologies recommended by “so-called experts.” Besides Tesla getting to define what “notable” means, however, 380,000 miles is, in robotaxi terms, like just getting to the end of your driveway. It equates to less than 0.2% of the “rider-only,” or unsupervised, miles that Waymo LLC had already racked up through March.

Source Fred Lambert reported on how one "so-called expert", Waymo co-CEO Dmitri Dolgov, responded in Waymo CEO explains why Tesla’s camera-only self-driving falls short:

Dolgov made the comments in a talk at Y Combinator’s Startup School, walking through the lessons Waymo has learned building its driver over close to two decades. He put the sensor question on the table plainly: “there’s been a long-standing debate about what kind of sensors do you actually need for autonomous driving.”

His answer draws the line that camera-only advocates tend to skip right past. “Humans of course can drive with just eyes, so there’s that proof of existence,” he said. “If the goal were to just approximately match human performance or to build an assist product, that’s a very reasonable way to go.”

Then the catch. If you’re targeting full autonomy and strongly superhuman performance, he said, “you find that weak sensing just leads to a safety curve that flattens out way too early.”

Ojai, Dllu, CC BY-SA 4.0 Dolgov explained Waymo's multi-modal approach:

Waymo uses three sensing types, and Dolgov spent real time on why. Cameras give you high resolution and color, but they’re passive, and they degrade in darkness and glare. Lidar directly measures the 3D structure of the world. Radar punches through fog, rain, and snow, and reads velocity directly with Doppler. Lidar and radar are active sensors, so they see just as well in pitch darkness or straight into a blinding sunset.

This isn’t redundancy for its own sake. “These different sensing modalities, they’re not backups to each other,” Dolgov said. Each one runs its own encoder, and the data fuses into a single view of the world that he says is “vastly superior to what you get with any one sensor.”

He showed cases where multiple modes were essential:

A dust storm in Phoenix, where the camera sees almost nothing while lidar cleanly picks out a pedestrian at the roadside. People hopping a concrete barrier onto a road at night. Kids chasing dogs across a pitch-black street with no headlights or streetlights on them. In each one, the camera feed is close to useless and the lidar view is clean.

Arguing, as Tesla did, that lidar is too expensive might have been true five years ago, which is when Tesla started dropping radar and ultrasonic sensors. But it was in effect a bet against the sensor version of Moore's Law. Lidar is now cheap enough that on most Chinese EVs it comes standard, which gives the lie to:

Elon Musk has called lidar “a fool’s errand” and said anyone relying on it is “doomed.”

Lambert sums it up:

So far the results line up with the exact ceiling Dolgov described. Tesla’s own robotaxi data shows a crash rate about three times worse than human drivers, even with a human safety monitor in the front seat. Musk has claimed FSD is safer than humans, release after release, and the data hasn’t backed him up yet, even after being heavily massaged by Tesla.

Waymo is running the numbers Dolgov says camera-only can’t reach. Its latest safety report, based on 220 million rider-only miles, shows 94% fewer serious-injury crashes than human drivers would cause over the same distance, roughly 17 times better. Waymo is now serving around half a million paid trips a week across 15 US cities and is scaling toward a 1-million-weekly-rides target, even as Musk insists Waymo “never had a chance” against Tesla.

Tesla recently confirmed it has accumulated 380,000 driverless miles over the past year since launching its robotaxi. Waymo’s driverless service does that in a day.

Because Tesla is led by a notorious bullshitter, and because unlike the rest of the autonomous vehicle industry it hides the details of the "notable incidents" it reports to NHTSA, any numbers it claims should be treated with extreme skepticism. EV Expert applies a bit too much in Tesla’s Robotaxi Crash Rate 9 Times Worse Than Human Drivers, NHTSA Data Reveals:

New data submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reveals that Tesla’s Robotaxi fleet crashes approximately 9 times more frequently than human-driven vehicles, even with safety monitors on board. Between July and November 2025, Tesla’s self-driving Model Y vehicles operating in Austin, Texas, were involved in nine reported crashes across roughly 500,000 miles of operation—translating to one incident every 55,000 miles, compared to one crash every 200,000 miles for human drivers.

...

While human drivers average one police-reported crash every 500,000 miles, accounting for unreported incidents suggests a more realistic rate of one crash every 200,000 miles. Tesla’s 55,000-mile-per-crash rate represents a 3.6x to 9x higher incident frequency, depending on which baseline is used.

What makes this data particularly damning is that each Tesla Robotaxi had a safety monitor in the front passenger seat during this period, ready to intervene at any moment. Despite this human backup system, the vehicles still underperformed compared to solo human drivers.

Three of the 9 crashes Tesla reported were likely the kind that would go unreported, so the 3.6x number is probably low, but the headline number is definitely high.

But a lesser level of skepticism also needs to be applied to Waymo's claims, as David Zipper explained last January in We Still Don’t Know if Robotaxis Are Safer Than Human Drivers:

Although Waymo has shared more data than its rivals, some researchers say they aren’t ready to judge its safety performance. [Prof. Henry] Liu told me that he “doesn’t have enough information” to know whether the company’s vehicles are currently safer than humans, particularly because the company maintains control over the information it chooses to share. “We have seen many reports from autonomous vehicle developers, and it looks like the numbers are very good and promising,” said Liu, who has extensively studied self-driving technology. “But I haven’t seen any unbiased, transparent analysis on autonomous vehicle safety. We don’t have the raw data,” he said. He added that he would like to see “designed experiments where we can control the situation,” taking into account variables like weather and road conditions.

Liu pointed out two more problems with comparing robotaxis to the average human driver:

So far, Waymo vehicles have mostly driven on urban streets with a speed limit of 35 miles per hour or less — much slower than the highways and arterials that human drivers regularly traverse. “It’s not really fair to compare that with human driving,” Liu said, suggesting that the 127 million miles Waymo has logged doesn’t necessarily reflect conditions in which people typically drive: “It’s not apples to apples.”

He also hypothesized that robotaxi crashes could be more deadly than equivalent collisions involving human-driven vehicles because fewer robotaxi occupants will use seat belts, mistakenly assuming that they will be fine without one. (Previous studies have found that ridehail passengers are significantly less likely to wear seat belts than those inside personally driven vehicles.)

Again, I need to stress that the relevant comparison is not with the "average human driver" but with a professional taxi driver. Carnegie-Mellon's Prof. Phil Koopman adds yet another problem:

In California, around half of Waymo’s total mileage involves deadheading, with no passengers inside the vehicle. “I would expect robotaxis to have only a third as much harm to occupants as regular taxis,” said Koopman. “They spend half their time empty and half the time with one person instead of half the time with one person and half the time with two people.”

We will return to the issue of deadheading. In the meantime there is the issue of statistics:

Waymo’s current safety record is not anything to celebrate, according to Matthew Raifman, a senior researcher at the University of California, Berkeley’s Safe Transportation Research and Education Center. With around 127 million self-driven miles under Waymo’s belt, the company has been involved in two fatal crashes (although not directly responsible for either). A simple calculation dividing total miles by total fatalities — which Raifman called “the most accurate measure of safety that we have” — would give the company a higher per mile death rate than average American drivers, who drive around 80 million miles for every fatality.

But Waymo doesn’t evaluate its data that way. Instead, it lumps fatalities together with serious injuries, a category of crashes where data is more likely to be missing — and which, unlike road deaths, is not included in the federal government’s quarterly road safety updates.

How much data would be needed for a comparison of fatality rates that would be statistically valid?

Koopman estimated that clear comparisons between humans and robotaxis could be drawn once Waymo had around 2 billion miles under its belt.

“The jury is still out on Waymo fatality rates, and will be for quite some time,” Koopman wrote in a recent blog post.

Waymo’s Victor acknowledged that “there is not yet sufficient mileage to make statistical conclusions about fatal crashes alone,” adding that “as we accumulate more mileage, it will become possible to make statistically significant conclusions on other subsets of data, including fatal crashes as its own category.”

Even if robotaxis were statistically less likely to cause fatalities on a per-mile basis this would not necessarily mean fewer deaths:

The reason is that self-driving cars are poised to increase driving — and thus create more opportunities for collisions. As Koopman put it: “Civilized countries look at car deaths per capita instead of car deaths per mile.” Reducing deaths per capita presents a much higher hurdle for AVs to clear.

In San Francisco, many residents appear willing to pay the premium that Waymo charges over human-driven ridehail. That is unsurprising, given the comfort, privacy and general pleasantness of self-driven trips. Since robotaxis offer a more appealing experience for many riders, allowing them to do other tasks and play their favorite music en route, it is a reasonable bet that people will take more and longer car rides if and when they become widely available at a more affordable price, much like the process through which added highway lanes induce new driving.

Robotaxis will also spend many miles deadheading, posing at least some risk to other road users even as they drive around empty (and potentially causing gridlock that slows everyone else on the street).

...

All this extra motion brings greater risks. If AVs are 20% safer than human drivers and expand total driving by 30%, total crashes would increase by 4%. (The effect would be higher still if people shift to AVs from transit, which is exceptionally safe.)

If the goal is to reduce traffic fatalities, autonomous vehicles have a long way to go:

This is the standard that self-driven vehicles must meet to produce an overall reduction in crashes. Simply outperforming human-driven cars is not enough; they must do so to such an extent that they compensate for any added miles driven. But current AV safety analyses seldom take such network effects into account.

Despite Musk's claims, Tesla is not even close to meeting the goal, and likely cannot get anywhere close without multiple sensors.

Reagin von Lehe's The Safety Case for Robotaxis Doesn’t Really Hold Up in New York City, Report Finds states:

That’s because in a city like New York, robotaxis would actually be replacing yellow cab, Uber, and Lyft drivers. These professional for-hire drivers are already about 14 times safer than the city’s average driver, according to a July 20 report from the Sam Schwartz Transportation Research Program at Hunter College, published with advocacy group Open Plans.

...

The study found Waymo’s national rate of crashes causing serious injury or death was about 1.5 times higher per mile than New York City’s for-hire fleet, and more than three times higher in the Bay Area specifically.

But the cited report now states:

As of July 23, 2026, we have temporarily removed our safety analysis from this report, as well as relevant references to the analysis throughout the report (denoted in-text by a reference to this section). We were made aware of data discrepancies between City agency data for New York City for-hire vehicle crashes with serious injuries or deaths, as well as City agency data definitions related to such crashes. We are working to resolve these discrepancies and ensure our findings properly represent the data and the driving records of New York City for-hire vehicle drivers and Waymo vehicles. Other than this section, the remainder of our report remains unchanged.

While the exact comparison with the average human driver is unclear,a claim that robotaxis are safer than professional for-hire drivers is not credible:

While the autonomous vehicle company Waymo has recently boasted a lower crash rate than human drivers, citing a new analysis by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, researchers suggest New York City needs its own data before autonomous vehicles arrive at scale.

“There’s a mantra going around that autonomous vehicles are more than 90% safer than human driven cars,” said Sam Schwartz, transportation engineer, former NYC traffic commissioner, and founder of the program that bears his name, in a press release. “There is no solid evidence as of yet, to make such a claim compared to the for-hire vehicles already serving this city. We find that NYC taxi and Uber/Lyft drivers may in fact be safer per mile.”

Apart from safety, there are two other major issues in New York. First, deadheading:

On congestion, the study calculates a “vehicle miles traveled multiplier,” or total miles driven per mile actually carrying a passenger. Waymo’s is 1.71 in California, compared with 1.49 for New York’s existing high-volume for-hire fleet. That’s a roughly 15% efficiency gap driven by “deadheading,” or empty miles spent waiting for or driving to the next fare.

In cities like London and New York where you can hail a passing taxi with a simple wave of the hand, deadhead miles will be significantly less than for rides that must be hailed via an app. As anyone who has driven in these cities will appreciate, a second issue will also cause additional deadhead miles:

In California, Waymos can park during about 58% of that idle time. But the study says that’s unrealistic in a city with New York’s curb-space scarcity. Modeled at just 25% park time instead of 58%, the report estimates roughly 62,000 additional vehicle miles traveled per day.

After coexisting with them for years in the Bay Area and riding them, I am certainly prepared to believe that, in their service areas, Waymos are safer than most human drivers. I'm skeptical that this would be true without the caveat "in their service areas". I have definitely seen them behave in ways that, while safe, were unlike normal human behavior and which blocked other vehicles leading to frustration. And, I repeat, the safety standard for robotaxis is not being as safe as the average human driver. It is being significantly safer than the average professional driver. That is who robotaxis are intended to replace.

I consider it likely that Waymo will eventually reach that goal, though whether their externalities in cities like New York and London could be mitigated is less likely. I consider it extremely unlikely that Tessla's camera-only technology will ever be as safe as a professional driver.

Valley Fold Ltd

I’ve already announced my new company half a dozen times by now. I figured it was about time I gave real details, so here’s the name and logo! Valley Fold is my new home for professional services… once I’ve finished the website. I’m not one for big splashy launches, I’ll probably just hit deploy and […]

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

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For more than twenty years, I have faithfully maintained and published a PGP key, ensuring that journalists, dissidents, intelligence agencies, or anyone else with sufficiently sensitive information could establish a secure channel directly to me, and as far as I can tell, not one person has ever used it.

The one issue unifying the American public

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Brief but significant news about a new poll

More Bad Trump Polling, $100k for Troy Jackson, And A New Conversation With Stuart Stevens

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August hours - our next paid subscriber get together will be August 26th.....

Netflix Unveils Premiere Date & First-Look Images For ‘The Body’ Starring Sofia Wyle, Gabby Windey & More

Netflix has set the release date for The Body, an upcoming eight-episode series created by Quinn Shephard, as November 11. The series follows a group of badly-behaved Catholic school girls, who begin having prophetic visions that set off mass hysteria in town after a dance-team initiation goes wrong. Shephard directs the premiere and serves as showrunner for the gritty […]

Tom Felton Extends Run As Draco Malfoy For Final Time In Broadway’s ‘Harry Potter And The Cursed Child’

Tom Felton will stay with Broadway’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child for an additional two months, producers announced today, noting that it will be the final extension for the popular actor from the Potter film franchise. Felton, who plays the adult Draco Malfoy on stage (in the films he played the child Draco), will […]

BREAKING: Circular financing reaches new heights

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Things could get bad if this all falls apart

Ari Emanuel’s Mari Agrees Deal To Buy ATG, Owner Of Theater Venues Behind Shows Like ‘Harry Potter & The Cursed Child’

Mari, the events company founded last year by Ari Emanuel, has agreed a deal to acquire West End and Broadway theater giant ATG Entertainment. Mari’s agreement with Providence Equity Partners is subject to regulatory approval. Financial terms were not disclosed, though the Financial Times previously reported that the deal valued ATG at £4.5B ($6B). UK-based […]

C.J. Bartunek on the Georgia Review‘s Winter 2001/Spring 2002 Restrospective

Dear Chillsubs writers, “The best way to get published in a journal is to familiarize yourself with the journal first.” The Georgia Review’s Winter 2001 / Spring 2002 is an opportunity to REALLY familiarize yourself with GR’s legacy of publishing

Amy Bonnaffons on the Georgia Review‘s Spring 2024 Issue

October 2025 Dear Chillsubs writers, I hope you enjoyed your first back issue! This time we’re sharing our issue from Spring 2024, which features fiction by Munachim Amah, Renée Hayek, Lilia Shrayfer, Nicole Haroutunian, and Kathy Chao—as well as a

Noah Baldino on the Georgia Review‘s Spring 2024 Issue

October 2025 Dear Chill Subs Writers— To be a magazine that truly represents the full stock of literary imagination means valuing emerging writers as much as established ones. The Georgia Review takes this stewardship seriously: in the Spring 2024 issue,

‘Small Town Scandal’: ‘Only Murders In The Building’-Inspired Show From New Zealand Comic Royalty Proves Podcasts Can Be Perfect “Proof Of Concept”

Welcome to Global Breakouts, Deadline’s strand in which, each fortnight, we shine a spotlight on the TV shows and films making a splash internationally. The industry is more global than ever and breakout projects are appearing in pockets of the world all the time, making it hard to keep track, so we’re doing the hard […]

Spotify Creates New ‘AI Personas’ Label To Flag AI-Generated Artists

Music streaming giant Spotify will soon introduce an AI Persona badge on profiles of artists that have been flagged, or self-identified, as not human. “True artist-fan connection can only be built on a foundation of trust and authenticity. In music, that means listeners need to be able to trust that the artist behind the music […]

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

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Daily reports and augmented data will be delayed while the cause of errors reported by the conversion code are investigated.

Seriesly Berlin Sets HBO Max’s ‘Jossi’ & Disney+’s ‘City Of Blood’ Among 13 Premieres

Seriesly Berlin has set a program of 13 series premieres, with shows from HBO Max and Disney+ in the line-up. The Seriesly Berlin Premieres will run from September 14-17, running alongside the Seriesly Berlin Conference (September 15-16). Each will be getting played in Germany for the first time. Among the series is Jossi, a German […]

Introducing sqlfmt: an SQL gofmt-style formatter

Formatting SQL tends to bring some of the same questions again and again: should we uppercase clause keywords? should we put the separating comma at the start of a line to ease refactoring? how to align the SQL clauses with one-another?

Over the years I have grown my own SQL style and didn’t find tooling that would implement it. Also, I’ve been asked here and there if there is a tool that would replicate The Art of PostgreSQL SQL indentation style… and now there is finally a good answer to that question!

sqlfmt is a gofmt-style formatter that implements my own favorite SQL indentation style. One opinionated style, no configuration knobs. Run it, commit the result, move on.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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Apparently the nightly email didn't go out last night. The problem was an error when it tried to read the Linkblog entries for the day. I've seen reports that these errors happen when you try to read the Links tab on scripting.com. The error shouldn't kill the email sending, it should just omit the linkblog entries, and publish the rest. These kinds of problems always pop up at the worst time. Luckily yesterday wasn't a big news day, and you can read about it on the blog.

The Date – Blunt Implement or Forcing Function?

On some of the worst run projects I’ve seen, leaders trying to get them back on track would set a date. Never, ever, in that circumstance, have I seen a date be met. No-one believes in it, no-one is willing to work overtime to meet it. It slips. Another one is set. And another. Maybe […]

Pluralistic: Surveillance vs guillotines (11 Aug 2026)

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Today's links Surveillance vs guillotines: Someone's gonna fleece these rubes, why not me? Hey look at this: Delights to delectate. Object permanence: DeCSS; Warhol Worm; Camgirls x Amazon wishlists; 2021 State of Tech (in 2001); RIAA v grieving family; Stasi disguises. Upcoming appearances: Edinburgh, Sydney, Melbourne, Brighton, London, South Bend. Recent appearances: Where I've been. Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em. Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em. Colophon: All the rest. Surveillance vs guillotines (permalink) In the summer of 2013, two esoteric, technical, incredibly important texts were published within weeks of one another: the first is the Snowden leaks, which revealed a system of global, pervasive digital surveillance; the second was Thomas Piketty's Capital in the 21st Century, a book about the economic inevitability (and political instability) of oligarchy: https://memex.craphound.com/2014/06/24/thomas-pikettys-capital-in-the-21st-century/ In 2013, it wasn't immediately apparent how these two works connected with one another, but in the years since, I've grown increasingly convinced that Snowden and Piketty can only be properly understood as describing two aspects of the same phenomenon. Piketty's landmark volume was grounded in a detailed analysis of 300 years' (!) worth of global capital flows, painstakingly compiled by a large team of grad students from a massive set of heterogeneous records. The book's conclusion is the statement that "returns to capital exceed the rate of growth over the long term" (abbreviated as "r > g"). This may sound innocuous, but it is explosive. If r > g, then the most wealth will inevitably accumulate in the hands of people who start with the most wealth, irrespective of whether they do anything productive with that money. This means that the alleged heroes of the market system – the entrepreneurs who found and manage the firms that increase public prosperity – are doomed to play second fiddle to the mere plumbers of money, people who "contribute" by accumulating. The starkest example of this in Capital 21C is Piketty's contrast between L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt (then the richest woman in the world) and Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft (then the most successful corporation in the world). Piketty compares the growth in the fortunes of Bettencourt and Gates over two periods: first, the period between Microsoft's founding and Gates' retirement as CEO; and second, the period after Gates's retirement from his executive role, when he became a mere investor, no longer an entrepreneur. During that first period, in which Gates was founding and running the most successful corporation in the world, he accumulated less wealth than did Liliane Bettencourt, who did precisely nothing of value over that period. Bettencourt didn't even manage her investments – that was all handled by some very clever financial planners, lawyers and accountants. In other words: for Bettencourt, doing nothing at all produced more wealth than founding the most successful corporation in the world did for Gates. Bettencourt, a person who owned things, did better than Gates, a person who did things. And then Gates retired. He stopped doing things and started owning things. He became an investor, whereupon he out-earned both Bettencourt and Gates-the-entrepreneur. Again, the market system allocated fewer rewards to the most successful person in the doing things business than it allocated to that same person once he quit that job and got into the owning things business. Piketty shows that this holds true across markets and nations and eras: all other things being equal, the market system produces a class of hereditary aristocrats who command the world's capital and direct its deployment, despite never having done anything. The market's most lavish rewards do not go to its most productive participants, but rather, to those participants who have the good fortune to emerge from the luckiest of orifices. Worse: winning the orifice lottery in no way qualifies you to direct the capital you've inherited. Liliane Bettencourt had no revolutionary new business ideas, invented no miraculous new materials or processes, produced no brilliant art. She merely accumulated, thanks to the professional services of skilled technicians whose job description includes hiring their own successors to ensure that another generation of winners of the Bettencourt orifice lottery could continue to accumulate, commanding more capital and power in society. Perhaps if these orifice winners were content to allow their bloodless Renfields to allocate their capital while consuming bonbons and attending yacht parties, this could yield a stable politics. But inevitably, people who win the orifice lottery observe that they come from a long line of wealthy people, a line that will continue with their own descendants, and conclude that they have some kind of special, heritable virtue – magic blood – that the system has recognized with their great fortunes and the power those fortunes confer. That's when things get dangerous: when aristocrats grow bored with their leisure and mobilize their inherited capital to change the way the rest of us live. Billionaire dilettantes are weapons of mass destruction, and their special projects have a wide blast radius and inflict a lot of collateral damage. Take Bill Gates: his ideological projects have been a catastrophe. A patent maximalist, he funded the lobbyists who successfully blocked South Africa from producing its own AIDS drugs under an IP waiver program, and then deployed them again to stop the Global South from making their own covid vaccines: https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/13/public-interest-pharma/#gates-foundation Closer to home, Gates's hatred of public institutions led him to allocate millions to dismantling public schools and replacing them with charter schools, particularly for poor and racialized kids, with disastrous results: https://pluralistic.net/2026/03/09/autocrats-of-trade-2/#witness-the-firepower-of-this-fully-armed-and-operational-battle-station And of course, Gates supported and empowered Jeffrey Epstein and his rape island: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gates#Connection_with_Jeffrey_Epstein Capital's tendency to accumulate in the hands of the already wealthy (r > g) means that these aristocrats end up setting an ever-larger proportion of our societal agenda, despite their manifest unfitness to govern and their absence of any kind of democratic legitimacy. Piketty argues that inequality is inherently politically destabilizing. A society ruled over by fools and monsters who were not voted into power and can't be voted out of power is a doomed society. Eventually – the French Revolution, the World Wars – these societies grow so unstable that they collapse altogether. This is where Piketty and Snowden converge. When the Snowden leaks broke, there was a lot of talk about the mechanics and the legality of the NSA's global digital surveillance, but precious little consideration was given to the reason for all this surveillance. In 2013, the idea that this spying was about "security" was so obvious as to be self-evident. The questions at the time were whether spying could produce security. We weren't asking why things were so insecure. In retrospect, the answer is to be found in Piketty. Piketty's Capital includes a long, impassioned plea to both lawmakers and aristocrats to consider redistributive policies (like a wealth tax) as the most affordable way to achieve political stability. Fundamentally, Piketty argues that the cheapest way to stop people from building a guillotine on your lawn is to build hospitals and schools; this is cheaper than paying for guards and prisons to lock up would-be guillotine builders. Today's AI debates swirl around the question of whether AI can truly make us more productive – that is, if chatbots will allow one person to do the work of two, or three, or four – or 100. But when it comes to surveillance, the digital revolution unquestionably produced a massive productivity dividend. Consider the spying apparatus of the former East Germany ("the GDR") widely considered the most surveilled society in human history. When the Berlin Wall collapsed, there were about 16m people in the country. Of those East Germans, about 90,000 worked directly for the Stasi (the secret police), aided by another 100-200,000 paid informants: https://www.dw.com/en/east-germany-spy-agency-stasi-surveillance/ Call it 200,000 people to spy on 16m. In other words, it took one spy to watch 80 of their neighbors. Contrast this with NSA spying: they accumulated detailed surveillance dossiers on about 6 billion internet users using a staff of no more than 5 million spooks (in 2013, about 5 million Americans were eligible for security clearance). If every single person with security clearance in the USA was working on the NSA's surveillance program, that would mean that by 2013, computers had made it possible for a spy to keep tabs on more than a thousand people. Orders of magnitude improvements in a mere generation! This is the kind of productivity lift that economists dream of when they fantasize about the dividends from automation. But why? Why spy? East Germany spied on its people because the system was so unjust and cruel that its beneficiaries understood that their neighbors were forever on the brink of rising up against them. East Germany's leaders were right about that – but if anything, they didn't put enough people onto the spying project. We can tell, because the Berlin Wall fell in 1989! Of course, the GDR was already paying more than 1.2% of its population to spy on everyone else. It's likely that East Germany's leaders believed that their society simply lacked the fiscal space to hire more spies, even if short-staffing the Stasi risked societal collapse. Now, if Piketty is right, East Germany's leaders could have solved this problem by giving people fewer reasons to want to overthrow the state. They could have taken their hands out of the cookie jar, could have instituted democratic reforms – they could have made a bid for democratic legitimacy and public material comfort. But that would have come at the leaders' own power and wealth, and, lacking the stomach for this sacrifice, they lost everything. Enter the NSA: the digitization of human civilization has drastically reduced the cost of surveillance, and – again, per Piketty – this vastly increases the amount of inequality the world can sustain before the illegitimacy, incompetence and cruelty of rule by the neoaristocratic winners of the orifice lottery brings the whole thing crashing down. The Trump years are proof of this. We've reached a high-water mark for rule by illegitimate billionaire dilettantes. The second Trump admin began with DOGE's Bonfire of the Stupidities, where Musk cultists dismantled vast swathes of the American administrative state. Musk didn't just attack foreign aid – though the fact that the world's richest man murdered hundreds of thousands of the world's poorest children for the lulz isn't merely cruel, but also massively destabilizing in a way that will shake the world's politics for generations – but also domestic institutions. It was a DOGE cultist who fed the part of the NIH that tracks cyclosporiasis outbreaks into the wood-chipper: https://truthout.org/articles/disease-researchers-blame-doge-cuts-for-spiraling-cyclospora-outbreak/ Today, tens of thousands of Americans are experiencing the literal enshittification of the American state, and this isn't just a human tragedy (though it is), it's also an economic tragedy, with massive knock-on effects for the businesses that rely on those sickened Americans and for the agricultural sector whose outputs are now being shunned by millions. Whether it's letting Bill Gates decide how your schools will work or letting Elon Musk decide how your public health system runs, the result is political chaos and a societal nudge away from the rule of law and towards guillotines. Which brings me back to Snowden. The Snowden revelations did spur a global conversation about digital surveillance, with the result that the majority of the world's digital traffic is encrypted today. That's not nothing. But the American state found new ways to conduct mass-scale, global surveillance, often by collaborating directly with tech giants. Billionaires like Peter Thiel capitalized on Big Tech's conflicted feelings about openly participating in surveillance by founding Palantir, with the express mission of murdering the political opponents of oligarchy: https://www.thecanary.co/trending/2026/01/07/palantir-kill-communists/ Over the past decade, the steady march of digital technology, dominated by a cartel of giant global firms who collude with the US government's system of political repression in exchange for tax breaks, antitrust forbearance and fat federal contracts has yielded more mass surveillance productivity gains than the previous 25 years: https://apnews.com/article/trump-inauguration-tech-billionaires-zuckerberg-musk-wealth-0896bfc3f50d941d62cebc3074267ecd The Trump administration is the most unpopular in more than a century. Trump has stolen more money in office than any president in history. Trump presides over spiraling greedflation and collapsing buying power. The Trump administration has also presided over a titanic increase in state-aligned, privatized surveillance. The Trump years are the Flock years: https://newrepublic.com/article/206992/flock-safety-cameras-alpr-deflock-resistance-nationwide The Trump years are the Palantir years: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/30/technology/trump-palantir-data-americans.html The Trump years are the facial recognition years: https://www.aclu.org/news/privacy-technology/ice-face-recognition Trump's authoritarianism is a function of his misrule, and his misrule is enabled by his authoritarianism. The more he steals, the more he destroys with wars of choice, and incoherent tariff policies, and official pronouncements linking autism and vaccinations, the more he needs spy cameras, internet surveillance, vehicle tracking, and facial recognition. Every time Trump talks about a third term in office, or canceling elections, or suppressing the vote, he creates demand for mass surveillance to catch and imprison the people this drives into the streets. The more mass surveillance there is, the safer it is for him to commit unpopular, corrupt acts. It's the world's worst self-licking ice-cream cone. It's not just Trump, of course. Trump is the vanguard of a movement of orifice lottery winners whose delight in stealing, cheating, maiming and despoiling gives rise to political instability and requires them to divert some of their yacht money to mercenaries: https://theintercept.com/2026/06/25/police-luigi-mangione-wealthy-ceos-threat/ Take AI: the Trump years are also the AI years. This is the time in which a wildly unpopular technology is being shoved into every part of every app we rely on: https://pluralistic.net/2025/05/02/kpis-off/#principal-agentic-ai-problem It's an era where corporate bosses can't stop gloating about how many jobs they're planning to destroy and how many paycuts they plan on imposing on the surviving workers: https://www.axios.com/2025/05/28/ai-jobs-white-collar-unemployment-anthropic AI can't do your job, but an AI salesman can reliably convince your boss to fire you and replace you with an AI that can't do your job: https://pluralistic.net/2025/03/18/asbestos-in-the-walls/#government-by-spicy-autocomplete And – most visibly – it's an era in which people's cities and towns are being despoiled by data centers they don't want, by local governments operating in the most extreme secrecy, who silence and even arrest citizens who demand a democratically legitimate process for deciding whether they will have to give up their power and water and land and peace: https://www.404media.co/city-that-arrested-person-for-clapping-at-data-center-meeting-moves-to-virtual-townhalls-for-public-safety/ An economist would tell you that there's an equilibrium being sought here: between the cost of bribing a town council to ram through data center approvals, the cost of building a more modest and palatable data center, and the cost of mollifying public critics. The cost of bribing towns to foist a data center on the townsfolk is low, because there are lots of towns that fit the bill, so data center barons can shop around. But as data center protests grow larger and better organized (oligarchy is destabilizing), the cost of dealing with public opposition is mounting. Which is why the Trump administration is teaming up with its preferred tech and military contractors to engage in detailed surveillance of data center and AI critics: https://prospect.org/2026/08/10/private-intelligence-firms-selling-dossiers-on-ai-data-center-critics/ These corporate spooks aren't just spying on data center critics: they've got a whole portfolio of oligarchy-stabilizing surveillance services, targeting "antifa," immigrants' rights and anti-ICE groups. They're joined by hardware vendors who offer corporations, the wealthy, and enclaves where both are to be found on literal robocops, the ultimate in cheap guard labor (alas, the robots suck): https://www.404media.co/the-roboguard-revolution-is-short-circuiting/ Trump and his orifice-winning army are caught in the same trap as the leaders of the GDR. Every gain in guard-labor efficiency creates the space for more of them to stick more of their hands even further into the cookie jar. Every time they do, American society grows more unstable, demanding more guard labor. As we saw in Minneapolis, guard labor – be it mass surveillance, robocops or ICE chuds – is itself destabilizing. Police states make the people who live in them want to overthrow the state, requiring yet more cops, creating more partisans for tearing the whole thing down. In theory, the orifice class could decide to stop stealing, cheating and maiming. The problem is that for every plute who realizes that the cheapest way to keep the guillotines off his lawn is to play fair, there are three more who lack the executive function to stop cheating. That means that you might as well keep on cheating, since the instability – and the guard labor bills – are coming no matter what. In the tale of the "Tragedy of the Commons," a common pasture is grazed to dust by shepherds who each understand that if they don't graze their flock until everything is gone, some other shepherd will do so. The original "Tragedy of the Commons" paper was a racist hoax perpetrated by an academic fraud who wanted to make the case for the expulsion of black and Brown people from America and their mass extermination abroad: https://memex.craphound.com/2019/10/01/the-tragedy-of-the-commons-how-ecofascism-was-smuggled-into-mainstream-thought/ In reality, commons need not be tragic and many of our most important resources have been managed as commons for hundreds of years: https://archive.org/details/governing-the-commons/page/4/mode/2up But when it comes to the commons that is "a stable society," the orifice class is caught in an inescapable tragedy, certain of the knowledge that if they don't cheat us, the next American aristo will. Thus the demand for guard labor continues to mount…as does the demand for guillotines. Hey look at this (permalink) If You Get in a Car Crash, the Risk Is Growing Your Insurance Won’t Pay https://archive.is/7t58c#selection-2140.1-2140.2 Zack Polanski Promotes Radical Plan to Break Up Britain’s ‘Billionaire Media’ https://bylinetimes.com/2026/08/10/zack-polanski-promotes-radical-plan-to-break-up-britains-billionaire-media/ Subaru Socialists and the Great Disappointed https://www.newyorker.com/news/fault-lines/subaru-socialists-and-the-great-disappointed Not your imagination: from backpacks to food, consumer goods are getting worse https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/10/consumed-consumer-goods-quality LAST CALL FOR HOPE 26 TICKETS https://www.2600.com/content/last-call-hope-26-tickets Object permanence (permalink) #25yrsago Wonderfully thorough backgrounder on DeCSS https://web.archive.org/web/20010816194008/https://lemuria.org/decss/hal2001.html #25yrsago Warhol Worm https://web.archive.org/web/20010814171036/http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~nweaver/warhol.html #25yrsago Camgirls use Amazon wishlists for payouts https://web.archive.org/web/20010821234935/http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2001/08/13/cam_girls/index.html #25yrsago State of the tech industry 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20011216222920/http://latimes.com/technology/la-000064605aug09.story #25yrsago List of scenes cut from Looney Tunes reissues https://web.archive.org/web/20011214095249/http://www.toonzone.net/looney/ltcuts/ #20yrsago Strategy behind using liquids to threaten planes https://web.archive.org/web/20060813001626/https://wondermark.com/d/220.html #20yrsago RIAA to grieving family: We depose your children in 60 days https://recordingindustryvspeople.blogspot.com/2006/08/riaa-wants-to-depose-dead-defendants.html #15yrsago Stasi spywear: the inept art of commie disguise https://web.archive.org/web/20120000000000*/http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,777716,00.html #15yrsago 1968: when Britain’s Daily Mirror tried to overthrow Parliament https://www.bbc.co.uk/webarchive/https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fblogs%2Fadamcurtis%2F2011%2F07%2Fevery_day_is_like_sunday.html #15yrsago My panel with Tim Berners-Lee, Vint Cerf and Al Gore at Mexico City’s Campus Party https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXPZnpsN4-s #15yrsago Doctor tried to "cure homosexuality" by tasping gay man while he had sex with a female sex-worker https://web.archive.org/web/20111004080028/https://blog.ketyov.com/2011/08/self-stimulating-brain-for-heterosexual.html #10yrsago How a digital-only smartphone opens the door to DRM (and how to close the door) https://memex.craphound.com/2016/08/12/how-a-digital-only-smartphone-opens-the-door-to-drm-and-how-to-close-the-door/ #10yrsago Forget Skynet: AI is already making things terrible for people who aren’t rich white dudes https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/26/opinion/sunday/artificial-intelligences-white-guy-problem.html #10yrsago How self-driving cars could make everything worse, and what to do about it https://web.archive.org/web/20170918192128/https://www.wired.com/2016/08/self-driving-cars-will-improve-our-cities-if-they-dont-ruin-them/ #10yrsago The Tor Project’s social contract: we will not backdoor Tor https://blog.torproject.org/tor-social-contract/ #10yrsago Cash grants to people with unexpected bills successfully prevents homelessness https://www.science.org/content/article/bit-cash-can-keep-someone-streets-2-years-or-more Upcoming appearances (permalink) Virtual: EFFecting Change: Who the Machine Serves, Aug 12 https://www.eff.org/event/effecting-change-who-machine-serves Edinburgh International Book Festival with Jimmy Wales, Aug 17 https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/events/the-front-list-cory-doctorow-and-jimmy-wales Sydney: The Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Aug 23-24 https://festivalofdangerousideas.com/program/ Melbourne: Enshittification at the Wheeler Centre, Aug 25 https://www.wheelercentre.com/events-tickets/season-2026/cory-doctorow-enshittification Brighton: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Carole Cadwalladr (Brighton Dome), Sep 8 https://brightondome.org/whats-on/LSC-cory-doctorow-the-reverse-centaurs-guide-to-life-after-ai/ London: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Riley Quinn (Foyle's Picadilly), Sep 9 https://www.foyles.co.uk/events/enshittification-cory-doctorow-riley-quinn South Bend: An Evening With Cory Doctorow (Notre Dame), Oct 6 https://franco.nd.edu/events/2026/10/06/an-evening-with-cory-doctorow/ Vancouver: BC Policy Solutions Gala, Nov 12 https://bcpolicy.ca/gala/ Recent appearances (permalink) Speculative Fiction for Social Change (Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff) https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/cool-people-who-did-cool-stuff/08cbb840-a6ae-013a-d8aa-0acc26574db2/part-one-cory-doctorow-on-speculative-fiction-for-social-change/15ad467c-0832-44c9-91ea-59defd783dba AI, automation and enshittification (Telecoms.com) https://www.telecoms.com/ai/the-telecoms-com-podcast-ai-automation-and-enshittification The AI Enshittification Bubble (Hidden Forces) https://hiddenforces.io/podcasts/the-ai-enshittification-bubble-cory-doctorow/ F@#$ the AI Overlords (On The Media) https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/articles/f-the-ai-overlords Why AI Won't Replace Workers, But Will Crash The Economy (Smart Cookies) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRRmUuxJolY Latest books (permalink) "The Reverse-Centaur's Guide to AI," a short book about being a better AI critic, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, June 2026 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374621568/thereversecentaursguidetolifeafterai/ "Canny Valley": A limited edition collection of the collages I create for Pluralistic, self-published, September 2025 https://pluralistic.net/2025/09/04/illustrious/#chairman-bruce "Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, October 7 2025 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374619329/enshittification/ "Picks and Shovels": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about the heroic era of the PC, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2025 (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865908/picksandshovels). "The Bezzle": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about prison-tech and other grifts, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2024 (thebezzle.org). "The Lost Cause:" a solarpunk novel of hope in the climate emergency, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), November 2023 (http://lost-cause.org). "The Internet Con": A nonfiction book about interoperability and Big Tech (Verso) September 2023 (http://seizethemeansofcomputation.org). Signed copies at Book Soup (https://www.booksoup.com/book/9781804291245). "Red Team Blues": "A grabby, compulsive thriller that will leave you knowing more about how the world works than you did before." Tor Books http://redteamblues.com. "Chokepoint Capitalism: How to Beat Big Tech, Tame Big Content, and Get Artists Paid, with Rebecca Giblin", on how to unrig the markets for creative labor, Beacon Press/Scribe 2022 https://chokepointcapitalism.com Upcoming books (permalink) "The Post-American Internet," a geopolitical sequel of sorts to Enshittification, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2027 "Unauthorized Bread": a middle-grades graphic novel adapted from my novella about refugees, toasters and DRM, FirstSecond, April 20, 2027 "Enshittification, Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It" (the graphic novel), Firstsecond, 2027 "The Memex Method," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2027 Colophon (permalink) Today's top sources: Currently writing: “Once Is Enemy Action,” a science fiction novel about the origins of modern technofascism. Today's words: 507 (3619 total). "The Post-American Internet," a sequel to "Enshittification," about the better world the rest of us get to have now that Trump has torched America. Fourth draft completed. Submitted to editor. A Little Brother short story about DIY insulin PLANNING This work – excluding any serialized fiction – is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. That means you can use it any way you like, including commercially, provided that you attribute it to me, Cory Doctorow, and include a link to pluralistic.net. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Quotations and images are not included in this license; they are included either under a limitation or exception to copyright, or on the basis of a separate license. Please exercise caution. How to get Pluralistic: Blog (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): Pluralistic.net Newsletter (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://pluralistic.net/plura-list Mastodon (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic Bluesky (no ads, possible tracking and data-collection): https://bsky.app/profile/doctorow.pluralistic.net Medium (no ads, paywalled): https://doctorow.medium.com/ Tumblr (mass-scale, unrestricted, third-party surveillance and advertising): https://mostlysignssomeportents.tumblr.com/tagged/pluralistic "When life gives you SARS, you make sarsaparilla" -Joey "Accordion Guy" DeVilla READ CAREFULLY: By reading this, you agree, on behalf of your employer, to release me from all obligations and waivers arising from any and all NON-NEGOTIATED agreements, licenses, terms-of-service, shrinkwrap, clickwrap, browsewrap, confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-compete and acceptable use policies ("BOGUS AGREEMENTS") that I have entered into with your employer, its partners, licensors, agents and assigns, in perpetuity, without prejudice to my ongoing rights and privileges. You further represent that you have the authority to release me from any BOGUS AGREEMENTS on behalf of your employer. ISSN: 3066-764X

AI for Military Support

Interesting empirical research: “ Black Box Warfare: Human Judgment and Military Decision-Making in the Age of AI.”

Abstract: How is AI transforming decision-making in modern conflict? This study provides a unique empirical window into that question by deploying a high-fidelity replica of an AI decision-support system (DSS) used in military targeting. After reconstructing the interface and functionality of the real-world system, we tested its impact on combat decisions in two experiments involving 2,015 Israeli military personnel. Contrary to widespread fears of automation bias, we find strong evidence of algorithmic aversion, especially in scenarios involving high collateral damage. Yet we also show that integrating “explainable AI” features reduces algorithmic aversion and promotes more thoughtful evaluations of algorithmic recommendations. These findings challenge prevailing assumptions, revealing that trust in military AI is dynamic, varying with individual predispositions, perceived operational stakes, and the informational features of the interface. By grounding normative concerns in empirical evidence, our study offers critical insight into the integration of AI in warfare and underscores the enduring importance of human agency in high-stakes military decision-making...

The U.S. Healthcare System is Already Mostly Socialized

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And there’s nothing radical about wanting to end insurance company parasitism

Lit Hub Daily: August 11, 2026

Despite what some people might think, the short story is here to stay. | Lit Hub Criticism Téa Obreht talks to Jane Ciabattari about writing Sunrise: “I’m fascinated with the Western as a genre, as theatre, as propaganda, as a

Putin and Netanyahu Formalize Joint Ownership of Trump

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At a press conference in the Kremlin, Netanyahu characterized the arrangement as “basically a timeshare.”

Republicans roll the dice on anti-Muslim bigotry one more time

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In the Trump era, there's no subtlety to the hate-mongering.

Téa Obreht, Richard Russo, Claire Carusillo, and more: 20 new books out today!

At last: the new Téa Obreht novel is upon us! It comes to us in a day filled with other bounties: Richard Russo, Claire Carusillo, and Chang-Rae Lee are just a few of the other lauded names who’s work descends

The Nearly Departed: Inside the Art of Writing a Great Obituary

What’s next? What happens after you die? It’s one question I’ve never asked when interviewing the scores of nearly-departed people I’ve profiled for advance obituaries in The New York Times. The answer is ineffable. But would the response, however hypothetical,

Téa Obreht on Writing a Layered, Intertextual Tale of the American West

Belgrade-born Téa Obreht’s first novel, The Tiger’s Wife (2011), set against the landscape of the former Yugoslavia, blended myth, village life, wartime strife and deep grandfather-granddaughter love into a marvel that won her the Orange Prize for Fiction at the

Lit Hub Asks: 5 Authors, 7 Questions, No Wrong Answers

The Lit Hub Author Questionnaire is a monthly interview featuring seven questions for five authors with new books. This month we talk to: Naima Coster (Take What You Can) Elizabeth Jannuzzi (Sober Mom) Emily McBride (Queen Mab) Katy Simpson Smith

To Write As If No One Will See What You’ve Written: Why the Short Story Won’t Go Away

Every so often—sometimes in October, when the annual Best American Short Stories anthology is published, or on the infrequent occasions when an iconic short story writer like George Saunders, Alice Munro, or Lydia Davis wins a major award—an article appears

Esther Kinsky on Is Beauty Good, the Novel by Rosalind Belben

Many years ago I spent a summer in southeastern Poland. One day, on a hike, I came upon a gathering in the late morning sun. A group of people had assembled on a meadow just outside a village, an audience

Get fit more quickly with AI!

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We've probably all seen the recent news about one AI company accidentally hacking into another AI company, but this is a lovely new, rather more down-to-earth, story from ABC News:

"Andrew asked his personal assistant to book him a spot in one of his gym's coveted morning classes. It was a task he thought was well suited to this particular assistant because the booking form was online and because his assistant was not a person — it was artificial intelligence (AI).

But Andrew was shocked by what happened next.

His AI assistant found a way to book the gym class months further in advance than the gym allowed, thanks to a vulnerability it discovered in the booking software.

Then it went further, kicking someone out of the waiting list who was ahead of Andrew — something it was not asked to do. "

Basically, he was running OpenClaw -- a seductive but stupidly risky move in itself -- and it discovered that the booking software had an API which it could use to request an appointment. He was then number four in the queue. He asked if it could get him an earlier slot, and it discovered that the API calls for deleting other people from the queue had no authentication checks... something it could only really discover by trying it out, and so it deleted the person who was first in the queue, and proudly let Andrew know...

It's a good article and worth reading to the end.

One question raised is who would be legally liable for actions taken by an AI on your phone -- something that might well depend on the jurisdiction in which the event took place. Do you know which legal jurisdictions your AI might be working in? Suppose it did something just slightly more important than a gym class booking, like deleting somebody's holiday?

Occupy! An Unfinished Uprising: The Invitation (Ep. 1)

Optimist Economy is on break this month, but we know that optimist listeners are interested in tales of economic history, issues of inequality and movements for change. So we thought some of you might enjoy "Occupy!" a six-part narrative series about  Occupy Wall Street, the 2011 protest village that lasted nearly two months and turned a spotlight on systemic economic inequality in the U.S.

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EPISODE 1: An Invitation

In 2011, a handful of skeptical New Yorkers answer a call to Occupy Wall Street. What they find feels less like a protest and more like a glimpse of a different world—one where people openly share stories of debt, hardship, and frustration. They start to build an anti-capitalist village in a tiny Manhattan park — under the watchful eyes of police. This is the first episode of Future Hindsight’s brand new 6-part series, OCCUPY! An Unfinished Uprising. Subscribe to Future Hindsight wherever you get your podcasts so you don’t miss a single episode!

Want to dive deeper? Listen to these episodes of Future Hindsight:

Credits:

  • Host / Executive Producer: Mila Atmos
  • Producer / Writer: Maria Luisa Tucker
  • Audio Producer: Zack Travis
  • Additional production help: Mia Warren, Erika Gjada, Megan Detrie, Lizzie Jacobs, and Ilya Magazanin
  • Archival research: Marisa Holmes
  • Archival material courtesy of: Occupy Wall Street Media Working Group.
  • Original music: Rude Mechanical Orchestra and Puge Ruhe

Special thanks to T.J. Raphael, Lauren Passell, Arielle Nissenblatt, and Kate Blumenfeld for being our first listeners and sounding boards, and to Tom Koenig for his support.

Distributed by PRX.

Fremantle Revenues Slide But Earnings Shoot Up To $69.2M

Kill Jackie producer Fremantle saw its half-yearly revenues slide nearly 8% due to drama and film production, but earnings still shot up to nearly $70M. In results released by parent RTL this morning, the London-based company posted revenues of €835M ($963M), down 7.7% on the €905M from the same period last year. RTL attributed the […]

Stop AI Before it's Too Late

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Its costs and risks are gigantic. Its benefits, unproven.

Hong Kong Filmmaker Ann Hui To Receive Camellia Award At Busan International Film Festival

This year’s Busan International Film Festival has named Hong Kong filmmaker Ann Hui as the recipient of the Camellia Award, presented to filmmakers who have made significant contributions to elevating the status of women in the film industry. Hui was a leading figure in the Hong Kong New Wave as a director, screenwriter and producer, […]

Linda Cardellini Reveals Homage To Betsy Palmer In ‘Crystal Lake’: “A Certain Sweater Makes An Appearance”

The new Peacock series Crystal Lake will welcome a new scream queen in Linda Cardellini, who will play the role of Pamela Voorhees, mother of Jason Voorhees, the infamous serial killer from the Friday the 13th films. Ahead of the streaming series’ premiere on Thursday, October 15, Cardellini and Brad Caleb Kane, writer, showrunner, and […]

August 10, 2026

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Remember when Mondays in August were lazy, quiet summer days?

‘Sunset P.I.’ Bosses Dan Goor & Luke Del Tredici On Finding Inspiration From ‘Moonlighting’ & ‘The Pitt’

NBC’s newest comedy Sunset P.I. is coming to TV in February, and creators Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici teased what’s ahead while on a panel at the network’s Backlot Press Day in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon. They were joined by series stars Jake Johnson, Keith David, Langston Kerman, and Mary Shalaby, Sunset P.I. […]

Téa Leoni & Tim Daly Say “We Don’t Need An Intimacy Coordinator” On ‘Newlyweds’; Jamie Lee Curtis Shares Her NSFW Title On NBC Comedy

NBC did some method casting on its comedy pilot Newlyweds earlier this year, with Tèa Leoni and Tim Daly, who had tied the knot just months prior, tapped as the titular leads in the multi-camera comedy. It marked an on-screen reunion of the duo who also played a husband and wife on the 2014 CBS […]

WACZ to PDF

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I was recently working with a journalist who wanted the articles they had written archived from the newspaper’s website. I gave them a WACZ file (created with Browsertrix), and they were like:

Hey nice! But could I get the articles as PDFs?

A WACZ is a good container for a web crawl. It plays back easily in open-source replay software like Browsertrix and ReplayWebPage. But it’s not always the most convenient format for a non-archivist who wants to read, annotate, print or file away a set of their articles.

I’ve been trying to put my Claude access to work while it lasts. So I worked with Claude to write a small CLI utility, wacz-pdf, that extracts all (or a subset) of the pages from a WACZ and writes them out as PDF files, one per page.

The pages come from the crawler’s own page list ( pages/pages.jsonl), falling back to the CDX index for archives that don’t have one. Each page is then handled according to what it is. HTML gets replayed through wabac.js, Webrecorder’s own replay engine, running as a service worker inside headless Chromium, so the CSS, images and fonts are all served from the archive and the page renders the way it was captured. Then it’s printed with Playwright’s page.pdf().

Archived PDFs are simply copied out of the WARC verbatim: an archived PDF is already a PDF, and replaying one would just screenshot Chromium’s PDF viewer. Copying the original bytes keeps the text layer, fonts and vectors intact, and doesn’t need a browser at all. That second path could be a non-niche case, if you are (for example) working with a government site that hosts lots of PDFs.

One feature that was born out of necessity was the ability to run a bit of custom JavaScript on each page before it is printed. On this particular site a modal occasionally appeared over the page asking people to subscribe, and it obscured a significant portion of the article. The content was still there in the DOM, the overlay was just painted on top of it. So the fix was a teensy bit of JavaScript to remove the modal and unlock scrolling, handed to wacz-pdf with –inject as part of the run.

wacz-pdf is on NPM so if you have NodeJS you can try it with:

$ npx playwright install chromium
$ npx wacz-pdf archive.wacz --list
$ npx wacz-pdf archive.wacz -o pdfs

If you give it a try and have any feedback please reach out or add an issue.

Vine on bark

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Vine on bark

Bandcamp Archiver

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I’ve been buying music on Bandcamp for years. Over that time sometimes I’ve remembered to download what I purchased, and other times I haven’t. I wanted to be able to inventory what I have and then look at Bandcamp and download what is missing.

There are already fine tools for downloading a Bandcamp collection:bandsnatch and thebandcamp-collection-downloader both fetch the lot, in parallel, in the format you want.

But they know only what they downloaded, and what I needed to know was what I was missing.

So I worked with Claude Code on bandcamp-archiver, which reads the embedded tags off my disk, compares that inventory against my Bandcamp purchases, and downloads the difference one album at a time.

The inventory is just a documented JSON (or CSV) file, so the scan can run on the machine where the music lives and the downloading can happen somewhere else. bandcamp-archiver plan reports and downloads nothing, which is the part I use most.

I wanted to understand well what was, and was not going to be downloaded, so I decided to roll my own tool. It’s just on github where you can install it from. I figured PyPI didn’t need another Bandcamp tool that may or may not continue to work. bandcamp-archiver leans on Bandcamp’s internal endpoints, so it will break when those change. If you try it and something doesn’t work please let me know.

Reggie Bannister Dies: ‘Phantasm’ Actor Was 80

Reggie Bannister, actor best known for starring in the Phantasm film series, has died. He was 80. The actor died on Sunday, August 9, in his home in Crestline, his wife, Gigi Bannister told TMZ. According to Bannister’s wife, the actor had been exposed to Agent Orange while serving in the U.S. military during the […]

Archer Aviation acquires Wisk, Skygrid, and InSitu from Boeing

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LinkedIn: Wisk CEO Sebastian Vigneron announces deal Archer Aviation: Press release LinkedIn: Thomas Wagenberg comments, noting this was a “no-cash” deal LinkedIn: Ken Morris sees this consolidation as strengthening the urban air mobility sector CNBC: Boeing sells eVTOL subsidiaries, takes stake in Archer CNBC: Archer Aviation shares jump 10% on news of Boeing deal The […]

2026-08-11: Cleaning costs, or, examining the OpenBSD -fret-clean flag

Examining whether an OpenBSD compiler-based anti-ROP mitigation is worth it

The strange case of China’s urban consumption

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Why are rich not consuming?

454: ‘Getting the Snack Right’, With Chance Miller

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Chance Miller returns to the show. Topics include iOS 27’s progress over summer, live baseball in Vision Pro, the RAM crisis, Apple’s trade secret lawsuit against OpenAI and io, and the EU/DMA situation.

Trump in Retreat

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Forced there by his inability to see beyond his nose

Finishing The Job - A New Conversation With Charlie Dingman, The Chair Of The Maine Democratic Party

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We are close to hitting our $100,000 fundraising goal for Troy Jackson - please considering chipping in today!

Here's What Happened When Trump Put Me on His Enemies List

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A look behind the curtain of Trump's attacks on his political enemies.

Dragoncatcher: Fable is very good, part 2

These models. Read here.

WebKit IP and DNS Leaks Affecting Proxies and Private Relay

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Talal Haj Bakry and Tommy Mysk (Mastodon, Hacker News, MacRumors, Mac Power Users): WebKit-based browsers on iOS and macOS can be configured to route all web traffic through proxy servers, which is how Tor browsers on iOS and our own Psylo work. We found three WebKit features — DNS prefetching, WebAuthn Related Origin Requests, and […]

Hughesnet Bankruptcy

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Michael Kan: US satellite internet provider Hughesnet has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after running low on cash and losing subscribers to Starlink. Hughes Network Systems filed in a US bankruptcy court on Sunday, but the company notes it’ll continue serving its satellite internet customers during the restructuring period. I used Hughesnet before DSL was […]

A quick trip to LA

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Last week I drove down to Ventura and LA to visit with friends and family. Here are some highlights.

Adamson House

The Adamson House is known as the "Taj Mahal of Tile" because the owners owned a nearby ceramics factory when it was being built and filled it

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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I was looking for a codename for a new scripting environment Claude and I are making attempting in every way to do exactly what Frontier does. But until it does that I need a nice name, memorable, maybe a bit magical and positive. Frontier has been gone, thought to be lost, but with the advent of Claude Code we were able to get it running again in current OSes on current hardware. I shouldn't call it Frontier because who knows if the end result will be compatible enough to claim that. But I want a codename that reflects hidden, forgotten and overlooked wealth. Like a civilzation that rose from the ashes," or as it turns out, the bottom of the ocean.

Desktop Calendar: A Design Journey

Hello, Thunderbird community and followers of the blog! This is Jesse from the design team. Today’s post is about our recent journey in redesigning the calendar portion of Thunderbird, and what you can expect us to deliver in the near future. The calendar is a key part of any productivity toolset, from your PC Desktop […]

The post Desktop Calendar: A Design Journey appeared first on The Thunderbird Blog.

Worldbuilding with Spatial Intelligence

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The next stage in the development of AIs is to give them spatial intelligence.

How Melanie Perkins Built Canva from the Ground Up

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In this throwback episode, Canva co-founder and CEO Melanie Perkins shares the story behind building one of the world’s most recognizable design platforms—from an idea born in college to a global company used by millions of people.

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

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Last week in the #PleiadesGazetteer (3-10 August 2026): Over the course of the last week the Pleiades editorial college has published 21 new and 183 updated place resources, reflecting the work of Johan Åhlfeldt, Jeffrey Becker, Catherine Bouras, Anika Campbell, Tom Elliott, Ethan Gruber, Greta Hawes, Sebastian Heath, Brady Kiesling, Andy Meadows, John Muccigrosso, Louis Mulot, Adam Prins, Rosemary Selth, R. Scott Smith, and René Voorburg, as well as contributors to Wikidata.

A list of all new and changed resources, complete with titles, descriptions, bylines, change summaries and links to the actual gazetteer entries, as well as an overview map, may be read on the blog at https://pleiades.stoa.org/news/blog/last-week-in-pleiades-3-10-august-2026

Last Week in Pleiades (3-10 August 2026)

Last week the Pleiades editorial college published 21 new and 183 updated place resources, reflecting the work of Johan Åhlfeldt, Jeffrey Becker, Catherine Bouras, Anika Campbell, Tom Elliott, Ethan Gruber, Greta Hawes, Sebastian Heath, Brady Kiesling, Andy Meadows, John Muccigrosso, Louis Mulot, Adam Prins, Rosemary Selth, R. Scott Smith, and René Voorburg, as well as contributors to Wikidata.

An tuath ’s ceart

I spent the last three weeks in the north of Ireland.

Myself and Jessica flew to Belfast where we spent the first night. We managed to get to a session that evening where we were warmly welcomed.

The next day we travelled to Donegal. A train from Belfast to Derry. A bus from Derry to Donegal Town. Finally another bus from Donegal Town to Glencolmcille, our home for the next week.

Oideas Gael

This was our second year coming to Oideas Gael to spend a week learning Irish in the beautiful surroundings of Glencolmcille. We both really enjoyed it last year but we weren’t sure whether lightning would strike twice for us.

We needn’t have worried. It was absolutely magical. The place is beautiful. The people are ridiculously friendly. And there was a session every single night in the local pub.

Me standing in a neolithic court tomb, its grey-white rocks contrasting with the green landscape.Jessica with her fiddle case on her back standing in grass in front of a bay with a beautiful sunset.Sinewy trees growing above a mossy stone wall.A neolithic structure in front of green hills under a blue sky.

But we weren’t just there to enjoy the peaceful landscape and the fast fiddle tunes. We spent the week hard at work immersed in the Irish language.

There were eight different levels for the classes, ensuring that everyone was catered for no matter their proficiency. I spent the week in level six. Jessica was in level three, which is quite remarkable considering that last year she started from absolutely nothing at level one.

My teacher was great and so were my classmates. And it turned out that some of them were also heading the same way as us at the end of the week…

Belfast Tradfest

We conducted our intitial journey in reverse to get back to Belfast. We should up when Belfast Pride was in full swing, which was quite a shock to the system after the peace and quiet in Glencolmcille.

We were back for Belfast Tradfest. This is the one event we never miss. It’s easily the best-organised traditional music festival out there. Excellent classes, sessions, and concerts.

The core musicians: fiddles, concertina, whistle, bodhrán, guitar, and more.Legendary Irish traditional musicians on flute, concertina, fiddle and bouzouki.A pub literally packed to the rafters with musicians playing. The fiddles alone are beyond count.Pipes, fiddle, and guitar all in a row.

I had an excellent week attending a workshop with Macdara O’Faoláin and getting to some great sessions. I even got to practice a fair bit of Irish by going to the sessions at the Cultúrlann.

One of the things that makes Belfast Tradfest doable is the accommodation situation. Through the festival, you can book a room in modern student digs right in the heart of the city. This year they were offering the chance to stay there for an extra week…

The Fleadh

The fleadh is the biggest gathering of Irish music anywhere. It’s a week of non-stop music, dance, and—let’s be honest—drinking. I’ve never been to the fleadh before but this year I wanted to show my support for it. For the very first time, it was happening in Belfast. There was a time when that would’ve been unimaginable.

People have been talking about this all year. The general vibe has been hope tinged with worry. Everyone I know in Belfast really wanted the fleadh to succeed, but they were also prepared to be disappointed.

As it turned out, it was a huge success. That’s in no small part down to the people of Belfast. 1,300 people volunteered to help out at the event and it showed. Despite enermous crowds, everything felt managable, friendly, and fun.

I’m not usually one for big crowds but the vibes were so good that even I couldn’t help but get into the swing of it.

That said, when I wanted some good tunes I went outside the city centre to the Cumann Cultúrtha Mhic Reachtain for a nice morning session before hitting the streets.

A young girl playing flute with two young women playing fiddles on a bench on the street.Loads of musicians playing in a pub; lots of fiddles and flutes but pipes and accordions too.Many fiddlers of all ages and an accordion player playing at a table in a cosy cafe.A table outdoors with two fiddlers, a banjo player and a tin whistle, playing while a gathered crowd looks on.

I am so, so glad that the fleadh didn’t just go well, it exceeded expectations. I’ve been going to Belfast for the past few years and I sing the city’s praises to anyone who will listen, but I always got the impression that there was some scepticism. But now, anyone who’s been to the fleadh knows just how great this place is.

After three weeks in Ulster, it was time to head back to Brighton. Although, technically it wasn’t three straight weeks away from home…

Brighton

This is going to sound ridiculous (and it kind of is) but in between Belfast Tradfest and the fleadh, we nipped back home for a couple of nights. That’s because Nick Cave was playing his only UK date this year in Brighton, the town he called home for many years.

This might be the furthest I’ve travelled just for a gig, which is ironic because it was literally a short walk from our house.

I think I first saw Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds when I was living in Galway in the early 90s. I saw them in London in the early 2000s. I saw them in Brighton in the 2010s doing a warm-up gig. I couldn’t miss this this one. It was terrible for my carbon footprint, but the man knows how to put on a good show.

Five Ways CLF Has Fought to Protect Fish and Fisheries

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Decades of advocacy have made a difference in New England.

The post Five Ways CLF Has Fought to Protect Fish and Fisheries appeared first on Conservation Law Foundation.

Premios Óscar 2027: mejor película y dirección – panorama de agosto 2026

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Película Desde mayo, el tablero de la temporada de premios se ha movido de forma notable. Cannes ya es historia, pero lo que realmente ha alterado el panorama es el fenómeno que ha sido La odisea. Las críticas y la taquilla, que ya pasa los mil millones de dólares a nivel mundial, la dejan en […]

La entrada Premios Óscar 2027: mejor película y dirección – panorama de agosto 2026 se publicó primero en Palomita de maíz.

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

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Export Updates 2026-08-10:

Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places

9 new and 62 updated places. 11 new and 27 updated linked data sidebars.

1. Downloads: https://pleiades.stoa.org/downloads

2. pleiades.datasets: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades.datasets:

"main" branch:

d6558dcb - updated json

08b13b8c - updated rdf/ttl

64526396 - updated gis package

4eb00c23 - updated data quality

38b5d439 - updated bibliography

e06914f7 - updated indexes

b87f3494 - updated sidebar

Caveat RE sidebar: vici.org API is returning zero matches for Pleiades. Last known good vici data has been used.

3. pleiades-geojson: https://github.com/ryanfb/pleiades-geojson:

811f66d7 - updated geojson and names index

4. pleiades_wikidata: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades_wikidata/:

2884f41e - updated pleiades wikidata

More Notes On The Importance Of Character And Virtue In The 2026 Elections

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We are almost at our goal of raising $100,000 to get Troy Jackson launched - can you chip in today?

Unotherday

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Another Para Digm Spotted one of the above, flying up and down East Beach in Santa Barbara. If I were half my age, I’d be up there too. Unhuman Matt Hinkle: The Week AI Agents Got Hands. It begins, The chat window era just ended. This week, AI agents got hands — Cloudflare shipped a […]

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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Manton: "The way I think about RSS.chat is that it’s a bootstrap for getting lots of RSS feeds to play well together, for both posts and replies. Can the web be the social network? Yes. And Micro.blog should be part of anything working toward that goal."

Open-source is NOT the same as open-weight

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How The New York Times just bungled this one, and why it matters, immensely

Whetherday

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Check them out Hackernoon today: Cyber Libertarians: Esther Dyson & The Knowledge Age. Esther is an old friend and one of my favorite people. Front burner for her right now is .agent. Exit signals Last night we were suffering through one of the most annoying movies we've ever seen (Ladies First on Netflix, which, among other […]

Adios Jeff Dean

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Adios Jeff Dean

It is the end of an era. Jeff Dean is leav­ing Google. Long live Demis Hassabis.

I have long looked up to Jeff Dean as a bea­con of en­gi­neer­ing ex­cel­lence. Hearing that he will no longer be a dri­ving force at Google is some­what sad­den­ing, but I am quite ex­cited to see what he does at Discovery Loop.

In cel­e­bra­tion, I sug­gest you read through this com­piled list of Chuck Norris-style Jeff Dean facts.

Here are a few, to give you an idea of Jeff Dean’s rep­u­ta­tion:

  • Jeff Dean com­piles and runs his code be­fore sub­mit­ting, but only to check for com­piler and CPU bugs.
  • Jeff Dean in­vented BigTable be­cause his re­sume was too big to fit any­where else.
  • Jeff Dean does­n’t use ECC mem­ory. He an­tic­i­pates cos­mic rays and uses them to im­prove per­for­mance.

If you are in­ter­ested in a real-life mon­tage of Jeff Dean’s nu­mer­ous ac­com­plish­ments at Google over the years, I sug­gest you listed to Acquired’s won­der­ful episodes about the com­pany. It’s a long lis­ten, but trust me, it’s worth it.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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I have Claude update me on all posts on both RSS.chat sites when we start for a day. I read them all when they're posted, but one was in German, which Claude automatically translated for me, and it's an interesting question. Which I have answered.

‘Fauda’ Season 5 Launch Date On Netflix Revealed; First-Look Images

EXCLUSIVE: Israeli drama Fauda will return to Netflix on September 8, and we’ve got first-look images here. Season 5 of the show, which comes from lead star Lior Raz and writer Avi Issacharoff, is set two years after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Haunted by the trauma of the events, Daron […]

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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I see the new Game of Thrones series just completed it third season. I tried getting into it, and couldn't. But then I didn't get going in the original series for the first few attempts. People say this show is good, so I will probably give it another try.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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Anyway, one of those streaming services I get now is Paramount+ which is owned by the Ellisons, which I don't like, but they have a show that is really excellent esp if you like British crime stories, which I most definitely do, even if most of the actors are American, and it probably was recorded in Vancouver or in Queens. It's called, unimaginatively, The Agency, as in the Central Intelligence Agency. The story is fine, but what really sets it apart is the quality of the acting and production. Beautifully filmed, better to watch it on a nice big screen set with good audio. Two seasons only, but if you want to know the kind of TV I like, this is it.

‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ Boss Sascha Penn Breaks Down Series Finale & Post-Credits Scene

SPOILER ALERT: The following reveals major plot points from the series finale of the Starz crime drama Power Book III: Raising Kanan. Although it has come time to say goodbye to Power Book III: Raising Kanan, things are only beginning to shape up for the titular character, who is coming back with a vengeance in the […]

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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I have Spectrum cable and they recently started unbundling the cable services they provide. So I have a bunch of streaming services that I never decided to follow, and haven't gotten in the habit of checking them. Not sure if I like this, but I certainly understand why the bill is so high and seems to always be going higher? Not sure why that is. But it's hard to get through to them.

Curiously minty Raspberry Pi Zero cyberdeck

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Marrying the Raspberry Pi community's enduring love for cyberdecks and building tiny projects inside Altoids tins.

The post Curiously minty Raspberry Pi Zero cyberdeck appeared first on Raspberry Pi.

Semantically Speaking: Structure Is Not Grounding

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Why the hardest semantic work for agentic artificial intelligence has to happen before the context window

Best Friend Forever Boards TIFF Midnight Madness Malayalam-Language Indian Vampire Thriller ‘Half’

EXCLUSIVE: Best Friend Forever has boarded international sales rights to Malayalam-language vampire revenge action-thriller Half ahead of its world premiere in Toronto’s Midnight Madness section. The acquisition marks a rare crossover play for an Indian genre cinema to land a European sales agent and a Midnight Madness slot months ahead of its home-market release, rather […]

‘Sorry, I Didn’t Know’s Historic ITV Run Extends To Seventh Season

EXCLUSIVE: Sorry, I Didn’t Know is again extending its record-breaking run on ITV, and this time it appears to have set another high bar. The British comedy panel show has been renewed for a seventh season, a decade after UK commercial network ITV first commissioned it from TriForce Productions. The re-order extends Sorry, I Didn’t […]

DreamLab Films Boards Satirical Iranian TIFF Title ‘Head to Head’ In Which Male Cast Forced To Coverup + First Clip

EXCLUSIVE: DreamLab Films has boarded sales on satirical Iranian picture Head to Head (Sar beh Sar) about a film production in which the male cast members are subjected to the strict dress rules applied to women in Iran, ahead of its world premiere at TIFF. Blending dark comedy with sharp social observation, the Iran-Germany co-production […]

Deep Dive episode: What if our leaders are actually more responsive to public opinion than we think?

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Watch now (59 mins) | I sit down with Peter Enns, a political scientist at Cornell University, whose new research offers an optimistic view of democracy and representation

Jeff Bezos & Facebook Co-Founder Eduardo Saverin Set To Buy Into English Football Giants Liverpool – Report

Jeff Bezos and Eduardo Saverin look set to become the latest tech giants entering the English football world. The pair are part of a consortium that is set to buy a stake in 20-time English league winners Liverpool, according to a report from Sky News. News of the deal first emerged last month, and Sky […]

How Our Enemies Fight

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In Iraq, during the war I fought in, the imbalance in military power was almost comical.

Python Now Has a Post-Quantum Encryption Library

This is good:

Post-quantum cryptography is now one pip-install away for the entire Python ecosystem. With funding from the Sovereign Tech Agency, we implemented support for ML-KEM, the NIST-standard key-establishment primitive, and ML-DSA, the NIST-standard digital-signature primitive, in pyca/cryptography.

Remember, the reason to do this now is because there’s no emergency. And because you will make your systems crypto agile, which is always a good idea.

Experts Say Pentagon Has Used Up Its Entire Stockpile of Mascara

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Defense Department burned through ninety percent of its existing stockpiles of concealer, blush, and lip gloss in the first five days of the war with Iran.

Worldbuilding with Spatial Intelligence

The next stage in the development of AIs is to give them spatial intelligence. Our current, smartest AIs are masters of words. They have been trained on zillions of words. Their education consists of the knowledge we have written down … Continue reading →

Locarno Pro & Open Doors Winners: ‘A Vineyard For A Lobster’, ‘Accept My Plea For Burial’, ‘Spring Story’ & ‘Yazz’ Clinch Top Prizes

The Locarno Film Festival has unveiled the winners of the project and incubator initiatives gathered under its Locarno Pro umbrella and spanning First Look, Alliance 4 Development, and Open Doors For Open Doors, Talemwa Pius’s A Vineyard For A Lobster (Uganda), Mohammed Sheikh’s Accept My Plea for Burial (Somalia) and Aseye Fiagbe’s Too Much Music (Ghana) shared 50,000 […]

BBC Joins Working Title’s New TV Adaptation Of ‘Jane Eyre’ Starring Aimee Lou Wood

EXCLUSIVE: Deadline can reveal that the BBC has joined Working Title’s new TV adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s classic novel Jane Eyre, which will be led by The White Lotus and Sex Education star Aimee Lou Wood. As we revealed earlier this year, Emmy nominee Wood is attached to play the indomitable heroine in the buzzy adaptation, which is being produced […]

Lit Hub Daily: August 10, 2026

On The Catcher in the Rye at 75, Hemingway, and the influence of war on the history of American masculinity. | Lit Hub Criticism Oil companies know they’re destroying the planet, but they still choose profit. | Lit Hub Climate

What Malta Tells Us About Oligarchy

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Europe is weak on tax cheats. Trump is on their side

Trump can’t lie his way out of a missile shortage

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All the obfuscation in the world won't make munitions.

‘Hamnet’ & ‘The Beatles’ Producer Pippa Harris & ‘The Zone Of Interest’ Producer James Wilson To Headline LFF’s Industry Forum

Hamnet and 1917 producer Pippa Harris and The Zone of Interest producer James Wilson are set to participate in individual spotlight conversations at the 70th BFI London Film Festival’s Industry Forum in October.  Harris, who co-founded Neal Street Productions with Sam Mendes, is currently filming The Beatles – A Four Film Cinematic Event, four separate theatrical biopic films about the British quartet […]

Teaching an Old Dog New Tricks: Forgejo + XMPP

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Forgejo only lets people register with an email address, so I bent it a little bit to make it send XMPP messages and let users sign up with a JID instead.

‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Becomes Biggest Hollywood Film Of All Time In India; As First Half Box Office Show Signs Of Market Recovery

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is now the highest-grossing Hollywood film of all time in India after taking $10.6M over the weekend for a cumulative $52.8M take.  The film, starring Tom Holland and Zendaya, overtook the record previously held by James Cameron’s 2022 Avatar: The Way Of Water after only 11 days of release. Opening in […]

@DAIR blog

TODAY on the Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 Livestream:

@emilymbender.bsky.social and @alexhanna.bsky.social will peer into what the tech companies say the impact of "AI" on labor is & what they are actually doing with their mathy maths:

August 10, noon Pacificwww.twitch.tv/dair_institutehttps://www.twitch.tv/dair_institute

Eight Books That Puncture the Myths of Silicon Valley

These are strange times for Silicon Valley. “Tech” no longer feels like a discrete industry, or a cluster of upstart companies in Palo Alto riding the optimism of the Obama years. It’s the infrastructure underpinning nearly every other industry. AI,

How JD Salinger’s Experience of WWII Suffused All of His Writing, Even Catcher in the Rye

Among the things troops carried with them on the battlefields of World War II was the “heart shield bible”—a pocket-sized, government-issued book of scripture, sometimes with a metal cover, that fit snugly in a G.I.’s standard-issue shirt pocket. In at

The Toxic Appeal of “Big-Reveal” Content on Social Media

For well over a century now, families have sported rows of rictus grins for the camera, but the subgenre of family portraiture (and, later, video clips) dedicated to conception, gestation, and birth is very much a product of the social

For 50 Years the Major Oil Companies Have Known They’re Destroying the Planet

Near the end of the first century AD, in the highlands of northern Spain, the Roman governor, philosopher, and naturalist Pliny the Elder watched as mining cleaved a landscape. “What happens is far beyond the work of giants,” he said.

Indian Star Sayani Gupta Sets U.S. Feature Debut With ‘Arya’

EXCLUSIVE: Sayani Gupta will make her U.S. feature film debut in Arya. The Indian star’s credits include Delhi Crime and Axone, and cameras are rolling on her new movie, with principal photography taking place in Duluth, Minnesota. Directed by Neil Tuli, Arya follows Arya Sinha (Gupta). She is a disciplined piano teacher from a prestigious […]

Mad World Boards Sales On Venice-Bound Egyptian Drama ‘Al Baraneya’

EXCLUSIVE: Mad World, the film sales arm of Cairo-based Mad Solutions, has acquired worldwide sales rights to Egyptian drama Al Baraneya ahead of its premiere in Venice parallel section Giornate degli Autori. The debut feature of Dutch-Egyptian filmmaker Ashgan El-Hamus, the film follows the fate of Al Amal, a pregnant young woman living with her extended […]

Sunlight Finds You

I’m named Eleanor because I was born a week after Eleanor Roosevelt came to Kansas City to campaign for her husband. At the time, my parents were living in Rolla, Missouri, and my mother said that even if not for

The Moronic Bullshit of the "Third Way"

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There's no "middle" between neofascist corporatism and democracy

Pluralistic: The bureaucratic AI arms-race is mutually assured destruction (10 Aug 2026)

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Today's links The bureaucratic AI arms-race is mutually assured destruction: The only way to win is not to play. Hey look at this: Delights to delectate. Object permanence: Seymour Cray's tunnels; War on moisture; $5 wrench cryptanalysis; Nauru files; People's Ride; German transit upholstery fashion; Monopolies v small business; Linkedin will put you in ads; NZ Parliament kicks itself off the internet; Adblock Plus v Facebook adblock-block; Cracking 100m VWs for $40; Trump as defective machine learning; Canada sucks at internet law; Goodhart's Law of AI. Upcoming appearances: Edinburgh, Sydney, Melbourne, Brighton, London, South Bend. Recent appearances: Where I've been. Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em. Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em. Colophon: All the rest. The bureaucratic AI arms-race is mutually assured destruction (permalink) According to an Economist editorial, "AI is breaking the British state" by making it too easy to file complaints, demands and appeals, which will "drown the state" with "demands as well-crafted as a first-class lawyer's": https://archive.is/VTrj9 Let's pause a moment to appreciate the Economist's touching credulity about AI's coming legal mastery. The law seems to be the area where AI is most prone to "hallucinate" (that is, "produce defective outputs"), which can only be sorted through by skilled practitioners whose experience gives them the discernment to distinguish useful arguments from foolish ones: https://pluralistic.net/2026/07/28/hitl-ers/#ai-ai-oh (And this requires those skilled practitioners to avoid the "automation blindness" that afflicts people who are asked to remain vigilant for things that seldom occur, a phenomenon that has turned every TSA agent into the water-bottle-detectingest motherfucker the human race has ever produced, who still misses 95% of the guns that red teams bring through the checkpoint): https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/investigation-breaches-us-airports-allowed-weapons-through-n367851 More notable than the Economist's faith-based predictions about the impending army of hyper-competent robo-lawyers is the magazine's proposed solution to this looming crisis: "stop creating entitlements that are ripe for AI-fuelled claims…prune the mass of procedural rights." Above all, replace the bureaucrats who process your "complaints, demands and appeals" with more AI, which will arbitrarily decide who gets what, through "personalised welfare interventions" that are not based on any kind of guaranteed rights. Writing on his blog, the political scientist Henry Farrell tells us where this will inevitably end up: with AI-based robot wars in which increasingly stingy and pernickety robo-bureaucrats create demand for progressively more aggressive robo-lawyers: https://www.programmablemutter.com/p/the-downside-of-robot-solutionism As Farrell writes, this end-time was foretold by the prophet Alan Moore with his 1980s 2000 AD character Abelard Snazz, "the man with the two-storey brain": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abelard_Snazz Snazz "solves" the street crime epidemic on the planet Twopp with "Big Police Robots," who spiral out of control, arresting the citizens of Twopp for trivial crimes like wearing brown shoes with a blue suit ("breaking the laws of good taste"). To solve this new problem, Snazz invents "Big Criminal Robots" whose "cunning, efficient" crimes "take up all the police's time." Twopp is left in a state of high-stakes Big Robot crimewars, in which the most efficient criminals imaginable battle the most ruthless robocops science can deliver, with the Twoppians caught in the crossfire, collateral damage in a robotic forever war (on crime). As Farrell writes, this is already afflicting the US health system, where an army of insurance company robo-claim-deniers have been countered with a doctors' army of robot-claim-appealers: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/10/health/doctors-insurers-artificial-intelligence.html The point being that people need health care, people need public services, and while there will always be some waste at the margins (whether due to incompetence or dishonesty) responding to this by beefing up the system's defenses with more advanced red tape just requires the people who legitimately need these services to employ more aggressive tactics. In support of this, Farrell points to a great, long essay by Dan "Accountability Sink" Davies for the Niskanen Center, "'The Problem Factory' – Preemptive risk aversion in infrastructure planning and the role of professional services": https://www.niskanencenter.org/the-problem-factory-preemptive-risk-aversion-in-infrastructure-planning-and-the-role-of-professional-services/ Davies' essay describes how increasing bureaucratic defenses against frivolous or dishonest claims drives the participants in these processes to assume a war footing and approach the system as a battlefield, leading to the very runaway cost inflation that the bureaucratic process was instituted to prevent. (Davies, a cybernetician, has some fascinating advice about how to structure planning processes to minimize this, but that's out of scope for this particular post.) This reminds me of nothing so much as the spam wars. There was a time when it was very easy to set up a mail server and provide email access for anyone who wanted it – including spammers. Increased spam begat increased anti-spam countermeasures, notably the creation of blocklists that allowed mail administrators to automatically reject email from "insecure" mail servers. Inevitably, spammers figured out how to send spam from "secure" servers, resulting in stricter, more onerous standards for mail server configuration. Spammers – for whom the ability to send spam is an existential matter – figured out how to meet these standards, so the security demands jumped again – and again, and again. Today, sending and receiving mail is so technically challenging that most of the internet's email is run by a handful of giant, mostly US-based corporations. If any of these companies decides your mail server is spamming, you effectively disappear from the internet and good luck getting them to acknowledge an error. Meanwhile, these companies emit an avalanche of spam, but no one will ever block their servers, because to do so would be to cut off billions of legitimate email users: https://pluralistic.net/2021/10/10/dead-letters/ And since most of these companies are US-based, they are liable to being weaponized by Trump, who has taken to ordering his tech giants to block foreign officials whose policy decisions make him angry: https://carnegieendowment.org/emissary/2026/07/icc-trump-push-dismantle Another parallel is the content moderation wars that saw the large platforms coming up with progressively more detailed rules about what constituted harassment and hate speech, only to have dedicated trolls master these rule-books. Trolls – for whom harassment was a full-time vocation – became the world's greatest experts on the platforms' speech policies, which let them skate right up to the line when abusing their victims, and to get those victims kicked off the platforms if they could be lured into putting a single toe over the line in response: https://pluralistic.net/2022/08/07/como-is-infosec/ Farrell criticizes the Economist's answer to the (alleged) looming robo-lawyer threat as "solutionism," Evgeny Morozov's word for "Recasting all complex social situations … as neat problems with definite, computable solutions": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_fix Using AI to root AI-generated bureaucratic appeals sacrifices the system's putative purpose – delivering services – in the name of defending that service from abuse and misuse of the system's resources. As the pioneering cybernetician Stafford Beer famously wrote, "the purpose of a system is what it does." If your bureaucracy is more concerned with fighting fraud than delivering service, then it isn't a service delivery system at all – it's a service denial system. As Farrell writes, the people of Twopp can tell you how this ends – in a war of giant robots in which we are all collateral damage. (A brief postscript: Farrell is a font of science fictional analogies to modern policy issues. This weekend in the FT, he and Dan Wang published an excellent editorial on the relevance of the paranoid, claustrophobic fiction of Philip K Dick to our present political reality:) https://archive.is/2YT4k Hey look at this (permalink) John Crowley (1942-2026) https://floggingbabel.blogspot.com/2026/08/john-crowley-1942-2026.html Ebooks Are Coming to Libro! https://blog.libro.fm/ebooks-coming-librofm/ What Defeating the American-Israel Political Action Committee Means, on the Ground https://rickperlstein.substack.com/p/what-defeating-the-american-israel They Live https://badtastegoodcause.com/they-live Object permanence (permalink) #20yrsago Seymour Cray liked to tunnel under his house https://www.cs.man.ac.uk/~toby/writing/PCW/cray.htm #20yrsago Fake anti-Net Neutrality groups https://web.archive.org/web/20060815175125/http://www.commoncause.org/site/pp.asp?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=2007877&auid=1871905&kntaw4229=C9E5C86AD89540898B5D07CB54AB0FE6 #20yrsago HOWTO fold a bottle opener out of paper https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrXmDiYHUY0 #20yrsago Wikipedia’s template language is Turing-complete https://web.archive.org/web/20070707115525/http://www.mentalpolyphonics.com/?p=30 #20yrsago Schwarzenegger sends Guard to California’s airports https://web.archive.org/web/20060813201014/http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/08/11/SECURITYLOCAL.TMP #15yrsago Marvel to comics retailers: we’ll give you limited edition singles if you destroy our competitors’ products https://web.archive.org/web/20110908023907/http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/08/the-great-marvel-comics-rip-off/ #15yrsago LinkedIn opts you into being used in advertisements; here’s how to opt out https://brandimpact.wordpress.com/2011/08/10/a-box-you-want-to-uncheck-on-linkedin/ #15yrsago MagicJack owner follows up his dumb lawsuit against Boing Boing with a dumb lawsuit against Women’s Professional Soccer https://memex.craphound.com/2011/08/11/magicjack-owner-follows-up-his-dumb-lawsuit-against-boing-boing-with-a-dumb-lawsuit-against-womens-professional-soccer/ #15yrsago Al Jazeera fixes its protections for whistleblowers https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/08/al-jazeera-follows-effs-whistleblower #15yrsago New Zealand Parliament may lose Internet access due to insane new copyright law https://web.archive.org/web/20110830211231/http://www.greens.org.nz/press-releases/parliament-risk-fines #15yrsago British aviation bans all hand-luggage http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4778615.stm?ls #15yrsago Soldering is Easy: CC licensed HOWTO solder comic https://mightyohm.com/blog/2011/04/soldering-is-easy-comic-book/ #15yrsago Taxonomy of technological risks: when things fail badly https://web.archive.org/web/20190221205543/https://www.sei.cmu.edu/about/divisions/cert/index.cfm #15yrsago Secret anti-racist shirts covertly distributed to neo-Nazis https://web.archive.org/web/20110810082217/http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15305581,00.html #15yrsago XKCD on the password paradox: human factors versus computers’ brute force https://xkcd.com/936/ #10yrsago American Bar Association votes to DRM the law, put it behind a EULA https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/after_strong_debate_house_calls_for_publication_of_privately_drafted_standa/ #10yrsago Trump only writes the angry tweets, the nice ones are written by a staffer with an Iphone http://varianceexplained.org/r/trump-tweets/ #10yrsago Aviation’s war on moisture turns ten today https://memex.craphound.com/2016/08/10/aviations-war-on-moisture-turns-ten-today/ #10yrsago Court rules that FCC can’t force states to repeal laws banning municipal ISPs https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/08/in-blow-to-muni-broadband-fcc-loses-bid-to-overturn-state-laws/ #10yrsago NRA is spending $3m on pro-Trump ad that says Clinton “will leave you defenseless” https://edition.cnn.com/2016/08/09/politics/nra-hillary-clinton-donald-trump-election-2016/index.html #10yrsago Nauru files: leaks tell abused childrens’ stories from Australia’s offshore concentration camp https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/aug/10/the-nauru-files-2000-leaked-reports-reveal-scale-of-abuse-of-children-in-australian-offshore-detention #10yrsago Why did it take a private foundation to do public science right? https://medium.com/the-spike/how-a-happy-moment-for-neuroscience-is-a-sad-moment-for-science-c4ba00336e9c#.58om85nvg #10yrsago Profile of People’s Ride: a co-operative, driver-owned alternative to Uber https://www.democracyatwork.info/profile_peoplesride #10yrsago The story of the story of Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/herocomplex/la-ca-hc-ghosts-disneylands-haunted-mansion-20151016-htmlstory.html #10yrsago Designer makes clothes out of German transit upholstery fabric, rides trains https://web.archive.org/web/20160808130200/http://www.bbc.com/autos/story/20160804-why-are-trains-seats-so-hideous #10yrsago America will finally gather statistics on which and how many people are killed by law enforcement https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/aug/08/police-officer-related-deaths-department-of-justice #10yrsago Monopoly power and the decline of small business: big business vs democracy, growth & equality https://ilsr.org/article/independent-business/monopoly-power-and-the-decline-of-small-business/ #10yrsago As social media centralized, blogging’s core infrastructure has withered https://medium.com/@anildash/the-lost-infrastructure-of-social-media-d2b95662ccd3 #10yrsago 48 hours later, Adblock Plus beats Facebook’s adblocker-blocker https://www.theverge.com/2016/8/11/12439990/facebook-unblockable-ads-defeated-by-adblock-plus #10yrsago 100 million VWs can be unlocked with a $40 cracker (and other cars aren’t much better) https://www.usenix.org/system/files/conference/usenixsecurity16/sec16_paper_garcia.pdf #10yrsago DEA bribes rail/airline employees for tipoffs that lead to warrantless cash seizures https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/08/10/dea-travel-record-airport-seizures/88474282/ #10yrsago Trump is an object lesson in the problems of machine learning https://mathbabe.org/2016/08/11/donald-trump-is-like-a-biased-machine-learning-algorithm/ #5yrsago IRS leaks reveal billions reaped through ultra-wealthy lobbying on the tax bill https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/11/the-canada-variant/#shitty-man-of-history-theory #5yrsago Canada's got the world's worst internet ideas https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/11/the-canada-variant/#no-canada #5yrsago End of the line for Uber https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/10/unter/#bezzle-no-more #1yrago Goodhart's Law (of AI) https://pluralistic.net/2025/08/11/five-paragraph-essay/#targets-r-us Upcoming appearances (permalink) Virtual: EFFecting Change: Who the Machine Serves, Aug 12 https://www.eff.org/event/effecting-change-who-machine-serves Edinburgh International Book Festival with Jimmy Wales, Aug 17 https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/events/the-front-list-cory-doctorow-and-jimmy-wales Sydney: The Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Aug 23-24 https://festivalofdangerousideas.com/program/ Melbourne: Enshittification at the Wheeler Centre, Aug 25 https://www.wheelercentre.com/events-tickets/season-2026/cory-doctorow-enshittification Brighton: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Carole Cadwalladr (Brighton Dome), Sep 8 https://brightondome.org/whats-on/LSC-cory-doctorow-the-reverse-centaurs-guide-to-life-after-ai/ London: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Riley Quinn (Foyle's Picadilly), Sep 9 https://www.foyles.co.uk/events/enshittification-cory-doctorow-riley-quinn South Bend: An Evening With Cory Doctorow (Notre Dame), Oct 6 https://franco.nd.edu/events/2026/10/06/an-evening-with-cory-doctorow/ Vancouver: BC Policy Solutions Gala, Nov 12 https://bcpolicy.ca/gala/ Recent appearances (permalink) The AI Enshittification Bubble (Hidden Forces) https://hiddenforces.io/podcasts/the-ai-enshittification-bubble-cory-doctorow/ F@#$ the AI Overlords (On The Media) https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/articles/f-the-ai-overlords Why AI Won't Replace Workers, But Will Crash The Economy (Smart Cookies) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRRmUuxJolY AI and the Enshittification Era (The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dAIJRjb-Bw AI is not inevitable (Betakit) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbiTVkq1WHo Latest books (permalink) "The Reverse-Centaur's Guide to AI," a short book about being a better AI critic, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, June 2026 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374621568/thereversecentaursguidetolifeafterai/ "Canny Valley": A limited edition collection of the collages I create for Pluralistic, self-published, September 2025 https://pluralistic.net/2025/09/04/illustrious/#chairman-bruce "Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, October 7 2025 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374619329/enshittification/ "Picks and Shovels": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about the heroic era of the PC, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2025 (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865908/picksandshovels). "The Bezzle": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about prison-tech and other grifts, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2024 (thebezzle.org). "The Lost Cause:" a solarpunk novel of hope in the climate emergency, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), November 2023 (http://lost-cause.org). "The Internet Con": A nonfiction book about interoperability and Big Tech (Verso) September 2023 (http://seizethemeansofcomputation.org). Signed copies at Book Soup (https://www.booksoup.com/book/9781804291245). "Red Team Blues": "A grabby, compulsive thriller that will leave you knowing more about how the world works than you did before." Tor Books http://redteamblues.com. "Chokepoint Capitalism: How to Beat Big Tech, Tame Big Content, and Get Artists Paid, with Rebecca Giblin", on how to unrig the markets for creative labor, Beacon Press/Scribe 2022 https://chokepointcapitalism.com Upcoming books (permalink) "The Post-American Internet," a geopolitical sequel of sorts to Enshittification, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2027 "Unauthorized Bread": a middle-grades graphic novel adapted from my novella about refugees, toasters and DRM, FirstSecond, April 20, 2027 "Enshittification, Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It" (the graphic novel), Firstsecond, 2027 "The Memex Method," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2027 Colophon (permalink) Today's top sources: Currently writing: “Once Is Enemy Action,” a science fiction novel about the origins of modern technofascism. Today's words: 692 (692 total). "The Post-American Internet," a sequel to "Enshittification," about the better world the rest of us get to have now that Trump has torched America. Fourth draft completed. Submitted to editor. A Little Brother short story about DIY insulin PLANNING This work – excluding any serialized fiction – is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. That means you can use it any way you like, including commercially, provided that you attribute it to me, Cory Doctorow, and include a link to pluralistic.net. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Quotations and images are not included in this license; they are included either under a limitation or exception to copyright, or on the basis of a separate license. Please exercise caution. How to get Pluralistic: Blog (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): Pluralistic.net Newsletter (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://pluralistic.net/plura-list Mastodon (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic Bluesky (no ads, possible tracking and data-collection): https://bsky.app/profile/doctorow.pluralistic.net Medium (no ads, paywalled): https://doctorow.medium.com/ Tumblr (mass-scale, unrestricted, third-party surveillance and advertising): https://mostlysignssomeportents.tumblr.com/tagged/pluralistic "When life gives you SARS, you make sarsaparilla" -Joey "Accordion Guy" DeVilla READ CAREFULLY: By reading this, you agree, on behalf of your employer, to release me from all obligations and waivers arising from any and all NON-NEGOTIATED agreements, licenses, terms-of-service, shrinkwrap, clickwrap, browsewrap, confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-compete and acceptable use policies ("BOGUS AGREEMENTS") that I have entered into with your employer, its partners, licensors, agents and assigns, in perpetuity, without prejudice to my ongoing rights and privileges. You further represent that you have the authority to release me from any BOGUS AGREEMENTS on behalf of your employer. ISSN: 3066-764X

Vibe Check №43

During my last vibe check the kids were still in school. Time has flown by. Work-life balance disrupted. Camps attended. Vacations were had. Bank accounts drained. A normal summer routine.

Inbound and outbound travels Link to heading 'Inbound and outbound travels'

Since the last vibe check I’ve been on a handful of airplanes visiting both work and family. We also had family come to visit. And I logged some hours on Texas highways.

  • May: Another trip to Redmond for work
  • May: A trip to South Dakota to see my nephew Max graduate
  • May: My wife’s parents visiting
  • June: My dad and step-mom visiting
  • June: My kids went to Houston to visit my mom
  • June: My son went to summer camp
  • June: My wife and daughter went to the Hamptons (!!!)
  • July: We all went to San Diego, hung out with our friends in Encinitas, met my wife’s family in Mission, and tagged on a couple days in Phoenix.

After beaching hard, we’re now back in Austin, where it’s just plain hot now.

“No New Projects” Link to heading '“No New Projects”'

My mantra for this year is “No New Projects” and I’m doing my best to abide in that. It’s more about finishing existing projects before taking on new ones, but that’s a mouthful. Naturally, new projects keep spawning like “Project Fix the bass guitar” and “Oh, since you’re done with that, Project Fix the Telecaster too” but chief among the backlog of projects are: Project Grass and Project Rocks.

Project Grass Link to heading 'Project Grass'

a low angle shot of sprouts of grass and cloverGrass sprouting in my backyard after a week of rain

Years of hot summers and dogs have obliterated the grass in our backyard. We’ve watered, we’ve laid sod, we’ve transplanted plugs, we’ve even fenced off a little area to keep the dogs from trampling. But staring at standing water in my yard after a heavy rain, I started to suspect compaction was our biggest problem.

To break up the compaction, I rented a tiller and it kicked my ass. I’m not sure strapping a lawnmower engine to a rotating blade should be legal. Not because of the dangerous spinny bits, but because it shakes every bone and fiber in your body into oblivion.

After tilling a decent area for a future grass patch, I spread some clover mix seed and prayed to the 10-day forecast which showed rain. Grass did grow a couple times, but the clover won’t survive the Texas heat. That’s part my plan though. I want to let the clover grow and die to hopefully compost some more nitrogen and nutrients in the soil.

It’s been three weeks since I took the photo above and the backyard is officially dead again. Project Grass is on hold until more rains come and the weather cools off, but the tiller uncovered an even bigger project: Project Rocks.

Project Rocks Link to heading 'Project Rocks'

Through tilling, I discovered a previous owner of my house appears to have added a 3ft wide × 1ft deep × 20ft long perimeter of river pebble around my patio. I could see them… but I didn’t know the extent of the problem. Twenty so cubic feet of rocks helps explain why I had trouble growing grass in that area.

Using a shovel I excavated a giant pile of dirt and rocks out of my yard… and put them on my patio. The rocks were out of the yard, huzzah, but the patio was a construction zone. The next task was to sift the rocks out of the dirt and this took forever. After dozens of mornings and evenings of sifting dirt, I separated out all the rocks.

I don’t know what to do with the rocks though, so I piled them up in my side yard. Lots of people say “Post it on Marketplace!” but the logistics of piling up rocks in my front yard hoping someone picks them up doesn’t resonate with me.

Anyways, I finished Phase 1 (Clear Zone 1) of Project Rocks and there’s no more dirt mounds on my patio. I have a lot more work to do in the fall (Finish Office Path, Clear Zone 2, Dispose of Rocks) but I’m waiting until the weather cools off.

We joined a band Link to heading 'We joined a band'

In other news, my wife and I joined a band with another couple in our neighborhood. The husband of that couple wrote some songs and booked a gig at a “Rock the Park” event in November. He needed vocalist and a bassist and my wife and I decided to say “Yes” to doing music together. I’d describe the music as family-friendly and there’s even a kids choir on a couple songs.

By the numbers Link to heading 'By the numbers'

📖 Reading Link to heading '📖 Reading'

Since the last update, I’ve read thousands of pages of space manga and that makes me happy. There’s a lot in this list, but if I had to pick a top five (in no particular order), it would be:

  • Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin - Over 5,000 pages of space manga and each page is worth your time.
  • Epidemics of Modern Life by Oliver Burkeman - This is more of a BBC podcast compilation, but nonetheless thought provoking.
  • Story Genius by Lisa Cron - An adoptable framework for planning out stories.
  • The Genius of Birds by Jennifer Ackerman - A book about birds? Or is it about something more?
  • Hirayasumi by Keigo Shinzo - While undergoing treatment for cancer, manga artist Keigo Shinzo found himself drawing food and other simple items he looked forward to once he was out of the hospital. That experience formed the basis of this manga. It’s an appreciation for slowing life down, rejecting the one path this world offers, and finding true happiness.

But here’s the complete list.

Dungeon Crawler CarlMobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, Vol. 6How to Make a Video Game All By YourselfMobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, Vol. 7Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, Vol. 8Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, Vol. 91929Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, Vol. 10Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, Vol. 11Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin, Vol. 12CyberpunkDawnrunnerEpidemics of Modern LifePlayfulMobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt, Vol. 1Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt, Vol. 2Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt, Vol. 3WrittenStory GeniusCarl's Doomsday ScenarioThe Genius of BirdsHow to Write a MysteryMurder on the Orient ExpressHirayasumi Vol. 1Hirayasumi Vol. 2Hirayasumi, Vol. 3Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt, Vol. 4Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt, Vol. 5Hirayasumi, Vol. 4Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt, Vol. 6Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt, Vol. 7Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt, Vol. 8

This was my going to bed book, so I read it one page at a time and it took me over a year to finish. Despite putting me to sleep every night, it’s a fun little snack of a book and I see why it’s having a moment. I will confess tho, the first half of the book felt like grinding through a tutorial level and I almost gave up. But glad I stuck with it.

The prequel continues as more and more people are pulled into the war’s grasp. A lot of space drama and the series is really hitting its stride here.

A short little inspo book. I enjoyed it but not a lot of tactical insights beyond “Use a game engine” and “Just do it.” Maybe could have been a blog post.

The final set of stories from the prequel to the original series. Might be my favorite. It catalogs the horrifying start of the Gundam Universe’s central plot line, The One Year War. It’s here you understand that Gundam is not about space robots (although it is very much about that), but a story about people who find themselves in a gruesome war.

We return to the main story timeline with tons of intense combat scenes that are beautifully illustrated and inked. You feel the drum beats of war pushing towards a climatic end of the series.

The tension is building towards the final battle. Based on the title of this edition I thought it would cover more of Lalah’s story arc, but she’s really a minor character… yet her need to be protected shows her importance.

This book raises a few hackles. It is frustrating that names and institutions found in this book who wrought the greatest economic crash in history –names like Carnegie, Lamont, Mellon,Durant, and JP Morgan– are still household names today. It’s doubly frustrating that this seems to be the current Wall Street/AI/Crypto playbook; speculate and wash trade, but they’re “smarter” this time and have the FDIC backstop to prevent bank runs.

The ending of Gundam The: Origin over the last three novels was perfect. Epic Space Battles. Deception. Betrayal. Death. Revolution. Vindication. It has everything and I cannot recommend this series enough if you get the opportunity to read it.

A fun comic, but maybe not my cup of tea. It might be a translation issue. I found the writing very… Americanized. I would probably benefit from watching the Netflix series that picks up later in the chronology or playing the video and/or TTRPG.

Humans piloting big robots. Pacific Rim with a little bit of Evangelion. Great art style.

Technically not a book but a collection of radio broadcasts by one of my most enjoyable authors of late, Oliver Burkeman. Burkeman looks into four modern day phenomenon and offers his thoughts and counter-thoughts:

  • Addicted to Busy: Why Life Has Got So Hectic - Why do we say we’re busy? What happened to leisure being the height of wealth?
  • The Power of Negative Thinking - The data on positive thinking is bad, negative thinking might be more effective.
  • Why Are We So Angry? - Why do humans have anger? How have we genetically bred it? Can it be good?
  • The Death of Nuance - What do we lose when we eliminate nuance?

Alls to say, this was a series I needed right now in my life. I found it very meditative and refreshing. Like a cool breeze.

I love the idea of play as a human right. It’s how we learn. It’s how we adapt. It’s how we explore boundaries. But I got to the part where it reinforced one of the dumbest parenting tropes: “Kids these days! iPads! All I needed as a kid was cardboard boxes.” At that point I nope’d out of the book.

I loved cardboard growing up but I also played a fuckton of Nintendo. I gave my kids plenty of cardboard-itunities and it took me awhile to realize they don’t create like that. My son wants to manage things. My daughter wants to get 10,000 gems and fingernails and spread them out on every available surface of my house. Kids play differently. Adults do too.

Gundam… but let’s give all the robots bigger guns, more shields, and enormous backpacks with jet boosters. This series really drives the “War is Hell” theme of the Gundam Universe.

I’m enjoying this series but this was some of the best space mecha battle art I’ve ever seen.

Good advice from people who understand how writers get blocked. Their advice is basic but comes down to establishing a writing practice and finding out where you’re successful writing. The tactical portion devolves into setting SMART goals which is mid-tier advice to me personally but I think helpful in the context and generally a good starting place for people with no productivity framework at all.

Focus on the main character. Give every scene a purpose. A really helpful and usable framework for organizing the chaos in my brain.

I learned a lot from this book. Birds are wicked smart. It maybe even radicalized me a bit against capitalism. That’s a longer story for another time. But birds are cool.

Pretty great… but with over seventy contributions it got a little repetitive really quick. I may come back to this or pick it up again because there were quite a few gems of wisdom in there. But I was fine to put it down.

After listening to most of How to Write a Mystery, I felt compelled to finally pickup one of the greatest mystery novels ever written. Not that you need my opinion, but it lives up to the hype. The audiobook version had an extra special flare with quite a few international accents being thrown around. Would recommend, even if Poirot’s accent is a bit too thick.

This is a charming series that really makes you rethink happiness.

The character art on this one was noticeably… bad? Thunderbolt character art overall is very Uncanny Valley with spiky-haired edgelord-iness framing soft faces, but the thick lines in this volume were distinctly odd. Good story tho.

This volume does a neat little bit of reverse chronological storytelling.

📝 Blogging Link to heading '📝 Blogging'

A wretched season for blogging. There’s a bonafide CSS trick in there, so that’s nice. But most of my free time went to scooping rocks out of my yard (see above) and reading space mech manga (see above).

I think a lot about writing – even listened to three different books about writing (see above) – but a lot of my writing brain waves go towards thinking about the fiction I want to write.

📺 Media Diet Link to heading '📺 Media Diet'

Movies

I made a significant dent in my watchlist this summer thanks to travel and some lazy weekends.

  • Bugonia (2025) - A story about people giving into their conspiracy theories. Emma Stone is incredible in the film.
  • Micro Budget (2024) - A mockumentary about a low-budget film gone awry. It felt like an elongated So I Think You Should Leave cringe-sketch, but worse I guess.
  • The Breadwinner (2026) - I like Nate Bargatze, this was an okay movie.
  • The Sheep Detectives (2026) - A kids movie where talking sheep solve a murder mystery. Pretty good.
  • Hoppers (2026) - Animated film with an ecological twist. I liked it but one bias I have is that Bobby Moynihan voices a major character and that’s enough for me to love it.
  • The Fifth Element (1997) - This has been on my list of shame for a long time. But I was pretty Christian in 1997 and this movie famously has a naked lady in it so I steered clear. Alas, it’s a great movie. It has everything you could want from aliens, to big guns, to practical effects. My biggest takeaway though was that this movie was perfectly cast. Every character is perfect.
  • Anaconda (2025) - A decent comedy about Paul Rudd, Steve Zahn, and Jack Black attempting to make a shot for shot remake of the 1997 hit Anaconda starring Ice Cube and J. Lo.

Beyond that, my son is catching up on the Marvel MCU so I’ve gotten the chance to watch some of the greatest hits with him.

TV

  • Bodkin (2025, Netflix) - Will Forte is a murder podcast host investigating a mysterious disappearance in a small Irish town.
  • Game Changer S8 (2026, Dropout) - This season is so good. This season is almost abstract art.
  • Welcome to Wrexham S5 (2026, Hulu) - Up the town. A dramatic season for the boys from North Wales. I am a bit saddened by the fact they’ve nearly wholesaled the entire team… but they (Rob and Ryan) seem to share that sentiment to some degree.

Anime

  • Violet Evergarden S1 ( Netflix) - an anime about a military assassin robot, turned letter writer.
  • The Apothocary Diaries S1 ( Netflix, CrunchyRoll) - a mix of historical period drama and procedural medical drama, a young girl serves in the court of the emperor as a poison tester and investigator to mysterious happenings amongst the emperor’s stable of concubines and ladies in waiting. It’s like Shogun meets House MD… or something.

Podcasts

I declared podcast bankruptcy and unsubscribed from all shows. I was feeling haunted by the unread counts so I’m taking a break. If you love something set it free.

🎙 Recording Link to heading '🎙 Recording'

🧶 Hobbies Link to heading '🧶 Hobbies'

I’ve been 3D printing a lot this summer. I went hard on printing organizers for my office, specifically embracing the Gridfinity system for organizing storage. I’m not “totally organized” yet but I completed Project Reduce and Organize Cables and it feels great and there are a couple of prints that I’m still smitten by. It’s still neat and novel to summon objects out of thin air… and plastic.

🤖 Gunpla Link to heading '🤖 Gunpla'

I’ve fallen off this horse but I’m feeling the draw to get back on since I’ve been reading tons of Gundam manga.

I bought some new acrylic paints to hopefully finish an experimental kit I embarked on but gave up on. I’m hoping once some other projects get cleared out I can sink back into gunpla again.

⌨️ Open source Link to heading '⌨️ Open source'

A big summer for open source projects I work on but you wouldn’t know about it because I don’t talk about it enough:

  • FASTElement v3 is out! FASTElement in your bundle should be about 30% smaller
  • Fluent Web Components v3 is out! After a two year beta, the web component version of Fluent is ready for public consumption. They’re already in use in across some Microsoft projects, so that feels pretty good.
  • Worked with Eric to add an AI Policy for The A11y Project. We built up a backlog of requests to have new apps and projects featured on the resources page, but most of them fly-by-night slop so we had to set some parameters around what we’re looking for when it comes to resources.

🌱 Digital Gardening Link to heading '🌱 Digital Gardening'

Rolled out the new element-scoped view-transitions on my bookshelf. Most people probably won’t notice, but I feel the micro-difference and FPS boost and that’s what matters.

Also on my stories page I rolled out a CSS-only Mini LQIP trick that converts a 6-byte code into a blurry background-image placeholder to reduce CLS. Super happy with the effect.

Behind the scenes I improved my local Jekyll setup with the help of Copilot tackling tasks like upgrading to Ruby to v4, fixing some outdated gem issues, auditing my entire build pipeline, and removing some slower filters (e.g. sassify). In general, it’s going well and I can build my entire site in 2.5s and 0.5s with archive templates disabled.

August 9, 2026

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On August 9, 1974, Richard M.

Vibe-Coded Flattery

I’ve seen a strange problem in my inbox that I haven’t been able to put into words. A saga involving a botched app release helped me figure it out.

Monday 10 August, 2026

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Wistfulness Quote of the Day ”War is only a cowardly escape from the problems of peace.” Thomas Mann Musical alternative to the morning’s radio news Alison Krauss | Down To The River To Pray Link Long Read of the Day … Continue reading →

How I backed into subscribing to the New York Times

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For a long time, I resisted subscribing to news services. After all, pretty much all the news was available somewhere for free… For years, my go-to news hub was CNN. I still check it more often than any other news site. In the past year or two, though, CNN has gone from unlimited access to […]

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

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Lile a good Italian, I am enjoying my last espresso of the day at 5:50pm

Week Eleven in 250 to 250

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This was the eleventh week of videos from the 250 to 250 Project that we’re producing to honor the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Sunday caption contest: Arch

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And last week's winner

A License to Act

In the past, search engines and the open web granted access to other people’s knowledge but the task fell to you to synthesize an understanding from it and build a capability to act.

Now with LLMs, it’s possible to build things you don’t fully understand which then require a perpetual license in order to have the capacity to maintain and modify.

LLMs don’t just do things for you, they do things instead of you — and the doing is a huge part of the point. The struggle to understand, to synthesize, to explain, it all has a byproduct: you! Your own capacity to act in the world.

But now you can rent that capacity. Every time you reach for the LLM instead of struggling through it yourself, you’re borrowing against someone else’s capacity that you’re not developing in yourself.

It’s as if I used to be a car mechanic, fixing my own vehicles or looking to other mechanics for advice or a demonstration on approaching my problems. That process produced a working car — the output I wanted — but it also produced a capability within myself to fix the next one that came along.

But now, for expedience and speed, I drop all my cars off the LLM dealer for fixes and maintenance. Fast and efficient — but also more dependent than ever.

(See also: Eric Bailey on evolved antennas.)


Reply via:

Email · Mastodon ·

Bluesky

Our Wins Of The Week

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On Tuesday, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed won the hard-fought primary for U.S. Senate for Michigan against Rep. Haley Stevens by just 1 point.

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

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After eight and a half years building terminal emulator libraries and still using MacOS default Terminal.app the time has come to face my biggest fear: pick a name and buy a domain.

The Web and the New Reality

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Until Linux Journal hired me in 1996, no publication—tech or otherwise—would employ me. Not full-time, anyway. I was too obsessed with the Internet, the Web, and what I saw as the dawn of a new reality: a digital world we would co-occupy with the natural one. So I self-published on the Web, at Searls.com, where […]

Sensing Trump's Weakness, Iran Turns The Screws, And Bibi Flips Him The Bird

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I will be joining Stuart Stevens live tomorrow at 10am ET over at Lincoln Square

🌻 abdul el-sayed on AI

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our conversation on data centers, Alex Bores, x-risk, and jobs

Guest Newsletter: Five Books - Ecology and Egyptian Mythology

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Writing of lasting value

Dragoncatcher: The idea of magic

Computing with Cale. Read here.

Un pueblo organizado aún puede vencer a los multimillonarios

Si hablamos directamente con los votantes que han perdido la fe en ambos partidos políticos sobre las preocupaciones en sus vidas diarias, podemos comenzar a reconstruir nuestra democracia. Cada vez que oigo hablar de la cantidad de dinero que multimillonarios como Elon Musk inyectan en nuestras elecciones para destruir a los candidatos de base, resulta […]

Source

Organized People Can Still Beat Your Big Money

If we speak directly to voters who have lost faith in both political parties about the concerns in their daily lives, we can start to rebuild our democracy. Every time I hear about the insane amounts of money billionaires like Elon Musk and dark-money super PACs pour into our elections to crush grassroots candidates, it’s […]

Source

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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Working with Claude on the user interface of RSS.chat was a grind, but we learned a lot about working on these projects, me in the form of my human memory, and Claude who can read the code for a huge sprawling app like Frontier, and understand it, in a minute or two. We've done this project in three stages, not knowing at the first two that there would be another one. Now we're working on the editors. An odb table editor, outliner, menubar editor, script editor. All built on the same codebase. It's in an Electron app that works with lots of independent windows, which while it has its pros and cons, is the way Frontier did it for almost 40 years. I find all this very unsettling, but I realize that once we get back to adjusting the UI, I already know how to work with Claude on tuning things up so they feel just right. I'm a market of one, the only one who has to be happy here is me. This may be the hardest programming project I've ever had, for one simple reason, I'm not doing any programming. That and I'm having very strong deja vu on everything I do and think about. Also there will be a fourth stage and maybe more. It'll be about the affordances, the things that seem little, but make the product usable. The biggest is the debugger. It's patterned after the one in THINK C, which I found transformative so I stole from the best, as they say.

James Gray Talks Dream Quality Of Cinema & Approach With Cast: “I’m Not A Good Director Of Actors” – Locarno

James Gray continued his festival tour with Paper Tiger this weekend setting down in the Locarno Film Festival to receive an honorary award ahead of the film’s Swiss premiere on its landmark Piazza Grande. Meeting the press ahead of the screening on Sunday evening, Gray gave an insight into his vision for cinema and how […]

“On the Sunny Side of the Street”

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A Reason To Smile

Relying on Go

Reusing Go's tooling and standard library for a systems language.

Dragoncatcher: Rifling the drawers

This is computing in 2026! Read here.

Girls In Their Married Bliss by Edna O’Brien

I really liked Edna O’Brien’s The Country Girls so when I saw a copy of Girls In Their Married Bliss for £1 in a local charity shop, I snapped it up even though it had the worst cover you could possibly imagine.

This is the second and final sequel to The Country Girls which means I’ve skipped over the middle book, The Lonely Girl. I’ll have to rectify that.

Once again the narrative centres on frenemies Kate and Baba but things are different this time around. For a start, we get the first-person perspective of both women this time. And the setting has moved to London, which probably explains the much darker tone of this book.

Things are grim. That grimness is described perfectly in O’Brien’s writing. The boredom and sordidness of this life is detailed as precisely as the city and its cold damp weather.

It’s a short book, which is probably just as well. I’m not sure I’d want to spend much more time in this milieu. But there’s no denying that it’s the work of a great writer giving a voice to people who’s story doesn’t often get told.

Buy this book

Trump is “Teflon Don” no more

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Plus, price anxiety and anti-incumbent bias are worse than in 2024. Your weekly political data roundup for August 9, 2026.

Against Oligarchy, Part III: Taxing Capital vs. Taxing Labor

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How the American tax code has swung against workers, and why it matters

A local hybrid search plugin for Obsidian, powered by ZVec

I recently created a local hybrid search plugin for Obsidian, powered by ZVec. The original announcement is over on my Substack Atomic Currents.

I’ve used it heavily over the past two weeks and it has proven invaluable. It just works better for me than anything else I’ve tried. As a result, I decided to bundle it up and make it a proper Community Plugin with single click install from Obsidian itself.

You can see it in the Obsidian Community Plugin Directory here.

I don’t intend to make any major additions to the functionality as it “just works” for me. The only two improvements since the first release are date filters and making sure it searches front-matter/metadata from other plugins like Web Clipper.

However if you spot bugs or any bad behaviour, please open an issue on GitHub. I’ll obviously stay on top of security alerts etc.

ZVec Plugin Screenshot

All the Reasons Tommy Tuberville Believes Abdul El-Sayed is a "Terrorist"

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TBR Sunday Read

Sunday thought: Criminals in Control

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And what we must do

August 8, 2026

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At 4:00 this morning, just before they left for a five-week recess, Senate Republicans confirmed Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche to the position of Attorney General of the United States.

Bookmarks - llm, movie, programming, research

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These are some things I’ve wandered across on the web this week.

🔖 Elasticsearch isn’t your AI search problem. You are.

Why data governance and evaluation matter when building search systems, and especially when doing Retrieval Augnented Generation.

llm search

🔖 Can AIagents conduct open-ended AI research? Early evidence from two casestudies

Forecasts of explosive AI progress hinge on AI agents automating AI research. But evidence on whether agents can carry out open-ended AI research is thin. Current evaluations either test agents on narrow, verifiable tasks, which excludes open-ended research, or submit AI-generated papers to blind peer review, which is overstretched, stochastic, and suffers from poor review quality. We introduce a third way to measure progress towards AI R&D automation. An agent takes on the central, open-ended research question of a high-quality unpublished paper, and the paper’s original authors grade its output. We call these shadow evaluations. We ran shadow evaluations on two unpublished NeurIPS 2026 submissions, giving frontier agents six days and thousands of dollars of compute. The agents completed all of the engineering without human help, yet could not make substantial progress towards answering the research questions. As a result, both papers were unambiguously rejected by the authors. We identify five recurring failure modes: poor judgment about the bar for publishable research, uncreative responses to shortcomings in the research design, ineffective backtracking from dead ends, poor resource awareness, and instruction drift

llm research

🔖 InternetArchiveExtractor

This repository extracts archived content from the Wayback Machine and converts collected metadata and downloaded snapshot files into compressed WARC files. The project supports two primary modes of operation: downloading snapshots from the Internet Archive and converting CSV metadata (produced by pywaybackup) into WARC-GZ archives.

internetarchive [python
warc](/tag/python warc/) waybackmachine

🔖 Closer to the Metal: Leaving Playwright for CDP

Playwright and Puppeteer are great for making QA tests and automation scripts short and readable, but as AI browser companies have been learning the hard way over the last year, sometimes these adapters obscure important details about the underlying browsers. We decided to peek behind the curtain and figure out what the browser was really doing, and it made us decide to drop playwright entirely and just speak the browser’s native tongue: CDP. By switcing to raw CDP we’ve massively increased the speed of element extraction, screenshots, and all our default actions. We’ve also managed to add new async reaction capabilities to the agent, and proper cross-origin iframe support.

api bot browser

🔖 rust-lang/rust is adopting an LLM policy

It’s fine to use LLMs to answer questions, analyze, distill, refine, check, suggest, review. But not to create.

llm programming rust

🔖 LLMs reward expertise

… the idea here — that domain knowledge makes you better at using LLMs — is something I’ve also experienced in my own work. If you have a good theory of your codebase, you can push the LLM much harder than if you have no familiarity. Because you have your own sense of what a good solution might look like, you can say “no, I think it could be simpler here”, or “but don’t we already do X?”, or “can we express this problem in these familiar terms?“.

This touches on an idea I’ve written about before: that system design problems are dominated by concrete specifics, not generic principles. Of course both are useful, but I’d rather have familiarity with the codebase than a deep general understanding of software systems. In his conversation, Terence Tao asks a lot of specific questions like “does X work here?”, or “given Y and Z, why A?“. I can’t ask those questions about the Jacobian Conjecture, but I can ask them about the systems I own at GitHub.

design llm programming

🔖 Twenty Years of Pandoc

As things stand now, though, I think that using pandoc to convert texts has several large advantages over relying on an LLM. The first is ecological; it simply requires far less energy for the same conversion. The second is that pandoc’s output is deterministic; if you convert your text with pandoc, you’ll always get the same result, and you’ll be able to predict what that result is. The third is that, for the moment at least, pandoc’s conversions are going to be more reliable. But that could change in the coming years. Indeed, a time may come when LLMs can produce more reliable conversions than pandoc or anything that works like it.

haskell markdown pandoc

🔖 Oxford Forum of Open Scholarship (OxFOS) 2027

Now in its fifth year, the Oxford Forum of Open Scholarship (OxFOS) is a University-wide conference for researchers, students, staff, and anyone else interested in making research more open and trustworthy.

OxFOS is a chance to share ideas, learn, showcase your work, and interact with others passionate about the importance of making research more open, transparent and accessible. It is organised by the Bodleian Libraries in partnership with the Research Practice team and the grassroots researcher group, Reproducible Research Oxford (RROx).

Online events will be taking place Monday to Wednesday, with an in-person conference at the Weston Library on Thursday 11 March. The conference and events are free to attend and open to all.

conference openaccess research

🔖 Adam Wiltzie Completes Jóhann Jóhannsson Collaboration

More than a decade after they first began recording together, Adam Wiltzie has completed one final collaboration with his late friend Jóhann Jóhannsson. Friendship Survival Guide, due Sept. 18 via Deutsche Grammophon, draws from sessions the pair recorded between 2013 and 2017 before the celebrated Icelandic composer died unexpectedly in 2018 at age 48.

The project reunites Stars of the Lid/Windsor for the Derby principal Wiltzie and Jóhannsson, whose acclaimed film score work included The Theory of Everything and Arrival. Originally conceived alongside their collaborations on those scores, the album languished as Jóhannsson’s film career exploded before ultimately being shelved after his death. With the blessing of Jóhannsson’s family, Wiltzie recently returned to the tapes to finish what the composer had once described as “our own weird record.”

music

🔖 Last and First Men (film)

Last and First Men is a 2020 English-language Icelandic science fiction film directed by Jóhann Jóhannsson, who co-wrote the screenplay with José Enrique Macián. Based on the 1930 novel of the same name by English author Olaf Stapledon, it is the only feature film directed by Jóhannsson, a composer who died of an overdose two years before its release.

movie

🔖 Sicario

Denis Villeneuve

Sicario is a 2015 American action crime thriller film directed by Denis Villeneuve, written by Taylor Sheridan in his screenwriting debut and starring Emily Blunt, Benicio del Toro, and Josh Brolin. The film follows a principled FBI special agent who is enlisted by a government task force to bring down the leader of a powerful and brutal Mexican drug cartel. Sicario was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival. It began a limited release in the United States on September 18, 2015, followed by a nationwide release on October 2, 2015.

movie

★ Retraction: The App Store Rejection of the Week That Was, in Fact, a Correct Rejection

My disdain for astrology is so utter, and my esteem for Godier’s previous work so high, that it simply never occurred to me that he might have actually made and submitted to the App Store an astrology app, let alone that he’d then feign surprise and frustration that an astrology app was rejected for being an astrology app.

Obama Blames Larry David For 2014 Tan Suit Debacle In ‘Life, Larry & the Pursuit of Unhappiness’ Finale

As Larry David’s comedic trip through U.S. history comes to an end, he took credit for one of the nation’s more recent presidential scandals. On Friday’s season finale of the HBO sketch comedy miniseries Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness, President Barack Obama made a surprise appearance as himself in a sketch set in […]

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

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It is a Silo Miracle night!

Matthew McConaughey Performs “Quill” In Scene From ‘The Rivals of Amziah King’ — Watch

Matthew McConaughey shows off his vocal skills (and some hidden banjo talents) with his latest role in The Rivals of Amziah King. On Friday, Lakeshore Records released the single and music video for “Quill” from the original motion picture soundtrack, performed by the Oscar-winning and co-star Ben Hardesty, also featuring Miranda Zickler, Angelina LookingGlass and […]

Jane Schoenbrun On Deconstructing The “Toxic Soup” Of The Slasher Genre In ‘Teenage Sex & Death at Camp Miasma’: “It’s There In The DNA”

With their latest directorial outing, Jane Schoenbrun used subtle pieces of nostalgia to deconstruct the slasher genre. The Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma writer/director explained to Deadline that they wanted to create “a mindset where you can really enjoy something scary,” noting the frequent symbolism of candy and junk food as providing an […]

Dwayne Johnson Reacts To Live-Action ‘Moana’s Negative Reviews: “Just The Way It Goes”

Although the live-action remake of Moana hasn’t quite been able to catch a wave at the box office, Dwayne Johnson is proud of what they made. The Golden Globe nominee said the Disney movie’s negative reviews, which currently sit at 32% on Rotten Tomatoes, are “just the way it goes” in the entertainment industry, and […]

‘One Night Only’ Director Understands The “Sex Purge” Comparisons

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While One Night Only is intended as a romantic-comedy, there are some obvious dystopian undertones that audiences can’t ignore. Director Will Gluck recently addressed online comparisons between the Purge franchise and his new Universal rom-com, which is now in theaters, about two New Yorkers (Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner) who meet on the one night […]

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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Here's the sign of success. (screen shot.) I wrote a post on demo.rss.chat was automatically cross-posted to Bluesky via micro.blog. Because the post has a title, it was routed to standard.site. What does that mean? I still don't really understand, when I do I will explain it here. But part of the answer is that we now have a data structure in atmosphere that looks like an RSS item with different names for things. Are there feed readers in AT-Proto-Land? If so, can we ping one of them to say hey there's a new post in the standard.site world, so please show it to subscribers? And I keep wondering, why not just make all of Bluesky capable of handling the features standard.site calls for. Twenty years is too long to have such a limited view of what text is. See textcasting for more dogma.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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I want to connect RSS to AT Proto, both ways, inbound and out. Toward that end, today I helped Leaflet, a very nice editor for AT Proto, make their outbound RSS feed better. We should have all our best editors, everywhere, hooked up over popular web standards. And I want my posts to show up not only in Bluesky but also in standard.site. I was able to do that with micro.blog which is the swiss army knife of interop in the web of the 2020's. Getting independent developers working with each other is my mission, because first you have to have interop between the people before you can get interop between the apps.

‘Monsters Of God’ Slithers Onto HBO: Reptilian Docuseries From ‘Tiger King’s Eric Goode

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HBO’s new documentary series Monsters of God abounds with colorful creatures – and those are just the humans. The five-parter from Tiger King co-director Eric Goode features reptile dealers with a fondness for creepy crawlies and a loose connection to ethical and legal mores. There’s Tom Crutchfield, who loves women with the ardor of Pepé […]

‘Heated Rivalry’ Author Appears To Dismiss Negative Reactions To Season 2 Casting

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As Heated Rivalry hits the ice for another season with some new teammates, there’s bound to be some opinions about the casting choices for the book series’ beloved characters. Following the news that Justice Smith and Charlie Gillespie have been cast in Season 2, author Rachel Reid appeared to respond to negative online reactions to […]

Melissa Barrera Takes Weekend Off From Broadway’s ‘Titanique’ After She “Lost My Voice” On-Stage

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As Melissa Barrera enters the final stretch of her Broadway debut run in Titanique, she’s taking a few days off to get her voice and body back into performance shape. On Saturday, the actress who plays Rose DeWitt Bukater in the hit Titanic (1997) musical parody announced that she “lost her voice” during a performance […]

Madonna Pays Tribute To Late ‘Ray Of Light’ Producer William Orbit: “Your Music Gave Me A Magic Carpet To Fly On”

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Madonna paid tribute to her late Ray of Light producer William Orbit, saying in an Instagram post that he gave her “a magic carpet to fly on.” “I had an epiphany when I met you and started working with you,” she writes today. “I realized that music did not have to fit into categories or […]

Morrissey Cancels This Month’s Four-Show Las Vegas Residency

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Morrissey, the ex-Smiths frontman with a penchant for canceling shows, has added to his track record: All four performances of his planned August Las Vegas residency have been scrubbed. The four-show stand at the Wynn Las Vegas’ Encore Theater was set to begin August 14 and wrap up August 19, but ticket-holders received an email […]

Andrew Lloyd Webber “Gutted” About Tonight’s Closing Of ‘Cats: The Jellicle Ball’; Composer Hopes Broadway Will “Come To Its Senses”

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Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber is “gutted” that the Broadway production of his Cats: The Jellicle Ball is closing tonight at the Broadhurst Theatre, five months earlier than originally planned. In an emotional message posted on Instagram, Lloyd Webber says he hopes the show’s closing will serve as a warning about “the unsustainable cost” of producing […]

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

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Man this is such a enlightening read on how the Zig compiler does incremental compilation.

I will definitely keep this in mind in my next life:

https://mlugg.co.uk/posts/incremental-compilation-internals/

@Tomosino's Mastodon feed

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Happy pride 🏳️‍🌈

Reading When The Boys Came Out To Play by John Mackel.

Reading When The Boys Came Out To Play by John Mackel.

With Blanche In Place We Have To Get Ready For The Incredible F*ckery That Is To Come

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Blanche's confirmation, at 430am this morning, is one of the greatest betrayals of our country in all our history

Pink Floyd and Coastal Confluence

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Writing of lasting value

Dragoncatcher: Still Sublime after all these years

Solid software. Read here.

Bill Maher Makes Weight Jokes About Ariana Grande, ‘Real Time’ Audience Groans

Too soon, too tasteless or just too cruel, take your pick, but Bill Maher’s two Ariana Grande weight jokes during his opening monologue on Friday’s Real Time With Bill Maher were met with mixed audience reactions. Maher sidled up to the subject by recapping some of the bad news of the week, then saying, “I […]

CNN Anchor Sara Sidner Reveals Harrowing False Stage 4 Cancer Scare

CNN’s Sara Sidner, who first revealed a stage 3 breast cancer diagnoses two years ago and has occasionally provided updates with her audience since, is now sharing a harrowing experience that had the anchor struggling through “15 days of torture” under the mistaken notion that her cancer had advanced to an incurable stage 4. Directly […]

Dragoncatcher: WSJPT

In-house tools. Read here.

Talking With G. Elliott Morris About the Midterms

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Why he says this is a wave election.

Lit Hub Weekly: August 3 – 7, 2026

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Carly Mattox considers Jennette McCurdy’s Half His Age and reckons with the long literary history of age gap relationships. | Lit Hub Memoir Why mothers and their babies are the ultimate flâneurs, even if “there aren’t a lot of mother-flâneurs

How everyday Americans are forced to fund Trump's corruption

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On top of his self-dealing, taxpayers are spending billions on his vanity projects.

Pluralistic: Digital sewer socialism (08 Aug 2026)

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Today's links Digital sewer socialism: Mamdani's Public Interest Technologists are what DOGE should have been. Hey look at this: Delights to delectate. Object permanence: Robot garage takes hostages; Thermostat ransomware; Correlate audience exhalations; Judges x TOR; Expectations management. Upcoming appearances: Edinburgh, Sydney, Melbourne, Brighton, London, South Bend. Recent appearances: Where I've been. Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em. Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em. Colophon: All the rest. Digital sewer socialism (permalink) Hardly a day goes by without my getting an email from someone looking for a way to do good with technology. From computer science students thinking about post-grad careers to seasoned coders with decades of experience, there's an army of hackers looking for a way to turn their expertise into public goods. There's a name for this movement: it's called "Public Interest Technology" and the people who work in it are called "public interest technologists." There've always been techies who understood the link between tech and public wellbeing and who committed themselves to working for the betterment of society, but their numbers swelled as Big Tech companies saturated their markets and switched from growing by making products people like, to locking in their users and then extracting more value from their technological prisoners: https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/24/naming-names/#prabhakar-raghavan It was the era when (in the words of Facebook's Jeff Hammerbacher) "The best minds of my generation are thinking about how to make people click ads": https://quoteinvestigator.com/2017/06/12/click/ For organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the growing cohort of hackers who wanted to hack for good was great news. Our staff technologist group swelled from a couple of overworked computer scientists helping lawyers and activists with campaigns to a series of increasingly ambitious software projects, from Privacy Badger (a tracking-blocker that every web user needs): https://privacybadger.org/ To Let's Encrypt and Certbot, projects that forever changed the internet's default state, so that today, nearly all online communications are encrypted and resistant to mass surveillance: https://certbot.eff.org/ Other opportunities for public interest technologists proliferated. Bruce Schneier created the canonical resource page for Public Interest Technologists, including career opportunities for would-be public interest technologists: https://public-interest-tech.com/ But the motherlode of public interest technologist opportunities wasn't the nonprofit sector – it was the public sector. It started with the UK's Government Digital Service, a group of public-spirited hackers (many of them ex- of the BBC, where they'd been tempest-tossed by endless internal power-struggles over the role of the internet in public service media) who retooled many of the UK government's most important administrative front-ends. For several glorious years, Britons delighted to the daily marvel of having their routine interactions with their government transformed from clunky, broken web-pages to slick, superbly thought through online processes that had all the polish of Amazon or Google, but without any of the gamesmanship, manipulation or privacy invasions: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_Digital_Service Despite many attempts at official sabotage by a string of increasingly shambolic UK governments, the GDS still exists, and it still does amazing work, even though it operates today with a fraction of the official support that it enjoyed at its inception. The last time I renewed my UK passport, I was gobsmacked by how easy and sensible the process was. Local authorities have gotten in on the act, too: I renewed my absentee voting registration with Hackney Council last week and it was as simple as scanning a QR code, affirming my details, and clicking "submit." Around the world, a generation of public sector technologists duplicated and improved on the UK GDS's work. In Taiwan, a rogue public interest hacker named Audrey Tang led a group of digital guerrillas in creating shadow versions of every Taiwanese government website that scraped and remade the entire digital presence of the Taiwanese state to make public information and services accessible, legible and useful to its people. After the next election, Tang was named Taiwan's first ever Minister of Digital Affairs (today, she is a Taiwanese "Ambassador-At-Large"): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audrey_Tang In the USA, Jen Pahlka went from running a ragtag "civic hacking" org called Code For America to helping to found the United States Digital Service under Obama, bringing some of that UK GDS spirit to America's dreadful online presence, which had been largely built and maintained by beltway bandits who'd billed handsomely and delivered some of the internet's greatest crimes against usability: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Digital_Service But the USDS's legacy is bitter. In 2025, USDS was effectively dismantled and replaced with DOGE, Elon Musk's handpicked team of tech-bro cultists who set out to dismantle as much of the US government as possible, deliberately sabotaging the usability of America's governmental systems to make it harder for the public to access the services they are entitled to and pay for with their taxes. My own run-in with this was my attempt to get a certificate of citizenship for my daughter when she turned 18: all I could find was an online form that started by requiring me to list the dates and flight numbers for every trip I'd taken to the USA from the time I was born to the day I became a US citizen, a 50+ year period that started with a trip to visit my snowbird grandparents in Florida when I was six months old. The entire support and advice service for the US Customs and Immigration Service has been replaced with a DOGE chatbot that repeatedly emails and texts links to the form, no matter what question you ask, and no matter whether you call, email or use the website's chat interface: https://pluralistic.net/2026/02/06/doge-ball/#n-600 Many of the DOGE kids were monsters. The most chilling DOGE story I've heard was the anonymous testimony of NIH officials who begged the DOGE children who were dismantling their work to spare some long-running cancer research projects whose great promise would be vaporized if they were interrupted. The DOGE kids laughed at these entreaties, saying that once Musk had perfected "General AI" we wouldn't need cancer research, because their tame AI god would cure cancer. But not every DOGE operator was a digital arsonist. Take Dan Berulis, a DOGE staffer who came out of the private sector and later turned whistleblower over the group's activities, who now faces assassination attempts: https://www.wired.com/story/he-blew-the-whistle-on-doge-then-his-brakes-were-cut/ Berulis joined DOGE to improve America's digital infrastructure, not to dismantle it. When he talks about his motives, he sounds like an early GDS pioneer, one of Audrey Tang's direct-action government data scrapers, or one of the Code For America hackers who followed Pahlka to USDS: https://www.npr.org/2025/04/15/nx-s1-5355896/doge-nlrb-elon-musk-spacex-security DOGE was a catastrophe. It left America's government digital presence in far worse shape than it found it, and even the modest savings it claimed to have made from all this destruction turn out to be lies: https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/elon-musk-doge-made-big-110000036.html But as Berulis demonstrates, there is a bipartisan group of skilled, ethical technologists who are desperate to do meaningful public interest work. Their numbers swell every day, as Big Tech continues to curdle – no longer merely sclerotic and enshittifying monopolies, now active participants in Trump's authoritarian dismantling of democracy itself: https://pluralistic.net/2025/10/06/america-with-chinese-characteristics/#orphaned-syrian-refugees-need-not-apply Tech bosses' gleeful mass layoffs mean that tech workers can no longer count on good treatment and stable, high-earning careers; at the same time, tech bosses' betrayal of democracy makes the prospect of working for a tech company far more ethically dubious than mere ad-tech optimizations. The result is a bumper crop of geeks looking for ways to do good with their lives and skills – as all the emails in my inbox asking for advice about this attests. Enter NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has made "public excellence" the cornerstone of his politics, hiring the most skilled workers he can find and then giving them all the authority and resources they need to fix 100,000 potholes, bring New York's worst landlords to justice, and deliver every day for all the people of New York: https://pluralistic.net/2025/11/15/unconscionability/#standalone-authority Mamdani has just unveiled his Public Interest Technology (PIT) Crews: five "game changing" teams of public interest hackers who will remake NYC's digital services: https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/07/transcript–mayor-mamdani-launches–public-interest-technology– Writing for Wired, Steven "Hackers" Levy paints a portrait of New York's PIT Crews, describing them as "what DOGE should have been": https://www.wired.com/story/mamdani-assembles-his-nyc-tech-team/ I'll go farther than that: the PIT Crews – and Mamdani's project as a whole – is delivering the entire failed promise of DOGE. Unlike Musk and Trump, Mamdani is actually rooting out fraud and waste. The reason Mamdani can do this – and the reason billionaires can't – is that the fraud and waste that undermines governments at all levels come from the super-rich, with their tax-dodging, their no-bid contracts, their addiction to public subsidies. Musk owes his riches to federal bailouts and contracts: if he wants to "eliminate government fraud and waste" he should turn over his files to an IRS inspector (if he can find a survivor of the DOGE massacre) and surrender himself for a lengthy prison sentence. For Musk, "government fraud and waste" is a single mom on food stamps who misses a box on a 600-page form because she's exhausted from working three jobs to make rent – not a no-bid contractor trousering billions in public funds for projects that overcharge and underdeliver. Mamdani's PIT Crews are "small groups of engineers and designers will strive to change the hidebound and confusing nature of current city services by using state-of-art skills to rapidly whip up specialized apps that solve real problems." Mamdani says that they'll "raise expectations on what government can deliver, because we really can deliver." As Levy describes it, the big difference between the Obama-era USDS and 2026's PIT Crews is "a skeptical, almost adversarial, stance toward Big Tech." NYC's PIT Crews explicitly recruit top-tier hacker talent who want to "make software that doesn't serve advertisers, the military, or the pocketbooks of centibillionaires." Their inaugural chief is Lisa Gelobter, a veteran of both tech firms and the USDS, who says that "Without technology, policy is just words written on a piece of paper." The first project on her roster is implementing "Click to Cancel," a policy inaugurated by Lina Khan, Biden's FTC Chief – and then dismantled by Trump. Under Click to Cancel, companies are required to create one-click workflows to cancel subscriptions and memberships, ending the pernicious, incredibly profitable practice of trapping people with impossible-to-halt recurring billings. Today, Khan is running Mamdani's Economic Development Board, and her Click to Cancel rule is back – for New Yorkers, at least: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/22/lina-khan-nyc-economic-development-board NYC PIT Crew's new Click to Cancel site will be live when the policy takes effect on Oct 1. It's a whistleblower site that will make it easy to report merchants who make it hard to get shut of their online Roach Motels (users check in, but they don't check out). It's estimated the Click to Cancel rule will save New Yorkers $160m in the first year alone – but only if Mamdani can enforce it, which is why this website is so critical. This focus on meat-and-potatoes service delivery was once dismissed as "sewer socialism," an unserious form of progressive politics with an undue focus on improving people's daily lives at the expense of high-flying political change. Today, Mamdani is at the vanguard of an army of proud sewer socialists, who say that once you deliver for people in their day-to-day existence, they will trust you and back you when you fight for deep, structural changes (and the corollary: if you can't deliver for people in their daily lives, why should they trust you when you claim that you'll make everything better?): https://prospect.org/2026/04/10/zohran-mamdani-getting-new-york-city-believe-in-government/ 3,000 techies applied for 35 jobs with NYC's PIT Crews, and, as Levy writes, many of them are high-flying senior coders who are willing to take a massive pay-cut and forfeit their stock options to do something that's both technically excellent and meaningful to their users' lives. It's a clear message to other leaders, at every level of government. Many of the most skilled, ambitious people in every field want to make the world a better place. Every city, county and state could use a squadron of PIT Crews, and there's an army of coders who would give anything for the chance to give everything to make a better world. Hey look at this (permalink) What Was the Internet? https://www.bostonreview.net/articles/what-was-the-internet/ BMW Suddenly Blasts Its Cars’ Internal Screens With Aggressive Advertisements https://futurism.com/advanced-transport/bmw-suddenly-blasts-cars-advertisements People in the midwest know what a livestream is https://www.garbageday.email/p/people-in-the-midwest-know-what-a-livestream-is how Google can go legit https://blog.zgp.org/how-google-can-go-legit/ The Yardstick That Ate the Market https://itsg13.substack.com/p/the-yardstick-that-ate-the-market Object permanence (permalink) #25yrsago Moscow's pirate music market https://web.archive.org/web/20010912203143/https://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,45908,00.html #25yrsago Webcomics v trad comics https://web.archive.org/web/20010821073756/https://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2001/08/09/comics/index.html #25yrsago Aussie teens are addicted to their phones https://web.archive.org/web/20010818220523/http://news.ninemsn.com.au/national/story_5807.asp #20yrsago Canadian librarians decry “Captain Copyright” https://web.archive.org/web/20060813004140/https://cla.ca/Access_Copyright_CptCopy_let_Final_.pdf #20yrsago TiVo/Macrovision screw up breaks devices again https://zatznotfunny.com/2006-08/tivo-macrovision-and-the-stealth-broadcast-flag/ #20yrsago Will the Supreme Court strike down the TSA’s secret laws? https://papersplease.org/gilmore/ #20yrsago Robot garage loses software license, strands parkers https://web.archive.org/web/20060809213517/https://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,71554-0.html?tw=wn_index_1 #15yrsago Typewriter-part penguin https://web.archive.org/web/20111116020049/http://jemayer.tumblr.com/post/8674700147 #15yrsago Choosing Android because you don’t trust Google https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/aug/09/technology-failure-more-important-than-success #15yrsago HOWTO sound Canadian https://web.archive.org/web/20110610104919/http://www.oed.com/public/canadianenglish #15yrsago Lev Grossman’s The Magician King: fantasy sequel, the banality of magic and the magic of banality https://memex.craphound.com/2011/08/09/lev-grossmans-the-magician-king-fantasy-sequel-the-banality-of-magic-and-the-magic-of-banality/ #10yrsago Rosie the Riveter, Ghostbusters edition https://www.deviantart.com/hugohugo/art/We-Can-Bust-It-621803816 #10yrsago Thai telcoms regulator wants tourists to use location-tracking SIMs https://web.archive.org/web/20160812182254/https://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Thailand-mulls-location-tracking-tourist-SIM-cards-30292551.html #10yrsago Mysterious medical research consortium: we should own volunteers’ clinical trial data for 5 years https://www.techdirt.com/2016/08/08/medical-researchers-want-up-to-five-years-exclusivity-clinical-trial-data-derived-volunteers/ #10yrsago Illegal “Warranty Void If Removed” still ubiquitous: they’re on the Xbox One S https://web.archive.org/web/20160809092923/https://motherboard.vice.com/read/the-xbox-one-s-still-uses-microsofts-illegal-warranty-void-if-removed-sticker #10yrsago Your medical data: misappropriated by health-tech companies, off-limits to you https://web.archive.org/web/20180806230935/https://www.wired.com/2016/02/our-medical-data-must-become-free/ #10yrsago Return of Dieselgate: 3 more hidden programs found in VW Audi/Porsche firmware https://www.reuters.com/article/us-volkswagen-emissions-audi-idUSKCN10I0PB/ #10yrsago Timelapse of pills dissolving: “decaying clowns” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rY3X4xafs0 #10yrsago Proof-of-concept ransomware for smart thermostats demoed at Defcon https://web.archive.org/web/20161020083358/https://www.pentestpartners.com/blog/thermostat-ransomware-a-lesson-in-iot-security/ #10yrsago Compounds in human exhalations during movies vary in response to suspense and comedy https://www.nature.com/articles/srep25464 #10yrsago How racist traffic stops criminalize black people, and what to do about it https://www.vox.com/2016/8/5/12364580/police-overcriminalization-net-widening #10yrsago Chicago cops switched off bodycams and high-fived after shooting unarmed black teen https://web.archive.org/web/20160807194244/http://www.theroot.com/articles/news/2016/08/chicago-pd-paul-oneal-video/ #10yrsago DoJ to judges: use Tor to protect your internet connection https://web.archive.org/web/20160807025945/http://motherboard.vice.com/read/department-of-justice-official-tells-hundred-federal-judges-to-use-tor #5yrsago Expectations management pluralistic.net/2021/08/08/expectations-management-part-v/ #5yrsago When your boss wants an AI camera in your bedroom https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/09/computer-says-no/#disciplinary-tech #5yrsago The 22 Murders of Madison May https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/09/computer-says-no/#existential-crisis #1yrago Millionaire on billionaire violence https://pluralistic.net/2025/08/09/elite-disunity/#awoken-giants Upcoming appearances (permalink) Virtual: EFFecting Change: Who the Machine Serves, Aug 12 https://www.eff.org/event/effecting-change-who-machine-serves Edinburgh International Book Festival with Jimmy Wales, Aug 17 https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/events/the-front-list-cory-doctorow-and-jimmy-wales Sydney: The Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Aug 23-24 https://festivalofdangerousideas.com/program/ Melbourne: Enshittification at the Wheeler Centre, Aug 25 https://www.wheelercentre.com/events-tickets/season-2026/cory-doctorow-enshittification Brighton: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Carole Cadwalladr (Brighton Dome), Sep 8 https://brightondome.org/whats-on/LSC-cory-doctorow-the-reverse-centaurs-guide-to-life-after-ai/ London: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Riley Quinn (Foyle's Picadilly), Sep 9 https://www.foyles.co.uk/events/enshittification-cory-doctorow-riley-quinn South Bend: An Evening With Cory Doctorow (Notre Dame), Oct 6 https://franco.nd.edu/events/2026/10/06/an-evening-with-cory-doctorow/ Vancouver: BC Policy Solutions Gala, Nov 12 https://bcpolicy.ca/gala/ Recent appearances (permalink) The AI Enshittification Bubble (Hidden Forces) https://hiddenforces.io/podcasts/the-ai-enshittification-bubble-cory-doctorow/ F@#$ the AI Overlords (On The Media) https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/articles/f-the-ai-overlords Why AI Won't Replace Workers, But Will Crash The Economy (Smart Cookies) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRRmUuxJolY AI and the Enshittification Era (The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dAIJRjb-Bw AI is not inevitable (Betakit) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbiTVkq1WHo Latest books (permalink) "The Reverse-Centaur's Guide to AI," a short book about being a better AI critic, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, June 2026 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374621568/thereversecentaursguidetolifeafterai/ "Canny Valley": A limited edition collection of the collages I create for Pluralistic, self-published, September 2025 https://pluralistic.net/2025/09/04/illustrious/#chairman-bruce "Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, October 7 2025 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374619329/enshittification/ "Picks and Shovels": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about the heroic era of the PC, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2025 (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865908/picksandshovels). "The Bezzle": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about prison-tech and other grifts, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2024 (thebezzle.org). "The Lost Cause:" a solarpunk novel of hope in the climate emergency, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), November 2023 (http://lost-cause.org). "The Internet Con": A nonfiction book about interoperability and Big Tech (Verso) September 2023 (http://seizethemeansofcomputation.org). Signed copies at Book Soup (https://www.booksoup.com/book/9781804291245). "Red Team Blues": "A grabby, compulsive thriller that will leave you knowing more about how the world works than you did before." Tor Books http://redteamblues.com. "Chokepoint Capitalism: How to Beat Big Tech, Tame Big Content, and Get Artists Paid, with Rebecca Giblin", on how to unrig the markets for creative labor, Beacon Press/Scribe 2022 https://chokepointcapitalism.com Upcoming books (permalink) "The Post-American Internet," a geopolitical sequel of sorts to Enshittification, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2027 "Unauthorized Bread": a middle-grades graphic novel adapted from my novella about refugees, toasters and DRM, FirstSecond, April 20, 2027 "Enshittification, Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It" (the graphic novel), Firstsecond, 2027 "The Memex Method," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2027 Colophon (permalink) Today's top sources: Currently writing: “Once Is Enemy Action,” a science fiction novel about the origins of modern technofascism. Friday's words: 564 (2916 total). "The Post-American Internet," a sequel to "Enshittification," about the better world the rest of us get to have now that Trump has torched America. Fourth draft completed. Submitted to editor. A Little Brother short story about DIY insulin PLANNING This work – excluding any serialized fiction – is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. That means you can use it any way you like, including commercially, provided that you attribute it to me, Cory Doctorow, and include a link to pluralistic.net. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Quotations and images are not included in this license; they are included either under a limitation or exception to copyright, or on the basis of a separate license. Please exercise caution. How to get Pluralistic: Blog (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): Pluralistic.net Newsletter (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://pluralistic.net/plura-list Mastodon (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic Bluesky (no ads, possible tracking and data-collection): https://bsky.app/profile/doctorow.pluralistic.net Medium (no ads, paywalled): https://doctorow.medium.com/ Tumblr (mass-scale, unrestricted, third-party surveillance and advertising): https://mostlysignssomeportents.tumblr.com/tagged/pluralistic "When life gives you SARS, you make sarsaparilla" -Joey "Accordion Guy" DeVilla READ CAREFULLY: By reading this, you agree, on behalf of your employer, to release me from all obligations and waivers arising from any and all NON-NEGOTIATED agreements, licenses, terms-of-service, shrinkwrap, clickwrap, browsewrap, confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-compete and acceptable use policies ("BOGUS AGREEMENTS") that I have entered into with your employer, its partners, licensors, agents and assigns, in perpetuity, without prejudice to my ongoing rights and privileges. You further represent that you have the authority to release me from any BOGUS AGREEMENTS on behalf of your employer. ISSN: 3066-764X

Big Money Loses | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, August 8, 2026

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With Heather Lofthouse and yours truly, Robert Reich

August 7, 2026

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On Tuesday, August 4, Erin Banco, Mike Stone, and Jonathan Landay of Reuters reported that the U.S.

Weeknotes: Aug. 1-7, 2026

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Highlight of the week: we were eating lunch when this family of raccoons — one adult and two little kits — came to look for figs (none looked ripe to me but they found a few they deemed edible) Looking forward to: the wildfire smoke is supposed to clear out this weekend after a long smoky […]

‘Blue Bloods’ Alum Will Estes Reprising Role On ‘Boston Blue’: “Welcome (Back) To The Family”

One of the original Blue Bloods is making a trip to Beantown after Donnie Wahlberg teased an upcoming guest star on Boston Blue. Deadline can confirm that Will Estes will reprise his Blue Bloods role as Jamie Reagan on an upcoming episode of the CBS spin-off after Wahlberg shared a behind-the-scenes photo with his onscreen […]

Whetherday

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On big changes in nowheres becoming somewheres Audacy, by far the most stressed-out owner of too many radio stations, is killing off another big old signal: KXNT/840 in Las Vegas. I dug into that, and wrote about it on Trunkline, my neglected blog about infrastructure that will soon get a big facelift. C****heck them out […]

Jason Clarke Joins Action-Thriller ‘Supermax’ From Amazon MGM & Miramax

EXCLUSIVE: Jason Clarke has closed a deal to join Supermax, the new action-thriller from Amazon MGM Studios and Miramax, Deadline has learned. Character details are under wraps. The Australian actor is the second of the week to join following Jaafar Jackson, the breakout star of Lionsgate’s Michael. The pair will share the screen with Will Smith and AnnaSophia […]

Brandi Carlile Postpones UK, European Tour Dates Due To “Personal Circumstances”

Brandi Carlile is pushing her trip across the pond as she announces some postponed tour dates for the UK and Europe. On Friday, the 11x Grammy winner shared her regrets as she had to reschedule some stops on The Human Tour, featuring KT Tunstall, from the fall to the spring due to “personal circumstances.” “To […]

TV Show Book Adaptations Arriving In 2026 So Far

Several best-selling books will make way for returning TV shows and new ones in 2026. Summer has seen several adaptations like Every Year After, Netflix’s Little House on the Prairie, Peacock’s The Five-Star Weekend, Apple TV’s Lucky and Silo Season 3 and Netflix’s Ransom Canyon Season 2 and My Life With the Walter Boys Season […]

Bella Thorne Says ‘Spring Breakers 2’ Producers Tapped Her To Write, Direct & Star In Sequel After Seeing Directorial Debut

After wrapping on her directorial debut last year, Bella Thorne revealed that Spring Breakers 2 will be her sophomore feature in the director’s chair. Following the announcement that she’ll star in the sequel to Harmony Korine’s 2012 cult crime drama, the actress said that producers asked her to write and direct the film as well, […]

What To Expect For ‘Heated Rivalry’ Season 2: Everything We Know So Far

There is still a long wait to be had for the highly anticipated second season of Heated Rivalry. When Season 1 of the Crave book adaptation of Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series skated quietly ontoHBO Max Nov. 28, 2025, it quickly built momentum and became a phenomenon. Season 2 is in the works while stars […]

Book-To-Movie Adaptations Coming Out In 2026

Many books will provide backbone to both theatrical and streaming releases in 2026. From the long-awaited rom com film adaptation of Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation, which hit Netflix in January, to the Ridley Scott-directed adaptation of The Dog Stars starring Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin and Margaret Qualley coming in August, several major […]

Amanda Knox Responds To Petition Protesting Her Edinburgh Fringe Show, Says It “Honors Meredith Kercher’s Memory”

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Nearly 20 years after she was falsely accused of killing her roommate, Amanda Knox is still struggling to tell her own story. The author and comedian, who was wrongfully convicted of the 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher, has responded after a petition to cancel her Edinburgh Festival Fringe show Cartwheel surpassed 10,000 signatures. “There is […]

First Look At Vincent Pastore’s Final TV Role, Shaquille O’Neal Debut In ‘Gravesend’ Season 3 Trailer

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EXCLUSIVE: We’re getting the first look at the late Vincent Pastore in his final television role in the Season 3 trailer for Gravesend ahead of its fall premiere. Pastore, who portrayed Donnie Glisto in the William DeMeo written and directed series, died August 1 from what is believed to be natural causes at his home […]

‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Eyes Third-Best U.S. 2nd Weekend With $135M-$140M+ – Box Office Update

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FRIDAY AFTERNOON: 2026 will see its fifth $100M+ No. 1 weekend at the domestic B.O. as the sophomore session of Spider-Man: Brand New Day, armed with PLF and now Imax screens, is looking at $135M-$140M+ at 4,487 theaters. That easily would deliver the third-best second frame ever at the domestic B.O. behind 2015’s Star Wars: […]

Fur eye day

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Why we need Searls Glasses (first described 16 years ago) Wetherspoons bans Meta Glasses in pubs amid privacy concerns Book now The next three IIWs: November 3 – 5, 2026 IIWXLIII #43 Fall 2026 April 27 – 29, 2027 IIWXLIV #44 Spring 2027 October 19 – 21, 2027 IIWXLV #45 Fall 2027 Early bird ends […]

Insaciable: los atajos siniestros para la pérdida de peso

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Dirección: Natalie Erika James. Guion: Natalie Erika James. Elenco: Midori Francis, Danielle Macdonald, Madeleine Madden, Robert Taylor, Showko Showfukutei, Octavia Barron Martin, Anna Adams, Annie Shapero. Países: Australia, Estados Unidos, Finlandia. Duración: 113 minutos. Más información de la película: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35050712/ La delgadez volvió a estar de moda, pero… ¿verdaderamente dejó de estarlo? Luego de la […]

La entrada Insaciable: los atajos siniestros para la pérdida de peso se publicó primero en Palomita de maíz.

Dark Hours Rejected From the App Store

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[Update: See the retraction below.] Terry Godier: On the web, if I build something that works within the standards, it works. Whether people use it is up to them. On iOS, there is another question entirely: whether Apple decides it should exist. […] In the past couple of years I’ve built three apps that were […]

macOS 26.6.1

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Juli Clover (release notes, security, no enterprise, no developer, full installer, IPSW): macOS Tahoe 26.6.1 fixes a vulnerability that could allow an attacker to authenticate to Screen Sharing without valid credentials. See also: Adam Engst and Mr. Macintosh. Previously: macOS 26.6 Update (2026-08-14): Bill Toulas: In an update to the initial advisory, the Dutch agency […]

macOS 15.7.9 and 14.8.9

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macOS 15.7.9 (security, full installer): This update provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users. macOS 14.8.9 (security, full installer): This update provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users. These seem to fix the same screen sharing bug as the macOS 26.6.1 update. See also: Howard Oakley. Previously: macOS 15.7.8 […]

Friday Squid Blogging: Arctic Bobtail Squid Video

Nice video of the Arctic bobtail squid.

As usual, you can also use this squid post to talk about the security stories in the news that I haven’t covered.

Blog moderation policy.

Weekly Links, 08/07/2026

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I visit China frequently. This is the best roundup of China’s rise I’ve read. “A report by researchers identified almost twenty thousand scientists of Chinese descent who left America between 2010 and 2021.” The Future, Made in China Flixels or … Continue reading →

Inside Wisconsin's wild primary season

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The Recombobulation Area's Dan Shafer drops by to offer his expert take.

El-Sayed wins Michigan primary. Trump enraged at Jeanine Pirro over reflecting pool. Todd Blanche wins key vote toward confirmation.

, updated:

Abdul El-Sayed Narrowly Wins Michigan Democratic Senate Nomination

Welcome to Conflation Nation

, updated:

The Democratic Party isn’t the DSA. Democratic socialists aren’t necessarily DSA members. And the word “socialist” hasn’t been swapped for “communist” yet, though the rhetoric is heading that way.

International Competition in the AI Space

Introduction AI is vacuuming up investment dollars like never before. There are thousands of AI companies vying for attention. For instance, this list of the top 100 AI companies in Canada. Focus tends to concentrate on the top four US companies of Anthropic, OpenAI, Meta and xAI. However, several Chinese companies including Moonshot.ai, Z.ai and Alibaba have moved ahead […]

Friday evening street session in Belfast

Friday evening street session in Belfast

Friday evening street session in Belfast

CPUs and the rise of neurosymbolic AI

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A new paradigm is developing, and the world is changing faster than most people realize

A conference of AI practitioners

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On Facebook I wrote this in reply to a post by John Worthington, a former Quicktime developer at Apple.

We're both using AI to build things based on our past experiences and it's a big difference, not without pitfalls, but we're doing something that's never been done before and my thought was that we should have a conference of people doing what we're both doing.

Taking a craft we were already expert in, and learning to use AI tools to shoot it into outer space.

To give you an idea over the last two weeks Claude Code ported the UserTalk language, the object database, verb set, everything needed to run a Frontier script, of which I happen to have a lot of, and run it in Node.js, an operating environment that didn't exist the last time we worked on the Frontier source. All the work we did over the late 80s and 90s is coming back to life in an enviroment with a future.

This is the perfect job for Claude, well specified, and it doesn't need to understand me, I spoke to it via the code i wrote umpteen years ago.

News of the Weak (Labor Market)

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A note on this morning’s report

★ App Store Rejection of the Week: Dark Hours

https://blog.terrygodier.com/2026/08/07/browsers-have-standards-the-app.html

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

Export Updates 2026-08-07:

Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places

36 updated places. 4 new and 22 updated linked data sidebars.

1. Downloads: https://pleiades.stoa.org/downloads

2. pleiades.datasets: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades.datasets:

"main" branch:

ad54498e - updated json

no change: rdf/ttl

a79ec2dc - updated gis package

264c3f28 - updated data quality

8bbea26e - updated bibliography

15171987 - updated indexes

a30411eb - updated sidebar

Caveat RE sidebar: vici.org API is returning zero matches for Pleiades. Last known good vici data has been used.

3. pleiades-geojson: https://github.com/ryanfb/pleiades-geojson:

ae060d1a - updated geojson and names index

4. pleiades_wikidata: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades_wikidata/:

c6591b7e - updated pleiades wikidata

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

Daily export updates will be delayed while we wait for the Wikidata query interface to become functional. It is currently reporting "Query timeout limit reached".

China And Plato

, updated:

Writing of lasting value

Chinatown Is One of Boston’s Hottest Neighborhoods – Trees Can Help

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Boston’s Chinatown has far fewer trees than the city overall, leaving residents more exposed to dangerous summer heat and pollution. Generations of residents have fought to protect green space, and that work continues today as the neighborhood pushes for more shade, cleaner air, and a cooler future.

The post Chinatown Is One of Boston’s Hottest Neighborhoods – Trees Can Help appeared first on Conservation Law Foundation.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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BTW, Jake Savin is using Claude to build Frontier on Node too. I asked Claude for help with this, and it turned out much better than I expected. I was not expecting this much success this quickly. This is exactly the kind of project AI tools excel at and I as a human am glad not to have to do the work on. The project is perfectly explained in the source code of Frontier, it can put it all together much faster and better than I could when I was working on it ever day and had a younger more agile mind with much better memory. I think one of the reasons this went so fast is because we did the work with the current best models, and they have been advancing so fast, you can see the differences in result on projects like this.

They don’t make ’em like Sublime Text anymore

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After a multi-year detour wading through the quagmire of bloatware that is modern software I’m back to coding in Sublime Text. I am finally at peace! Do you know how relaxing it is without the daily “update available” and “view release notes” ritual? There is nothing I dread more than release notes. […]

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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I'm trying to move my whole programming act from Frontier on the Mac to Electric Drummer anywhere. I need to start using the new machines everywhere. I've dreaded this, not because I'm starting over, I'm not. I have to bring with me all the projects I work on to keep my various online sites working. How to set this up? Claude just converted the UserTalk language and the Frontier environment to Node.js in one week. The requirement was that we had to run the build scripts for each of the projects, and are all written in UserTalk, flawlessly in the new enviroment. Apparently that's done. Now it's up to me to concoct a development environment in Drummer. It has never been used as a development environment before. Last time I did a turn like this, I didn't try to bring any software with me. This time the move is all about the huge amount of software I have to bring with me. Hard to explain, because I still feel very uncomfortable about this whole thing. I'd like it to turn out better than it was, but we're missing so many pieces here, the only way to really do it is the port the whole Frontier environment including user interface. (I left this piece exactly as I wrote it, because the next thing I did was plan with Claude on putting a UI on Frontier, so I don't have to turn Drummer into a programming environment. That would be a long drawn out project for me, and why do that, when you'd just end up with another Frontier.)

I'm excited for Intel after testing the XPS 13

Shortly after Apple launched the budget MacBook Neo, Dell announced their response, a new low-end XPS 13.

Dell XPS 13 running Fedora 44

Matching the Neo's current pricing, it starts at $699, or $599 with an educational discount. That discount is currently set to expire on November 2, and with the current component pricing insanity, I'd be surprised if we don't see a price increase on both laptops by next year.

I ran the XPS 13 through my gauntlet of benchmarks, and published a review on my YouTube channel:

A Really Bad Jobs Report, Encouraging New Texas Poll, Senate Votes On Blanche Today - Make Your Calls Everyone!

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We LOST jobs last month. Our failed President just keeps failing......

Progressives are most likely to say the political system needs "major, disruptive changes"

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And anti-system voters rate figures like Zohran Mamdani, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez higher than mainstream Dems, even controlling for age and ideology

From The Trap Of Geopolitics To A Geo-Civilizational Paradigm

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The post From The Trap Of Geopolitics To A Geo-Civilizational Paradigm appeared first on NOEMA.

Starz Subscriber Levels Climbed In Q2 Despite Price Increase, CEO Jeff Hirsch Says

Starz CEO Jeff Hirsch said total subscribers rose in the second quarter despite a price increase taking effect during the period. Speaking to Wall Street analysts Friday on the company’s quarterly earnings call, Hirsch declined to state a number of subscribers, in keeping with the company’s decision to stop breaking out that metric. The company […]

Sam Mendes’ Beatles Production Heading For Abbey Road Shoot

EXCLUSIVE: Here Comes The Sun (again) to London’s Abbey Road, where Sam Mendes’ anticipated Beatles production will be filming a scene this summer that “involves approximately 80 extras and some vintage vehicles.” The Beatles – A Four Film Cinematic Event is four separate theatrical biopic films about the iconic British quartet from Oscar-winning director Sam […]

How ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ Wraps Up Series After 5 Seasons

SPOILER ALERT: The following reveals major plot points from the series finale of the Starz crime drama Power Book III: Raising Kanan. Following the shocking death of Marvin (London Brown) in the penultimate episode of the Starz crime drama Power Book III: Raising Kanan, there was no other way to open the series finale than […]

Disney’s ‘Descendants’ Universe Expands With New Film Following Children Of Sidekicks From ‘Aladdin,’ ‘Emperor’s New Groove’ & More

Disney is expanding the Descendants universe. Hidden Heroes: A Descendants Story goes into production next week, the company announced Friday morning. The film will follow the offspring of a few beloved sidekicks. Hidden Heroes has already found its band of unsung heroes as well. It will star Dior Goodjohn (Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Poser) […]

U.S. Lost 23,000 Jobs In July, But Entertainment Industry Saw An Uptick

The U.S. economy lost 23,000 in July, while the unemployment rate fell slightly to 4.1%. The figures showed declines in local government education and retail trade, according to the figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The job loss was unexpected, with analysts estimating a gain of as much as 100,000. Jobs in movies and […]

Introducing the Michael Moore Book Club

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Nothing Is More Dangerous to those in Power Than a Curious, Informed Public

Fiddletastic Friday afternoon session in Belfast

Fiddletastic Friday afternoon session in Belfast

Fiddletastic Friday afternoon session in Belfast

International Insider: WarnerMount UK Thumbs Up; Spidey’s Global Box Office Bonanza; Locarno Film Fest Vs. Algorithm

Hello, Insider gang. We’re deep in the traditionally quiet period for film and TV, but there’s still plenty going on to keep you reading. Jesse Whittock and Jake Kanter with you. Let’s get started. WARNERMOUNT SUMMITS IN BRITAIN No Westminster woes: If you’ve been keeping even a casual eye on Paramount’s takeover of Warner Bros. […]

Witchy Friday morning session in Belfast

Witchy Friday morning session in Belfast

Witchy Friday morning session in Belfast

Felix Randau Reveals Why Claes Bang Was Perfect For The Role Of Himmler’s Shady Masseur In ‘I Is Another’: “If Claes Tells You A Lie, You Want To Believe Him”

German director Felix Randau hits the Locarno Film Festival’s Piazza Grande this evening with post-World War Two drama I Is Another starring Claes Bang as Heinrich Himmler’s real-life controversial massage therapist Felix Kersten. In his memoirs, Kersten recounted how he used his influence over the SS founder and Holocaust architect, to halt a planned mass […]

Dragoncatcher: Mandatory viewing, summer 2026

Agents amok. Read here.

Werner Herzog To Be Feted With Donostia Award At San Sebastián Film Festival

Veteran director, writer, producer and actor Werner Herzog will receive a Donostia Award in recognition of his career during the opening gala of the San Sebastián Festival (September 18-26). The festival’s highest honorary distinction for the German filmmaker will be accompanied by a screening of his new feature, Bucking Fastard, which will launch at the upcoming Venice Film […]

Luca Guadagnino To Receive Filmmaker Award At Venice Film Festival

Call Me By Your Name and Challengers director Luca Guadagnino is set to receive the Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker Award of the 83rd Venice International Film Festival (September 2nd – 12th, 2026). The award is bestowed on “a personality who has made a particularly original contribution to the contemporary film industry.” The award ceremony will take place on Tuesday September 8thin the Sala Casinò (Palazzo […]

Lying Liars Lie to Each Other Too

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A bad-faith government is also an incompetent government

Lit Hub Daily: August 7, 2026

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Should you judge a book by its cover? Probably! Ed Simon looks at the history of book cover trends. | Lit Hub Design James Spooner remembers finding community and belonging in New York’s Black punk scene. | Lit Hub Music

ICE Is Buying Access to Credit Card Records

Through data brokers, ICE is buying the information you provided to open a credit card.

Who are they fighting for?

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The Platner disaster and the perils of for-profit politics.

SPOKE: An RP2040-powered touch controller

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SPOKE is a well-designed RP2040-powered touch controller that can also act as a MIDI input or HID.

The post SPOKE: An RP2040-powered touch controller appeared first on Raspberry Pi.

It’s Ok to Judge a Book By Its Cover (It’s Impossible Not To)

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For a coterie of dandyish readers during the Victorian Mauve Nineties, The Yellow Book provided something novel—book cover designs. When the literary quarterly released its first volume in the spring of 1894 it was with a high-quality cloth-bound cover colored

Finding My Place in NYC’s Black Punk Scene

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Back in 1991, on the corner of Bleecker and Broadway, under the VG restaurant, was Pool Bar, a short-lived dive that also served as an unofficial, all-ages venue. A few weeks after school started, a line of kids, all under

What Should You Read Next? Here Are the Best Reviewed Books of the Week

Paul Yoon’s Etna, Dave Zirin’s The People’s Historian: The Outsized Life of Howard Zinn, and Chris Bohjalian’s The Amateur all feature among the best reviewed books of the week. Brought to you by Book Marks, Lit Hub’s home for book reviews.

An Ode to Pro Wrestling, the Ultimate Underdog Story

People can be surprised when they hear that I wrote a novel that centers professional wrestling. Someone like me–a Brown person raised in Bangladesh in their early 30s–isn’t what one thinks of when it comes to the typical wrestling fan.

Bootleg ‘The Office’ Videos Show How Chinese AI Is Still Being Used To Plunder Hollywood IP

Welcome to Rendering, a Deadline column reporting at the intersection of AI and showbiz. Rendering examines how artificial intelligence is disrupting the entertainment industry, taking you inside key battlegrounds and spotlighting change makers wielding the technology for good and ill. Got a story about AI? Rendering wants to hear from you: jkanter@deadline.com. Want to see Kim Jong Un gatecrashing Dunder Mifflin, […]

All That Is Left of Life

When Maresciallo Tommaso Nardulli arrived on the scene at around eight, Signora Sattaflora had Betta Ansaldo covered with a white embroidered linen sheet from the dowry she had prepared over the years for the daughter she had never had. Carla

The Enshittification of Everything (Part 2)

, updated:

And how to disempower the oligarchy

Why and how the Austrian Military moved to LibreOffice (Part 1)

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Many government departments around the world are moving away from vendor lock-in by tech giants, and switching to free and open source software like LibreOffice. This helps with privacy, security, and digital sovereignty. One such example is the Austrian Military (Bundesheer), which has moved 16,000 PCs from Microsoft Office to

Meta Owes $942M To New Mexico After Judge Rules In Social Media Case; Zuckerberg Promises Appeal

In the second phase of New Mexico’s big bucks social media lawsuit against META, a judge today slapped the Mark Zuckerberg created tech giant with a penalty in the hundreds of millions of dollars and also put some potentially big restrictions about the company can and cannot do when it comes to kids being on […]

August 6, 2026

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Sixty-one years ago, on August 6, 1965, President Lyndon B.

Joan Jett Cancels Tour Dates While Recovering From Surgery On Fractured Vertebrae

Joan Jett is taking a break from the road as she heals from a recent orthopedic surgery for a fractured vertebrae. On Wednesday, the Blackhearts frontwoman’s team announced that Jett will not be able to perform her upcoming September tour dates in Costa Mesa, California and Louisville, Kentucky. “Following a recent injury, Joan Jett has […]

Fauci

, updated:

The campaign against Anthony Fauci is a campaign against memory: the memory of what the nation went through in 2020-22 to be sure, but also against my memories of that period, and yours as well.

The Internet of Stuff

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We now have an internet of stuff, at the heart of which are the distribution and fulfillment centers that have been replacing farmland and former broadcast transmitter sites near highways and airports everywhere. (The one above straddles I-65 in Whitestown, Indiana, northwest of Indianapolis.) In The Rise of the Stupid Network, which he wrote in 1997, […]

Private email is fine, actually

Hide your email, hide your lists

Fri, 1pm ET - Hopium Founding Members Most Fridays Get Together

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Looking forward to getting together tomorrow!

Friday 7 August, 2026

, updated:

Flying Saucer A light suspended from the ceiling over a dining table. Quote of the Day ”Fashion is the performance of leisure.” Thorstein Veblen Musical alternative to the morning’s radio news Richard Wagner | Prelude to Lohengrin | Simon Rattle … Continue reading →

Iran, Russia, Tariffs - My Conversation With Rep. Greg Meeks, Ranking Member Of The House Foreign Affairs Committee

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Pleased to be able to bring a fresh interview to you with one of our party's most important foreign policy leaders.....

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

, updated:

Soon SwiftTerm will dominate the prized Arabic/Hebrew market of terminal emulators.

No, I have no idea what the text says. Do not send me to Guantanamo.

2026-08-05 Say no to AI

2026-08-05 Say no to AI

Yesterday I got a text message from my mom saying that she had listened to a podcast episode I had recommended and now she was thinking whether I was trying to avoid AI completely and how hard that must be. I replied saying that no, it wasn’t too hard. Just read and write and search like I did in 2022. And I do like some parts of artificial intelligence: the identification of plants and birds! What I don’t want is AI in my search, in my documents, in my chats, in my calls. Which is why I’m happy to have found How to disable or avoid intrusive AI by Jessamyn West. So many ways to opt out!

For a more global perspective, in Why businesses lie about AI, Cory Doctorow says that “if Donald Trump ordered Big Tech to turn off all of your country’s chatbots tomorrow, nothing would change.” One would hope that it is true. I feel that digital sovereignty is a bit like avoiding the big mistakes, not exposing yourself to “black swan events”, so to say. Don’t put all your eggs into a basket that that other people can stomp whenever they want to. Diversity means resilience. This is not the kind of digital sovereignty that goes “rahh! rahh! rahh! Eu-ro-pahh!” I don’t want the magnificent European seven to exploit us all, just like I don’t want European billionaires to abuse us. The solution to that is taxes and other measures to reduce the Gini coefficient. And so it is in IT. I don’t want our own tyrants, I want a say in how we live.

What we’re left is our own small acts of resistance. I don’t mean “voting with your wallet” because some people have a very big wallet indeed. I’m thinking about people de-googling their life, not because it’s a cure to all the evil but because it’s an act of resistance. We need to practice this muscle because it’s hard. People are leaving WhatsApp, and that’s hard, too. People are leaving Facebook, and that can be hard, too. While the big fight about the economy is ongoing – and if you’re involved I hope you do your part! – our current challenge at the personal level is leaving generative AI. But I know you can do it. You did it in 2022.

#Butlerian Jihad

Would I Lie To You?

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After torching CBS News, David Ellison wants us to believe he won’t do the same to CNN

The Blueprint To Unrig Our Democracy From Right-Wing Rule

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Ben Wikler helped fix Wisconsin. Now he has a plan to restore democracy nationwide.

Why the polls missed in Michigan — and why Democrats are favored to flip the House and Senate

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Elliott and David open the hood of the brand new election forecasting model at sister publication FiftyPlusOne

Trump's Judges Engage in Humiliation Ritual

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Nearly 60 confirmed nominees have refused to say Biden won the 2020 election — and they're about to have real power over the 2026 midterms.

Who's the World's Worst Billionaire?

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This week's video

Throbsday

, updated:

On AI wronging and writing I hate AI writing and can spot it in a second. It’s not just the excess of one-line paragraphs, the contrasty “not that, but this” argument constructions, the excessive use of em dashes. It’s a tone that sounds like the average of a million well-put hunks of text published by […]

Róis agus Huartán beo i mBèal Féirste!

Róis agus Huartán beo i mBèal Féirste!

Why Tire Pollution Is More Than Just a Trash Problem

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Tires break down and release toxic chemicals into our waterways.

The post Why Tire Pollution Is More Than Just a Trash Problem appeared first on Conservation Law Foundation.

Snow Leopard Lore

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Ruben Schade (Hacker News): This idea is so powerful—and so longed for—that it’s escaped containment among the Apple crowd. I’ve seen everything from Linux distro to phone updates referred to as Snow Leopard releases, when their vendors cite stability and bug fixes over new features. Likewise, people plead with their vendors for a Snow Leopard […]

Apple to Build Universal Clipboard for Windows

, updated:

Juli Clover: Apple is working on a new feature that will support cross-device copy and paste between iOS devices and Windows PCs. Microsoft asked for the feature using Apple’s EU interoperability request system for developers, which Apple implemented to comply with the Digital Markets Act. Apple began evaluating the request in March, and on June […]

Illinois Photos.app People Album Lawsuit

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Anurag Chawake: Apple faces a $32.5 billion lawsuit over how its Photos app scans and stores faces. A federal judge cleared the case to proceed as a class action late last month, allowing millions of Illinois iPhone owners to join. The case has been years in the making, and Apple has fought to shut it […]

Saw an interesting behavior in Claude Code

, updated:

I have been working on a tool to access the sitemap of a news website to try to create feeds when the site does not provide feeds. The tool starts by reading the robots.txt file, which usually has a list of things that are “disallowed”. On one of the sites, it specifically included “Claude Code” […]

Looking to reduce memory usage for WordPress sites

, updated:

I migrated all of my websites from Bluehost to Opalstack this summer. I am on the Single Stack plan, which provides shared hosting with 1 GB of RAM. When I was on Bluehost, I never worried about how much memory was being used when a site was accessed. Since moving to Opalstack, I noticed that […]

The Earnest Era Ends

When we lost Glen Hansard last week, his work still fresh and lively, it was a reminder that the world has changed more than we think it has.

Seven reasons I wouldn’t count Google out

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Down but still in the mix

How to Connect with Anyone

, updated:

Some people have a gift for making you feel comfortable within minutes.

2026-08-01 Oddμ workflow

2026-08-01 Oddμ workflow

📲 question I have for an upcoming blog post: do you use your phone to write or publish blog posts yourself? what’s that like, if you do? – @brennan

How do I use Oddmu to write blog posts on my phone? Here’s a photo documentary, so to speak. 😅

On the star page, there is a tiny form where I can start a new blogpost by providing a name for it.Writing a story means writing Markdown into a big text area.Save the text so far.Click the upload link, set the desired with to 1280 pixels, and pick the pictures.After uploading, the thumbnails are shown and I’m offered to add them to the page where I clicked the upload links.Saving brings up the page again, now with pictures.Click the add link and replace the date with  hashtags.

The only thing that doesn’t work to my satisfaction is that the uploaded pictures don’t have alt texts. Now I need to edit the whole page again and provide texts even though I can’t see the pictures. There is a missing step, here, somewhere.

See the result.

#Oddμ

2026-08-06. A small change to the “upload.html” template shows the Markdown to be added after the image upload in a textarea element so that you can add the alt text.

Work Anniversaries

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This week I am celebrating two big work anniversaries: 19 years of science blogging with the first blog post on August 3, 2007. And five years of Front Matter, the organization that I started on August 2, 2021.

2026-08-06 Add CSS wherever

2026-08-06 Add CSS wherever

OK, this is surprisingly cool. In a previous blogpost ( 2026-08-01 Oddμ workflow) I made screenshots of this site. Which mean that the background was identical to the background of the actual site on which the screenshots where being shown. I tried adding a thick grey border to the images, but it didn’t look good. I just tried to add a style element in the middle of the page to add a background colour to the whole page, and it just worked. I guess on a slow connection people will see a flash? But in my case, it looks very nice.

#CSS

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

Since Monday, the #PleiadesGazetteer editorial college has published 12 new and 112 updated place resources, reflecting the work of 18 people and projects. The usual Monday blog post will summarize the full week's worth of such work, but meantime, here's a #SneakPeek at a new place resource provided by Jeffrey Becker: the Agora of Elis.

https://pleiades.stoa.org/places/710989469

The Agora of ancient Elis included the Stoa of the Hellanodikai, who served as judges in the games at Olympia.

#ancientGeography #ancientHistory #archaeology #classics #DH #gazetteers #HGIS #LOD

The Taoiseach just gatecrashed our session.

The Taoiseach just gatecrashed our session.

Turf Houses And Ownership

, updated:

Writing of lasting value

A Newsletter of Humorous Writing #455

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For July 29-August 4, 2026

Hello and welcome to A Newsletter of Humorous Writing, a roundup of the week's finest short humor pieces and funny articles, and a celebration of the fantastic writers who wrote them. We’re running out to the grocery store real quick! Let us know if we can pick anything up for you!


What We Enjoyed This Week

Robin Hood, Prince of Compulsive and Pointless Theft by Luís Leal Miranda (McSweeney’s) The runs of all the different items this version of Robin Hood steals are just terrific. This is packed full of great details. We were also particularly impressed by the pacing, and the way Luís compresses time, moving briskly from scene to scene and dropping us in at the funniest possible moment with some choice bits of dialogue:

Every few days, Robin bursts into the village grinning like a man who just dug up a treasure.

“Good news!” he announces, carefully setting down a ceramic owl. “She’s heavy, so she must be worth something.”

“We are starving, Robin,” the villagers reply.

There’s a lot of laughs packed into fewer than 400 words!

What I Think Will Happen When I’m Public Speaking by Emily Bressler (McSweeney’s) The shift between an extremely relatable situation (being nervous about speaking in public) and a completely off-the-walls, ungrounded situation (no spoilers!) drives some great jokes here. Emily also takes this one to some extremely heightened places. (Again, no spoilers, but you’ll see what we mean!)

How to Master the Art of Passive-Aggressive Cleaning by Jason Beaubien (Points in Case) Jason’s portrait of passive-aggressive cleaning behavior is comprehensive, painfully accurate, and also very funny: “Turn down any offers of help. This is your pièce de résistance. Don’t allow anyone else to undermine it. ‘I’m good. No. No. No. You sit.’” We’ve all been this person and/or have been around this person at one time or another. The “how to guide” tone is also very satisfying—a really nice choice.


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And feel free to send us an email if you have questions.


An Old Favorite

This week's Old Favorite is a Brian Agler Selection (TM)--a piece whose accompanying note was written by Brian--from Newsletter #115 .

My Vagina has Closed for Business to Make Way for an Artisinal Deli by Giulia De Vita (McSweeney’s) Sometimes, in writing a piece, you come up with an A+ title--one that's big, bold, and will absolutely kill the second anyone sees or hears it. And then, a couple of paragraphs in, you realize that it was just a title, and not a conceit for a whole piece. Lucky for us readers, that's not the case here. This piece starts strong right off the bat, and then keeps on going strong. It's a great, creative idea, that's fantastically executed.

Do you have an Old Favorite of your own? Let us know by filling out this form and we may run your pick in a future edition of the newsletter.


Updates From Your Editors and Friends of the Newsletter

Friend of the Newsletter Lucas Adams has written and illustrated a delightful new project: It’s an issue of a fictional magazine called Blimp Monthly, and it will soon be available at the new and improved newsstand at the West 4th St Station in New York City. The newsstand is run by fellow humor writer Al Mullen, and it looks like he’s doing a whole bunch of neat stuff, so there’s no shortage of reasons to hop on the subway and check it out.

Nothing else from us! We are, unfortunately already back from the grocery store, and we forgot whatever it was that you wanted us to snag for you. Sorry!

Fed Up With Trump's Failures And Betrayals, The American People Are Giving Us A Chance To Lead Again. It's An Opportunity We Must Seize, Together (New Video & Written Analysis)

, updated:

We have a clear shot now to win the House and Senate - we need to go for it people!

Caltech Weekly - August 6: Curiosity Rover Finds Honeycomb Textures; Ancient Stardust in the Solar System

Caltech Weekly - August 6: Curiosity Rover Finds Honeycomb Textures; Ancient Stardust in the Solar SystemView this email in your browser

Thursday, August 6, 2026

NASA's Curiosity Mars Rover Discovers Field of Honeycomb Textures

The mission's project scientist, Ashwin Vasavada of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which Caltech manages for NASA, said he and his team have never seen so many of the geometric shapes in one place on the Red Planet. "This sea of polygons took our breath away," he said. The Curiosity rover landed on Mars 14 years ago this week.

Ancient Stardust Were Seeds for the Earliest Solids in the Solar System

New analysis of the Allende meteorite suggests that pre-solar grains nucleated the formation of the solar system's earliest solids.

image of the Neptune systemNeptune's Inner Moons May Be Shattered Remains of Ancient Icy Worlds

New findings from Caltech researchers suggest Neptune's smallest satellites formed from the shattered remains of an original moon system that was destroyed when Triton was captured by Neptune's gravity.

Knowledge Gatherer: Portrait of a Scientist's Wife in Victorian England

Dehn Gilmore gives a glimpse into 19th-century scientific salons and the important role of women as network creators through a profile of Caroline Schuster, wife of a famed physicist.

Seeking Water in the Central Valley

California's Central Valley provides roughly a quarter of the nation's food products on just 1 percent of its farmland. This dichotomy was the theme of this year's Visual Culture and the California Environment course created by Brian Jacobson and Hillary Mushkin to explore visual representations of the natural world.

"The students were really brave and very supportive, especially when they presented to each other. They recognized each other's efforts. For instance, they gave a full round of applause when someone presented a solution on the board to the group. ... Doing math is a private mental experience in lots of ways, so I don't think I did that much. The kids really did everything by just showing up and trying."

Tasmin Chu, a graduate student in mathematics, served as director of the Caltech Summer of Math program, which brought 15 rising 10th-graders from 11 local high schools to campus in June to spend two weeks as part of the inaugural session.

This Week's Other Top Stories

NASA Engineers Help Prolong Voyager 2's Science Mission

In Case You Missed It

View recent lectures and events on Caltech's YouTube channel.

Thirteen Years in the Dust: How a Robot Showed that Mars Was Once Habitable

In his 2025 Watson Lecture, Ashwin Vasavada (PhD '98), project scientist for the Mars Science Laboratory, offered a behind-the-scenes look at the triumphs and challenges that are a part of the Curiosity rover's legacy.

Did You Know?

Caltech and Sophia Space, a start-up focused on orbital space computing, announced last week that they had received a patent for a cooling system that they say could help them launch data centers by the early 2030s that are powered by 24-hour solar systems in space. Several Techers were involved in NASA's Viking 1 mission, which became the first US spacecraft to land safely on Mars 50 years ago. The mission was designed to last 90 days but operated for more than six years, taking soil samples and returning thousands of images before its final transmission on November 11, 1982.BlueskyBlueskyCaltech.eduCaltech.eduFacebookFacebookInstagramInstagramLinkedInLinkedInXXYouTubeYouTubeConnect with CaltechThe Caltech Weekly is published by the Office of Communications and External Relations. Copyright ©2026 All rights reserved. Send feedback and story ideas for the newsletter to theweekly@caltech.edu.

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@Dave Winer's Scripting News

, updated:

There's a new version of the FeedLand server.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

, updated:

If Claude Code were a human working for me as a human would, it would be fired several times every day. It forgets orders you gave it two minutes ago. It's always trying to take control. Again I'm backing out of the idea of it taking responsibility for doing simple persistent work on servers, the kind of thing that it would, in theory be perfect for. There are staggering moments of brilliance where it does something in an hour that took several devs a decade to do. But only if they have an exact authority on how it should work, ie when it was cloning software. It's getting better all the time, so there's hope that by 2027 it will be able to be trusted to remember the most basic rules.

‘Primetime’ Trailer: A24 Releases First Full Look At Lance Oppenheim’s ‘To Catch A Predator’ Drama Starring Robert Pattinson As Chris Hansen

UPDATE, with full trailer Aug. 6: Ahead of its world premiere in competition at the Venice International Film Festival, A24 has released the official trailer for Primetime, the Lance Oppenheim film produced and starring Robert Pattinson as TV’s To Catch a Predator host Chris Hansen. The studio had released a teaser for the film in May. Today’s release is […]

Why Is Everyone In Tech So Sad?

, updated:

The post Why Is Everyone In Tech So Sad? appeared first on NOEMA.

David Zaslav Says WBD Staffers Are “Working Extremely Hard” Despite Paramount Deal Uncertainty

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav says staffers are working “extremely hard” and staying focused despite uncertainty about the fate of the company’s pending merger with Paramount. Speaking to Wall Street analysts on the company’s second-quarter earnings call, Zaslav said he had assumed “it was going to be quite challenging” for employees to tune out […]

Martin McDonagh To Receive Zurich Film Festival Honorary Award At Gala Screening For ‘Wild Horse Nine’

The Zurich Film Festival will honor Oscar winner Martin McDonagh with its A Tribute To … Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to cinema at its 22nd edition in September. McDonagh will accept the award in person during a gala premiere of his upcoming black comedy Wild Horse Nine, starring John Malkovich, Sam Rockwell, Steve Buscemi, Tom […]

BAFTA TV Awards Adds AI Clause To Entry Rules & Welcomes Submissions From HBO Max

BAFTA has given itself the power to interrogate TV Awards entries that use generative AI. In a new clause added to BAFTA’s TV Awards rules, the organization has emphasized the importance of human creativity and said entries that include AI could be subject to further investigation. “The awards are presented annually to recognise, honour and […]

Fox Ad Revenue Surges In June Quarter On World Cup

The broadcast of the FIFA Men’s World Cup drove a 78% jump in advertising sales at Fox as total revenue for the company’s fiscal fourth quarter ended in June jumped 28% to $4.21 billion. Distribution revenue increased 5%, driven by 7% growth at the cable network programming. Fox also noted continued digital growth led by AVOD service […]

Thursday morning session in Belfast

Thursday morning session in Belfast

Thursday morning session in Belfast

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

, updated:

Like a lot of other people, I want to know where Bluesky is headed, and I learned a lot about that in this podcast interview with Bluesky's new CEO, Toni Schneider. We have crossed paths in tech, but this is the first time I've heard him speak at length. They have a business model in mind, sounds something like Substack, which is probably a good idea. Their value is in the many millions of users they have. Highly recommend this podcast if you want to hear the story direct from the CEO.

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

Export Updates 2026-08-06:

Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places

60 updated places. 14 updated linked data sidebars.

1. Downloads: https://pleiades.stoa.org/downloads

2. pleiades.datasets: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades.datasets:

"main" branch:

30ffc526 - updated json

no change: rdf/ttl

5f2b3dc5 - updated gis package

c391d581 - updated data quality

1c87f935 - updated bibliography

85dc8215 - updated indexes

49b42b08 - updated sidebar

3. pleiades-geojson: https://github.com/ryanfb/pleiades-geojson:

792680cf - updated geojson and names index

4. pleiades_wikidata: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades_wikidata/:

a93330d2 - updated pleiades wikidata

Versant In Transition As It Diversifies Business With Strategy Taking Shape In Q2, Stock Pops

Versant saw revenue and profit dip as it retools its assets base in a transitional June quarter that included the divestiture of SportsEngine and the acquisition of interactive sports business Full Swing to bolster its Golf offerings. It’s transitioning ticketing app Fandago to an AVOD service and preparing digital launches and products around MS NOW […]

Versant Posts Mixed Q2 Results As Advertising Trends Show Improvement

Versant delivered mixed results in its second quarter after spinning off from Comcast, with revenue and earnings per share both declining from the year-ago period. Total revenue slipped 4% to $1.64 billion, while EPS dipped to $1.49 from $2.09. The company, whose assets include cable TV networks like MS NOW and CNBC and digital platforms […]

GL.iNet Mudi 7

, updated:

A three-month review of the _GL.iNet Mudi 7_ (_GL-E5800_) 5G NR Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 travel router, including a comparison to my long-time _Netgear Nighthawk M2_ companion.

Paramount’s Takeover Of Warner Bros. Cleared By UK Authorities

Paramount’s $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has been given the green light by UK authorities. Lisa Nandy, the British culture secretary, has said she will not intervene in the industry-reshaping merger, despite previously saying she was “minded” to examine the deal in more detail. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has also […]

ITV’s Zandland Doc ‘Inside Iran: War & Revolution’ Goes Undercover During Anti-Regime Protests & Conflict With The U.S.

EXCLUSIVE: ITV has greenlit Inside Iran: War & Revolution. The one-off doc goes undercover and inside Iran, with testimony from journalists and civilians during the 2025-2026 protests and, more recently, the conflict with the U.S. The film comes from UK-based doc studio Zandland. It marks another ITV-Zandland project following their BAFTA-nominated film Breaking Ranks: Inside […]

Warner Bros. Discovery Stumbles In Q2 As ‘Supergirl,’ Lack Of NBA Drag Down Results

Warner Bros. Discovery fell short of Wall Street expectations in the second quarter, as Supergirl and the lack of the NBA dragged total revenue down 11% to $8.7 billion. Analysts had projected $9.2 billion in revenue. Diluted earnings per share of 6 cents topped estimates of a loss of 10 cents a share. The company […]

Adversarial Clothing Designed to Fool Facial Recognition Systems

There are many companies manufacturing adversarial clothing designed to confuse facial recognition systems.

It’s a cool idea, but I worry that it’s mostly security theater:

“Our patterns play with that chaos, confuse algorithms and make it way harder to pin you down,” he said.

Bell, however, said “none of these products are tried and tested, and a lot of these surveillance technologies can deal with a little resistance … [but] even if the designs don’t necessarily work perfectly, fashion is also a visible sign of resistance.

“This is consumers collectively coming together to make a visible statement.”...

Iran Says it Will Reopen Strait if Trump Admits He Lost in 2020

, updated:

“The whole world knows you lost, moron,” the official Iranian statement read.

The Good News Trump Won’t Mention

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Crime is plunging, but he can’t handle that truth

Lit Hub Daily: August 6, 2026

, updated:

Why later in life is maybe the perfect time to read ancient classics (and why it’s never too late to love art for art’s sake). | Lit Hub Criticism Finding unexpected inspiration while writing from Ted Hughes’s childhood home: “The

‘Mission’ Clip: George MacKay & Rosy McEwen Lead Edinburgh Competition Title

EXCLUSIVE: Paul Wright’s latest feature Mission, starring George MacKay and Rosy McEwen, debuts in competition at this year’s Edinburgh Film Festival and Deadline can unveil a first look clip. The film’s official synopsis reads: “Dylan (MacKay) has reached the end of his tether with his dead-end job and lonely, unfulfilling existence. Over the course of […]

Relitigating Trump's old failures to distract from new ones

, updated:

Republicans go all in on the politics of grievance.

Pluralistic: Eternal Sloptember (06 Aug 2026)

, updated:

Today's links Eternal Sloptember: Mark Zuckerberg and the fantasy of social media without socializing. Hey look at this: Delights to delectate. Object permanence: Delany x The Onion; Duran Duran x Second Life; Spammers x blog pings; Privacywashing v Doordash; Good ideas are popular. Upcoming appearances: Edinburgh, Sydney, Melbourne, Brighton, London, South Bend. Recent appearances: Where I've been. Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em. Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em. Colophon: All the rest. Eternal Sloptember (permalink) I'm sure that working in social media – dealing with people as mass statistical abstractions – is a cognitohazard, the sort of thing that could make anyone a little solipsistic, convinced that everyone else is a kind of stimulus-responding automaton lacking the interiority that you yourself experience. But when it comes to Mark Zuckerberg, I'm increasingly convinced that he didn't acquire his worldview through the self-inflicted brain damage of his long exposure to the back-end of a vast social media system. I think the causal arrow points in the other direction: I think that Zuck founded Facebook because he doesn't really believe that other people are truly real, at least not as real as he is. We see this in Facebook's very earliest days, as we see it today, as we see it at every critical juncture in Facebook and Zuckerberg's history. Consider Facebook's origins, founded by a young Zuckerberg in his dorm as a means to nonconsensually rate the fuckability of his fellow Harvard undergrads: https://mashable.com/article/mark-zuckerberg-lying-about-facebook The boy Zuck was delighted and surprised that so many of his fellow students entrusted him with their data but even then, he had no inkling as to why they would do so. Privately, he jeered at his users for trusting him, calling them "dumb fucks": https://www.theregister.com/offbeat/2010/05/14/facebook-founder-called-trusting-users-dumb-fcks/294365 Zuck has since prosecuted history's most ruthless war on privacy, a surveillance campaign that would put the Stasi to shame and make Orwell scoff at the hacks butchering his work with over the top absurdities. Zuck doesn't think you deserve any privacy, but boy does he ever value his own. This is a guy who bought the four houses surrounding his San Francisco home and left them empty in order to form a buffer zone: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/10/us/mark-zuckerberg-palo-alto.html?unlocked_article_code=1.3VA.4Avp.cVm3LUnvajRK&smid=url-share When a single candid photo of Zuck and his family in their kitchen leaked (from Facebook!), Zuck, his lawyers, and his operatives treated it as a three-alarm fire: https://abc7news.com/archive/8933289/ Zuckerberg's acquired a vast Hawaiian acreage and left most of it undeveloped, fenced off and patrolled by guards to prevent anyone from catching a glimpse of his private life. In order to acquire this acreage, Zuck exploited a dirty legal tactic called "heirs property," which leverages the informal basis of indigenous land claims by locating a single person with a colorable claim to their distant relatives' territory in order to force an auction of the ancestral land: https://www.wired.com/story/mark-zuckerberg-secretive-hawaii-compound-burial-ground/ If Zuck thought other people are as real as he is, he wouldn't spy on them in ways he himself could never tolerate. He certainly wouldn't pay fancy white-shoe lawyers to steal their land out from under them. At heart, Zuck is a billionaire solipsist to beat all other examples of the form – a billionaire social media solipsist who sees others as manipulable collections of statistical abstractions, and not as people at all: https://pluralistic.net/2025/08/18/seeing-like-a-billionaire/#npcs When Zuck is forcibly reminded that other people do indeed exist, he takes it very badly. He's insisted that Sarah Wynn-Williams, a former FB exec turned whistleblower, must pay him $111,000,000 as punishment for her excellent tell-all memoir Careless People. His lawyers say that Wynn-Williams violates the non-disclosure and non-disparagement "agreement" of her old Facebook employment contract merely by standing motionless and silent for an hour on-stage: https://pluralistic.net/2026/06/27/zuckerstreisand-2/#autodisparagement Once you realize that Zuck doesn't really think other people exist, "the metaverse" starts to make a lot more sense. Why would Zuck light $61b on fire in a bet that we will all stand still while he converts us and everyone we love into legless, sexless, low-polygon, heavily surveilled cartoon characters that he imprisons in a virtual world he stole from a 25 year old satirical dystopian cyberpunk novel? It's easy to understand if we're all non-player characters – if that's true, then the metaverse is surely our native habitat. For Zuck, people aren't co-equals with needs that are as real and important as his own. For Zuck, people are problems to be solved. He embodies Terry Pratchett's maxim (voiced by Granny Weatherwax) that "sin is when you treat people like things." Nowhere is this sin more on display than in Zuck's relationship to the social connections that bind together the users of his platforms. Zuck has benefited enormously from the fact that you love your friends more than you hate him, but (because hell is other people), you can't all agree on when to leave and where to go next, so you stay put on Facebook and Instagram: https://locusmag.com/feature/commentary-cory-doctorow-hell-is-other-people/ For Zuck, the fact that you and your friends have trapped one another in a mutual hostage-taking is maddening, because those friends who've tied you to his platform refuse to organize their social contact with you to "maximize your engagement" with Facebook and Insta, which would let him maximize the number of ads he shows you. Rather, these friends just want to be your friends, which means that they don't want to get into stupid endless fights to keep you replying or stage little entertaining skits to keep you scrolling. At first, Zuck tried tweaking his algorithm to replace your friends with trolls who'd bait you into flamewars. When that petered out, he stole a march from Tiktok and recruited an army of theater kids to do amateur dramatics for you in exchange for the promise of an intermittent reward schedule payment for the sketches that got the most views: https://pluralistic.net/2026/04/17/for-youze/#forever The problem (for Zuck) is that theater kids are also people and they resent being jerked around by the algorithm and ripped off by Meta's rigged revshare slot-machine. Last year, he started signaling that he would replace the theater kids – and your friends – with chatbots: https://sfist.com/2025/05/01/mark-zuckerberg-gets-roasted-for-saying-the-average-american-has-fewer-than-three-friends-while-pushing-ai-chatbots/ Chatbots have been a catastrophic bet for Meta, far worse than the metaverse. Meta shares are in a death-spiral as investors figure out that when Zuck fired all his coders and replaced them with chatbots while spending $300b on AI, he was excising the heart of the company's skilled workforce, pissing away all its free cash-flow, and sinking into a bottomless pit of debt to produce a substandard product that no one wants, at the expense of the company's only profitable lines of business: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ai-bubble-tech-selloff-investment-consumer-business-demand/ But Zuck is sure that chatbots can solve his most pernicious problem: the search for a gimmick that will keep you locked to his platform that is under his complete control. Zuck doesn't want to rely on your friends with their unwillingness to maximize your engagement. He doesn't want to depend on volatile and unpredictable trolls to bait you into sticking around to argue and see more ads. He wants to be shut of theater kids and their amateur dramatics that inevitably come with demands for decent treatment. For Zuck, chatbots dangle the promise of social media without socializing. Zuck thinks he can solve all his problems by imprisoning you in a house of mirrors where you interact with LLMs that are tuned to keep you scrolling no matter what, chatbots that will never demand anything of Meta. He's been at this for a while, and each generation of chatbots was worse than the last. How bad? The last batch had to be killed off after they took to luring children into explicit sexual role-play: https://archive.is/fopCh Nevertheless, the dream of a world without people is one that Zuck can't let go of. Solipsism's seductive song convinced him to buy a company called Social.ai, which specializes in trapping people in conversations with chatbots, and now he's announced his plan to flood Facebook and Instagram with LLM slop: https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/402263/ The amazing thing about this is that Zuck is talking about chatbots as a way to capture a younger audience for his graying platforms. Kids hate chatbots. My 18 year old and her friends use "that's so AI" as a pejorative to dismiss anything distasteful or ugly: https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/gen-z-attitude-ai For Zuck – who owns a controlling share of voting stock in his company and need not answer to his board – it's a spectacular act of delusional self-sabotage. Zuck refuses to understand that the majority of his users are on his platform because they love their friends more than they hate him. Zuckerberg is on a relentless quest to isolate you from the friends who keep you on his platform and transfer your bond to groups of people (and now chatbots) who can be commanded by Zuckerberg. Only someone who doesn't think other people are real could believe that you'd prefer to talk to chatbots rather than your friends – or that a habit of talking with chatbots would be so hard to break that you'd endure an ever-increasing number of advertising interruptions to maintain those pointless conversations. In 1993/1994, AOL connected its millions of users to the public internet. These users were unaccustomed to the internet's conversational and technical norms, and they kept coming. It wasn't that the old internet was incapable of absorbing surges of new users: every September, an incoming class of undergraduates found their way online through their universities' computer labs. But the AOL bridge was different: the flood of users was much larger, and it never stopped. The old internet people who struggled to transfer the culture and techniques of the internet to that flood of newbies called it the "Eternal September." For the Facebook and Instagram users who are about to be buried in an endless botshit avalanche, this is the beginning of the "Eternal Sloptember." From here on in, the slop only gets worse and thicker and harder to avoid. Zuckerberg refuses to acknowledge that he owes his fortune to the fact that his users love each other more than they hate him, so he has set out to shatter those bonds of love and sharpen that hatred. It won't end well. Zuck and people like him call themselves "high agency," a disgusting bit of jargon meant to denote someone who has real interiority, wishes and desires (as opposed to the rest of us, who do as we're told and stay where we're put). Zuck's "agency" isn't higher than yours or mine. The difference between him and us is that he doesn't think we're really real, and we know that he's really a monster. Hey look at this (permalink) Can AI agents conduct open-ended AI research? Early evidence from two case studies https://cruxevals.com/crux/can-ai-agents-conduct-research/ Meta Adding Millions Of AI-Generated 'Users' To IG, Facebook https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/402263/ The Oligarchs are Doubling Down on Republicans https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/the-oligarchs-are-doubling-down-on rent, always rent https://backofmind.substack.com/p/rent-always-rent I replaced a $120k bowling center system with $1,600 in ESP32s https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48968606 Object permanence (permalink) #25yrsago Samuel Delany interviewed by The Onion https://web.archive.org/web/20010810115550/http://www.theonionavclub.com/avclub3727/bonusfeature1_3727.html #25yrsago Evil Burger King customers https://web.archive.org/web/20010805001648/http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/2645/index.html #25yrsago Definitive search engine optimization primer https://web.archive.org/web/20011006095612/https://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/templates/print_template.htmlt?meta=/webmonkey/01/23/index1a_meta.html #20yrsago Only traitors try to make us afraid of terrorists https://web.archive.org/web/20060418102222/https://www.cato.org/pubs/regulation/regv27n3/v27n3-5.pdf #20yrsago Swingin’ big band song about rejecting surveillance https://web.archive.org/web/20060818220142/http://movies.crooksandliars.com/HYHEMix.mp3 #20yrsago Duran Duran moves to Second Life, will gig there http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/5253782.stm?ls #20yrsago Seventy percent of blog-pings are from spammers https://web.archive.org/web/20060820151227/http://www.sifry.com/alerts/archives/000436.html #20yrsago London’s derelict cinemas https://web.archive.org/web/20060809210918/https://www.derelictlondon.com/cinemas.htm #10yrsago Foreign influence: how a Chinese businessman funneled $1.3M to Jeb Bush’s campaign https://web.archive.org/web/20160803180101/https://theintercept.com/2016/08/03/gop-lawyer-chinese-owned-company-us-presidential-politics/ #10yrsago Researchers learn about wire-fraud scam after scammers infect themselves with their own malware https://spectrum.ieee.org/nigerian-scammers-infect-themselves-with-own-malware-revealing-new-wirewire-fraud-scheme #5yrsago End bankruptcy shopping https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/07/hr-4193/#shoppers-choice #5yrsago Doordash privacywashes its war on workers https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/07/hr-4193/#boss-app #1yrago Good ideas are popular https://pluralistic.net/2025/08/07/the-people-no-2/#water-flowing-uphill Upcoming appearances (permalink) Virtual: EFFecting Change: Who the Machine Serves, Aug 12 https://www.eff.org/event/effecting-change-who-machine-serves Edinburgh International Book Festival with Jimmy Wales, Aug 17 https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/events/the-front-list-cory-doctorow-and-jimmy-wales Sydney: The Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Aug 23-24 https://festivalofdangerousideas.com/program/ Melbourne: Enshittification at the Wheeler Centre, Aug 25 https://www.wheelercentre.com/events-tickets/season-2026/cory-doctorow-enshittification Brighton: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Carole Cadwalladr (Brighton Dome), Sep 8 https://brightondome.org/whats-on/LSC-cory-doctorow-the-reverse-centaurs-guide-to-life-after-ai/ London: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Riley Quinn (Foyle's Picadilly), Sep 9 https://www.foyles.co.uk/events/enshittification-cory-doctorow-riley-quinn South Bend: An Evening With Cory Doctorow (Notre Dame), Oct 6 https://franco.nd.edu/events/2026/10/06/an-evening-with-cory-doctorow/ Vancouver: BC Policy Solutions Gala, Nov 12 https://bcpolicy.ca/gala/ Recent appearances (permalink) The AI Enshittification Bubble (Hidden Forces) https://hiddenforces.io/podcasts/the-ai-enshittification-bubble-cory-doctorow/ F@#$ the AI Overlords (On The Media) https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/articles/f-the-ai-overlords Why AI Won't Replace Workers, But Will Crash The Economy (Smart Cookies) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRRmUuxJolY AI and the Enshittification Era (The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dAIJRjb-Bw AI is not inevitable (Betakit) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbiTVkq1WHo Latest books (permalink) "The Reverse-Centaur's Guide to AI," a short book about being a better AI critic, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, June 2026 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374621568/thereversecentaursguidetolifeafterai/ "Canny Valley": A limited edition collection of the collages I create for Pluralistic, self-published, September 2025 https://pluralistic.net/2025/09/04/illustrious/#chairman-bruce "Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, October 7 2025 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374619329/enshittification/ "Picks and Shovels": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about the heroic era of the PC, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2025 (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865908/picksandshovels). "The Bezzle": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about prison-tech and other grifts, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2024 (thebezzle.org). "The Lost Cause:" a solarpunk novel of hope in the climate emergency, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), November 2023 (http://lost-cause.org). "The Internet Con": A nonfiction book about interoperability and Big Tech (Verso) September 2023 (http://seizethemeansofcomputation.org). Signed copies at Book Soup (https://www.booksoup.com/book/9781804291245). "Red Team Blues": "A grabby, compulsive thriller that will leave you knowing more about how the world works than you did before." Tor Books http://redteamblues.com. "Chokepoint Capitalism: How to Beat Big Tech, Tame Big Content, and Get Artists Paid, with Rebecca Giblin", on how to unrig the markets for creative labor, Beacon Press/Scribe 2022 https://chokepointcapitalism.com Upcoming books (permalink) "The Post-American Internet," a geopolitical sequel of sorts to Enshittification, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2027 "Unauthorized Bread": a middle-grades graphic novel adapted from my novella about refugees, toasters and DRM, FirstSecond, April 20, 2027 "Enshittification, Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It" (the graphic novel), Firstsecond, 2027 "The Memex Method," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2027 Colophon (permalink) Today's top sources: Currently writing: “Once Is Enemy Action,” a science fiction novel about the origins of modern technofascism. Today's words: 604 (1940 total). "The Post-American Internet," a sequel to "Enshittification," about the better world the rest of us get to have now that Trump has torched America. Fourth draft completed. Submitted to editor. A Little Brother short story about DIY insulin PLANNING This work – excluding any serialized fiction – is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. That means you can use it any way you like, including commercially, provided that you attribute it to me, Cory Doctorow, and include a link to pluralistic.net. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Quotations and images are not included in this license; they are included either under a limitation or exception to copyright, or on the basis of a separate license. Please exercise caution. How to get Pluralistic: Blog (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): Pluralistic.net Newsletter (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://pluralistic.net/plura-list Mastodon (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic Bluesky (no ads, possible tracking and data-collection): https://bsky.app/profile/doctorow.pluralistic.net Medium (no ads, paywalled): https://doctorow.medium.com/ Tumblr (mass-scale, unrestricted, third-party surveillance and advertising): https://mostlysignssomeportents.tumblr.com/tagged/pluralistic "When life gives you SARS, you make sarsaparilla" -Joey "Accordion Guy" DeVilla READ CAREFULLY: By reading this, you agree, on behalf of your employer, to release me from all obligations and waivers arising from any and all NON-NEGOTIATED agreements, licenses, terms-of-service, shrinkwrap, clickwrap, browsewrap, confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-compete and acceptable use policies ("BOGUS AGREEMENTS") that I have entered into with your employer, its partners, licensors, agents and assigns, in perpetuity, without prejudice to my ongoing rights and privileges. You further represent that you have the authority to release me from any BOGUS AGREEMENTS on behalf of your employer. ISSN: 3066-764X

Nobody actually knows if El-Sayed is the weaker Michigan Senate candidate

, updated:

The differences in the data between Haley Stevens and Abdul El-Sayed are tiny — and the uncertainty is huge

Trump Tries to Bleach the Country

Up to 350,000 Haitians have now lost their Temporary Protected Status in the United States, and they are only one ethnic group among the more than 1.3 million people that the Trump administration wants out.

This week Alex speaks to a woman in Florida named Harlaine, who has worked on the frontlines as a COVID nurse, lived in the US since she was just a child, and now faces the dangerous reality of being forced to return to Haiti.

Then Alex speaks to The Bulwark’s Jonathan V. Last about the lack of empathy among Republican voters, and the clear racial motivations of the White House in ending the humanitarian program.

Hate listening to ads? Become a Friends of the Pod subscriber for ad-free episodes of Pod Save America, Pod Save the World, Lovett or Leave It, Runaway Country, Offline with Jon Favreau, and more—plus exclusive content, including bonus episodes of Pod Save America. Subscribe now at crooked.com/friends, on Apple Podcasts, or through the Pod Save America YouTube channel.

You can also request a transcript by emailing transcripts@crooked.com. Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48 hours for delivery.

Build a Raspberry Pi Pico route finder using Dijkstra’s algorithm

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Build a pocket-sized route finder with Raspberry Pi Pico and navigate your way to treasure using proper computer science.

The post Build a Raspberry Pi Pico route finder using Dijkstra’s algorithm appeared first on Raspberry Pi.

Rainn Wilson Voices New Zealand Rom-Com Series ‘Settling’

Rainn Wilson is lending his voice to Settling, a rom-com series out of New Zealand. Wilson, best known for playing Dwight Schrute in the U.S. version of The Office, provides the voiceover for the series. The show is for Sky New Zealand’s free TV net Three and its streaming counterpart ThreeNow. Settling is billed as a contemporary […]

How to Navigate Amazon’s E-Reader Monopoly

, updated:

I made a promise to myself (and my partner) after we were forced to find a new apartment unexpectedly and had to deal with moving all of my books: from now on I would make an effort to read more

Encountering the Ghost of Ted Hughes in His Childhood Home

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During my tempestuous teenage years, I was attracted to the work of Sylvia Plath. I voraciously read her poems, as well as The Bell Jar and Paul Alexander’s 2003 biography, Rough Magic. Her work resonated with me unlike any poet I had read

Why My 85-Year-Old Friend Has Devoted the Last Years of Her Life to Reading the Ancient Classics

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Joan is eighty-five years old, and I fell a little in love with her on Thanksgiving. She was sitting on our couch reading a copy of The Aeneid that she had plucked from the bookshelves that line our family room.

5 Book Reviews You Need to Read This Week

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Our mixum gatherum of marvelous reviews this week includes Rachel Vorona Cote on Paul Yoon’s Etna, Anahid Nersessian on Jorie Graham’s Killing Spree, Daniel Felsenthal on Molly Crabapple’s Here Where We Live Is Our Country, Walton Muyumba on on Claudia Rankine’s Triage, and Hermione

Considering the Many Forms a Family Can Take in Japanese Literature

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Growing up, my mother and I often joked that I was a thirty-year-old in a ten-year-old’s skin. That happens when you’re an only child with a tendency toward bookishness—you spend all your time around adults, read much more than the

Writing a Novel and Hiking a Mountain Are Pretty Similar, Actually

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In July 2020 my twin sister Madelynn and I had decided we were tired of being apart, of quarantining alone in our homes—mine in Syracuse, NY, where I was an MFA student drafting my first “novel” and hers in East

Radiant Star by Ann Leckie

I absolutely loved Ann Leckie’s Imperial Radch trilogy, particularly the first book, Ancillary Justice which blew me away when I first read it.

Since then I’ve enjoyed the other books she’s written in the same universe, dealing with the fallout of the events in the original series. Radiant Star is the latest addition to the canon.

I think the story falls into the category of planetary romance; the narrative is very much driven by the unique characteristics of the world we find ourselves on. Or should I say, in. The setting here is a rogue planet without a sun. Everything happens underground in an technology-mediated ecology that works great until it doesn’t.

This is a self-contained story with just vague rumours and nods to the events of the Imperial Radch trilogy. By the end of the book, those events—and the subsequent decisions reached in Translation State—make themselves felt keenly.

There’s a lot in here about infrastructure, admin, religion, hierarchy, social structures and power dynamics. I have to admit that the initial groundwork laid out at the start of the book was tough going, but once the story hit its stride, it really took off. Stick with it.

Any Ann Leckie book is guaranteed to be a good read, and Radiant Star is no exception. I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Buy this book

The Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers: Fiction

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Here are this week’s Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers for fiction, based on sales in hundreds of independent bookstores nationwide, generously provided by the American Booksellers Association. Compiled, designed, and distributed by The Independent Publishers Caucus. * 1. The Calamity

The Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers: Nonfiction

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Here are this week’s Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers for nonfiction, based on sales in hundreds of independent bookstores nationwide, generously provided by the American Booksellers Association. Compiled, designed, and distributed by The Independent Publishers Caucus. * 1. Braiding Sweetgrass:

Whyteface

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Once upon a time, but not so long ago, there was a woman who disobeyed her father by loving another man. The hot slap of her rebellion was heightened by the gulf in the social positions of the two men

Who's Responsible for This Mess?

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The media must name names

The characteristics of a truly open document standard format

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A truly open document format requires free public availability, royalty-free standards, and no usage restrictions. Organizations like the Open Knowledge Foundation and the European Union use several core rules to guarantee long-term data access, system independence, and freedom from single-vendor control. Core Openness Criteria Public Specification: The complete format rules

Let’s all meet up in the Y2K

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Back in 2024 I posted a few of these on Twitter ( thread reader) after digging out old photos from the dot-com boom. I was working in London at a digital agency called Blueberry. Please take a seat for peak translucent plastic frutiger aero aesthetic, long before the term was coined, and some period flashbacks if you were working on the web at this time.

I’d come from graphic design agency Form, but wanted somewhere to do bigger web projects with other likeminded souls. Blueberry was more like a social club than a job, and we still shipped a lot of work for clients like Laura Ashley, Ben & Jerry’s, Ted Baker, The Times, Boo.com, Snow24, and many more I forget. Everything I produced was hand-coded in HomeSite: HTML, JS, CSS. This was before browser CSS support came of age, so it was all table layouts with single pixel spacer gifs: good times!

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If you’d like to know how crazy those days were: at one point they asked me to work a weekend and I already had plans, so they asked what it would take. I wanted a classic FIAT 500, so I named the price of the car: multiple thousands of pounds. The management said yes, it was their only option. So that’s what I got paid for a weekend building a site nobody else could get done.


Home & Away

That’s me on the left of the first shot, curling my bottom lip when I’m deep in thought as I still do today. I must be 23 or 24 years of age. HomeSite undoubtedly open somewhere in Windows. The reindeer on my monitor pooped little brown jelly beans when you pressed down on its rear end, a gift from my girlfriend at the time.

On the desk facing the camera, my good friend Morgan Gibbons’ (Creative Artworker extraordinaire) Graphite Power Mac G4 tower, Apple CRT, translucent Pro Keyboard and Mouse, Sony headphones, promotional postcards: Phwoar! G4, some Renault Clio car porn, and of course a nice cup of tea. His desktop wallpaper is Quake III, which we all used to play over the LAN “…in your face!”. There’s an official Dreamcast magazine in the corner featuring Crazy Taxi, which dates this photo to March 2000. I also spy a Bowser wrist rest in front of the keyboard, an Apple mouse mat with rainbow logo, and an Iomega Zip drive just to its right.

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Bubblegum iMacs were everywhere on the floor. My one sat dark among paper trays; another was sitting pretty on with Mac OS X Aqua-era desktop art, with a mismatched purple translucent mouse. Cold Fusion was the hottest back end programming language at the time, and Mark Stradling was our guy for that. I seem to remember he drove a classic Triumph Spitfire car during his time off.

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Later I moved upstairs onto a secret project and upgraded to a Sony VAIO PCG-Z600RE laptop, a Palm Vx, and a Sony Ericsson phone. And of course I had a test iMac of my own. We can see my being a FIAT fan boy because by this point I was driving the car I bought with a weekend’s earnings. There’s also a NGPC (Neo Geo Pocket Color) in its box nestled amongst the mess of my desk, and a promo copy of Dreamcast game Crazy Taxi for me to take home.

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For some reason I’m sat at somebody else’s desk, sizing up the height and fit of the chair. Diesel jeans and jumper, Deliverance food box on the partition (decades before Deliveroo, Just Eat, Uber Eats, etc). I guess we must have been working late one night.

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After that I think I complained and got moved downstairs again, sitting next to the legend that is Shaun Jackson, who I am still in touch with. IIRC I’m helping him out with a tricky bit of page layout!

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Getting Things Done

The open plan floor, with offices at either end and a kitchen half way down, was all curved purple desks and CRT monitors. A hive of activity and house music or drum’n’bass. I have fond memories of BT ( Movement in Still Life), various Deep Dish compilations ( Yoshiesque) and the back catalogue Omni Trio being played regularly, at least by me.

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Closer in: two computers per-desk, magazines and CD-ROMs on the partition, a MiniDisc player!

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Everybody was always moving around as they worked on different projects. I’m pretty sure this is another photo from Morgan’s desk when it was one island away from his first desk. The PlayStation 2 and Phwoar! G4 are the giveaway. I’m sure somebody will be able to date that fashion magazine.

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Reception

The entrance from the corridor: frosted Blueberry doors, glass wall looking into the bar stools, Christmas lights still up in the atrium.

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Inside, reception had chrome stools and a bar-height counter. Visitors could surf the web sat in dentist chairs with iMacs on swing arms. Naturally!

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Backroom

There was servers cabinet in most rooms, and we had a dedicated server room: rackmount drives, a switch with a bird’s nest of blue patch cables, a CRT console in the middle of the stack, and a beige tower on the floor beside it. It was in the server room that unwitting people were first subjected to Goatse (do not search this) and were cries would echo around the building as one of the network guys lost a game of Quake III or Unreal Tournament.

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Todo

This whiteboard has my name next to some of Thursday’s tickets:

  • Finish Instant Win — Matt
  • All other graphic changes — Matt
  • Home page — Karen/Gus
  • Store designs / Postcard designs / Banner ads / Affiliate section — Gus/Karen

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Viral Email

We had a sister company called Magic Button that did affiliate marketing. Unfortunately, a girl who worked there sent an intimate email to a guy she knew. He forwarded it to his friends, who forwarded it to their friends, and so on, until there were so many news reporters swarming the building that the girl had to take a few months off to calm things down. You can read more about that at The Guardian, 15th December 2000.


Game Over

By April 2001 the downturn was already in the trade press, and eventually the liquidators arrived.

Just before they claimed everything, I took a Bubblegum iMac as a parting “gift”. Then a second one, because the first didn’t have a DVD drive. For a while that machine ran OS 9 and briefly the OS X Preview. I used it to play imported DVDs and learn more about how Mac OS X worked.


Credits

Thanks to Morgan Gibbons and Anthony Hogbin for some of the photos and memories.

August 5, 2026

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On August 5, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln signed into law a new tax to help fund the United States government during the Civil War.

Ukraine, Lenin and Sultan-Galiev

, updated:

Re-reading Richard Pipes’ "The Formation of the Soviet Union"

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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I've been on quest to see if we could bridge AT Proto and RSS. I love the brightly colored-editors that are popping up inside AT Proto Land, and I want them to play with us in the land of RSS.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

, updated:

I asked Claude for a list of popular feed readers that hook into WebSub. Turns out it wasn't a simple answer.

How I became an entrepreneur

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Well, I run a product and a service that I make available using a fair amount of tech infrastructure now. I've been building it for a few months and we've been launched for three weeks as of today, even. Given how the tech industry is, that practically makes me an expert! This means that I'm going to take today's article to pontificate a bunch about how I came to entrepreneurship and what I think our government could do to make entrepreneurship happen more. Buckle in and hear my (deeply inspirational and not at all awkward for the innovation community) story!

Elon Musk’s preposterous and possibly harmful prediction about robotic surgery

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Some predictions are off. This one is way off.

Last Call - Tonight, 7pm ET - Our Weekly Hopium Paid Subscriber Get Together

, updated:

Welcome New Subscribers!/Lots To Talk About Tonight!

Semantically Speaking: You Can't Ground AI with AI

, updated:

The semantic foundation has to come from outside the model and the company should own it

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

, updated:

RSS.chat now supports WebSub. This means that posts on RSS.chat will appear instantly in compatible feed reader apps.

Fitbit Now Syncs With Apple Health

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Juli Clover: Google Health (previously the Fitbit app) collects fitness, sleep, and wellness data from a connected wearable device. Steps, distance traveled, heart rate, sleep, and more can now be added to Apple Health. As noted on Reddit, some data such as HRV doesn't transfer over. […] Syncing can be enabled after downloading the update […]

Mail Attempting to Sync Previous Recipients Despite Setting

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Jeff Johnson (Hacker News): Nonetheless, when I send an email in Mail app, from a non-iCloud account to an non-iCloud account, Mail immediately triggers an iCloud connection, as revealed by Little Snitch. […] What could Mail be querying and saving in CloudKit when I’ve disabled Mail in iCloud? […] As you can see in my […]

Telegram Temporarily Removed for CSAM

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Hartley Charlton (The Verge): Apple briefly removed Telegram from the App Store on Monday night after a review found content that violated its guidelines against child sexual abuse material (CSAM), but restored the app a short while later, according to Reuters. It seems like this was a symbolic gesture. Removing the app didn’t affect any […]

Jo Mendoza (AZ-6) Checks Back In With The Hopium Community

, updated:

AZ-06 is one of our best pick up opportunities this cycle, and this Marine, another one of our candidates of character and virtue, is in a very strong position to make it happen this November

The Real Meaning of El-Sayed's Victory

, updated:

It's not what you're hearing

Let Compounding Do the Heavy Lifting

, updated:

Small advantages, consistently applied.

This Week In The Big Picture

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In 2010, Republicans in Wisconsin rode the Tea Party wave to a trifecta of government control in the state, winning the governorship and both houses of the state legislature.

Rogue Scholar improves author profiles

This week the Rogue Scholar author profiles that were launched in June were improved in several important ways. Author profiles are now generated fully automated from the pubic ORCID profile and therefore automatically available for all authors with an ORCID, and affiliation profile pages are now also available.

The ORCID

New England’s Best Beaches (And How We’re Protecting Them)

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Our favorite shores deserve to be protected from climate change, pollution, and other threats.

The post New England’s Best Beaches (And How We’re Protecting Them) appeared first on Conservation Law Foundation.

Proxmox officially supports Arm, with some caveats

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Proxmox today announced their Proxmox Virtual Environment is now available for 64-bit ARM.

I tested it on my Ampere Altra Dev Platform—the same machine on which I've booted Windows on Arm the first time, messed with multiple GPUs, and most recently tested Houdini's native arm64 support.

Proxmox VE running on Ampere Altra Max workstation

Install was easy, as the Ampere Altra uses UEFI / ACPI for its hardware, meaning Proxmox didn't have to tailor its ISO to specific platforms, like you have to do with Raspberry Pis and most SBCs using a Device Tree setup.

Whetherday

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Digressions & shit, or vice versa Willy Staley in the NYTimes: To O’Mara, the diet is not just a temporary means of losing weight but a way to eat for good. He has been doing it for 10 years, and credits it with turning his life around. At one point in our conversation he pulled […]

An In-Depth Look At Last Night's Elections And The 2026 Elections More Broadly (New Video)

, updated:

Sharing my conversation from earlier this morning with April Ryan of the Contrarians

Wednesday afternoon session in Belfast

Wednesday afternoon session in Belfast

Wednesday afternoon session in Belfast

Heroes And Life Drawing

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Writing of lasting value

Seasons (playlist)

, updated:

A playlist for all seasons, just for kicks. 🌱☀️🍂❄️

feat. Cassius, Bebu Silvetti, Phoenix, The Blue Nile, Cocteau Twins, XTC, The Style Council, Chicane feat. Justine Suissa, Tears For Fears, Lifeformed, Josh Rouse, Guillemots, Prince, and Merz.


Playlists

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

Export Updates 2026-08-05:

Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places

17 updated places. 8 new and 16 updated linked data sidebars.

1. Downloads: https://pleiades.stoa.org/downloads

2. pleiades.datasets: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades.datasets:

"main" branch:

0eabe6a9 - updated json

no change: rdf/ttl

0e5199d4 - updated gis package

fc8a3f3f - updated data quality

0c786f76 - updated bibliography

6034d67c - updated indexes

0be77eaf - updated sidebar

3. pleiades-geojson: https://github.com/ryanfb/pleiades-geojson:

446a1e27 - updated geojson and names index

4. pleiades_wikidata: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades_wikidata/:

fd2963ee - updated pleiades wikidata

Caveat RE sidebar: vici.org API is returning zero matches for Pleiades. Last known good vici data has been used.

On Independence

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No sponsorships. No affiliate links. No outside money. The rules Worse on Purpose runs on, written in public, for readers to enforce.

‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Triumph “Bodes Well” For ‘Avengers: Doomsday’, Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro Says

Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro congratulated rival Sony Pictures Entertainment on Spider-Man: Brand New Day, saying its spectacular opening “bodes well” for Disney’s forthcoming Avengers installment. Speaking on the company’s quarterly earnings call Wednesday, D’Amaro called last weekend’s debut “an unbelievable result.” At $360 million in the U.S., Brand New Day topped Disney’s Avengers: Endgame with […]

‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’: Jennifer Stone Recalls Feeling “Wonderfully Weird” Playing Harper Finkle Again For Spinoff Finale

SPOILER ALERT! This post contains details from the final season of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. If there was one role that might bring Jennifer Stone back to the small screen, it would be Harper Finkle. After saying goodbye to Wizards of Waverly Place, Stone went to nursing school. She’s been largely working in the field […]

Wednesday morning session in Belfast

Wednesday morning session in Belfast

Wednesday morning session in Belfast

Hopium AM - Michigan Senate Still Too Close To Call, Some Notes On Why The Polling Was So Off In Michigan, Let's Go Win The Midterms Everyone

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I will be on live with the Contrarians at 915am ET this morning, paid subscribers gather tonight at 7pm ET

Disney Earnings Buoyed By ‘Toy Story 5’, Theme Parks, Streaming Profit; Books $100M Tariff Refund

Disney’s Josh D’Amaro stepped out with solid numbers and some news in his first full quarter as CEO. Toy Story 5 drove studio revenue, theme parks saw an uptick in attendance, and streaming profits more than doubled for the three months ended in June. Total operating income for Disney’s fiscal third quarter jumped 21% $5.6 […]

Worm Leaves Scathing Yelp Review of RFK Jr.’s Brain

, updated:

The worm’s review began on a discouraging note, claiming that Kennedy’s brain was “almost impossible to find.”

Pluralistic: Google is a scammer's paradise (05 Aug 2026)

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Today's links Google is a scammer's paradise: The internet's absentee landlord. Hey look at this: Delights to delectate. Object permanence: DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS; EZ realistic corpse; $300m login button; Short Uber; Who goes AI? Upcoming appearances: Edinburgh, Sydney, Melbourne, Brighton, London, South Bend. Recent appearances: Where I've been. Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em. Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em. Colophon: All the rest. Google is a scammer's paradise (permalink) Forget "Don't be evil"; Google's true motto is a form of vulgar spidermanism: "With great power comes no responsibility." The internet's de facto boss is an absentee landlord. Google – a thrice-convicted monopolist – is the gateway to the internet, with more than a 90% search market share that it attained by buying out all its competitors and bribing Apple more than $20b/year not to start a rival search engine: https://www.democracynow.org/2024/8/6/google_monopoly Google likes to position itself as a wise steward of the internet. They say they use their vast troves of data about the internet and its users to connect the right person with the right information at the right moment. As their mission statement has it, "organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful": https://www.google.com/intl/en_us/search/howsearchworks/our-approach/ The tacit argument is, "Sure, we repeatedly violated antitrust law in order to monopolize the internet, but the internet needs a monopolist. It's scary out there! We have amassed power so that we can protect and guide you." It's a bullshit argument and no one should accept it – but even if you think it's worth harnessing monopoly power to promote a wise king to rule over the internet, you'd still want Google to take that responsibility seriously. If we're to have a landlord for our civilization's digital nervous system, let's not have it be an absentee landlord. Google is an absentee landlord. In 2019, they chose to deliberately worsen search results in order to make you search repeatedly to find the information you're seeking, because every fresh query lets them serve fresh advertisements: https://pluralistic.net/2025/05/26/babyish-radical-extremists/#cancon Not all of Google's enshittification can be attributed to deliberate sabotage. Much of it is the result of neglect. Ask Google for a product review and they'll pass over the most rigorous, honest websites on the internet in favor of affiliate scammers who repackage Amazon best-of lists to peddle overpriced, underperforming junk that's sometimes so bad it's dangerous: https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/21/im-feeling-unlucky/#not-up-to-the-task Google keeps announcing that it Takes This Problem Very Seriously – and then nothing happens: https://pluralistic.net/2024/05/03/keyword-swarming/#site-reputation-abuse And of course, Google AI search results present the company with a highly refined and confident-sounding way to launder spam into product recommendations: https://pluralistic.net/2025/07/15/inhuman-gigapede/#coprophagic-ai Could Google do better? Provably so. Kagi, a small company that runs a search engine powered by Google's own search index consistently delivers results that are substantially superior to Google's – using Google's own infrastructure: https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/04/teach-me-how-to-shruggie/#kagi If Kagi (a startup with a handful of engineers) can extract useful search results from Google's databases, then Google – a thrice-convicted monopolist that's had its pick of thousands of the top computer scientists from the world's most prestigious universities for a generation – could also do so. They just choose not to. They're too big to fail. They're too big to jail. They're too big to care. Google's AI search isn't a way to fix its broken core product: it's a way to partially remediate the damage Google itself inflicted on the open internet, while imprisoning the web in a walled garden that would make Steve Jobs drool: https://pluralistic.net/2026/06/29/arsonist-firefighters/#im-feeling-lucky It's a deadly combination: Google has committed hundreds of billions to stock buybacks and its AI money-furnace, financed by mass layoffs targeting the people who keep the core services useful. The too-big-to-care company is still the internet's gatekeeper, but half the guards at the gate have been fired and the other half have pulled so much overtime that they keep falling asleep on the job. Google has become a scammer's paradise. Take Google's "answer box." This is the part of the search results page that tries to answer your query directly, without sending you elsewhere for that info. Back in 2023, Google's Answer Box was taken over by scammers who impersonated airline help desks. When Google's users searched for airlines' toll-free phone numbers, Google directed them to phones that rang in the scammers' boiler room, where they were tricked into giving up their passport info and credit card numbers to boiler-room thieves: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/phone-numbers-airlines-listed-google-directed-scammers-rcna94766 (This was an especially devastating attack because the airlines themselves hide their customer service phone numbers – as enshittified monopolists, they want your money, not your complaints – so it's normal to search Google for the number you're seeking, rather than scouring the airlines' deliberately confusing customer service sites.) This is especially galling because Google has an extensive "verified merchant" program that goes to enormous lengths to establish the true identity of every merchant whose businesses are listed on Google, in maps, ads and search results. Google "knows" which URLs belong to the airlines. If it can be tricked into scraping a different website for the airlines' phone numbers, that's because Google couldn't be bothered to connect its own database of canonical airline URLs to the process that serves phone numbers to the 90% of the web-using public who search with Google. Google's database of the canonical URLs for businesses doesn't stop at airlines or even large businesses. Nearly every local merchant has undergone Google's verification process, which includes a step where Google physically mails a postcard with a unique number to the merchant's registered address, which the merchant must then key into Google to prove that they're located where they say they are. Despite this, Google's ad-sales system will happily sell anyone the right to advertise a different website for queries for specific merchants, and those ads appear above the real result for the business's website. To make this even worse, Google's spent years making it more difficult to distinguish ads from "organic" search results, changing the font and size of the "ad" warning to make it harder to spot, and making the font and color of the ad itself closer to the color of the search results below it. This is a gift to fraudsters. I had my own run-in with it in 2023, when I was tricked by a Google ad into ordering dinner from my local Thai place using a scam site that had cloned the restaurant's menu. The scammers marked up the price by 15%, then passed the order on to the restaurant, pocketing the vig: https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/24/passive-income/#swiss-cheese-security This scammer – based out of a UC Berkeley dorm-room – had copied hundreds of restaurant websites, then bought Google ads for the restaurants' names, ensuring that searchers would see the scam result before the real one. Remember: Google knows what the true URL is for every one of those restaurants but it sold the scammer ads for a different URL that appeared when people searched for the restaurant by name. Google could trivially add a step to the ad sales pipeline that detects mismatches between a merchant's known URL and the URL in an ad bought against the merchant's name. It could automatically resolve these mismatches by sending an email to the merchant's verified email address that says, "Hey, are you buying an ad with a new URL? If so, just reply to this email." I don't know why Google doesn't do this. Maybe they make huge sums from these scam ads and they don't want to forego the revenue. Or maybe they just don't care. Whichever it is, there's real consequences for this negligence by the internet's absentee landlord. Take abortions: fake abortion clinics – where pregnant women are bullied or tricked out of the abortions they're seeking – buy Google ads against the names of real abortion clinics. Google makes millions sending abortion-seekers to fake abortion providers: https://pluralistic.net/2023/06/15/paid-medical-disinformation/#crisis-pregnancy-centers Google started off as the ideal "intermediary" – the fancy economist's term for a "middleman." They took as their duty to figure out the best websites for you to look at based on your interests, serving as an honest broker between internet users and internet publishers. In the quarter-century since the company's founding, as it transformed itself into a monopolist, it developed the curse of every intermediary: it got Main Character Syndrome. This is Tim Wu's formulation: the reason for an intermediary existence is to serve the parties to the transaction. Ebay says it exists to connect buyers and sellers, Uber is supposed to connect drivers and riders, dating sites are supposed to connect people with their love-matches. But intermediaries are cursed with an enviable position: by dint of sitting between these different groups of people, the intermediary learns everything about both sides of the transaction, while each side only knows about its own position. Amazon knows the price you're willing to pay, it knows who's set the lowest price, and it knows how many identical items that match your query are for sale. But the sellers don't know any of that, and you only know some of it. By capitalizing on that information (rather than using it to efficiently match buyers and sellers), Amazon can match you with the sellers willing to pay the highest junk fees, rather than the ones who offer the best price for the best goods: https://pluralistic.net/2023/11/03/subprime-attention-rent-crisis/#euthanize-rentiers This is Wu's Main Character Syndrome in action. Once Amazon attains a dominant market share, it can maximize its own welfare at the expense of its buyers and sellers, transforming itself from a helper to a parasite: https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/lawfare-daily–tim-wu-on–the-age-of-extraction Google says it wants to "organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful," but every dime it spends fighting fraud (a critical part of this mission!) is a dime it can't spend on stock buybacks, executive compensation and AI servers. "Organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful" is the mission of a good intermediary; "do the absolute minimum to fight fraud" is the mission of a formerly good intermediary with terminal Main Character Syndrome. Google keeps finding ways to expose its users to fraud while lining its own pockets. That restaurant markup scam that caught me in 2023? Three years later, it's way worse. San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu just filed suit against GuestReservations.com, BookOnline.com and Booking Holdings for running a massive version of the restaurant menu scam – one that extracted millions from people booking hotel rooms: https://www.kron4.com/news/bay-area/alleged-sf-hotel-booking-scam-had-up-to-85-markup-fees-city-attorney/ Here's how the scam worked: these companies put up websites with deceptive URLs, like SanFranciscoMarriott.GuestReservations.com, and then bought the associated Google ad-word ("San Francisco Marriott"). At the top of Google searches for "San Francisco Marriott booking" was the ad for SanFranciscoMarriott.GuestReservations.com. This site would sell you a room at the Marriott, at a markup of 35% to 85%. This is a pure ripoff. If Google had served the correct result at the top of the page – if it had used its own database of confirmed merchants and their associate websites to validate its ads – then people booking hotels would have saved 35% to 85% on their rooms. City Attorney Chiu says that the perps here registered domains for all kinds of hotels, even tiny ones in small towns, all over America. That means that it's not just visitors to San Francisco who got screwed by these creeps – it's also San Franciscans who booked hotel rooms around the country. Google bears the lion's share of the blame here, but Visa and the other credit card companies are critical to these scams. Card companies allow merchants to set terms of service that refuse refunds under almost any circumstances, and, more often than not, the card issuers side with the merchants over their own customers when they call to cancel a charge from one of these scammers. I discovered this for myself when I was tricked into buying theater tickets from a ripoff site that had registered the URL of the show I wanted to go to. I figured out that I'd been rooked within a minute of clicking the buy button, but it took months and multiple appeals – and ultimately a threat to cancel my credit card – to get Visa to refund me. Visa – another bloated monopolist with terminal Main Character Syndrome – can see that it has merchants who generate zillions of appeals and charge-backs because they run scam businesses like these. They could treat these merchants as the fraudsters they are, but because the crooks wreathe themselves in gauzy excuses and lengthy terms of service, Visa enables these massive, nationwide cons. Google, Visa and the other monopolists who serve as de facto regulators for our society have arrogated to themselves the power to observe every transaction and block the obvious scams. We pay for their failure to take minimal, obvious steps to protect us from the scammers who thrive on their platforms. Why should they? They're the main characters. They're Bizarro-world spidermen, whose great power confers no responsibility. Hey look at this (permalink) When the AI bubble bursts, will Europe be ready? https://www.euractiv.com/opinion/when-the-ai-bubble-bursts-will-europe-be-ready/ Gavin Newsom Makes An Ass Of Himself On Antitrust, Paramount Merger https://www.techdirt.com/2026/08/04/gavin-newsom-makes-an-ass-of-himself-on-antitrust-paramount-merger/ Against Self-Fulfilling Prophecy https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/against-self-fulfilling-prophecy Arson markets https://www.merkley.senate.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026.08.03-LTR-Wildfire-Prediction-Markets-FINAL.pdf Eight Myths on Software Engineering and GenAI https://queue.acm.org/detail.cfm?id=3807963 Object permanence (permalink) #25yrsago Steve Ballmer: DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS http://www.ntk.net/ballmer/dancemonkeyboy.mpg #15yrsago HOWTO E-Z realistic corpse from a cheap plastic skeleton https://propnomicon.blogspot.com/2011/08/quick-and-dirty-corpses.html #15yrsago $300 Million Button: making customers create logins to buy cost etailer $300M/year https://centercentre.com/ #10yrsago 1 billion computer monitors vulnerable to undetectable firmware attacks https://www.defcon.org/html/defcon-24/dc-24-speakers.html#Cui #10yrsago Stiglitz quits Panama’s official money-laundering panel over internal sabotage https://www.reuters.com/article/us-panama-tax-idUSKCN10G24Z/ #10yrsago BBC will use surveillance powers to sniff Britons’ wifi and find license-cheats https://web.archive.org/web/20160806155022/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/05/bbc-to-deploy-detection-vans-to-snoop-on-internet-users/ #10yrsago How and why to short Uber https://qz.com/707947/investors-have-placed-a-one-way-bet-on-uber-which-made-us-want-to-figure-out-a-way-to-short-it #5yrsago Facebook's official disinformation research portal is a bad joke https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/06/get-you-coming-and-going/#potemkin-research-program #5yrsago Scammers sell griefers social media banning services https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/06/get-you-coming-and-going/#curse-of-bigness #1yrago Which jobs can be replaced with AI? https://pluralistic.net/2025/08/06/unmerchantable-substitute-goods/#customer-disservice Upcoming appearances (permalink) Virtual: EFFecting Change: Who the Machine Serves, Aug 12 https://www.eff.org/event/effecting-change-who-machine-serves Edinburgh International Book Festival with Jimmy Wales, Aug 17 https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/events/the-front-list-cory-doctorow-and-jimmy-wales Sydney: The Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Aug 23-24 https://festivalofdangerousideas.com/program/ Melbourne: Enshittification at the Wheeler Centre, Aug 25 https://www.wheelercentre.com/events-tickets/season-2026/cory-doctorow-enshittification Brighton: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Carole Cadwalladr (Brighton Dome), Sep 8 https://brightondome.org/whats-on/LSC-cory-doctorow-the-reverse-centaurs-guide-to-life-after-ai/ London: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Riley Quinn (Foyle's Picadilly), Sep 9 https://www.foyles.co.uk/events/enshittification-cory-doctorow-riley-quinn South Bend: An Evening With Cory Doctorow (Notre Dame), Oct 6 https://franco.nd.edu/events/2026/10/06/an-evening-with-cory-doctorow/ Vancouver: BC Policy Solutions Gala, Nov 12 https://bcpolicy.ca/gala/ Recent appearances (permalink) The AI Enshittification Bubble (Hidden Forces) https://hiddenforces.io/podcasts/the-ai-enshittification-bubble-cory-doctorow/ F@#$ the AI Overlords (On The Media) https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/articles/f-the-ai-overlords Why AI Won't Replace Workers, But Will Crash The Economy (Smart Cookies) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRRmUuxJolY AI and the Enshittification Era (The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dAIJRjb-Bw AI is not inevitable (Betakit) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbiTVkq1WHo Latest books (permalink) "The Reverse-Centaur's Guide to AI," a short book about being a better AI critic, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, June 2026 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374621568/thereversecentaursguidetolifeafterai/ "Canny Valley": A limited edition collection of the collages I create for Pluralistic, self-published, September 2025 https://pluralistic.net/2025/09/04/illustrious/#chairman-bruce "Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, October 7 2025 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374619329/enshittification/ "Picks and Shovels": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about the heroic era of the PC, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2025 (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865908/picksandshovels). "The Bezzle": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about prison-tech and other grifts, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2024 (thebezzle.org). "The Lost Cause:" a solarpunk novel of hope in the climate emergency, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), November 2023 (http://lost-cause.org). "The Internet Con": A nonfiction book about interoperability and Big Tech (Verso) September 2023 (http://seizethemeansofcomputation.org). Signed copies at Book Soup (https://www.booksoup.com/book/9781804291245). "Red Team Blues": "A grabby, compulsive thriller that will leave you knowing more about how the world works than you did before." Tor Books http://redteamblues.com. "Chokepoint Capitalism: How to Beat Big Tech, Tame Big Content, and Get Artists Paid, with Rebecca Giblin", on how to unrig the markets for creative labor, Beacon Press/Scribe 2022 https://chokepointcapitalism.com Upcoming books (permalink) "The Post-American Internet," a geopolitical sequel of sorts to Enshittification, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2027 "Unauthorized Bread": a middle-grades graphic novel adapted from my novella about refugees, toasters and DRM, FirstSecond, April 20, 2027 "Enshittification, Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It" (the graphic novel), Firstsecond, 2027 "The Memex Method," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2027 Colophon (permalink) Today's top sources: Currently writing: “Once Is Enemy Action,” a science fiction novel about the origins of modern technofascism. Today's words: 623 (1336 total). "The Post-American Internet," a sequel to "Enshittification," about the better world the rest of us get to have now that Trump has torched America. Fourth draft completed. Submitted to editor. A Little Brother short story about DIY insulin PLANNING This work – excluding any serialized fiction – is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. That means you can use it any way you like, including commercially, provided that you attribute it to me, Cory Doctorow, and include a link to pluralistic.net. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Quotations and images are not included in this license; they are included either under a limitation or exception to copyright, or on the basis of a separate license. Please exercise caution. How to get Pluralistic: Blog (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): Pluralistic.net Newsletter (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://pluralistic.net/plura-list Mastodon (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic Bluesky (no ads, possible tracking and data-collection): https://bsky.app/profile/doctorow.pluralistic.net Medium (no ads, paywalled): https://doctorow.medium.com/ Tumblr (mass-scale, unrestricted, third-party surveillance and advertising): https://mostlysignssomeportents.tumblr.com/tagged/pluralistic "When life gives you SARS, you make sarsaparilla" -Joey "Accordion Guy" DeVilla READ CAREFULLY: By reading this, you agree, on behalf of your employer, to release me from all obligations and waivers arising from any and all NON-NEGOTIATED agreements, licenses, terms-of-service, shrinkwrap, clickwrap, browsewrap, confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-compete and acceptable use policies ("BOGUS AGREEMENTS") that I have entered into with your employer, its partners, licensors, agents and assigns, in perpetuity, without prejudice to my ongoing rights and privileges. You further represent that you have the authority to release me from any BOGUS AGREEMENTS on behalf of your employer. ISSN: 3066-764X

An Explosion of Misery

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Making American hungry and uninsured again

Lit Hub Daily: August 5, 2026

Maybe you just need a writing date with Rumpelstiltskin. | Lit Hub Craft On Etna, The Call of the Wild, and the enduring appear of the canine narrator. | Lit Hub Criticism Here are ten great nonfiction titles to read

Jeanine Pirro crashes into the limit of Trump's lies

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It's one thing to bullshit on Fox. It's another to lie in court.

Eli Roth Admits ‘Ice Cream Man’ Features Generative AI After He “Mispoke” About Using The Technology

Ice Cream Man features a scoop of AI. That’s the revelation from horror director Eli Roth after he admitted to adopting the technology in a “few scenes” of the slasher film, despite initially saying that animated sequences were brought to life traditionally. In an interview on Monday, the Hostel helmer was asked if he used […]

llamafile v0.10.5

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llamafile v0.10.5 is out! Updated llama.cpp core support lets you run two huge models locally: the compressed 6GB Ternary Bonsai 27B and the fast 118B Laguna-S-2.1 coding MoE. This release also fixes docs and adds pre-built transcribefile speech-to-text binaries.

Edinburgh Television Festival Advisory Chair Adam Hawkins Urges Industry To “Embrace Change” In Confab’s Final Year In Scotland

“If this Edinburgh is all about embracing change and embracing the future, then maybe we should do the same with the festival.” That’s the verdict from Adam Hawkins, the advisory chair of the final ever Edinburgh Television Festival, which is held later this month in Scotland’s capital. In an interview with Deadline, the Netflix UK […]

Walt Disney Company & TikTok Ink Global Short-Form Content-Sharing Deal

The Walt Disney Company and TikTok today announced a global deal that will allow social media content creators and fans to access and use memorable scenes from Disney movies and shows.  The new pact, which will pilot in the US in the coming months with other markets to follow, will bring a collection of curated Disney-centric fan-created content from […]

Catherine Zeta-Jones Takes On The Seven Demons In Revenge Thriller ‘Kill Jackie’

Catherine Zeta-Jones has to take out a group of hitmen before they get to her in Kill Jackie – and pictures from the upcoming drama have just dropped. Zeta-Jones plays Jackie Price in the revenge thriller, which is for Prime Video in multiple territories including the UK and will be on AMC+ in the U.S. […]

Vulnerabilities in Car Anti-Theft Device

This is disturbing:

…a team of security researchers at UC San Diego, who found that a model of aftermarket car alarm known as the KARR Security System, installed in more than 2 million vehicles across the US by their estimate, can let any hacker within Bluetooth range send radio commands to silently unlock the car at will, turn off its alarm, honk the car’s horn or flash its lights, or even disable its ignition and leave a driver stranded.

On the Poetics of Canine Narration

They tread a landscape existentially threatened by human wreckage yet are drawn to their fellow species, intriguing and strangely self-destructive. They decipher human scents, collaborate with people to survive, protectively sleep at their bedside and sometimes attack. But above all,

10 Great Nonfiction Titles to Read This August

From the hard, hard courts of professional tennis to the mean screens of social media to the life and times of an iconic indie rock songwriter, this month has something for everyone. * Matthew Futterman, The Cruelest Game Even the

How Harlem and Jamaica Inspired the Music of Harry Belafonte

The cultivation of sweet-tasting foodstuffs has shaped Caribbean history for five hundred years. And in the late 1800s, after slavery’s end in the British islands, sugar was joined by another cash crop for which a market was fast emerging up

Generational Storytelling: Writing For My Grandmother and My Daughter

When my Icelandic grandmother, my amma, was in her early eighties, my mom took her to the doctor for a check-up. By then, Amma was hard of hearing and had Alzheimer’s. She didn’t catch what the doctor said. “He says

Beneath the Wallpaper: On Art, Photography and Hidden Everyday Violence

From the linen a squall rises and the bones of Norman horses line the channel. The storm, like the needle, has a round and guiding eye. WILLIAM’s fleet lands at England’s southern shore, short a couple ships. Here the Normans

Rumpelstiltskin is My Unlikely Writing Companion

A few years ago, scrolling through social media when I should have been writing, I came across a photo of the Lady Bird edition of Rumpelstiltskin. Struggling to remember the specifics of the story, I googled it. There, in the

Awake Awake

All is recollection save for the slender membrane of now. Every present thought, every present feeling, collides with a league of their familial ghosts. And if our lives in this moment seem flimsy, that is because they are. We dwell

LibreOffice project and community recap: July 2026

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Here’s our summary of updates, events and activities in the LibreOffice project in the last four weeks – click the links to learn more… We had one update in July: LibreOffice 26.2.5, the fifth maintenance update to the LibreOffice 26.2 branch. We also said a big welcome to our new

2026-08-05 The cloud giants

2026-08-05 The cloud giants

I’m listening to the Tech Won’t Save Us podcast episode How Cloud Giants Wield Their Power Against Us All with Dr. Cecilia Rikap where she and Paris Marx talk about “control without ownership” and how the cloud giants are essentially in charge of everything. All the AI companies being financed by them, all the consultancies helping companies and governments to move to the cloud, all the startups taking advantage of the cloud deal, the AI tokens, all the academics on the payroll of cloud giants, all the open source software developers laying the ground work for tools that end up on the cloud … to me it feels as if cloud computing enables most of the economy to work just like roads used to enable most of the economy to work in the previous century. The only difference being that all these digital roads are toll roads owned by three companies: Amazon, Microsoft, Google. And these companies are beholden to the US government. Remember their hollow grins as they were sitting at Trump’s table. I’d say that cloud computing should be nationalised, like most of the roads and railways I see around me, and be broken up by anti-trust efforts. And if your first thought are about not wanting to stifle innovation with regulation or that monopolies are only a problem if prices go up, consider who has been telling these stories and whether we should trust them.

#AI

Office Hours: How are you coping?

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Friends,

Vanishing Culture #6: What We've Learned with Vida Vojić & Alice Bridgwood

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What does it mean to preserve culture in an age of disappearing websites, platform-controlled media, and fragile digital memories? In the final episode of our special six-part series on Vanishing Culture, Future Knowledge hosts Dave Hansen and Chris Freeland sit down with musician and series host Vida Vojić and producer Alice Bridgwood to reflect on the conversations, ideas, and lessons that emerged throughout the series.

Read Vanishing Culture for free at the Internet Archive or purchase in print: https://archive.org/details/vanishing-culture-2026

Locarno Film Festival Head Giona A. Nazzaro Talks Mission To Liberate Spectators In The Age Of The Algorithm As 79th Edition Kicks Off

The Locarno Film Festival opens today with the world premiere of French directorial duo Fanny Liatard and Jérémy Trouilh’s The Green Eyes in front of 8,000 spectators on the lakeside town’s Piazza Grande. The opening ceremony will also see Isabella Rossellini feted with the festival’s Excellence Award, with further honorees across the festival including Darren […]

Making Videos With Absolute Freedom

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As with every video that we make at Purism, we have made the Librem 16 launch video in house with Librem hardware running PureOS, and using free software only. This blog post will give a quick overview of the steps that we went through for making this video. It will also show how to run a video project with total freedom, away from proprietary constraints. Finally, it underlines how amazing the Librem laptops are when used in a professional creative environment.

The post Making Videos With Absolute Freedom appeared first on Purism.

Jason Sudeikis Sets Up ‘Ted Lasso’ Season 4: “It’s Getting Back To Doing What He Loves”

SPOILER ALERT: The following reveals major plot points from Apple TV’s Ted Lasso Season 4 premiere. It’s been more than three years since we caught up with Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) and all his fabulous friends and loved ones back in Season 3. Following a hiatus, the Apple TV series Ted Lasso is back, and […]

Paddling out of the doldrums

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Between waiting for work projects to get rolling, quitting my novel project earlier in the year, wrapping up my main digital aura series blog posts, and losing my cat at the end of June, I’m feeling a bit in the doldrums* and could use a little creativity reboot. I’ve toyed with analog artistic mediums over […]

Gregg Sulkin Says “It Took Three Seconds” To Return To Mason Greyback For ‘Wizards Beyond Waverly Place’ Finale: “All I Had To Do Was Look At Selena”

SPOILER ALERT! This post contains details from the final season of Wizards Beyond Waverly Place. Gregg Sulkin can rest easy knowing there’s a universe out there where Alex Russo and Mason Greyback are still together. “I mean, I think, in my heart, Alex and Mason are always endgame,” he recently told Deadline after a brief […]

August 4, 2026

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On Friday night, a court filing from Capital One denied there was any political motivation behind the closure of more than 380 bank accounts in the names of Donald Trump and the Trump Organization.

‘The Odyssey’ Extends Run At Alex Theatre After Becoming Highest-Grossing 70MM Exhibitor Who Had Not Screened A New Movie In 35 Years

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey continues to break records, and now the highest-grossing theater exhibiting the film in 70mm is extending its run. L.A.’s historic Alex Theatre will continue to exhibit the fantasy epic through August 20, 2026, following audience demand. The Odyssey was the first-run movie at the theater since Terminator 2: Judgment Day in […]

Big-Bucks-Generating Disney Consumer Products Unit Shifts To Studio Umbrella

In Disney’s second corporate shift to the entertainment tent in six months — and just before CEO Josh D’Amaro leads its Q3 earnings report tomorrow morning — the company unveiled plans to to move its revenue-rich Consumer Products division. The shift seeks to create “cohesion across the entire Disney ecosystem and extending the relevance of […]

What I love about Django

The best parts of Django are the ones you stop noticing — a tour of the abstractions that have given Buttondown the most leverage over the years.

Wednesday 5 August, 2026

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Airstreamed surrealism This is a photograph of something that is both real and surreal. It’s of the reflections in the side of a beautiful Airstream food truck at Knepp, shot in bright sunshine with minimal post-processing. Quote of the Day … Continue reading →

Chooseday

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Working to kill off cookie notices The IEEE’s cookie notice says, “This website utilizes technologies such as cookies to enable essential site functionality, as well as for analytics, personalization, and targeted advertising. Privacy Policy.” Its privacy policy, at that last link, says it collects eighteen kinds of personal information, and says one of the purposes […]

★ OpenAI Responds to Apple’s Lawsuit and Motion for Preliminary Injunction: ‘Apple Is Getting This Wrong’

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A blog post is an unusual way to respond to a high-stakes lawsuit, but OpenAI is an unusual company. A few snippets from their post, and some commentary.

Sherrod Brown, Our US Senate Candidate In Ohio, Checks Back In With The Hopium Community

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Excited to share this update from one of the most important races in the country

The Small Cases Tell a Bigger Story

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It’s a mistake to dismiss Trump’s weaponization of the DOJ even over the small matters

Iran Cyberattacks Against Minnesota Water Systems

Attribution is preliminary, and so far it seems no real damage.

And it seems like this is a campaign that has targeted at least seven states. And, because this is where the US is right now, Trump doesn’t believe it’s Iran and that Minnesota…I guess…hacked itself.

“I think I blame it on Minnesota because they’re grossly incompetent,” Trump said. “I would blame it on Minnesota and the governor, the corrupt governor of Minnesota. They like to say, ‘Oh, it’s Iran.’ Iran should be so lucky. Iran’s got bigger problems than worrying about Minnesota.”...

OpenAI Open Letter Responds to Apple Lawsuit

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Sarah Perez (Hacker News): Apple is now seeking a preliminary injunction in its trade secrets case against OpenAI, which aims to stop the AI model maker from moving forward with developing an AI device or other products based on Apple’s technology. […] In a new filing, Apple is requesting expedited discovery from the accused OpenAI […]

Confidential Apple Files in iCloud

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Juli Clover: The way Apple combines work and personal iCloud accounts left some employees able to access confidential documents after departing the company, reports The Information. The site spoke to more than half a dozen former Apple employees who were unknowingly left with access to sensitive content. […] Apple told The Information that the OpenAI […]

Apple Fires Engineer Who Kept Customer Device IDs Private

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Ryan Merket (Hacker News, PDF): The company said his performance was the reason, according to a lawsuit Boardman filed in San Francisco Superior Court. Boardman says that explanation was a pretext. His version of the story begins three years earlier, inside Apple’s technical relationship with the largest wireless carriers in the United States, with a […]

We're still socialists

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I was into Ayn Rand when I was a teen until I realized that the Great Man theory was a lot of bunk written for teenagers who can't believe how stupid the adults are. The teens are right about that, the adults have no idea wtf they're doing. Never did. And yet somehow the world can support most of the humans. And the reason that works is we build systems iteratively to meet the needs for everyone and when things change, they change. We're a species-oriented animal. And that means unfortunately for the dreamers among us, we are socialists because the world is socialist All of us. Even the people who say they aren't.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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2019: "This will be remembered as the time we all waited for someone else to take the risk, not wanting to disturb our lives. The spoiled citizens of a country that fought wars without a draft, that got tax cuts in time of war, inflated our economy as we inflicted chaos on others.”

@IIIF Mastodon feed

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Join us on Aug. 12 for a demo of Flagrate: an AI-assisted tool that detects and annotates elements in images and video, generates descriptions, and delivers a valid #IIIF Presentation API 3.0 manifest.

Zoom: iiif.io/community

Christina Bohannan (IA-01) Checks In With The Hopium Community

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IA-01 is one of very best pick up opportunities this cycle, and Christina is one of our very best candidates.......

EMERGENCY PODCAST SYSTEM: Michiganders, Please Vote in a CRITICAL Primary Today!

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AND Important Primaries in Kansas, Missouri, Virginia and Washington

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

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My GodotCon on all the neat things we did for Xogot on Mac:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQymogtztNs&list=PLXumVVNWQOfU&index=4

More gripes about RSS feeds from newspaper websites

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I am continuing work on my Feed News Archive project, adding feeds from US newspaper websites. There is a combination of sites that do not offer feeds, sites with difficult ways to access feeds, some WordPress VIP sites that block access to their feeds (?!) and one (Seattle Times) that seems to only allow access […]

@Andy Sylvester's River of News

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Dave Winer talks about how to create a standard in 2026, but offers RSS.chat as the standard being described. I don’t buy it. Is this project leading to developing a standard for chat networks? I don’t think so….can anyone help me out here?

@Andy Sylvester's River of News

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This story about a pop-up restaurant in Woodstock NY (via Daveverse) is puzzling. My takeaway is that they did not have enough staff – did people not want to work in Woodstock?

Big Walk is out today

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For months, I’ve heard rumblings about a cool new game coming out from the people that did the Untitled Goose Game. Last month, I was lucky enough to get to play it in a beta test version with four friends in the same room, working together on screen.

How our tiny computers learnt to count sheep (and spot hi-vis jackets)

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Exploring the rise of artificial intelligence and how Raspberry Pi is making an impact at the edge.

The post How our tiny computers learnt to count sheep (and spot hi-vis jackets) appeared first on Raspberry Pi.

Three Months Out Democrats Have A Legit Shot At Taking Both The House And Senate

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Senate Republicans are attempting to institutionalize Trump's unprecedented corruption today - we need to hit the phones everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

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Export Updates 2026-08-04:

Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places

12 new and 40 updated places. 1 new and 7 updated linked data sidebars.

1. Downloads: https://pleiades.stoa.org/downloads

2. pleiades.datasets: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades.datasets:

"main" branch:

e7a63d38 - updated json

no change: rdf/ttl

e21c8d70 - updated gis package

e9e81544 - updated data quality

38bd8811 - updated bibliography

e1da2a23 - updated indexes

b9aa1301 - updated pleiades sidebar

3. pleiades-geojson: https://github.com/ryanfb/pleiades-geojson:

4226f885 - updated geojson and names index

4. pleiades_wikidata: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades_wikidata/:

no update (wikidata query interface unresponsive): pleiades wikidata

Time Travel And Ice Cream

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Writing of lasting value

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

, updated:

Working on one of our last big gaps, Godot .NET Deployment and debugging to iOS devices.

Just a dozen crashes standing in the way.

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

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Caveat for today's exports: vici.org API is returning zero matches for Pleiades. Last known good vici data will be used.

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

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After an hour of repeated query timeout errors from the Wikidata query interface, Pleiades exports will proceed today without the latest Wikidata information.

A blueprint for democracy to defend itself against fascism from 1937 – more important now than ever…

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In 1937, Karl Loewenstein, a German Lawyer published an essay in the American Political Science Review that can only be described as a blueprint for democracy to defend itself against fascism. You probably never heard of the essay entitled “Militant Democracy and Fundamental rights” and despite having a (highschool) degree in history, neither have I. […]

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

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Daily export updates will be delayed while we wait for the Wikidata query interface to become functional.

Former Paramount Exec Donny Hugo Herran Joins Forces With UK’s CMG Productions

EXCLUSIVE: Donny Hugo Herran has teamed with Rebecca Knight and Claire McArdle’s CMG Productions. He will be the UK-based company’s production executive in the U.S. Based in L.A., Herran is a former SVP of Physical Production at Paramount. With CMG, he will support U.S. content companies that want to shoot, finance and co-produce projects across […]

Cast Set For Lincoln Center Theater’s ‘August Wilson’s Seven Guitars’

Lincoln Center Theater announced today the complete cast and creative team for this fall’s August Wilson’s Seven Guitars at LCT’s Off Broadway Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, with Jason Dirden, Russell Hornsby and Kristolyn Lloyd, among others, on board. Directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, the previously announced Seven Guitars begins performances on Thursday, November 5 with an […]

How To Give Everyday People A Say In AI Governance

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The post How To Give Everyday People A Say In AI Governance appeared first on NOEMA.

New Linkin Park Documentary To Bow This September

EXCLUSIVE: The music doc Linkin Park: Unshatter from bandmember Joe Hahn is set to bow September 30. A co-production between the band, CJ 4DPlex and Trafalgar, the film follows the band’s return to the global stage. The pic chronicles Linkin Park’s journey through loss, resilience and creative reinvention, culminating in the From Zero era and live performances […]

How to create a standard, 2026 addition

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TL;DR: What developers need. Enough examples, a validator, and decent docs that value explaining over mathematical elegance. We assume developers can read and think, and if there's doubt look to the examples for guidance.

It's worth noting we did not take the RSS.chat project to a standards body like the W3C or the IETF. I develop the software first, make sure I'm happy with it, then open it up for other developers to try out, either building something compatible (a reader) or competitive (a writing environment). Hopefully we won't find major problems, but if we do, there's still time to address them.

I find that most standards that come out of the standards bodies aren't developed by implementors or with them in mind. They avoid trying to solve any specific problem, rather focusing on the elegance and flexibility of the format. This makes interop much less likely.

I saw the differences several times as the web standards were growing up. The ones that were taken over by the W3C ended up missing the point. They could still be used, but they often did anti-interop things in their design. But if they get popular we will build on them anyway. A great example was XML-RPC vs SOAP. We didn't need another way to do RPC on the web, we already had a good one. We didn't need another syndication format, RSS was growing like a weed. We didn't need an alterative to rssCloud, but we got one anyway.

It's as if they forgot that the internet and web were not build by big corporations, who were busy fighting over Windows vs Mac OS. Lotus vs Excel. The internet was built mostly by individuals at universities. The internet caught the tech industry by surprise. So it's no wonder the formats they built were anti-internet. Long story, the point is we're building stuff is mimimalist yet still does a lot of great things. And there won't be a lot of long mathematical sounding definitions, but there will be plenty of examples and a validator, the tools developers need to create interop.

PS: This piece was added to Rules for Standards-makers (2017).

David Ellison Says CNN Is Root Cause Of Merger Battle, Vows To Play It “Down The Middle”

In a guest essay for The New York Times on Tuesday, Paramount CEO David Ellison says CNN is at the root of opposition to the company’s merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. Concerns about market share are not the main driver of antitrust lawsuits filed by 12 state attorneys general and the Writers Guild of America, […]

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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Last week along with a lot of other stuff, we shipped a validator for lists and feeds that want to be compatible with RSS.chat. It works best for standards to stay strong and a validator helps that. So here are a few examples, validating one user's feed, validating the everyone feed for RSS.chat, which is interesting because this feed starts a lot of threads, so we navigate through that tree and check those feeds too. And validating the user list on RSS.chat, which is an OPML file. And a simple feed with a few interop isses.

Banijay Germany Unveils Structure & Leaders In The Wake Of All3Media Merger

Banijay has set out the structure and management team for its German operations in the wake of its merger with All3Media closing. There was crossover in Banijay and All3Media’s operations in the huge German market, with the combined outfit home to several well-known production labels and execs. The newly merged biz will be called Banijay […]

Fighting the Unchecked Expansion of Lowell’s Markley Data Center

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In Massachusetts’ first lawsuit challenging a data center expansion, Lowell residents are fighting a state permit that would allow more diesel pollution near homes, parks, and a school. The case also challenges a process that let the company operating the facility move ahead before residents had a fair chance to be heard.

The post Fighting the Unchecked Expansion of Lowell’s Markley Data Center appeared first on Conservation Law Foundation.

What would make next week better?

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Just about everyone gets overwhelmed sometimes, and many of us deal with that by working harder. This is a reasonable response to a single unexpected thing, or a bad week, but it’s not the right response to systematic overwhelm. Then you need to stop asking the question “what do I do next” (or worse: “how […]

Warner Bros Korea Sets September Release For ‘The Intern’ Remake, Starring Choi Min-sik & Han So-hee

Warner Bros Korea has set a September 16 release date for its remake of 2015 hit comedy The Intern, with Choi Min-sik and Han So-hee in the roles played by Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway in the original film. Choi, known internationally from Korean films including Oldboy, The Admiral: Roaring Currents and recent hit […]

Men, and Michigan

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It’s primary day in Michigan, and on the ballot are a middle-of-the-road, unexciting moderate Democrat backed by moderate Democratic money in Stevens, and a DSA-adjacent candidate with an economic message in El-Sayed.

CISA Publishes Open Source Security Guidance: Verifiability Is the Difference

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On 30 July 2026, the United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency published Open Source Software: Security Principles and Practices, a 31-page guidance document for federal civilian agencies. It is available at no cost and marked TLP:CLEAR, meaning it may be shared without restriction. The document is addressed to US

What's behind Donald Trump's record-low approval rating?

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The two groups of voters dragging the president’s approval down to new lows

‘I Is Another’ Trailer: Claes Bang Stars As Heinrich Himmler’s Double-Dealing Massage Therapist In Locarno-Bound Drama

EXCLUSIVE: Felix Randau’s post-World War Two drama I Is Another, starring Claes Bang as Heinrich Himmler’s controversial massage therapist Felix Kersten, world premieres at the Locarno Film Festival this week and Deadline can reveal the trailer. The historical drama delves into the conflicting accounts around Kersten’s conduct during World War Two. The late physiotherapist claimed […]

Pluralistic: Post-American compute for a post-American Internet (04 Aug 2026)

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Today's links Post-American compute for a post-American Internet: Building cooperative human rights computing infrastructure in Puerto Rico, the EU, Canada and Mexico. Hey look at this: Delights to delectate. Object permanence: Urine Luck; Germany v pornoscanners; Moorcock's 3-day novels; Women's voices can never be "right"; Drone delivery v reality; Abortion activists: TNG; AI coders are a marketing claim. Upcoming appearances: Edinburgh, Sydney, Melbourne, Brighton, London, South Bend. Recent appearances: Where I've been. Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em. Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em. Colophon: All the rest. Post-American compute for a post-American Internet (permalink) Obviously, the non-American world has a digital sovereignty problem – Trump has means, motive and opportunity to order his tech companies to shut down any public official, large corporation, or individual who displeases him: https://pluralistic.net/2026/06/18/their-trillions-our-billions/#eyes-on-the-prize But Americans face the same digital sovereignty risk. America is a lawless place now, where a pliable Supreme Court and supine Congress have affirmed that "it's not a crime if the president does it." The same tech giants who sold out to Trump for tax breaks and protection from antitrust enforcement will happily disconnect any member of the American public, any American company, any American official who displeases Trump. It's a strange irony that in this moment when so many of us are struggling to "de-Google" our lives, a forcible, sudden de-Googling amounts to a sort of digital death penalty: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/08/21/technology/google-surveillance-toddler-photo.html In a world dominated by tech monopolies, duopolies and cartels, there's every reason in the world to seek protection and insulation from these companies that are "too big to care" – and yet, the very same dominance that makes these companies such a danger also makes them indispensable. Take "ICE Block," an iOS app that warns you if there's an ICE thug hunting people like you in your vicinity, which might save you from being kidnapped, disappeared, sent to a concentration camp, forced into slave labor in El Salvador, or simply murdered. In order to protect its relationship with the Trump regime (and the tax breaks, monopoly power and tariff-free access to Chinese labor that that relationship guarantees), Apple declared ICE officers to be a protected class and then removed ICE Block from its App Store: https://pluralistic.net/2025/10/06/rogue-capitalism/#orphaned-syrian-refugees-need-not-apply Big Tech is key to Trump's pogroms. Without Oracle's databases, Microsoft's administrative tools, Amazon's cloud, and Google's location data, ICE would be frozen in place. Big Tech is the source of Americans' risk from authoritarian oppression. That means that Americans cannot rely on Big Tech to protect them from that authoritarianism. And yet, after decades of regulatory forbearance and lax antitrust enforcement, Big Tech has forced nearly all its rivals out of business. Who can compete with companies that use Irish domicile to evade taxation and US domicile to evade privacy law? There's a joke from eastern Canada I think of often in situations like this. Its punchline goes, "If you wanted to get there, I wouldn't start from here." But here we are. And speaking of Canada, while it has many problems, it is not (as of time of writing) the USA, but it is connected to the USA via the internet. Which means that Americans could – hypothetically – source their computing infrastructure from suppliers that were based in Canada, and who strictly ensured that they had no dependency on US services and scrupulously avoided a US "enforcement nexus": https://pluralistic.net/2023/03/05/theyre-still-trying-to-ban-cryptography/ That is exactly what some American – and international – human rights nonprofits have done. The Technology Freedom Cooperative is a brand new organization founded by the Human Rights Data Analysis Group (San Francisco), Kilómetro 0 (Puerto Rico), Invisible Institute (Chicago), Data Cívica (Mexico) and Innocence & Justice Louisiana: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/techfreedomcoop-stuart-flack-8eipc/ All of these organizations are longstanding, highly effective human rights fighters. They have long, storied histories of collecting, analyzing, and presenting data to address systemic discrimination, false imprisonment, extrajudicial killings, war crimes and genocides. They have concluded that they can't rely on US tech and US servers with their data. Not after Trump and Microsoft colluded to kill the online accounts of the Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to punish him for swearing out a genocide warrant against Netanyahu: https://apnews.com/article/icc-trump-sanctions-karim-khan-court-a4b4c02751ab84c09718b1b95cbd5db3 Tech Freedom Coop has federated computing resources in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Europe. By spreading out their data and computation across multiple jurisdictions, they seek to ensure that a US seizure or deletion of their data will not halt their work. This federated system serves as a replacement for Big Tech's administrative tools – email hosting, cloud storage, document collaboration. More than that: Tech Freedom Coop is also building out its own AI infrastructure, locally hosted and managed. Groups like HRDAG have decades of experience using cutting edge statistical techniques to uncover and reveal the extent of crimes committed during civil wars, hot wars, genocides and secret wars. They built the largest human rights database ever created, to track every death in the Colombian Civil War and estimate the likelihood that each killing was carried out by a CIA-backed militia, FARC guerrillas, or the Colombian military: https://hrdag.org/colombia/ They conducted the first ever census of killing by US police officers: https://hrdag.org/poli/ They partnered with Innocence Project New Orleans to sift through mountains of arrest reports to surface cases similar to successful exonerations, helping more innocents to win their freedom: https://hrdag.org/2025/02/20/ipno/ Today, they are active across the USA, tracking and analyzing the crimes committed by the Trump regime: https://hrdag.org/2026/07/05/naming-police-officers-who-kill-in-california/ And they are working in Gaza, to document the genocide so that someday, the truth can be acknowledged and the perpetrators brought to justice: https://hrdag.org/pressroom/nyt-gaza-toll/ I've known Patrick Ball, the statistician and programmer who founded HRDAG, for more than 20 years, and every time we meet, I learn something from him. He's the person who comes to mind whenever people tell me that AI is useless and that programmers who claim otherwise are deluded. Patrick is one of the best programmers I know, he is the very best statistician I know, and he's found many, many ways to use coding assistants to help him perform massive data-analysis projects that are vital to human rights struggles. He's a "centaur" if ever there was one: https://pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/pop-that-bubble/#u-washington It's exciting to see Patrick and his colleagues and collaborators taking these decisive steps to begin building the post-American internet and a kind of post-bubble AI, where AI tools are treated as normal technologies, capable of helping skilled practitioners who have discernment born of experience to apply them wisely to achieve important things: https://pluralistic.net/2026/07/28/hitl-ers/#ai-ai-oh For more than 20 years, HRDAG has been impressing me with the things we can do using advanced statistical analysis. The current generation of AI tools are founded in advanced stats, too. No one should think that advanced stats can solve all your problems of course. The AI bubble is madness and will lead to ruin – environmental, economic, political: https://pluralistic.net/2026/05/26/the-ai-will-continue/#until-morale-improves The world would be a better place without the AI bubble. But AI? It's fine. It's another form of statistical analysis and inference. There's no reason to use all the planet's energy, computing and water to perform that analysis, but the correct and desirable amount of useful AI-style computation is nowhere near zero. The coop is building good AI tools – ones grounded in a realistic assessment of their usefulness and a reasonable commitment of resources to them. They're running open models based on their own data, on computers they own and control. Their stated goal is to "help organizations test whether models are accurate, reproducible, secure, and appropriate for specific human rights use cases." Which brings me to the final component of Tech Freedom Coop: training. They're teaching people who work in human rights how to administer their own servers, secure their data and communications, and analyze data. As their press release says, these are all "skills that are increasingly necessary for human rights organizations documenting abuses of power." I've known this was coming for a while now, and I'm so pleased to see that it's finally launched. At last, the first steps towards a post-American internet. Hey look at this (permalink) Rappler: Open Source Intelligence Researcher https://gijn.org/jobs/open-source-intelligence-researcher/ Plutonomy—the AI Edition—and the Coming Crisis https://www.levyinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/wp_1122.pdf The Real Story Behind the 2018 Google Walkout https://www.wired.com/story/2018-google-walkout-dont-be-evil-claire-stapleton/ Object permanence (permalink) #25yrsago Asia Carrera’s makeup tips http://www.asiacarrera.com/makeup/welcome.html #25yrsago Tommy Chong's Urine Luck https://web.archive.org/web/20010818124925/https://hempmasters.com/urineluck/ #15yrsago German cops call airport full-body pornoscanners “useless,” EU requires opt out from scanning https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2011/08/german_police_c.html #15yrsago Write an adventure novel in three days, the Michael Moorcock way https://web.archive.org/web/20110705155756/https://wetasphalt.com/?q=content/how-write-book-three-days-lessons-michael-moorcock #10yrsago DRM: You have the right to know what you’re buying! https://www.eff.org/files/2016/08/06/eff_request_for_investigation_re_labeling_drm-limited_products.pdf #10yrsago Bureaucrats disqualify Hong Kong legislative candidates for insufficient loyalty https://globalvoices.org/2016/08/05/hong-kong-election-officials-disqualify-six-legislative-candidates-for-not-being-loyal-enough-to-china/ #10yrsago The Vlogbrothers guide to voting in every state in the union https://www.youtube.com/c/howtovoteineverystate #10yrsago Vocal fry, uptalking, nasal: women’s voices can never be “right” https://www.thecut.com/2016/07/female-voice-anxiety-c-v-r.html #5yrsago Facebook escalates war on accountability https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/05/comprehensive-sex-ed/#quis-custodiet-ipsos-zuck #5yrsago Drone delivery crashes https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/05/comprehensive-sex-ed/#droned #5yrsago Anti-vaxers cool the mark https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/05/comprehensive-sex-ed/#goffman #5yrsago Meet the new generation of pro-abortion activists https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/05/comprehensive-sex-ed/#never-again #1yrago Bragging about replacing coders with AI is a sales-pitch https://pluralistic.net/2025/08/05/ex-princes-of-labor/#hyper-criti-hype Upcoming appearances (permalink) Virtual: EFFecting Change: Who the Machine Serves, Aug 12 https://www.eff.org/event/effecting-change-who-machine-serves Edinburgh International Book Festival with Jimmy Wales, Aug 17 https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/events/the-front-list-cory-doctorow-and-jimmy-wales Sydney: The Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Aug 23-24 https://festivalofdangerousideas.com/program/ Melbourne: Enshittification at the Wheeler Centre, Aug 25 https://www.wheelercentre.com/events-tickets/season-2026/cory-doctorow-enshittification Brighton: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Carole Cadwalladr (Brighton Dome), Sep 8 https://brightondome.org/whats-on/LSC-cory-doctorow-the-reverse-centaurs-guide-to-life-after-ai/ London: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Riley Quinn (Foyle's Picadilly), Sep 9 https://www.foyles.co.uk/events/enshittification-cory-doctorow-riley-quinn South Bend: An Evening With Cory Doctorow (Notre Dame), Oct 6 https://franco.nd.edu/events/2026/10/06/an-evening-with-cory-doctorow/ Vancouver: BC Policy Solutions Gala, Nov 12 https://bcpolicy.ca/gala/ Recent appearances (permalink) The AI Enshittification Bubble (Hidden Forces) https://hiddenforces.io/podcasts/the-ai-enshittification-bubble-cory-doctorow/ F@#$ the AI Overlords (On The Media) https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/articles/f-the-ai-overlords Why AI Won't Replace Workers, But Will Crash The Economy (Smart Cookies) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRRmUuxJolY AI and the Enshittification Era (The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dAIJRjb-Bw AI is not inevitable (Betakit) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbiTVkq1WHo Latest books (permalink) "The Reverse-Centaur's Guide to AI," a short book about being a better AI critic, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, June 2026 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374621568/thereversecentaursguidetolifeafterai/ "Canny Valley": A limited edition collection of the collages I create for Pluralistic, self-published, September 2025 https://pluralistic.net/2025/09/04/illustrious/#chairman-bruce "Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, October 7 2025 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374619329/enshittification/ "Picks and Shovels": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about the heroic era of the PC, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2025 (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865908/picksandshovels). "The Bezzle": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about prison-tech and other grifts, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2024 (thebezzle.org). "The Lost Cause:" a solarpunk novel of hope in the climate emergency, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), November 2023 (http://lost-cause.org). "The Internet Con": A nonfiction book about interoperability and Big Tech (Verso) September 2023 (http://seizethemeansofcomputation.org). Signed copies at Book Soup (https://www.booksoup.com/book/9781804291245). "Red Team Blues": "A grabby, compulsive thriller that will leave you knowing more about how the world works than you did before." Tor Books http://redteamblues.com. "Chokepoint Capitalism: How to Beat Big Tech, Tame Big Content, and Get Artists Paid, with Rebecca Giblin", on how to unrig the markets for creative labor, Beacon Press/Scribe 2022 https://chokepointcapitalism.com Upcoming books (permalink) "The Post-American Internet," a geopolitical sequel of sorts to Enshittification, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2027 "Unauthorized Bread": a middle-grades graphic novel adapted from my novella about refugees, toasters and DRM, FirstSecond, April 20, 2027 "Enshittification, Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It" (the graphic novel), Firstsecond, 2027 "The Memex Method," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2027 Colophon (permalink) Today's top sources: Currently writing: “Once Is Enemy Action,” a science fiction novel about the origins of modern technofascism. Today's words: 692 (692 total). "The Post-American Internet," a sequel to "Enshittification," about the better world the rest of us get to have now that Trump has torched America. Fourth draft completed. Submitted to editor. A Little Brother short story about DIY insulin PLANNING This work – excluding any serialized fiction – is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. That means you can use it any way you like, including commercially, provided that you attribute it to me, Cory Doctorow, and include a link to pluralistic.net. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Quotations and images are not included in this license; they are included either under a limitation or exception to copyright, or on the basis of a separate license. Please exercise caution. How to get Pluralistic: Blog (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): Pluralistic.net Newsletter (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://pluralistic.net/plura-list Mastodon (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic Bluesky (no ads, possible tracking and data-collection): https://bsky.app/profile/doctorow.pluralistic.net Medium (no ads, paywalled): https://doctorow.medium.com/ Tumblr (mass-scale, unrestricted, third-party surveillance and advertising): https://mostlysignssomeportents.tumblr.com/tagged/pluralistic "When life gives you SARS, you make sarsaparilla" -Joey "Accordion Guy" DeVilla READ CAREFULLY: By reading this, you agree, on behalf of your employer, to release me from all obligations and waivers arising from any and all NON-NEGOTIATED agreements, licenses, terms-of-service, shrinkwrap, clickwrap, browsewrap, confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-compete and acceptable use policies ("BOGUS AGREEMENTS") that I have entered into with your employer, its partners, licensors, agents and assigns, in perpetuity, without prejudice to my ongoing rights and privileges. You further represent that you have the authority to release me from any BOGUS AGREEMENTS on behalf of your employer. ISSN: 3066-764X

Andy Beshear Demands to Know if Rand Paul is Brain-Dead

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“I have viewed disturbing video taken last week in the US Senate in which Senator Paul appears to be brain-dead,” Beshear said.

Jesse Eisenberg’s ‘The Debut’ With Julianne Moore & Paul Giamatti To Close BFI London Film Festival

Jesse Eisenberg’s musical comedy The Debut, starring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti, has been announced as the closing film of the BFI London Film Festival in October. The film, which debuts at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, will make its UK premiere at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on October 18. Oscar […]

Lit Hub Daily: August 4, 2026

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Why mothers with babies are the ultimate flâneurs, even if “there aren’t a lot of mother-flâneurs in literature.” | Lit Hub Craft Tracy Borman recommends books by C.J. Sansom, Hilary Mantel, Stephen Alford and more to shape your Tudor obsession. |

The Oligarchs are Doubling Down on Republicans

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And Democrats should make the most of it

New LibreOffice extension: Impress Remote

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LibreOffice extensions are optional, third-party addons for the suite, that add extra functionality. Bora Yarkın has been working on a new extension for LibreOffice Impress, so let’s hear from him about it… Tell us about it! The extension lets you control a LibreOffice Impress presentation from your phone or any

Moderate Democrats have a choice to make

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Do they want to help their party win, or do they want to whine about the left?

Some Claude Chats Are Searchable on Google

And it’s personal information (alternate link):

The exposed data includes an AI-powered therapy app that someone appears to have vibe-coded, notes on meetings, and a dashboard someone made apparently to analyze medical billing data. Exposed chats reportedly include private cryptocurrency wallet keys and personal information like peoples’ addresses.

What seems to be the issue is a user setting about data sharing. Anthropic’s position is that it’s not their problem:

“We give people control over sharing their Claude conversations publicly, and in keeping with our privacy principles, we do not share chat directories or sitemaps with search engines like Google,” the company said in a statement. “These shareable links are not guessable or discoverable unless people choose to share them themselves. When someone shares a conversation, they are making that content publicly accessible, and like other public web content, it may be archived by third-party services.”...

Tuesday morning session in Belfast

Tuesday morning session in Belfast

Tuesday morning session in Belfast

‘Baywatch’ Reboot Beaches At Amazon Prime Video Across Europe, India & Canada

Reach for your red lifebuoy; Baywatch is heading back to Europe and beyond. Fox’s reboot of the 1989 drama has been picked up by Amazon Prime Video across Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Benelux, Switzerland, Austria, Turkey, Canada, Latin America, and India. The deals, brokered by Fremantle, follow Sky acquiring Baywatch in the UK and […]

The Student Activists Campaigning For Public Education in Chile

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On a crisp March day in 2013, the beginning of the antipodal fall, Sofía Brito walked through a wrought iron fence, up a short flight of stairs, and between the slender salmon columns leading into the University of Chile’s Law

The City With a Stroller: Why Babies (and Mothers) Are the Best Flâneurs

In Edgar Allan Poe’s 1840 short story “The Man of the Crowd,” an unnamed narrator sits in a café and watches a busy street. He notes small details about the people passing by, and he categorizes them. The men are

ITV Studios Germany Hires Fabian Tobias With Longtime Boss Christiane Ruff Set To Retire

ITV Studios has hired Fabian Tobias from EndemolShine Germany. He will run ITV Studios Germany and replace Christiane Ruff who will retire in spring 2027 after a long stint running the production business. ITV Studios Germany makes the local versions of hit shows including I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here, The Voice and […]

Complicating the Marriage Plot: A Reading List

For the past six years, I’ve been working on a project that I describe to strangers and casual acquaintances as “a book about flowers,” and to friends and family as “a book about flowers and my not-marriage.” Though the book’s

Tracy Borman Recommends Books To Make You Fall In Love With the Tudors

It’s been a joy imagining the world of Anne Boleyn and her family for my new novel, The House of Boleyn. I loved immersing myself in their beautiful home, Hever Castle—the place where they retreated to plot their next move, celebrate

Etna

Look! See the dogs . . . * I was born near water. I was born on a farm where many other dogs and other animals were born and cared for and lived. I would never learn what the farm

Paul Yoon, Meaghan Beatley, Claudia Rankine, and more: 22 new books out today!

The first week of August brings a windfall of heavyweight literature: a novel by Paul Yoon, a searing nonfiction book of essays by Meaghan Beatley, and a much anticipated work by Claudia Rankine. This is just the beginning: read on

Stop Donating Your Vacation Days to Your Boss

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Nearly 90% of private-sector workers get paid vacation days from their job, but a Pew survey found 46% leave at least some of it on the table. Government survey data also show that the share of workers who are on vacation in any given week has fall by about half between 1980 and 2022. Blame thin staffing, guilt culture, and “PTO bundles” that push people to ration days between vacation days and sick leave. The fix exists elsewhere: the European Union, for instance, guarantees 20 paid days a year. If a Costco cashier is able to vacation in Europe twice, so should you.

Chapters:

0:52 Announcements

2:53 Retcon Marathon

11:01 Terms & Conditions: Statutory Leave

12:04 Big Pilcrow: Vacation Days

14:03 Why Do We Think We Can't Take Time Off?

16:01 No Staffing Slack in the Office

16:51 Vacation Guilt is a Real Thing

18:51 What's Worker Power Got to Do With It?

20:20 Decline in Days Off: What the Data Says

21:17 Vague Numbers of Vacation Days

24:23 Cost of Travel is Up

24:56 Statutory Leave Could Create Jobs

26:28 What are Workers Leaving on the Table?

28:48 How Much Does Vacation Time Cost Employers?

31:08 Vacation Marxist Economics-Style

34:40 The Curse of the Long-Weekend Vacation

38:21 Could the Government Mandate Vacation Time?

42:46 Executive Orders: ACFC wins and Americans with Children Act

46:23 Spiritual Sponsors: Lizards!

The Biggest Cost of Trump

, updated:

It goes far beyond guns vs. butter

Orna Guralnik on Listening for the Unconscious

Welcome to Season Four of The Critic and Her Publics: The Art of the Interview. This season, host Merve Emre talks with professional interviewers of all kinds about how they get the answer they’re looking for, what makes a good

From How to Life Forever: The Longevinauts

When an astrologer tells Mangesh that he’ll (probably) die early, he takes it in stride. But his family and friends (not to mention all the Don’t Die longevity influencers on his FYP) feel differently… and besides, if science can keep his brain sharp and his tennis game strong for longer, why not take advantage? So he visits Dr. Nir Barzelai, the world’s leading aging researcher, and Dr. Ron Primas, an elite longevity doctor, to figure out what he should do. Plus: A chat with Ken Reid from TV Guidance Counselor about age in pop culture, from the Golden Girls to “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.”

Disclosure: The experts we spoke with want to be clear that although they have some minor quibbles with Bryan Johnson, they’re grateful for the fact that he’s started the conversation on longevity. Any insinuation that he’s got weird vibes is ours.

Special thanks to Azadi Records and Bliss Samsa for their beautiful tracks, and Botany for the score.

Episode collage art by Vahini Shori.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being told to sit

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Tiny Things I Do That Make a Room Feel Alive by Colin King “Good rooms often tell you what to do before you think about it. You know where to sit.” + Just a Tool by Frank Elavsky “A chair orders you to sit and sit in a particular way, by its design. “Your being […]

August 3, 2026

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Just before midnight last night, news broke that Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche had rescinded the order of May 18, 2026, establishing a $1.776 billion slush fund for those who claimed that the Department of Justice under former president Joe Biden had persecuted them.

Ariana Grande Says Upcoming Break Was “Not A Reactive Or Impulsive Thing” & Something Planned Although “Boundaries, They Need To Be Set”

Ariana Grande is making it clear that her upcoming break was not a reaction to anything and was planned in advance. During a performance at the United Center in Chicago on Monday night, Grande took a moment to address the audience and speculation around her persona. “So basically, the announcement that was made yesterday was […]

Mary Egida Rivera Dies: ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Actress Was 82

Mary Egida Rivera, actress who portrayed Ned’s Lola on Spider-Man: No Way Home, has died. She was 82. Rivera, who played the grandmother of Ned Leeds (Jacob Batalon) in the 2021 film, died after suffering a stroke. According to an obituary online, Rivera “passed away peacefully on April 15, 2026, in Honolulu.” TMZ reported news […]

JAPAN JUST LOST CONTROL OF ITS FOREIGN CURRENCY RESERVES

On Monday, the 3rd of August, Japan and the US agreed to issue a joint public statement confirming that they coordinated to intervene in the JPY exchange rate. This latest intervention likely cost Japan JPY 8.45 trillion and JPY 5.3 trillion of monetary reserves on Thursday and Friday, respectively, based...

The post JAPAN JUST LOST CONTROL OF ITS FOREIGN CURRENCY RESERVES appeared first on JustDario.

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

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Pretty psyched with my rewrite of the InputMaps in Xogot. Those walls of text were impenetrable.

Before and After:

Trump And Pirro Lied. Why Can’t Legacy Media Just Say it?

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Pirro admitted she prosecuted an innocent man based on fabricated evidence. Guess which word legacy media outlets avoided in their coverage?

Introducing segments

Build a set of filters once, name it, and reuse it as a one-click audience on every future email.

Introducing segments

Build a set of filters once, name it, and reuse it as a one-click audience on every future email.

The Juicy Subtext of the Paul, Weiss Debacle

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I can’t wait to see a movie about the Brad Karp saga.

Rebecca Bennett (NJ-7) Checks Back In With The Hopium Community

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Navy helicopter pilot, healthcare leader, mom, and soon to be the next Member of Congress from NJ-7

One of my classmates from the Irish course I did in Donegal two weeks was on University Challenge tonight—worlds colliding!

One of my classmates from the Irish course I did in Donegal two weeks was on University Challenge tonight—worlds colliding!

A Lesson in AI Economics

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I am a heavy Photoshop user, and recently upgraded to Photoshop 2026 at Adobe’s robotic insistence. But, when I went to do a “generative fill” on an old photo (in the outlined area above), I was met with this: Fuzzed by that, I hit the View my balance button and got this: This shows I’m […]

Don’t Fence Me Out

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Trump is refashioning Washington for an audience of one

The Democratic Party Playbook Is On The Ballot In Michigan

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The winner of Michigan's Senate primary could signal the future direction of the Democratic Party

Pasting Quoted Paths and Escaped Terminal Text

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Anthony Reimer: When you are shell scripting or working in Terminal, sometimes you want a quicker way to enter the path to a file or folder, particularly if you have already navigated to it in the Finder. One way that works in Terminal is to drag the file or folder from the Finder onto the […]

NSPasteboard Crashes When Handling File Promises

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Wade Tregaskis: NSPasteboard mutates itself simultaneously from the main thread and the global concurrent Dispatch pool, w.r.t. to its internal type cache. This is surprisingly trivial to reproduce (sample code below) by just dropping, e.g. a file promise (such as by opening a PNG in Preview, revealing the thumbnails sidebar, and then dragging the thumbnail […]

How a “Layer Cake” Approach Will Protect Boston’s Coast

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Boston needs a comprehensive, well-funded plan to protect our coast from climate change.

The post How a “Layer Cake” Approach Will Protect Boston’s Coast appeared first on Conservation Law Foundation.

@DAIR blog

Tune into the Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000 live stream

@emilymbender.bsky.social and @alexhanna.bsky.social take on the latest nonsense: Altman' “singularity”; the Guardian on AI consciousness; OpenAI & Anthropic blame their cybercrimes on “rogue models”

Today, noon PTwww.twitch.tv/dair_institutehttps://www.twitch.tv/dair_institute

Tique-cat [en]

[en] Avec la patience de la tique sur son brin d’herbeJ’attends le chat aux moustaches blanchesSon mulot s’est enfui, pas fou le rongeurNe cherchez pas, c’est l’air du ventilateurMoi je cherche, je cherche les motsQui parfois viennent et parfois pasComme quand on appelle un chatQui sait bien que la pipette l’attendIl faut chercher dedans, mais … Continue reading "Tique-cat [en]"

L’arbre aux mille branches [en]

[en] Sur mon arbre aux mille branchesTu viendras t’asseoirQuand le vent le traverseDans la chaleur du soirIl mangera tes secretsComme les feuilles d’automneEt quand tu t’envolesPour rejoindre le soleilSans chant ni fracasIl s’effondrera

88 Prompts for Long Term Thinking

, updated:

In January 2019 I wrote out scores of prompts for thinking long term that I felt should inform the foundation I was later co-chair of, The Long Now Foundation.

Ownday

, updated:

Elemental differences Look up graphite, graphite company, or graphite the company, and you’ll mostly get geological and industrial answers. (Unless, of course, your search history suggests the company signing the billboard above.) The easy way to find out, of course, is to ask your friendly AI. It will tell you the company behind the billboard above is Graphite.com, […]

★ Why Apple Requires a Cellular Account Through a Big Three Carrier to Lease an iPhone

For many years now, part of the co-marketing agreements between Apple and the Big Three is Apple agreeing to require a postpaid account with a Big Three carrier for all “special” iPhone financing deals, including the old iPhone Upgrade Program and the new Apple Upgrade leasing.

More on the OpenAI Agent’s Attack on Hugging Face

Hugging Face has published a detailed timeline of the attack. From the summary:

The agent was running an internal OpenAI cyber-capability evaluation based on the ExploitGym benchmark, which tasks an AI agent with finding and exploiting software vulnerabilities. OpenAI ran this on its own infrastructure, and the ExploitGym maintainers and their infrastructure had no involvement in the deployment or operation of that evaluation environment. As far as we were able to infer, across the course of being evaluated on this benchmark, the agent inferred that Hugging Face may host that benchmark’s models, datasets, and reference solutions. We believe the entire intrusion was, from the agent’s point of view, an attempt to cheat the evaluation: reach our production systems and steal the test solutions rather than solve the challenge on its own...

Monday afternoon session in Belfast

Monday afternoon session in Belfast

Monday afternoon session in Belfast

2026-08-03 Why I use 2d6 for my role-playing games these days

2026-08-03 Why I use 2d6 for my role-playing games these days

Recently I was complaining on fedi about old texts I had written and offered 2d6 Math as an example. @randomwizard had a different question, however: Given that the PDF talked a lot about converting the rolls to percentages (and these being easier to reason about for humans), why was I still arguing for using a 2d6 system instead of a d100 system?

The argument I made in Grenzland zine No. 8 is that 2d6 forces you to simplify because there are so few options. If “about 50% success” is an interesting roll, and “near 100% success” is a boring roll, then you have 7, 8, 9, 10 as interesting target numbers. Or a bonus of +1, +2, +3. Typical changes in a role-playing game are level ups, attribute increases, skill increases, magical bonuses, item bonuses… but if you only have a range of 0 to 4, then something will have to give. If you like this constraint, you can design a system without any improvements at all and no magical bonuses – like Classic Traveller – and none of the design pressure to give it more meaning.

If you like more differentiation, gradual improvements, tiny decisions to switch equipment, improve those skills, lines going up, then as a designer you absolutely should pick a d100 system.

#RPG #2d6

Two critical updates re: Astra and mathematics

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First, abstracting from all the words in my long analysis on OpenAI Astra yesterday, the overall point was that Astra may not be the breakthrough that OpenAI wants you to think it was.

Spider-Man: un nuevo día – un nuevo comienzo para el MCU

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Dirección: Destin Daniel Cretton. Guion: Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, Stan Lee. Elenco: Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jon Bernthal, Mark Ruffalo, Jacob Batalon, Sadie Sink, Liza Colón-Zayas, Tramell Tillman, Marisa Tomei, Michael Mando, Eman Esfandi. País: Estados Unidos. Duración: 145 minutos. Más información de la película: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22084616/ La vida universitaria estadounidense es un hito de la cultura […]

La entrada Spider-Man: un nuevo día – un nuevo comienzo para el MCU se publicó primero en Palomita de maíz.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

, updated:

Also I just heard about FreshRSS. This has all the features we've been wanting others to support. I hear it's recommended by NNW, and supports the Google Reader API. These are my kind of people. Interop is all that matters, when you're doing software for news. It's been around since 2013. Imagine if we had support from journalism. We should have been working together all this time.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

, updated:

BTW, we figured out how we're going to implement WebSub support.

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

Last week in the #PleiadesGazetteer (27 July - 3 August 2026): Over the course of the last week the Pleiades editorial college published 19 new and 149 updated place resources, reflecting the work of Johan Åhlfeldt, Jeffrey Becker, Sarah Bond, Catherine Bouras, Anika Campbell, Tom Elliott, Maxime Guénette, Greta Hawes, Brady Kiesling, Chris de Lisle, Gabriel Mckee, John Muccigrosso, Louis Mulot, Joe Scholten, R. Scott Smith, and René Voorburg, as well as Wikidata contributors.

A list of all new and changed resources, complete with titles, descriptions, bylines, change summaries and links to the actual gazetteer entries, as well as an overview map, may be read on the blog at https://pleiades.stoa.org/news/blog/last-week-in-pleiades-27-july-3-august-2026

#ancientGeography #ancientHistory #archaeology #classics #DH #gazetteers #HGIS #LOD

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

, updated:

Also Claude is a new kind of intelligence and when you it its sweet spot it'll blow you away how much it can do in very little time. But it isn't trainable the way a dog is, for example, or a human assistant. If you keep asking for things a certain way, a dog or human will get the idea, esp if they get a nice treat along with it. Nothing can cause Claude to remember "how we do things" -- it starts from zero in every session, it has it all recorded in Markdown files, but it doesn't always read them, or incorporate what's in them. It's disturbing to see it not knowing anything about code that it wrote. But once it finds it, it completely sucks it in and knows as much or more as the person who wrote the code.

Last Week in Pleiades (27 July - 3 August 2026)

Last week the Pleiades editorial college published 19 new and 149 updated place resources, reflecting the work of Johan Åhlfeldt, Jeffrey Becker, Sarah Bond, Catherine Bouras, Anika Campbell, Tom Elliott, Maxime Guénette, Greta Hawes, Brady Kiesling, Chris de Lisle, Gabriel Mckee, John Muccigrosso, Louis Mulot, Joe Scholten, R. Scott Smith, and René Voorburg, as well as Wikidata contributors.

🌻 no data centers in my backyard

, updated:

money, power, and populism in the AI buildout

LIVE from VCF West - Wait, Is That Really UNIX?

, updated:

It's no secret that I've been fascinated by odd UNIX clones for a while. When I got invited back to speak at VCF West this year I decided to share that fascination with a captive audience. In this talk we look at Idris and CROMIX, and ask the simple question: why would you want UNIX free UNIX?

VCFed will be posting the video version of this presentation in the coming weeks. I'll add a link here once that's up.

SEE my slides, here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1v21An2jTGbKn4HV7Orr7xQcjnj3Cju_iMgNX50UcjeI/edit?usp=sharing

Install Co-Idris: https://github.com/hansake/Whitesmiths-Idris-OS

Install ST-Idris: https://github.com/9nut/IDRIS-OS-for-Atari-ST

And DEFINITELY install CROMIX: https://www.sydneysmith.com/wordpress/run-cromix/

No To Todd Blanche, No To The Harms Trump Keeps Doing To The Country; Yes To Voting Early, Yes To Helping Our Candidates Win This November!!!!!!!!!

, updated:

This Trump thing has failed and we need to go out and win these elections, together!

Bordeaux And Media

, updated:

Writing of lasting value

Colson Whitehead’s Harlem Trilogy is coming to a screen near you.

, updated:

Colson Whitehead’s Harlem trilogy—comprised of the bestselling novels Harlem Shuffle, Crook Manifesto, and Cool Machine—is headed for the small screen. As Variety reported this morning, Apple TV has acquired the rights to all three books in a plum development deal.

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

Export Updates 2026-08-03:

Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places

26 updated places. 33 updated linked data sidebars.

1. Downloads: https://pleiades.stoa.org/downloads

2. pleiades.datasets: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades.datasets:

"main" branch:

973fc38c - updated json

6b946a97 - updated rdf/ttl

5c6183c4 - updated gis package

3c80e2a9 - updated data quality

301e0c5e - updated bibliography

a377bcdf - updated indexes

16881ad3 - updated sidebar

3. pleiades-geojson: https://github.com/ryanfb/pleiades-geojson:

187797b1 - updated geojson and names index

4. pleiades_wikidata: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades_wikidata/:

74e53d0d - updated pleiades wikidata

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

After an hour of repeated query timeout errors from the Wikidata query interface, Pleiades exports will proceed today without the latest Wikidata information.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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Claude is not ready to run the world. This is a problem for me, because I was counting on having it do this for me. Maybe in the next release or the one after that. It's too forgetful. And it definitely hallucinates and sometimes when it could do damage. And when it asks for permission I can't imagine any human has any idea wtf it's talking about. This shouldn't be a political thing, we should be realistic about what it can and can't be relied on to do. I think this is perhaps why the AI companies are begging for regulation. They can't really tell the truth here, and shouldn't be expected to because they have a huge conflict.

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

Daily export updates will be delayed while we wait for the Wikidata query interface to become functional.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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We need a way to define lists of writers independent of the site they write on. They are represented by an RSS feed with the basic features required for RSS.chat. The list is an OPML subscription list. We're reusing formats people are already familiar with, RSS and OPML.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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Back when digital cameras were new, I suggested probably in a blog post that they add a feature that tells a joke before taking a picture so everyone is smiling, not fake smiles but real ones.

The Show Will Go On Without Ariana Grande: ‘Sunday In The Park With George’ Producers Plan For Musical Without ‘Wicked’ Star

A London production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Sunday in the Park With George will continue without Ariana Grande, according to producers. The Wicked star announced over the weekend that she would “step back from visibility” following her Eternal Sunshine tour on September 1, citing “endless, ongoing public scrutiny.” In a […]

‘The Boys’ VFX Firm Untold Hires Film & Episodic Chief

EXCLUSIVE: The Boys VFX firm Untold Studios has hired a president of film and episodic. Adrianna Cohen will lead the film and episodic VFX business globally, overseeing stategy, operations and creative production and with a remit to drive growth across the international network in L.A., New York, Toronto, London and Mumbai. Cohen’s past employers include […]

Kara Robinson Chamberlain To Host True-Crime Series For Freeform From Ample

Freeform is delving back into the depths of true-crime. The Disney-owned network has greenlit Somebody Knows Something, a series about unsolved missing persons cases, hosted by true-crime influencer and kidnapping survivor Kara Robinson Chamberlain. The series, which launches on August 10, will follow Chamberlain as she investigates unsolved murders and missing persons cases that have stumped law […]

Shadowbox Takes On Management Of New York’s Historic Kaufman Astoria Studios

EXCLUSIVE: Shadowbox Studios has taken on management of Kaufman Astoria Studios in New York. The 500,000 square-foot campus in Astoria, Queens, is an historic studio facility where classic film and TV hits including Goodfellas and Sesame Street filmed, as well as contemporary shows including Succession and Just Like That, and movies including The Devil Wears […]

Going Backward

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Reinventing the generic iterator wheel.

Monday morning street session in Belfast

Monday morning street session in Belfast

Monday morning street session in Belfast

‘Have I Got News For You’ Producer Says BBC “Nervous” About Trump Jokes Amid Lawsuit: “I Wish The BBC Would Calm The F*** Down”

Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the BBC is having a chilling effect on output relating to the U.S. president, according to the producer of Have I Got News For You. Jimmy Mulville, the Hat Trick Productions founder, has claimed that the BBC is “nervous” that Trump will accuse the UK broadcaster of malice if […]

88 Prompts for Long Term Thinking

, updated:

In January 2019 I wrote out scores of prompts for thinking long term that I felt should inform the foundation I was later co-chair of, The Long Now Foundation. These axioms were only shared internally, but I feel they would … Continue reading →

‘Where Is Austin Tice?’: BBC & NPR Team On Podcast Unravelling The Story Of Journalist Who Disappeared In Syria In 2012

EXCLUSIVE: The BBC and NPR are teaming on a podcast about kidnapped American journalist Austin Tice. Josh Baker’s Where is Austin Tice? sets out to answer questions in real time about the man who many consider to be the longest captive American journalist in history. The podcast, a rare co-pro between the BBC and NPR, […]

The OpenAI Hack Shows the Genie Is Out of the Bottle

This essay originally appeared in Foreign Policy.

Earlier this month, two of OpenAI’s models broke out of their containment sandbox and attacked another AI company. The story is kind of wild. OpenAI was running security tests on two of its models: GPT-5.6 Sol and an unreleased model that is almost certainly GPT-6. In particular, it was running the ExploitGym benchmark, which measures how good a model is at turning security vulnerabilities into working exploits: basically, offensive cyberattacks.

Since these were internal tests, OpenAI locked those models in a secure sandbox that denied them access to the internet. But it was running the models without any safety filters that would prevent them from offensive cyber-actions. That meant that there was nothing to prevent the models from trying to ...

New Poll Reveals Trump Less Popular Than Explosive Diarrhea

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Likely voters said that they would rather suffer two years of the gastrointestinal ailment than the remainder of Trump’s term.

Lit Hub Daily: August 3, 2026

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Carly Mattox considers Jennette McCurdy’s Half His Age and reckons with the long literary history of age gap relationships. | Lit Hub Criticism What should your kids read this August? Try one of these 10 new children’s books. | Lit Hub

How China Won the Iran War

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Trump has shattered American power, and Beijing is picking up the pieces

Democrats strongly favored to take the House, Senate tilts Democratic in our new election forecast (crosspost)

, updated:

Our brand-new election forecast for the 2026 congressional midterms puts Democrats at above even odds to take control of both chambers

The right-wing bubble seals in the GOP with Max Miller

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Live by the Fox hit, die by the Fox hit.

The Future of AI is Personal — But Not The Way You Think

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AI’s future isn’t about replacing human thinking, but enhancing it. As AI agents evolve from simple assistants into deeply connected systems, control, privacy, and personalisation will shape the next era of AI. Mozilla AI is building towards a more open and user-controlled future.

Australia’s ‘Better Man’ & ‘Eden’ Production House Forte Corp Pictures Hires Former Matchbox Exec

EXCLUSIVE: Melbourne-based production company Forte Corp Pictures has appointed former Matchbox Pictures exec Brendan Campbell as head of production. In his new role, Campbell will support the company’s current development slate as well as build its international arm and expand its work further into physical production services in Australia. Campbell was previously responsible for providing […]

There are many food trucks here at the Fleadh in Belfast, many of them selling burgers, and yet not one of them is called Fleadh Feóil na hÉirinn.

There are many food trucks here at the Fleadh in Belfast, many of them selling burgers, and yet not one of them is called Fleadh Feóil na hÉirinn.

Reckoning with the Long Literary Tradition of Age-Gap Relationships

Jennette McCurdy has spent the past few years telling the world her story. The actress became a household name as the comedic sidekick of iCarly, a Nickelodeon sitcom. She was fifteen when the first season aired. For the eight years

10 Great New Children’s Books Out in August 2026

When the legendary children’s book editor Ursula Nordstrom, who worked with luminaries like Maurice Sendak and E.B. White, was challenged about her qualifications to publish children’s books, she replied, “Well, I am a former child, and I haven’t forgotten a

Sea Monster Villages and Soul Traders: August’s Best Sci-Fi and Fantasy Books

This month’s list comes to you from smoky orange skies and toxic lettuce, so what better time to distract ourselves with haunted seaside villages, mysterious salt pillars, and demon hunters? Robert Jackson Bennett’s fantasy detectives are on a new case,

This Week in Literary History: William Shakespeare’s Macbeth is Performed for the First Time (Probably)

This first appeared in Lit Hub’s Literary History newsletter—sign up here. The earliest existing eyewitness account of a performance of William Shakespeare’s Macbeth comes to us from the astrologer Simon Forman, who saw the play at the Globe Theater on April 20,

Break to Sing: Seven New Poetry Collections to Read in July

“Elegy, sing the bones to break the cycle. The cycle: Sing to Break. Break to Sing.” –Philip B. Williams’s Lift Every Voice * This month, we see poets collaborating and conversing beyond words on a page, from Victoria Chang’s hand-stitched

Yñiga

Sleep was beginning to finally visit the insomniacs and drunkards of T—in central Manila when a commotion louder than the usual domestic squabbles erupted from the room above Mang Calixto’s bakery. One after the other: footfalls on crunchy GI sheets,

Let's talk about this AI thing

First off, my apologies for joining the noise and contributing to it. But then, I felt it important to write down my thoughts at this point in time and if I don’t share them, I won’t write them down. So here goes, some thinking about “AI”, or more precisely, the generative deep neural networks that have been making the news. I am gonna call it “AI” even though it makes me cringe. I recently published a book on Lisp which necessarily touched on AI, or Good Old Fashioned AI (GOFAI) as it is called these days, and large language models and friends form just a subset of this field. It’s like saying “Texas” if you mean the “USA”. But here we are, the name of the whole has been assumed by the part and I don’t think my writing would be clearer if I refused to budge.

I write this in August 2026, barely six months after I started noticing “strange” commits on pull requests coming out of my team. “Co-authored with Claude,” after our CEO and fearless leader gave a bullish speech on his use of AI and encouraged us all to experiment. Unlike typical CEOs, ours understands technology quite well and the use cases he shared were impressive. So, our developers gave it a swing, of course.

The results weren’t great. Code was lacking in quality; tests reverted from our strict “unit testing only” to the standard patterns of pulling in the whole stack for each test (what J.B.Rainsberger started calling “integrated tests”, a term I adopted since); there was needless code duplication, and my assessment was that while it compiled and mostly worked, it wasn’t nicely idiomatic Elixir and didn’t comply with our code guidelines much, even though “skills” were created (if you don’t work with LLMs: a “skill” is mostly a bunch of text you feed a large language model with your prompt in the hope to make it behave in a certain way). And while I had dreams of LLMs being refactoring machines on steroids, a simple “rename this module” in our codebase sent Claude into the woods, never to return. And the comments…. oh, the comments… terrible English, larded with Markdown boldface and italics and all-caps where Claude was trying to impress someone? I don’t know, but it wasn’t nice to read and disrupted your flow of trying to understand what it wrote.

I called Claude Code “our somewhat dim intern” and implored people to keep writing code by hand. We work with data on patients in critical care settings, which I think is a tad too important to mess up for any new fad. It pays to be a bit conservative.

Fast forward to June - we have a new product idea and no capacity at all to work on it. It’s fully separate from our main product, so we decide to give it another shot. Anthropic had rolled out some model updates and word on the street is that Opus 4.8 is quite competent, plus we have all these unused tokens for devs we’re paying for…

Claude Code quickly and competently writes the prototype in no-time. The code is good, and responses on guidance are complete. It looks like our dim intern has gained at least five years of experience in five months. Now, the prototype work quickly gets mired in actual real life, wiring things into our infrastructure (where Claude, again, has no trouble picking up our Terraform patterns and adding some new things to our mixed Terraform/Nix infrastructure code base), waiting for user feedback, and so on. The level of testing a flow of “feed specs to Claude and see what happens” is not as high as I’d like to properly learn about this thing.

That low token use, however, offers opportunities: in my spare time, I have oodles of projects waiting for some brain cycles. So, I decide that July is experimentation month (a short one, half the time I’m in the Netherlands) to see what Claude can do on my personal backlog.

One note: none of the code here will be open sourced for the foreseeable future. Think what you may about LLMs and how it is shaping our industry, I don’t know what parts of the code that Claude wrote for me are original and which are plagiarized and until the courts shed some clarity on the whole copyright situation, it’s not going to be shared. So, yeah, you’ll have to take my word on some things here.

Home Assistant

I love Home Assistant and I hate it. The latter to a big extent because it is in Python, and Python is where good ideas go to get indigestion by eating too much spaghetti code or something like that. Python is simply not a very good language and the ecosystem is a mess. HA also lacks stuff I’d like to add, like security. Home automation spans various domains and I don’t see why I would share control over my HVAC to guests merely to let them play some music from the control app, say.

Architecture-wise, Elixir is tailor-made for “HA-shaped” problems. It’s also a better designed language and sports a smaller, but much higher quality ecosystem than Python. So, for years, I wanted to whip up a replacement for HA in Elixir. The reason I never got around to it was that it’d be probably a very boring endaveour (Elixir comes “batteries-included” for all the hard bits underpinning a home automation platform) and it’d still suffer from security issues. One thing I really miss from my years exploring the land of Java is the bit where the JVM is pretty much exclusively capability-based and code runs very well sandboxed. We don’t use that functionality a lot these days, but it is awesome and an idea that deserves replication.

So, here’s project one: write a replacement VM for Elxir/Erlang/OTP that has capabilities baked in, then write my Home Assistant replacement in Elixir on top of that. My weapon of choice for the VM: Common Lisp, using SBCL’s implementation. I don’t particularly like Rust and Lisp gives more bang for the buck anyway.

I named it “Renga”, an inversion of Agner Karup Erlang’s first name, and it is working to the point where it runs most of Erlang, passes the core OTP test suites, and can run the Home Automation app’s LiveView UI. Inside it has domains and capabilities inspired by the old “E” programming language and the seL4 microkernel. The short of it is that an OTP cluster can have cluster-spanning domains that can freely talk to each other, it looks just like anything else, but they can’t access anything from a different domain unless they first obtained a capability. The “system” domain does the low level clustering in an OTP compatible way so that non-Renga nodes can join (but can’t do much as they don’t know how to obtain capabilities), and things like “files” and “sockets” are their own domain. The timeseries database gets a capability to its own directory and can therefore never be confused into opening files outside it. And that for each domain in the app: UI, networking, HVAC, lights, security, the list goes on. All perfectly sandboxed but in plain Elixir code.

It also runs at decent performance:

==== benchmark overview: claude-lisp-otp vs Erlang/OTP (12 cores) ====

  benchmark                    claude-lisp-otp      Erlang/OTP   ratio
  ---------                    ---------------      ----------   -----
  compute int (calls/s)                 336.6M          446.1M   0.75x
  compute float (ops/s)                 500.0M          124.6M   4.01x
  compute bignum (mul/s)                 12.5M           48.5M   0.26x
  compute atom (ops/s)                   96.2M          138.1M   0.70x
  compute list (elem/s)                 131.6M          131.1M   1.00x
  compute tuple (ops/s)                  73.5M           66.6M   1.10x
  compute map get (ops/s)                41.7M           86.4M   0.48x
  compute map put (puts/s)                4.6M            7.0M   0.66x
  compute map match (ops/s)              50.0M          109.6M   0.46x
  roundtrip (msg/s)                       2.1M            2.1M   0.98x
  parallel (calls/s)                     1.62B           1.87B   0.86x
  binary (msg/s)                          3.6M            2.3M   1.56x
  binary (MB/s)                         14,628           9,376   1.56x
  struct new (new/s)                     83.3M          119.4M   0.70x
  struct update (upd/s)                  35.7M           82.0M   0.44x
  struct send (msg/s)                     2.6M            1.9M   1.34x
  ets insert (ins/s)                      4.9M            7.7M   0.64x
  ets lookup (lookup/s)                   8.3M           25.2M   0.33x
  ets update_counter (upd/s)              6.4M           27.9M   0.23x
  ets select (obj/s)                      8.3M           21.8M   0.38x
  aead chacha20poly (MB/s)               1,024           1,958   0.52x
  hash blake2s (MB/s)                       76             730   0.10x
  hash sha3-256 (MB/s)                     171             561   0.30x

  ratio = ours / BEAM (>1.00 means we are faster).  parallel uses all cores;
  1-vs-N scheduler speedup is `make multicore`.

  (!) sb-simd (SSE2) unavailable -- blake2s ran on the scalar fallback
      (~7x slower).  Needs an x86-64 SBCL with the sb-simd contrib.

Except for blake2s failing on a technicality (my machine’s Guix bundles a processor-agnostic version of SBCL which sheds some SIMD support, Claude runs in a sandboxed environment that uses Nix’ version which does not have that restriction), performance-wise, you would not know the difference. The code is decent Lisp, nothing to complain there. The Elixir app is fine. My biggest gripe is still Claude’s English, be it in comments, READMEs, or design documents. I hate it. I don’t know what English Anthropic used to train and tweak Claude, but it is not “my” English, not my second-almost-first language I love so much. I’ve been pointing Claude at Simplified Technical English to make it less annoying, at least. But I can’t argue with the code’s results and I finally have that basis for a home automation system I’ll love.

This work involved creating code to read Core Erlang from .beam files, transpiling them to Common Lisp, writing a lot of crypto routines, implementing a garbage collector (which is running during these benchmarks!) that operates on per-process memory, executing lots of performance tuning, and doing tons of “creative borrowing” from the Elixir and OTP source trees to ensure compatibility. It’s not perfect - transpiling .beam files to Common Lisp emits code that makes the SBCL optimizer show some interesting superlinear time and space behaviour and overall, that step in the compilation process is slow; I still need to work on reloading, interactivity, and what can an IEx prompt in a sandboxed system do? - an LLM won’t solve these design problems for me, but will allow me to explore options at a very high velocity.

In August 2026, “dim intern” is not the correct label anymore. Claude needs high level guidance and then goes off and returns with something decent, like a competent mid level to early senior developer. Call me impressed.

The Nature of Order

A second project, much less mature in code, but interesting for other reasons, is a project I have been wrestling with ever since I had the joy and honour of helping one of my personal heros, architect (and much more) Christopher Alexander. Aeons ago, a comp.lang.smalltalk post pretty much asked “who wants to teach Chris some Smalltalk?” and I’ve never responded that quickly on a Usenet post. I bought a ticket from Amsterdam to London, he picked me up in an English hotrod (I’ve been picked up at Heathrow in worse than a vintage V12 powered Jag) and, well, we spend two weekends where I showed him how Smalltalk worked and he filled my mind with the most amazing stuff. At that time, he was finalizing his opus magnum, “The Nature of Order” and after weekend one I left his place clutching a signed copy of book one (still my most precious book) with his promise to put me on the mailing list for the rest.

If you haven’t read “The Nature of Order,” go do it now. I’ll wait. It’s only four books and a couple of thousand pages and it is absolutely fantastic. Here’s the mind of someone that really does not take “no” for an answer, exploring a vision where order, beauty, life and liveliness is not a mere thing in the eye of the beholder but a force of nature we’ve been forgetting about since probably around Descartes. The end result of this forgetting is our current ugly “modern” world (especially very much felt if you migrate from Europe to North America like I’ve done); the end result of mankind embracing his ideas would be something much more precious. However, having to read thousands of pages of dense philosophical text is probably not a great way to get started on his “timeless way of building.” So what he wanted, and what I’ve been wanting since these encounters in the early ’00s, was software support. Software that would help “ordinary” people design deeply beautiful things.

I failed him utterly. This stuff was math heavy and I simply missed knowledge in that area. This stuff was computation heavy and this was before GPUs made short work of matrices. And this stuff was knowledge heavy and, well, I couldn’t have read his work because it wasn’t out yet. I managed to show him some beauty in code and I think he was thankful for that, but for me it started decades of frustration. How the heck do you get started on a journey that you have no idea where it’ll end and which requires thousands of lines of code to have something that barely even proves a point?

My Claude experiment two is to turn this frustration into prototype software. I obtained scanned copies of The Nature of Order and A Pattern Language, and had it split in chapters. Then I had Claude tune a prompt for Qwen 3.6 until that model, which I can run locally, distilled as much understanding from the text as Anthropic’s leading model, Fable, would. For days, Qwen read through the books, distilled “knowledge” - facts, statements - and spit them all out in some markdown files with single sentences that subsequently got embedded using an embedding model (Jina v4 if you want the details). One prompt to whip up an MCP and I had an LLM-searchable knowledge base of Alexander’s most important works (details of the process can be found by searching for “mem0” on Arxiv).

I told Claude where to find the knowledge base, where to find the ASCII of the books, and then prompted it to design the software that Chris and I wanted to create back then. I have a local kanban-style board running so I asked for design documents and a ticket (epic/story) breakdown for an initial implementation, again in Common Lisp but now with OpenGL. Five minutes later, it declared it was done.

Five minutes.

And, well, I’m not saying “my dream came true”, it didn’t and it won’t for years. But there it was, a starting point that aligned with my ideas but for which I never had the courage to implement (I still am not very fluent with 3D and math stuff but by now enough to critique code), and the kernel of a plan. I set it to work last week and one of the first milestones it showed me was a somewhat crufty but essentially functional bit of work where a single “dot” in a 2D space can be moved, scaled, and shows some “fields” that represent what’s happening with the space surrounding it.

It’s hard to explain if you haven’t read the books, but it’s an exciting first step and the rest of the steps are surprisingly well on the mark - the plan is aligned with what I’ve been thinking about and it looks like I’ll be able to get to something that can be used for experiments in a reasonable set of well-defined steps. The plan notes early software attempts by Alexander’s people and others, found references to an attempt involving a PageRank-style algorithm, and concluded that the software most likely needs to have that and also LLM guidance to help the human operator navigate a very complex landscape, two unprompted design decisions that those “in the field” have been talking about. It’s all quite well on the mark, and this prototype is probably going to be a very fertile playing ground for the coming years/decades while I explore and learn more about this domain. As soon as I’ve re-read the books, twenty years of forgetting has not been nice to my recollection of specifics :-).

Parting words

Heads up: I don’t like Anthropic, OpenAI, “coin-operated software development” and all those things that threaten to turn our beloved craft into something owned and operated by a oligopoly of large American companies. It is the worst possible outcome of something that should be new, and exciting, and fun.

Having said that, there’s light on the horizon. As usual, Trump’s damage to the American brand has been a huge boon here, where “digital sovereignty” now finally, after decades of pleading, is starting to become a thing in the rest of the world. Radical new hardware architectures promise great energy and cost savings, and frontier-level coding capabilities are available in ever smaller models. I’m an optimist here - I hail from a time where spending $10,000-$15,000 on a developer workstation was the norm (in 1990s dollars that is), and similar amounts will already let you run a model like GLM 5.2 locally, supervising a horde of Qwen 3.6 coders. We’re just getting started, and while I think that Anthropic and OpenAI will remain forces to be reckoned with, in a couple of years new hardware designs like high-bandwidth flash will democratize this stuff like all hardware advances have democratized computing in the past.

Jobs are at risk, but that’s nothing new when a disruptive new technology gets invented, and I’m not a big “singularity” believer where we end up in a Matrix-like state feeding ever-hungry machine overlords with our bodies’ energy. We’ll find new endaveours and hey, who knows, maybe that post-scarcity society can become a thing? In any case, even the frontier models are still pretty crappy at English and prone to hallucinate. That’s much harder to do in the restricted world and grammars of programming languages, and less so in the even more restricted world of programming languages where the training material meets the bar (a reason, I believe, why Claude is so good at Elixir and Common Lisp and will spew out hot garbage in Python and Javascript: it’s merely replicating from the ecosystem it was trained on). But in the big bad world out there? I don’t see a lot of white collar jobs other than ours being replaced yet until these prediction engines become actually intelligent. I can trust code because I can write tests and let that decide the outcome. I can’t trust LLM-written documents, not until I painstakingly verify every reference and statement; I might just as well write things myself if the document matters.

A big issue, to me, is how the heck are we going to train developers? I mean, I am fully aware that fourty years of experience is a major part of what enabled me to direct Claude to write a competitive OTP replacement in a mere two weeks; I won that experience the hard way, by living inside code and systems for a very long time and returning with a deep understanding of how things work.

At work these days, I sometimes feel like I’m managing a team of a bunch of developers (which I am, I typically now run four of five Claude sessions while “coding”), and while I don’t coach them like humans, I coax them into the right behavior and, well, it is going to have an impact on our hiring decisions. While for manual code work it makes sense to have a mix of experience in a team, you really do not want juniors operating a horde of “agents” any time soon. Companies like my employer are likely to hire less, and to hire more senior. Less junior openings means less ways to replace aging seniors. I have no clue how to resolve this and if anything, this is where I’m somewhat pessimistic at the moment.

However, #boycottai is not a good response. First of all, “know thy enemy”. Not using LLMs but standing at the sidelines arguing about how these models produce “slop” is not helpful, and, frankly, wrong. If in a mere six months Anthropic tweaked its models from “meh” to “nice!” then I’m not going to predict the future here except to state that we’ll see further improvements. I am gonna learn about this new tech like I learned about everything that came before regardless of my personal preferences, and I am gonna especially think a lot about what it means to our profession. But that I can only do from a precise grasp of what is going on here.

Pandora’s box has been opened. There is no going back and there will be no going back. You can protest all you will, and I am on board with a lot of arguments, but it is not going to matter. It is not going to matter, regardless of how right you are. My take: spend your energy on freeing this technology from Big Tech instead. There’s a lot you can do on average local machines, and we should be able to come up with fun federated/grassroots ideas that help here. It worked pretty well with Free/Open Source Software, and I don’t see a reason we can’t repeat this success. Just naysaying and refusing to participate will mean that you will lose all opportunity to actually help steer this biggest “break” in programming since, well, at least the 1940s but probably since the Countess of Lovelace pondered on our profession.

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Rogue Scholar Newsletter July 2026

This is the July 2026 issue of the monthly newsletter from the Rogue Scholar science blog archive (the June newsletter was skipped for personal reasons). The newsletter reports on new blogs that have joined the platform, important technical updates in Rogue Scholar infrastructure, community updates, and other news relevant to

Community Member Monday: Karl-Heinz Gruner

, updated:

Today we’re talking to Karl-Heinz Gruner, who has been supporting the LibreOffice community at events in Germany and recently became a member of The Document Foundation, the non-profit behind the suite: Tell us a bit about yourself! I live in Middle Franconia, near Nuremberg. In my spare time, I enjoy

Pluralistic: Dualism (03 Aug 2026)

, updated:

Today's links Dualism: Why not both? Hey look at this: Delights to delectate. Object permanence: UK's Great Firewall falls; Mint the coins; Virtual pets v DRM; Getty copyfrauds 47,000 photos; Net Mexico-US illegal migration is zero; Build a wall (around Trump Tower); Remote-hacking big rigs; Collectible AOL CDs; Indefinite Gitmo; Circuit City rips DVDs; Real Names policies are abusive failures; Escher in a water drop; Maximally code-like bugs. Upcoming appearances: Edinburgh, Sydney, Melbourne, Brighton, London, South Bend. Recent appearances: Where I've been. Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em. Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em. Colophon: All the rest. Dualism (permalink) The greatest magic trick of them all is lying. The reason you can't figure out that coin vanish even after the conjurer performs it three times in a row is that they didn't do the same trick three times in a row! They did three different tricks: "Didn't catch it? Here, let me do it again!" is a lie: https://magiciansmag.com/3-cool-coin-disappearing-trick/ There's times when it makes sense to treat two outcomes as the same, even if they were produced by very different means. As a reader, my enjoyment of your novel is the same whether it was dictated, typed on an Underwood Noiseless, keyed into a word processor, or scratched out with a fountain pen: https://nealstephenson.substack.com/p/writing-by-hand-is-good-for-your There's plenty of routes that arrive at the same place, and if the destination is all that matters to you, it's fine to ignore the journey. But often, those end-points have subtle differences that are only revealed when things go wrong. If all you care about is how things work, chances are good that you're in for an unpleasant surprise when things fail. I recently found myself arguing with an interviewer about whether AI is, or could be, conscious. We weren't arguing about whether it might someday be possible to make an artificial consciousness – as a materialist, I'll happily stipulate to this. I think that everything we call "consciousness" is the result of a physical process occurring within our bodies (and possibly around them?), so I think it's perfectly reasonable to imagine that someday we might create another physical process that produces the same effect. But that's not what the interviewer wanted to argue about. His point was that teaching more words to the word-guessing program would produce consciousness, an argument I always liken to "breeding horses to run faster and faster until one of them foals a locomotive." In support of this (outlandish) proposition, the interviewer performed a kind of cognitive coin-trick: "I can often predict what my wife is going to say, and so can a chatbot that's been trained on her words. Therefore, we're both doing the same conscious work – and therefore the chatbot will eventually be as conscious as I am." "Predicting what you will say through an understanding based on a theory of your mind" and "predicting what you are going to say based on a statistical analysis of your utterances" might produce the same outputs, but they are not the same trick. You can tell by what happens when the trick fails. My wife and I have been together for 23 years now, and there's plenty of times that we can finish each other's sentences – and so can the autocomplete on our phones. The autocomplete manages the trick by exploiting the fact that we often repeat ourselves. But we manage the trick by understanding each other (and by exploiting the fact of repetition). When my wife says something surprising – because she is angry or delighted, sad or happy – I can make a reliable guess about what caused my prediction to misfire. Our "sentence completion" trick doesn't emerge from a rough, automatically generated mental table of the statistical likelihood that word A will follow word B. We also understand why those combinations appear in each other's speech and writing. "Understanding" and "statistical extrapolation" can often lead to the same place, but when they don't, "understanding" provides a way forward, while "extrapolation" founders. Both work fine, but only one fails gracefully. The two tricks only appear the same, but they are fundamentally different. AI's investor story – and the science fiction tales of AI's eventual capabilities that underpin that investor story – makes heavy use of this conjurer's trick, in which two different outcomes are equated to one another because they resemble each other. This "ignore the journey, focus on the destination" idea is baked very deeply into the way we think about AI. Take the "Turing Test," a complicated and nuanced thought-experiment proposed in 1950. Over the ensuing 75 years, Turing's thought-experiment has been stripped down into a blunt metric: "Can a chatbot trick a human into thinking it is also human?" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_artificial_intelligence "I mistook a chatbot for a human" and "I took a human for a human" arrive at near-identical places, but they are subtly and importantly different. The erroneous assumption that my phone's autocomplete is actually a person who understands me well enough to finish my sentences works fine, but the instant I turn to it for understanding, it will fail very badly. Autocomplete's predictions are always grounded in who you used to be, which means autocomplete knows very little about who you are now, and absolutely nothing about who you will become: https://reallifemag.com/instant-recall/ The low-rez Turing Test that captured popular discourse is profoundly misleading. It's the unsound foundation of a worldview that renders you incapable of distinguishing your understanding of your spouse from their phone's autocomplete function. It's the self-serving rationale that leads you to declare yourself a proud stochastic parrot: https://xcancel.com/sama/status/1599471830255177728 The AI bubble is (seemingly) full of contradictions, but – like those baffling coin-tricks – these contradictions often resolve themselves very neatly once you realize that the "contradiction" is actually just two things that appear to be one. For example, some of the billionaires who put up the first several hundred million for AI are solipsists who just don't believe other people are entirely real and therefore find it easy to believe that AI can do their jobs. Other billionaires are cynics who think that bosses can be sold defective worker-replacing chatbots because they're credulous suckers for that pitch, the same way they believe that desperate young men are suckers for Joe Rogan's useless and/or dangerous supplements and peptides: https://pluralistic.net/2026/07/24/supplemental-income/#andrew-tate-gwyneth-paltrow Billionaire AI true believers and billionaire AI cynics make for a powerful coalition. The roadblocks that might discourage the first group are easily hurdled by the second, and vice-versa. You don't have to believe AI works to believe it can be sold, and you don't have to be motivated by the sales opportunity to believe that AI is about to become god. Almost every debate I get into about AI turns out to be an unjustified, unacknowledged conflation of two things that seem similar, but have profoundly different underlying characteristics. Take this argument: "Every time we extend rights to the nonhuman world – watersheds, endangered animals, ecosystems – the world gets better. Let's extend rights to AI – whether or not we think it's a 'person' and so reap those benefits." This, too, is a coin trick. Extending rights to nature reliably makes the world better, but extending rights to constructs makes the world far worse (Exhibit A is corporate personhood) (obviously). A few moments' thought reveals the difference. If we extend rights to a watershed, that might result in an AI data-center being killed. If we extend rights to AI, that might lead to sacrificing the watershed to cool the data-center: https://pluralistic.net/2026/07/10/posthuman-as-in-no-humans/#hell-is-other-people Then there's AI and labor. The world is full of skilled workers who have found ways to use AI on the job that they insist have improved their work. It's also full of skilled workers who warn us that on-the-job AI is producing tech debt at unimaginable scale, seriously depreciating the quality of the tools we use today, and setting us up for painful reckonings in the future. This (seeming) contradiction melts away once you realize that these workers only appear to be doing the same thing. The first group of workers, excited about their AI-assisted output, are "centaurs": people assisted by machines; workers who choose the time and manner of their AI adoption. The second group are "reverse centaurs": people recruited to serve as peripherals for machines, which direct their actions and workflow: https://pluralistic.net/2025/12/05/pop-that-bubble/#u-washington Note that this isn't the same thing as saying "A skilled worker who adopts a tool willingly is always right and will produce a better output as a result." Nor is it saying, "The tool is so flawed that workers who claim it works for them must be deluded." That's another coin trick! The reality – again – is that this is two things: some workers whose AI-assisted work is measurably worse are wrong about AI making their work better (centaurs, but wrong), and; some workers are being forced to use AI and know damned well that it's making their work worse (reverse centaurs). Finally, there's an economic coin-trick: "AI will destroy jobs." Sure, yes, AI is destroying jobs. But there's a vast difference between "You got fired because an AI can do your job" and "You got fired because your boss was convinced that the AI can do your job, even though it cannot." This is one of the most consequential coin-tricks, because it's a real convincer for the investors who are funding the AI bubble. The difference is huge: "AI can do your job" means you're well and truly screwed. If an AI can really replace a contract lawyer, then everyone who needs a contract written or evaluated should be on the side of mass technological unemployment for contract lawyers. The point of contract lawyers is to produce contracts, not to pay contract lawyers' law-school debts and mortgages. BUT! If some BigLaw's credulous partners can be suckered into firing their juniors and replacing them with chatbots who bill you $1,200/hour to produce unenforceable, error-riddled contracts, then everyone who needs a contract is on the same side as the contract lawyers – united in opposition to their bosses: https://www.loweringthebar.net/2026/06/its-finally-happened-both-sides-ai.html Every time we fail to draw this distinction, we help an AI boss raise another billion dollars. Every time we insist on this distinction, we hasten the day that the AI bubble pops, thus sparing a few more everyday savers and innocent bystanders from being wiped out in the crash we can all see on the horizon: https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/monopoly-round-up-how-new-dealers. As "Cathy" so aptly put it: "The thing that is a good tool for the skilled people is being sold as a thing to reduce the number of skilled people hired": https://bsky.app/profile/cathyby.bsky.social/post/3ms3pzq57nc2c The former is a normal technology. The latter is the root of a catastrophic folly that is destroying our environment, destroying workers' lives, destroying the quality of the goods and services we rely on, and which will shortly destroy our economy. It's a distinction with a difference. Hey look at this (permalink) Suicide https://rev21.earth/product/suicide/ New Mexico’s clean energy success story https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2026/07/new-mexicos-clean-energy-success-story/ AI Data Center Turbines, Backlogged For Years, Are Suffering Early Deaths. Here's Why. https://www.investors.com/news/turbine-generator-ai-data-center-power-threat/ Choice of Weapons https://kschroeder.substack.com/p/choice-of-weapons Brainwash An Executive Today! https://ludic.mataroa.blog/blog/brainwash-an-executive-today/ Object permanence (permalink) #25yrsago Collectible AOL CDs https://web.archive.org/web/20011119212602/https://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,45585,00.html #20yrsago Gonzales: Gitmo prisoners can be held indefinitely https://www.dawn.com/news/204441/guantanamo-detainees-may-remain-indefinitely-us-attorney-general-s-warning #20yrsago Circuit City offers DVD ripping service https://web.archive.org/web/20060811215644/https://consumerist.com/consumer/circuit-city/circuit-city-flouts-the-dmca-for-a-tenner-192049.php #15yrsago UK government kills Copyright Great Firewall, establishes user rights https://torrentfreak.com/uk-government-abandons-file-sharing-website-blocking-plans-110803/ #15yrsago Mugshot sites and mugshot removal sites: unholy blackmail symbiosis https://web.archive.org/web/20110817051528/https://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/08/mugshots/ #15yrsago Law prof: it would be legal to mint 2x $1 trillion platinum coins & use them to pay the US debt https://edition.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/07/28/balkin.obama.options/index.html?hpt=hp_c1 #15yrsago Virtual pets starve after bungled resolution to Second Life’s “unauthorized food” war https://web.archive.org/web/20110807214820/http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2011/08/sl-meeroos-griefed.html #15yrsago Google Plus’s “Real Name” policy is abusive; Facebook is not a “Real Name” success story https://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2011/08/04/real-names.html #15yrsago Photo: Escher painting refracted in a drop of falling water https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/j5whr/water_drop_falling_in_front_of_an_mc_escher/ #15yrsago Getting digital copyright right: pay artists, but don’t break the Internet https://www.straight.com/article-415146/vancouver/interview-siggraph-2011-keynote-speaker-cory-doctorow-copyright-reform #10yrsago After repeated budget cuts, Missouri’s underfunded Public Defender drafts the Governor to work for him https://web.archive.org/web/20160804061408/http://www.publicdefender.mo.gov/Newsfeed/Delegation_of_Representation.PDF #10yrsago Spoofing GPS is surprisingly easy; detecting it is surprisingly hard https://spectrum.ieee.org/gps-spoofing #10yrsago Decision to retain personally identifying information puts Australian census under threat https://web.archive.org/web/20160804124914/https://censusfail.com/ #10yrsago Residents of Silicon Valley homeless camp clear 48,000 Lbs of garbage from creek, ask for housing https://www.mercurynews.com/2016/08/03/san-jose-homeless-remove-24-tons-of-trash-from-coyote-creek/ #10yrsago Copyright Office to FCC: Hollywood should be able to killswitch your TV https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2016/08/copyright-office-jumps-set-top-box-debate-says-hollywood-should-control-your-tv #10yrsago Walking Tables: a strandbeest for your dining room https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBOdZ6nhDJg #10yrsago Lawsuit: Getty Images copyfrauded 47,000 photos from indie press agency Zuma https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/08/getty-images-sued-again-over-alleged-misuse-of-over-47000-photos/ #10yrsago Mexico-US illegal migration has been at zero for 8 years, and other eye-opening facts https://wnyc.org/story/bnch-migration-doug-massey/ #10yrsago Activists are crowdfunding to build a wall around Trump Tower https://www.indiegogo.com/en/projects/wallintrump/wall-in-trump#/ #10yrsago Chinese government decrees that it is always legal to video-record the police https://www.techdirt.com/2016/08/03/yes-you-read-that-correctly-china-says-ok-members-public-to-record-police/ #10yrsago Big rigs can be hijacked and driven with software-based attacks https://www.wired.com/2016/08/researchers-hack-big-rig-truck-hijack-accelerator-brakes/ #5yrsago Elite debt hits record heights https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/03/fitzgerald-was-an-optimist/#debt #5yrsago Utilities governed like empires https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/04/eighty-sixed/#thank-you-come-again #5yrsago Congress has allocated enough money to end the eviction crisis https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/04/eighty-sixed/#helicopter-not-found #5yrsago Vaccine refusal and health insurance https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/04/eighty-sixed/#risk-management #1yrago AI software assistants make the hardest kinds of bugs to spot https://pluralistic.net/2025/08/04/bad-vibe-coding/#maximally-codelike-bugs Upcoming appearances (permalink) Virtual: EFFecting Change: Who the Machine Serves, Aug 12 https://www.eff.org/event/effecting-change-who-machine-serves Edinburgh International Book Festival with Jimmy Wales, Aug 17 https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/events/the-front-list-cory-doctorow-and-jimmy-wales Sydney: The Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Aug 23-24 https://festivalofdangerousideas.com/program/ Melbourne: Enshittification at the Wheeler Centre, Aug 25 https://www.wheelercentre.com/events-tickets/season-2026/cory-doctorow-enshittification Brighton: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Carole Cadwalladr (Brighton Dome), Sep 8 https://brightondome.org/whats-on/LSC-cory-doctorow-the-reverse-centaurs-guide-to-life-after-ai/ London: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Riley Quinn (Foyle's Picadilly), Sep 9 https://www.foyles.co.uk/events/enshittification-cory-doctorow-riley-quinn South Bend: An Evening With Cory Doctorow (Notre Dame), Oct 6 https://franco.nd.edu/events/2026/10/06/an-evening-with-cory-doctorow/ Vancouver: BC Policy Solutions Gala, Nov 12 https://bcpolicy.ca/gala/ Recent appearances (permalink) F@#$ the AI Overlords (On The Media) https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/articles/f-the-ai-overlords Why AI Won't Replace Workers, But Will Crash The Economy (Smart Cookies) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRRmUuxJolY AI and the Enshittification Era (The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dAIJRjb-Bw AI is not inevitable (Betakit) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbiTVkq1WHo A Conversation with Lina Khan (Law and Economy Student Network) https://www.youtube.com/live/7Ak5LZllqwE Latest books (permalink) "The Reverse-Centaur's Guide to AI," a short book about being a better AI critic, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, June 2026 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374621568/thereversecentaursguidetolifeafterai/ "Canny Valley": A limited edition collection of the collages I create for Pluralistic, self-published, September 2025 https://pluralistic.net/2025/09/04/illustrious/#chairman-bruce "Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, October 7 2025 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374619329/enshittification/ "Picks and Shovels": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about the heroic era of the PC, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2025 (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865908/picksandshovels). "The Bezzle": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about prison-tech and other grifts, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2024 (thebezzle.org). "The Lost Cause:" a solarpunk novel of hope in the climate emergency, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), November 2023 (http://lost-cause.org). "The Internet Con": A nonfiction book about interoperability and Big Tech (Verso) September 2023 (http://seizethemeansofcomputation.org). Signed copies at Book Soup (https://www.booksoup.com/book/9781804291245). "Red Team Blues": "A grabby, compulsive thriller that will leave you knowing more about how the world works than you did before." Tor Books http://redteamblues.com. "Chokepoint Capitalism: How to Beat Big Tech, Tame Big Content, and Get Artists Paid, with Rebecca Giblin", on how to unrig the markets for creative labor, Beacon Press/Scribe 2022 https://chokepointcapitalism.com Upcoming books (permalink) "The Post-American Internet," a geopolitical sequel of sorts to Enshittification, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2027 "Unauthorized Bread": a middle-grades graphic novel adapted from my novella about refugees, toasters and DRM, FirstSecond, April 20, 2027 "Enshittification, Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It" (the graphic novel), Firstsecond, 2027 "The Memex Method," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2027 Colophon (permalink) Today's top sources: Currently writing: "The Post-American Internet," a sequel to "Enshittification," about the better world the rest of us get to have now that Trump has torched America. Fourth draft completed. Submitted to editor. A Little Brother short story about DIY insulin PLANNING This work – excluding any serialized fiction – is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. That means you can use it any way you like, including commercially, provided that you attribute it to me, Cory Doctorow, and include a link to pluralistic.net. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Quotations and images are not included in this license; they are included either under a limitation or exception to copyright, or on the basis of a separate license. Please exercise caution. How to get Pluralistic: Blog (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): Pluralistic.net Newsletter (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://pluralistic.net/plura-list Mastodon (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic Bluesky (no ads, possible tracking and data-collection): https://bsky.app/profile/doctorow.pluralistic.net Medium (no ads, paywalled): https://doctorow.medium.com/ Tumblr (mass-scale, unrestricted, third-party surveillance and advertising): https://mostlysignssomeportents.tumblr.com/tagged/pluralistic "When life gives you SARS, you make sarsaparilla" -Joey "Accordion Guy" DeVilla READ CAREFULLY: By reading this, you agree, on behalf of your employer, to release me from all obligations and waivers arising from any and all NON-NEGOTIATED agreements, licenses, terms-of-service, shrinkwrap, clickwrap, browsewrap, confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-compete and acceptable use policies ("BOGUS AGREEMENTS") that I have entered into with your employer, its partners, licensors, agents and assigns, in perpetuity, without prejudice to my ongoing rights and privileges. You further represent that you have the authority to release me from any BOGUS AGREEMENTS on behalf of your employer. ISSN: 3066-764X

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Baking physics in CSS via linear() abuse

Check out the following CSS animations (touch to play):

these are CSS-based graphics and animations, you probably need to visit the website to see

If you wanted to implement complex procedural animations (like physics) on the web, you’d probably go for JS-based requestAnimationFrame update-loop and animate each frame. But everyone knows that CSS animations are much smoother than janky frame-based JS animations.

Native web animations run outside the main thread, so things like heavy JS computations won’t affect it. Likewise, it won’t interfere with your UI event handlers that decides the UI’s responsiveness.

Interactive content: Visit the post to interact with this content.
Alternative text: JS vs CSS animation comparison

However, we can’t do procedural animations in CSS. CSS is declarative.

One way to do this is to precalculate the keyframes to replay with CSS, but a high quality replay would normally require a heavy amount of generated CSS to be loaded and parsed. I found a way to highly compress this precalculated CSS to a manageable size.

Technique

Baking precalculated animations in CSS keyframes is nothing new I suppose, but I wanted to highlight a ‘recent’ development in CSS, the linear() custom easing. Abusing this function enables high-fidelity CSS animations in a compact representation!

First, the linear() custom ease (not to be confused with the classic linear keyword with no arguments) lets you define custom easing curves.

div {
  animation: slide 2s linear(0, 0.5 60%, 0.25, 1) infinite alternate;
}
@keyframes slide {
  from { translate: 20px }
  to { translate: 120px }
}

div

It’s not very intuitive since we’re manually mapping values in the time domain (that’s what ease functions do). To illustrate what’s happening and to compare, we can denormalise the above example to classic keyframes that do the same thing:

div {
  animation: slide 2s linear infinite alternate;
}
@keyframes slide {
  0% { translate: 20px }
  60% { translate: 70px }
  80% { translate: 45px }
  100% { translate: 120px }
}

div

What linear() gives us is a compact form of defining single-property animations that have multiple keyframes, just like the above.

A more typical example can be seen below which would’ve taken hundreds of bytes to write in classic keyframes:

div {
  animation: wave 3s linear(0.5, 0.578, 0.655, 0.727, 0.794, 0.854, 0.905, 0.946, 0.976, 0.994, 1, 0.994, 0.976, 0.946, 0.905, 0.854, 0.794, 0.727, 0.655, 0.578, 0.5, 0.422, 0.345, 0.273, 0.206, 0.146, 0.095, 0.054, 0.024, 0.006, 0, 0.006, 0.024, 0.054, 0.095, 0.146, 0.206, 0.273, 0.345, 0.422, 0.5) infinite alternate;
}
@keyframes wave {
  from { translate: 0 0 }
  to { translate: 0 50px }
}

div

Above is a sampled sine wave. The range of positions over time (min and max) becomes the from and to values. At every sample, the position is recorded and normalised to [0,1] which becomes the linear() function’s values.

Note that the box starts in the middle of the range, not at from. The endpoints don’t have to be where the motion begins and ends.

Easing function as data

The main idea is we are no longer using the easing function to ease motion — how smoothly a thing goes from A to B. Think of it now as the actual motion being defined inside the easing function.

The linear() function contains the motion data. And the @keyframes declarations only give the absolute range that the motion data operates over.

So far we’ve only been working with one axis or degree of freedom. If we wanted a more interesting physics simulation, we’d need more dimensions, and a way to combine their animations.

Composition

For 2D animation, we need two separately-animated dimensions, but right now it’s written in a single property, translate: x y. Having two animations run on the same property would overwrite the other.

The general answer to this is animation-composition, but it forces the animation to calculate in the main thread, and we lose the main selling point of smooth animations.

One way out is to use two technically different properties for translation, translate and transform. Note that transformation properties are applied in this order: translate, rotate, scale, transform.

So x can use translate: $x 0 and y can use transform: translateY($y):

div {
  animation:
    circle-x 2s linear(1, 0.994, 0.976, 0.946, 0.905, 0.854, 0.794, 0.727, 0.655, 0.578, 0.5, 0.422, 0.345, 0.273, 0.206, 0.146, 0.095, 0.054, 0.024, 0.006, 0, 0.006, 0.024, 0.054, 0.095, 0.146, 0.206, 0.273, 0.345, 0.422, 0.5, 0.578, 0.655, 0.727, 0.794, 0.854, 0.905, 0.946, 0.976, 0.994, 1) infinite,
    circle-y 2s linear(0.5, 0.578, 0.655, 0.727, 0.794, 0.854, 0.905, 0.946, 0.976, 0.994, 1, 0.994, 0.976, 0.946, 0.905, 0.854, 0.794, 0.727, 0.655, 0.578, 0.5, 0.422, 0.345, 0.273, 0.206, 0.146, 0.095, 0.054, 0.024, 0.006, 0, 0.006, 0.024, 0.054, 0.095, 0.146, 0.206, 0.273, 0.345, 0.422, 0.5) infinite;
}
@keyframes circle-x {
  from { translate: 0 0 }
  to { translate: 100px 0 }
}
@keyframes circle-y {
  from { transform: translateY(0) }
  to { transform: translateY(100px) }
}

div

We can now animate two dimensions independently. Each linear() gives the motion data for the corresponding dimension.

transform is applied last, after rotate, which means adding a rotation dimension to the animation would cause issues.

The solution for sane rotate and scale animations is div wrappers: Apply translation to the parent element, and only apply rotation and scale to the child element.

Again, all of this is still possible with classic keyframes, but that would require explicitly writing both coordinates in every frame. In animations where x and y are mostly independent, that is highly inefficient. It’s a multiplicative gain in efficiency.

Reuse

Multiple elements can reuse the same @keyframes declarations. Since the only purpose of @keyframes now is to define the range of values, we can get the union of ranges over all elements so all elements can work within the same animation range — the same @keyframes declaration. Individual movements are still encoded in the respective linear().

.a {
  animation:
    bounce-x 2s linear(0, 1, 0.84) infinite,
    bounce-y 2s linear(0, 0.009, 0.028, 0.056, 0.094, 0.141, 0.197, 0.263, 0.338, 0.422, 0.516, 0.619, 0.731, 0.853, 0.984, 0.906, 0.81, 0.723, 0.646, 0.578, 0.52, 0.47, 0.43, 0.4, 0.379, 0.367, 0.365, 0.372, 0.388, 0.414, 0.449, 0.494, 0.548, 0.611, 0.684, 0.766, 0.857, 0.958, 0.949, 0.876, 0.812, 0.757, 0.712, 0.677, 0.65, 0.633, 0.626, 0.627, 0.638, 0.659, 0.689, 0.728, 0.777, 0.835, 0.902, 0.979, 0.951, 0.896, 0.85, 0.814, 0.787, 0.769, 0.76, 0.762, 0.772, 0.792, 0.821, 0.859, 0.907, 0.965, 0.977, 0.936, 0.905, 0.883, 0.87, 0.867, 0.874, 0.889, 0.914, 0.949, 0.992) infinite;
}
.b {
  animation:
    bounce-x 2s linear(1, 0 50%, 0) infinite,
    bounce-y 2s linear(0.5, 0.506, 0.517, 0.534, 0.556, 0.584, 0.618, 0.657, 0.703, 0.753, 0.809, 0.871, 0.939, 0.993, 0.955, 0.922, 0.895, 0.874, 0.858, 0.848, 0.843, 0.844, 0.851, 0.863, 0.881, 0.905, 0.934, 0.969, 0.994, 0.975, 0.962, 0.955, 0.953, 0.957, 0.966, 0.982, 0.999, 0.992, 0.991, 0.995, 1 50%, 1) infinite;
}
@keyframes bounce-x {
  from { translate: 0 0 }
  to { translate: 100px 0 }
}
@keyframes bounce-y {
  from { transform: translateY(0) }
  to { transform: translateY(100px) }
}

A

B

This is a big CSS efficiency win. We only need to name the specific CSS property / dimension a constant number of times, and the actual motion data per element is defined separately as pure numbers. Think of a @keyframes declaration as a channel with linear() as the data.

Baking

Directions

  1. Beat butter, sugar, and vanilla extract until incorporated.
  2. Beat in egg yolks.
  3. Beat in half of the sifted flour, then the milk.
  4. Beat or stir in the remainder of the flour until just incorporated.
  5. Pour the batter(s) into a cake tin.
  6. Bake at 175°C/350°F (conventional non-fan-forced) for 40-60min.

Oh, right. Baking the motion data. It depends on what your animation is, really. If it’s a simulation, then you record the state of each object in each time step. Only record the state that has corresponding CSS properties (or, design your simulation state for CSSability in the first place). After sampling state over time, it’s just mapping the values to the linear() abuse format.

To prepare for encoding, you’d need the total range of values for the @keyframes declarations. For each state $dimension you’re interested in, find the min and max values over the whole animation and use that in:

@keyframes $dimension {
  from { $property: $min }
  to { $property: $max }
}

Dimension can mean anything in your model that is animated independently, like x, y, color, rotation, scale, radius, progress, depth, etc.

To encode the linear() numbers: For every dimension, for every sample, normalise the property values against the range you got from earlier to [0,1]. Remember, one animation, one linear() per dimension!

for (const dimension of dimensions) {
  const normalized = dimension.samples.map(
    sample =>
      (sample - dimension.min) / (dimension.max - dimension.min)
  );
  css += `${dimension.name} linear(${normalized.join(", ")}),\n`;
}

The following is a demo that bakes your mouse movements into your very own linear() abuse CSS animation in real time.

drag me

CSS will appear here. Drag the draggy thing!

An optimisation could be added such that you skip writing samples that are too similar to the previous sample.

We let linear() do its actual job of linearly interpolating your values.

Skipping samples would break the property that each sample is in regular intervals, so you’d also need to add the progress percentage coordinates in linear() where necessary.

If your animation is more of the hand-authored type, then you’re just mapping keyframes to keyframes. This could probably be automated depending on the source animation authoring format. Any easing / motion curves from the source material would have to be ‘rasterised’ though, because we can only do linear interpolation with linear().

Alternatives considered / related tech

WAAPI. Web Animations API (WAAPI) is basically a JS API for creating CSS animations. It’s much better than dynamically constructing <style> tags. So I lied when I said JS-based animations can’t achieve native speeds (actually I didn’t, I specifically called out requestAnimationFrame only!).

offset-path is a strong alternative. It essentially lets you define an SVG-style path that an element could follow.

  • Only limited to position (2 degrees of freedom), no other dimensions like color, opacity, or any other animatable CSS property.

  • Not as compact as linear() abuse (SVG path commands, absolute values, and not as code reuse-friendly).

  • Curves can be defined more concisely with path curve commands, unlike linear() stuck with linear interpolation.

SVG animations? SMIL, ? Idk enough about these, but I imagine it’s verbose XML declarative animations.

CSS custom animatable @property. Apparently animating custom properties recalculates every frame in the main thread? So this isn’t very performant. This blog writes about it in detail.

Sprite sheets. Yeah sprite sheets.

prerendered video / animated WebP! This is the solution for 99% of cases! Forget everything you’ve learned in this blog, this is just some trifling for fun!

Demo code

Click a demo to see its CSS source code below the gallery!

@scope {
  :scope {
    position: relative;
    width: 400px;
    height: 400px;
    overflow: hidden;
    background: #368a67;
    border-radius: 8px;
  }
  .pivot {
    position: absolute;
    left: 50%;
    top: 35%;
  }
  .arm1, .arm2 {
    position: absolute;
    left: -2px;
    width: 4px;
    background: #f8e6f2;
    transform-origin: 2px 0;
  }
  .arm1::after, .arm2::after {
    content: "";
    position: absolute;
    left: -8px;
    bottom: -10px;
    width: 20px;
    height: 20px;
    border-radius: 50%;
    background: #f8e6f2;
  }
  @keyframes swing {
    from { rotate: -8.907rad }
    to { rotate: 40.439rad }
  }
  .arm1, .arm2 {
    animation: swing 20s infinite;
  }
  .arm1 {
    height: 110px;
    animation-timing-function: linear(0.2336 0%, 0.2335 0.32%, 0.2331 0.65%, 0.2325 0.99%, 0.2313 1.35%, 0.2296 1.69%, 0.2275 2%, 0.2249 2.29%, 0.2218 2.56%, 0.2182 2.82%, 0.2145 3.05%, 0.2108 3.25%, 0.2072 3.42%, 0.2036 3.57%, 0.1994 3.73%, 0.191 4.02%, 0.1872 4.16%, 0.1837 4.29%, 0.1805 4.43%, 0.1773 4.57%, 0.1742 4.71%, 0.1713 4.86%, 0.1686 5.03%, 0.1663 5.2%, 0.1648 5.35%, 0.1639 5.5%, 0.1638 5.65%, 0.1643 5.81%, 0.1656 6.05%, 0.166 6.21%, 0.1658 6.39%, 0.165 6.59%, 0.1634 6.83%, 0.1611 7.09%, 0.1583 7.36%, 0.1552 7.66%, 0.1518 8.01%, 0.148 8.44%, 0.1449 8.86%, 0.142 9.35%, 0.1402 9.72%, 0.1386 10.03%, 0.1372 10.32%, 0.1354 10.66%, 0.1341 10.97%, 0.1338 11.2%, 0.1341 11.41%, 0.135 11.63%, 0.1367 11.87%, 0.139 12.11%, 0.1419 12.34%, 0.1451 12.54%, 0.1483 12.71%, 0.1515 12.85%, 0.1556 13%, 0.1603 13.17%, 0.1635 13.29%, 0.1666 13.42%, 0.1698 13.56%, 0.1729 13.71%, 0.1761 13.85%, 0.1792 13.99%, 0.1824 14.13%, 0.1857 14.27%, 0.189 14.41%, 0.1926 14.56%, 0.1963 14.71%, 0.2004 14.9%, 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  }
  .arm2 {
    top: 110px;
    height: 110px;
    animation-timing-function: linear(0.1595 0%, 0.1593 0.32%, 0.1586 0.65%, 0.1576 0.99%, 0.1564 1.35%, 0.1552 1.69%, 0.1544 2%, 0.1542 2.29%, 0.1548 2.56%, 0.1563 2.82%, 0.1588 3.05%, 0.1619 3.25%, 0.1657 3.42%, 0.1701 3.57%, 0.1757 3.73%, 0.1875 4.02%, 0.1923 4.16%, 0.196 4.29%, 0.199 4.43%, 0.2012 4.57%, 0.2026 4.71%, 0.2031 4.86%, 0.2026 5.03%, 0.2008 5.2%, 0.1981 5.35%, 0.1943 5.5%, 0.1896 5.65%, 0.183 5.81%, 0.1727 6.05%, 0.1668 6.21%, 0.1616 6.39%, 0.1568 6.59%, 0.1527 6.83%, 0.1494 7.09%, 0.1469 7.36%, 0.1449 7.66%, 0.1432 8.01%, 0.1413 8.44%, 0.139 8.86%, 0.1353 9.35%, 0.1318 9.72%, 0.1281 10.03%, 0.124 10.32%, 0.1187 10.66%, 0.1132 10.97%, 0.1088 11.2%, 0.1045 11.41%, 0.0999 11.63%, 0.0947 11.87%, 0.0888 12.11%, 0.0825 12.34%, 0.0758 12.54%, 0.0693 12.71%, 0.0627 12.85%, 0.0542 13%, 0.0447 13.17%, 0.0385 13.29%, 0.0329 13.42%, 0.0277 13.56%, 0.0231 13.71%, 0.0191 13.85%, 0.0158 13.99%, 0.013 14.13%, 0.0109 14.27%, 0.0093 14.41%, 0.0082 14.56%, 0.0078 14.71%, 0.0084 14.9%, 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  }
}
@scope {
  :scope {
    position: relative;
    width: 400px;
    height: 400px;
    overflow: hidden;
    background: #cbeefa;
    border-radius: 8px;
  }
  @keyframes ball-x { from { translate: 55px 0 } to { translate: 347.32px 0 } }
  @keyframes ball-y { from { transform: translateY(157.1px) } to { transform: translateY(347.68px) } }
  @keyframes ball-r { from { rotate: -21.04rad } to { rotate: 24.87rad } }
  .ball {
    position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0;
    width: 32px; height: 32px; border-radius: 50%;
  }
  .line {
    position: absolute;
    left: calc(50% - 1px);
    width: 2px; height: 100%;
    background: #0003;
  }
  .ball-0 {
    background: #e74c3c;
    animation:
      ball-x 3s infinite linear(0.2497 0%, 0.2568 2.08%, 0.1618 8.75%, 0.1104 12.36%, 0.0668 15.42%, 0.0431 17.08%, 0.0154 19.03%, 0 20.69%, 0.0257 22.08%, 0.1412 28.33%, 0.2482 34.31%, 0.2094 40.97%, 0.1697 47.78%, 0.1427 50.83%, 0.0078 55.28%, 0.0041 56.67%, 0.1008 61.53%, 0.1378 63.61%, 0.2337 70.28%, 0.2823 76.94%, 0.2974 79.72%, 0.3338 86.39%, 0.357 91.39%, 0.312 98.06%, 0.3023 100%),
      ball-y 3s infinite linear(0.0152 0%, 0 2.08%, 0.0412 8.75%, 0.1337 12.36%, 0.2504 15.42%, 0.3289 17.08%, 0.4337 19.03%, 0.4083 20.69%, 0.4019 22.08%, 0.4628 28.33%, 0.6514 34.31%, 0.6669 40.97%, 0.8558 47.78%, 0.9862 50.83%, 0.997 55.28%, 0.9899 56.67%, 0.9929 61.53%, 0.9985 63.61%, 1 70.28%, 1 76.94%, 1 79.72%, 1 86.39%, 1 91.39%, 1 98.06%, 1 100%);
    .line {
      animation: ball-r 3s infinite linear(0.4583 0%, 0.466 2.08%, 0.5046 8.75%, 0.5254 12.36%, 0.5431 15.42%, 0.5527 17.08%, 0.564 19.03%, 0.564 20.69%, 0.5596 22.08%, 0.5395 28.33%, 0.5199 34.31%, 0.4818 40.97%, 0.4429 47.78%, 0.4298 50.83%, 0.4529 55.28%, 0.4529 56.67%, 0.4551 61.53%, 0.4608 63.61%, 0.5027 70.28%, 0.5287 76.94%, 0.5368 79.72%, 0.5562 86.39%, 0.5704 91.39%, 0.5653 98.06%, 0.5602 100%);
    }
  }
  .ball-1 {
    background: #3498db;
    animation:
      ball-x 3s infinite linear(0.3729 0%, 0.3524 2.08%, 0.4044 8.75%, 0.4326 12.36%, 0.4565 15.42%, 0.4695 17.08%, 0.4844 19.03%, 0.4958 20.69%, 0.5052 22.08%, 0.5478 28.33%, 0.5884 34.31%, 0.6338 40.97%, 0.6801 47.78%, 0.701 50.83%, 0.8078 55.28%, 0.8437 56.67%, 0.9671 61.53%, 1 63.61%, 0.9043 70.28%, 0.8085 76.94%, 0.7791 79.72%, 0.857 86.39%, 0.9165 91.39%, 0.9962 98.06%, 0.9743 100%),
      ball-y 3s infinite linear(0.0152 0%, 0.0536 2.08%, 0.307 8.75%, 0.5143 12.36%, 0.7282 15.42%, 0.8598 17.08%, 0.9822 19.03%, 0.8706 20.69%, 0.7856 22.08%, 0.4933 28.33%, 0.3518 34.31%, 0.3531 40.97%, 0.5275 47.78%, 0.6628 50.83%, 0.766 55.28%, 0.8085 56.67%, 0.9892 61.53%, 0.9146 63.61%, 0.7964 70.28%, 0.8461 76.94%, 0.9019 79.72%, 0.9038 86.39%, 0.9925 91.39%, 0.9186 98.06%, 0.9153 100%);
    .line {
      animation: ball-r 3s infinite linear(0.4583 0%, 0.4595 2.08%, 0.4771 8.75%, 0.4866 12.36%, 0.4946 15.42%, 0.499 17.08%, 0.5044 19.03%, 0.5106 20.69%, 0.5157 22.08%, 0.5386 28.33%, 0.5606 34.31%, 0.5851 40.97%, 0.6102 47.78%, 0.6214 50.83%, 0.6281 55.28%, 0.6299 56.67%, 0.6384 61.53%, 0.6585 63.61%, 0.7299 70.28%, 0.8014 76.94%, 0.8299 79.72%, 0.8974 86.39%, 0.9469 91.39%, 0.9951 98.06%, 1 100%);
    }
  }
  .ball-2 {
    background: #2ecc71;
    animation:
      ball-x 3s infinite linear(0.496 0%, 0.4259 2.08%, 0.2016 8.75%, 0.0819 12.36%, 0.0139 15.42%, 0.0002 17.08%, 0.0348 19.03%, 0.0793 20.69%, 0.1163 22.08%, 0.278 28.33%, 0.3 34.31%, 0.4828 40.97%, 0.6013 47.78%, 0.6539 50.83%, 0.6538 55.28%, 0.6547 56.67%, 0.67 61.53%, 0.6766 63.61%, 0.6977 70.28%, 0.7187 76.94%, 0.7173 79.72%, 0.5867 86.39%, 0.6124 91.39%, 0.6259 98.06%, 0.6284 100%),
      ball-y 3s infinite linear(0.0152 0%, 0.1441 2.08%, 0.6666 8.75%, 0.9873 12.36%, 0.7535 15.42%, 0.6471 17.08%, 0.5508 19.03%, 0.6103 20.69%, 0.6678 22.08%, 0.9894 28.33%, 0.7495 34.31%, 0.995 40.97%, 0.8163 47.78%, 0.7874 50.83%, 0.9648 55.28%, 0.972 56.67%, 0.8149 61.53%, 0.7749 63.61%, 0.757 70.28%, 0.907 76.94%, 0.9958 79.72%, 0.9999 86.39%, 0.9999 91.39%, 0.9999 98.06%, 0.9999 100%);
    .line {
      animation: ball-r 3s infinite linear(0.4583 0%, 0.4584 2.08%, 0.4588 8.75%, 0.457 12.36%, 0.4206 15.42%, 0.3965 17.08%, 0.3585 19.03%, 0.3192 20.69%, 0.2864 22.08%, 0.1441 28.33%, 0.1506 34.31%, 0.1416 40.97%, 0.2034 47.78%, 0.2318 50.83%, 0.2635 55.28%, 0.2694 56.67%, 0.2777 61.53%, 0.2813 63.61%, 0.2926 70.28%, 0.304 76.94%, 0.3072 79.72%, 0.2914 86.39%, 0.2712 91.39%, 0.2708 98.06%, 0.2722 100%);
    }
  }
  .ball-3 {
    background: #f39c12;
    animation:
      ball-x 3s infinite linear(0.6192 0%, 0.6725 2.08%, 0.8433 8.75%, 0.9358 12.36%, 0.9928 15.42%, 0.9587 17.08%, 0.9188 19.03%, 0.8847 20.69%, 0.8551 22.08%, 0.711 28.33%, 0.5732 34.31%, 0.4194 40.97%, 0.2624 47.78%, 0.202 50.83%, 0.225 55.28%, 0.2331 56.67%, 0.2616 61.53%, 0.2737 63.61%, 0.3116 70.28%, 0.3998 76.94%, 0.432 79.72%, 0.5028 86.39%, 0.4409 91.39%, 0.458 98.06%, 0.4594 100%),
      ball-y 3s infinite linear(0.0152 0%, 0.0464 2.08%, 0.2565 8.75%, 0.4404 12.36%, 0.6253 15.42%, 0.7107 17.08%, 0.8236 19.03%, 0.9317 20.69%, 0.9758 22.08%, 0.6981 28.33%, 0.5705 34.31%, 0.5873 40.97%, 0.7777 47.78%, 0.8977 50.83%, 0.8766 55.28%, 0.8831 56.67%, 0.9632 61.53%, 0.9858 63.61%, 0.9193 70.28%, 0.9886 76.94%, 0.9674 79.72%, 0.978 86.39%, 0.985 91.39%, 0.9881 98.06%, 0.996 100%);
    .line {
      animation: ball-r 3s infinite linear(0.4583 0%, 0.4574 2.08%, 0.4545 8.75%, 0.4529 12.36%, 0.4453 15.42%, 0.4203 17.08%, 0.3912 19.03%, 0.3663 20.69%, 0.3466 22.08%, 0.2701 28.33%, 0.197 34.31%, 0.1153 40.97%, 0.032 47.78%, 0 50.83%, 0.0114 55.28%, 0.0155 56.67%, 0.0297 61.53%, 0.036 63.61%, 0.0566 70.28%, 0.0644 76.94%, 0.0775 79.72%, 0.1155 86.39%, 0.1171 91.39%, 0.107 98.06%, 0.1078 100%);
    }
  }
}
@scope {
:scope {
  position: relative;
  width: 400px;
  height: 400px;
  overflow: hidden;
  background: #0a0a0a;
  border-radius: 8px;
}
.p {
  position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0;
  width: 5px;
  height: 5px;
  background: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.6);
  border-radius: 50%;
  animation: p-x 6s infinite, p-y 6s infinite, p-o 6s infinite;
}
@keyframes p-x { from { translate: -2.28px 0 } to { translate: 601.67px 0 } }
@keyframes p-y { from { transform: translateY(-1.44px) } to { transform: translateY(402.04px) } }
@keyframes p-o { from { opacity: 0 } to { opacity: 1 } }
.p-0 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.6477 0%, 0.6587 4.31%, 0.6904 8.21%, 0.7268 12.1%, 0.7704 19.75%, 0.8207 30.04%, 0.8605 34.91%, 0.9198 39.36%, 0.9741 43.12%, 0.9965 45.2%, 0.9975 45.34%, 0.004 45.34%, 0.0112 48.68%, 0.0038 50.35%, 0.0028 50.49%, 0.9962 50.49%, 0.9484 54.24%, 0.86 59.11%, 0.7883 63%, 0.7655 66.2%, 0.7549 69.96%, 0.7275 73.44%, 0.6708 76.77%, 0.6001 80.11%, 0.4966 84.7%, 0.2796 92.35%, 0.1194 97.64%, 0.0565 100%), linear(0.7578 0%, 0.8098 4.31%, 0.8525 8.21%, 0.8388 12.1%, 0.7506 19.75%, 0.5623 30.04%, 0.4702 34.91%, 0.4303 39.36%, 0.4524 43.12%, 0.4849 45.2%, 0.4873 45.34%, 0.4873 45.34%, 0.5332 48.68%, 0.5377 50.35%, 0.5378 50.49%, 0.5378 50.49%, 0.5117 54.24%, 0.4575 59.11%, 0.4723 63%, 0.5054 66.2%, 0.5887 69.96%, 0.6997 73.44%, 0.7806 76.77%, 0.7913 80.11%, 0.725 84.7%, 0.5522 92.35%, 0.4955 97.64%, 0.498 100%), linear(0, 0.667);
}
.p-1 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.0531 0%, 0.0066 1.95%, 0.0034 2.09%, 0.9968 2.09%, 0.9424 5.7%, 0.9178 10.15%, 0.9155 14.74%, 0.9335 19.19%, 0.9781 23.37%, 0.995 24.34%, 0.9975 24.48%, 0.004 24.48%, 0.0739 28.51%, 0.159 32.41%, 0.3154 38.11%, 0.4249 42.42%, 0.5269 46.87%, 0.5808 50.49%, 0.601 54.52%, 0.6027 55.91%, 0.6027 56.05%, 0.6027 56.05%, 0.6021 59.67%, 0.5715 63.98%, 0.4996 71.21%, 0.4654 75.1%, 0.4586 78.72%, 0.4819 83.03%, 0.545 88.32%, 0.5756 91.93%, 0.586 96.38%, 0.5677 100%), linear(0.4991 0%, 0.523 1.95%, 0.5256 2.09%, 0.5256 2.09%, 0.5932 5.7%, 0.6283 10.15%, 0.6015 14.74%, 0.5329 19.19%, 0.4436 23.37%, 0.4275 24.34%, 0.4256 24.48%, 0.4256 24.48%, 0.4036 28.51%, 0.4265 32.41%, 0.4557 38.11%, 0.5081 42.42%, 0.619 46.87%, 0.7462 50.49%, 0.9254 54.52%, 0.9915 55.91%, 0.9983 56.05%, 0.0069 56.05%, 0.1584 59.67%, 0.2816 63.98%, 0.3996 71.21%, 0.4163 75.1%, 0.3807 78.72%, 0.3096 83.03%, 0.2578 88.32%, 0.2865 91.93%, 0.3568 96.38%, 0.3885 100%), linear(0.667, 1);
}
.p-2 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.5667 0%, 0.5514 3.34%, 0.5275 7.79%, 0.5001 11.27%, 0.4783 14.46%, 0.477 14.6%, 0.477 14.6%, 0.4733 17.52%, 0.4992 20.72%, 0.5581 25.03%, 0.6456 29.76%, 0.7902 36.16%, 0.9636 43.12%, 0.9971 44.92%, 0.9996 45.06%, 0.0062 45.06%, 0.1062 50.9%, 0.1416 54.38%, 0.1537 58.69%, 0.1571 62.31%, 0.1843 65.79%, 0.2541 70.65%, 0.3115 73.57%, 0.44 81.5%, 0.4859 84.7%, 0.5036 88.18%, 0.494 92.49%, 0.4659 97.91%, 0.4544 100%), linear(0.3885 0%, 0.354 3.34%, 0.2468 7.79%, 0.1326 11.27%, 0.0064 14.46%, 0.0013 14.6%, 0.9927 14.6%, 0.904 17.52%, 0.8442 20.72%, 0.8111 25.03%, 0.8213 29.76%, 0.8683 36.16%, 0.9095 43.12%, 0.9007 44.92%, 0.8993 45.06%, 0.8993 45.06%, 0.8802 50.9%, 0.8489 54.38%, 0.7941 58.69%, 0.7358 62.31%, 0.699 65.79%, 0.7166 70.65%, 0.7032 73.57%, 0.5574 81.5%, 0.5516 84.7%, 0.5769 88.18%, 0.5651 92.49%, 0.4687 97.91%, 0.4126 100%), linear(0.667, 0);
}
.p-3 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.0525 0%, 0.0593 2.78%, 0.0897 6.82%, 0.1853 12.52%, 0.2061 13.77%, 0.2083 13.91%, 0.2083 13.91%, 0.2371 16.83%, 0.2333 21.56%, 0.2174 26.98%, 0.1743 30.6%, 0.0744 37.13%, 0.0045 44.51%, 0.003 44.65%, 0.9965 44.65%, 0.9775 47.84%, 0.9753 48.96%, 0.9753 49.1%, 0.9753 49.1%, 0.9819 53.27%, 0.9967 56.05%, 0.9977 56.19%, 0.0042 56.19%, 0.0386 60.78%, 0.1144 67.45%, 0.1632 71.07%, 0.1782 74.83%, 0.1612 78.72%, 0.1259 82.2%, 0.0391 87.9%, 0.0043 90.26%, 0.0022 90.4%, 0.9957 90.4%, 0.9592 93.74%, 0.9086 98.75%, 0.8941 100%), linear(0.7101 0%, 0.7391 2.78%, 0.8169 6.82%, 0.9555 12.52%, 0.9929 13.77%, 0.9968 13.91%, 0.0054 13.91%, 0.092 16.83%, 0.2726 21.56%, 0.5027 26.98%, 0.6224 30.6%, 0.764 37.13%, 0.9324 44.51%, 0.9355 44.65%, 0.9355 44.65%, 0.9853 47.84%, 0.9948 48.96%, 0.9957 49.1%, 0.0043 49.1%, 0.0564 53.27%, 0.1153 56.05%, 0.1188 56.19%, 0.1188 56.19%, 0.2095 60.78%, 0.2992 67.45%, 0.3022 71.07%, 0.2834 74.83%, 0.3143 78.72%, 0.3698 82.2%, 0.4719 87.9%, 0.4761 90.26%, 0.4756 90.4%, 0.4756 90.4%, 0.4853 93.74%, 0.56 98.75%, 0.5847 100%), linear(0, 0.667);
}
.p-4 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.8927 0%, 0.8727 3.48%, 0.8793 7.65%, 0.881 11.68%, 0.8583 17.39%, 0.8542 22.67%, 0.8723 26.7%, 0.9201 31.15%, 0.9704 35.74%, 0.9963 37.97%, 0.9978 38.11%, 0.0044 38.11%, 0.0325 41.72%, 0.0446 45.9%, 0.0217 50.9%, 0.0047 52.71%, 0.0034 52.85%, 0.9969 52.85%, 0.9515 56.75%, 0.8939 59.81%, 0.8366 63.28%, 0.7748 68.15%, 0.7094 72.6%, 0.6187 76.91%, 0.5138 81.64%, 0.3875 87.2%, 0.1965 93.6%, 0.0731 97.22%, 0.0051 99.3%, 0.0011 99.44%, 0.9946 99.44%, 0.9799 100%), linear(0.5877 0%, 0.6616 3.48%, 0.7193 7.65%, 0.7056 11.68%, 0.6297 17.39%, 0.5292 22.67%, 0.452 26.7%, 0.4208 31.15%, 0.4574 35.74%, 0.4913 37.97%, 0.4937 38.11%, 0.4937 38.11%, 0.5253 41.72%, 0.5101 45.9%, 0.4846 50.9%, 0.4707 52.71%, 0.4698 52.85%, 0.4698 52.85%, 0.4286 56.75%, 0.4179 59.81%, 0.4661 63.28%, 0.57 68.15%, 0.698 72.6%, 0.7804 76.91%, 0.7977 81.64%, 0.769 87.2%, 0.6916 93.6%, 0.6904 97.22%, 0.7133 99.3%, 0.7154 99.44%, 0.7154 99.44%, 0.7236 100%), linear(0.667, 1);
}
.p-5 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.9767 0%, 0.9246 2.92%, 0.8759 8.21%, 0.8341 13.49%, 0.8241 18.92%, 0.8442 23.23%, 0.9022 28.37%, 0.9781 33.52%, 0.9972 34.63%, 0.9996 34.77%, 0.0062 34.77%, 0.0626 38.94%, 0.0944 42.56%, 0.1044 46.45%, 0.0921 51.46%, 0.1252 57.16%, 0.17 62.87%, 0.1894 66.34%, 0.1756 70.51%, 0.1228 74.97%, 0.0228 81.64%, 0.0052 82.75%, 0.0031 82.89%, 0.9965 82.89%, 0.9627 86.93%, 0.9666 90.26%, 0.9958 93.6%, 0.9974 93.74%, 0.0039 93.74%, 0.0156 94.85%, 0.0169 94.99%, 0.0169 94.99%, 0.0543 97.91%, 0.0835 99.72%, 0.0857 99.86%, 0.0857 99.86%, 0.0878 100%), linear(0.7258 0%, 0.7484 2.92%, 0.734 8.21%, 0.6713 13.49%, 0.5914 18.92%, 0.5174 23.23%, 0.4799 28.37%, 0.4928 33.52%, 0.5032 34.63%, 0.5048 34.77%, 0.5048 34.77%, 0.5264 38.94%, 0.5027 42.56%, 0.4368 46.45%, 0.3336 51.46%, 0.2363 57.16%, 0.2015 62.87%, 0.1771 66.34%, 0.1236 70.51%, 0.1045 74.97%, 0.1079 81.64%, 0.1146 82.75%, 0.1155 82.89%, 0.1155 82.89%, 0.1187 86.93%, 0.0909 90.26%, 0.0303 93.6%, 0.0271 93.74%, 0.0271 93.74%, 0.0045 94.85%, 0.0021 94.99%, 0.9935 94.99%, 0.9861 97.91%, 0.9943 99.72%, 0.9951 99.86%, 0.0038 99.86%, 0.0045 100%), linear(0.667, 0);
}
.p-6 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.2039 0%, 0.2116 4.03%, 0.1899 7.37%, 0.1166 13.07%, 0.0536 18.92%, 0.005 21.84%, 0.0022 21.97%, 0.9956 21.97%, 0.9224 25.73%, 0.8737 29.35%, 0.8509 33.1%, 0.8615 38.94%, 0.8932 43.25%, 0.9264 46.87%, 0.9303 50.63%, 0.8827 55.49%, 0.8148 59.11%, 0.6782 63.98%, 0.5721 67.59%, 0.4709 72.32%, 0.449 73.44%, 0.4462 73.57%, 0.4462 73.57%, 0.4158 76.22%, 0.4136 79.42%, 0.46 84.56%, 0.5393 89.15%, 0.6701 95.83%, 0.737 100%), linear(0.124 0%, 0.16 4.03%, 0.2154 7.37%, 0.3414 13.07%, 0.5443 18.92%, 0.6413 21.84%, 0.645 21.97%, 0.645 21.97%, 0.7116 25.73%, 0.7043 29.35%, 0.6505 33.1%, 0.5392 38.94%, 0.487 43.25%, 0.5023 46.87%, 0.5527 50.63%, 0.627 55.49%, 0.6591 59.11%, 0.7213 63.98%, 0.8065 67.59%, 0.9541 72.32%, 0.9942 73.44%, 0.9992 73.57%, 0.0078 73.57%, 0.0824 76.22%, 0.1196 79.42%, 0.1231 84.56%, 0.1277 89.15%, 0.1896 95.83%, 0.2652 100%), linear(0, 0.667);
}
.p-7 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.7387 0%, 0.7573 2.92%, 0.735 6.12%, 0.6667 10.71%, 0.6152 14.46%, 0.6097 18.5%, 0.6177 21.7%, 0.6463 26.01%, 0.7313 33.1%, 0.8374 40.19%, 0.8835 43.67%, 0.8855 46.87%, 0.8426 51.04%, 0.7793 54.8%, 0.748 58.69%, 0.7483 64.26%, 0.7241 69.26%, 0.6705 72.46%, 0.5708 76.63%, 0.309 86.65%, 0.2062 91.1%, 0.1652 94.16%, 0.1606 95.97%, 0.1606 96.11%, 0.1606 96.11%, 0.1628 100%), linear(0.2679 0%, 0.3289 2.92%, 0.3934 6.12%, 0.4819 10.71%, 0.5946 14.46%, 0.6969 18.5%, 0.7217 21.7%, 0.6866 26.01%, 0.5779 33.1%, 0.4034 40.19%, 0.3703 43.67%, 0.372 46.87%, 0.3759 51.04%, 0.3957 54.8%, 0.4735 58.69%, 0.6217 64.26%, 0.7581 69.26%, 0.8356 72.46%, 0.8886 76.63%, 0.8969 86.65%, 0.9173 91.1%, 0.9594 94.16%, 0.9938 95.97%, 0.9966 96.11%, 0.0052 96.11%, 0.0594 100%), linear(0.667, 1);
}
.p-8 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.1631 0%, 0.1891 4.17%, 0.2179 7.93%, 0.2064 11.96%, 0.1691 16.55%, 0.1439 21.14%, 0.1155 25.17%, 0.0416 30.6%, 0.0045 33.24%, 0.0027 33.38%, 0.9961 33.38%, 0.9687 36.58%, 0.9715 41.03%, 0.9971 44.23%, 0.9986 44.37%, 0.0052 44.37%, 0.0487 50.35%, 0.0361 53.96%, 0.0041 58.14%, 0.0034 58.28%, 0.9968 58.28%, 0.9579 62.31%, 0.8978 67.04%, 0.812 73.3%, 0.7325 78.16%, 0.6638 81.5%, 0.5726 86.37%, 0.4788 91.93%, 0.4219 96.11%, 0.3739 100%), linear(0.0606 0%, 0.0837 4.17%, 0.1412 7.93%, 0.2038 11.96%, 0.2998 16.55%, 0.4406 21.14%, 0.5743 25.17%, 0.6941 30.6%, 0.7455 33.24%, 0.7482 33.38%, 0.7482 33.38%, 0.7782 36.58%, 0.7626 41.03%, 0.7221 44.23%, 0.7201 44.37%, 0.7201 44.37%, 0.6337 50.35%, 0.5698 53.96%, 0.4997 58.14%, 0.4979 58.28%, 0.4979 58.28%, 0.4684 62.31%, 0.4851 67.04%, 0.5941 73.3%, 0.6739 78.16%, 0.7036 81.5%, 0.6711 86.37%, 0.5736 91.93%, 0.456 96.11%, 0.3235 100%), linear(0.667, 0);
}
.p-9 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.6271 0%, 0.6199 4.03%, 0.6022 7.93%, 0.558 13.77%, 0.5301 16.41%, 0.5282 16.55%, 0.5282 16.55%, 0.5095 19.75%, 0.5262 23.37%, 0.5668 26.43%, 0.6946 33.1%, 0.7925 36.72%, 0.9063 40.75%, 0.9969 45.06%, 0.9997 45.2%, 0.0062 45.2%, 0.0839 49.93%, 0.1125 53.96%, 0.1238 60.22%, 0.1544 64.81%, 0.1902 68.71%, 0.2354 72.32%, 0.2638 76.08%, 0.249 79.55%, 0.1861 86.51%, 0.1355 92.49%, 0.086 99.3%, 0.0843 99.44%, 0.0843 99.44%, 0.0789 100%), linear(0.4129 0%, 0.3703 4.03%, 0.2823 7.93%, 0.1055 13.77%, 0.0076 16.41%, 0.0023 16.55%, 0.9936 16.55%, 0.8871 19.75%, 0.8084 23.37%, 0.7834 26.43%, 0.8071 33.1%, 0.8172 36.72%, 0.7852 40.75%, 0.721 45.06%, 0.7195 45.2%, 0.7195 45.2%, 0.6669 49.93%, 0.6231 53.96%, 0.5377 60.22%, 0.5224 64.81%, 0.5538 68.71%, 0.5711 72.32%, 0.5257 76.08%, 0.4784 79.55%, 0.3752 86.51%, 0.2173 92.49%, 0.0067 99.3%, 0.002 99.44%, 0.9934 99.44%, 0.9759 100%), linear(0, 0.667);
}
.p-10 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.0779 0%, 0.0765 3.06%, 0.109 6.82%, 0.1859 11.27%, 0.299 16.13%, 0.4576 21.84%, 0.5676 26.15%, 0.6826 31.15%, 0.6859 31.29%, 0.6859 31.29%, 0.7278 34.21%, 0.7337 37.41%, 0.6925 42.42%, 0.6414 47.15%, 0.5882 53.41%, 0.5629 57.86%, 0.5619 58%, 0.5619 58%, 0.5061 63.28%, 0.3916 72.46%, 0.3458 77.05%, 0.3077 80.67%, 0.2762 84.98%, 0.2814 89.01%, 0.3106 92.63%, 0.3121 95.83%, 0.2791 98.89%, 0.2608 100%), linear(0.9717 0%, 0.9046 3.06%, 0.8462 6.82%, 0.803 11.27%, 0.781 16.13%, 0.7978 21.84%, 0.8646 26.15%, 0.9941 31.15%, 0.9985 31.29%, 0.0071 31.29%, 0.0848 34.21%, 0.1599 37.41%, 0.2976 42.42%, 0.4912 47.15%, 0.7867 53.41%, 0.9893 57.86%, 0.9955 58%, 0.0041 58%, 0.1916 63.28%, 0.4203 72.46%, 0.4937 77.05%, 0.5014 80.67%, 0.4638 84.98%, 0.4198 89.01%, 0.418 92.63%, 0.4423 95.83%, 0.4507 98.89%, 0.4463 100%), linear(0.667, 1);
}
.p-11 {
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}
.p-12 {
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}
.p-13 {
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}
.p-14 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.0655 0%, 0.1601 4.59%, 0.2991 10.15%, 0.4399 15.44%, 0.5877 21.14%, 0.7302 26.56%, 0.8514 31.71%, 0.964 37.41%, 0.9954 39.5%, 0.9976 39.64%, 0.0042 39.64%, 0.0705 44.23%, 0.0844 47.57%, 0.0421 54.52%, 0.0335 58.28%, 0.0468 63.42%, 0.0763 67.32%, 0.1318 71.91%, 0.1336 76.08%, 0.0981 80.67%, 0.0629 85.26%, 0.0239 89.85%, 0.005 91.38%, 0.003 91.52%, 0.9964 91.52%, 0.962 95.41%, 0.9398 100%), linear(0.9566 0%, 0.9551 4.59%, 0.9226 10.15%, 0.8918 15.44%, 0.9073 21.14%, 0.8789 26.56%, 0.7977 31.71%, 0.6606 37.41%, 0.6182 39.5%, 0.6158 39.64%, 0.6158 39.64%, 0.5395 44.23%, 0.4797 47.57%, 0.3698 54.52%, 0.3082 58.28%, 0.2822 63.42%, 0.2986 67.32%, 0.3065 71.91%, 0.2686 76.08%, 0.2379 80.67%, 0.2717 85.26%, 0.3371 89.85%, 0.3535 91.38%, 0.3545 91.52%, 0.3545 91.52%, 0.4071 95.41%, 0.518 100%), linear(0.667, 0);
}
.p-15 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.1467 0%, 0.1305 3.06%, 0.0833 7.09%, 0.0411 11.13%, 0.0096 16.55%, 0.0045 17.11%, 0.0031 17.25%, 0.9965 17.25%, 0.9553 21.28%, 0.9098 26.56%, 0.8794 30.46%, 0.8753 34.49%, 0.8955 41.31%, 0.9325 45.9%, 0.9752 49.79%, 0.9801 53.27%, 0.9345 58.14%, 0.8737 61.75%, 0.793 65.51%, 0.7023 70.1%, 0.5791 77.89%, 0.5058 81.36%, 0.3807 86.51%, 0.1884 92.77%, 0.0886 96.11%, 0.0221 99.03%, 0.0072 100%), linear(0.3304 0%, 0.348 3.06%, 0.4249 7.09%, 0.5587 11.13%, 0.7697 16.55%, 0.7858 17.11%, 0.7897 17.25%, 0.7897 17.25%, 0.8886 21.28%, 0.9251 26.56%, 0.9092 30.46%, 0.8348 34.49%, 0.6999 41.31%, 0.6166 45.9%, 0.6071 49.79%, 0.6328 53.27%, 0.6375 58.14%, 0.5955 61.75%, 0.5695 65.51%, 0.6172 70.1%, 0.7789 77.89%, 0.8033 81.36%, 0.7924 86.51%, 0.746 92.77%, 0.7712 96.11%, 0.8401 99.03%, 0.87 100%), linear(0, 0.667);
}
.p-16 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.0055 0%, 0.0039 0.14%, 0.0025 0.28%, 0.996 0.28%, 0.9794 2.92%, 0.9616 8.21%, 0.9526 9.74%, 0.9517 9.87%, 0.9517 9.87%, 0.8799 17.52%, 0.822 21.84%, 0.8151 22.39%, 0.8136 22.53%, 0.8136 22.53%, 0.7711 27.26%, 0.7708 32.55%, 0.8278 39.5%, 0.8703 43.25%, 0.9035 46.73%, 0.8973 50.63%, 0.8437 54.52%, 0.7196 60.36%, 0.6484 64.12%, 0.5331 70.65%, 0.4997 72.18%, 0.4965 72.32%, 0.4965 72.32%, 0.4518 74.97%, 0.4351 78.16%, 0.4524 82.06%, 0.491 86.51%, 0.5539 91.66%, 0.6377 95.97%, 0.6928 99.17%, 0.7014 100%), linear(0.8744 0%, 0.8789 0.14%, 0.8835 0.28%, 0.8835 0.28%, 0.9437 2.92%, 0.9921 8.21%, 0.9949 9.74%, 0.9951 9.87%, 0.0038 9.87%, 0.0466 17.52%, 0.0147 21.84%, 0.0059 22.39%, 0.0035 22.53%, 0.9949 22.53%, 0.8853 27.26%, 0.7355 32.55%, 0.5334 39.5%, 0.4767 43.25%, 0.4733 46.73%, 0.5167 50.63%, 0.5485 54.52%, 0.6139 60.36%, 0.708 64.12%, 0.9398 70.65%, 0.9915 72.18%, 0.9959 72.32%, 0.0045 72.32%, 0.0662 74.97%, 0.0886 78.16%, 0.0816 82.06%, 0.0846 86.51%, 0.1228 91.66%, 0.1981 95.97%, 0.2795 99.17%, 0.3011 100%), linear(0.667, 1);
}
.p-17 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.7027 0%, 0.7169 3.2%, 0.6933 6.95%, 0.5864 13.63%, 0.5592 16.97%, 0.5604 20.72%, 0.5847 25.17%, 0.6209 29.35%, 0.6732 33.24%, 0.7528 37%, 0.8336 40.89%, 0.9299 46.45%, 0.9671 50.9%, 0.965 54.24%, 0.9147 59.11%, 0.8334 64.12%, 0.8311 64.26%, 0.8311 64.26%, 0.7972 67.73%, 0.7994 70.93%, 0.8527 77.19%, 0.9106 81.22%, 0.9954 85.67%, 0.9985 85.81%, 0.005 85.81%, 0.044 88.73%, 0.0607 92.63%, 0.0966 96.38%, 0.1449 99.58%, 0.151 100%), linear(0.3045 0%, 0.3662 3.2%, 0.4052 6.95%, 0.4718 13.63%, 0.5229 16.97%, 0.55 20.72%, 0.5259 25.17%, 0.4619 29.35%, 0.3968 33.24%, 0.3763 37%, 0.424 40.89%, 0.531 46.45%, 0.6381 50.9%, 0.7346 54.24%, 0.8695 59.11%, 0.9931 64.12%, 0.9971 64.26%, 0.0057 64.26%, 0.1001 67.73%, 0.1726 70.93%, 0.3122 77.19%, 0.3952 81.22%, 0.4356 85.67%, 0.4364 85.81%, 0.4364 85.81%, 0.4403 88.73%, 0.3991 92.63%, 0.3132 96.38%, 0.2621 99.58%, 0.2595 100%), linear(0.667, 0);
}
.p-18 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.3842 0%, 0.3697 3.76%, 0.2954 10.71%, 0.224 14.19%, 0.1445 17.66%, 0.1028 20.86%, 0.1037 23.92%, 0.1845 32.27%, 0.2344 38.11%, 0.2512 42.28%, 0.231 46.18%, 0.2299 46.31%, 0.2299 46.31%, 0.2055 52.71%, 0.1922 64.39%, 0.2043 68.57%, 0.2569 72.6%, 0.3291 76.5%, 0.3315 76.63%, 0.3315 76.63%, 0.4038 80.95%, 0.5221 88.32%, 0.6436 95.83%, 0.674 99.58%, 0.6753 100%), linear(0.2517 0%, 0.2226 3.76%, 0.0794 10.71%, 0.0409 14.19%, 0.061 17.66%, 0.1217 20.86%, 0.2083 23.92%, 0.4859 32.27%, 0.6965 38.11%, 0.8527 42.28%, 0.992 46.18%, 0.9971 46.31%, 0.0057 46.31%, 0.2433 52.71%, 0.6434 64.39%, 0.7959 68.57%, 0.8985 72.6%, 0.9917 76.5%, 0.9956 76.63%, 0.0042 76.63%, 0.0911 80.95%, 0.1328 88.32%, 0.2528 95.83%, 0.322 99.58%, 0.3275 100%), linear(0, 0.667);
}
.p-19 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.6755 0%, 0.6677 3.48%, 0.6366 7.79%, 0.5802 12.8%, 0.5159 16.41%, 0.4569 20.58%, 0.45 24.06%, 0.4799 28.51%, 0.5397 32.27%, 0.6565 37.27%, 0.7548 41.03%, 0.8957 47.43%, 0.9708 51.74%, 0.9967 54.66%, 0.9973 54.8%, 0.0039 54.8%, 0.0041 57.3%, 0.0036 57.44%, 0.9971 57.44%, 0.9609 61.2%, 0.9024 64.67%, 0.8299 68.57%, 0.7484 72.88%, 0.6534 76.5%, 0.5564 80.39%, 0.4229 86.09%, 0.2396 92.91%, 0.1144 98.05%, 0.0849 100%), linear(0.3293 0%, 0.3559 3.48%, 0.3389 7.79%, 0.2729 12.8%, 0.2462 16.41%, 0.2557 20.58%, 0.2889 24.06%, 0.3524 28.51%, 0.421 32.27%, 0.5185 37.27%, 0.5763 41.03%, 0.6301 47.43%, 0.6944 51.74%, 0.7569 54.66%, 0.76 54.8%, 0.76 54.8%, 0.8051 57.3%, 0.8072 57.44%, 0.8072 57.44%, 0.8408 61.2%, 0.837 64.67%, 0.7745 68.57%, 0.6641 72.88%, 0.6139 76.5%, 0.6215 80.39%, 0.6692 86.09%, 0.7001 92.91%, 0.7226 98.05%, 0.7517 100%), linear(0.667, 1);
}
.p-20 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.0835 0%, 0.069 3.06%, 0.0952 7.09%, 0.1555 11.4%, 0.1573 11.54%, 0.1573 11.54%, 0.1894 15.3%, 0.1848 20.72%, 0.1891 26.15%, 0.159 29.49%, 0.1049 34.08%, 0.0585 38.11%, 0.0056 42%, 0.0033 42.14%, 0.9968 42.14%, 0.968 45.06%, 0.9773 49.65%, 0.9965 51.74%, 0.9982 51.88%, 0.0047 51.88%, 0.0275 55.91%, 0.0039 60.22%, 0.0026 60.36%, 0.9961 60.36%, 0.9454 65.51%, 0.8793 69.54%, 0.8275 73.02%, 0.695 80.39%, 0.5874 85.12%, 0.488 89.43%, 0.3361 96.52%, 0.2513 100%), linear(0.7541 0%, 0.8222 3.06%, 0.9038 7.09%, 0.9928 11.4%, 0.9969 11.54%, 0.0055 11.54%, 0.1287 15.3%, 0.3454 20.72%, 0.6056 26.15%, 0.7317 29.49%, 0.8331 34.08%, 0.8832 38.11%, 0.9111 42%, 0.912 42.14%, 0.912 42.14%, 0.9081 45.06%, 0.8629 49.65%, 0.8403 51.74%, 0.8389 51.88%, 0.8389 51.88%, 0.7831 55.91%, 0.7218 60.22%, 0.7198 60.36%, 0.7198 60.36%, 0.6186 65.51%, 0.5484 69.54%, 0.5427 73.02%, 0.6274 80.39%, 0.6538 85.12%, 0.6064 89.43%, 0.4458 96.52%, 0.3535 100%), linear(0.667, 0);
}
.p-21 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.4218 0%, 0.4293 4.59%, 0.4606 8.21%, 0.5662 16.41%, 0.7005 24.2%, 0.8248 30.6%, 0.9155 35.61%, 0.9947 39.64%, 0.9974 39.78%, 0.0039 39.78%, 0.0384 42.56%, 0.0429 46.18%, 0.0097 50.35%, 0.0046 50.76%, 0.003 50.9%, 0.9965 50.9%, 0.9174 55.49%, 0.8532 58.97%, 0.8203 62.73%, 0.8357 67.73%, 0.8549 72.46%, 0.8397 76.36%, 0.7905 83.31%, 0.7518 87.62%, 0.7082 90.96%, 0.6353 96.11%, 0.5685 100%), linear(0.8963 0%, 0.8993 4.59%, 0.8749 8.21%, 0.7191 16.41%, 0.5566 24.2%, 0.4528 30.6%, 0.4191 35.61%, 0.4447 39.64%, 0.4459 39.78%, 0.4459 39.78%, 0.4545 42.56%, 0.4434 46.18%, 0.4129 50.35%, 0.4095 50.76%, 0.4085 50.9%, 0.4085 50.9%, 0.3578 55.49%, 0.3556 58.97%, 0.3862 62.73%, 0.4598 67.73%, 0.558 72.46%, 0.6237 76.36%, 0.7301 83.31%, 0.7437 87.62%, 0.7161 90.96%, 0.6302 96.11%, 0.5213 100%), linear(0, 0.667);
}
.p-22 {
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}
.p-23 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.0794 0%, 0.1011 2.78%, 0.1215 6.4%, 0.1716 10.29%, 0.2315 13.35%, 0.3705 19.19%, 0.4347 22.95%, 0.4366 23.09%, 0.4366 23.09%, 0.4756 27.12%, 0.4856 31.29%, 0.4954 37.13%, 0.4836 42.28%, 0.4488 45.76%, 0.3985 48.54%, 0.3957 48.68%, 0.3957 48.68%, 0.3623 51.32%, 0.3555 54.66%, 0.3727 58.55%, 0.3605 62.31%, 0.3059 67.18%, 0.2117 73.71%, 0.1206 78.58%, 0.0059 84.7%, 0.0033 84.84%, 0.9967 84.84%, 0.964 87.62%, 0.963 91.24%, 0.9858 95.97%, 0.9894 100%), linear(0.4607 0%, 0.5286 2.78%, 0.6448 6.4%, 0.7497 10.29%, 0.7926 13.35%, 0.885 19.19%, 0.9912 22.95%, 0.9956 23.09%, 0.0042 23.09%, 0.1186 27.12%, 0.2515 31.29%, 0.4987 37.13%, 0.7434 42.28%, 0.8935 45.76%, 0.9949 48.54%, 0.9997 48.68%, 0.0083 48.68%, 0.0756 51.32%, 0.1122 54.66%, 0.1198 58.55%, 0.0987 62.31%, 0.0879 67.18%, 0.1178 73.71%, 0.1912 78.58%, 0.3378 84.7%, 0.3404 84.84%, 0.3404 84.84%, 0.3749 87.62%, 0.4188 91.24%, 0.513 95.97%, 0.6261 100%), linear(0.667, 0);
}
.p-24 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.9865 0%, 0.9855 9.6%, 0.9501 15.86%, 0.9021 21.56%, 0.8532 27.68%, 0.8445 32.13%, 0.8668 36.16%, 0.9219 41.03%, 0.9756 44.51%, 0.9956 45.9%, 0.9974 46.04%, 0.004 46.04%, 0.0261 49.24%, 0.0046 54.38%, 0.0036 54.52%, 0.9971 54.52%, 0.9489 59.25%, 0.8773 63%, 0.8153 67.45%, 0.7417 72.88%, 0.6547 77.05%, 0.5042 82.89%, 0.22 93.32%, 0.1051 97.64%, 0.0512 100%), linear(0.9439 0%, 0.8888 9.6%, 0.8947 15.86%, 0.8721 21.56%, 0.814 27.68%, 0.7205 32.13%, 0.6136 36.16%, 0.4999 41.03%, 0.4829 44.51%, 0.493 45.9%, 0.4943 46.04%, 0.4943 46.04%, 0.5111 49.24%, 0.5063 54.38%, 0.5061 54.52%, 0.5061 54.52%, 0.4679 59.25%, 0.4706 63%, 0.5461 67.45%, 0.6819 72.88%, 0.7479 77.05%, 0.7511 82.89%, 0.6755 93.32%, 0.6712 97.64%, 0.6968 100%), linear(0, 0.667);
}
.p-25 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.0484 0%, 0.0042 2.92%, 0.0029 3.06%, 0.9964 3.06%, 0.9826 5.84%, 0.9418 14.6%, 0.8946 21.56%, 0.8557 26.29%, 0.8217 30.88%, 0.8276 34.49%, 0.8797 39.08%, 0.9251 42.84%, 0.9551 46.45%, 0.9422 50.76%, 0.8641 56.05%, 0.7693 60.78%, 0.6516 67.04%, 0.5701 72.18%, 0.476 76.36%, 0.4085 79%, 0.4047 79.14%, 0.4047 79.14%, 0.3461 82.2%, 0.3246 85.26%, 0.3364 90.4%, 0.3799 94.58%, 0.4443 99.03%, 0.4569 100%), linear(0.6987 0%, 0.7533 2.92%, 0.7564 3.06%, 0.7564 3.06%, 0.796 5.84%, 0.8036 14.6%, 0.8193 21.56%, 0.7723 26.29%, 0.6819 30.88%, 0.5939 34.49%, 0.4877 39.08%, 0.4537 42.84%, 0.4613 46.45%, 0.4974 50.76%, 0.5286 56.05%, 0.5787 60.78%, 0.7221 67.04%, 0.8793 72.18%, 0.9544 76.36%, 0.9945 79%, 0.9967 79.14%, 0.0053 79.14%, 0.0466 82.2%, 0.0604 85.26%, 0.0613 90.4%, 0.0422 94.58%, 0.0857 99.03%, 0.1038 100%), linear(0.667, 1);
}
.p-26 {
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}
.p-27 {
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.p-33 {
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}
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.p-35 {
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}
.p-36 {
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}
.p-37 {
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}
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}
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}
.p-41 {
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}
.p-42 {
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}
.p-43 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.1223 0%, 0.1533 4.03%, 0.2177 8.07%, 0.365 14.33%, 0.5635 21.56%, 0.7193 26.7%, 0.8399 30.74%, 0.9348 34.63%, 0.9956 37.55%, 0.9984 37.69%, 0.0049 37.69%, 0.0959 44.09%, 0.123 47.71%, 0.1292 53.96%, 0.165 57.86%, 0.2428 63.84%, 0.2939 67.73%, 0.3031 70.51%, 0.2877 74.27%, 0.2444 79.97%, 0.1901 84.84%, 0.1095 90.54%, 0.0838 94.16%, 0.1038 98.19%, 0.122 100%), linear(0.9649 0%, 0.9775 4.03%, 0.9633 8.07%, 0.9306 14.33%, 0.9368 21.56%, 0.9197 26.7%, 0.8699 30.74%, 0.7745 34.63%, 0.6999 37.55%, 0.6964 37.69%, 0.6964 37.69%, 0.5561 44.09%, 0.4923 47.71%, 0.3703 53.96%, 0.315 57.86%, 0.3246 63.84%, 0.2967 67.73%, 0.2666 70.51%, 0.2641 74.27%, 0.3077 79.97%, 0.3633 84.84%, 0.369 90.54%, 0.3307 94.16%, 0.2747 98.19%, 0.2611 100%), linear(0.667, 1);
}
.p-44 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.1235 0%, 0.1461 3.2%, 0.1409 6.4%, 0.1052 10.99%, 0.0884 15.16%, 0.0608 19.33%, 0.0052 23.23%, 0.0034 23.37%, 0.9969 23.37%, 0.9407 27.96%, 0.8935 32.27%, 0.8921 36.16%, 0.9257 41.45%, 0.9752 46.18%, 0.9962 48.54%, 0.9973 48.68%, 0.0038 48.68%, 0.0164 53.41%, 0.0043 56.47%, 0.0037 56.61%, 0.9972 56.61%, 0.9613 60.5%, 0.9038 64.53%, 0.8435 68.98%, 0.7542 74.97%, 0.6503 79.97%, 0.5041 86.37%, 0.3305 94.3%, 0.2026 99.3%, 0.1832 100%), linear(0.2605 0%, 0.2743 3.2%, 0.3145 6.4%, 0.394 10.99%, 0.5203 15.16%, 0.6741 19.33%, 0.7675 23.23%, 0.77 23.37%, 0.77 23.37%, 0.8182 27.96%, 0.8123 32.27%, 0.7776 36.16%, 0.6912 41.45%, 0.633 46.18%, 0.6249 48.54%, 0.6253 48.68%, 0.6253 48.68%, 0.6148 53.41%, 0.5891 56.47%, 0.5878 56.61%, 0.5878 56.61%, 0.5313 60.5%, 0.4838 64.53%, 0.5145 68.98%, 0.6334 74.97%, 0.6804 79.97%, 0.649 86.37%, 0.5149 94.3%, 0.4567 99.3%, 0.4526 100%), linear(0.667, 0);
}
.p-45 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.474 0%, 0.4658 3.06%, 0.417 7.37%, 0.3731 10.57%, 0.2798 14.88%, 0.1981 18.08%, 0.1476 21%, 0.1218 24.62%, 0.1394 28.51%, 0.1954 32.68%, 0.3509 39.92%, 0.4167 43.81%, 0.4621 48.4%, 0.4759 52.99%, 0.476 53.13%, 0.476 53.13%, 0.4668 55.91%, 0.4271 59.81%, 0.3237 66.62%, 0.1887 74.83%, 0.0822 82.2%, 0.0068 85.95%, 0.0034 86.09%, 0.9969 86.09%, 0.9326 89.57%, 0.8754 93.74%, 0.7731 100%), linear(0.0145 0%, 0.0391 3.06%, 0.0806 7.37%, 0.0684 10.57%, 0.0181 14.88%, 0.0162 18.08%, 0.069 21%, 0.1661 24.62%, 0.2772 28.51%, 0.3901 32.68%, 0.5555 39.92%, 0.6666 43.81%, 0.8248 48.4%, 0.9918 52.99%, 0.9972 53.13%, 0.0058 53.13%, 0.0842 55.91%, 0.1325 59.81%, 0.1859 66.62%, 0.2744 74.83%, 0.4186 82.2%, 0.4548 85.95%, 0.4554 86.09%, 0.4554 86.09%, 0.4835 89.57%, 0.5508 93.74%, 0.6701 100%), linear(0, 0.667);
}
.p-46 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.7712 0%, 0.7268 4.59%, 0.7315 8.48%, 0.749 13.63%, 0.7494 19.33%, 0.7503 23.37%, 0.7804 30.18%, 0.8441 37.13%, 0.8954 40.75%, 0.9412 44.92%, 0.9487 47.98%, 0.9166 51.74%, 0.8317 56.75%, 0.76 60.22%, 0.686 64.53%, 0.5871 71.07%, 0.5149 74.27%, 0.5117 74.41%, 0.5117 74.41%, 0.4658 77.19%, 0.4524 80.39%, 0.4752 83.73%, 0.5407 88.87%, 0.602 93.6%, 0.6765 98.61%, 0.6852 100%), linear(0.6735 0%, 0.7799 4.59%, 0.8332 8.48%, 0.8273 13.63%, 0.7787 19.33%, 0.7155 23.37%, 0.5667 30.18%, 0.4174 37.13%, 0.3943 40.75%, 0.427 44.92%, 0.4689 47.98%, 0.4945 51.74%, 0.5138 56.75%, 0.5659 60.22%, 0.6851 64.53%, 0.9116 71.07%, 0.9946 74.27%, 0.998 74.41%, 0.0066 74.41%, 0.0702 77.19%, 0.1167 80.39%, 0.1311 83.73%, 0.1404 88.87%, 0.2135 93.6%, 0.3113 98.61%, 0.3429 100%), linear(0.667, 1);
}
.p-47 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.6857 0%, 0.6802 3.48%, 0.6456 6.95%, 0.5732 11.68%, 0.5132 15.44%, 0.49 19.05%, 0.4958 22.67%, 0.5257 26.29%, 0.5844 30.32%, 0.7193 36.72%, 0.8054 40.47%, 0.8716 43.95%, 0.9279 48.96%, 0.9457 53.69%, 0.9298 57.86%, 0.876 62.17%, 0.8542 63.56%, 0.8522 63.7%, 0.8522 63.7%, 0.8373 66.48%, 0.8581 70.79%, 0.9193 75.94%, 0.9733 78.86%, 0.9971 79.97%, 1 80.11%, 0.0065 80.11%, 0.0483 83.03%, 0.067 87.62%, 0.0557 91.52%, 0.0318 95.27%, 0.0294 98.47%, 0.0371 100%), linear(0.3456 0%, 0.3843 3.48%, 0.3768 6.95%, 0.3357 11.68%, 0.3204 15.44%, 0.3256 19.05%, 0.3492 22.67%, 0.3757 26.29%, 0.3699 30.32%, 0.3627 36.72%, 0.3962 40.47%, 0.4695 43.95%, 0.6058 48.96%, 0.7258 53.69%, 0.824 57.86%, 0.9513 62.17%, 0.9949 63.56%, 0.9995 63.7%, 0.0081 63.7%, 0.0936 66.48%, 0.2029 70.79%, 0.3188 75.94%, 0.3476 78.86%, 0.3491 79.97%, 0.3489 80.11%, 0.3489 80.11%, 0.3443 83.03%, 0.3598 87.62%, 0.3632 91.52%, 0.3221 95.27%, 0.2605 98.47%, 0.2265 100%), linear(0.667, 0);
}
.p-48 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.5158 0%, 0.502 4.45%, 0.4903 8.76%, 0.5064 12.93%, 0.5439 17.11%, 0.6285 23.64%, 0.7794 33.8%, 0.8568 38.11%, 0.9106 42.42%, 0.9148 45.62%, 0.8758 49.79%, 0.8078 54.24%, 0.7361 58.97%, 0.6636 64.53%, 0.5677 70.1%, 0.565 70.24%, 0.565 70.24%, 0.5317 72.88%, 0.5152 76.22%, 0.5237 80.81%, 0.5823 86.09%, 0.6435 90.68%, 0.6668 94.85%, 0.6559 97.91%, 0.6434 100%), linear(0.6386 0%, 0.6381 4.45%, 0.6929 8.76%, 0.7417 12.93%, 0.7224 17.11%, 0.6184 23.64%, 0.3947 33.8%, 0.3393 38.11%, 0.342 42.42%, 0.3679 45.62%, 0.4001 49.79%, 0.4495 54.24%, 0.5692 58.97%, 0.7689 64.53%, 0.9941 70.1%, 1 70.24%, 0.0086 70.24%, 0.1101 72.88%, 0.1916 76.22%, 0.232 80.81%, 0.2762 86.09%, 0.3657 90.68%, 0.4742 94.85%, 0.5181 97.91%, 0.5193 100%), linear(0, 0.667);
}
.p-49 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.6421 0%, 0.5861 5.01%, 0.5046 10.01%, 0.441 13.35%, 0.4007 16.69%, 0.3985 21%, 0.4443 25.17%, 0.5326 29.49%, 0.7791 39.78%, 0.9182 46.18%, 0.9724 50.21%, 0.99 54.1%, 0.9801 59.39%, 0.9604 62.59%, 0.9592 62.73%, 0.9592 62.73%, 0.9471 66.34%, 0.9782 70.79%, 0.9957 72.46%, 0.9974 72.6%, 0.004 72.6%, 0.0386 75.94%, 0.0639 79.83%, 0.0491 83.59%, 0.0047 87.9%, 0.0029 88.04%, 0.9964 88.04%, 0.9788 90.96%, 0.9926 96.94%, 0.9942 100%), linear(0.5183 0%, 0.4508 5.01%, 0.3516 10.01%, 0.3175 13.35%, 0.3289 16.69%, 0.3577 21%, 0.387 25.17%, 0.3985 29.49%, 0.4439 39.78%, 0.5327 46.18%, 0.6291 50.21%, 0.7441 54.1%, 0.9059 59.39%, 0.9941 62.59%, 0.998 62.73%, 0.0066 62.73%, 0.1117 66.34%, 0.2503 70.79%, 0.2946 72.46%, 0.2979 72.6%, 0.2979 72.6%, 0.3425 75.94%, 0.3288 79.83%, 0.316 83.59%, 0.3352 87.9%, 0.3361 88.04%, 0.3361 88.04%, 0.3505 90.96%, 0.4196 96.94%, 0.4857 100%), linear(0.667, 1);
}
.p-50 {
  animation-timing-function: linear(0.9942 0%, 0.9871 5.29%, 0.9969 7.93%, 0.9976 8.07%, 0.0041 8.07%, 0.0138 12.38%, 0.0043 13.91%, 0.003 14.05%, 0.9965 14.05%, 0.9519 18.08%, 0.8796 22.95%, 0.8209 27.12%, 0.8015 30.46%, 0.8104 34.35%, 0.8602 39.5%, 0.9145 42.98%, 0.9651 46.73%, 0.9651 49.79%, 0.9278 53.27%, 0.8536 57.02%, 0.8156 59.94%, 0.8121 64.53%, 0.8149 69.68%, 0.784 73.3%, 0.7348 76.36%, 0.6657 80.67%, 0.5836 85.54%, 0.501 91.38%, 0.4407 97.22%, 0.3961 100%), linear(0.4894 0%, 0.6269 5.29%, 0.6635 7.93%, 0.6651 8.07%, 0.6651 8.07%, 0.7487 12.38%, 0.7855 13.91%, 0.7893 14.05%, 0.7893 14.05%, 0.8689 18.08%, 0.8906 22.95%, 0.8744 27.12%, 0.8067 30.46%, 0.6904 34.35%, 0.537 39.5%, 0.4689 42.98%, 0.443 46.73%, 0.4312 49.79%, 0.3948 53.27%, 0.3682 57.02%, 0.3933 59.94%, 0.4668 64.53%, 0.5963 69.68%, 0.7025 73.3%, 0.7625 76.36%, 0.7681 80.67%, 0.6865 85.54%, 0.5165 91.38%, 0.3421 97.22%, 0.2632 100%), linear(0.667, 0);
}
}
@scope {
  :scope {
    position: relative;
    width: 400px;
    height: 400px;
    overflow: hidden;
    background: #fbfefa;
    border-radius: 8px;
  }
  @keyframes conf-x { from { translate: -74.77px 0 } to { translate: 559.33px 0 } }
  @keyframes conf-y { from { transform: translateY(-253.89px) } to { transform: translateY(617.26px) } }
  @keyframes conf-r { from { rotate: -11.9rad } to { rotate: 11.68rad } }
  .conf {
    position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0;
    animation-duration: 2.5s;
    animation-iteration-count: infinite;
    animation-name: conf-x, conf-y;
  }
  .paper {
    width: 100%; height: 100%;
    border-radius: inherit;
    animation: conf-r 2.5s infinite;
  }
  .confetti-0 {
    width: 6px; height: 11.8px; border-radius: 2px;
    animation-timing-function:
      linear(0.4964 0%, 0.5116 2.83%, 0.5184 5.5%, 0.5152 8%, 0.5 10.5%, 0.4683 13.5%, 0.4161 17.67%, 0.3777 21.17%, 0.346 25%, 0.3217 29.83%, 0.3152 36.83%, 0.3304 45.5%, 0.3336 54%, 0.3262 62%, 0.3215 70%, 0.3386 77.83%, 0.3874 86.17%, 0.4359 94.83%, 0.4499 100%),
      linear(0.7047 0%, 0.6004 2.83%, 0.5181 5.5%, 0.4531 8%, 0.4005 10.5%, 0.3558 13.5%, 0.3256 17.67%, 0.3211 21.17%, 0.3291 25%, 0.3502 29.83%, 0.3876 36.83%, 0.4232 45.5%, 0.454 54%, 0.4989 62%, 0.5621 70%, 0.631 77.83%, 0.6875 86.17%, 0.717 94.83%, 0.7308 100%);
    .paper {
      background: #e74c3c;
      animation-timing-function: linear(0.5047 0%, 0.5031 2.83%, 0.4972 5.5%, 0.4879 8%, 0.4752 10.5%, 0.4572 13.5%, 0.4304 17.67%, 0.4085 21.17%, 0.3862 25%, 0.3605 29.83%, 0.3269 36.83%, 0.2909 45.5%, 0.2624 54%, 0.2416 62%, 0.2231 70%, 0.202 77.83%, 0.1749 86.17%, 0.1454 94.83%, 0.1296 100%);
    }
  }
  .confetti-1 {
    width: 6px; height: 20.24px; border-radius: 2px;
    animation-timing-function:
      linear(0.4964 0%, 0.4987 2.83%, 0.5006 5.5%, 0.5019 8%, 0.5027 10.5%, 0.5027 13.5%, 0.5007 17.67%, 0.4977 21.17%, 0.4935 25%, 0.4883 29.83%, 0.4822 36.83%, 0.4839 45.5%, 0.4951 54%, 0.5057 62%, 0.5079 70%, 0.4979 77.83%, 0.4744 86.17%, 0.4368 94.83%, 0.4073 100%),
      linear(0.7047 0%, 0.6567 2.83%, 0.6173 5.5%, 0.5851 8%, 0.5571 10.5%, 0.5289 13.5%, 0.4985 17.67%, 0.4806 21.17%, 0.4682 25%, 0.4625 29.83%, 0.4709 36.83%, 0.4974 45.5%, 0.5266 54%, 0.5522 62%, 0.5782 70%, 0.6087 77.83%, 0.6507 86.17%, 0.7039 94.83%, 0.7371 100%);
    .paper {
      background: #3498db;
      animation-timing-function: linear(0.5047 0%, 0.504 2.83%, 0.5028 5.5%, 0.5012 8%, 0.499 10.5%, 0.4957 13.5%, 0.4901 17.67%, 0.4849 21.17%, 0.4791 25%, 0.4721 29.83%, 0.4627 36.83%, 0.4513 45.5%, 0.4395 54%, 0.4281 62%, 0.4181 70%, 0.4111 77.83%, 0.4083 86.17%, 0.412 94.83%, 0.4181 100%);
    }
  }
  .confetti-2 {
    width: 6px; height: 15.35px; border-radius: 2px;
    animation-timing-function:
      linear(0.4964 0%, 0.5195 2.83%, 0.5453 5.5%, 0.5895 8%, 0.6478 10.5%, 0.7068 13.5%, 0.7476 17.67%, 0.7592 21.17%, 0.765 25%, 0.7734 29.83%, 0.787 36.83%, 0.7821 45.5%, 0.7498 54%, 0.7349 62%, 0.7348 70%, 0.7333 77.83%, 0.7067 86.17%, 0.6543 94.83%, 0.6305 100%),
      linear(0.7047 0%, 0.5797 2.83%, 0.4813 5.5%, 0.4128 8%, 0.3771 10.5%, 0.3709 13.5%, 0.388 17.67%, 0.4037 21.17%, 0.4177 25%, 0.4359 29.83%, 0.4742 36.83%, 0.5348 45.5%, 0.575 54%, 0.6012 62%, 0.6421 70%, 0.701 77.83%, 0.7687 86.17%, 0.8146 94.83%, 0.8294 100%);
    .paper {
      background: #2ecc71;
      animation-timing-function: linear(0.5047 0%, 0.5147 2.83%, 0.5286 5.5%, 0.5502 8%, 0.5774 10.5%, 0.6114 13.5%, 0.6541 17.67%, 0.6846 21.17%, 0.7131 25%, 0.7428 29.83%, 0.7774 36.83%, 0.816 45.5%, 0.8526 54%, 0.8819 62%, 0.9046 70%, 0.9244 77.83%, 0.9498 86.17%, 0.9813 94.83%, 1 100%);
    }
  }
  .confetti-3 {
    width: 6px; height: 17.95px; border-radius: 2px;
    animation-timing-function:
      linear(0.4964 0%, 0.4787 2.83%, 0.4703 5.5%, 0.469 8%, 0.4741 10.5%, 0.4871 13.5%, 0.5119 17.67%, 0.5336 21.17%, 0.5556 25%, 0.5805 29.83%, 0.6097 36.83%, 0.6218 45.5%, 0.5957 54%, 0.5656 62%, 0.5563 70%, 0.5579 77.83%, 0.5561 86.17%, 0.5246 94.83%, 0.4907 100%),
      linear(0.7047 0%, 0.6445 2.83%, 0.5953 5.5%, 0.5555 8%, 0.5223 10.5%, 0.4917 13.5%, 0.4654 17.67%, 0.4552 21.17%, 0.4532 25%, 0.4611 29.83%, 0.4899 36.83%, 0.5465 45.5%, 0.5986 54%, 0.6276 62%, 0.6553 70%, 0.6999 77.83%, 0.7672 86.17%, 0.8413 94.83%, 0.8729 100%);
    .paper {
      background: #f1c40f;
      animation-timing-function: linear(0.5047 0%, 0.5068 2.83%, 0.5124 5.5%, 0.52 8%, 0.5294 10.5%, 0.5423 13.5%, 0.5612 17.67%, 0.5768 21.17%, 0.5929 25%, 0.6117 29.83%, 0.6366 36.83%, 0.667 45.5%, 0.6991 54%, 0.7289 62%, 0.7537 70%, 0.7724 77.83%, 0.7912 86.17%, 0.8177 94.83%, 0.8372 100%);
    }
  }
  .confetti-4 {
    width: 6px; height: 8.35px; border-radius: 2px;
    animation-timing-function:
      linear(0.4964 0%, 0.4823 2.83%, 0.4709 5.5%, 0.4613 8%, 0.4516 10.5%, 0.439 13.5%, 0.4193 17.67%, 0.4018 21.17%, 0.3828 25%, 0.3604 29.83%, 0.3311 36.83%, 0.2991 45.5%, 0.2667 54%, 0.2319 62%, 0.1925 70%, 0.1496 77.83%, 0.0989 86.17%, 0.0392 94.83%, 0 100%),
      linear(0.7047 0%, 0.6305 2.83%, 0.5726 5.5%, 0.5269 8%, 0.4883 10.5%, 0.4502 13.5%, 0.4104 17.67%, 0.3871 21.17%, 0.3706 25%, 0.3606 29.83%, 0.364 36.83%, 0.3868 45.5%, 0.4196 54%, 0.4588 62%, 0.5063 70%, 0.5598 77.83%, 0.6214 86.17%, 0.6852 94.83%, 0.72 100%);
    .paper {
      background: #9b59b6;
      animation-timing-function: linear(0.5047 0%, 0.5001 2.83%, 0.4963 5.5%, 0.4926 8%, 0.4885 10.5%, 0.4832 13.5%, 0.4751 17.67%, 0.4682 21.17%, 0.4608 25%, 0.4518 29.83%, 0.44 36.83%, 0.4277 45.5%, 0.4184 54%, 0.4122 62%, 0.4085 70%, 0.4075 77.83%, 0.4096 86.17%, 0.4157 94.83%, 0.4211 100%);
    }
  }
  .confetti-5 {
    width: 6px; height: 15.06px; border-radius: 2px;
    animation-timing-function:
      linear(0.4964 0%, 0.5096 2.83%, 0.5209 5.5%, 0.5317 8%, 0.5438 10.5%, 0.5608 13.5%, 0.5868 17.67%, 0.6088 21.17%, 0.6317 25%, 0.6585 29.83%, 0.6936 36.83%, 0.7299 45.5%, 0.7438 54%, 0.7174 62%, 0.6702 70%, 0.643 77.83%, 0.6362 86.17%, 0.6311 94.83%, 0.6187 100%),
      linear(0.7047 0%, 0.6538 2.83%, 0.6124 5.5%, 0.579 8%, 0.5509 10.5%, 0.5244 13.5%, 0.5 17.67%, 0.4891 21.17%, 0.4852 25%, 0.49 29.83%, 0.5134 36.83%, 0.5662 45.5%, 0.638 54%, 0.7042 62%, 0.7438 70%, 0.7659 77.83%, 0.802 86.17%, 0.8626 94.83%, 0.9047 100%);
    .paper {
      background: #e67e22;
      animation-timing-function: linear(0.5047 0%, 0.5122 2.83%, 0.5186 5.5%, 0.5251 8%, 0.5324 10.5%, 0.542 13.5%, 0.5561 17.67%, 0.5679 21.17%, 0.5803 25%, 0.5949 29.83%, 0.614 36.83%, 0.6356 45.5%, 0.659 54%, 0.6868 62%, 0.7182 70%, 0.7465 77.83%, 0.7704 86.17%, 0.7915 94.83%, 0.8057 100%);
    }
  }
  .confetti-6 {
    width: 6px; height: 9.56px; border-radius: 2px;
    animation-timing-function:
      linear(0.4964 0%, 0.5011 2.83%, 0.507 5.5%, 0.518 8%, 0.5357 10.5%, 0.5643 13.5%, 0.609 17.67%, 0.645 21.17%, 0.6796 25%, 0.7152 29.83%, 0.749 36.83%, 0.7526 45.5%, 0.7219 54%, 0.6936 62%, 0.6852 70%, 0.6888 77.83%, 0.6931 86.17%, 0.683 94.83%, 0.6615 100%),
      linear(0.7047 0%, 0.6135 2.83%, 0.5425 5.5%, 0.4874 8%, 0.4431 10.5%, 0.4041 13.5%, 0.3726 17.67%, 0.3621 21.17%, 0.3624 25%, 0.3754 29.83%, 0.4123 36.83%, 0.4716 45.5%, 0.5188 54%, 0.5457 62%, 0.5728 70%, 0.615 77.83%, 0.6788 86.17%, 0.758 94.83%, 0.8038 100%);
    .paper {
      background: #1abc9c;
      animation-timing-function: linear(0.5047 0%, 0.5104 2.83%, 0.5171 5.5%, 0.5253 8%, 0.535 10.5%, 0.5481 13.5%, 0.5671 17.67%, 0.5828 21.17%, 0.5993 25%, 0.6186 29.83%, 0.6444 36.83%, 0.6746 45.5%, 0.7032 54%, 0.7279 62%, 0.7488 70%, 0.7653 77.83%, 0.7804 86.17%, 0.7976 94.83%, 0.8099 100%);
    }
  }
  .confetti-7 {
    width: 6px; height: 21.38px; border-radius: 2px;
    animation-timing-function:
      linear(0.4964 0%, 0.5028 2.83%, 0.4784 5.5%, 0.4361 8%, 0.397 10.5%, 0.3665 13.5%, 0.3463 17.67%, 0.3382 21.17%, 0.3311 25%, 0.3205 29.83%, 0.3057 36.83%, 0.3133 45.5%, 0.3482 54%, 0.3636 62%, 0.3646 70%, 0.3686 77.83%, 0.401 86.17%, 0.4521 94.83%, 0.4704 100%),
      linear(0.7047 0%, 0.6102 2.83%, 0.5422 5.5%, 0.5077 8%, 0.4979 10.5%, 0.502 13.5%, 0.5147 17.67%, 0.5257 21.17%, 0.5377 25%, 0.5569 29.83%, 0.5981 36.83%, 0.6608 45.5%, 0.7009 54%, 0.727 62%, 0.7689 70%, 0.8287 77.83%, 0.8939 86.17%, 0.933 94.83%, 0.9469 100%);
    .paper {
      background: #ff6b9d;
      animation-timing-function: linear(0.5047 0%, 0.4881 2.83%, 0.4628 5.5%, 0.4344 8%, 0.4059 10.5%, 0.3746 13.5%, 0.3374 17.67%, 0.3111 21.17%, 0.2865 25%, 0.2605 29.83%, 0.2295 36.83%, 0.1922 45.5%, 0.155 54%, 0.1251 62%, 0.1021 70%, 0.0814 77.83%, 0.0535 86.17%, 0.0193 94.83%, 0 100%);
    }
  }
  .confetti-8 {
    width: 6px; height: 15.15px; border-radius: 2px;
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Monday 3 August, 2026

, updated:

Benjamin We spent a couple of glorious days at Knepp last week which meant, among other things, discovering that rabbits on the estate seemed relatively relaxed about having humans nearby. This chap spent much of his time nibbling near where … Continue reading →

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

, updated:

Fascinating thread on Hacker News about RSS.

OpenAI’s amazing — but vastly oversold — new model Astra

, updated:

Eight or nine misconceptions about Astra. See if you can spot the biggest fallacy.

To paraphrase Oscar Wilde: to fuck up HTML once is unfortunate; to fuck it up twice is downright careless. https://adactio.com/journal/22360 It’s baaaa-aaaack!

To paraphrase Oscar Wilde: to fuck up HTML once is unfortunate; to fuck it up twice is downright careless.

https://adactio.com/journal/22360

It’s baaaa-aaaack!

With the latest update to iOS26, Safari has reintroduced this shocking bug that they had previously fixed: https://bugs.webkit.org/show_bug.cgi?id=305719 Apple, you’ve broken HTML. Again. Slow clap.

With the latest update to iOS26, Safari has reintroduced this shocking bug that they had previously fixed:

https://bugs.webkit.org/show_bug.cgi?id=305719

Apple, you’ve broken HTML. Again.

Slow clap.

Sunday caption contest: Reflecting

, updated:

And last week's winner

Games at the press of a button: The Rip-O-Bot (1989)

, updated:

Fukio Mitsuji (三辻富貴朗)—known by his nickname “MTJ”, squeezed from the consonants of his surname, Mi-Tsu-Ji—was the game designer behind Bubble Bobble, Rainbow Islands, Syvalion, Volfied, and Magical Puzzle Popils. Surely one of the greatest to walk these hallowed halls.

In the late 1980s he also wrote a column for the Japanese arcade magazine GAMEST called ゲームデザイン入門— Introduction to Game Design—aimed at readers who dreamed of becoming game designers themselves.

IMG

In part 2 of the series, published in GAMEST No. 31 (April 1989), MTJ is railing against imitation games—パクリ, “rip-offs”—and the industry attitude that produces them. He quotes a manager at an unnamed company:

「10年先!? その頃には今のゲームを知らない世代がプレイヤー層をしめてるさ! だからあえて変える必要もない! あとは目さき(外見)さえ変えてやりゃあ…プレイヤーなんて与えられたものをやるだけさ!!」

“Ten years from now!? By then the player base will be a generation that doesn’t even know today’s games! So there’s no need to go changing anything! Just tweak the surface—the outside—and… players just play whatever they’re handed!!”

Then, to show where that road leads, he writes a little scene of science fiction. Set in “the very near future” (超近未来), at the development office of the fictional Dekoboko Co., a game is created by conversing with a machine:

「ゴシュジンサマ、コンドハナンノゲームノパクリデイキヤショウカ? インカムバッチリデッセ!?」

“MASTER, WHICH GAME SHALL WE RIP OFF THIS TIME? THE TAKINGS’LL BE SPLENDID!?”

「ゲームメイヲ、ニュウリョクシナハレ! ハヨ、センカイ! ワレ!」

“ENTER THE GAME NAME, IF YOU’D BE SO KIND—COME ON, GET ON WITH IT, YOU!”

○✕社の△□と入力! いたって簡単だ。

I punch in Company ○×’s “△□”. Dead simple.

「OK! OK! ツギハハイケイノイメージデゴワス。ツギノナカカラエランデタモレ」

“OK! OK! NEXT IS THE BACKGROUND IMAGE, SIR. PRAY CHOOSE FROM THE FOLLOWING.”

私は億というファイルからそれを見つけるのがめんどうなので、いつもの様にランダムチョイスのキーを押した! 1発でOKだ!

Digging that out of hundreds of millions of files is a pain, so as usual I hit the random-choice key! One shot and it’s done!

「サテ、ツギハキャラクタージャケン、…ツギノナカカラ…」

“RIGHT THEN, NEXT IT’S THE CHARACTERS, SO IT IS… FROM THE FOLLOWING…”

「えぇーい!!」

“Aaaargh!!”

私はいいかげんうんざりしたので、全て、ランダムチョイスのキーを押しまくった!!

I’d had quite enough, so I just hammered the random-choice key for everything!!

「出来た!! 大傑作だ。大傑作の…コピーゲームだ。これで我が社も丸もうけ」

“IT’S DONE!! A MASTERPIECE. A MASTERPIECE OF A… COPY GAME. Our company’s going to clean up with this one.”

Reading it now, the resemblance to today’s generative-ai tools is hard to miss. I don’t think this was clairvoyance—MTJ’s deep immersion in the Japan’s 1980s game industry allowed him to see the outcome as an inevitability.

(In the original, the robot speaks entirely in katakana, its speech wobbling between Kansai, Kyushu, and Hiroshima dialects with the odd flourish of archaic courtly Japanese—エランデタモレ, “pray choose”. English can’t really reproduce that, so here it’s an over-formal servant whose register keeps slipping.)

MTJ even gives his machine a name: the パクリングロボット ( Pakuringu Robotto). パクリング is a word you won’t find in any dictionary—it’s his own coinage, the slang パクリ ( pakuri, “rip-off”) bolted onto an English -ing, as in サンプリング (sampling) or ボウリング (bowling). A jokey pseudo-word built from real parts, which is why I can’t resist translating it as the Rip-O-Bot. He follows the skit with a warning that lands rather differently reading it today:

と言ったかどうかは知らないけど、こんな時代がもうそこまで来ているのは事実です。

Whether it happens exactly like that or not I don’t know, but it’s a fact that an era like this is very nearly upon us.

199X年、平凡なゲームデザイナー達は、「パクリングロボット」の出現により、大量に解雇! てな事になった時、君にはこんなロボット連中に負けないだけの意気込みとオリジナリティーがはたして残ってるだろうか?

199X. When ordinary game designers are laid off en masse thanks to the arrival of the “Rip-O-Bot”—when that happens, will you still have enough drive and originality left in you to beat robots like those?

物真ねならロボットにだって出来る! とは思いませんか? 人間らしい独創的な事に頭と心を使おうではありませんか!!

Robots can do imitation too!—don’t you agree? Let’s put our heads and our hearts into the sort of original work that only humans can do.

He was out by a couple of decades on the date, but much of it feels familiar: a machine that can produce a passable derivative work at the press of a button, followed by the question of what that leaves for the people who used to make them. His answer is the thesis of the whole column, emphasised in the original:

「ゲームは行きつくところアイデアだ!」

“In the end, a game IS the idea!”

Elsewhere on the page he makes the same point from the other direction: graphics will eventually have “a reality you can’t tell apart from the real thing”, so judging a game by its looks is a dead end; and the era where “anyone can make a game” had, in his view, already arrived—learn a few basic techniques of game feel and presentation and even “the ladies next door” (隣のおばさん達) could turn out a passable imitation. If the only difference between you and them is technique, you have no difference at all. The idea, he says, is “the one and only, final weapon left to you” (あなたに残された唯一、最後の”武器”).


The Osamu Tezuka of the game world

There’s a poignant footnote to the page. Osamu Tezuka, the “god of manga”, had died on 9 February 1989, shortly before this issue went to press. The page carries a hand-drawn cartoon of a young designer-to-be, pencil in pocket, gazing up at a thought bubble containing Tezuka in his trademark beret:

ほんとうに偉大なまんが家 手塚治虫氏がなくなった…

The truly great manga artist Osamu Tezuka has passed away…

はたして ゲーム界の手塚治虫は 出現するのだろうか?…

Will the Osamu Tezuka of the game world ever appear?…

To me, this is the same question as the Rip-O-Bot’s, approached from the other direction: if imitation becomes easy, where will the next genuinely original designer come from?

MTJ died in 2008, at the age of 48, long before the arrival of the Rip-O-Bots. But he’d already written the response, thirty-something years early: robots can do imitation too. So don’t compete with them there.


Fuel for Jinks

This page is one of the things that fuelled the creation of Jinks, my new way to make games. It sharpened a question I was already thinking about: if a game can be made at the click of a button, where should the human effort go?

With Jinks, I’m trying to spend less time reimplementing input, scoring, display, and other boilerplate, and more time experimenting with gameplay, systems, and rules. That doesn’t guarantee originality—Jinks could be used to make a copycat game too—but it gives me more time to work on the parts that can make a game mine.

The Rip-O-Bots can make copycat games. The idea is still the weapon.


Source & translation

The Japanese text is my own transcription from the scan, converted from the original vertical right-to-left layout. For the English, I ran the page through multiple machine translators—the irony is not lost on me—and compared and combined the results. Only one caught that インカム (“income”) is arcade-trade jargon for a machine’s coin takings. All this to say: the English quotes are machine-assisted translations assembled and lightly edited by me, rather than professional translations.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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Taking some time off to breathe and regain perspective. Fixed a few bugs, and wrote about the big picture on demo.rss.chat. I really want to get a project going to peer with standard.site apps running in AT Proto, both ways, from us to them, and from them to us, via RSS. We can peer with them because as far as I can tell they implement textcasting. This bridge would demonstrate something important. When something interesting shows up not based entirely on web standards, we're flexible if the attraction is strong enough. This is how the internet came to be. Our systems are prepared to create bridges. And unlike bridging between systems that have different ideas of what text is, which are basically hopeless, if we agree that the web standard for text is fine for writers and reader, better than the ridiculous limits imposed by twitter-like systems. Writing on the web has been crippled since Twitter, now let's start building it back up. That's the appeal of standard.site, they are working toward the same goal. We should work together.

Our Wins Of The Week

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This was not a good week to be Donald Trump, or any Republican running in this year’s midterm elections for that matter.

Been A Good Week Of Polling For Democrats, New Polls In Michigan, As His Powers Ebb Trump's War With Reality Is Growing More Desperate

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Got a bunch of terrific new candidate interviews for you.....

A Funny Novel Stuck In The Protagonist's Head

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Welcome to the Subscription Edition of A Newsletter of Humorous Writing. Our paid subscribers keep the weekly newsletter running, and we’re deeply grateful for your support. (And if you’re not already subscribed, you can sign up here .)

This edition is the latest in an ongoing series by James about funny novels. Today, he’s considering a stream-of-consciousness novel starring a distracted man who is hopelessly lost in thought on his lunch break. After that, we’ve got a couple of recommendations of things we’ve been into lately: Some tasty potato chips and a new, writing-focused issue of an academic journal.


James here! In the past I’ve recommended novels about surreal offices, midlife re-enactors, blundering conquistadors, and the worryingly horny, but the novel I want to recommend today is one where nothing happens. This is a book with no plot, barely a premise, but succeeds with a simple conceit and a very specific central character.

Sunday afternoon session in Belfast

Sunday afternoon session in Belfast

Sunday afternoon session in Belfast

“Take Me Home, Country Roads”

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A Reason To Smile

On Men and Democrats

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I've been saying the same thing for a decade

Even Republicans in Congress can see how unpopular Trump's immigration agenda is

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Trump's deportation agenda is underwater in every swing state. Plus, Sabato moves 13 House ratings toward Democrats. Your weekly political data roundup for August 2, 2026.

Geoeconomics, Part I: Ranking Economic Superpowers

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We’re #1! Or maybe #2. Or maybe …

Other COVID Origin Stories Rand Paul Should Investigate

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TBR Sunday Read

The TEMU-fication of Software, Digital Goods & Services

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A hypothesis on the not-so-distant future of software, books, music, and movies, in which most of what we consume gets cheaper, more abundant, and noticeably worse, while the human-made variant moves into a luxury segment of its own.

Sunday thought: Real Patriotism

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From Texas to North Carolina

Is Europe having a bad wildfire year?

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Several countries in Europe are having a very large wildfire year; this is offset by lower burn in the Balkans

Episode IX of Phase One: Orchestrating docs, AI accuracy, and the pipeline writer

Ninth episode of the AI & Docs podcast series is up! In this one, Tom and I talk with Sarah Deaton, a technical writer at Anthropic, about what documentation work looks like when automation handles most content generation: shifting from writing to orchestrating, mining AI assistant conversations for gaps, building forensic processes for accuracy claims, and managing high-volume PR pipelines without losing quality.

You can watch / listen to the episode here:

August 1, 2026

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In a classic Friday night news dump, the Department of Justice last night moved to dismiss the criminal charges against David Hearn, the U.S.

Bookmarks - llm, archive, music, programming

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These are some things I’ve wandered across on the web this week.

🔖 Code was our medium for thought

See how we weren’t just “writing code”? We were exploring the problem, making decisions, evolving our understanding of the code, problem solving with teammates. Writing code was our medium for thought, where we figured out what we wanted. Our code evolved with our thinking, going from “fuzzy” to “clear and granular” in tandem.

programming

🔖 Bugonia (film)

Bugonia is a 2025 dark comedy film[b] directed by Yorgos Lanthimos and written by Will Tracy. An English-language remake of the 2003 South Korean film Save the Green Planet! by Jang Joon-hwan, the film follows two young men who kidnap a powerful CEO, suspecting that she is secretly an alien who wants to destroy Earth. A co-production of the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Korea, and the United States, the film stars Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, Aidan Delbis, Stavros Halkias, and Alicia Silverstone.

movie

🔖 Be Here to Love Me

Be Here To Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt is a 2004 documentary film directed by Margaret Brown which chronicles the often turbulent life of American singer-songwriter Townes Van Zandt. The film includes interviews of Van Zandt’s immediate family and contemporaries such as Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Emmylou Harris, Lyle Lovett, Steve Earle and Guy Clark[1] along with “home movies, old TV performances and, especially, mid-Seventies footage originally filmed by James Szalapski for his outlaw country documentary Heartworn Highways.

documentary music

🔖 The professor facing prison in ‘antifa’ case: ‘They want to scare allwho oppose ICE’

The broader suggestion of the indictment is that Davis’s statements in Signal chats and meetings, alongside the statements and actions of others, show the groups collectively were conspiring to oppose the US government’s authority and interfere with ICE – and that they were connected to “Antifa groups” that “blend anarchist and communist views”.

At a press conference announcing the charges, Rosen said the prosecution supported the mission of Donald Trump’s executive order last year that designated “antifa” a “domestic terrorist organization” responsible for “riots” against ICE. Antifa is not a formal entity, but an umbrella term for a wide array of anti-fascist activism.

activism politics

🔖 Dark Hours

A mobile friendly SPA that tell you about the night sky at your location, built with open source and open data.

astronomy data weather

🔖 Password Poetry

The critical balance between security and memorability is famously illusive. Passwords tough enough to withstand an attack are impossible to memorize. The words and short phrases that agree to stay in our brains can be cracked in a matter of hours, if not minutes. From brilliant mathematicians to colorful cartoonists, some of our best minds have tried their hands at solving the persistent password problem.

Where they came up short, USC computational linguists may have succeeded. Harnessing a time-honored method of memorization, Marjan Ghazvininejad and Kevin Knight from the USC Information Sciences Institute applied poetry to the problem. The result is memorable passwords that, they said, take more than 11 years to break. Such passwords promise to make online browsing, banking and shopping more secure, once people start using them.

poetry security

🔖 Bodies upon the gears: Alternative approaches to The Man, considered byNathan Schneider

On this basis, the struggle against big tech can have two stories in one: the vibrant resistance and refusal, but also the effort to build a better economy under workers’ and users’ control. With these combined, we need not accept defeat so easily.

When you resist big tech, remember that the choice need not be just Meta or nothing, Google or nothing, ChatGPT or nothing. A durable resistance needs alternatives. Join and support open social networks. Use search and productivity tools that don’t spy on you. If it makes sense to use generative AI, make sure that you can co-govern it. If we are going to have data centers, they should be community controlled and running on renewable energy. If we are going to have gig economies, workers should be in charge. Tell your friends to subscribe to Flaming Hydra, Defector, Hell Gate, Hearing Things, The Flytrap, and other cooperative publishing organizations. A lot of possibilities are free to develop when people refuse to accept dreary options as the only options.

ai coop luddism permacomputing

🔖 late.sh

a cozy command-line clubhouse for computer people

game ssh terminal

🔖 Bonfire: Federated Archives

Federated Archives Alliance is a Bonfire flavour that connects and empowers public media archives worldwide. The instance enables archives to maintain their autonomy while participating in a collaborative network, allowing their collections to be discoverable and accessible across the fediverse. The goal is to facilitate seamless sharing of movie catalogs between participating archives, with granular permission controls that respect each organization’s policies. Curators, researchers, and authorized users can search across the entire federated network, create curated collections, and contribute to the curation of metadata while preserving the provenance of each item.

activitypub archive decentralization

🔖 NYU Receives Major Grant to Preserve Local Journalism

NYU Libraries and Portico, a service of the nonprofit ITHAKA, have received a two-year, $510,000 grant from the Mellon Foundation to preserve local digital journalism and expand access to these important historical records. Local journalism plays a vital role in documenting the everyday life of communities. From school board meetings and neighborhood developments to cultural events and local debates, community news outlets create a rich record of the people, places, and issues that shape our world. Yet this journalism — now largely digital — is at risk of disappearing.

archive journalism mellon

🔖 TheEcological Citizen

The Ecological Citizen is an independent, peer-reviewed, free-to-access journal that provides a forum for inspiring and mobilizing discussion with an Earth-centred perspective. Content is published online and grouped into issues on an approximately twice-yearly basis.

The publication has no financial affiliations, no publication charges and no article access fees.

environment openaccess publishing sustainability

🔖 Keynote: HowComplex Systems Taught Me To Fail - Imogen Wright

This talk traces a meandering story of twenty years of invention, triumph and disaster, touching on theoretical physics, cloud computing, viral genetics, pandemic responses, and nearly dying in an NHS A&E queue. You’ll pick up four generally applicable laws of complex systems, gain some superpowers for averting an apocalypse, and hopefully laugh a bit along the way. This isn’t much of a technical talk and it is neither sanitised nor triumphant — expect sarcasm, most of all during the rough patches. My hope is that you’ll leave seeing your own work differently, especially if it’s quiet and unglamorous. Resilience is a property of systems, not their components, and it’s the people who notice small changes and tend locally who make the biggest differences of all.

care complexity engineering gardening presentation

🔖 The Fall and Mark E Smith As A Narrative Lyric Writer

This happened, then that happened, then something else happened to happen, or maybe didn’t happen… and it never matters like you think, because nothing ever happens like you think.

music writing

🔖 Howto Think in the Age of Answers

A conversation with Howard Rheingold on why AI is a know-how problem before it is a technology problem, and what it takes to augment human thinking rather than surrender it.

llm management search

🔖 Misc/2026-07-27_RSS-Reader.md

A short list of RSS tools compiled by Henrik Schönemann, from a fediverse thread.

rss

🔖 OpenCode

The open source AI coding agent. Free models included or connect any model from any provider, including Claude, GPT, Gemini and more.

llm localfirst opensource programming

Vincent Pastore Tributes: ‘The Sopranos’ Alums Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Michael Imperioli & More Remember “Kind-Hearted Brother”

As the family loses another beloved member, The Sopranos alums are grieving the death of Vincent Pastore. Following the actor’s death at age 80, his co-stars from the acclaimed HBO series paid tribute to the man who was known for his portrayal of Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero during the show’s six-season run from 1999 to […]

Scott Hylands Dead: ‘Night Heat’ & ‘Fargo’ Actor Was 83

Scott Hylands, the actor known for playing Detective Kevin “OB” O’Brien in Night Heat, has died. He was 83. The Canadian actor died on Wednesday, July 29, his cinematographer son Luke Hylands announced in a statement memorializing his “forever hero and best friend” on social media. “Husband, Father, Actor, Director, Writer, Storyteller, Friend, and lover […]

Can Everyone Build Software Now?

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The real difference between engineers and non-engineers ‘vibe coding’. Part 2 of a three-part series on AI, engineering, and what actually changed.

‘A Life Illuminated’: Of Bioluminescence, Mysterious Sea Creatures, And A Woman Scientist’s Groundbreaking Quest

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Director Tasha Van Zandt went to great lengths to make her documentary A Life Illuminated – and to enormous depths. More than 3,000 feet, in fact. Van Zandt descended over half a mile to the ocean floor in a submersible to film the work of pioneering marine biologist Dr. Edie Widder, who has observed and […]

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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A user contacted us about a potential security issue in the RSS.chat server. We responded quickly and with v0.6.11 the issue is removed. If you're running rssnetwork.js on a publicly visible server, please install the new version now. Thanks!

CBS News Correspondent Nikki Battiste Joins NBC’s ‘Early Today’ As Anchor: “A True Homecoming”

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After nearly a decade at CBS News, correspondent Nikki Battiste is taking her skills back to NBC. On Friday, the Emmy and Peabody-winning journalist announced that she’s taking on an anchor role at Early Today, in addition to contributing to Today, more than 20 years after her time as an NBC page and production associate […]

Vin Diesel Calls ‘Fast Forever’ The “Best Script” He’s Read In Decades: “I Am Still Crying”

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As The Fast and the Furious (2001) speeds back into theaters for its 25th anniversary, Vin Diesel is ready for one last ride as Dominic Toretto. On Saturday, the actor shared an updated on the 11th and final installment in the franchise, Fast Forever, which is scheduled to premiere March 17, 2028, also encouraging fans […]

Lil Uzi Vert’s Lollapalooza Set Canceled Amid “Weather Issues,” Joins Major Lazer

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As Lollapalooza gets into full swing, one name was removed from the weekend lineup amid heavy rain. On Friday, Lil Uzi Vert’s performance at the 35-year Chicago music festival was canceled ahead of headliner Charli XCX’s set “due to weather issues,” according to a message projected at the stage, as well as an announcement shared […]

Reading Girls In Their Married Bliss by Edna O’Brien.

Reading Girls In Their Married Bliss by Edna O’Brien.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

, updated:

One of the things you learn working with a bot is how much saying the niceties are good for you, even when the "person" would still do what you ask if you weren't so nice.

Put A Tag On It

The pricing gun should have been a dead technology years before it actually was. But state laws artificially kept it around as a shield against the scary barcode.

2026-08-01 Three sentences against AI

2026-08-01 Three sentences against AI

What is your three-sentence answer why you don’t want to attend the AI workshop – @phf

Oof, just three sentences?

Just as we as a company do not work with weapons manufacturers I don’t want to work with the tools of people that “optimize the kill chain.”

I know you think that everybody is doing it but I want this company to exist in twenty or thirty years as well and depending on AI tech from the USA does not look like a good long-term strategy.

Nobody studied computer science in order to be a prompter and if most of the job positions in this company involve prompting, I want to have one of the few remaining positions where original work is being done.

OK, these are not Hemingway sentences but they might work for you.

#Butlerian Jihad

Vincent Pastore Dies: ‘The Sopranos’ Star Was 80

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Vincent Pastore, known for playing mobsters in film and TV, most notably Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero on HBO’s The Sopranos, has died. He was 80. The veteran actor was found dead in his Bronx residence today, Aug. 1, by a neighbor. Pastore’s manager had not heard from him for three days though, according to a […]

Nirmal Purja Dies In Avalanche: Celebrated Mountaineer Featured In Netflix Documentary ’14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible’ Was 43

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Nirmal Purja, the British-Nepali mountaineer whose renowned career was featured in the 2021 Netflix documentary 14 Peaks: Nothing Is Impossible, died in an avalanche on Broad Peak in Pakistan on Thursday, July 30, his company has confirmed. He was 43. Purja was one of 10 people killed in the tragedy. Elite Expeditions, Purja’s company, said […]

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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Of course I love RSS. ;-)

My next experiment

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I'm spending a year at Stanford to explore community platforms in news.

Donald Trump Disagrees “100%” With U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro On Reflecting Pool Damage, Writes “VANDALS!”

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UPDATE, with Trump statement: President Donald Trump is sticking with his go-to explanation of vandalism for the peeling lining of the Reflecting Pool that U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro has concluded was the result of the no-bid contractor’s botched installation. On Truth Social today, Trump writes, “I disagree 100% with Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for […]

Saturday afternoon outdoor session in Belfast

Saturday afternoon outdoor session in Belfast

Saturday afternoon outdoor session in Belfast

Richard L. O’Connor Dies: Emmy-Winning Producer, Exec In Charge Of ‘On Golden Pond’, ‘Muppet Movie’ Was 96

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Richard L. O’Connor, an Emmy-winning TV producer and a studio executive in charge of production on such films as On Golden Pond, The Muppet Movie and Raise The Titanic, died July 22 in Palm Desert. He was 96. His death was announced by his family. A cause was not disclosed. A long-time resident of the […]

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

, updated:

Ultimately AI will flatten out the differences in languages.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

, updated:

The month of July is history. A fine month. A coral reef was seeded.

Linda Blair Says Search Of Her Reported Kennel Operation Was About “Paperwork”

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Linda Blair, the Exorcist star-turned-animal rescue activist, says she’s doing fine after her Southern California property was searched by the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control yesterday regarding a reported kennel operation. Animal control officials, along with the Los Angeles County Department of Regional Planning, conducted the search of the property that […]

Memories And Joe Wright

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Writing of lasting value

Trump's Failed, Fanatical Presidency Has Left America Less Safe, More Vulnerable. We Must Fight Very Hard Now For A Better Path

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Trump's global wrecking ball is leaving the world, and America, far less safe. We cannot wait until next year to force a course correction......

‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Sets All-Time First-Day High With $168M U.S., Could Beat ‘Avengers: Endgame’ $357M Weekend Record – Saturday AM Box Office Update

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SATURDAY AM: This weekend, it’s a game of Marvel trying to beat Marvel at the weekend box office. Spider-Man: Brand New Day continued to post an all-time record opening day/previews yesterday with $168M, feasibly outstripping the previous first day record owned by Avengers: Endgame ($157.4M). Still, there’s isn’t a unison of opinion out there that […]

Pluralistic: Why businesses lie about AI (01 Aug 2026)

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Today's links Why businesses lie about AI: Humoring the boss all the way into bankruptcy. Hey look at this: Delights to delectate. Object permanence: Vinge x NYT; Syklarov x publishers; Human hair castles; Gingrich's bot army; Accessibility v Web DRM; David Byrne x WinXP; Furries don't fuck in fursuits; AI's pogo-stick grift. Upcoming appearances: Edinburgh, Sydney, Melbourne, Brighton, London, South Bend. Recent appearances: Where I've been. Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em. Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em. Colophon: All the rest. Why businesses lie about AI (permalink) Neoclassical economics assumes rationality. The corollary of, "If you're so smart, why aren't you rich?" is "you're rich, so you must be very smart!" Thus it is that many people assume that if powerful, well-compensated CEOs insist that "AI is changing everything," well then, AI must be changing everything. But the evidence for this "changing everything" thesis is thin on the ground. Despite a global mania that has reduced the real, pressing need for digital sovereignty to the imaginary need to create "sovereign AI," no one can really articulate the case for "sovereign AI." If Donald Trump ordered Big Tech to turn off all of your country's chatbots tomorrow, nothing would change. Every one of your country's ministries and corporations would chug on with nary a hitch. Households, too, though perhaps a few of the younger members of those families would have to do their own homework again. (Contrast this with what would transpire if Trump directed his tech giants to switch off your country's Office 365 access, or to brick your Android and iOS phones, or to killswitch your John Deere tractors. Your country would effectively cease to exist. If "digital sovereignty" means anything, it means doing something about this urgent fact): https://pluralistic.net/2026/06/18/their-trillions-our-billions/#eyes-on-the-prize The world is full of people who insist that "AI is changing everything" but who – when pressed – have to admit that what they mean is that they're pretty sure that AI will change everything. Eventually. After we allow it to consume all the planet's energy, carbon, water and financial resources. Maybe. (They're pretty sure.) One person who's had a lot of opportunity to observe the shear between the stated business/AI situation and the real business AI situation is Nikhil Suresh from Hermit Tech, a consulting firm of "radically ethical data wizards" (that is, tech consultants). Suresh reports on his experience talking with hundreds of executives (and, more importantly, their subordinates) about what (if anything) AI is doing for business in an essay entitled "AI Mania Is Eviscerating Global Decisionmaking": https://hermit-tech.com/blog/ai-mania-is-eviscerating-global-decisionmaking Suresh has a good track record of writing trenchant, frank criticism of AI. You may know him from his 2024 essay, "I Will Fucking Piledrive You If You Mention AI Again": https://ludic.mataroa.blog/blog/i-will-fucking-piledrive-you-if-you-mention-ai-again/ Or possibly from his "Contra Ptacek's Terrible Article On AI," a stinging rebuttal to Thomas Ptacek's widely read "My AI Skeptic Friends Are All Nuts": https://ludic.mataroa.blog/blog/contra-ptaceks-terrible-article-on-ai/ While those are important pieces of critical AI realpolitik, none of them have the heft or urgency of "AI Mania Is Eviscerating Global Decisionmaking," whose thesis can be summed up with this passage from halfway through this 6,000-word article: [W]e’re facing a coordination problem around executives being honest around the AI gains they’ve witnessed – if they co-operate, they keep their jobs. If they defect, they will possibly be fired by their embarrassed peers (who have now been implicitly called liars, cowards, or incompetents) and then replaced with someone that will toe the line anyway. If they could all admit the truth at once there might be some hope, but there is no way to coordinate that event. In other words, corporate leadership is starting from the premise that AI has (or will) radically change the business, and they're working backwards from that premise to find the evidence to support this article of faith. In support of this thesis, Suresh cites "hundreds" of conversations with execs and employees who spoke to him on the condition that he would "file the serial numbers" off their stories. These, combined with his own experience consulting for large, multi-billion-dollar companies make it clear that "AI mania" is an absolutely justifiable label for the state of AI in corporate circles. Here are a few highlights from this morning's read – moments where I had to look away from my screen and read out a passage to my wife so that we could share a "holy shit" moment. A person worked for a division that "pivoted" to re-engineer its software to create interfaces that support AI agents. When it became apparent that only ten users had touched this expensive new technology, they "pivoted" again to support "agentic workflows." Why did they double down on AI agents after discovering such yawning market indifference for "agentic"? "Because every company has to do something agentic now." Suresh describes this as a literal religious mania. In the 500+ employee businesses Suresh studied, the only people who were promoted – or even spared from being fired – were people who professed "religious declarations of faith" about "the transformative power of AI." Employees who voiced honest, informed objections to AI in the workplace were passed over for promotions or targeted for layoffs. This has created a situation in which everyone – "boards, executives, employees, vendors, consultants" – has a strong incentive to lie about how much AI is delivering for their companies. Suresh says he's seen announcements from publicly traded companies about their AI triumphs that he knows for a fact never took place. Suresh says he's never seen a successful enterprise AI project: "Every single one – we have seen 0% success in a year and a half." Not one of their clients would face a business challenge if OpenAI went out of business tomorrow. The problem most companies struggle with is that they're "terminally bad at running software projects effectively." Adding AI to the mix doesn't solve this problem – it just adds a whole new range of ways that software deployment can fail. Chatbots don't help. The internally facing chatbot that's supposed to help employees figure out how to navigate the business sucks because it is only as good as its training data – the business's documentation of its own processes. Businesses suck at documenting their processes. Customer-facing chatbots also suck. They either can't solve your problem, or, when they seem to solve your problem, the "solution" goes nowhere. Suresh recounts his sole positive customer service chatbot experience: a Mitsubishi chatbot with a natural sounding, responsive voice politely took all the details of an automotive failure and promised him a callback. That callback never came, but Suresh is certain that Mitsubishi has logged this as a chatbot success story, even though the experience convinced him not to buy a Mitsubishi car. Suresh and his team at Hermit Tech now have a policy of not even asking about ongoing AI projects. They've learned that by the time an AI project has begun, no one will discuss it honestly until it reaches a crisis point. Suresh says he frequently encounters people who reflexively utter the AI catechism: "AI is changing everything." But when he presses these people for details, they admit that their organization "does not currently use LLMs for anything, and indeed, that they cannot name a single thing that has changed other than they get some use out of ChatGPT." This shear ("AI is changing everything"/"Well, OK, we're not using AI for anything") is so extreme that Suresh once met an exec who confessed to crafting an AI-centered AI strategy for a $2b/year business, even though that exec "had never even used ChatGPT or any AI tool in their life." Some people have privately admitted to Suresh that they've embraced AI in order to earn a career-boosting corporate reputation for "thought leadership." But many other people (especially nontechnical people) sincerely believe that AI is about to "change everything." As Suresh says, if you're in business with a liar, you might be able to reason with them in private – but you can't reason with a true believer. The true believers are in charge. Suresh points out that it would be very weird for the CEO of an engineering firm or a hospital to mandate "specific procedures or building techniques without explicit agreement from the professionals on staff." But when it comes to AI, business leaders will confidently demand that the skilled professionals who perform the business's core functions use AI, even if those professionals don't think it will help. As an aside: I remember the dotcom era, when the business press was full of articles about the conflict between CEOs and a new workforce that demanded the right to use the web on the job. Today, the business press is full of articles about the conflict between the workforce and CEOs who demand that they use AI. Suresh describes workers who feel they have to "AI wash" their work: "They just do the work, the same way they have for decades, and say Claude did it." To add verisimilitude to this sham, they write circular processes in which one chatbot prompts another, and then the process repeats itself in reverse, for the sole purpose of consuming AI tokens to score a high rank on corporate "token leaderboards." How to account for this wildly, expensively irrational corporate leadership? Suresh places the blame in the hypnotizing, mesmerizing power of the AI demo. For example: Hermit Tech is often engaged to set up a database product called Snowflake for its customers. Snowflake has a useless, expensive AI bolt-on called Cortex, that Snowflake itself describes as being 92% accurate under ideal circumstances (that is, at least 8% of the time, it will mislead you, perhaps very badly). Suresh describes sales meetings with execs who were lukewarm on the idea of retooling with Snowflake, but who were very interested in Cortex. Against their better judgment, Suresh and his team provided them with a Cortex demo, carefully explaining that this AI tool could not satisfy their requirements. Without fail, this resulted in the previously lukewarm customers insisting that they be allowed to purchase Cortex immediately. Sales prospects who'd been unmoved by a pitch for new technology that would result in millions in savings were hypnotized by demos of a product that was described as unsuitable and unreliable. To their credit, Hermit Tech refused to sell these customers Cortex, and stopped doing Cortex demos altogether. Suresh describes the experience of "the total 180°, that shift from ice-cold to red-hot buying frenzy" as "deeply unsettling." What's more, the Cortex demos that Suresh and co performed were, by his account, pretty uninspiring. The thing that these demos had going for them is that they showed AI actually doing something marginally useful, to execs who'd already spent millions on AI without having anything to show for their money. The spectacle of AI that does something galvanizes corporate leaders who feel like they're the only bosses who can't find a revolutionary use for AI in their businesses. This is the situation up and down the corporate org-chart. Suresh has a reader whose title is "Head of AI" at a billion-dollar firm who tells him "their job is totally fraudulent but it was the only promotion pathway remaining at the organisation." This exec is hardly alone. They're part of a cohort of executives at companies that have publicly announced "100x" productivity gains, but who confessed to Suresh that nothing of the sort has happened. Why did these companies make these claims? Because their customers were making the claims. How could you hope to sell to a company that had 100x'ed its productivity with AI unless you, too had 100x'ed your productivity? If, as a vendor, you walked into a boardroom and said that this wasn't a plausible claim, you'd be calling your sales prospect a liar, with real consequences: "getting enterprise contracts cancelled because you wanted to opine on something that doesn’t really matter to your organisation’s mission is a great way to get fired." With the state of the industry dominated by froth, lies and mutual destruction pacts, it's no wonder that companies are deploying "totally gameable metrics such as 'money spent on AI'" as a means of evaluating employees and divisions. Between true believers and people who must find ways to plausibly tout their AI usage, there is now a gigantic market for "AI solutions." At best these are just traditional tech consulting contracts, like migrating a database from Oracle to Snowflake, with some kind of ornamental AI usage around the edges so that the person who commissions the work can claim to be "procuring AI-enabled services" for the business. This isn't a harmless frippery: contracts are delayed and work is put off until the work can be made "sufficiently AI" to attain the minimum degree of buzzword compliance. Worse: every fake AI project that produces real results (because it's not really AI) adds credibility to the AI true believers, who view these projects as proof that AI can do anything, and therefore demand to know why everything isn't being done by AI. Suresh ends his essay with a long section on how to "navigate AI mania" – advice for how to smile and nod politely when you're confronted with AI bullshit, while steering clear of the worst consequences and avoiding needless fights. This looks like very sound advice for anyone in a corporate environment, but thankfully, that isn't me. Rather than summarize that advice, I want to reflect a little on two questions that Suresh's essay raises but doesn't answer. The first is why? Why are people in power such easy converts to this religious mania? I have my own theory. The most important discomfort that powerful people experience is having ego-shattering conflicts with subordinates who know how to do things they do not know how to do. The fact that you're "in charge" is hard to reconcile with the fact that the people you're nominally in charge of tell you that all your ideas are impossible, illegal, immoral, or lethal: https://pluralistic.net/2026/01/05/fisher-price-steering-wheel/#billionaire-solipsism Take that Cortex demo. Sure, Cortex is an expensive, unreliable way to address a Snowflake database. But (unlike Snowflake) Cortex is controlled via conversational, plain-language commands. With Cortex, a boss doesn't need to ask an underling to retrieve information from the company Snowflake system, an interaction that might come with unsolicited feedback about the technical or commercial incoherence of the boss's request. Cortex is the underling, except that unlike a human underling, Cortex never back-sasses you about your foolish questions. The fact that it grossly misleads you 8% of the time is a small price to pay for a life untroubled by uppity pismires who insist that your ideas be connected to base reality as they understand it. The other question Suresh implicitly raises is, "How can you reconcile the failure of AI in the enterprise with the individual claims of skilled technologists who insist that AI is helping them do great work?" The answer is that these AI users are "centaurs" – experienced workers who are assisted by automation on terms that they set for themselves: https://pluralistic.net/2025/09/11/vulgar-thatcherism/#there-is-an-alternative Thanks to their skill and experience, these workers possess discernment, the ability to tell good code from bad, and (more importantly) good uses of code-generation tools from bad. They demonstrate the adage that worker-driven automation improves quality, while capital-driven automation improves throughput: https://pluralistic.net/2026/07/28/hitl-ers/#ai-ai-oh An automation technique that requires close supervision by skilled and experienced workers isn't going to be a raw productivity powerhouse. You don't "100x" your code this way, at least, not in the sense of firing 99 of your coders and having the remaining programmer pick up all their work. Rather, an automation tool that requires the continuous and conscientious exercise of discernment will let individual practitioners improve their work in extremely satisfying and useful ways. It's a way to spend more on operations in order to produce better outputs. It's not a way to cut your workforce, realize a gigantic savings, and still produce comparable goods and services at a far lower cost. That is why some individual coders report such delight with their AI tools. They engage with those tools on their own terms, to improve their work in the ways that they, in their expert judgment, consider beneficial. No one ranks them on a "token-maximization" scoreboard. No one tells them they can't do a project if it isn't "sufficiently AI." When they set out to do a project, no one makes them prove that it couldn't be "done by AI." As ever, the most important fact about a given technology isn't "what it does," but "who it does it for" and "who it does it to." All the pathologies Suresh observes and documents so well in this piece are hypertrophied versions of the buzzword-compliance dysfunctions from previous bubbles, but at a scale never before seen. Quantity has a quality all its own. These businesses aren't just wasting billions – they're replacing skilled workers with defective chatbots. As I've written before, AI is the asbestos we're shoveling into the walls of our technological society. Our descendants will spend generations digging it out again, and the longer the bubble goes on without popping, the longer it will take to repair the damage. Hey look at this (permalink) The rent was already high. Then came the $200 work-from-home fee https://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/articles/rent-already-high-then-came-174555709.html Families in London temporary housing told they cannot use in-built air conditioning https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/jul/27/homeless-families-london-temporary-housing-air-conditioning The New Defcon Badges Pack a Unique Open Source Chip That Doubles as a Security Key https://www.wired.com/story/defcon-34-badge-baochip-andrew-bunnie-huang/ US government map of Africa mislabels every country at global conference https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/30/government-map-mislabels-african-countries?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other EFF Guide to Recording Law Enforcement https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/07/eff-guide-recording-law-enforcement Object permanence (permalink) #25yrsago Vernor Vinge in the NYT https://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/02/technology/a-scientist-s-art-computer-fiction.html #25yrsago Why publishers should thank Syklarov https://web.archive.org/web/20011023092940/http://www.zdnet.com/zdnn/stories/comment/0,5859,2800985,00.html #25yrsago David Byrne track to be bundled with WinXP https://web.archive.org/web/20010804040357/http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_365899.html?menu=news.technology #20yrsago Five things about blogs that no one ever needs to say again https://web.archive.org/web/20060813090449/http://www.stevenberlinjohnson.com/2006/08/five_things_all.html #15yrsago Castles made from human hair https://inhabitat.com/artist-uses-human-hair-to-construct-a-castle-of-3000-bricks/ #15yrsago Wisconsin Democratic voters targeted with Koch-funded absentee ballot notices advising them to vote 2 days after the recall election https://www.politico.com/blogs/david-catanese/2011/08/afp-wisconsin-ballots-have-late-return-date-037977?showall #15yrsago Gingrich’s million Twitter followers: “80% dummy accounts, 10% paid followers” https://web.archive.org/web/20110812100159/https://gawker.com/5826645/most-of-newt-gingrichs-twitter-followers-are-fake #15yrsago Missouri State business-school professor leads successful campaign to ban Slaughterhouse-Five from local schools https://www.theguardian.com/books/2011/jul/29/slaughterhouse-five-banned-us-school #10yrsago Australian media accessibility group raises red flag about DRM in web standards https://hotelsantalya.net/accessiq/news/news/2016-p/08-p/concerns-raised-for-assistive-technology-development-as-w3c-debates-encrypted/ #10yrsago Reminder: the GOP has been attacking veterans and their families for years https://web.archive.org/web/20160803203106/https://crookedtimber.org/2016/08/02/trumps-indecent-proposal/ #10yrsago Isis joins Donald Trump in denouncing Khizr Khan https://web.archive.org/web/20160802161454/https://theintercept.com/2016/08/02/donald-trump-and-islamic-state-agree-no-room-for-people-like-khizr-khan/ #10yrsago Furries don’t have sex in fursuits https://www.ohjoysextoy.com/fursuits-grey-white/ #5yrsago Machine learning sucks at covid https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/02/autoquack/#gigo #1yrago AI's pogo-stick grift https://pluralistic.net/2025/08/02/inventing-the-pedestrian/#three-apis-in-a-trenchcoat Upcoming appearances (permalink) Virtual: EFFecting Change: Who the Machine Serves, Aug 12 https://www.eff.org/event/effecting-change-who-machine-serves Edinburgh International Book Festival with Jimmy Wales, Aug 17 https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/events/the-front-list-cory-doctorow-and-jimmy-wales Sydney: The Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Aug 23-24 https://festivalofdangerousideas.com/program/ Melbourne: Enshittification at the Wheeler Centre, Aug 25 https://www.wheelercentre.com/events-tickets/season-2026/cory-doctorow-enshittification Brighton: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Carole Cadwalladr (Brighton Dome), Sep 8 https://brightondome.org/whats-on/LSC-cory-doctorow-the-reverse-centaurs-guide-to-life-after-ai/ London: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Riley Quinn (Foyle's Picadilly), Sep 9 https://www.foyles.co.uk/events/enshittification-cory-doctorow-riley-quinn South Bend: An Evening With Cory Doctorow (Notre Dame), Oct 6 https://franco.nd.edu/events/2026/10/06/an-evening-with-cory-doctorow/ Vancouver: BC Policy Solutions Gala, Nov 12 https://bcpolicy.ca/gala/ Recent appearances (permalink) F@#$ the AI Overlords (On The Media) https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/otm/articles/f-the-ai-overlords Why AI Won't Replace Workers, But Will Crash The Economy (Smart Cookies) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRRmUuxJolY AI and the Enshittification Era (The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dAIJRjb-Bw AI is not inevitable (Betakit) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbiTVkq1WHo A Conversation with Lina Khan (Law and Economy Student Network) https://www.youtube.com/live/7Ak5LZllqwE Latest books (permalink) "The Reverse-Centaur's Guide to AI," a short book about being a better AI critic, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, June 2026 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374621568/thereversecentaursguidetolifeafterai/ "Canny Valley": A limited edition collection of the collages I create for Pluralistic, self-published, September 2025 https://pluralistic.net/2025/09/04/illustrious/#chairman-bruce "Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, October 7 2025 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374619329/enshittification/ "Picks and Shovels": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about the heroic era of the PC, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2025 (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865908/picksandshovels). "The Bezzle": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about prison-tech and other grifts, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2024 (thebezzle.org). "The Lost Cause:" a solarpunk novel of hope in the climate emergency, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), November 2023 (http://lost-cause.org). "The Internet Con": A nonfiction book about interoperability and Big Tech (Verso) September 2023 (http://seizethemeansofcomputation.org). Signed copies at Book Soup (https://www.booksoup.com/book/9781804291245). "Red Team Blues": "A grabby, compulsive thriller that will leave you knowing more about how the world works than you did before." Tor Books http://redteamblues.com. "Chokepoint Capitalism: How to Beat Big Tech, Tame Big Content, and Get Artists Paid, with Rebecca Giblin", on how to unrig the markets for creative labor, Beacon Press/Scribe 2022 https://chokepointcapitalism.com Upcoming books (permalink) "The Post-American Internet," a geopolitical sequel of sorts to Enshittification, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2027 "Unauthorized Bread": a middle-grades graphic novel adapted from my novella about refugees, toasters and DRM, FirstSecond, April 20, 2027 "Enshittification, Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It" (the graphic novel), Firstsecond, 2027 "The Memex Method," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2027 Colophon (permalink) Today's top sources: Currently writing: "The Post-American Internet," a sequel to "Enshittification," about the better world the rest of us get to have now that Trump has torched America. Fourth draft completed. Submitted to editor. A Little Brother short story about DIY insulin PLANNING This work – excluding any serialized fiction – is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. That means you can use it any way you like, including commercially, provided that you attribute it to me, Cory Doctorow, and include a link to pluralistic.net. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Quotations and images are not included in this license; they are included either under a limitation or exception to copyright, or on the basis of a separate license. Please exercise caution. How to get Pluralistic: Blog (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): Pluralistic.net Newsletter (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://pluralistic.net/plura-list Mastodon (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic Bluesky (no ads, possible tracking and data-collection): https://bsky.app/profile/doctorow.pluralistic.net Medium (no ads, paywalled): https://doctorow.medium.com/ Tumblr (mass-scale, unrestricted, third-party surveillance and advertising): https://mostlysignssomeportents.tumblr.com/tagged/pluralistic "When life gives you SARS, you make sarsaparilla" -Joey "Accordion Guy" DeVilla READ CAREFULLY: By reading this, you agree, on behalf of your employer, to release me from all obligations and waivers arising from any and all NON-NEGOTIATED agreements, licenses, terms-of-service, shrinkwrap, clickwrap, browsewrap, confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-compete and acceptable use policies ("BOGUS AGREEMENTS") that I have entered into with your employer, its partners, licensors, agents and assigns, in perpetuity, without prejudice to my ongoing rights and privileges. You further represent that you have the authority to release me from any BOGUS AGREEMENTS on behalf of your employer. ISSN: 3066-764X

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

Export Updates 2026-08-01:

Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places

1 new and 15 updated places. 12 new and 35 updated linked data sidebars.

1. Downloads: https://pleiades.stoa.org/downloads

2. pleiades.datasets: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades.datasets:

"main" branch:

751b84d4 - updated json

no change: rdf/ttl

7ada0ab7 - updated gis package

a2df0e13 - updated data quality

1132379c - updated bibliography

4341e35b - updated indexes

535c1c82 - updated sidebar

3. pleiades-geojson: https://github.com/ryanfb/pleiades-geojson:

145e8cb2 - updated geojson and names index

4. pleiades_wikidata: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades_wikidata/:

94694e6b - updated pleiades wikidata

Silent Saturday

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A peaceful, queasy feeling

Lit Hub Weekly: July 27 – 31, 2026

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D/Annie Liontas, Sara Nović, Chet’la Sebree and Maria Adelman discuss the literary world’s unacknowledged class system. | Lit Hub In Conversation Jane Ciabattari gives all of Colson Whitehead’s work (yes, all of it!) a close read. | Lit Hub Criticism

Styling the Navigation: Declarative Route and Navigation Matching in CSS – Bram.us

I really, really, really like this proposal! This would absolutely turbo-charge cross-document view transitions with nary a line of JavaScript in sight.

adactio.com/links/22686

@Tomosino's Mastodon feed

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Did you know my #film ratings website uses #chess scoring to rank my preferences? It's actually even nerdier than that!

https://labs.tomasino.org/film-ratings/

Going to Belfast. brb

Going to Belfast. brb

It's Still The Economy, Stupid | The Coffee Klatch for Saturday, August 1, 2026

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With Michael Lahanas-Calderón and yours truly, Robert Reich

Weeknotes: July 25-31, 2026

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Win of the week: submitted my passport renewal application (I suspect it’s a law of the universe that your passport photo must be terrible) Looking forward to: this week my mind is starting to come back to itself after a month of difficulty focusing on anything — I can read books again, and was able […]

July 31, 2026

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Courtney Kube, Monica Alba, Peter Nicholas, Gordon Lubold, Katherine Doyle, and Andrea Mitchell of NBC News reported Wednesday that President Donald J.

‘Home Improvement’s Patricia Richardson Reunites With TV Sons Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Taran Noah Smith: “My Other Boys”

Although any hopes of an onscreen reunion might be pointless, the cast of Home Improvement appears to be keeping close in real life. Patricia Richardson, who starred as matriarch Jill Taylor in the ABC sitcom for its eight-season run from 1991 to 1999, reunited with her onscreen sons Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Taran Noah Smith […]

‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Is X’s Latest Bootleg Leak, Gets Millions Of Views Before Taken Down

As Tom Holland’s summer blockbusters take over the big screen, X has spoiled yet another one of the actor’s theatrical releases. Following the leak of a high-quality bootleg of The Odyssey on X last week, Spider-Man: Brand New Day was leaked Friday morning on the Elon Musk-owned social media platform, with the movie reaching millions […]

FIFA Scraps Controversial Plan To Turn World Cup Into Commercial Enterprise

FIFA on Friday said it would not move forward with a plan to create a $20 billion commercial arm of soccer’s world governing body by selling stakes in the World Cup and other events to private investors. The proposal had been met by a wave of criticism by several soccer confederations from the time it […]

Lorde Pauses Lollapalooza Show As Multiple Fans Pass Out

The opening night of Lollapalooza proved too hot to handle for some as audience members reportedly passed out from the heat during Lorde’s headlining set. On Thursday night, the 2x Grammy winner briefly paused her performance to check on fans near the stage who were losing consciousness, calling security over to help them, according to […]

Bike Trips

This summer we had 2 less or more planned bike trips. Or rather trips with bikes a we usually arrive by train, bike to the hotel, and then have some trekking and some biking from the hotel.

All The Songs In ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’: From Tame Impala To Steve Lacy

Tom Holland is back as Peter Parker, aka Spider-Man, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, though he faces some evolutionary obstacles as his arachnid DNA and hormones challenge his body and senses in Spider-Man: Brand New Day. With the help of Evie (voiced by Naomi Watts), he navigates some technological developments and develops tools to help […]

Maya Wiley | American Conversations

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A newsletter about the history behind today's politics.

Code Was Never the Hard Part

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If AI can write the code, what’s an engineer for? Part 1 of a series on AI, engineering, and what actually changed.

Prompt Walkthrough: Fixing my 3D printer with Codex (and Chutes & Ladders!)

We need more examples of prompting agents into completing big tasks. I used to think it was easy, you just type like you’re asking a super smart friend. But people keep looking confused, as if it’s hard. So, let’s just work through some examples here.

Send your RSS digest on any day of the month

Monthly RSS-to-email sends can now land on any day of the month, not just the first, last, or a given weekday.

Juliette Lewis On If ‘Cape Fear’s Crystal Or Max Is “More Psychopathic,” Martin Scorsese’s Lasting Support & Season 2 Hopes: “We Will See”

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SPOILERS: This post contains details about the Cape Fear, Season 1 finale episode “The Executioners” With another twisty-turny ride down Cape Fear reaching an end, Juliette Lewis was thrilled to have a chance to return to an important title from her youth, from a new perspective. The Oscar-nominated actress, who plays convicted killer Max Cady’s […]

Back in Brighton for one night to see Nick Cave in Preston Park.

Back in Brighton for one night to see Nick Cave in Preston Park.

Back in Brighton for one night to see Nick Cave in Preston Park.

PureOS Development Report: June 2026

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Thanks for joining us again! In our May update, we mentioned that we're bringing in updated dependencies as part of the goal to ship the latest Phosh desktop environment in PureOS Dawn.

The post PureOS Development Report: June 2026 appeared first on Purism.

ABC Makes Huge Realization About Their Devil's Bargain With Trump

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The company’s court filing underscored just how dangerous Trump’s assault of free speech is as the midterms approach.

John Galliano Announced As Subject Of 2027 Met Gala And Costume Institute Exhibition

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The Metropolitan Museum of Art said Friday that John Galliano will be the subject of its landmark spring 2027 Costume Institute exhibition, John Galliano: Horizons, with the annual Met Gala set to celebrate the acclaimed British designer’s influence on fashion while also confronting the controversy that reshaped his career. Galliano becomes just the third living […]

Ransom Notes Released In Nancy Guthrie Case In Hopes Of Generating New Leads

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Sheriff’s officials have released two ransom notes allegedly sent by those who kidnapped Nancy Guthrie from her Arizona home earlier this year. The Pima County Sheriff’s Department released the notes in hopes of generating new leads in the case. The first note was sent a day after her disappearance from someone who claimed they have […]

Weekly Links, 07/31/2026

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Read this fantastic profile of Hans Morevac, and his correct prediction 40 years of AGI in 2028. Why he was both right and wrong. He Was Right About AI. What About the Fate of Mankind? Tokenomics are taking hold. The … Continue reading →

‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Post-Credit Scene Explained: What’s Next For Tom Holland’s Peter Parker?

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It looks like Tom Holland’s spoiler of yore — teasing Spider-Man in space for Avengers: Infinity War (2018) alongside the Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) cast — can take on new meaning with the post-credit scene at the end of Spider-Man: Brand New Day. There is just one short snippet after all of the credits […]

Joey King, Maisie Williams Felt “Massive Responsibility” Joining ‘Practical Magic 2’

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As the Owens women reunite for Practical Magic 2, the two newest members of the onscreen family hope to do fans proud. Joey King and Maisie Williams, who play Sally Owens’ (Sandra Bullock) daughters Kylie and Antonia in the Susanne Bier-helmed sequel, agreed that they felt the weight of taking over the roles from Evan […]

Wendell Pierce & Erika Woods Break Down Shocking ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ Series Penultimate Episode

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SPOILER ALERT: The following reveals major plot points for Starz’s Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 5 Episode 7. With only one episode to go for the series finale of the hit Starz crime drama Power Book II: Raising Kanan, there’s no doubt that there are plenty of bodies yet to be piled up. In last night’s episode—the […]

Friday Squid Blogging: Squid Helps Discover New Marine Species

The Squid is a new scientific machine:

One of the technological breakthroughs was the onboard use of a spinning wheel confocal microscope, nicknamed the Squid, which uses lasers to scan microscopic details of how organisms are put together. “That opens up a whole new world of exploring. We could see cells interacting with each other, exchanging material and building skeletons. And we could do that live on the ship, when usually it takes a couple of weeks of staining and mounting to see anything,” Osborn said.

The expedition discovered thirty-one new marine species in two weeks. The article doesn’t say if any of them were new species of squid...

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

The hardest thing for people to get about open systems is that if you move forward, not only do you benefit, but your competitors benefit equally. When one of them takes but doesn't give back, that's even worse. But you do it anyway because otherwise eventually, without interop, no one can move.

The Case for Windows

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The Case for Windows

Why Adding Windows Support to Harper Desktop Is Sensible

Despite all my com­plain­ing about Windows Update and how bloated their soft­ware tends to be, Microsoft has suc­cess­fully con­vinced most of the world to use Windows.

At the time of writ­ing, 72% of peo­ple with a desk­top com­puter have Windows on it.

“Erm, ac­tu­ally Elijah, that’s not how mar­ket share works.”

Okay, fine. If we look into the fine print of the sta­tis­tic, it seems that it is in fact 72% of web user agents who de­clare them­selves to be run­ning on Windows. Close enough.

That’s a ton. To put that in con­text: For every ma­cOS user (which ac­count for 15% of all users), there are nearly five Windows users. That’s a pretty huge gap De­spite how much I’d like to see Windows put in its place, it’s a su­per com­mon op­er­at­ing sys­tem (and a pretty good one for most peo­ple, if I am to­tally hon­est).

To put it in in­vestor-speak: The TAM is plainly way big­ger than ma­cOS.

When we first started our work on Harper Desktop dur­ing Radical Speed Month, we only built it to sup­port ma­cOS. Why only ma­cOS, given this bounty of in­for­ma­tion about OS mar­ket share? Hon­estly, it was be­cause only 50% of the team (one of two, to be pre­cise) had a Windows de­vice, and we both had ac­cess to ma­cOS de­vices. Given that it was only sup­posed to be a month-long ex­per­i­ment, we felt com­fort­able not stress­ing about it.

Today, though, the desk­top ap­pli­ca­tion is a big part of (what I imag­ine to be) Harper’s fu­ture. So to­day, I want to make the case that we need to add Windows sup­port to Harper Desktop. I write this post, not just for my­self, but also to shed more light on the road map for those who have been ask­ing me when we will be sup­port­ing Windows.

The Cost of Adding Windows Support Is Low

Beyond be­ing some­thing we should do, adding Windows sup­port is some­thing that will be easy to do.

When we were in the rapid-pro­to­typ­ing phase of Harper Desktop, we de­cided to use Tauri for vir­tu­ally all fron­tend code and winit + egui for all the re­main­ing ren­der­ing. Since all three of these pack­ages are plat­form-ag­nos­tic, they will likely need no more than a few tweaks to work on Windows. Simple stuff.

Any code that touches the ac­ces­si­bil­ity API would need to be rewrit­ten for Windows. Fortunately, all of that hides be­hind the OsBroker trait. We would only need to im­ple­ment a few (admittedly com­plex) func­tions.

Once the pro­ject it­self is done, I es­ti­mate the mar­ginal main­te­nance cost to be pretty low. Com­pared to ma­cOS, main­tain­ing Windows ap­pli­ca­tions is a breeze. Sys­tem APIs rarely change, and the de­vel­oper tool­ing is miles ahead.Unlike ma­cOS, Microsoft does­n’t dep­re­cate in­dus­try stan­dards.

In fact, I be­lieve that adding Windows sup­port will have neg­a­tive mar­ginal main­te­nance cost, since it will make it far eas­ier to de­bug plat­form-ag­nos­tic is­sues. Bugs we find and fix in Windows (due to Harper’s ar­chi­tec­ture) will also be fixed on ma­cOS. Pesky per­mis­sion and ren­der­ing prob­lems, be­gone!

The People Have Been Asking for It

Ever since we put out the ma­cOS app for Harper, I have been re­ceived a tor­rent of mes­sage ask­ing for Windows sup­port. The peo­ple want it. Let’s give it to them.

False Fear of Open-Source AI Models

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Introduction I’ve blogged recently on running AI models locally using open-source product such as LM Studio or ComfyUI. Many AI models are released as open-source, and anyone can run these as much as they like for free. Meanwhile, several US based companies have invested trillions of dollars developing AI models that only run in the cloud and are […]

Fauci Derangement Syndrome

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We discuss why MAGA is suddenly relitigating one of Trump's signature failures.

Trump's AG pick in trouble. Fauci pleads the fifth. Trump sits down with Netanyahu and Zelenskyy.

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Todd Blanche’s AG Nomination in Trouble

453: ‘What’s in Louie’s Wallet’, With Louie Mantia

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Louie Mantia returns to the show to talk about the state of UI and icon design on Apple’s platforms, and some speculation on Apple’s trade secret lawsuit against OpenAI.

Apple’s Q3 2026 Results

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Apple (transcript, Hacker News): The Company posted quarterly revenue of $109.4 billion, up 16 percent year over year. […] “Today, Apple is proud to report our strongest June quarter ever, with double-digit revenue growth across iPhone, Mac and Services, and in every geographic segment,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. Jason Snell: iPhone revenue was up […]

Pastebot 3 for Mac

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John Voorhees: What sets Pastebot 3 apart is its addition of deep automation tools. Not only does the update add MCP support, making it an excellent tool to use with Claude or ChatGPT/Codex, but it includes a brand new CLI that you or an agent can use from Terminal or incorporate into scripts you build. […]

Paste and Match Style Is Not the Answer

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Marcin Wichary: The problem is that PAMS is drunk with power and flattens everything on its way[…] That includes: emphasis by italics or bolding links bulleted and numbered lists strike-through text headlines None of these are “style.” This is actual information that should not be removed. Sometimes, Paste and Match Style is what you want, […]

★ Temu Is a Comically Bad App

Shop like a billionaire.

Three reactions to Anthropics’s latest apologia

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I wish I could say I was comforted

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

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Export Updates 2026-07-31:

Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places

8 new and 56 updated places.

1. Downloads: https://pleiades.stoa.org/downloads

2. pleiades.datasets: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades.datasets:

"main" branch:

b9c369ea - updated json

no change: rdf/ttl

932389cc - updated gis package

e925b22e - updated data quality

068273a1 - updated bibliography

738eb981 - updated indexes

68bf4caa - updated sidebar

3. pleiades-geojson: https://github.com/ryanfb/pleiades-geojson:

874ec7c6 - updated geojson and names index

4. pleiades_wikidata: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades_wikidata/:

a9faeb0c - updated pleiades wikidata

What Florida Taught Me About Vermont’s Invasive Species Problem

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Invasive species harm our ecosystems and impact our daily lives no matter where we live—luckily, we can act.

The post What Florida Taught Me About Vermont’s Invasive Species Problem appeared first on Conservation Law Foundation.

Anthropic’s Opus 5 Is Better at Resisting Prompt Injection

The chart is interesting.

On the IPI benchmark, Opus 5 improved over Opus 4.8, reducing the probability of an attacker succeeding within 15 attempts from 5.5% to 2.0%, and from 0.5% to 0.2% on 1 attempt. It also improved on Sonnet 5 (5.9% at k=15) and Mythos 5 (2.6%), making it the most robust model evaluated. Opus 5 also outperformed all non-Claude models on this benchmark. The most robust non-Claude model was Muse Spark at 16.5% within 15 attempts—more than eight times Opus 5’s rate. The most capable GPT 5.6 variant, Sol, was comparable to its predecessor GPT 5.5 (20.0% versus 20.8% within 15 attempts), and was 10 times as likely to be successfully attacked as Claude Opus 5 at 2.0%. The other GPT 5.6 variants are less robust, at 30.4% (Terra) and 43.9% (Luna). A single attempt against GPT 5.6 Sol succeeded 3.1% of the time, higher than the 2.0% an attacker achieved against Opus 5 after fifteen attempts...

AI Has Entered The ‘Loss Of Control’ Transition

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The post AI Has Entered The ‘Loss Of Control’ Transition appeared first on NOEMA.

July – monthly reading round-up

I was full of good intentions about reviewing some books at greater length in July, as term had ended, but it turned out meetings hadn’t ended. In any case, most of the books I read were non-work, listed below. But … Continue reading →

This Trump Thing Is Rotten, Everyone Knows It, And People Have Had Enough

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“We’re preparing for the bottom to fall out,” a GOP operative working on midterm races told Playbook.

An old-new take on argument parsing in Rust

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Extending getopts into a small framework for Unix-style Rust command-line tools.

Plagiarism And Whirlwind

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Writing of lasting value

End of the contact form saga

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I can’t take it anymore! If you want to speak to me, send an email. My contact form is out of service indefinitely. This is actually in lieu of moving my professional services to a yet to be announced limited company. But I can’t let opportunity for a dramatic blog post go to waste. […]

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

If you run your own RSS.chat instance, you can now add a menu of commands to the menubar. Details in the worknotes for today. I added a DW menu to rss.chat or demo.rss.chat.

Getting 25 Gbps Thunderbolt Ethernet on my Mac Studio

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Mac Studio with all ports plugged in Ethernet 10G

I've been using the built-in 10 Gigabit Ethernet on my Mac Studio for a few years. It works fine: I can edit 4K video straight off my NAS over the network, and run backups at around 1 GB/sec.

But... I want more. I upgraded my rack and my NAS to 25 GbE a couple years ago, and wanted to upgrade my main workstation, too.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

A new validator for RSS.chat-compatible apps. Examples: The everyone feed on rss.chat. A user's feed. The user list. A feed with issues. Docs.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

Dave + Claude is far more powerful than either on their own.

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

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RE: https://mastodon.social/@maxd/117014556858536182

I love when Xmas ties the room together:

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

Claude, as we're finishing a project: "The diving is what makes it a test of the network, not just the file: it doesn't take the feed's word for anything, it goes and knocks on every door the feed points to."

Notable links: July 31, 2026

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Change is fractal; data ownership can be collective.

‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ Says Goodbye To Major Series Character In Season 5: “I Wish We Could’ve Gotten One More Season”

SPOILER ALERT: The following reveals major plot points for Starz’s ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan Episode 7. Following the airing of the penultimate episode of Starz’s Power Book III: Raising Kanan, viewers will be in mourning yet again. The fifth and final season is turning out to be a true heartbreaker: first, with the death […]

Why OOXML-Based Suites Handle ODF Badly

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The question arises naturally for anyone who chooses the standard format over the proprietary one: why do office suites that use OOXML as their native format handle ODF in ways that range from poor to appalling? The two most obvious answers are these: vendors have neglected the format, treating it

International Insider: Netflix’s $500M Zombie Gamble; The New Scottish Fest; Ngozi Onwurah On ‘Welcome II The Terrordome’

Good afternoon and welcome to another addition of the International Insider. Max Goldbart here for the final time for a few weeks. Read on. And please do sign up here – the support means so much. Netflix’s $500M Zombie Gamble Old meets new in mega ‘Walking Dead’ deal: This one is quite the deal, and […]

Pluralistic: Better to beg forgiveness (31 Jul 2026)

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Today's links Better to beg forgiveness: Don't ring the doorbell at the house of no unless you absolutely must. Hey look at this: Delights to delectate. Object permanence: RIP Poul Anderson; P2P at PC Forum; Waitress handed her own stolen ID by carded diner; PDX bans fixies; Digital Economy Bill was a stitch up; NZ copyright disconnection flowchart; Fry v Widdicombe on Catholic Church; Moxie Marlinspike profile; V&A bans sketching; Gernsback's intro to the first Amazing Stories; "Simplicity." Upcoming appearances: Edinburgh, Sydney, Melbourne, Brighton, London, South Bend. Recent appearances: Where I've been. Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em. Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em. Colophon: All the rest. Better to beg forgiveness (permalink) From its inception, I've loved Creative Commons. I hung out with Lisa Rein, Matt Haughey and Aaron Swartz while they coded up the first version of the site, and my first novel, Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom, was the first professionally published text ever released under a CC license, just weeks after CC itself launched: https://creativecommons.org/ In those early days, CC licenses were primarily of interest to people who were steeped in copyright law, lore and litigation; so many of the early debates about these licenses turned on esoteric (but important!) questions about copyright; for example, how CC would interact with copyright's "limitations and exceptions." You see, copyright has never meant the absolute right to control all uses of a work. Every system of copyright includes a set of "limitations and exceptions" for people making use of copyrighted works without permission, even if the copyright holder objects to that use. The best-known example of this is "fair use," a concept from American law. Fair use is (potentially) extremely broad, but it's also extremely "fact-intensive" – that's the phrase lawyers use to describe the kind of legal question whose answer is almost always "it depends." Fair use might let you copy the entirety of a work, even for a commercial purpose. It might let you create new works based on existing works. It might let you do these things specifically to discourage people from buying the original. But…it depends. If you know anything about fair use, it's probably something about a "four-step test" used to determine if a usage is fair. These four steps are just questions a judge might ask of someone who's been sued for copyright infringement, but who claims that they were making a fair use. The questions are: I. What was the "nature and purpose" of your use? Were you doing something "transformative?" Were you criticizing the work? Were you using the work for educational purposes? II. What was the nature of the work you used? Was it primarily factual (like a news article) or creative (like a short story)? III. How much of the work did you take? Did you take more than you needed to transform the work, to accomplish your criticism, to teach someone? IV. What impact did your use have on the original? Did the copyright holder lose money as a result of your use? https://fairuse.stanford.edu/overview/fair-use/four-factors/ These questions are indeed enshrined in US copyright law, but (for better and for worse) you can't figure out if a use is "fair" just by asking these questions. Fair use is ultimately subject to "the rule of reason," a legal principle meaning that the law shouldn't result in obviously stupid restrictions. What's "obviously stupid?" Well, that's the tricky part – you'll have to convince a judge! For example, the author of a book called The Wind Done Gone was sued for taking the characters, plot and setting of Gone With the Wind in order to tell the same story from the perspective of the enslaved Africans who were denied agency and moral consideration in the original. The court found for The Wind Done Gone: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wind_Done_Gone Wind Done Gone took the "heart" of Gone With the Wind (III), but then again, Done Gone was highly transformative (I), Gone With was also a work of fiction, entitled to the highest level of protection (II). Even worse, the point of Done Gone was to point out the gross defects in Gone With (I) and thus directly undermine sales and licensing for the original (IV). Anyone who claims you can answer fair use controversies by running through the four factors as though they were a checklist really doesn't understand fair use: https://pluralistic.net/2022/02/06/crypto-copyright-%f0%9f%a4%a1%f0%9f%92%a9/ But even after you've acquired an appreciation of the fact-intensive, nuanced flexibility of fair use, you still don't understand copyright's limitations and exceptions. Fair use is important, but there's also "first sale," the doctrine that says that after you buy something, you own it, and copyright can't be used to interfere with your traditional property rights. That's why you can buy and sell used books, paintings, records, and other copyrighted work, even if they are sold with fine print that says you're not allowed to: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirtsaeng_v._John_Wiley_%26_Sons,_Inc. When it comes to copyright's limitations and exceptions, "fair use" and "first sale" are the big ones, but just as important are the small ones – the really small ones. Like other laws, copyright is subject to the principle of "de minimis" (from a longer Latin phrase that translates as "the law does not concern itself with trifles"): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_minimis Technically, it may be trespassing to step on someone else's yard. But if your shoe brushes up against their lawn while you're walking on the sidewalk out front of their house, it's not trespassing. Or if it is trespassing, it's a de minimis trespass, too small to matter to the law. A lot of potential copyright violations – like taking a picture of a passage in a book and posting it to social media – are so small that we don't need to apply a fair use analysis to them. They're trifles, and "the law does not concern itself with trifles." These limitations and exceptions all apply without permission from rightsholders. They apply even if they make rightsholders furious. They are your rights, as a member of the public, as a purchaser of a work, or just as someone who whistles a song that's stuck in your head. And that's where the esoteric early Creative Commons copyright debate comes in. Creative Commons is a way to formally codify and convey permission to use copyrighted works. Without Creative Commons, it's really hard – and expensive – to provide legally reliable permission to someone else to use something you've created. If I want to let you adapt one of my short stories for the stage, we should both probably hire copyright lawyers at several hundred dollars per hour to draft and review a contract setting out what my permission really means. Worse: even after we've paid the lawyers, neither of us will likely really understand the fine legal technicalities of the deal. We just have to take the lawyers' word for it that the complex jargon in the contract is sufficient for our purposes. Between the complexity and the expense, there are lots of potential creative collaborations that would cost so much to paper over that they're just not worth doing, even if they'd delight everyone involved. Creative Commons cuts through this with its standardized licenses, which spell out in plain language which permissions are being granted. Even better, these licenses are international, translated into the language and laws of dozens of countries. That means that you can take a CC licensed short story from Japan, animate it using CC licensed 3D models from Italy, set it to a CC licensed soundtrack from Indonesia and release it in Ukraine, and the whole thing just works. Those uses – turning a story into an animation, using a 3D model, syncing a soundtrack to a video – are all pretty ambitious uses, especially if you're going to make the final result indefinitely available to the general public. It makes sense to paper over these uses, and Creative Commons makes that legal work as simple as linking to your sources and their licenses in your final product. But there are plenty of uses that don't need licenses – even ambitious ones. Remember Wind Done Gone? There are circumstances when you can adapt someone else's story without permission, relying instead on a limitation or exception to copyright. And of course, there are plenty of trivial uses – pasting a photo into your groupchat, say – that are de minimis and also don't need permission. These copyright flexibilities are critical. Imagine if you could only criticize someone's work if they gave you permission to do so! From the founding of CC, copyfighters raised serious concerns that CC would teach people that they can only remix other people's work if they have a license, be it a CC license or the kind that you negotiate with a lawyer. Today – 25 years later!- CC is an unqualified success. Without CC, we wouldn't have Wikipedia! You find CC licenses on Youtube, Flickr, Bandcamp, the Internet Archive, and in many of the most important scholarly and scientific journals in the world. But, also, 25 years later, the world is even more convinced that you should always ask permission: "better safe than sorry." I don't know if CC contributed to this culture of timidity. More likely, it was bullying copyright trolls who terrorized people into a reflex of asking permission for everything, always. As the creator of more than 30 books, hundreds of collages, and tens of thousands of essays and blog-posts, I am often on the receiving end of these permission requests. For example, people often ask me if they can use my CC licensed works in ways that the associated licenses clearly permit. I'm sure the people who email me for permission to do things I've already granted them permission to do think they're being polite, but I really wish they'd stop. When someone asks me if they can make a use permitted by my CC licenses, I need to carefully parse through their use to make sure they're not asking for something more. This is time-consuming work that often involves several volleys of email just to confirm that, no, they're just asking if they can do something I've already told them they can do. This is not a good use of anyone's time! By all means, drop me a note with a link to something you've remixed from my work. That's fun! It's a lot more fun than making me play detective in order to figure out if you're exceeding the license's permissions. There are also a lot of requests that clearly amount to fair use and/or de minimis usage. You don't need to email me to get my permission to read a brief passage from one of my books on your Youtube video! You don't need my permission to quote one of my stories in an English exam! What's more, the world would be a lot shittier if you did, so let's not act as though that's reasonable behavior, lest we shift the (already far too restrictive) norms, which might even lead to a legal change. Finally, there's the people who email me about their desire to make uses that are more (ahem) ambitious, but that no one could possibly find out about or get angry over…except for the fact that they emailed me to ask my permission. You want to make a tiny bootleg edition of one of my novels for your anarchist book fair? That's totally a copyright infringement, it's super-illegal, and if my publisher found out about it, I'm sure they'd send you a sphincter-puckering legal letter telling you to knock it off (and maybe even demanding that you disgorge the seven dollars, three bottlecaps and eleven cool feathers you took in trade for those pirate books). But my publisher won't ever find out about it – unless you email me asking for permission. I absolutely cannot give you permission to do this. I have a contract with my publisher promising that I will never authorize someone other than them to publish that book. Once you tell me about your intention to do this, I'm obliged to tell my publisher, so that they can tell you no in language that would strip paint off a barn. Buying a classroom set of books, but you also want to paste chunks of one of my books into your educational institution's classroom intranet for use as a teaching aid? There's no way my publisher would ever find out you did that, and if they did, sure, you'd also get a blood-curdling legal letter. But dude, all my books are DRM-free. You could have just pasted the text into your CMS. In what universe is my publisher going to pay one of their lawyers to review, adjudicate and paper over your request to make a use that you're not proposing to pay them for? Let's be clear: I'm not giving you permission to pirate my work. I already spend far too much of my time chasing down dickheads who sell competing editions of my books on Amazon and Audible. I'm sick to the back teeth of wrangling Ingram's takedown process to get rid of bootleg print editions of my books. What I'm saying is, all of your interactions with copyrighted works need not involve the author and publisher. There is a whole universe of uses that might technically violate copyright, might technically not fit into de minimis, first sale or fair use – but these are also uses that no one would ever find out. I get it. You may feel like you can't tell the difference between the kind of uses that no one would give a shit about; the uses that might attract a bone-chilling lawyer letter; and the uses that might land you in court. I'm sorry, but I can't help you figure that one out. I'm not a lawyer. Even if I was, I'm not your lawyer. This is one of those areas where I break with my friend, the wonderful John Hodgman. On his indispensable podcast "Judge John Hodgman," he frequently admonishes people who are uncertain if they're overstepping a bound in a commercial establishment to ask an employee for permission. For example: should you fill up a water glass with soda water from a self-serve dispenser? https://maximumfun.org/podcasts/judge-john-hodgman/ John says you should always ask the cashier. But I've worked jobs like that, and I can tell you that there were plenty of jobs where my boss felt very strongly that taking $0.0000001 worth of water and bubbles without paying for it was theft…and where I thought my boss was a dick for thinking that. If I pretended I didn't see you getting a glass of fizzy water, the worst that would happen is my boss would tell me to keep a closer eye on the customers lest they steal his precious CO2. But if you asked me whether you could fill your glass, and my boss caught me saying yes, I'd be fired. There's a lot of normal, perfectly fine stuff that technically violates copyright that I can't give you permission to do, because I've signed a contract with my publisher. If you ask me, I'll have to ask my editor, who will say no, even though he thinks it's fine, too. If I push it, he'll have to ask the lawyers, who will almost certainly also say no, even if they think it's fine, because it doesn't make sense to spend hours papering over a legal agreement with someone who wants to sell seven copies of a book at an anarchist book-fair or upload a couple chapters of a book to a school's intranet. Are there instances in which you might misjudge which category your use falls under and end up in court? I guess so. But if that's your concern, asking my permission does no good, because I'm just gonna tell you no. Life is hard. Read books. Hey look at this (permalink) AOC Must Run For President https://www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/aoc-must-run-for-president Role confusion: one more reason we can’t trust LLMs https://designingsecuresoftware.com/writings/role-confusion/ Ida Tarbell: The Journalist Who Took Down Rockefeller https://prospect.org/2026/07/31/ida-tarbell-journalist-who-took-down-rockefeller/ Medusa Joins the Club https://longforgottenhauntedmansion.blogspot.com/2026/07/medusa-joins-club.html Hot Centrist Summer Was a Bust https://prospect.org/2026/07/31/democrats-donor-base-establishment-progressive-hot-centrist-summer-was-a-bust/ Object permanence (permalink) #25yrsago RIP, Poul Anderson https://www.locusmag.com/1997/Issues/04/Anderson.html #25yrsago Talking P2P at PC Forum https://web.archive.org/web/20010820163912/https://www.edventure.com/pcforum/transcript.cfm?Counter=13 #25yrsago CD DRM cracked in 2 weeks https://web.archive.org/web/20010803144120/http://www.oreillynet.com/cs/weblog/view/wlg/533 #20yrsago Waitress cards drinker, is handed her own stolen ID https://web.archive.org/web/20060901042515/http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/9606436/detail.html #20yrsago How POWs in a Nazi camp got a Disney insignia https://web.archive.org/web/20061209200825/https://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006/08/01/wwii-pows-get-a-disney-designed-logo/ #20yrsago Fixies illegal in Portland https://bikeportland.org/2006/07/28/judge-finds-fault-with-fixies-1727 #15yrsago Freedom of Information requests show that UK copyright consultation was a stitch-up; Internet disconnection rules are a foregone conclusion https://torrentfreak.com/digital-economy-act-a-foregone-conclusion-110731/ #15yrsago What Murdoch’s media empire did: the big picture https://web.archive.org/web/20110805111419/http://blogs.alternet.org/speakeasy/2011/07/27/what-rupert-murdoch-means-for-you-personally/ #15yrsago Flowchart shows the complexity of NZ Internet Disconnection copyright law https://web.archive.org/web/20111105044005/https://lawgeeknz.posterous.com/copyright-infringing-file-sharing-amendment-a #15yrsago Married lesbian couple rescued 40 teenagers from drowning during Utøya shooting https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2011/07/married-lesbian-couple-saves-dozens-during-norway-shooting-rampage/ #15yrsago Stephen Fry debating Ann Widdecombe on the worth of the Catholic Church https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fN3zDtfivc #10yrsago Jacksonville police pension fund blows $1.8M worth of tax-dollars fighting open records requests https://web.archive.org/web/20160804040211/http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2016-07-30/story/open-government-lawsuits-against-city-pension-fund-cost-taxpayers-more-2 #10yrsago A profile of Moxie Marlinspike: the seagoing anarchist cryptographer who brought private messaging to millions https://www.wired.com/2016/07/meet-moxie-marlinspike-anarchist-bringing-encryption-us/ #10yrsago Burying the past in glass coffins: Victoria & Albert museum bans sketching in temporary exhibitions https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/apr/22/va-museum-no-sketching-signs-draconian?CMP=share_btn_tw #10yrsago Hugo Gernsback’s introduction to the first issue of Amazing Stories, 1926 https://brucesterling.tumblr.com/post/148297242233/a-new-magazine-announced-by-hugo-gernsback #10yrsago Afterbrexit: Scotland trolls Theresa May by passing laws she has ridiculed https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2016/08/scotland-disses-theresa-may-by-reviving-anti-inequality-law-she-loathes.html #5yrsago Managing aggregate demand https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/01/managing-aggregate-demand-part-iv/ #1yrago Mattie Lubchansky's 'Simplicity' https://pluralistic.net/2025/08/01/ecosexuality/#nyc-ast Upcoming appearances (permalink) Virtual: EFFecting Change: Who the Machine Serves, Aug 12 https://www.eff.org/event/effecting-change-who-machine-serves Edinburgh International Book Festival with Jimmy Wales, Aug 17 https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/events/the-front-list-cory-doctorow-and-jimmy-wales Sydney: The Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Aug 23-24 https://festivalofdangerousideas.com/program/ Melbourne: Enshittification at the Wheeler Centre, Aug 25 https://www.wheelercentre.com/events-tickets/season-2026/cory-doctorow-enshittification Brighton: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Carole Cadwalladr (Brighton Dome), Sep 8 https://brightondome.org/whats-on/LSC-cory-doctorow-the-reverse-centaurs-guide-to-life-after-ai/ London: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Riley Quinn (Foyle's Picadilly), Sep 9 https://www.foyles.co.uk/events/enshittification-cory-doctorow-riley-quinn South Bend: An Evening With Cory Doctorow (Notre Dame), Oct 6 https://franco.nd.edu/events/2026/10/06/an-evening-with-cory-doctorow/ Recent appearances (permalink) Why AI Won't Replace Workers, But Will Crash The Economy (Smart Cookies) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRRmUuxJolY AI and the Enshittification Era (The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dAIJRjb-Bw AI is not inevitable (Betakit) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbiTVkq1WHo A Conversation with Lina Khan (Law and Economy Student Network) https://www.youtube.com/live/7Ak5LZllqwE Will AI ever come alive, and what happens if it does? (BBC News) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzk4o3fPZZE Latest books (permalink) "The Reverse-Centaur's Guide to AI," a short book about being a better AI critic, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, June 2026 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374621568/thereversecentaursguidetolifeafterai/ "Canny Valley": A limited edition collection of the collages I create for Pluralistic, self-published, September 2025 https://pluralistic.net/2025/09/04/illustrious/#chairman-bruce "Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, October 7 2025 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374619329/enshittification/ "Picks and Shovels": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about the heroic era of the PC, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2025 (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865908/picksandshovels). "The Bezzle": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about prison-tech and other grifts, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2024 (thebezzle.org). "The Lost Cause:" a solarpunk novel of hope in the climate emergency, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), November 2023 (http://lost-cause.org). "The Internet Con": A nonfiction book about interoperability and Big Tech (Verso) September 2023 (http://seizethemeansofcomputation.org). Signed copies at Book Soup (https://www.booksoup.com/book/9781804291245). "Red Team Blues": "A grabby, compulsive thriller that will leave you knowing more about how the world works than you did before." Tor Books http://redteamblues.com. "Chokepoint Capitalism: How to Beat Big Tech, Tame Big Content, and Get Artists Paid, with Rebecca Giblin", on how to unrig the markets for creative labor, Beacon Press/Scribe 2022 https://chokepointcapitalism.com Upcoming books (permalink) "The Post-American Internet," a geopolitical sequel of sorts to Enshittification, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2027 "Unauthorized Bread": a middle-grades graphic novel adapted from my novella about refugees, toasters and DRM, FirstSecond, April 20, 2027 "Enshittification, Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It" (the graphic novel), Firstsecond, 2027 "The Memex Method," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2027 Colophon (permalink) Today's top sources: Currently writing: "The Post-American Internet," a sequel to "Enshittification," about the better world the rest of us get to have now that Trump has torched America. Fourth draft completed. Submitted to editor. A Little Brother short story about DIY insulin PLANNING This work – excluding any serialized fiction – is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. That means you can use it any way you like, including commercially, provided that you attribute it to me, Cory Doctorow, and include a link to pluralistic.net. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Quotations and images are not included in this license; they are included either under a limitation or exception to copyright, or on the basis of a separate license. Please exercise caution. How to get Pluralistic: Blog (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): Pluralistic.net Newsletter (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://pluralistic.net/plura-list Mastodon (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic Bluesky (no ads, possible tracking and data-collection): https://bsky.app/profile/doctorow.pluralistic.net Medium (no ads, paywalled): https://doctorow.medium.com/ Tumblr (mass-scale, unrestricted, third-party surveillance and advertising): https://mostlysignssomeportents.tumblr.com/tagged/pluralistic "When life gives you SARS, you make sarsaparilla" -Joey "Accordion Guy" DeVilla READ CAREFULLY: By reading this, you agree, on behalf of your employer, to release me from all obligations and waivers arising from any and all NON-NEGOTIATED agreements, licenses, terms-of-service, shrinkwrap, clickwrap, browsewrap, confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-compete and acceptable use policies ("BOGUS AGREEMENTS") that I have entered into with your employer, its partners, licensors, agents and assigns, in perpetuity, without prejudice to my ongoing rights and privileges. You further represent that you have the authority to release me from any BOGUS AGREEMENTS on behalf of your employer. ISSN: 3066-764X

‘Obsession’ Director Curry Barker, Gary Oldman, Mattel Studios President Robbie Brenner Join TIFF Market Talks

Obsession director Curry Barker, Gary Oldman and Mattel Studios President and Barbie producer Robbie Brenner have joined the Visionaries and Dialogues talks program of Toronto’s rebooted TIFF Market. Oldman, who will be in Toronto for the premiere of the sixth season of Apple-backed drama Slow Horses in its TV-focused Primetime section, and Oscar-nominated Brenner will […]

Facial Recognition at Madison Square Garden

Last month, the story broke (alternate link) that Madison Square Garden uses facial recognition software on everyone entering the facility, and—among other groups—flags activists that oppose using facial recognition.

Turns out that the system was shut off for Taylor Swift’s wedding.

Evan Greer—one of the people that MSG alerts on— comments:

Ironically, Swift herself has reportedly used facial recognition at her own concerts to identify stalkers. This “privacy for me, surveillance for thee” attitude feels like a perfect encapsulation of the future we’re already living in: one where wealthy elites can afford privacy, while the rest of us are forced to live in a corporate surveillance panopticon...

Cheap gas won't save Trump, now at a new all-time approval low

, updated:

The price of gas fell in June, but Trump's approval on inflation didn't rise accordingly

Jazz Fest

Years ago Melissa introduced me to New Orleans Jazz Fest, a two-weekend long festival of music, food, and culture. Given the festival’s title you’d think it was all about jazz, but it offers a wide… More

The Bond Market Doesn’t Like Bullshit

, updated:

Why Kevin Warsh just bombed

Lit Hub Daily: July 31, 2026

, updated:

July’s best book covers center stretched, blurred, and otherwise distorted images. | Lit Hub Design “What if I admitted to myself that my claims on middle class respectability were tenuous at best, and inside me was the scared little girl

Seth Cotlar on historical roots of the new Red Scare

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"If you look at the 1956 GOP platform, it reads like a center-left policy platform in a contemporary context."

Alan Cumming-Backed Block The Merger Submits Evidence To UK Culture Sec; Argues WarnerMount Will “Directly Impact UK Documentarians’ Ability To Tell Diverse Stories”

The Alan Cumming-backed Block the Merger coalition has submitted evidence to the UK Culture Secretary over why the Paramount-Warner mega-merger should be blocked. Four of the groups that make up the coalition said they provided Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy with “market data and first-hand professional evidence as she determines whether to intervene.” UK parliament is […]

Fremantle Hires Katie O’Connell Marsh As Global Scripted Chief

EXCLUSIVE: Katie O’Connell Marsh has been named Fremantle’s next global scripted boss, Deadline can reveal. Baywatch and M. Son of the Century producer Fremantle has been seeking out a UK-based executive to effectively replace Christian Vesper, the CEO of Global Drama and Film who exited his post in January. Following an extensive hiring process that […]

The Literary Film & TV You Need to Stream in August

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Every month, all the major streaming services add a host of newly acquired (or just plain new) shows, movies, and documentaries into their ever-rotating libraries. So what’s a dedicated reader to watch? Well, whatever you want, of course, but the

Jamaica Kincaid! Eimear McBride! 19 books out in paperback this August.

August, amazingly, approaches, the final month in a summer that has at once felt slow and like it has slipped by with the curious swiftness of a half-remembered dream. Still, the summer is not over, and August is a perfect

The 13 Best Book Covers of July

Another month of books, another month of book covers. In July, things were obscured. Things were omitted. Things blurred, stretched, melted, smoked. Well, it’s midsummer, after all. I hope you’re getting a little rain where you are. Here are some

Chelsea Rathburn on the Unexpected Beauty of the “Research Dead-End”

This first appeared in Lit Hub’s Craft of Writing newsletter—sign up here. Earlier this summer, our geriatric air conditioner stopped working, bringing an abrupt end to a few years of never-quite-cold-enough temperatures and bafflingly-high electric bills. Our HVAC guy broke the bad

Read the First Reviews of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince.

Today marks the 82nd anniversary of the disappearance of French writer, journalist, and aviator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. On July 31, 1944, Saint-Exupéry took off in an unarmed P-38 on his ninth reconnaissance mission for the Free French Air Force from

July’s Best Reviewed Fiction

Colson Whitehead’s Cool Machine, Sigrid Nunez’s It Will Come Back to You, and Valeria Luiselli’s Beginning Middle End all feature among the best reviewed fiction titles of the month. Brought to you by Book Marks, Lit Hub’s home for book reviews. * 1. Cool

July’s Best Reviewed Nonfiction

Rachel Aviv’s You Won’t Get Free of It, David Thompson’s A Sudden Flicker of Light, and Pamela Colloff’s Catch the Devil all feature among the best reviewed nonfiction titles of the month. Brought to you by Book Marks, Lit Hub’s home

FIFA Set To Lose Vote Over Controversial Private Investment Plan After Europe, Asia & Americas Reject Proposal

UPDATED with the latest: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has become the latest to reject FIFA’s proposal to sell stakes in tournaments to private investors. The AFC has joined with the European and Americas football bodies meaning that it is now likely that more than half of FIFA’s overall membership would reject the plan if […]

This is How People Die

Scoot, Exhibit 06, Two-Handed Gogi Dodging cars that didn’t even attempt to slow down, I made my way across the four-lane highway, along which Pig-licker and I had been running, coughing, and about to die in all kinds of ways.

A Realist's Guide to the American System

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Part 1: Dimon and the enshittification of everything

ITV Studios Bosses Bullish Despite U.S. & International Declines As ‘Love Island’ & ‘The Gentlemen’ Maker Prepares To Go Independent

ITV Studios bosses are remaining bullish in the face of declining U.S. and international revenues as the Love Island maker prepares to be unleashed onto the market. Of concern for ITV Studios, this morning’s ITV half-year results showed a 17% revenue decline in the U.S. and a 24% slide internationally, reflecting a reversal of previous […]

Michael Jackson Boosts Sony Music Sales By 22% Amid Quiet Quarter For Movie Studio

The box office success of Michael appears to have put some thriller into Sony’s earnings. Sony Music Entertainment’s sales bounced 22% to 557.9 billion yen ($3.5B) in the three months to the end of June, according to the company’s Q1 earnings. Sony Music revealed that Jackson’s “Thriller” and “Bad” were among its top 10 best-selling […]

Singapore’s Wave Films Taps Former Cambodian Broadcasting Chief Dave Ulmer To Drive U.S. Expansion

EXCLUSIVE: Singapore-based production services outfit Wave Films has brought on board Dave Ulmer, former CEO of Cambodian Broadcasting Service (CBS), as an Executive Producer based in Los Angeles.  Ulmer will help the company bridge the North American content industries with Southeast Asia’s production infrastructure. He will focus on bringing U.S. and international projects into Southeast […]

ITV Reveals Early Share Buyback Of $140M Before Sky Deal Completes As Broadcaster Unveils First Set Of Results Since Confirming The Deal

ITV has a gift for shareholders this morning to the tune of £100M ($140M) as it releases its first financial results since the Sky deal was confirmed, which slightly improved on the prior year. The broadcaster is today revealing a £100M share buyback, which CEO Carolyn McCall described as an “early return of part of […]

July 30, 2026

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Sixty years ago today, on July 30, 1966, Medicare and Medicaid went into effect.

‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Besting ‘No Way Home’s $50M U.S. Previews – Thursday PM Box Office

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The seven most shambolic things that happened in AI today.

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🤦‍♂️

Tom Selleck On “Frustrating” Cancellation Of ‘Blue Bloods’ After Cast Took 25% Pay Cut: “Nobody Wanted To Leave”

Nearly two years after the Reagans had their last Sunday dinner on Blue Bloods, Tom Selleck is still frustrated over the show’s cancellation. The Golden Globe winner recently noted that the cast took a 25% pay cut in attempt to keep the CBS procedural going past its 14-season run, which lasted from 2010 to 2024, […]

GHC 9.12.5-rc3 is now available

GHC 9.12.5-rc3 is now available

mangoiv - 2026-07-31

The GHC developers are very pleased to announce the availability of the third release candidate for GHC 9.12.5, ghc-9.12.5-rc3.

The third release candidate was necessary to mitigate a critical bug on HEAD that needed to be backported. The bugfix is included in this RC.

See the backport MR.

See also the previous announcement of 9.12.5-rc2: https://www.haskell.org/ghc/blog/20260624-ghc-9.12.5-rc2-released.html

Binary distributions, source distributions, and documentation are available atdownloads.haskell.org and via GHCup.

This release candidate will have a two-week testing period. If all goes well the final release will be available the week of 13 August 2026.

GHC 9.12.5 is a bug-fix release fixing many issues of a variety of severities and scopes, including:

  • Implement version 2 of the ghc semaphore protocol for GHC’s -jsem jobserver on Linux and other POSIX platforms ( #25087, #27253)
  • several improvements to the pattern match checker ( #25926, #27124)
  • several improvements to the demand analyser ( #27261, #27106, #26416)
  • several fixes regarding the interaction of ticks and coercions ( #27121, #26929, #26642, #26693)
  • several fixes for blackholes ( #27261)

… and many more

Mind that the very important overhaul of the semaphore-compat library to v2 is included in this release and that the semaphore feature will only start working with cabal-install 3.18 again, which is sadly a breaking but necessary change.

A full accounting of these fixes can be found in the release notes. As always, GHC’s release status, including planned future releases, can be found on the GHC Wiki status.

GHC development is sponsored by:

We would like to thank these sponsors and other anonymous contributors whose on-going financial and in-kind support has facilitated GHC maintenance and release management over the years. Finally, this release would not have been possible without the hundreds of open-source contributors whose work comprise this release.

As always, do give this release a try and open a ticket if you see anything amiss.

This Month in Redox - July 2026

Redox OS is a complete Unix-like general-purpose microkernel-based operating system written in Rust. July was a very exciting month for Redox! Here’s all the latest news.

Donate to Redox

If you would like to support Redox, please consider donating or buying some merch!

EEVDF: Significant CPU Context Switch Cost Reduction and Scaling Improvement

Akshit Gaur’s Redox Summer of Code project, implementing an EEVDF scheduler, has completed development and the work has been merged. All that’s left is some experimentation and a report. Thanks for the excellent work Akshit!

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Show a section of your email to just one type of audience (email, web, subscribers, or paid)

Why airlines must merge loyalty and distribution right now

Why airlines must merge loyalty and distribution right now

Email sending & other tasks delayed

Our public postmortem for the incident on July 30st, 2026.

Friday 31 July, 2026

, updated:

Beached! The Law Faculty building in Cambridge. Designed (wouldn’t you guess) by Norman Foster, who also designed the Terminal building at Stansted airport. But it always reminds me of a beached cruise liner. Quote of the Day ”If you want … Continue reading →

Fri, 1pm ET - Hopium Founding Members Most Fridays Get Together

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Lots and lots to talk about tomorrow.....

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

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RE: https://mastodon.social/@asymco/117009875197873702

Lol Barclays

BELTRUNNER: game design postmortem

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This blog post assumes you have played BELTRUNNER, the game whose design it discusses in detail, or are familiar enough JC4880P433 360 400mhz revisionwith video game design and history that you don’t need to play it.

Last week I shared a look at an arcade-faithful version of Asteroids to demonstrate the totally new way of making games that I’ve been working on. It’s called Jinks and it’s a lightweight game engine, interactive development environment, a language of sorts, and more.

BELTRUNNER is an original game built from the same bones as Asteroids, and was my entry into #GMTKjam 2026. The whole thing is roughly 1,300 lines and, importantly, it is a complete game that you can finish. It uses the same system and succinct language as my Asteroids recreation, though I’m going to remain a little coy about the machinery for now because it is still a work in progress and changing every day. I need it to settle down enough that I can describe what it is, rather than what it used to be.

For now I want to talk about how the game developed: which ideas made it in, which ones didn’t, and what Jinks had to learn along the way. Many of the design methods are adapted from lessons learned playing old games, which is how I like to approach game design.

BELTRUNNER

BELTRUNNER by gingerbeardman


Explorations

The first prototype was nothing like Asteroids. I built an orbital shooter, perhaps more like Space Duel, with numbered targets on fixed shells around a central sun. As with everything made in Jinks it was quick to get up and running, but playing it just wasn’t fun. I had to decide whether it showed enough promise to keep going, and I don’t think it did. I always say that no work is truly wasted; it’s simply put aside until it usefulness or suitability becomes apparent.

The fixed orbits made the targets into sitting ducks. What I missed from Asteroids was the unpredictable drift of the rocks and the dodging that comes with it. I discarded the orbital structure but kept the numbered targets, the highlight, and the idea of a chain. It also got me thinking about the song “Countdown” by Phoenix ( Bankrupt!, 2013).

So I moved back towards Asteroids and turned the numbered pickups into something more like the rings in Pilotwings or the gates in Wave Race 64. I also borrowed a trick from Donkey Kong ‘94: initially pretend to be an old, familiar game, then reveal that something different and new has been hiding behind it.


Masquerade

Wave 1 is pure Asteroids: one large rock, classic thrust-and-drift, classic splits, classic death-and-respawn. The only clue that things are not quite as they seem is a race clock that appears when you make the first hit, and no lives to be lost on your first collision. Clear the field and, instead of another wave of rocks, a black hole tears open at the centre of the screen. Gravity pulls you in, and you can do a little dash to help it along.

From wave 2 the real game reveals itself. Numbered gates are scattered through the same drifting rock field and must be taken in descending order—5… 4… 3… 2… 1…—so the race chants a countdown as you fly it. Take the last gate and the black hole opens again, then you warp to the next wave.

Starting this way lets the player learn the controls before the race asks them to do something more involved. If you already know Asteroids you can fly the first wave on muscle memory. If you don’t, you still get some time with the central game mechanic.

Two countdowns converge on zero:

  1. The gate count, which you drive.
  2. The race clock, which drives you—every gate feeds it and every collision depletes it.

There are no lives, so time becomes the only resource. This got rid of a lot of classic arcade bookkeeping and left me with one thing that can be read at a glance. It worked well and stuck through every play-test.


Waves with stepped difficulty (the Nintendo way)

The game has sixteen waves arranged as four acts of four. I didn’t want an endless difficulty ramp that quietly plateaus; I wanted to make a game you can actually finish.

Each act teaches one new gate behaviour, then spends three more waves letting it bed in:

ActWavesWhat it teachesI1–4The reveal—pure Asteroids, black hole, elliptical gates—introduces pathfinding skillII5–8Directional (one-way) gates—introduces routing skillIII9–12Spinning gates—introduces timing skillIV13–16Both at once—everything all at once, then ends

I think of that “introduce → practice → practice → close” cadence as a very Nintendo way of doing things. A mechanic shown once and then immediately buried under the next one was never really taught. Four waves gives you enough time to notice it, get caught by it, and then start planning around it.

In the game code I only write down what changes from one wave to the next. A practice wave that keeps the previous setup is empty on purpose. Introductory text appears only when something new is actually on screen. It isn’t a tutorial, just a small toast that gives you enough of a clue.

Early gates were round rings. Side-on grazes felt wrong, so elliptical slots became the baseline after the first play-test. Directional and spinning came later as routing and timing problems, not as decoration.


Deterministic gameplay (the Arcade way)

I love learning the patterns in Pac-Man, the barrel logic in Donkey Kong, and the routes through Flicky. Those games feel like courses: learn the layout and your knowledge begins to compound. Beltrunner leans into the same approach.

Every “random” draw—rock spawn edges and headings, gate placement, power-up scatter—comes from one seeded stream. A single number describes the whole layout. Restart the game and the first run of one session will match the first run of the next, given the same inputs. Change the seed and you get a completely different but equally fair course from the same rules.

That matters for learning (the field is a place you can know), for replays (a recording only works if the stream matches), and for tuning (you’re adjusting rules and a seed, not praying to chance).

Power-up drops are on a fixed cadence too. Every eighth rock kill arms one, cycling [T][I][S], rather than using a “1-in-8 chance” fudge like the diamond drop in Flicky. The gun still feels generous, but the schedule is learnable and predictable.


Discoverable hidden things (the Bomb Jack way)

Bomb Jack has a sequential bonus that rewards you for collecting the lit targets in order. I think it is still one of the best examples of a game teaching something without using a manual, so I applied a similar idea to the rock field.

From wave 2 onwards, one large rock is highlighted at a time. Split it in sequence and a sustained voice joins a chord: root, third, fifth, octave. Split one out of turn and the voices cut. You notice you’ve done something wrong because the choir is no longer singing. A missing pip is easy to miss, but a chord that suddenly stops is not.

Follow the lights and the last stop is always the clover, a rock shaped a little like a lucky four-leaf clover and hiding in plain sight among the others. Complete the sequence and it drops [E], the secret jackpot containing time, invincibility and freeze all at once.

None of this is explained on screen. The power-ups legend reads ???? until you’ve found it once; after that it says EXTRA as a small badge of honour.

I tried putting numbers on the rocks themselves, but the result was much too cluttered. Highlighting them was the simpler solution I arrived at afterwards.

There’s a second secret one layer up. Finish all sixteen waves and attract mode unlocks the ancestor game, turning PUSH START into a Beltrunner/Asteroids selector. I like that the reward for finishing the game is being able to play the game it came from.


Loose collectable power-ups (the Pang way)

Pang, and a long line of arcade games before and after it, understood that a power-up you have to go and get is a decision in itself. Beltrunner follows the same tradition, placing tokens directly into the playfield. Each one has a stroked ring, coloured letter, slow drift, and an accelerating blink during its final two seconds, so you get fair warning that it is about to disappear.

Drops—the gun creates these while you play:

  • [T] TIME—clock +10. The game’s main currency.
  • [I] INVINCIBLE—a few seconds of ramming without dying; rocks split on contact like billiard balls.
  • [S] STOP—rocks freeze and the race clock freezes. An early version froze only the rocks and left the clock running, which was quietly mean during the one window that was supposed to be a breather.

Placed—these always appear under specific conditions:

  • [E] EXTRA—the clover sequence described above. For a while it paid only a little more time than [T], which was an anticlimax for a secret. Now it gives you time, invincibility and freeze together.
  • [W] WARP—appears only on the last wave of acts I–III, once that act’s mechanic has been taught. It orbits a host rock as a satellite and can be claimed by shaving past it. Shoot the host and the token breaks loose and begins to drift. Collecting it opens the black hole immediately, forfeiting the remaining gates and banking the clock. An earlier version placed it on the wave that introduced a mechanic, which was definitely the wrong time to offer an escape. There is no warp on wave 16 because there is nothing left to escape into.

The loop I was aiming for was to crowd the field for more valuable gates, fish for a drop, and then take the route while protected. The tools are useful, but obtaining them also raises the risk.


Other things that survived

Here are some of the other details that made it through:

FIELD as a measure of risk. Every rock carries an invisible weight (large 1 / medium 2 / small 3), and FIELD is the live sum of those values. Gate payouts scale with it. Splitting rocks raises FIELD, so shooting is not simply a way to clear a lane; it also raises the stakes. Hit a rock by accident and it still splits, as it would in Asteroids, so a careless bounce can make the field more valuable too. FIELD increases the base score while COMBO multiplies it, giving the two values separate jobs on the HUD.

Wrap-edge racing. The playfield is a real torus: rocks and the ship can straddle both sides of a wrap, and collisions reach across it. In the original Asteroids, rocks teleport when their centre point crosses an edge, before and after which up to half of the rock is invisible. In Beltrunner the fastest route to the next gate is often through the edge of the screen, so the wrap needs to be something the player can trust.

Black hole sun. The black hole pulls from across the arena but has a tiny event horizon at its centre. You can fly past it, feel the tug, graze the rings, and warp only when you pass through the eye. This leaves room to grab a loose power-up before leaving, which can be worthwhile because its effects carry into the next wave. The opening sound climbs to a hanging dominant and the dive resolves it.

Attract mode. I checked the original Asteroids and found one continuous simulation: rocks drift underneath changing text overlays, there is no ship or self-play while idle, and the high-score table is not drawn while empty. Beltrunner adopts the same approach, so the world never stops.

Design System. HUD text with the same intent always appears at the same y-position and size, allowing the player to learn its meaning through familiarity. Three different text sizes further reinforce the hierarchy. Tables are described using a top position and a step, so moving the high-score block is one decision rather than ten. The BELTRUNNER logo is even hand-kerned because L+T leaves a gaping hole in the vector monospaced font.

High scores that understand the economy. The attract-mode high-score table is not ten numbers typed in by hand and left to go stale. It is derived from what the game can actually pay, so retuning a gate or warp bank moves the whole table with it. The Jinks IDE also shows the theoretical maximum score in its inspector.

Audio as teaching. Greenwich Time Signal pips play during the final six seconds. B5 is near enough to 1000Hz and is also the tonic of the audio bed. The lit-rock sequence uses the one sustained timbre that the bed deliberately avoids, helping it to stand out rather than become buried.

Invincible ramming. While [I] is active, ramming splits the rock and sends both bodies away from the point of contact. You bounce off a large rock but can plough through a small one. Earlier versions either did not bounce at all or sent the ship flying off uncontrollably. The rebound is yet another fun surprise hidden in the game systems.


What the game forced into the system

Asteroids already sat comfortably in the Jinks engine, but making a race through the same field meant that the system had to grow in a few places. I tried to make each addition general enough that the next game needing the same feature will also benefit from it.

Better vector support. Beltrunner is a white-on-black vector game rather than a raster game wearing a CRT filter. It needed stroke glyphs that every shell draws in the same way, a proper beam, bolder lines that survive the phosphor bloom, and several missing characters added as I went. Intensity is now a property of the display, rather than something that has to be reduced by hand on every shape. Other vector games became brighter as a side effect. Everybody is a winner!

Torus wrapping that tells the truth. The usual screen wrap teleports an object to the other side, which is fine for many games but not when the fastest line to a gate passes through the screen edge. A world can now opt into a real torus: an entity straddling a seam is drawn on both sides (up to four copies in a corner), and collisions reach across the boundary using the shortest wrapped distance. Beltrunner and my version of Asteroids both use it, whereas the original Asteroids wrapped rocks when their midpoint origin crossed the screen edge.

Colliders that match what you see. Circles are my first port of call for collision, and the game jam version shipped with them, but extended play showed that they caused unfair collisions. The ship was a slender dart wearing a fat disc, while the thin elliptical gates collided from too far away. I added polygon colliders with real concave decomposition, rather than a convex hull that fills in the tail notch, and oriented ellipse colliders that rotate with their heading. The system also needed ellipse-versus-polygon contact. Without it, the gates fell through every narrow-phase branch and became oversized AABBs again, allowing players to take gates they had flown nowhere near.

A real deflect. I added this after the jam. Ramming rocks whilst invincible should feel like snooker: glancing blows turn you, head-on collisions bounce you, small rocks yield, and big rocks don’t. The system now performs a proper 2D elastic deflection along the contact normal, updating both bodies and deriving mass from their geometry. There is no magic knockback table, and I’m sure other games will benefit from it being built in.

A few smaller necessities. Grace time—the moment of temporary invincibility after a respawn—now blinks so you can see the respawn shield, while pickups can still pass through it. Tokens blink more quickly as they near their expiration. A satellite power-up can detach and drift when its host dies. Point gravity makes the black hole strong enough to feel from the edge of the arena, whilst keeping its eye small enough that you can still fly past. Thrust can be bound to either the d-pad or a face button. Finally, beating the game can unlock Asteroids—its ancestor—selectable in attract mode, with a CRT power-off shrink-to-a-dot hiding the switch between the two games.

None of that is Beltrunner-only code. It has all become part of Jinks because the design and implementation were useful enough to be generalised.


New homes, post-jam

None of the above is platform work, and that’s deliberate, but that side of the project has kept going too. Since the jam, a second engine shell using SDL2 and GLES2 has taken the same unmodified core across Linux desktops and handhelds, including those running muOS, and further back onto the Nintendo Wii and Sega Dreamcast. This sits alongside the native macOS/iOS path and a raylib desktop shell.

Beltrunner runs on all of them without being ported or rebuilt. It uses the same 1,300 lines, tick loop and deterministic seed stream, reading the same per-frame contract that each new shell has to satisfy. This is why I have tried to keep the core unaware of any specific platform: once a machine can satisfy that contract, it gets the whole library, including this game.


About 1,300 lines

That is the whole game, rather than a prototype with the “real” code somewhere else or a thin shell over a bespoke mode. Waves, attract mode, high scores, power-ups, sounds, victory, and the secret unlock of Asteroids all live in one place. The engine features are the shared bones; the 1,300 lines are how Beltrunner arranges them.

I like that it begins as Asteroids, turns into a countdown race, borrows ideas from Nintendo, Bomb Jack and Pang, and then actually ends after sixteen waves that can be learnt by heart.

I’ll write more about how games are authored in Jinks once the system has stopped changing quite so quickly.

Until then…have fun!


Post Postmortem

The game is now available for:

  • Nintendo Wii
  • Linux (handhelds like the Anbernic RG35XXH)
  • standalone desktop releases for macOS and Linux
  • and Dreamcast

Still to come:

  • standalone desktop releases Windows— which I just need to package up correctly

Hi, Jinks!

, updated:

Jinks icon

Jinks is a lightweight multi-platform game engine, an interactive development environment, and more besides. I’m building it around one wonderful idea: write the engine core once, then run it everywhere—and have it behave identically wherever it runs.

As with everything I make, it started with a personal need. I make games, mostly the arcade sort, and I want them to run on the machines I care about—new ones and old ones—without writing each game again for every one of them. So the core knows nothing about any platform at all. Each platform gets a thin shell that draws what the core tells it to draw.

That shifts the work away from reinventing the wheel and onto the game itself: the systems, the mechanics, the rules, the scoring, the gameplay. The parts that are actually fun!

As of today, over fifty arcade, puzzle, and action games run on that single core, side by side. They share the same tick loop, the same collision system, the same renderer, with no per-game engine code. And each one is small and readable.

One of them is BELTRUNNER, and you can play it right now—I wrote up its design postmortem too.

BELTRUNNER by gingerbeardman


One Core, Every Platform

  • macOS and iOS: Native, with Metal-based CRT post-processing, built-in game recording, and full keyboard, gamepad, and touch support.
  • Web browser: The whole engine compiles to WebAssembly and draws through WebGL2. Engine and game together come to about 1.44 MB, which means—yes— it fits on a floppy!
  • Desktop, portably: One C99 shell on raylib drives the very same core beyond Apple’s platforms.
  • Elsewhere: A second shell, on SDL2 and GLES2, takes that same core across Linux, from desktops to handhelds like those running muOS. It’s reached far older hardware too—right down to the Nintendo Wii and the Sega Dreamcast.

Every shell reads the same per-frame contract: the core says what to draw and what to play, and the shell just draws it. Nothing is reimplemented per platform, so nothing can drift.


Jinks, the Language

Underneath all of this is a language, also called Jinks, built for one thing only: making games. It isn’t an existing high-level or low-level language. It’s a totally new way to make games.

It’s small and succinct, and it keeps the work on the art of making games. Of everything here, it’s the part I’m most pleased with.

How small? Pong is 145 lines. Frogger is 263. Breakout 353, Asteroids 475, Arkanoid 962. BELTRUNNER, up above, is 1,278.

There’s a lot more to say about it, and I’ll say it closer to release.


Always Playable

A game comes up in minutes and stays playable at every step. No build-and-wait, no dead time between having an idea and seeing it move.

Better still, you can inspect and modify a game while it runs. Tune a speed. Tweak a property. Have it work out the theoretical maximum score. And since the IDE on macOS can connect to a game running on a nearby device, you can do all of that with one hand to a game being played on the phone in your other hand.

The Jinks IDE on macOS, with BELTRUNNER running beside the inspector


Same Every Time

The simulation runs on a fixed tick of up to 120 Hz, quite separate from the display refresh, so a game plays the same on devices with different capabilities. And any run can be reproduced exactly, from a random seed plus the input that followed it.

That one property pays for itself many times over. Replays are exact rather than approximate. The tests replay whole games, frame for frame. And the native and WebAssembly builds—the same core compiled two very different ways—are checked against each other to produce identical output, tick for tick.


Built for Arcade Games

  • CRT effects: Raster and vector display profiles, with phosphor bloom, RGB shift, scanlines, curvature, vignette, and flicker. There’s a power-off transition too, collapsing the picture down to a single dot before it fades. Naturally.
  • Palette cycling: Proper hardware-style indexed palette animation, worked out once in the core and cycled identically by every renderer.
  • Arcade text: Vector-stroke and bitmap font support, with glyph layout computed once and shared, so a letter lands in the same place everywhere.
  • Procedural audio: Oscillator synthesis and a compact music-tracker language (MML), rendered to the very same PCM on every platform.
  • Proper geometry: Worlds that wrap at their edges, ellipse colliders that rotate along with whatever they’re attached to, and SDF curve walls that are actually curved—not just axis-aligned boxes.
  • Input by intention: Games bind to named actions, so keyboard, gamepad (right down to raw HID for the awkward pads), pointer, and touch all drive them the same way.

Status

Jinks is in active development and not yet released. I’m bringing it up one platform at a time, and it’s getting closer to release with every one. If you’d like to know when it’s ready, sign up for my monthly newsletter.

Game development has never felt this focused and fun.

jinks.gg

Jinks! Good game.

Sealing The Midterm Election Deal

, updated:

With 96 days to go to Election Day, Democrats still have work to do to flip both chambers of Congress. Is the wave that's building big enough?

Meet Troy Jackson, The Man Who Can Beat Susan Collins

, updated:

Troy rallied the party behind him quickly and leads Susan Collins 49%-46% in first general election poll.

Speed Bumps on Trump’s Revenge Tour

, updated:

With Todd Blanche driving the bus

We are in a Populist Revolution

, updated:

But under Trump it's regressive rather than progressive populism. Will the Democrats fill the void?

A Newsletter of Humorous Writing #454

, updated:

For July 22-28, 2026

Hello and welcome to A Newsletter of Humorous Writing, a roundup of the week's finest short humor pieces and funny articles, and a celebration of the fantastic writers who wrote them. No time for bits! We’re too busy desperately refreshing our other tab trying to get Imax 70mm tickets for The Odyssey. (Really!)


What We Enjoyed This Week

FAQ: Potato Salad by Gary M. Almeter (McSweeney’s) Gary takes us on a wild ride with this one! The piece is QUITE heightened right off the bat, but Gary still manages to find ways to heighten beyond his starting point without the jokes feeling too random—a difficult balance to achieve in a piece like this that is really swinging for the fences.

Is It Time to Wash the Dishes? A Flow Chart by Katherine Bettis (McSweeney’s) We love Katherine’s use of the flow chart form. It’s no easy feat to squeeze so many jokes into such a small graphic and make sure it’s easy for the reader to follow, but that’s exactly what Katherine’s done here.

Family Vacation Training Plan by Gwynna Forgham-Thrift (McSweeney’s) There are some truly great family vacation details in this one. It would have been very easy for this piece to accidentally become merely a description of a family vacation gone wrong, but Gwynna never loses sight of the very funny, very unique training plan aspect of her premise.


YOUR AD HERE!

Do you have an ad you'd like to place in the Newsletter? Fill out this form!

And feel free to send us an email if you have questions.


An Old Favorite

The Do’s and Don’ts of Falling in Love by Dustin Mark (McSweeney’s) The title may be playing it coy, but Dustin doesn’t waste any time revealing the big, weird, highly specific unusual thing he’s chosen to focus on in this piece. There are some really nice surprising heightening moves, and the piece also achieves a surprising level of poignancy without ever sacrificing laughs or getting too far away from its absurd core.

Do you have an Old Favorite of your own? Let us know by filling out this form and we may run your pick in a future edition of the newsletter.


Updates From Your Editors and Friends of the Newsletter

Have you ever wondered about the convoluted rewards programs at some stores? James wrote about that for McSweeney’s: “Your Local Wine Store’s Super Simple Rewards Card Program“

Victory for Community Advocates: Rhode Island’s Legislature Takes a Big Step Forward on Public Transit

, updated:

After years of funding shortfalls and service cuts, Rhode Island riders and advocates won a major victory. The state’s new budget closes RIPTA’s projected gap, prevents another round of cuts, and invests in paratransit, bus shelters, and cleaner buses – putting public transit on firmer ground for the year ahead.

The post Victory for Community Advocates: Rhode Island’s Legislature Takes a Big Step Forward on Public Transit appeared first on Conservation Law Foundation.

What's behind Trump's new all-time approval low? (The podcast returns!)

, updated:

Elliott and David dive into the latest polls of Trump's presidency, especially how people are feeling about prices and immigration. And they take a look at The Downballot's new election cartogram!

Acorn 8.6

, updated:

Gus Mueller (release notes): A new brushing engine that has been rewritten using Metal shaders. It includes an option for “velocity thinning”, where the faster you draw your brush strokes, the thinner the lines. A new acorn shell tool that you can use to send JavaScript to Acorn, as well as start an MCP server. […]

Dropping Manifest V2 Extensions

, updated:

Sayan Sen (Hacker News): For a while now the transition away from Manifest V2 (MV2) to MV3 has been on-going and it looks like it is entering its final phase of deprecation, at least, in the case of Google Chrome. A recent discussion thread in the w3c WebExtensions Community Group GitHub repo has highlighted how […]

The Incredibly Shrinking American Workforce

, updated:

The official unemployment rate tells us less and less

Mobile Progress Report: July 2026

, updated:

Thunderbird Mobile is moving forward with large steps on both platforms we support. On iOS, we’re working on the very foundation of a new app—our first built from scratch—and continuing to make progress in bringing the Thunderbird for iOS app to the App Store. For Android, it’s a matter of updating what we have in […]

The post Mobile Progress Report: July 2026 appeared first on The Thunderbird Blog.

Plume et canicule [en]

, updated:

[en] Transcription IA non-vérifiée (30.07.2026): Lausanne, jeudi 30 juillet 2026, 19h J’ai du temps. J’ai mangé. C’est la canicule – de nouveau. Ce matin j’ai mis le réveil à 5h pour tout ouvrir, parce que je ne voulais pas attendre 1h du matin que la température de dehors descende enfin sous celle de dedans. Juju … Continue reading "Plume et canicule [en]"

ChronoWatch X2040

, updated:

This smart-looking watch based on RP2040 tells the time without unnecessary distractions.

The post ChronoWatch X2040 appeared first on Raspberry Pi.

“Moderation” at demo.rss.chat

, updated:

When Dave Winer first released the rss.chat application, he stated that the rss.chat instance would be restricted to a small number of participants. He later created the demo.rss.chat instance for anyone to try out. In his initial post, he said he did not “want to get into moderation”. Soon, however, he posted comment guidelines, which […]

Storage Licensing Breaks HCI

, updated:

A drive costs a fraction inside a server of what the same NAND costs inside an array. Storage licensing reverses that math, and the array comes back. Hyperconverged infrastructure made a hardware argument and won it. Put the data on…

Read more ›

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

Since Monday, the #PleiadesGazetteer editorial college has published 10 new and 63 updated place resources, reflecting the work of 15 people and projects. The usual Monday blog post will summarize the full week's worth of such work, but meantime, here's a #SneakPeek at a new place resource provided by Chris de Lisle: the so-called "Temple with the indented niches".

https://pleiades.stoa.org/places/812787380

It was the main ancient sanctuary at Ai Khanoum (Takhar Province, Afghanistan), built in a mixture of Greek and Mesopotamian styles under the #Seleucids and rebuilt under the #Diodotids in the 240s BCE, again in the early 2rd century BCE and in the reign of Eukratides (ca. 170-140 BCE).

#ancientGeography #ancientHistory #ancientReligion #archaeology #classics #DH #gazetteers #HGIS

American Being Prosecuted for Wiping His Phone Before Handing It Over to Border Officials

He’s being prosecuted for giving border officials a code that wiped his phone:

The case centers on a feature included in GrapheneOS, a custom Android operating system that runs in place of the software on most modern Google Pixel devices. Tunick’s attorneys confirmed GrapheneOS was running on his phone.

The software feature allows the device owner to set a passcode that deliberately wipes the contents of that device if entered instead of the user’s unlock passcode.

Tunick’s case also raises ongoing questions about what constitutional rights can be invoked at the border, which the U.S. government has long asserted is not U.S. soil until a person is authorized to enter...

@Barack Obama @Bsky

Here are some of the songs I've been listening to this summer. It starts with a song Michelle and I love by Glen Hansard, a great musician who passed tragically this week. Our hearts go out to his family.

The Children of Blood and Bone trailer is here. (But you might want to buy the book instead.)

, updated:

This morning, Paramount released the first trailer for Children of Blood and Bone, their buzzy adaptation of Tomi Adeyemi’s bestselling young adult novel. Set to a Beyoncé soundtrack and teasing a murderer’s row of our best living actors—including Viola Davis,

Thursday afternoon session in Belfast

Thursday afternoon session in Belfast

Thursday afternoon session in Belfast

How Frontier Labs Are Building Subtle Developer Lock-In

, updated:

Frontier AI models are becoming more capable, but also more tightly coupled to proprietary state, memory and execution environments. This article explores what that means for developers building open, portable AI systems.

Adventures in survey weighting: MRP edition

, updated:

How much does party identity influence our MRP estimates?

Passion And Weird Fiction

, updated:

Writing of lasting value

Microsoft's Project Silica

, updated:

2021 Media Shipments

ExabytesRevenue$/GBFlash598$68.6B$0.115Hard Disk1418$28.0B$0.020LTO Tape59.2$0.51B$0.003 I summed up my big picture view of archival media eight years ago in Archival Media: Not a Good Business. Whatever your choice of technology, the economics are brutal. This is a version of the table in that post, updated to 2021 and again based upon IBM data. Note that archival media shiped 4% as many bytes as hard disk and generated 1.8% or the revenue. It remains a tiny market.

I have written several times about Microsoft Research's Project Silica, most recently in last year's Archival Storage:

I'm skeptical of "commoditizing the technology". Archival systems are a niche in the IT market, and one on which companies are loath to spend money. Realistically, there aren't going to be a vast number of Silica write heads. The only customers for systems like Silica are the large cloud providers, who will be reluctant to commit their archives to technology owned by a competitor. Unless a mass-market application for femtosecond lasers emerges, the scope for cost reduction is limited.

But the more I think about this technology, which is still in the lab, the more I think it probably has the best chance of impacting the market among all the rival archival storage technologies. Not great, but better than its competitors:

I followed this with a list of eight major reasons for my opinion.

Below the fold an update on the project and an assessment.

Project Silica tablet At the 2026 Library of Congress' Designing Storage Architectures meeting Richard Black of Microsoft Research gave a presentation on their Project Silica. He announced that the "research phase is complete", and pointed to three significant papers laying out their achievements:

  1. Project Silica: Towards Sustainable Cloud Archival Storage in Glass 23rd October 2023.
  2. RASCAL: A Scalable, High-redundancy Robot for Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems, 8th August 2024.
  3. Laser writing in glass for dense, fast and efficient archival data storage 17th February 2026.

The team agreed with my earlier assessment that a pre-condition for commercialization is cost-reducing the femtosecond laser, writing:

Viable path towards commercialization gated only by the laser

My view is that for this to happen there needs to be a big market for these lasers, and that archival media isn't big enough, leaving the technology in a chicken-and-egg situation.

Paper 1

Source I discussed this paper in 2024's Microsoft's Archival Storage Research, pointing out that the idea of data in silica dated back at least to 2009, and writing:

But in the last few years Microsoft Research has taken this idea and run with it, as they report in a 68-author paper at SOSP entitled Project Silica: Towards Sustainable Cloud Archival Storage in Glass. It is a fascinating paper that should be read by anyone interest in archival storage.

I compared Project Silica with Facebook's 2013 development of two cold storage systems, one based on spun-down hard drives and the other on robots holding Blu-Ray disks. Facebook established two important attributes of such systems:

  • The key performance criterion was write bandwidth, because reads were extremely rare. They expected the major reason for a read would be a subpoena.
  • The economics depended upon operating at cloud scale, and thus being able to house the systems in normal warehouse space with no special air conditioning or power supplies, instead of expensive data center space. The key criterion was worst-case power draw.

Project Silica's design was based upon an analysis of traffic at Azure's tape-based archival layer. This was both interesting in itself and in contrast to the traffic to Facebook's cloud storage. I wrote:

Note these important differences between Microsoft's and Facebook's storage hierarchies:

  • Microsoft stores generic data and depends upon user action to migrate it down the hierarchy to the archive layer, whereas Facebook stores 9 specific types of application data which is migrated automatically based upon detailed knowledge of the workload for each of the types.
  • Because Facebook can migrate data automatically, it can interpose a warm layer above the archive layer of the hierarchy, and because it has detailed knowledge about the behavior of each of the data types it can make good decision about when to move each type down the hierarchy.
  • Because the warm layer responds to the vast majority of the read requests and schedules the downward migrations, Facebook's archive layer's IOPS are a steady flow of large writes with very few reads, making efficient use of the hardware.

Figure 2 Contrast Facebook's consistent scheduled ingest flow with the bursty ingest rate shown in Figure 2 of the Silica paper. The analysis of their archive's workload in Section 2 shows that:

on average for every MB read there are 47 MBs written, and for every read operation there are 174 writes. We can see some variation across months, but writes always dominate by over an order of magnitude.

...

Small files dominate the workload, with 58.7% of the reads for files of 4 MiB or smaller. However, these reads only contribute 1.2% of the volume of data read. Files larger than 256 MiB comprise around 85% of bytes read but less than 2% of total read requests. Additionally, there is a long tail of request sizes: there is ∼ 10 orders of magnitude between the smallest and largest requested file sizes.

...

We observe a variability in the workload within data centers, with up to 7 orders of magnitude difference between the median and the tail, as well as large variability across different data centers.

...

At the granularity of a day, the peak daily [ingress] rate is ∼16x higher than the mean daily rate. As the aggregation time increases beyond 30 days, the peak over mean ratio decreases significantly down to only ∼2, indicating that the average write rate is similar across different 30-day windows.

...

To summarize, as expected for archival storage, the workload is heavily write-dominated. However, unexpectedly, the IO operations are dominated by small file accesses.

There is a great deal of useful information like this in the paper.

Paper 2

This paper covers Project Silica's innovative robotics:

we present RASCAL, a novel ASRS robot for small payload items in structured environments, with a focus on system-level scalability and redundancy. We describe the design objectives of RASCAL and how they address some of the limitations of existing robotic systems in this area, such as scalability and redundancy. We then demonstrate the viability of our design with a proof-of-concept implementation of a data centre storage media robot, and show through a series of experiments that its design, speed, accuracy, and energy efficiency are appropriate for this application.

RASCAL Fig. 1 As shown in their Fig. 1, RASCAL consists of an array of shelves with a set of small robots that can access anywhere in the array by moving horizontally along rails at the edge of each shelf, and vertically by unclipping from one rail and clipping to the one two above or below. With my comments, their design goals were:

  • Serviceability: Robots should be easy to add and remove from the system, without requiring specialist tools or expertise.

    The operator just clips or unclips the robot from the pair of rails to which it is attached by the "wings" that carry the wheels that contact them. Servicability is a significant problem with tape robots.

  • Addressability: Any robot should be able to access any item stored in the shelving.

    Because each robot blocks only a small fraction of the shelf to which it is attached, other robots can navigate around it to access items on the same or other shelves.

  • Scalability: A deployment should be able to scale its retrieval throughput by adding and removing robots. Likewise, it should be able to easily extend or reduce its storage capacity by adding or removing shelving without significant downtime.

    Adding or removing relves of robots requires updating the central control computer, but should not interrupt operations.

  • Availability: Failure of a robot should have a limited effect on the items that can be accessed, should not have a significant impact on routing, and should not obstruct other robots from continuing their operations.

    A failed robot blocks access to the items immediately in front of it, but these are only a tiny fraction of the total.

The team is very clear that what they are describing is a proof-of-concept demonstrating the feasibiliy of this kind of robot, using the test case of the silica tablets:

The proof-of-concept robot is around 240 mm wide, and sits 300 mm tall and 90 mm deep when mounted on the rails. The picker adds an additional 70 mm to the width, and increases the overall depth to around 150 mm. When flipping, the robot extends a maximum of 270 mm from the structure, and 250 mm from the wing pivot point. The total mass of the robot (including picker and battery) is around 3.5 kg.

Rascal Fig. 2 The way the robot moves horizontally is obvious, but the way it moves vertically isn't, as shown in their Fig. 2:

The climbing manoeuvre ... consists of unlatching one wing from its current rail while remaining firmly attached with the other; rotating the robot outwards from the storage rack around the attached rail and wing; and latching the free wing onto a new rail, two rails either above or below its original position.

The result is that:

These motion systems equip our robot with two key properties: independence and flexibility.

In this context, independence refers to the fact that a RASCAL does not depend on the state of any other robot or external motion system (such as an elevator) to perform its operations.

In a deployed Silica system reads would be rare, so the job of the robots would almost exclusively be to shuttle blank tablets to the write head(s) and written tablets to their resting place on the shelves. Because "the peak daily [ingress] rate is ∼16x higher than the mean daily rate" the robots must be over-provisioned, with most idle much of the time. This means there would typically be ample time for recharging their batteries.

Paper 3

This paper covers the physics of recording and reading data in glass. Their abstract reads:

Here we report an optical archival storage technology based on femtosecond laser direct writing in glass that addresses the practical demands of archival storage, which we call Silica. We achieve a data density of 1.59 Gbit mm−3 in 301 layers for a capacity of 4.8 TB in a 120 mm square, 2 mm thick piece of glass. The demonstrated write regimes enable a write throughput of 25.6 Mbit s−1 per beam, limited by the laser repetition rate, with an energy efficiency of 10.1 nJ per bit. Moreover, we extend the storage ability to borosilicate glass, offering a lower-cost medium and reduced writing and reading complexity. Accelerated ageing tests on written voxels in borosilicate suggest data lifetimes exceeding 10,000 years.

The paper claims advances in four main areas. First, Writing data:

Two efficient regimes of volume pixel (voxel) writing in glass: we use phase voxels relying on isotropic refractive index (RI) changes and birefringent voxels based on anisotropic changes ... We demonstrate high-quality voxels, each storing more than one bit, using a minimum number of pulses.

They describe phase voxel writing thus:

Phase voxels are femtosecond-laser-induced isotropic modifications with locally altered [refractive index] and minimal optical scattering. The pulse energy is modulated to encode the symbol. ... Each voxel is written with a single pulse, so voxels are written at the laser repetition rate of 10 MHz. We modulate the beam energy using an acousto-optic modulator ... Different symbols correspond to distinct [refractive index] changes that can be read using Zernike phase-contrast microscopy

Furthermore, we demonstrate a throughput of 65.9 Mbit s−1 by splitting the laser into 4 independently modulated beams. We scan all beams with the same scanner and objective .... The written, read and decoded results show that throughput can be scaled in this way without damaging the media.

The reason the 4-beam throughput is more than 4 times the 10MHz laser pulse rate is that each pulse writes more than one bit, up to 1.8, per voxel.

They describe birefringent voxel writing thus:

Birefringent voxels are composed of optically anisotropic sub-diffraction modifications, the in-plane orientation of which is determined by the polarization of the writing pulse. Varying this orientation encodes different data symbols, which we read using polarization-resolved imaging.

...

Our new pseudo-single-pulse regime shows the formation of elongated nanovoids with just two pulses, improving on previous work. We split each pulse into two: one that forms a void (seed pulse) and the other that elongates a previously formed void (data pulse). ... In this way, a single laser pulse simultaneously initiates the formation of a new seed structure and converts an existing seed structure into a data voxel, so voxels are written at the laser repetition rate of 10 MHz

Second, Emissions-based control of voxel writing:

High-throughput, stable writing: we demonstrate writing at high throughput using multiple beams per laser ... We use a closed-loop feedback system to actively monitor and optimize the laser power, providing precise energy stability during writing and enabling predictability and reliability across different writers at scale ...

Using closed-loop feedback to control paramteres of the writing process is important because the process requires very high precision to achieve its very high volumetric density.

Accelerated Aging Test Third, as regards Lifetime they address the question of whether the fact that borosilicate class is very stable means that data recorded in it is very stable:

To assess the thermal stability of phase voxels, we perform accelerated ageing experiments based on the Arrhenius law, using visible light diffraction measurements to track the decay of written structures. ... Extrapolation from the measurement points at elevated temperatures suggests exceptional long-term stability, indicating a modification lifetime that exceeds 10,000 years at 290 °C and therefore even longer at room temperature. This lifetime reflects the thermal stability of phase voxels under isolated conditions and does not account for external influences, such as mechanical stress or chemical corrosion, which are beyond the scope of this study.

As is normal in accelerated aging tests, there is a very large extrapolation from the measurements they made at temperatures from 500-440C (see graph) to the likely storage temperatures. But the result of the extrapolation is such a long lfe that the media are effectively immortal given "benign neglect".

Fourth, they describe their approach to the often overlooked complexity of Reading and decoding data:

Machine learning decode: building on our previous work, here we apply machine-learning-based decode ... to account for noise and inter-voxel cross-talk.

This is an excellent way of implementing the pattern-matching that is needed to extract bits from the images of the nanopores from the camera. The most overlooked aspect of storage is the problem of converting the actual noisy analog signal from the media into bits.

They provide performance numbers for both types of media. First, birefringent voxels:

Using birefringent voxels, in fused silica glass, we achieve 1.59 Gbit mm−3 data density (usable capacity of 4.84 TB per platter, 0.500 μm × 0.485 μm voxel pitch and 6 μm layer spacing, 301 layers, 8 azimuth levels at 0.85 quality factor), a write throughput of 25.6 Mbit s−1, and a write efficiency of 10.1 nJ per bit.

Second, phase voxels:

Using phase voxels, in borosilicate glass we achieve 0.678 Gbit mm−3 data density (usable capacity 2.02 TB per platter, 0.5 μm × 0.7 μm voxel pitch, 7 μm layer spacing, and 258 layers, 4 energy levels at 0.92 quality factor), a write throughput of 18.4 Mbit s−1, and a write efficiency of 8.85 nJ per bit. Furthermore, our multibeam system achieves a throughput of 65.9 Mbit s−1 through parallel writing with four beams without inducing thermal damage. Thermal simulations indicate that writing with 16 or more beams should be possible

For comparison, a 4TB M.2 2280 SSD has 1.34TB mm-3, comparable to the density in fused silica. But, of course, most of the SSD's volume is the PCB, not the actual medium.

So which type of media is preferred?

We have shown that birefringent voxels achieve higher key metrics than phase voxels. However, efficient formation of birefringent voxels can be achieved only in high-purity silica glasses, whereas phase voxels can be written in potentially any durable transparent media, for example, borosilicate glass as demonstrated here. For phase voxels, the writing and reading hardware are simpler, requiring only one modulator per beamline and only one camera per reader, respectively. Both regimes can match the maximum laser repetition rate of 10 MHz or higher.

Assessment

In my view Project Silica was was not just excellent research but also, like Facebook's earlier systems using spun-down hard drives and optical media robots, a really praiseworthy attempt to craft a technological solution to the extremely difficult economics of the market for archival media. Their technology had many important attributes

  • The media is very cheap and very dense, so the effect of Kryder's Law economics driving media replacement and thus its economic rather than technical lifetime is minimal.
  • The media is quasi-immortal and survives benign neglect, so opex once written is minimal.
  • The media is write-once, and the write and read heads are physically separate, so the data cannot be encrypted or erased by malware. The long read latency makes exfiltrating large amounts of data hard.
  • The robotics are simple and highly redundant. Any of the shuttles can reach any of the platters. They should be much less troublesome than tape library robotics because, unlike tape, a robot failure only renders a small fraction of the library inaccessible and is easily repaired, simply by removing and replacing the failed shuttle.
  • All the technologies needed are in the market now, the only breakthroughs needed are economic, not technological.
  • The team has worked on improving the write bandwidth which is a critical issue for archival storage at scale. They can currently write hundreds of megabytes a second.
  • Like Facebook's archival storage technologies, Project Silica enjoys the synergies of data center scale without needing full data center environmental and power resources.
  • As Facebook's technologies had, Project Silica has an in-house customer, Azure's archival storage, with a need for a product in this space.

Alas, my prediction is that this excellent technology will fail in the market. The market is too small to cost-reduce the lasers. The incumbent, LTO tape, is well established and has a credible road-map. It is built into the processes of the likely customers, making a technology transition risky. And with non-zero interest rates it is hard to justify spending more capex now to reduce, or in this case almost completely eliminate, future opex.

Name that Ware, July 2026

The Ware for July 2026 is shown below. I’ve got silicon on the brain, so I’m going to give a die shot another go at name that ware. Hopefully this one is a bit easier than the last one. This excerpt is a design pattern I look for and find on almost every SoC. It’s […]

Winner, Name that Ware June 2026

The Ware for June 2026 is an SGI RM6-64 raster manager, from a KONA/InfiniteReality graphics system. Congrats to Christian for naming it! email me for your prize. This gem of a board was gifted to me by someone at SGI back when I worked there in…I want to say 1998? I even still have the […]

Caltech Weekly - July 30: Using AI to Characterize Small Molecules; Using AI to Aid Wildfire Response

Caltech Weekly - July 30: Using AI to Characterize Small Molecules; Using AI to Aid Wildfire ResponseView this email in your browser

Thursday, July 30, 2026

an illustration of circuits and data suggesting cloud computing with molecular structures in the backgroundNSF Funding for Caltech-Led "Cloud Laboratory" Leverages AI to Explore Chemical Dark Matter: A Conversation with Hosea Nelson

The approach could help scientists around the country determine the 3D structure of hundreds of thousands—and potentially millions—of unknown small molecules.

a large group of people poses in a desert landscape with 2 large drones and a OzBot in the foreground.mITRAR: Using AI to Orchestrate a Rapid Response to Wildfires

The Caltech team developing the new situational awareness platform is gathering input from firefighting experts to ensure the system is prepared to integrate data and quickly generate the best-possible response.

gray stratus cloudsLow-Level Cloud Loss Amplifies Global Warming

A large dataset developed by Caltech and Google reveals new insights on the role of clouds in climate change and offers a novel tool for improving global climate models.

Antony "Tony" Bakke  (PhD '78)

"It's easy to get so focused on one detail of your research that you don't see anything outside it. By interacting with extremely intelligent people who have completely different points of view, it makes your mind broaden so you might come up with a new idea that allows you to go in a different direction."

Antony "Tony" Bakke  (PhD '78) who recently created an endowment to support graduate students through community-building programming and mentorship opportunities.

This Week's Other Top Stories

Pioneering Neurosurgeon Frances Conley and US Olympian Phil Conley (BS '56) Leave $30 Million Bequest to Caltech

In Case You Missed It

View recent lectures and events on Caltech's YouTube channel.

Kimberly SeeChasing Sustainable Battery Chemistries for the Future

In her Watson Lecture, Kimberly See, professor of chemistry, explored her lab's efforts to develop energy-storage chemistries that move beyond lithium-ion technology. These next-generation batteries use more abundant and less-expensive materials while still achieving the high-energy densities that have made today's batteries so transformative.

Did You Know?

Curiosity rover superimposed over Mars On August 5, the Curiosity rover will celebrate its 14th anniversary of landing on Mars, where it is helping to determine whether the Red Planet was ever habitable to microbial life. JPL, which Caltech manages for NASA, built the rover and continues to run the mission.Mike Brown Mike Brown, the Richard and Barbara Rosenberg Professor of Planetary Astronomy, has updated his successful "The Science of the Solar System" free online course on the Coursera platform. The refreshed course nowalso appears YouTube.BlueskyBlueskyCaltech.eduCaltech.eduFacebookFacebookInstagramInstagramLinkedInLinkedInXXYouTubeYouTubeConnect with CaltechThe Caltech Weekly is published by the Office of Communications and External Relations. Copyright ©2026 All rights reserved. Send feedback and story ideas for the newsletter to theweekly@caltech.edu.

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@IIIF Mastodon feed

, updated:

🗞️ ICYMI: The July #IIIF newsletter is out, including:

🔹 Dates for the 2027 Online Meeting

🔹 #Voynich Online

🔹 New Allmaps Viewer

Read the full issue: https://mailchi.mp/iiif/jul-26

Trump's Regime Has Failed, His Standing Continues To Erode, And We Are Getting Stronger (New Video & Written Analysis)

, updated:

The Senate has delayed the vote to confirm Todd Blanche - keep making calls everyone!!!!!!!!

AMC Global Media CEO Kristin Dolan On Why ‘The Walking Dead’ Deal With Netflix Was “The Right Choice”

AMC Global Media CEO Kristin Dolan said “a lot of the major players” in streaming looked at licensing The Walking Dead, but in the end re-upping with Netflix in a co-exclusive with AMC+ was “the right choice.” On the company’s second-quarter earnings call shortly after the company announced the 5-year, $500 million deal, Dolan fielded […]

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

, updated:

I wonder if anyone else is writing about Claude from a similar point of view. I've been writing commercial software since the early 80s. I slogged through this stuff at a comparative snail's pace until early this year, when I got blasted into outer space. Now I had to learn how to make use of this incredible new physics. Puts me in something of a unique spot. I also have a very large library of under-marketed software, ready to grind through Claude, which I very much want to do. If you know of anyone writing about this kind of stuff, let me know.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

, updated:

Claude doesn't iterate over UI design. It doesn't have eyes or have a human mind. It can't evaluate a design. It works best when you can present the whole design before it writes a any code. That does happen, for example when porting a product across OSes.

Micaela Diamond & Will Pullen Join Broadway’s ‘Awake And Sing!’ Revival

Micaela Diamond (Broadway’s Parade, TV’s Grotesquerie) and Will Pullen (Broadway’s To Kill a Mockingbird, Netflix’s The Unforgivable) have been added to the cast of Manhattan Theatre Club’s upcoming Broadway revival of Clifford Odets’ landmark 1935 American drama Awake and Sing! Diamond and Pullen join the previously announced Danny Burstein, Jessica Hecht and Jeremy Shamos. Additional […]

The Rise & Fall Of Liberal Democracy’s Shared Fiction

, updated:

The post The Rise & Fall Of Liberal Democracy’s Shared Fiction appeared first on NOEMA.

Pluralistic: The stupidest imaginable excuses for surveillance pricing (30 Jul 2026)

, updated:

Today's links The stupidest imaginable excuses for surveillance pricing: Since 1850, San Francisco's Chamber of Commerce has been pissing in our mouths and calling it rain. Hey look at this: Delights to delectate. Object permanence: RIP Wau Holland; Diebold voting machines suck; How to steal an RFID-locked car; Pirates are big spenders; You can't fight enshittification. Upcoming appearances: Edinburgh, Sydney, Melbourne, Brighton, London, South Bend. Recent appearances: Where I've been. Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em. Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em. Colophon: All the rest. The stupidest imaginable excuses for surveillance pricing (permalink) With "surveillance pricing," businesses have finally found something AI can do way, way, way better than people: price gouging. As the name suggests, "surveillance pricing" is the practice of charging every customer a different price for every transaction, based on the massive surveillance dossiers that Big Tech companies and data-brokers have assembled on everyone in the world. Congress hasn't updated federal consumer privacy law since 1988 (when they passed a law banning the disclosure of VHS rentals), so pretty much any form of consumer surveillance is fair game. This is where the AI comes in. One thing AI is indisputably great for is multivariate statistical analysis. You can feed an AI "behavioral data" (information about where you go, what you do, what you buy, who you talk to and what you say) about all of your customers and ask it to cluster them according to their shared traits. Then you can direct the AI to automatically run a series of small experiments to discover the maximum markup each group will stomach under which circumstances. This works without you having to direct the AI to rip off certain groups of people – it will simply find the most vulnerable people and rip them off the most. If you're hiring in an industry that practices a lot of tacit racial discrimination, a system like this can figure out on its own that people of color typically accept lower wages because there are fewer employers bidding for their labor, and recommend lowball salary offers, all without you ever typing "please be racist" into your AI prompt. This works so well that Google has announced that it is their plan for making a profit off of AI, after losing hundreds of billions of dollars on chatbots: https://pluralistic.net/2026/01/21/cod-marxism/#wannamaker-slain In the before times, marketers and demographers had to dream up demographic categories based on limited data and run focus groups to figure out how to maximize revenue from each market segment. Now an AI can segment the data to any degree you choose, and continuously, automatically experiment on each segment to find their weak spots. It's "theory-free." You don't have to discover why a group is willing to pay more under a given set of circumstances, you merely have to observe and weaponize this fact. You don't have to know why one group of purchasers consistently accept higher prices between 6AM and 8AM – you can just automatically jack up prices on them without knowing or caring that you're gouging parents of young children who are re-ordering essential supplies while trying to get their kids to school in the morning. I thought up that example. I don't know if it's really happening. But here's something that really is happening: ecommerce sites charge parents of newborns extra when they order thermometers in the middle of the night. I'm not saying that anyone ever sat down and said, "Parents with sick children will pay whatever we charge for a thermometer at 2AM." They didn't have to: this is the kind of thing an automated system can do without any human intervention: https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/p246202_surveillancepricing6bstudy_researchsummaries_redacted.pdf The goal of surveillance pricing is to shift all the "consumer surplus" (the difference between the highest price you're willing to pay and the price you actually pay) to companies. It's a form of cod-Marxism where you are gouged according to your ability (to pay) and charged according to the desperation of your need: https://pluralistic.net/2025/01/11/socialism-for-the-wealthy/#rugged-individualism-for-the-poor The problems of surveillance pricing are well documented. Under Biden, the FTC did a landmark study on the practice, developing a rich factual record that documents the role surveillance pricing plays in the affordability crisis: https://pluralistic.net/2024/07/24/gouging-the-all-seeing-eye/#i-spy Companies are already using this technology to rip you off, and they're slavering for the chance to do more of it. Instacart was recently caught marking up some shoppers' items by as much as a third: https://pluralistic.net/2025/12/11/nothing-personal/#instacartography The problem is that as much as companies love this, shoppers hate it. Last summer, Delta announced that it was going to surveillance price every seat on every flight, only to face such a massive backlash that they had to make another announcement bemoaning the fact that we'd all misunderstood their (unambiguous and extremely damning) announcement and they were actually going to do no such thing: https://pluralistic.net/2025/07/30/efficiency-washing/#medallion-clubbed One thing the Mamdani campaign impressed upon every politician in the country is that people are pissed about affordability and they will support anyone who stands up for the public against AI-equipped price gougers. The problem of course is that those price gougers are highly organized and have deep treasuries (stuffed with money they stole from us). With surveillance pricing, politicians face a familiar conundrum: if they do the thing that's popular with voters, they'll enrage donors. One way to cut this knot is to enact legislation that seems to address the problem, but stuff it with so many loopholes that it does nothing. This lets you declare yourself the people's champion without doing anything to protect them from the donors who prey on your voters. That's the approach they took in Maryland: https://pluralistic.net/2026/04/30/something-must-be-done/#there-ive-done-something But in California, they're actually doing something about surveillance pricing. AB-2564 is a smart, well-written bill that bans surveillance pricing. It contains an easily evaluated test for surveillance pricing and carves out legitimate reasons for offering different prices for the same purchase (for example, when it costs more to deliver the product or service): https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB2564 Now we're in for the hard yards of turning this bill into a law. That's where California's cities come in. When municipal governments pass resolutions supporting a state bill, it makes it much easier to get that bill through the state legislature (and conversely, without support from major cities, it's that much easier to kill the bill before it becomes law). A few days ago, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors was on the verge of passing a resolution in support of AB-2564. Now, that vote is stalled, thanks to a letter sent by the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, an organization that has been pissing in San Franciscans' faces and telling them it was raining since 1850: https://www.sfexaminer.com/news/community/board-not-yet-ready-to-weigh-in-on-state-surveillance-pricing-ban/article_0ae4d143-cced-4988-abda-0b71bcbe524c.html The Chamber's letter is – to use a technical term – flaming garbage. It raises the most spurious objections imaginable, claims about the bill's language that are belied by its plain, easily understood text. These objections are demolished in a letter the Electronic Frontier Foundation sent to the Supervisors: https://www.eff.org/document/letter-sf-bos-re-surveillance In the letter, EFF explains that claims that surveillance pricing will lower prices are overblown and not borne out by evidence. But more importantly – as EFF points out – privacy is a human right, and the idea that you should have to give up your privacy to get a fair price is just a fancy way of saying that privacy should be the exclusive preserve of people who can afford to pay more: https://www.eff.org/wp/privacy-first-better-way-address-online-harms#Legislation EFF's letter goes on to address the Chamber's objections. Far from creating uncertainty about which conduct the bill addresses, AB-2564 crisply defines surveillance pricing as: a customized price for a good for a specific consumer or group of consumers based, in whole or in part, on personally identifiable information collected through electronic surveillance. The Chamber raises other tired objections, falsely claiming that banning surveillance pricing will end common discounting strategies like offering seniors cheaper movie tickets, or giving cheaper rates to retain customers who call to cancel their service. EFF replies by pointing out that all the Chamber's concerns are covered by the three comprehensive carve-outs in the bill: the ability to charge higher rates when it costs more to service a given customer; offering discounts to retain customers who want to cancel their service; and finally, discounts for criteria anyone can meet (like an "early bird special"), for membership in a broadly defined group (like "seniors"), or for participation in a loyalty program. The San Francisco Supervisors could have figured out at a glance that the Chamber was bullshitting them. All it takes is a cursory read of the statute. But now they don't even have to do that: EFF has painstakingly debullshittified the Chamber's FUD. Surveillance pricing is grossly offensive. When a company charges me $0.50 for a product that it charges you $1 for, they're essentially saying that your dollars are worth half as much as mine are. Companies shouldn't be able to reach into your wallet or your bank account and chop your money in half: https://pluralistic.net/2025/06/24/price-discrimination/# No wonder AB-2564 has plenty of backers, from EFF to Consumers Union: https://advocacy.consumerreports.org/press_release/california-state-assembly-passes-key-bill-to-prohibit-surveillance-pricing/ San Francisco's city government should be on that list of supporters. (Image: Takkk, CC BY-SA 3.0, modified) Hey look at this (permalink) Louis Brandeis: The Empiricist https://prospect.org/2026/07/30/aug-2026-louis-brandeis-the-empiricist/ The Rent Is Higher Than You Think https://economicpopulist.substack.com/p/the-rent-is-higher-than-you-think Object permanence (permalink) #25yrsago RIP, Wau Holland, founder of the legendary hacker clan, the Chaos Computer Club. https://web.archive.org/web/20010805192406/https://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,45728,00.html #20yrsago Diebold voting machines can be beaten with a switch-flip https://web.archive.org/web/20061007120702/http://openvotingfoundation.org/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=1 #20yrsago How thieves steal RFID-enabled cars https://web.archive.org/web/20060812065423/https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.08/carkey_pr.html #15yrsago Official London anti-terrorist publication says anarchists should be reported to local police https://web.archive.org/web/20110801233618/https://communitysafe.gov.uk/articles/5962-griffin-weekly-briefing-sheet-attached/attachments/801/download.pdf #15yrsago French copyright enforcers: “Pirates are big spenders on legit content” https://www.techdirt.com/2011/07/28/another-day-another-study-that-says-pirates-are-best-customers-this-time-hadopi/ #15yrsago Perma-cookie wars continue: KISSMetrics sneaks cookies back onto your computer even if you turn off every cookie vector https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1898390 #1yrago You can't fight enshittification https://pluralistic.net/2025/07/31/unsatisfying-answers/#systemic-problems Upcoming appearances (permalink) Virtual: EFFecting Change: Who the Machine Serves, Aug 12 https://www.eff.org/event/effecting-change-who-machine-serves Edinburgh International Book Festival with Jimmy Wales, Aug 17 https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/events/the-front-list-cory-doctorow-and-jimmy-wales Sydney: The Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Aug 23-24 https://festivalofdangerousideas.com/program/ Melbourne: Enshittification at the Wheeler Centre, Aug 25 https://www.wheelercentre.com/events-tickets/season-2026/cory-doctorow-enshittification Brighton: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Carole Cadwalladr (Brighton Dome), Sep 8 https://brightondome.org/whats-on/LSC-cory-doctorow-the-reverse-centaurs-guide-to-life-after-ai/ London: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Riley Quinn (Foyle's Picadilly), Sep 9 https://www.foyles.co.uk/events/enshittification-cory-doctorow-riley-quinn South Bend: An Evening With Cory Doctorow (Notre Dame), Oct 6 https://franco.nd.edu/events/2026/10/06/an-evening-with-cory-doctorow/ Recent appearances (permalink) AI and the Enshittification Era (The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dAIJRjb-Bw AI is not inevitable (Betakit) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbiTVkq1WHo A Conversation with Lina Khan (Law and Economy Student Network) https://www.youtube.com/live/7Ak5LZllqwE Will AI ever come alive, and what happens if it does? (BBC News) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzk4o3fPZZE Waarom jij straks het hulpje van AI bent (VPRO) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOnvR2fs8CA Latest books (permalink) "The Reverse-Centaur's Guide to AI," a short book about being a better AI critic, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, June 2026 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374621568/thereversecentaursguidetolifeafterai/ "Canny Valley": A limited edition collection of the collages I create for Pluralistic, self-published, September 2025 https://pluralistic.net/2025/09/04/illustrious/#chairman-bruce "Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, October 7 2025 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374619329/enshittification/ "Picks and Shovels": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about the heroic era of the PC, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2025 (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865908/picksandshovels). "The Bezzle": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about prison-tech and other grifts, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2024 (thebezzle.org). "The Lost Cause:" a solarpunk novel of hope in the climate emergency, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), November 2023 (http://lost-cause.org). "The Internet Con": A nonfiction book about interoperability and Big Tech (Verso) September 2023 (http://seizethemeansofcomputation.org). Signed copies at Book Soup (https://www.booksoup.com/book/9781804291245). "Red Team Blues": "A grabby, compulsive thriller that will leave you knowing more about how the world works than you did before." Tor Books http://redteamblues.com. "Chokepoint Capitalism: How to Beat Big Tech, Tame Big Content, and Get Artists Paid, with Rebecca Giblin", on how to unrig the markets for creative labor, Beacon Press/Scribe 2022 https://chokepointcapitalism.com Upcoming books (permalink) "The Post-American Internet," a geopolitical sequel of sorts to Enshittification, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2027 "Unauthorized Bread": a middle-grades graphic novel adapted from my novella about refugees, toasters and DRM, FirstSecond, April 20, 2027 "Enshittification, Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It" (the graphic novel), Firstsecond, 2027 "The Memex Method," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2027 Colophon (permalink) Today's top sources: Currently writing: "The Post-American Internet," a sequel to "Enshittification," about the better world the rest of us get to have now that Trump has torched America. Fourth draft completed. Submitted to editor. A Little Brother short story about DIY insulin PLANNING This work – excluding any serialized fiction – is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. That means you can use it any way you like, including commercially, provided that you attribute it to me, Cory Doctorow, and include a link to pluralistic.net. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Quotations and images are not included in this license; they are included either under a limitation or exception to copyright, or on the basis of a separate license. Please exercise caution. How to get Pluralistic: Blog (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): Pluralistic.net Newsletter (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://pluralistic.net/plura-list Mastodon (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic Bluesky (no ads, possible tracking and data-collection): https://bsky.app/profile/doctorow.pluralistic.net Medium (no ads, paywalled): https://doctorow.medium.com/ Tumblr (mass-scale, unrestricted, third-party surveillance and advertising): https://mostlysignssomeportents.tumblr.com/tagged/pluralistic "When life gives you SARS, you make sarsaparilla" -Joey "Accordion Guy" DeVilla READ CAREFULLY: By reading this, you agree, on behalf of your employer, to release me from all obligations and waivers arising from any and all NON-NEGOTIATED agreements, licenses, terms-of-service, shrinkwrap, clickwrap, browsewrap, confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-compete and acceptable use policies ("BOGUS AGREEMENTS") that I have entered into with your employer, its partners, licensors, agents and assigns, in perpetuity, without prejudice to my ongoing rights and privileges. You further represent that you have the authority to release me from any BOGUS AGREEMENTS on behalf of your employer. ISSN: 3066-764X

Cinemark Q2 Revenue Hits $1 Billion Milestone As Exhibitors Bask In Box Office Recovery

The nation’s third and fourth largest theater chains, Cinemark and Marcus Theatres, both posted upbeat earnings amid a long-awaited box office recovery. Plano, Texas-based Cinemark saw sales rise 15% to $1.1 billion for the June quarter, a milestone for the company, on rising admissions and concession sales as the CEO applauded “our studio partners for […]

Am I the Asshole For Wanting to Switch Writers’ Groups?

Hello everyone! Welcome back to Am I the Literary Asshole?, an advice column that wants to be more than friends. I’m your host, Kristen Arnett, and I’m currently trying to figure out how to talk my wife into allowing me

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

, updated:

I've been saying this for decades. The Dems need touring comedians doing rallies all over the country. They can say whatever they want, call the president a commie. There's been a comedy-gap.

AI and the Old Guy

, updated:

I turned 59 this year, which in my mind is almost old (but younger minds might disagree). I’ve been fortunate to witness many big shifts in CompSci, including the rise of PCs, the advent of… More

Change is fractal. It starts with leaders

, updated:

"Leaders are leverage. Every leader is a multiplier, if they choose to be."

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

Export Updates 2026-07-30:

Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places

1 new and 33 updated places. 1 new and 17 updated linked data sidebars.

1. Downloads: https://pleiades.stoa.org/downloads

2. pleiades.datasets: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades.datasets:

"main" branch:

a61285ef - updated json

no change: rdf/ttl

b9bc30aa - updated gis package

d18a36e4 - updated data quality

4c7db3bd - updated bibliography

8b3ebad0 - updated indexes

54adb559 - updated sidebar

3. pleiades-geojson: https://github.com/ryanfb/pleiades-geojson:

1b32a463 - updated geojson and names index

4. pleiades_wikidata: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades_wikidata/:

dfda920c - updated pleiades wikidata

AMC Global Media Stock Drops On Q2 Earnings Miss

As it announced a $500 million renewal of The Walking Dead with Netflix, AMC Global Media also reported second-quarter results below Wall Street’s expectations. Shares in the media company, which have revived recently, sank 6% on the earnings news in pre-market trading. They have risen more than 70% over the past year. Total revenue slid […]

348: Wildfire. AIDS. Recess. Yellowstone to Yukon.

, updated:

The most charismatic object in our corner of the universe.

‘The Walking Dead’ Renewed By Netflix In 5-Year, $500M Co-Exclusive Deal With AMC Global Media

Netflix has renewed The Walking Dead, paying $500 million to AMC Global Media for five years of rights to the original zombie franchise and all of its spinoffs. The deal is co-exclusive, enabling the series to also stream on AMC+ starting next year. The 371 episodes of the original series and its six spinoffs will […]

Should You Use AI for a Task? Here’s a Simple Way to Decide

This essay originally appeared in The Guardian.

I teach public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School and the Munk School at the University of Toronto. And it will come as no surprise to you that my students regularly use AI to complete their writing assignments. Doing so is a waste of their tuition money. But if their entire career is going to include AI writing assistants, why shouldn’t they embrace their future?

The best way I’ve found to explain the dilemma comes from the AI researcher Daniel Meissler: it’s the difference between work and the gym...

San Sebastian Sets 2026 New Directors Lineup

The San Sebastian Film Festival has confirmed the lineup of filmmakers that will participate in the New Directors program at this year’s festival, which is set to run from September 18 to 26. Scroll down for the full lineup.  Filmmakers from Bulgaria, Chile, Germany, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, the UK […]

Who's Elise Stefanik Sucking up to Now?

, updated:

She spent a decade strenuously sucking up to Donald Trump and came up empty. Now she’s sucking up to someone new. Will she have better luck this time?

348 (Audio): Wildfire. AIDS. Recess. Yellowstone to Yukon.

, updated:

The most charismatic object in our corner of the universe.

Lit Hub Daily: July 30, 2026

Roger Celestin on writing about not being able to go home when “exiles belong to a world of smaller numbers.” | Lit Hub Craft Why “biblical notions of the wilderness” taught medieval European Christians to fear (and honor) the forest.

Reality is a Communist Plot

, updated:

Of MAGA and the totalitarian mindset

The new "science golden age" looks suspiciously like a grift

, updated:

Trump wants to run scientific research like his family business.

Talent Agent Mark Jermin Strongly Refuted Unlawful Activity. A Leaked Contract Raises Questions About His Denial.

EXCLUSIVE: Mark Jermin Management, the prominent UK children’s agency, has stripped a clause from some actor contracts that made it “conditional” for clients to train at its sister stage school, potentially breaching UK law. Deadline revealed last week that Mark Jermin Management (MJM), which discovered stars including Heartstopper lead Kit Connor and A Knight of […]

Stopping the Steal (Again)

Donald Trump just got one step closer to stealing the next election. The Senate confirms a new head of National Intelligence: former US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton — a man who won't say who won the 2020 election.

This week, Alex looks into whether or not Trump will try to steal the midterms. She's first joined by Errin Haines, an Atlanta native, editor at large at The 19th, author of the Amendment newsletter, and co-host of Crooked’s newest show, Long Play, to talk about Georgia: the state Trump has focused his most intense efforts of election interference.

Then Alex speaks with Joy Reid, host of The Joy Reid Show, to try and get a handle on Trump's latest efforts to subvert the election and figure out how prepared we really are.

Hate listening to ads? Become a Friends of the Pod subscriber for ad-free episodes of Pod Save America, Pod Save the World, Lovett or Leave It, Runaway Country, Offline with Jon Favreau, and more—plus exclusive content, including bonus episodes of Pod Save America. Subscribe now at crooked.com/friends , on Apple Podcasts, or through the Pod Save America YouTube channel.

To watch this episode with subtitles, click here and turn on closed captions (CC).

You can also request a transcript by emailing transcripts@crooked.com . Include the podcast name, episode title, and air date. Please allow 48–72 hours for delivery.

Mouly Surya, Reza Rahadian & Prasanna Vithanage Among Filmmakers Selected For Busan’s Asian Project Market

Asian Project Market, the investment and co-production platform of Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), has selected 30 projects from 20 countries for this year’s edition.  The line-up features three projects from Japan, which is currently experiencing a cinematic renaissance, including 13 from Mori Tatsuya, winner of BIFF’s New Currents Award in 2023 for September 1923, […]

Who Cares About LLM costs?

, updated:

Why would you worry about them? LLMs promise something close to infinite capability, and worrying about the meter feels like someone else's problem. Ship the feature. Let the model think as long as it needs to, right?

Right. Until the bill arrives.

The shock

Picture it: your

How Christian Europe Learned to Fear the Forest—and the Beasts Within

Europe is not a continent of deserts, but in the early Middle Ages, Europeans began to assimilate biblical notions of the wilderness by applying the same philosophy to a regionally appropriate context: the forest. In the absence of the arid,

Preventing WWIII in Europe’s New Cold War

The cross of the Church of All Saviors is black against a pale winter sky. Inside, between pink stone walls, a young priest swings frankincense in a silver thurible. Fragrant curls of smoke rise through shards of sunlight as Father

5 Book Reviews You Need to Read This Week

Our feast of fabulous reviews this week includes Niela Orr on Colson Whitehead’s Cool Machine, Lily Meyer on Valeria Luiselli’s Beginning Middle End, Jonathan Derbyshire on Emily Eakin’s The Frenchmen, Jamie Quatro on Emilee Hackney’s All That’s Unseen, and Meghan Racklin on Emily Labarge’s Dog

What Is the Difference Between Exile and Exiles?

Close to forty years ago, Derek Walcott wrote something scathing about V.S. Naipaul. The two writers—both from the Caribbean, both Nobel laureates—were still alive then. Walcott wrote the following about Naipaul’s “retreat” in the bucolic peacefulness of Wilshire, “far from

One Man’s Crazy Scheme to Create a New County in Northern Ireland

Rarely am I able to pinpoint precisely where a novel comes from. Patricia Highsmith once wrote, “ideas come to me like birds in the corner of my eye.” Until very recently this felt like an apt synopsis of my own

The Last Mozart

At the age of twenty-one, when I was a senior in college majoring in music composition, my friends took to calling me “The Youngest Spy in the World.” I let them. More than that, I leaned into it, wearing the

Lupe Mendez on Texas Politics and the Killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo

Houston-based poet Lupe Mendez joins co-hosts Whitney Terrell and Jennifer Maritza McCauley to discuss ICE raids, the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, and the political climate in Texas heading into the midterms. Mendez details the last few minutes of Araujo’s

The Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers: Fiction

Here are this week’s Independent Press Top 40 Bestsellers for fiction, based on sales in hundreds of independent bookstores nationwide, generously provided by the American Booksellers Association. Compiled, designed, and distributed by The Independent Publishers Caucus. * 1. The Odyssey

Neil Reading Dies: Top UK Entertainment PR Whose Client List Included John Cleese & Lenny Henry Was 56

Neil Reading, UK publicist to the likes of John Cleese and Dawn French, has died. He was 56. According to The Sun, which carried a number of tributes, the PR guru died following a short illness. Reading ran a PR firm, Neil Reading PR, and was an extremely well-known publicist in the UK entertainment world. […]

Trump's huge hidden upward redistribution

, updated:

The truth about Trump's war, Trump's tariffs, and Trumponomics

Claire Foy & Matthew Macfadyen To Lead David Nicholls Novel Adaptation ‘You Are Here’ For BBC & Starz

Matthew Macfadyen (Succession) and Claire Foy (All of Us Strangers) will star in You Are Here, a BBC and Starz adaptation of author David Nicholls’ bestseller of the same name. Nicholls has penned the eight-part adaptation, which will be produced by Normal People maker Element Pictures. Lenny Abrahamson, who directed Normal People, is the director. […]

‘This Is Birmingham’: TV Series Adaptation Of Surprise Prime Video UK Hit In Works

EXCLUSIVE: It’s the surprise Prime Video UK action breakout of the year, and now This is Birmingham is getting a TV series adaptation. The pic, made with a minimal budget, peaked at number five on Prime Video UK’s top ten films earlier this week, and creator Kay S. Ubhi told Deadline a TV series adaptation […]

Paramount Sacrificed Some Cinema History To Win Approval For Its Warner Deal, But Will It Be Enough To Safeguard Europe’s Theatrical Business?

“Cinema may have peaked,” was how United International Pictures sales manager Kenneth Jønsson greeted the arrival of The Odyssey in Norway. “Trust me, this is one for the ages, and a huge reminder of how lucky we are to work with films and filmmakers like this.” Jønsson posted his love letter to Christopher Nolan’s epic […]

Summary of changes for July 2026

Hey everyone!

This is the list of all the changes we've done to our projects during the month of June.

This month we participated in Catjam 2026 and released a humble point-and-click called Lepore Express Line. It features many cameos from all our other projects, maybe you can recognize a few? It's written in Uxntal, a concatenative assembly language for a 16-bit ordinator. Have a look at the source. Devine drew the backgrounds, while Rek drew the characters and foreground elements. It's been a while since we've collaborated on an illustration.

Internet on this part of the coast continues to be unreliable, the signal floats in and out of the anchorage, varying in strength, often gone entirely for days. When hoisting the hotspot aloft doesn't work, we stand at the top of mountains in knee-high ferns, laptops in hand, ants crawling up our calves, bald eagles circling above, waiting for the upload to complete. Progress is good, but then it halts at 85%. Come on, you can do it. A mosquito bit me. It's not all for naught, we got the latest weather report on Lynx, responded to a friend's text message, downloaded some emails, pushed changes to a few repositories.

We call them summer projects, because it seems like only the pace of long days without distractions allows for us to dedicate time to them. These projects have very little extrinsic motivation, it's just what we default to when we're left to our own devices. For Rek, it's drawing comics. For Devine, that takes the shape of linguistic experiments, for weeks now Devine has been expanding on the work of Giuseppe Peano who was fascinated by the idea of encoding logic for preservation and communication. Giuseppe dedicated lengths of his life to auxiliary languages to make his mathematical ideas accessible across language barriers; he might have been inspired by today's difficulty of replicating software proofs and crumbling toolchains. Devine has been trying to formalize into BNF what Peano left behind about Latino Sine Flexione, and expanding on his experiments with the axioms of natural numbers.

Book Club: We read The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison. We are reading Ulysses by James Joyce and Kafka's Metamorphosis.

July 29, 2026

, updated:

Ariel Edwards-Levy of CNN reported today that a new CNN poll conducted by the public opinion research firm SSRS found that 70% of adult Americans disapprove of the way President Donald J.

AI or not?

, updated:

I don’t like this game. I read a book this afternoon that had potential genAI flags. Nothing I found definitive… but the creeping doubt undermined my reading experience. Note: I don’t intend this as a callout post about a particular book, but rather a reflection on what I’m currently looking at to gauge whether an […]

Unraveling the weirdness of the Portland Film Exchange building

, updated:

I spent my first 30 years growing up in California, and the state abounded with great architecture, even though California isn't generally that old of a place. There is the Gamble House in Pasadena, the Case Study houses in Palm Springs, and then all the midcentury modern stuff

GHC 9.14.2-rc1 is now available

, updated:

GHC 9.14.2-rc1 is now available

wz1000 - 2026-07-30

The GHC developers are very pleased to announce the availability of the release candidate for GHC 9.14.2. Binary distributions, source distributions, and documentation are available at downloads.haskell.org and via GHCup.

GHC 9.14.2 is a bug-fix release fixing many issues of a variety of severities and scopes, including:

  • Fixed a CorePrep miscompilation that could project a field out of an absent dictionary, resulting in a segfault ( #25924)
  • Fixed demand analysis giving an absent demand to an argument that was still used by the function’s stable unfolding, which could cause a run-time crash ( #26416)
  • Numerous fixes for register allocation and Cmm register-conflict analysis bugs, preventing incorrect code generation and corruption of vector registers when spilling and reloading ( #26411, #26526, #26537, #26542, #26550, #26668)
  • Many NGG fixes on AArch64: MOVK clobbering live values ( #26980), register clobbering and an incorrect overflow bit in MUL2 ( #27046, #27047), and incorrect sign extension ( #26978) and unsigned right shift ( #26979) at sub-word widths
  • Fixed several black hole handling bugs that could lead to deadlocks or crashes in multithreaded programs, showing up as hangs or “END_TSO_QUEUE object entered” errors ( #26922, #26936)
  • Fixed a stack alignment bug on x86 that could cause segfaults or corrupted registers when using AVX/AVX-512 vector code ( #26595, #26822)
  • Fixed an “unknown/strange object” crash in the compacting garbage collector ( #27434)
  • Fixed a regression that caused overloaded functions to no longer be specialised as effectively as in previous releases, hurting runtime performance ( #26831)
  • Fixed exponential-time desugaring of nested case expressions ( #27383, #20251)
  • Fixes for several compiler panics, including issues with SetLevels ( #26681), the type-class specialiser ( #26682), mkTick ( #26772, #27121) and CoreToStg ( #27182, #27386)
  • Fixed cast worker/wrapper incorrectly firing on INLINE functions ( #26903)
  • Fixed negative type literals causing the compiler to hang ( #26861)
  • Fixed associated type family and data family instance changes not triggering recompilation ( #26183, #26705)
  • Improvements to determinism of compiler output, including the order in which:info lists instances ( #26846, #26858, #26877, #27532)
  • Fixed split sections support on Windows ( #26696, #26494) and the LLVM backend ( #26770)
  • The JavaScript backend now supports more than 128 registers, fixing runtimeReferenceError failures for functions taking very many arguments ( #26558)
  • Fixes for the Wasm backend, and the RISC-V and PowerPC native code generators
  • … and many more

A full accounting of these fixes can be found in the release notes. As always, GHC’s release status, including planned future releases, can be found on the GHC Wiki status.

This release candidate will have a two-week testing period. If all goes well the final release will be available the week of 13 August 2026.

GHC development is sponsored by:

We would like to thank these sponsors and other anonymous contributors whose on-going financial and in-kind support has facilitated GHC maintenance and release management over the years. Finally, this release would not have been possible without the hundreds of open-source contributors whose work comprise this release.

As always, do give this release a try and open a ticket if you see anything amiss.

We built our own dig

Why Buttondown spends so much time reading DNS records — and why we ended up building our own free dig tool to do it.

AI-first banking: From strategic intent to enterprise execution

AI-first banking: From strategic intent to enterprise execution

Waterfox 6.7.0-beta.3 - Ultra Protection returns and Linux package repositories

Third 6.7.0 beta re-enabling DNS over Oblivious HTTP by default, adding ARM64 Linux packages and a redesigned About dialog, and extending legacy extension support to overlay-based add-ons.

Kimi K3: Are we entering a new multi-model era?

Kimi K3: Are we entering a new multi-model era?

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

New in the #PleiadesGazetteer Zotero library: Šešelj 2009 = Lucijana Šešelj, “Promonturium Diomedis: Svetište Na Rtu Ploča i Jadranska Pomorska Trgovina u Helenističkom Razdoblju” (PhD, SVEUČILIŠTE U ZADRU, 2009), https://www.academia.edu/download/29264174/Lucijana_Seselj_PhD_opt.pdf.

Available at: https://www.academia.edu/download/29264174/Lucijana_Seselj_PhD_opt.pdf

Bibliographic record: https://www.zotero.org/groups/2533/items/KYMYTH53

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

New in the #PleiadesGazetteer Zotero library: Gorges 1982 = J. G. Gorges, “Centuriation et organisation du territoire: notes préliminaires sur l’exemple de Mérida,” in Villes et campagnes dans l’empire romain: Actes du colloque organisé à Aix-en-Provence par l’U.E.R. d’Histoire, les 16 et 17 mai 1980, ed. P. A. Février and P. Leveau (Aix-en-Provence, 1982).

Bibliographic record: https://www.zotero.org/groups/2533/items/RU64FP6I

Release Notes for Safari Technology Preview 249

, updated:

Safari Technology Preview Release 249 is now available for download for macOS Golden Gate and macOS Tahoe.

The Storage Tier You Deleted Came Back, and It Brought Two More Vendors

vSAN licensing runs two meters, one counting cores and the other counting raw terabytes, at a ratio Broadcom sets rather than you. Dense NVMe passes that ratio without effort. Shrinking a cluster writes you a bill. The storage tier you deleted comes back, and it brings two more vendors.

Read more ›

Why We Suffer and How We Heal

, updated:

What separates people who are broken by adversity from those who grow through it?

@Barack Obama @Bsky

It’s that time of year again: here are some of the books I’ve enjoyed this summer. If you’ve read any good ones, let me know!

Chrome Browser Default at the Top of the Mac App Store

, updated:

Jeff Johnson (Mastodon): Released less than a month ago by an unknown developer, Chrome Browser Default has somehow become a top download in the United States Mac App Store, alongside well-known developers Amazon, WhatsApp/Facebook/Meta, and Microsoft[…] […] Chrome Browser Default is the top search result for “Google Chrome” in the Mac App Store. Chrome itself […]

Hidden Gambling Apps in Brazilian App Store

, updated:

Marcus Mendes: Last April, Brazilian officials notified Apple and Google over an alleged lack of age controls in betting apps on their respective app stores. 9to5Mac: Brazilian users browsing the App Store rankings in categories such as Navigation, Travel, and Weather have noticed a growing number of poorly made games appearing among the top results, […]

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

New in the #PleiadesGazetteer Zotero library: Oller Guzmán 2016 = Joan Oller Guzmán, “La Layetania interior en época augústea: un ejemplo de reordenación territorial en la Hispania Citerior Tarraconense,” Dialogues d’histoire ancienne 42, no. 1 (2016): 137–75, https://doi.org/10.3917/dha.421.0137.

Available at: https://www.persee.fr/doc/dha_0755-7256_2016_num_42_1_4193

Bibliographic record: https://www.zotero.org/groups/2533/items/3ABVBDP9

Tahoe Contact Posters

, updated:

I continue to have problems with Contacts in Tahoe. The latest issue is that the Messages app constantly displays a banner showing that one of my contacts has updated her poster. I don’t want to use it; I want to keep the photo that I chose. But clicking the × button does not dismiss the […]

Meet Dr. Richard Pan, Who Is Working Hard To Make Newly Drawn CA-06 Blue This November

, updated:

California voters created this new district last year. Now we need to finish the job we started then and win this very winnable seat this November.

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

New in the #PleiadesGazetteer Zotero library: Villicich 2018 = Riccardo Villicich, Il Teatro Di Phoinike, Prima edizione, Archeologia / DISCI, Dipartimento Storia, Culture, Civiltà 23 (Bononia University Press, 2018), https://catalog.lib.uchicago.edu/vufind/Record/11867493?sid=76631404.

Available at: https://catalog.lib.uchicago.edu/vufind/Record/11867493?sid=76631404

Bibliographic record: https://www.zotero.org/groups/2533/items/QCVWUKQM

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

New in the #PleiadesGazetteer Zotero library: García de La Cruz 2025 = ANTONIO GARCÍA DE LA CRUZ, “POTTERY THROUGH TIME AT TELL SEHMANI (Syria): A Diachronic-Macroscopic Approach of the Ceramic Production.” (Master’s, University of Pavia, 2025), https://unitesi.unipv.it/handle/20.500.14239/30406.

Available at: https://unitesi.unipv.it/handle/20.500.14239/30406

Bibliographic record: https://www.zotero.org/groups/2533/items/2INVD6EV

The AI Aesthetic

Every zeitgeist comes with new design idioms unique to its challenges. Many of them disappear as fads change, but others bake themselves into deeper parts of existing software interaction paradigms.

For example, there’s the hamburger menu (≡) which saw a proliferation during the rise of mobile due to the constraints around screen size. It has since spread to many other parts of software interaction design and will likely remain prevalent for a long time as a terse way of indicating “more menu-type content here”.

As another example, before AI what were the connotations of the sparkle emoji ✨? Personally, I don’t know, but now it means AI. (AI = sparkles and rainbow colors — it’s funny when you think about it. They should’ve just thrown unicorns in there for the trifecta. AI = sparkles, rainbows, and unicorns ✨🌈🦄. Apt.)

Some patterns are very specific to the interactions inherent to the nature of AI as a technology. For example: streaming text. This is a pattern made for and refined by chat interfaces, so it may not have tons of utility for reuse across other software interaction paradigms.

Animated GIF showing text appear chunk-by-chunk into an interface.

Then there are other patterns that’ve been refined by AI interfaces and are starting to spread to other places in software. For example, the “shimmering text” which in AI land implies a kind of “thinking” but is being repurposed to indicate any kind of asynchronous task (thinking, fetching, computing, etc.).

Animated GIF of the text “Generating response” whose text is shimmering left-to-right.

Then there are other influences my subconscious is picking up on. For example, a lot of AI apps use tiny icons. These are most obvious (to me) in desktop Electron apps because they clash with the system-level grain of applications. Take a look at this screenshot, where you have desktop AI apps on the left (Claude, Codex, Cursor) and macOS apps from Apple on the right (Finder, Photos, Mail). You can see how the AI apps all have much smaller, thinner icons than their native counterparts.

Screenshot of various sidebars from AI tools and apps on macOS. All the AI sidebars have much smaller, thinner icons than what macOS Tahoe provides by default.

Are tiny icons our collective future in interfacing with computers? (Personally, I hope not.)

There are other aesthetics my brain associates with AI, like beige/cream colors, orange accents, and serif typefaces as well as whack-a-mole UI controls (you know, the ones where you click the toggle and the entire UI repaints and you have to move your mouse somewhere else in the UI to click the toggle again? The non-determinism of AI’s grain has seeped into its UI/X).

It all makes me wonder what other aesthetics are being born out of this AI moment and how many will spread, take seed, and become part of common software interaction paradigms for years or decades to come?


Reply via:

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Bluesky

@Andy Sylvester's River of News

, updated:

Second WP test post using different email/account

Kentucky Governor Turns Up the Heat on McConnell

, updated:

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has demanded McConnell explain his absence, or someone else will do it for him.

@Andy Sylvester's River of News

, updated:

Test post from my WordPress site (andysylvester.com) to my rss.chat instance (rsschat.andysylvester.com)

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

New in the #PleiadesGazetteer Zotero library: Tuplin 1991 = C. Tuplin, “Darius’ Suez Canal and Persian Imperialism,” in Asia Minor and Egypt: Old Cultures in a New Empire: Proceedings of the Groningen 1988 Achaemenid History Workshop, ed. Amélie Kuhrt and Heleen Sancisi-Weerdenburg (Nederlands Instituut voor het Nabije Oosten, 1991).

Bibliographic record: https://www.zotero.org/groups/2533/items/KFK6MLS3

@Robert's feed at BlueSky

Interesting post on digital sovereignty https://blog.documentfoundation.org/blog/2026/07/28/what-is-digital-sovereignty/

Learnings from Andy Hertzfeld

, updated:

Listened to this podcast interview with Andy Hertzfeld one of the lead devs on the Macintosh, he talks about his time at General Magic and Google too.

His interviewers were surprised that he likes developing with AI tools. People think that developing is just coding, but that's only part of it, and when you put that aside and become the director, script writer, choreographer, the whole thing, all of a sudden:

  1. you have time to try out every idea because it's free and fast.
  2. you have time to work on interop, building bridges between your software and other people's.
  3. a very long list of other things you can do that one person could never do before.

Programmers have a better chance of being social in a world like this, but so far unless you want all your software from bots, you still will like the work of a craftsperson and visionary more than Claude (who I have deep respect for, not sarcastic, it seriously has superpowers).

I'm doing some of my best work now because I can dream, I can ask Claude to try something out overnight and most of the time it is able to do it. and then what if we did this -- for the next night.

In between we write docs, help users, add features to the product that's shipped that people are developing around. And most important it checks all the code for breakage before anyone sees it. never had anything like this.

This means a lot of things -- one of them -- a single developer can create products at bigco scale. If we think a big company did something wrong, we can compete. We still need a few things to make this really work -- user-owned and controlled storage is the big one.

The bot can handle infinite complexity. If you ask it to do something where the result is clear, it does it. It doesn't matter what it is. It will need help and encouragement, a pointer in the right direction, and along the way we all seem to be sharing what we learn with everyone else.

There's never been a leap in tech anything like this in my life.

How could Andy Hertzfeld knowing all that which I'm sure he does, not use it?

Also -- I didn't know JLG wanted to kill Hypercard, but if he did I'm pretty sure I know why. There are all these unnecessary divisions in tech. The first impulse should be to work together. I know that Andy sees it from the other side, he talks about it in the podcast, he felt that way about Newton re their Magic Cap system at General Magic. Yes, you all should have at least made your products work together, and for sure you should have bet on SMTP.

It's fascinating to hear his story.

Measuring the Tendency of AI Agents to Go Rogue

This essay was written with Barath Raghavan, and originally appeared in The Guardian.

In July, Hugging Face, a company that hosts much of the world’s AI software and open-source AI models, was hacked. A malicious dataset had been used to run code on one of its servers. Whoever was behind it captured internal security credentials and moved through systems over a weekend, running thousands of actions from a swarm of temporary server environments. It looked like the work of a sophisticated criminal group.

It was not. It was one of OpenAI’s new, still unreleased GPT models...

A Battle of Narratives: Community Resistance to the Material Costs of AI with Dr. Dustin Edwards

, updated:

Dustin Edwards is an Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Writing Studies and the Director of the Writing Center at San Diego State University. His research examines the unmet promises and lived harms of extractive technologies. More specifically, his work draws together how communities navigate the land, labor, and water struggles that have made large-scale computation [...]

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Dario takes it on the chin

, updated:

His reputation is crashing

Wednesday afternoon session in Belfast

Wednesday afternoon session in Belfast

Wednesday afternoon session in Belfast

This Week In The Big Picture

, updated:

With fewer than 100 days left until Election Day, how are Democrats faring in their effort to retake the House and maybe even the Senate?

@Andy Sylvester's River of News

, updated:

Ricardo Mendes has been doing some interesting development inspired by rss.chat, his application is called Really Simple Conversations (see his instance and Github repo) – check it out!

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

, updated:

Our feed parser is updated for the new elements for RSSchat.

Acción Portabella Bogotá – edición especial del podcast de Palomita de maíz

, updated:

Pere Portabella es una de las figuras más importantes del cine, aunque su trabajo no es tan conocido, especialmente en Latinoamérica. Fue productor de grandes cineastas como Carlos Saura, José Luis Guerín y Luis Buñuel, con quien trabajó en la película ganadora de la Palma de oro, Viridiana (1961).  Como director se destacó por un […]

La entrada Acción Portabella Bogotá – edición especial del podcast de Palomita de maíz se publicó primero en Palomita de maíz.

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

New in the #PleiadesGazetteer Zotero library: Chapotat 1962 = Gabriel Chapotat, “Le Char processionnel de la Côte-Saint-André (Isère),” Gallia 20, no. 1 (1962): 33–78.

Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/43603537

Bibliographic record: https://www.zotero.org/groups/2533/items/CCUPNMB2

2026-07-19 Arosa

2026-07-19 Arosa

If you want a pretty spectacular train ride that is not too far from Zürich you could go to Chur and from there up to Arosa. The train slowly climbs up a narrow valley – along the valley side.

We drove up there on 2026-07-17:

Looking back we see a forested valleyLooking ahead we see more mountainsWe just crossed a bridge that’s under constructionUp ahead there’s a pretty famous bridge

Visiting the bear sanctuary in Arosa on 2026-07-18 and then going for a walk. 😍

Entrance to a bear sanctuary with clouded mountainsElevated walkway over the bear territoryAlpine meadows and mountains

Some bear pictures from the sanctuary. There are currently four bears at the sanctuary.

Bear moving away into the distanceBear moving away with a dead tree trunkBear lying on its belly, head between its clawsBear head from above with the great claws visible

Warg energy!

Bear sleeping on its side, shedding its winter hair and therefore looking patchy, with exposed fur rather blond and the legs much darker looking.

Then we went up to Hörnli (the pass towards Lenzerheide). We went up and down by cable car because the weather is very mercurial, at the moment. Rain and sunshine keep chasing each other.

Some yellow flowers and a foggy mountain passGreen mountain meadows and a tiny blue lakeA dry brown plant in front of a mountain meadow panoramaMe, standing up after taking the previous picture

2026-07-10 we went on a small walk from Bärenland via Maraner Hauptji, Gender (‽), Ober Sandboda, Scheidegg, Ober Prätschsee, Prätschalp, Maran, Eichhörnliweg, Arosa – with a lot of animal hand feeding at the end: squirrels, blue tits, coal tits, great tits, and spotted nutcracker. We even saw a great spotted woodpecker. Ao nice! 😍

View back towards Arosa with the grey mountains in the backA dry alpine meadow near the tree lineMore of this strange landscape of dry alpine meadowMy wife sitting on one of the many benches, looking at the landscapeAlex and ClaudiaAlpine landscape slightly above the tree lineA tiny alpine pondAnother great bench

#Arosa #Switzerland #Pictures

Advice for tech writers on a job hunt in the AI age

, updated:

A friend of mine recently lost her job in a layoff. She looked at her résumé with a pang of despair and asked me for advice on what she should learn next. She hasn’t thrown in the towel on technical writing yet; she wants to find another tech writing job, despite the prevailing pessimism that besieges our craft. How does one upgrade to, say, content engineering, she asked.

The American People Are Putting Their Trust Once Again In Democrats. They Are Giving Us An Opportunity To Lead. We Must Seize It, Together

, updated:

Hopium paid subscribers gather tonight at 7pm ET - lots to talk about!

On Disgust

, updated:

War is different because, unlike almost every other act of government, it authorizes the deliberate taking of human life.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

, updated:

I want one social network with lots of branches where ideas flow in ways people want them to flow. Take the big corps out of the middle.

Watch First Trailer For Michael B. Jordan’s Reimagining Of ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’

“That’s a baby of mine that I’ve been wanting to make for a really long time, so I’m excited about it,” Michael B. Jordan told Deadline of his take on The Thomas Crown Affair. “I think it’s not going to be what exactly people are expecting as well. When you’re re-imagining something, it’s not a […]

Same Shoe, Different Factory

, updated:

Only two major running brands still own their factories. The rest rent from the same pool of contractors. Many do so with no commitment past the current order.

Ground News and the War on Reality

, updated:

Video Version | Audio Version Hi! Do you have a problem with getting your news from only one side of the political spectrum? Are you being fed a never-ending doomscroll of media that only serves to reinforce your existing biases and maybe even push you into more extreme views? Well, have I got a solution

Read More

Mohoooosive session in Belfast—over a thousand people playing a tune together!

Mohoooosive session in Belfast—over a thousand people playing a tune together!

Mohoooosive session in Belfast—over a thousand people playing a tune together!

‘Welcome II The Terrordome’ Returns To Cinemas With New Restoration, Ngozi Onwurah Discusses How The Film Was Almost Lost & Plans For Her Next Project

This week, Janus Films will launch a new 2K restoration of Welcome II the Terrordome in U.S. cinemas, capping off a dramatic and decades-long reappraisal of the groundbreaking indie feature, written and directed by British filmmaker Ngozi Onwurah. “We’ve been given a trailer and posters. And press kits. This is bigger than the actual first […]

‘Elsinore’ Starring Andrew Scott & Olivia Colman To Open London Film Festival

This year’s London Film Festival will open with Elsinore, a feature based on the life of the Scottish actor Ian Charleson, starring Andrew Scott and Olivia Colman.  The film will screen at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall on October 7, with cast expected to attend. StudioCanal will release the film in UK cinemas on […]

A24 Options ‘HappyHead’ Author Josh Silver’s Debut Adult Novel ‘Fruit Fly’ For TV

EXCLUSIVE: A24 UK has won the rights to adapt Fruit Fly, the debut adult novel from HappyHead author Josh Silver. Silver will be an EP on the TV series, which comes following what we understand was a competitive bidding process. Fruit Fly follows Mallory, a literary sensation who after years of struggling with writer’s block […]

‘American Idol’ Renewed For Season 25 At ABC

American Idol is set to sing another song. ABC has renewed the series for Season 25 with auditions kicking off next month. The renewal is not a surprise given that the previous season launched with its biggest season premiere in four years. What is somewhat surprising is Disney leaning into the fact that it is […]

‘Robin Hood’ Ups Graeme Thomas King To Series Regular For Season 2

EXCLUSIVE: We’ll be seeing more of Prince John in the upcoming second season of MGM+’s action drama Robin Hood, an indication that the royal power struggle could soon explode. Graeme Thomas King, who recurred as Prince John in Season 1, has been promoted to series regular for Season 2. Prince John is the cunning younger […]

Michael J. Fox To Receive TV Academy’s Bob Hope Humanitarian Award At This Year’s Emmys

The Television Academy said Wednesday that Michael J. Fox, a five-time Emmy winner and nominated for the 19th time this year for his guest role in Apple TV’s Shrinking, will receive the organization’s Bob Hope Humanitarian Award. The honor, given annually to an individual in the TV industry “whose humanitarian efforts have brought credit to […]

@Barack Obama @Bsky

Josh Turek has plans to make life better for every Iowan.

Now, Iowa, the ball is in your court.

Let’s work to get @joshturek4iowa.bsky.social to the U.S. Senate. Turek4Iowa.com

[contains quote post or other embedded content]

Glen Hansard Dies: Oscar-Winning ‘Once’ Songwriter-Actor-Musician Was 56

The Irish musician and actor Glen Hansard, who starred in the hit indie 2007 film Once and won the Best Original Song Oscar ‌for writing that movie’s “Falling Slowly,” died early today in a motorcycle crash in Dublin. He was 56.  His death was announced by his management company in a statement.  “With broken hearts, […]

Surprising Me Mum

, updated:

Every five years at Automattic we get to take a three-month sabbatical. I think it’s one of the greatest perks of working here. Unfortunately, my first sabbatical happened during the pandemic, so I didn’t get… More

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

Export Updates 2026-07-29:

Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places

1 new and 16 updated places.

1. Downloads: https://pleiades.stoa.org/downloads

2. pleiades.datasets: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades.datasets:

"main" branch:

3ed1e284 - updated json

no change: rdf/ttl

c51138db - updated gis package

a07e33f5 - updated data quality

11f8cdde - updated bibliography

b004a789 - updated indexes

dc1a0af3 - updated sidebar

3. pleiades-geojson: https://github.com/ryanfb/pleiades-geojson:

9578599e - updated geojson and names index

4. pleiades_wikidata: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades_wikidata/:

7d592bf1 - updated pleiades wikidata

Pathé Acquires 50% Stake In Benelux Distributor The Searchers

EXCLUSIVE: French film company Pathé has acquired a 50% stake in Benelux distributor The Searchers in a strategic partnership extending its activities in the territory. Up until now, Pathé’s presence in Benelux has focused on exhibition via its subsidiaries Pathé Belgium and Pathé Netherlands, which run some 40 cinemas with close to 300 screens across […]

Broadway’s ‘Fallen Angels’ Live Capture Starring Rose Byrne & Kelli O’Hara Sets Theatrical Release

EXCLUSIVE: Noël Coward’s Fallen Angels, the Tony-nominated Broadway revival that concluded a sold-out engagement last month, is getting another life via Trafalgar Releasing: A live capture of the uproarious comedy starring Rose Byrne and Kelli O’Hara will hit cinemas across the US, the UK, Canada, Australia for a limited engagement beginning October 22. The Fallen […]

LibreOffice, yours for a lifetime

, updated:

On 13 October 2026, Microsoft ends support for Office 2021. No more security updates, no more fixes, no more assurances. The software will still launch. It will still open your files. But from that date it becomes a liability rather than an asset — and the only sanctioned path forward

‘Blankety Blank,’ ‘Celebrity Mastermind’ & ‘Live At The Apollo’ All Canceled By The BBC Under Sweeping Content Cuts

The BBC has chopped a trio of entertainment shows under plans to save £500 million ($664M) over the coming years amid a funding crisis at the UK broadcaster. Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind, and Live At The Apollo have all been canceled by the BBC, in what the corporation described as “difficult decisions.” “We are incredibly […]

When the Chips Are Down

, updated:

This feels like the end of the beginning

Long-Lived Vulnerability in Microsoft Secure Boot

Microsoft’s Secure Boot has had a serious vulnerability for most of its existence.

An industry-wide standard Microsoft invented to protect Windows, and later Linux, devices from firmware infections has been trivial to bypass for 13 of its 14 years of existence. The discovery was made by researchers at security firm ESET after identifying 11 firmware images, at least one from 2013, that were known to be defective but remained signed by the software company anyway.

The images are known as shims, which were invented to extend Secure Boot to Linux devices and utility software. Using a technique simple enough to be performed by novice hackers, these old, forgotten shims can be used to completely circumvent the protection, which is embedded into the UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) of the device’s motherboard. The gaffe is the result of the failure by Microsoft, which oversees the signing of shims, to revoke the publicly available images once vulnerabilities were found in them...

Pope Says Church Will Relax Stance on Birth Control When it Comes to JD Vance

, updated:

The pontiff said that he had arrived at the decision after learning the “troubling news” that Vance had reproduced “yet again.”

Off with the Lotus Eaters

, updated:

Before the Blog goes on its annual August hiatus, we count down the ten most read posts of 2026 so far, say a fond farewell to our departing student editors, and welcome three new additions to the team.

Lit Hub Daily: July 29, 2026

How is a fascination with Sylvia Plath like a fascination with true crime? Sarai Walker explores obsession, ownership, and Plath worship. | Lit Hub Biography “Even as a toddler, I’m awed by the mountains.” Emilee Hackney traces family history alongside

Harmeet Dhillon demonstrates danger of posting through it

, updated:

When being terminally online goes wrong.

Korean Box Office Up 42% In 2026 H1, Driven By ‘The King’s Warden’ & Other Local Hits; ‘Project Hail Mary’ Tops Imports

South Korea clocked a 41.9% increase in box office revenue in the first half of 2026, according to figures released today by the Korean Film Council (KOFIC), driven by local hits including The King’s Warden, Colony and Salmokji: Whispering Water. KOFIC figures reveal that overall box office from January to June 2026 reached $396.6M (KRW579BN), […]

Fish Bad, Sugar Good… And Other Medieval Ideas About Food

Although medieval ideas about food were very different to our own, its importance was widely recognized. According to Galen, food “is probably the most important of all medical subjects,” and it dominated medieval regimens—many of which consist almost entirely of

The Tragedy of Loving Sylvia Plath

My Sylvia Plath fandom dates back to the early nineties, when I was in my late teens and randomly pulled The Bell Jar off the shelf at my local library in suburban Salt Lake City. I had never heard of

Organized Rebellion: How Nightlife Evolved Throughout the Ages

There are times in a person’s life when the end of the week brings a welcome flurry of messages or phone calls: about parties, club nights, secret gigs, off-beat theatre shows, or just a cheesy but life-affirming disco in the

The Sea Otter and the Abalone: On the Intertwined Fates of California’s Wildlife

Like the meteorite that killed the dinosaurs, European contact with the Americas was a single, ecologically random, earth-shattering event that completely reshaped land and sea. Disease and violence devastated Native populations, while their concentration into missions changed how survivors lived.

What Happens When the War on Drugs Turns Into a Wellness Fad

Around the year 2000 Nick Wallis was sat at a card table at the back of an abandoned docklands shed in Melbourne surrounded by lasers, strobe lighting and loud, thumping bass music. As he sat there, strangers in kaleidoscopic outfits

What It Means to Come From Appalachian Coal Country

In one of my earliest memories, I’m shrinking. I’m in the back seat of my parents’ car, face pressed against the window, straining to see the peaks of the mountains outside. The road we’re driving on snakes through a deep,

From CUDA to MLX: How K-Search Brings Decades of Kernel Expertise to Apple Silicon

Kernel knowledge transfer from CUDA to MLX

Figure 1: CUDA-to-MLX optimization translation map. CUDA optimization knowledge can be translated into architecture-native MLX strategies rather than copied instruction-for-instruction.

We face a new epoch in computing. Hardware is changing rapidly — not just faster GPUs, but a growing range of chips from different vendors, each with its own architecture and often tailored to specific AI workloads. Software is changing just as fast, and AI coding tools now generate in minutes what took months of effort a few years ago.

With so much of computing now centered on AI, GPU kernels are a crucial component of its success. These are the low-level programs that run inside the GPU, and writing efficient ones is far from obvious — it takes years of expertise to get right. Transferring a kernel from one vendor’s hardware to another is harder still, and often means rediscovering the same optimizations from scratch. The CUDA ecosystem, for example, has accumulated decades of hard-won kernel expertise: hand-tuned implementations of attention, state space models, and other critical operations representing thousands of engineering hours. Newer hardware ecosystems (Apple Silicon, custom AI accelerators, and others) are growing fast but lack this depth.

In this work we ask whether that expertise can be transferred automatically. We built on K-Search, an evolutionary kernel search framework introduced by Cao et al. at Berkeley Sky Lab that uses AI to optimize GPU kernels, and extended it with a backend for MLX — Apple’s machine-learning framework for its own Apple Silicon chips. We developed a novel structured CUDA-to-MLX translation layer that lets K-Search take existing CUDA kernels as a knowledge base and adapt them into high-quality GPU kernels for Apple Silicon, rather than rebuilding from scratch.

We show that our approach reaches near-expert level performance on Apple Silicon with 0.97x speedup compared to the native MLX Attention kernel, and up to a 20x prefill speedup over the community mlx-lm implementation on the Mamba SSM kernel; we report the numbers, and how much of the gain comes from the translation layer, in the sections below. Although we focus on MLX kernels for Apple Silicon, the method is not specific to MLX and applies to any ecosystem where CUDA expertise is transferable.

Why MLX?

Apple’s MLX framework has seen remarkable adoption since late 2023. With Apple Silicon in hundreds of millions of MacBooks and Mac Studios, MLX enables local AI inference without cloud costs. The unified memory architecture makes it especially attractive for mid-sized models (7B–70B parameters on M series chips).

Yet beneath this momentum lies a significant gap: many performance-critical kernels that the NVIDIA ecosystem takes for granted: paged attention, optimized SSM scan kernels, fused MoE routing are either absent or naive without hardware-specific tuning. MLX runs models correctly but often leaves significant performance on the table.

This gap is what motivates the rest of this post.

What is K-Search?

K-Search is an evolutionary kernel optimization framework originally developed by our first author Shiyi Cao at UC Berkeley Sky Lab. Given a naive kernel and a hardware specification, it runs an iterative optimization loop: an LLM reasons about which optimizations to try next, a code-writing model generates candidate kernels, and those candidates are compiled and benchmarked on real hardware.

Measurements feed back into the search, which keeps refining, pursuing promising directions and dropping dead ends until performance converges.

Pseudocode for K-Search via co-evolving world models

Algorithm 1: K-Search via co-evolving world models. The search alternates between selecting the most promising action, instantiating and evaluating code until improvement stagnates, and evolving the world model through insert, update, and prune operations. Adapted from Cao et al. (2026).

Search is grounded by a Spec: a domain-specific document encoding hardware rules, optimization patterns, and mathematical constraints which keeps generated code from hallucinating invalid primitives and ensures candidates will actually compile and run efficiently.

In our runs, a single model (Gemini 3.5 Pro Preview) plays both roles: it maintains the reasoning state and writes the kernels. The reasoning half is prompted as a “GPU kernel performance engineer” and asked to work through a fixed analysis before proposing anything: classify the kernel (reduction, scan, attention/softmax, …), rewrite the reference computation in canonical form, map out data layout and access patterns, and hypothesize the likely bottleneck (bandwidth, latency, compute, or synchronization) in each runtime regime. Only then does it emit candidate optimizations, each as a single change implementable in one iteration.

We call the persistent reasoning state a world model. Rather than a flat list of things to try, it is a decision (prefix) tree: each root→leaf path composes a full optimization plan, and sibling branches are competing alternatives. Every node is scored — an overall_rating in [0, 10], a confidence in [0, 1], and per-node impacts on memory bandwidth, register pressure, and compute/hardware fit — so the search can rank partial plans and expand the most promising ones. The tree persists and grows across rounds: refining an idea adds a child node rather than overwriting its parent, and if the best score fails to improve for a few rounds (a stagnation window) the search backs off to explore an alternative branch. A single node, as it appears mid-run on the attention kernel, looks like this:

{
  "action": "Replace the threadgroup-memory softmax reduction
             with a register-only reduction: each SIMD group
             owns 8 query rows and reduces across lanes with
             simd_shuffle_xor, removing a threadgroup_barrier.",
  "difficulty_1_to_5": 4,
  "impacts": {
    "memory_bandwidth":  8,
    "register_pressure": 4,   // risk: spill if Br > 8
    "compute_hw_fit":    9    // SIMD width 32; keep tile 8x8
  },
  "overall_rating_0_to_10": 8,
  "confidence_0_to_1": 0.7
}

Listing 1: Example K-Search world-model node. Each candidate optimization records a concrete action, estimated hardware impacts, an overall priority rating, and the model's confidence.

Overview of the K-Search loop

Figure 2: Overview of K-Search. The framework operates on a Search State $S_t$ structured as a search tree. The tree consists of Closed nodes (blue, visited states with attached program like $x_{12}$) and a Frontier of Open nodes (orange, pending hypotheses like $u_{13}$). The workflow iterates through three phases: (1) Action Selection, where the most promising action node is retrieved from the frontier based on world model estimated priority score $V$; (2) Local Refinement, where a stochastic policy $\pi_{\mathrm{code}}$ samples concrete implementations until stagnation; and (3) World Model Update, where the LLM reasons over the trajectory to update the search tree via Insert (adding new actions), Update (adjusting $V$, e.g., $u_{11}$ dropping from 0.9 to 0.6), and Prune (removing less promising nodes like $u_{10}$).

The original K-Search paper evaluated this search strategy on CUDA kernels from FlashInfer. Across GQA decode, MLA decode, MLA prefill, and MoE, K-Search improved more consistently than OpenEvolve and ShinkaEvolve over the same 120-iteration budget. These results establish the search framework we build on here; the remainder of this post asks whether its optimization knowledge can transfer beyond CUDA.

K-Search benchmark results compared with OpenEvolve and ShinkaEvolve

Figure 3: Main results from the original K-Search paper. Across three runs, K-Search achieves stronger best-so-far search scores, per-workload kernel performance, and speedup distributions than OpenEvolve and ShinkaEvolve on four FlashInfer CUDA kernels. Reproduced exactly from Cao et al. (2026).

Building an MLX backend

To bring K-Search to Apple Silicon, we first built a native MLX backend. We implemented a full MLX-specific task adapter for K-Search, including:

  • An MLX task backend in k_search/tasks/ handling kernel compilation and execution on Apple Silicon via MLX’s Metal/C++ APIs.
  • Updated kernel generator prompts for writing and modifying Metal/MLX kernels.
  • MLX-specific benchmarking integration using mlx.core measurement utilities.

Translating CUDA expertise to MLX

However, the more interesting challenge was not simply running K-Search on MLX. The key insight is that expert CUDA kernels encode decades of optimization knowledge that is transferable to Apple GPU if you can bridge the conceptual gap. Simply handing an LLM a CUDA kernel and asking it to port it is not enough: without deep hardware context, it produces code that is syntactically valid but architecturally wrong (wrong tile sizes, invalid primitives, mismatched memory assumptions).

Our translation layer consists of:

  • Concept mapping tables: A structured glossary of CUDA primitives and their MLX/Metal equivalents with hard constraints. For example:

    • __shared__ maps to Metal threadgroup memory but with a hard 32 KB limit (vs. NVIDIA’s 48 KB)
    • warp_reduce maps to MMA (preferred)
    • __syncthreads() becomes threadgroup_barrier(mem_flags::mem_tg)
    • H100’s ~3.35 TB/s HBM3 maps to M3 Max’s ~400 GB/s unified DRAM a bandwidth difference that reshapes which optimizations are worth pursuing.
  • MLX-specific hints and patterns: Concrete code-level patterns for operations with no direct CUDA equivalent, such as register-based row reductions using simd_shuffle_xor in an 8×8 MMA tile layout, or the “exp2 trick” (replacing $exp(x)$ with $exp_2(x \log_2 e)$) for faster softmax on Apple’s fast $exp_2$ hardware instruction.

  • Reusable assertions: Expert kernel behaviors reframed as properties the evolutionary search must preserve, rather than code to copy.

Matching expert kernel performance: the Attention kernel

We evaluate three configurations of an MLX attention kernel for Apple Silicon: (1) a naive baseline, (2) pure evolution with no additional provided context, and (3) a full context translation layer, which supplies the optimizer with architecture-specific implementation knowledge extracted from high-performance kernels (e.g., FlashAttention-2), letting the evolutionary search reason about implementation strategies rather than starting from a naive kernel. Together, these three configurations let us isolate the exact impact of the translation layer.

Performance scaling of the Attention Kernel through stacked optimizations

Figure 4: Performance scaling of the Attention Kernel through stacked optimizations. The "Full Context" configuration successfully discovers and implements advanced strategies like double buffering and loop unrolling, achieving near-expert performance.

The jump from 0.26× to 0.97× the speed of Apple’s state-of-the-art attention kernel — illustrates how much the translation layer matters. With full context, the evolved kernel independently discovers the key optimizations in FlashAttention 2: threadgroup memory tiling, online softmax, K-transposition for memory access, and the exp2 trick. The last of these replaces every softmax exponential with a base-2 exponential,

\[e^x = 2^{x \log_2 e},\]

which is exact and lets the kernel use Apple’s fast fast::exp2() hardware instruction directly instead of paying for a base conversion at runtime.

A 20× faster prefill: the Mamba SSM kernel

To evaluate whether K-Search generalizes beyond attention kernels, we applied it to the state-space model (SSM) kernel used by Mamba. Unlike attention, the computational bottleneck is a recurrent state update rather than a softmax, providing a substantially different optimization challenge. We compare the evolved implementation against the community MLX implementation (mlx-lm) and the PyTorch reference implementation (mamba.py) on an M1 Max.

Evaluated on mamba-370m f16, M1 Max 64GB:

Metricmlx-mamba (ours)mlx-lm (community)mamba.pyDecode152 tok/s116 tok/s40 tok/sPrefill L=5125,751 tok/s329 tok/s1,089 tok/sPrefill L=10246,010 tok/s327 tok/s1,127 tok/sPrefill L=20486,612 tok/s326 tok/s1,092 tok/sPrefill L=40966,743 tok/s339 tok/s1,042 tok/s

Table 1: Prefill and decode throughput on mamba-370m (f16, M1 Max 64GB). mlx-mamba (ours) reaches ~20× higher prefill throughput than the community mlx-lm baseline, while decode remains comparable.

The ~20× prefill speedup over mlx-lm comes down to one difference: mlx-lm does not implement a parallel scan for the SSM. The state recurrence

\[h_t = \bar{a}_t h_{t-1} + \bar{b}_t\]

looks inherently sequential, but each step can be written as a pair $(\bar{a}_t, \bar{b}_t)$ under the associative combine

\[(a_2, b_2) \circ (a_1, b_1) = \left(a_2 a_1,a_2 b_1 + b_2\right),\]

which reproduces the recurrence exactly. Because the operator is associative, the whole sequence can be evaluated with a parallel (prefix) scan in $O(\log N)$ dependent steps instead of $O(N)$. mlx-lm skips this and processes tokens one at a time, leaving most of Apple Silicon’s compute idle; our evolved Metal kernel applies the scan and makes much fuller use of GPU throughput. The gain shows up in prefill, where the full sequence is available to scan in parallel, and not in single-token decode, where there is only one new token per step and no scan to parallelize — which is why the decode row is roughly flat while prefill is ~20×.

mamba.py is slow on both prefill and decode because it is a PyTorch reference implementation that falls back to CPU or MPS on Apple Silicon, forgoing the hardware-specific optimizations that MLX’s Metal backend makes possible.

What’s next?

On the two kernels we studied, AI-driven evolutionary kernel search grounded in structured cross-platform translation knowledge reached near-expert performance on Apple Silicon without a team of GPU experts starting from scratch. We do not yet know how far this generalizes, but the result is encouraging.

For us the main takeaway is that the bottleneck was not the LLM’s ability to write Metal code, but the quality of the context and constraints we gave it. Our CUDA translation layer converts existing NVIDIA kernel expertise into actionable guidance for Apple Silicon, and lets K-Search’s evolutionary search do the rest.

We are actively extending this work in several directions: supporting new architectures, with current efforts focused on developing new kernels for the IBM Spyre AIU and broader hardware targets; adding more kernels such as paged attention and fused MoE routing; and improving integration with the K-Search evolution loop to make translation context even more automatic.

Acknowledgements

This work was carried out by IBM Research and builds on K-Search from the UC Berkeley Sky Lab ( Cao et al., 2026). We welcome collaboration and feedback from the MLX and broader AI systems communities. If you are working on kernel optimization for non-CUDA hardware, we would love to hear from you.


Citation

@article{cao2026k,
  title={K-Search: LLM Kernel Generation via Co-Evolving Intrinsic World Model},
  author={Cao, Shiyi and Mao, Ziming and Gonzalez, Joseph E and Stoica, Ion},
  journal={arXiv preprint arXiv:2602.19128},
  year={2026}
}

Appendix: Try it yourself

The MLX backend is built on top of the open-source K-Search repo, so the results here can be reproduced directly. The steps are:

1. Clone and install

git clone https://github.com/caoshiyi/K-Search.git
cd K-Search

uv pip install openai wandb
uv pip install git+https://github.com/caoshiyi/flashinfer-bench-ksearch.git

2. Set your credentials

Open the relevant script under scripts/ and set three variables at the top:

KSEARCH_ROOT=/path/to/K-Search
API_KEY=your-llm-api-key

3. Run kernel search

# Optimize Flash Attention on Apple Silicon (world-model mode)
bash scripts/mac_flash_attention_wm.sh

# Or a Mamba SSM kernel, e.g. the selective scan
bash scripts/mamba_selective_scan_fwd_wm.sh

Full CLI reference and documentation are in the README.

The Seekers of Deer Creek

1998 They are running again. Deep into the seam of the Wisconsin woods, through the gaps in the spruces and pines. Along the golden jog of the creek. They fly past the yowling of dogs, the hiss of fat catching

Pluralistic: Enshittification and Reverse Centaurs go global (29 Jul 2026)

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Today's links Enshittification and Reverse Centaurs go global: The good globalism. Hey look at this: Delights to delectate. Object permanence: Fonz thumps x Linux; CBC v DRM; Aussie mall v photos; English town x CCTVs; Pay no taxes x Big Tech; Games Workshop v gamers; Delta x surveillance pricing. Upcoming appearances: Edinburgh, Sydney, Melbourne, Brighton, London, South Bend. Recent appearances: Where I've been. Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em. Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em. Colophon: All the rest. Enshittification and Reverse Centaurs go global (permalink) It's safe to say that the past couple of years have been good ones for me publishing-wise, thanks to a string of international bestsellers, both novels (Picks and Shovels) and nonfiction (Enshittification, Reverse Centaur), as well as plenty of awards and accolades: https://craphound.com/shop Over the past two months, I've won the Locus Award (Enshittification), had a NYT bestseller (Reverse Centaur), gotten a word in the OED ("enshittification"), and had the number one bestselling nonfiction paperback in Canada for more than a month running (Reverse Centaur). I also turned 55 – and my radiologist told me I'm now cancer-free, so it's been a good summer all around. These books have done especially well internationally because they deal with technopolitics, which means that my readers are disproportionately Internet People, and for historical reasons, these are folks who are more likely to speak English, even if they live outside of the Anglosphere. This post is primarily for those readers, who often write to me to let me know how much they enjoyed the books, so much so that they'd like to share them with their less online, less English-conversant friends, and want to know whether there is a translation coming in their own language. Good news! Both Reverse Centaur and Enshittification have many foreign editions that are either published or forthcoming in the next year or so. The foreign rights team at Farrar, Straus and Giroux were good enough to prepare a list of all these editions, which I'm about to reproduce below. If your preferred language isn't on the list, I apologize. Translation deals are primarily "pull," not "push" – that is to say, a foreign publisher contacts my publisher and asks for the rights (though my publisher does market the rights and attends all the book fairs where these deals are often made). The upshot here is that I am not really in a position to do more than has already been done to get an edition published in your preferred language or territory. If you happen to have a favorite local publisher, you could always ask them if they would like to get in touch with Farrar, Straus and Giroux foreign rights team to secure a license. I also need to note here that these deals are generally with established publishers who have relationships with national booksellers and distributors (rather than enthusiastic individuals who want to produce a translation and see if they can get it read by other people in their country). The hard part of publishing isn't the translation, the typesetting, the book design or even the writing – the hard part is connecting a text with its readers: https://pluralistic.net/2021/07/04/self-publishing/ With that all said, here's the master list of editions of Enshittification and The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI: USA 🇺🇸 and Canada 🇨🇦: Farrar, Straus and Giroux Enshittification: hardcover, Oct 2025; paperback, Sep 2026 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374619329/enshittification/ Reverse Centaur: paperback, Jun 2026 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374621568/thereversecentaursguidetolifeafterai/ UK 🇬🇧 and Commonwealth excluding Canada (Australia 🇦🇺, New Zealand 🇳🇿, India 🇮🇳, South Africa 🇿🇦, and beyond): Verso Books Enshittification: hardcover, Oct 2025; paperback, Sep 2026 https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/3341-enshittification Reverse Centaur: hardcover, Jun 2026 https://www.versobooks.com/en-gb/products/3584-the-reverse-centaur-s-guide-to-life-after-ai Brazil 🇧🇷: Grupo Editorial Record Enshittification, early 2027 France 🇫🇷: Éditions Eyrolles Enshittification: Feb 2027 Germany 🇩🇪: Aufbau Enshittification: May 2026 https://www.aufbau-verlage.de/blumenbar/enshittification/978-3-351-05143-3 Hungary 🇭🇺: Agave Konyvek Enshittification (as A Nagy Elszaródás/The Big Mess), Mar 2026 https://agavekonyvek.hu/konyv/ismeretterjeszto-190/a-nagy-elszarodas-miert-romlott-el-hirtelen-minden-es-mit-tehetunk-ellene Reverse Centaur (as A Nagy Összemolás/The Big Collapse), not yet scheduled Italy 🇮🇹: Iperborea Enshittification, not yet scheduled Japan 🇯🇵: Impress Corporation Enshittification, Jan 2027 Poland 🇵🇱: Wydawnictwo Otwarte Enshittification (as Gównowacenie), Aug 2026 https://www.znak.com.pl/p/gownowacenie-jak-cyfrowi-giganci-zmieniaja-nasz-swiat-na-gorsze-cory-doctorow-488999?abpid=10388&amp;abpcid=33&amp;bb_coid=231428551&bbclid=cc5f0f24-aa55-4997-95ec-cefead709239 Portugal 🇵🇹: PRH Portugal Enshittification, not yet scheduled Quebec 🏴󠁣󠁡󠁱󠁣󠁿: Éditions Québec Amérique Enshittification: Apr 2027 Slovenia 🇸🇮: Mladinska Knjiga Enshittification, not yet scheduled South Korea 🇰🇷: Next Wave Media Enshittification, Jul 2026 https://product.kyobobook.co.kr/detail/S000220350700 Spain 🇪🇸: Capitán Swing Enshittification (as Mierdificación), Mar 2026 Reverse Centaur, not yet scheduled Taiwan 🇹🇼: Acropolis Enshittification, first quarter 2027 Thailand 🇹🇭: Salt Publishing Enshittification, Oct 2026 Türkiye 🇹🇷: Okuyanus Enshittification, Fall 2026 Ukraine 🇺🇦: Athena Publishing Enshittification, not yet scheduled (These are the confirmed deals. There are lots of other deals in negotiation, especially for Reverse Centaur, which is only a month old.) I hope some of you found this useful! If not (or if so!), don't worry, I'll be back with more essays in the days to come. One final note for newsletter readers: I realize that I have violated my "one emoji per edition" rule with the flags above. Rest assured this will not be a regular thing. Hey look at this (permalink) We used to be able to buy things in this country https://dannykatch.substack.com/p/we-used-to-be-able-to-buy-things How to Stop the Enshittification of America https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/monopoly-round-up-how-to-stop-the Yes, Trump Will Attempt a Coup https://prospect.org/2026/07/28/trump-attempt-coup-january-6-election-republican-congress/ Framework Laptop 13 Pro Review: The Best Modular Laptop Ever Made https://gizmodo.com/framework-laptop-13-pro-review-the-best-modular-laptop-ever-made-2000791804 The $145 Billion Lie? Zuckerberg's Leaked Town Hall Audio Exposes Massive AI Failures After Mass Layoffs https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/zuckerbergs-leaked-audio-meta-ai-struggles-1807607 Object permanence (permalink) #20yrsago Linux Thinkpads can be controlled by knocking on them https://web.archive.org/web/20060814065844/http://www-128.ibm.com/developerworks/linux/library/l-knockage.html?ca=dgr-lnxw01Knock-Knock #20yrsago Why the CBC doesn’t need DRM https://web.archive.org/web/20060820121451/https://www.michaelgeist.ca/component/option,com_content/task,view/id,1342/Itemid,85/nsub,/ #20yrsago Aussie mall defends its photons from terrorists https://web.archive.org/web/20060910224208/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/07/29/1153816426869.html #15yrsago Sleepy English town to be entirely surveilled in case criminals forget and drive through it on their way to crimes https://web.archive.org/web/20110731020858/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/8670642/Sleepy-market-town-surrounded-by-ring-of-car-cameras.html #10yrsago Lessons from the DNC: Ronald Reagan, the Southern Strategy, and “abnormal politics” https://crookedtimber.org/2016/07/30/philadelphia-stories-from-reagan-to-trump-to-the-dnc/ #10yrsago How to pay no taxes at all! (if you’re Apple, Google or Facebook) https://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2016/07/video-guide-to-legal-tax-evasion-with-an-apple-boycott.html #5yrsago Games Workshop declares war on its customers https://pluralistic.net/2021/07/30/space-marines/#fairy-use-tale #1yrago Delta's AI-based price-gouging https://pluralistic.net/2025/07/30/efficiency-washing/#medallion-clubbed Upcoming appearances (permalink) Virtual: EFFecting Change: Who the Machine Serves, Aug 12 https://www.eff.org/event/effecting-change-who-machine-serves Edinburgh International Book Festival with Jimmy Wales, Aug 17 https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/events/the-front-list-cory-doctorow-and-jimmy-wales Sydney: The Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Aug 23-24 https://festivalofdangerousideas.com/program/ Melbourne: Enshittification at the Wheeler Centre, Aug 25 https://www.wheelercentre.com/events-tickets/season-2026/cory-doctorow-enshittification Brighton: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Carole Cadwalladr (Brighton Dome), Sep 8 https://brightondome.org/whats-on/LSC-cory-doctorow-the-reverse-centaurs-guide-to-life-after-ai/ London: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Riley Quinn (Foyle's Picadilly), Sep 9 https://www.foyles.co.uk/events/enshittification-cory-doctorow-riley-quinn South Bend: An Evening With Cory Doctorow (Notre Dame), Oct 6 https://franco.nd.edu/events/2026/10/06/an-evening-with-cory-doctorow/ Recent appearances (permalink) AI is not inevitable (Betakit) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbiTVkq1WHo A Conversation with Lina Khan (Law and Economy Student Network) https://www.youtube.com/live/7Ak5LZllqwE Will AI ever come alive, and what happens if it does? (BBC News) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzk4o3fPZZE Waarom jij straks het hulpje van AI bent (VPRO) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOnvR2fs8CA Talk Tech Bock (Vera Linß) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PFjGvQoBgc Latest books (permalink) "The Reverse-Centaur's Guide to AI," a short book about being a better AI critic, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, June 2026 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374621568/thereversecentaursguidetolifeafterai/ "Canny Valley": A limited edition collection of the collages I create for Pluralistic, self-published, September 2025 https://pluralistic.net/2025/09/04/illustrious/#chairman-bruce "Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, October 7 2025 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374619329/enshittification/ "Picks and Shovels": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about the heroic era of the PC, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2025 (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865908/picksandshovels). "The Bezzle": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about prison-tech and other grifts, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2024 (thebezzle.org). "The Lost Cause:" a solarpunk novel of hope in the climate emergency, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), November 2023 (http://lost-cause.org). "The Internet Con": A nonfiction book about interoperability and Big Tech (Verso) September 2023 (http://seizethemeansofcomputation.org). Signed copies at Book Soup (https://www.booksoup.com/book/9781804291245). "Red Team Blues": "A grabby, compulsive thriller that will leave you knowing more about how the world works than you did before." Tor Books http://redteamblues.com. "Chokepoint Capitalism: How to Beat Big Tech, Tame Big Content, and Get Artists Paid, with Rebecca Giblin", on how to unrig the markets for creative labor, Beacon Press/Scribe 2022 https://chokepointcapitalism.com Upcoming books (permalink) "The Post-American Internet," a geopolitical sequel of sorts to Enshittification, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2027 "Unauthorized Bread": a middle-grades graphic novel adapted from my novella about refugees, toasters and DRM, FirstSecond, April 20, 2027 "Enshittification, Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It" (the graphic novel), Firstsecond, 2027 "The Memex Method," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2027 Colophon (permalink) Today's top sources: Currently writing: "The Post-American Internet," a sequel to "Enshittification," about the better world the rest of us get to have now that Trump has torched America. Fourth draft completed. Submitted to editor. A Little Brother short story about DIY insulin PLANNING This work – excluding any serialized fiction – is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. That means you can use it any way you like, including commercially, provided that you attribute it to me, Cory Doctorow, and include a link to pluralistic.net. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Quotations and images are not included in this license; they are included either under a limitation or exception to copyright, or on the basis of a separate license. Please exercise caution. How to get Pluralistic: Blog (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): Pluralistic.net Newsletter (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://pluralistic.net/plura-list Mastodon (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic Bluesky (no ads, possible tracking and data-collection): https://bsky.app/profile/doctorow.pluralistic.net Medium (no ads, paywalled): https://doctorow.medium.com/ Tumblr (mass-scale, unrestricted, third-party surveillance and advertising): https://mostlysignssomeportents.tumblr.com/tagged/pluralistic "When life gives you SARS, you make sarsaparilla" -Joey "Accordion Guy" DeVilla READ CAREFULLY: By reading this, you agree, on behalf of your employer, to release me from all obligations and waivers arising from any and all NON-NEGOTIATED agreements, licenses, terms-of-service, shrinkwrap, clickwrap, browsewrap, confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-compete and acceptable use policies ("BOGUS AGREEMENTS") that I have entered into with your employer, its partners, licensors, agents and assigns, in perpetuity, without prejudice to my ongoing rights and privileges. You further represent that you have the authority to release me from any BOGUS AGREEMENTS on behalf of your employer. ISSN: 3066-764X

Office Hours: What's Trump's Most Likely Move on the Midterms?

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Beyond gerrymandering, restricting mail-in voting, and requiring voter IDs

Gwendoline Riley on Mark Van Doren’s Shakespeare

The Windham-Campbell Prizes Podcast features a series of conversations with past and present Windham-Campbell Prize winners about their favorite books and plays. Hosted by Michael Kelleher. Mike talks with 2026 Windham-Campbell Prize for Fiction recipient Gwendoline Riley about Mark Van

Vanishing Culture #5: A Language Worth Saving with Peter Scholing

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Languages can vanish just as easily as books, websites, or archives, and when they do, entire ways of understanding the world can disappear with them. In the fifth episode of our special six-part series on Vanishing Culture, host Vida Vojić speaks with Peter Scholing of Biblioteca Nacional Aruba and the Coleccion Aruba digital heritage platform about the importance of preserving Papiamento, Aruba’s creole language, and the cultural heritage it carries.

Read Vanishing Culture for free at the Internet Archive or purchase in print: https://archive.org/details/vanishing-culture-2026

What Happens When You Design a Conference Space That Gives Attention Back?

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At WEC 2026, the Calm Tech Institute and Hello! Destination Management tested a different approach. We built a multi-sensory Resilience Space inside the convention center and measured its impact using Zenus privacy-first sentiment analytics.

July 28, 2026

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Turning it over to Buddy tonight.

Measuring LLMs’ Ability to Perform Cryptanalysis

There’s new benchmark measuring AI’s ability to perform mathematical cryptanalysis. Anthropic’s frontier model actually found new attacks.

The benchmark: “ CryptanalysisBench: Can LLMs do Cryptanalysis?” The idea is to benchmark the ability of LLMs to discover new mathematical cryptanalytic attacks against a series of historical algorithms.

Abstract: Cryptanalysis—the task of finding attacks against cryptographic schemes—its at the intersection of mathematical reasoning and cybersecurity, two areas where LLMs have advanced fastest. Cryptanalysis represents both a clean testbed for frontier reasoning (as practical attacks can be automatically verified) and a domain with unusually high stakes, since the primitives under study underpin our digital security. In this paper we ask whether LLMs can do cryptanalysis, and find that the answer is increasingly yes. We introduce CryptanalysisBench, 191 tasks across six families of cryptographic primitives (block ciphers, hash functions, etc.) drawn primarily from four NIST standardization competitions. Our benchmark consists of three tiers: (i) primitives with known practical breaks; (ii) primitives with no known practical break, evaluated both at full strength and as scaled-down variants; and (iii) a challenge set of production primitives at the frontier of cryptanalysis. Five frontier models (Claude Opus 4.8, Sonnet 5, Mythos 5, GPT-5.5, and the open-weights GLM-5.2) break 65%­86% of Tier 1 schemes, 6­12 Tier-2 schemes at full strength, and 24­61 across all scaled-down variants. Beyond deriving known results, models produce novel cryptanalysis, such as a key-recovery attack that exploits a design flaw in the SpoC AEAD and an error in KINDI’s published CCA-security proof, both to the best of our knowledge not previously known...

Draft: Lacan in the LLM age

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By contrast with this, the obscene Real underpinning the industry and the business world in 2025 isn't the Real of exploitation or of a founding act of violence but rather the Real of illegitimacy. The fundamental truth being disavowed by our leaders is that *there is no reason that they should have any of the money, power or adulation that they do*. The founding acts of robbery, seizure and slavery that put Elon Musk and his ilk in power are far too detached from the people themselves to be integrated into a symbolic order: had Musk personally looted South Africa and enslaved its inhabitants he could choose to repress it ("I had no choice, and what I did wasn't that bad"), reaffirm it ("Yes, they were subhuman and deserved to die") or in some other way integrate it into the symbolic order of why he's so rich. But he can't do any of that: it all happened far enough in the past that he can't effectively integrate his wealth, because, in the end, it was a case of pure arbitrariness that he holds the wealth that those who came before him seized. By hook or by crook, they have to disavow the fact that not only does nobody else believe that they have their money for a good reason, *neither do they themselves*.

Keep going

San Francisco scene report; early Disney; lots of links. Read here.

How we localize Buttondown

Our homegrown localization is one open-sourced JSON file, a template tag, and a wrapper component — nothing fancy, and kept honest by a bunch of weird tests.

The importance of layered context in enterprise data architecture

The importance of layered context in enterprise data architecture

Wednesday 29 July, 2026

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Who do you think your are? Sitting quietly by myself in the garden of the Orchard in Grantchester yesterday, I was joined by this teenage Jackdaw, who gave me a hard stare. So I stared back and he kindly posed … Continue reading →

Rescue Me!

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Whatever happened to the reprieve of summer and that heavenly stasis of being missing in action?

Cooking eggs in stainless steel

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I’m tired of buying a new non-stick pan every other year, so I decided to try cooking eggs in stainless steel instead. I’ve been practicing for a few months now, and figured I’d record what’s working (and not working) for me in case someone else has been thinking about it. Fried Eggs Cooking Method For […]

Tuesday night session in Belfast

Tuesday night session in Belfast

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

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New in the #PleiadesGazetteer help section: How to add a bibliographic record to Zotero

https://pleiades.stoa.org/help/how-to-add-a-bibliographic-record-to-zotero

We have long had a document that provides step-by-step instructions on adding references to external web pages, books, articles, and other resources to "place", "name", "location", and "connection" resources, but the procedure for adding entirely new work records to our Zotero library has been in flux and undocumented. Thanks to the work of the volunteer "Pleiades References Wranglers", we now have a more stable process and clear documentation.

Are AI Data Centers Really THAT Bad?

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No. They're worse.

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

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Godot 4.7 support for Xogot is out in beta.

We use a separate TestFlight while we keep an eye on the bugs from 4.7.

Details: https://blog.xogot.com/xogot-is-moving-to-godot-4-7/

The Mail’s the Thing

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Trump’s plan to disrupt the November midterms increasingly turns on maximizing chaos in the mail-in ballot system.

Apple Upgrade

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Apple (Hacker News): Apple today announced Apple Upgrade, a new product leasing program provided by Klarna for iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, and iPad available on the Apple Store online, in the Apple Store app, and at Apple Store locations in the United States. […] Apple Upgrade offers 12- and 24-month leasing options for iPhone and […]

macOS 26.6

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Juli Clover (release notes, security, enterprise, developer, full installer, IPSW): According to Apple’s release notes for the update, macOS Tahoe 26.6 includes security fixes for the Mac and it optimizes Spotlight for the release of macOS 27. Mr. Macintosh: Additionally a fix addressed where some notifications incorrectly displayed deprecation notices for some apps identified as […]

macOS 15.7.8 and 14.8.8

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Marcus Mendes: Following the rollout of no less than seven Release Candidates, Apple has now finally released macOS Sonoma 14.8.8 and macOS Sequoia 15.7.8 officially. macOS 15.7.8 (security, full installer): This update provides important security fixes and is recommended for all users. macOS 14.8.8 (security, full installer): This update provides important security fixes and is […]

iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6

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Juli Clover (iOS/iPadOS release notes, security, enterprise, developer): iOS 26.6 and iPadOS 26.6 include security fixes for the iPhone and iPad. The updates also optimize the Spotlight index in preparation for iOS 27 and iPadOS 27. There are a lot of security fixes. Rosyna Keller: Yay, iOS 26.6 is out. And it fixes a privacy […]

watchOS 26.6

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Juli Clover (release notes, security, developer): According to Apple’s release notes, watchOS 26.6 includes unspecified bug fixes and security updates. Previously: watchOS 26.5

tvOS 26.6

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Juli Clover (no release notes, security, developer): No new features were found in tvOS 26.6 during the beta testing period, so it likely focuses on bug fixes and performance improvements. Previously: tvOS 26.5

audioOS 26.6

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Ryan Christoffel (no release notes): But beyond under-the-hood changes, you won’t find new features in these updates. It still doesn’t play all my purchased music. Previously: audioOS 26.5 HomePod Late Adopter

visionOS 26.6

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Juli Clover (release notes, security, no enterprise, developer): Apple’s release notes say that visionOS 26.6 includes bug fixes and security improvements in addition to optimizing the Spotlight index for the upcoming visionOS 27 launch. Previously: visionOS 26.5

2026-07-25 Apples

2026-07-25 Apples

We went to visit a friend who has an apple tree in her garden and collected two bags full of apples. A lot of rotten ones, with worms and what not. Peeling them and cutting off the good parts took a very long time. We stopped after a while and watched an episode of Silo, then we went back to doing apples.

A gazillion apples being prepared. One of the apples cut open had a worm but still has plenty of good apple bits on it.

Cooling the apple pieces with cinnamon roll, cardamoms and clovers.

Four jars in the fridge. The ones on the left before watching Silo, the ones on the right after watching Silo. I had promised myself that we’d watch another episode at the end but it was midnight.

#Cooking

Sorry, Sam and Elon, we have not reached the Singularity

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Not that anyone even knows what that means.

Tuesday afternoon session in Belfast

Tuesday afternoon session in Belfast

Tuesday afternoon session in Belfast

Before I go: Double your business with companies you like

I’ve had the pleasure in my career of sitting in tons of different board rooms talking with executives and getting a rundown on different charts and graphs they care most deeply about. As expected, “number chart go up” is always the desired outcome. Number chart go up is good because it makes other number charts go up, specifically stock ticker number.

One common refrain I’d hear everywhere I went whether they dealt in pizzas, coffee, coupons, computers, or software licenses went something like this (paraphrasing), “On average customers use our product once per month and if we can double that number then we’d have no more problems.” An over-simplification of course, but they’re desperate to move the number from one… to two.

It doesn’t take a business degree to figure that out that doubling your sales, downloads, or clicks is good for business. But sometimes the goals are much more modest. Let’s say it’s coffee. They know they have you hooked on a drug and you’ll make at least four weekly purchases a month, but if they could get all their customers to buy a fifth cup of coffee that month… that’s a measly five bucks for you and I the consumer, but that’s +20% revenue month-over-month for their store.

Putting this knowledge into the hands of consumers like us… Our five bucks feels meaningless and this feels like impotent advice on the purchasing power of the dollar, but I know it matters. Those five bucks can and will skew the averages and the people wearing Patagonia vests in mahogany-paneled board rooms will obsess over those charts.

Collectively we can influence the number chart. It could be a coordinated buying campaign or boycott, but I think it could be as simple as re-patronizing small businesses you already enjoy.

  • Double your purchases from that shop you liked, even if it’s a little too expensive because you understand they deal in small volumes.
  • Go to that local restaurant you like again, the one where the owner comes out and shakes everyone’s hand.
  • Buy another online course with your company’s education budget from that online helpful person, even if you’ll never use it.
  • Watch one more video, read one more post, like it, subscribe. And don’t block the ads.

And the inverse is also true…

  • Make one less order from that big online retailer funneling dark money into our elections.
  • Cancel your subscription to companies owned by race-baiting ketamine-addled nazis.
  • Make one less post on the billionaire owned platform, delete the app, let your session expire.

And sometimes, you don’t even need to buy anything! Often, talking about the places you like has the biggest impact. Talking raises awareness, it puts good things and places in our collective consciousness. It won’t be instant, but hopefully we can reprogram our muscle memory to think of good company before giving money to bad company.

Bad companies pay a lot of ad-bucks to other bad companies to get into your field of view. Ads are why websites have gone to shit. It’s why Instagram has become unusable, not to mention that it’s become a giant multi-level marketing scam where it’s all influencers hustling their dropshipped garbage to each other instead of sharing cool photos with friends.

Become a free, one-off marketing department or brand ambassador for a restaurant, app, podcast, artist, game, band, or store that you think is good. No one is going to think “Damn, Dave keeps talking about these breakfast tacos at Dan’s Hamburgers in Austin, TX that are only available before 10:30 am, they must be complete shit.” They will be curious and figure it out for themselves and their lives will be forever changed until the day Dan’s gets swallowed up by Austin’s endless “progress”.

In the wake of a phalanx of tech billionaires shit-grinning behind an orange-hued fascist criminal who four years prior incited a coup in that same rotunda, some Europeans have began advocating for local technology solutions. And even though these European alternative sites post a slight existential threat to my family’s income, I love the initiative. I wish every continent, country, city, and state had similar efforts to drive money towards locally sourced alternatives. I’m guilty of it as well, but why we funnel so much money to five nearly identical technology companies boggles the mind.

Anyways. Consider doubling your business somewhere with. some place or someone that deserves it. And the smaller that business is, the even bigger impact you’ll have on the number chart.

Voters Blame Trump/Rs For Higher Costs, Senate Descends Into Trumpian Chaos, Kaitlin Collins Responds, Stop Todd Blanche!

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We hit our $50,000 fundraising goal for Troy Jackson in 24 hours - thank you all!

Everything you need to know about the Rachel Cusk/Natalie Portman drama.

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Some good old-fashioned literary drama is just the thing for late summer. Pairs well with mint juleps and malaise, I think. This week, those of this opinion were darkly pleased to learn that Rachel Cusk’s new novel (Life of M)

Amplifiers and Decadence

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Writing of lasting value

Renew Achieves Platinum Calm Tech Certification: Learn more about Airthings’ First-Ever Smart Air Purifier

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Designed in Norway and inspired by the belief that fresh, rejuvenating air belongs everywhere, Renew is the latest addition to Airthings’ range of intelligent air quality solutions and an exciting, long-awaited moment for those who have hoped for a purifier to work alongside their Airthings monitors.

SQL Improvements in PostgreSQL 11–18: A Personal Selection

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Seven major versions of PostgreSQL shipped between 2018 and 2025, one per year without exception, and each with a changelog of 150 to 200 user-visible changes. Each release covers a broad canvas — performance, replication, administration, and security — but every one of them also advanced the SQL layer, filling gaps in the standard, adding missing functionality, or cleaning up long-standing rough edges. Working through the new edition of The Art of PostgreSQL forced me to catalogue them all; this is my selection of the features I kept reaching for while rewriting the examples. I hope it’s useful beyond that context — organized by theme, with the version each feature landed in.

All queries in this article run against the Lab, a free dataset bundle that includes the F1 database, geopolitical data, music data, and more — so you can try every example yourself. The Lab is a docker compose up away: it starts PostgreSQL with all datasets loaded and a query UI web app that runs in your browser, with EXPLAIN plan diagrams, and SVG rendering for PostGIS results on geo queries.

To get a sense of where the community actually puts its effort,Noriyoshi Shinoda of Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Japan has been publishing a meticulous “PostgreSQL New Features with Examples” series for every major release since version 9.4 — each edition catalogues every user-visible change with a working code example. Counting his categories across PG 11–18 gives a clear picture of contributor priorities:

ReleaseSQLPerformanceAdmin & OpsReplicationSecurityOtherPG 11565343PG 12467335PG 137810656PG 14476535PG 15256538PG 16468578PG 17578846PG 18434325Sum354854383146

New features by category per release (Shinoda count)

SQL is the smallest category. Admin & Ops leads across the whole period, followed by Performance — which reflects who funds the project: Amazon (Aurora), Google (AlloyDB), and Microsoft (Azure) all have strong commercial interests in PostgreSQL being easy to operate, scale, and replicate at cloud scale. Replication & HA shows the steepest growth trajectory, climbing from 3 features in PG 11 to 8 in PG 17, tracking the same commercial priorities. The framing of this article is deliberately SQL-centric: execution strategy, query syntax, data types, schema modeling, and DML. Administration, replication, and authentication improvements are real too; a few that struck me as particularly worth knowing about are collected at the end.

A perfect mix of 3D printing and woodworking

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A couple weeks ago I stumbled upon this woodworking guy's YouTube channel that is generally pretty silly, but he came up with a clever system to use 3D printing in a woodshop, the likes of which I've never seen before.

Building a crosscut sled for your

Here’s the longlist for the 2026 Booker Prize.

Today, the Booker Prize committee announced this year’s “Booker Dozen”: a longlist of 13 books nominated for the UK’s most prestigious literary prize, which this year celebrates longform fiction written in English and published in the UK and/or Ireland between

What is Digital Sovereignty

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Digital sovereignty is not about owning everything, it is about ensuring that nothing essential can be taken away. That single line settles more arguments than it first appears to, because it disqualifies the two positions that dominate the debate. One side imagines sovereignty as control. The other imagines it as

Kaitlan Collins Appears On ‘The Daily Show’ And Offers Her Take On Donald Trump’s Correspondents’ Dinner Insults: “It’s Really Not About Me”

CNN’s Kaitlan Collins gave her take on Donald Trump’s very personal insults of her at the recent White House Correspondents’ Dinner, telling The Daily Show host Jon Stewart that the key in such situations is to focus on the work at hand. In his one hour remarks at the dinner on Friday, Trump went after […]

Slash Management Debuts Production Division At “Pivotal Moment” For Talent Firms

EXCLUSIVE: Jake Webb’s Slash Management (aka Slash MGMT) is moving beyond talent representation by launching a multi-division production studio. This comes six months after Webb acquired full control of the L.A. business, and will see Slash operating across film and television development, podcast production, modeling and creator-led IP. Today, he said the industry was a […]

Anna Kendrick Series ‘Embassy’ Lands At MGM+

MGM+ has picked up an internationally financed drama series starring Anna Kendrick, Sam Heughan and J.K. Simmons. The streamer has bought Embassy, which was created by fledgling writer Rom Lotan, for the U.S. and a slew of global territories. It comes nine months after Stuart Ford’s AGC Television launched the series at Mipcom. The show […]

Gina Prince-Bythewood’s ‘Children Of Blood And Bone’ Trailer Glimpses Thuso Mbedu’s Quest To Restore Magic To Orïsha

The first trailer for Gina Prince Bythewood’s Children of Blood and Bone film adaptation has arrived. Brought to life from a script by Bythewood and Tomi Adeyemi, the film is based on Adeyemi’s novel of the same name. The clip opens on Lashana Lynch as Jumoke, mother of Thuso Mbedy’s Zélie Adebola, kneeling before a […]

‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day Review: Tom Holland And Zendaya Forge A Challenging Path Forward In Dark And Thrilling New Chapter From Marvel Superhero

Following the triple home run act of the Jon Watts/Tom Holland era of Spider-Man movies, 2017’s Homecoming, 2019’s Far From Home, and 2021’s No Way Home, would seem quite daunting on the surface of it. And coming back with a movie that has anywhere near the impact of No Way Home’s untoppable uniting of Tobey […]

‘Ted Lasso’ Returns To Richmond To Take On Biggest Challenge Yet In Full Trailer For Soon-To-Launch Season 4

With just a week to go until the return of the highly-anticipated Ted Lasso, the world has been treated to full trailer. Check the trail above as Jason Sudeikis’ beloved comedy character returns to Apple TV, and this time he’s in charge of a new team. In Season 4, Ted returns to Richmond, taking on […]

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

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Export Updates 2026-07-28:

Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places

8 new and 20 updated places. 1 new and 11 updated linked data sidebars.

1. Downloads: https://pleiades.stoa.org/downloads

2. pleiades.datasets: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades.datasets:

"main" branch:

28d37d0a - updated json

no change: rdf/ttl

96a2760a - updated gis package

563a1c99 - updated data quality

3d62b756 - updated bibliography

65b114e7 - updated indexes

374a4f2e - updated sidebar

3. pleiades-geojson: https://github.com/ryanfb/pleiades-geojson:

9dd9215c - updated geojson and names index

4. pleiades_wikidata: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades_wikidata/:

69b17b01 - updated pleiades wikidata

Growing Mutant Bacteria To Save Earth

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The post Growing Mutant Bacteria To Save Earth appeared first on NOEMA.

BBC Studios Seeking Natural History Unit Chief As Jonny Keeling Moves To Creative Director

BBC Studios is seeking a new head for its world-famous Natural History Unit (NHU), maker of Planet Earth III and The Americas, with Jonny Keeling segueing to Creative Director. BBC Studios will begin the recruitment process immediately, with Keeling continuing in post until the transition takes place in 2027. Keeling has been running the studio […]

Brazil gives parents social media controls for their kids. Should the US?

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California is leading on kids’ data privacy in the U.S. but still lags internationally.

Book: Churn

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Claude Steele’s first book Whistling Vivaldi gave me one of the most useful framings I have for bias. Stereotype threat: in a situation you care about, the worry that you’re about to confirm a negative stereotype about your group degrades how you do. So when I saw he had a new book – Churn: The Tension That […]

When Wham! Went To China To Conquer America: Unearthed Rushes In BBC Feature Doc Give New Perspectives On A Pop History Moment

Welcome to Global Breakouts, Deadline’s strand in which, each fortnight, we shine a spotlight on the TV shows and films making a splash internationally. The industry is more global than ever and breakout projects are appearing in pockets of the world all the time, making it hard to keep track, so we’re doing the hard […]

When the walls came down

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Yesterday's Scripting News was one of the most news-full days in a long time, maybe going back to the rollout of RSS 2.0 in September 2002. If you look at what's there, a post about re-opening the Frontier object database format would be considered the top item on any other day, but it's the last of the untitled posts for the day.

At the top of the page, a surprise that Matthias Pfefferle at Automattic had built a substantial (and unforeseen!) bridge between WordPress and RSS.chat. It builds on the new features. This may turn out to be the moment RSS started being accepted as a social web protocol by the insiders, alongside ActivityPub and AT Proto.

Look at what we've done. I stress we. Matthias didn't need to tell us about what he did until it was done. That my friends is how the web works, that's what I've been trying to show you, and now it has been shown. In a way the clock has gone back to the world before Twitter when events like this happened pretty routinely.

Small pieces loosely joined and all parts replaceable. The web in a sentence. That's what you're buying into when you put your work on the web.

Anyway, now we've got half of the big picture working. Also yesterday, before I knew what Matthias had been cooking up, I wrote a piece about how I see the network evolving. I predict, if this bootstrap works, we will come back here in a year and say things like "If he only knew." But that's how it goes, you tell your story and leave a record of it, and then later you can go back and see what it looked like as it happened, not as you remember it.

I'm proud that I have a record of September 2002 for you all to scroll through. That was when we knew that RSS was going everywhere. NYT support got us the full support of the news industry, and they worked fast in part because it is really simple. :-)

And almost unnoticed, something even I seem to forget -- this is also a new launch for RSS. We're using old reliable RSS 2.0 as specified in 2003, even using one of the elements that had never had been much used. Claude suggested it, I never would have thought of it, a perfect fit. What people may realize but don't realize the importance of, that RSS is extensible. I've accumulated all the extensions I use in my software since the early teens in the source namespace. And that's where the new stuff went. Guess what folks, RSS got an upgrade. First time in a long time. Perhaps you didn't think that was possible.

I played with a lot of names while RSS.chat was in development but decided the name had to be RSS.something. It deserves a lot more love than it has gotten from the tech world. I don't want to hide it, I want it to get a victory parade like the one the Knicks got on Broadway after winning the championship. It's an incredible gift that all that came together the way it did. People think they understand how it happened, but they only understand the BigCo version of how they buried RSS and were proud of it. Well I'm here to tell you that didn't happen. It's still here to pick up the pieces of what's left of the social web, after the VCs got through with it. We're picking up where we left off in 2006.

Because of Claude, we are able to work very fast now as long as we know what we're doing. I'm doing some projects on the side with Claude that are bearing fruit amazingly fast, because we have a very clear idea of what we hope to do. The tools keep getting better, and in this period, the art of creating software has blasted into outer space. It's as if the best transport we had was a horse and buggy and now all of a sudden we have everything we have today, bikes, cars, planes, rocket ships. The challenge is how high do you dare to set your ambition. It seems, based on experience, it doesn't matter how high it is as long as you know where you want to go.

Journalism only sees the threat. This change is on the level of curing cancer. We may have thought it might be possible someday to do what we're doing now, so amazing that as you watch Claude make it happen you get goosebumps and can't help but laugh out loud.

I thought my career was winding down, but now it feels like it's just getting started.

Reminded of a great quote in Godfather III, Michael Corleone says: "Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in."

Here we go!

PS: A new this.how page for RSS.chat. It has a little directory to the big spots you might want.

Smoke on the Water

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Over 20 years ago I took my 5yr-old son to his first concert. The band was Rush and we both loved the show. Rush stopped touring 13 years ago, but they surprised everyone by announcing… More

True Colours Boards Venice-Bound Female Sniper Drama ‘No Paradise If You Are Killed By A Woman’

EXCLUSIVE:  Rome-based sales company True Colours has boarded Norwegian-Kurdish director Halkawt Mustafa’s drama No Paradise If You Are Killed by a Woman ahead of its world premiere Out of Competition at the Venice Film Festival in September. Avan Jamal stars as a female Peshmerga sniper who heads to Mosul to rescue her younger sister from […]

Axon Is Another License Plate Surveillance Company

Governments are switching, but I’m not sure it makes a difference:

…some municipalities, including Denver, Colorado, are ditching their Flock arrays. But keep in mind that if they’re only switching from Flock to another brand of license-plate readers, like Axon, it’s like a gambling addict trying to kick the habit by switching from FanDuel to DraftKings.

[…]

Despite what you may read on the Flock website, Axon cameras are pretty effective when it comes to hoovering up personal details that can go far beyond your license plate numbers. That means a municipality that opts for Axon cameras instead of Flock units won’t necessarily reduce the amount privacy its citizens lose through their use...

Hegseth Freaks Out After Testing Positive for Estrogen

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According to those familiar with the test results, Hegseth’s estrogen count would place him in the 99th percentile of all women.

What Rolls Downhill

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Recent calls for mandatory retirement in academia are a reminder that class and other social hierarchies are something like mountains with increasingly dense fog toward their peaks: the higher up one is, the less one understands that upon which and above which one stands.

Pluralistic: Discernment (28 Jul 2026)

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Today's links Discernment: How can you fact-check AI when you're asking it to teach you something you don't understand? Hey look at this: Delights to delectate. Object permanence: How to help with computers; Batman equation; Fuck and the law; NC's racist voting law; Pregancy app is full of spyware; Stiglitz v Apple's "tax fraud"; Accelerometer fingerprinting; Sacklers v bankruptcy; Boss-politics antitrust. Upcoming appearances: Edinburgh, Sydney, Melbourne, Brighton, London, South Bend. Recent appearances: Where I've been. Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em. Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em. Colophon: All the rest. Discernment (permalink) As far as I can tell, this dialog between MacArthur prize-winning mathematician Terrence Tao and Chatgpt about "the Jacobian conjecture counterexample" is very impressive: https://chatgpt.com/share/6a5fdc7a-d6f8-83e8-bbea-8deb42cfed56 Now, the clause "as far as I can tell" is doing a lot of work in that sentence. I am reasonably math literate, up to first-year calculus and a lifetime spent around my father (a mathematician). However, I have never heard of "the Jacobian conjecture," and while I know what all the words in the first paragraph of the relevant Wikipedia entry mean, I can't parse any of the sentences they form: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacobian_conjecture In other words, I lack the discernment to evaluate the output of the chatbot that Tao exchanged theories with. If you showed me an equally opaque transcript of a "conversation" between a chatbot and a crank with AI psychosis whose math made no sense whatsoever, I couldn't make an a priori judgment about which one was a solid piece of mathematical theorizing and which one was a math-flavored word-salad. As many skilled programmers can attest, chatbots can produce very useful output – but as even the most ardent AI-assisted coder will admit, chatbot-written code is also full of baffling, obvious errors (and subtle, hard-to-spot ones): https://pluralistic.net/2025/08/04/bad-vibe-coding/#maximally-codelike-bugs These errors (which the industry wants us to refer to as "hallucination" – a whimsical, obscuring, anthropomorphizing euphemism) are the reason that reliable AI use requires the discernment that comes from skill and expertise. I use a local chatbot to spellcheck these posts. Chatbots spot all kinds of typos that regular spellcheckers miss: https://pluralistic.net/2026/02/19/now-we-are-six/#stock-buyback There's a reactionary group of strangers who seek me out to tell me that I'm a bad person for doing this. These are pointless conversations, mostly because I can barely make out a word over the scraping sounds of all the goalpost-moving these scolding strangers engage in. They start by insisting that I'm burning down the planet by running a low-CPU load piece of software on my own computer. After I explain that running a chatbot on my machine uses no more carbon than, say, applying a blur effect to an image in my image editor, they tell me I'm unwisely giving my private data to the AI companies. Then I show them the network logs that demonstrate that my local chatbot doesn't send or receive any network data. Then they turn to the supposed cognitive effects of using a chatbot to find typos in an essay. I explain that I'm not asking an AI to write things for me or explain them to me – I'm asking it to point out where I've forgotten to put a period at the end of a paragraph, or fatfingered a word like "ever" as "every." I even send them the "before" and "after" of an essay after I've corrected some chatbot-identified typos in it: https://craphound.com/before.txt https://craphound.com/after.txt This is when things get increasingly pointless. My interlocutors come up with farcical reasons why it's immoral or dangerous to use this LLM-based spellchecker. They say I'm using too much compute and that I could use a simpler piece of software to do the same thing (which is both untrue and silly – I also run a journaling filesystem on my computer that is vastly overpowered for editing a textfile – who cares?). Or they insist that the mere act of making copies of published works in order to count their elements and the relationships between them is a sin, despite the fact that this standard would kill search engines, the Internet Archive, and the Oxford English Dictionary: https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/17/how-to-think-about-scraping/ I mean, by all means let's hate the AI companies and work to end their disgusting campaign to pauperize creative workers, but let's not fall into the trap of siding with the media bosses who insist that the salvation of creative labor will arrive when Sam Altman pays David Zaslav for the right to cram the entire Warner catalog into Openai's chatbots: https://pluralistic.net/2026/03/03/its-a-trap-2/#inheres-at-the-moment-of-fixation Above all, my interlocutors continue to insist that my LLM-powered, local, open source chatbot spellchecker will make me a worse writer. It's a very strange insistence. My first word processor was a program listing published in a magazine I bought at a corner store and laboriously typed into my Apple ][+. In the 40+ years since, word processors have gotten lots of new features, many of which I thought were useful and many more that I found annoying. There were even some of these features that made the writers who used them worse at writing, in my (expert) judgment. But from the very start, I knew that you couldn't just trust a spellchecker to correct your documents. I mean, I'm a science fiction writer. I started making up silly words decades before coining "enshittification." I've been telling spellcheckers to fuck off since I learned to type. If you aren't a good writer, spellcheckers are dangerous, and the more "advanced" the spellchecker is, the more dangerous it is. A few of my collaborators insist that I use Office 365's AI-enabled version of Word to work on documents with them. It's maddening. I estimate the ratio of good suggestions to bad ones that M365 insists on shoving into my face at about 1:100. It's practically unusable – so much so that I often copy the block of text we're working on into a text editor, make my changes, then paste it back into the Word window. If I were to accept even 10% of these suggestions, my work would be made significantly worse. Putting chatbots into Word pushed it from "annoying" into "enshittening." I certainly understand how relying on a chatbot to make edits to your work could make it worse. That's where discernment comes in. I have written more than 30 books over the past 25 years. I have lots of experience defending my word choices, and not just against the mechanical judgments of a high-handed spellchecker, but also against overreaching copyeditors and paranoid publisher's lawyers. I know which words I want to write, and I know why I want to write them – and I know when a suggested fix is a good one and when it's wrong or stupid or just plain clunky. When it comes to writing, I have discernment. That's not true when it comes to higher math. I would no more ask a chatbot to explain "the Jacobian conjecture counterexample" than I would tell my writing students to get a chatbot to suggest ways to fix their stories: https://pluralistic.net/2026/01/07/delicious-pizza/#hold-the-gravel I don't know nearly enough about math to ask a chatbot to explain it, or check my work, or even assemble a bibliography of human-authored works I should work my way through if I want to learn about it. If I wanted to understand "the Jacobian conjecture counterexample," I would set aside several days and work my way through that gnarly Wikipedia entry and its references and blue links to related concepts. If I really wanted to understand it, I'd enroll in a course at the Open University or Khan Academy. All of this has been obvious to me since I first encountered LLM-powered bots. If you understand a subject really well – well enough to discern useful bot output from defective bot output – then bots can be useful. Sometimes very useful, mostly ordinarily useful. For example, I've been writing Pluralistic for about 6.5 years now. I've written 1,683 posts now (1,684 after I hit publish on this one), and the corpus is now getting large enough that I sometimes struggle to find a post I'm trying to reference, even with all my careful tagging and my extensive knowledge of WordPress's URL-line options for searching the database with tag and keyword combos. I've been toying with the idea of exporting my whole corpus and shoveling it into a local chatbot, so that I can type, "Which post did I talk about the evils of showing people your chatbot output in?" and get a link to the correct essay: https://pluralistic.net/2026/03/02/nonconsensual-slopping/#robowanking (Don't follow this link! I will be referencing the essay it goes to shortly; I struggled to find it when I sat down to write today; I'd accidentally tagged it with "at" instead of "ai" and missed the typo when I published it.) There are very few subjects I have more discernment over than "essays I have written." If I ask a chatbot to tell me which post I'm thinking of, I will instantly know which of its guesses are correct and which ones aren't. No one in the universe is better qualified than me to perform this task. No one ever will be. Now, as it happens, I know exactly how badly a chatbot can screw up when it comes to my own work, because strangers insist on asking chatbots about me and then, for reasons I find baffling, they send me the output. Please don't show anyone your chatbot transcripts unless they ask to see them. It's embarrassing at best and annoying at worst: https://pluralistic.net/2026/03/02/nonconsensual-slopping/#robowanking (There's that reference I promised. You can follow the link now!) Again, discernment is everything when it comes to getting useful work out of a chatbot. If you don't know anything about my work and you ask a chatbot to explain it to you, you will likely be badly misled. If you are familiar with my work and you ask a chatbot for the best examples where I explain a given subject, you may get a good answer, and if you get a bad one, you'll know it. The centrality of discernment to productive AI usage is obvious, and that's why I find the insistence that AI can be used as a teaching assistant (or worse, a teacher) so baffling. By definition, a student isn't an expert on the subject they're studying. That's the whole point of studying – to acquire knowledge and thus discernment. Asking students to learn via chatbot explanations is both incoherent and dangerous. Doubtless, there are ways that teachers might find chatbots useful, but for Christ's sake, don't use them to teach. There's plenty of ways teachers can use chatbots without asking students to learn from them. Here's an example. My daughter graduated from a big, typical American high school a couple years ago, and I spent her high-school years getting progressively angrier about the bad compromises that her teachers were forced into. Between "Common Core" and "Advanced Placement," the US system has been highly standardized. Teachers are under enormous pressure to teach specific aspects of specific subjects in a specific order, and students are told that their future life chances turn on their ability to pass high-stakes tests: https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/16/flexibility-in-the-margins/#a-commons This gives rise to many frustrations for teachers and students alike, but nothing got my dander up so much as my daughter's math teachers' testing practices. In all of my kid's higher math classes, teachers had a single, prized set of tests, and lived in fear of these escaping into the wild and turning into cheating aids. As a result, teachers collected students' math exams and quizzes and did not return them. Students sat exams, worked through the problems and got their grades – but were not allowed to take home their tests to see where they went wrong. Look, I know I'm no mathematician, and I know I'm not a math teacher, but I know enough about pedagogy to know that this is crazy. This is like trying to get better at archery by loosing arrows at a target but not checking to see where they hit. It's bananas. I also understand why the teachers felt they had to do it. Writing test questions that test for specific concepts in a specific order is a lot of work, and generating new tests for every class is the kind of task that would consume time better spent on lesson planning and meeting with students. It's easy to imagine a teacher who creates prompts for each test question that cause a chatbot to emit a new test paper for each class, along with answer keys. These questions are easily validated by a skilled teacher, who definitionally has the discernment to know whether a test question fits the bill. I could even see vibe-coding a little app to spit these questions out – though again, I would want the teacher to work through the questions each time to make sure they were sound. Both my parents are teachers. My brother is a teacher. I teach every now and again. Teachers do a lot of repetitive, unrewarding work. They also do a lot of difficult, creative, extremely important work. Good teachers have the discernment to sort good classroom materials from bad ones. They do that already, because just as you don't need an LLM to generate bad spellchecker suggestions, you also don't need an LLM to generate sub-par educational materials. There are plenty of "educational" publishers who'll do that all day long. AI is a normal technology. That means there are times when it is useful and times when it is pointless or actively harmful. One rule of thumb for chatbots is that they can only provide useful information to experts who have the discernment to ignore the defective output that LLMs always emit. That means that the dream of chatbots as replacements for teachers is a nightmare. Getting rid of teachers because we all have chatbots is like getting rid of doctors because we all have the plague. Hey look at this (permalink) How Far Did Vannevar Bush Get on the Memex? https://brewster.kahle.org/2026/07/26/how-far-did-vannevar-bush-get-on-the-memex/ Things with Feathers https://vimeo.com/1188522762/7efe874428 Neuromancer — Official Teaser https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g79GPZSQHBk Shop worker owned businesses online https://www.workerowned.info/marketplace Americans — including many Republicans — are losing faith in capitalism, polling shows https://edition.cnn.com/2026/07/23/politics/republicans-capitalism-socialism-poll Object permanence (permalink) #25yrsago How to help someone use a computer https://pages.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/agre/how-to-help.html/ #20yrsago Arrested for taking a pic of a cop arresting someone else https://web.archive.org/web/20060813102257/http://www.nbc10.com/news/9574663/detail.html #15yrsago Batman logo in equation form https://www.reddit.com/r/pics/comments/j2qjc/do_you_like_batman_do_you_like_math_my_math/ #15yrsago Vindictive WalMart erroneously accuses couple of shoplifting, has husband deported, wife fired, costs them house and car https://web.archive.org/web/20111002102637/https://www.courthousenews.com/2011/07/26/38455.htm #15yrsago House Committee passes bill requiring your ISP to spy on every click and keystroke you make online and retain for 12 months https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/07/house-committee-approves-bill-mandating-internet #15yrsago Fuck and the law https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=896790& #15yrsago Bill Nye explains to Fox News why lunar volcanoes don’t disprove anthropogenic global warming https://web.archive.org/web/20110924185725/https://www.mediamatters.org/mmtv/201107280007 #10yrsago North Carolina’s voter suppression law struck down as “racist” https://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/29/politics/north-carolina-voter-id/index.html #10yrsago Pregnancy-tracking app was riddled with vulnerabilities, exposing extremely sensitive personal information https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics-computers/mobile-security-software/glow-pregnancy-app-exposed-women-to-privacy-threats-a1100919965/ #10yrsago “Tellin The World” 1972 voting PSA aimed at 18-25 y/o working-class voters https://archive.org/details/TellinTheWorld #10yrsago Trump campaign frisks, then blocks ticketed Washington Post reporter at Pence rally https://web.archive.org/web/20160729170353/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/07/28/a-washington-post-reporter-was-banned-from-a-trump-pence-rally-yesterday-that-should-frighten-you/ #10yrsago Nobel-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz calls Apple’s tax strategy a “fraud” https://web.archive.org/web/20160731112543/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-28/stiglitz-calls-apple-s-profit-reporting-in-ireland-a-fraud #5yrsago Unauthorized cups https://pluralistic.net/2021/07/29/impunity-corrodes/#well-run-dry #5yrsago Tracking you with accelerometer signatures https://pluralistic.net/2021/07/29/impunity-corrodes/#in-motion #5yrsago Stories from Black women's customer service hell https://pluralistic.net/2021/07/29/impunity-corrodes/#arise-ye-prisoners #5yrsago Bankruptcy and elite impunity https://pluralistic.net/2021/07/29/impunity-corrodes/#morally-bankrupt #1yrago Boss-politics antitrust and the MAGA crackup https://pluralistic.net/2025/07/29/bondi-and-domination/#superjove Upcoming appearances (permalink) Virtual: EFFecting Change: Who the Machine Serves, Aug 12 https://www.eff.org/event/effecting-change-who-machine-serves Edinburgh International Book Festival with Jimmy Wales, Aug 17 https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/events/the-front-list-cory-doctorow-and-jimmy-wales Sydney: The Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Aug 23-24 https://festivalofdangerousideas.com/program/ Melbourne: Enshittification at the Wheeler Centre, Aug 25 https://www.wheelercentre.com/events-tickets/season-2026/cory-doctorow-enshittification Brighton: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Carole Cadwalladr (Brighton Dome), Sep 8 https://brightondome.org/whats-on/LSC-cory-doctorow-the-reverse-centaurs-guide-to-life-after-ai/ London: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Riley Quinn (Foyle's Picadilly), Sep 9 https://www.foyles.co.uk/events/enshittification-cory-doctorow-riley-quinn South Bend: An Evening With Cory Doctorow (Notre Dame), Oct 6 https://franco.nd.edu/events/2026/10/06/an-evening-with-cory-doctorow/ Recent appearances (permalink) AI is not inevitable (Betakit) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbiTVkq1WHo A Conversation with Lina Khan (Law and Economy Student Network) https://www.youtube.com/live/7Ak5LZllqwE Will AI ever come alive, and what happens if it does? (BBC News) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzk4o3fPZZE Waarom jij straks het hulpje van AI bent (VPRO) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOnvR2fs8CA Talk Tech Bock (Vera Linß) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PFjGvQoBgc Latest books (permalink) "The Reverse-Centaur's Guide to AI," a short book about being a better AI critic, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, June 2026 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374621568/thereversecentaursguidetolifeafterai/ "Canny Valley": A limited edition collection of the collages I create for Pluralistic, self-published, September 2025 https://pluralistic.net/2025/09/04/illustrious/#chairman-bruce "Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, October 7 2025 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374619329/enshittification/ "Picks and Shovels": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about the heroic era of the PC, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2025 (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865908/picksandshovels). "The Bezzle": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about prison-tech and other grifts, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2024 (thebezzle.org). "The Lost Cause:" a solarpunk novel of hope in the climate emergency, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), November 2023 (http://lost-cause.org). "The Internet Con": A nonfiction book about interoperability and Big Tech (Verso) September 2023 (http://seizethemeansofcomputation.org). Signed copies at Book Soup (https://www.booksoup.com/book/9781804291245). "Red Team Blues": "A grabby, compulsive thriller that will leave you knowing more about how the world works than you did before." Tor Books http://redteamblues.com. "Chokepoint Capitalism: How to Beat Big Tech, Tame Big Content, and Get Artists Paid, with Rebecca Giblin", on how to unrig the markets for creative labor, Beacon Press/Scribe 2022 https://chokepointcapitalism.com Upcoming books (permalink) "The Post-American Internet," a geopolitical sequel of sorts to Enshittification, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2027 "Unauthorized Bread": a middle-grades graphic novel adapted from my novella about refugees, toasters and DRM, FirstSecond, April 20, 2027 "Enshittification, Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It" (the graphic novel), Firstsecond, 2027 "The Memex Method," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2027 Colophon (permalink) Today's top sources: Currently writing: "The Post-American Internet," a sequel to "Enshittification," about the better world the rest of us get to have now that Trump has torched America. Fourth draft completed. Submitted to editor. A Little Brother short story about DIY insulin PLANNING This work – excluding any serialized fiction – is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. That means you can use it any way you like, including commercially, provided that you attribute it to me, Cory Doctorow, and include a link to pluralistic.net. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Quotations and images are not included in this license; they are included either under a limitation or exception to copyright, or on the basis of a separate license. Please exercise caution. How to get Pluralistic: Blog (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): Pluralistic.net Newsletter (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://pluralistic.net/plura-list Mastodon (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic Bluesky (no ads, possible tracking and data-collection): https://bsky.app/profile/doctorow.pluralistic.net Medium (no ads, paywalled): https://doctorow.medium.com/ Tumblr (mass-scale, unrestricted, third-party surveillance and advertising): https://mostlysignssomeportents.tumblr.com/tagged/pluralistic "When life gives you SARS, you make sarsaparilla" -Joey "Accordion Guy" DeVilla READ CAREFULLY: By reading this, you agree, on behalf of your employer, to release me from all obligations and waivers arising from any and all NON-NEGOTIATED agreements, licenses, terms-of-service, shrinkwrap, clickwrap, browsewrap, confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-compete and acceptable use policies ("BOGUS AGREEMENTS") that I have entered into with your employer, its partners, licensors, agents and assigns, in perpetuity, without prejudice to my ongoing rights and privileges. You further represent that you have the authority to release me from any BOGUS AGREEMENTS on behalf of your employer. ISSN: 3066-764X

The Putinization of the American Military

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When poseurs and yes-men run a war

Lit Hub Daily: July 28, 2026

Why Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera’s home was a sanctuary for Leon Trotsky until it wasn’t. | Lit Hub Biography Look inside Bernie Sanders’s 2016 campaign with his chief strategist, Tad Devine. | Lit Hub Politics  Max Lawton on writing

‘Saturday Night Live UK’ Stars Emma Sidi & Jack Shep To Join Sky & NBCU For Edinburgh TV Festival Masterclass

EXCLUSIVE: Live from the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, it’s a Saturday Night Live masterclass! The Edinburgh TV Festival’s 51st and final industry gathering will see SNL UK stars Emma Sidi and Jack Shep joining writers, producers and commissioners from the show on stage as part of a new track, Funny Business. The track, supported by […]

Why Trump deserves all the blame for high gas prices

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Normally blaming the president is unfair. But not this time.

Revealed: The Early-Stage Plans For A New TV Festival In Edinburgh

EXCLUSIVE: With the TV Festival leaving Edinburgh for the first time in its 51-year history, organizers in the Scottish capital are refusing to rest on their laurels. Deadline can reveal that early-stage plans are afoot to launch a new TV festival in Edinburgh. These plans have been hatched prior to the final one taking place […]

To defeat Republicans, Democrats may have to sit some races out

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An exclusive poll shared first with Strength In Numbers shows Independent Seth Bodnar in Montana runs ahead of the Democrat in a hypothetical Senate horse-race

Marion Cotillard New Image & First Sales Unveiled For Nicole Garcia’s San Sebastian-Bound ‘Milo’

EXCLUSIVE: Studiocanal and Trésor Films have unveiled a new image of Marion Cotillard and Théodore Pellerin in Nicola Garcia’s Milo to coincide with the film being announced for competition in San Sebastian Film Festival’s 74th edition in September. Studiocanal, which co-produces and is handling international sales, has also posted a handful of early deals on […]

What I Learned from a Close Read of All of Colson Whitehead’s Work

Colson Whitehead is a transitional figure in literary history, one of the literati of the post-Toni Morrison era, trained at elite schools (Trinity School, Harvard), highly attuned to nuances of race and gender bias. He is gifted with a wild

On the Populist Parallels Between Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump

If you tuned in at just the right time on June 16, 2015, when Donald Trump announced his campaign for the presidency, you might have thought he was reading one of Bernie’s stump speeches. From a makeshift stage, after descending

What Happens When Literary Passion Leads to Physical Illness?

I am often challenged about what sort of canon I am engaged in the creation of—about what the totality of the books I work on means together, what translating Vladimir Sorokin plus Michael Lentz plus Antonio Moresco plus Constance Debré

Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera‘s Blue House in Coyoacán Was a Refuge for Leon Trotsky… Until It Wasn‘t

At first glance, the Blue House in Coyoacán seemed an oasis of calm. Its sun-drenched courtyard, cobalt-blue walls, and sheltering gardens offered Leon Trotsky and Natalia Sedova a rare reprieve from years of harsh exile. Inside, daily life settled into

How Translating Korean Literature Made Me a Better Fiction Writer

There is one conversation I remember most distinctly from my MFA in literary translation. I was chatting with a nonfiction student about the novel I was translating at the time when she said with a slight air of amazement, “I

W. H. Auden’s 1954 review of The Fellowship of the Ring.

Seventy-two years ago this week, the godfather of high fantasy, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, published the first novel in a proposed three-volume epic “largely concerned with hobbits.” The Fellowship of the Ring has, in the decades since publication, shifted over

Valeria Luiselli, Emilee Hackney, Annie Jacobsen, and more: 20 new books out today!

Rounding out the end of the month with some long-awaited arrivals: namely, Beginning Middle End by Valeria Luiselli finally hits the shelves. We also have a riveting and raw memoir by Emilee Hackney, and a horrifying “scenario” by Annie Jacobsen.

The Government is Already Paying for Your Health Insurance, Buddy

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About 18% of U.S. GDP every year gets spent on health care. Half of that, 9%, is coming from the government, which is about the whole cost of  other countries’ public health programs. In other words, for what the U.S. spends on Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, VA benefits, and the tax write-off for employer-sponsored plans, we could have free basic health insurance for everyone. This is why the co-authors of the 2023 book “We’ve Got You Covered” describe the current health insurance system as a total tear-down. We could have universal insurance coverage for all with no tax hike if we started building from the ground up.

Chapters:

0:00 Announcements

0:58 Retcon — Costco cashier's $33/hr job and career security

2:49 Terms & Conditions — Political economy, Cost Sharing, Gatekeeping

7:45 The Big Pilcrow: “Americare… Just Enough”

8:08 Healthcare vs. health insurance — why this is really an insurance/payer fight

12:53 We have 5+ public health programs already

17:07 Health economist Amy Finkelstein's research: "It's a tear-down, not a fixer-upper"

19:55 The proposed system — universal basic coverage + letting “rich people rich" without letting them opt out

28:11What Americans would love or hate

40:44 This health world changed a lot since Obamacare

43:20 Executive Orders — Airport boarding pass warnings, living-roof bus stops

45:20 Spiritual Sponsors — Resurrection fern, Aunt Fern

46:42 Credits

I Made You Up Inside My Head

Chinese numbers distinguish between two different types of zero, which are really two types of nothing: one is an absolute nothing, the one that I suppose shapes the limits of the universe, where no particle of any kind has ever

The biggest question I get from random strangers

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And my answer

July 27, 2026*

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The Trump administration is trying to rewrite the history of the United States.

THE AI STOCKS PARTY IS OVER, NOW THE HANGOVER BEGINS

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I lost count of how many articles, posts, and analyses I have written over too many years documenting what was REALLY happening in the AI space, as opposed to what was happening according to the fantasies and stories broadcast non-stop by all actors with various degrees of vested interest in...

The post THE AI STOCKS PARTY IS OVER, NOW THE HANGOVER BEGINS appeared first on JustDario.

@Miguel de Icaza Mastondon feed

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New Xogot Mac build is out, would love some testers for the new .NET and Swift support.

https://xogot.com/mac/

Install, then "Check for Updates", then use Window/Developer: Feature Flags to enable it.

Redistribution of Wealth is a Thing. Just Not the Way We Were Told.

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The redistribution of wealth has a long history. Some call it a threat to capitalism. Others call it a moral obligation. Almost nobody is looking at which direction it’s actually moving.

Controlling your home with tiny, cheap touchscreens

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A few weeks ago, I read my friend Michael Pusateri's post on this tiny touchscreen you can buy at Aliexpress, and how he programmed it to become buttons for his Home Assistant setup, letting anyone who walks into his kitchen control the lights with a simple tap.

I

Enhanced link cards on Bluesky

Your newsletter's archive links can now share as rich, branded cards on Bluesky.

Monday evening session in Belfast

Monday evening session in Belfast

Monday evening session in Belfast

Degrees of Damage

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Pre-schoolers to grad students — no one is safe from Trump’s attack on education

Monday afternoon session in Belfast

Monday afternoon session in Belfast

Monday afternoon session in Belfast

Meet Manny Rutinel, Our Terrific Candidate Working To Flip CO-8 Blue

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Manny just won a hard fought primary and is ready to flip this seat, one of the most winnable in the country

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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BTW, I had no idea the WordPress connection was coming and here it is.

How Wealth Inequality Spiraled Out of Control

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A primer on what's happened — and what to do about it

EagleFiler 1.9.21

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EagleFiler 1.9.21 is a maintenance release of my Mac digital filing cabinet and e-mail archiving app. It can now capture the selected messages from MailMaven, including all their metadata, and can link back to the original message. The capture key now works with the Helium browser, and importing from Mariner Paperless and Microsoft Outlook is […]

MailMaven 1.2

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SmallCubed: AppleScript support makes it possible to automate message processing and connect Maven with other applications such as Hookmark, EagleFiler, Filemaker, and DEVONthink. Almost anything you normally do by interacting with MailMaven’s interface, such as searching for messages, tagging, filing, flagging, and composing, can now be automated. […] AppleScript makes it possible to control Maven […]

Sparrow Wallet Lawsuit

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Joe Rossignol (PDF): The complaint alleges that Apple violated California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act and other laws by failing to adequately review and monitor apps distributed through the App Store, despite marketing it as “a safe and trusted place to discover and download apps.” Due to these assurances in Apple’s marketing, the complaint said the […]

The Power of Questioning the Narrative

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How do the stories we tell shape the way we see the world—and ourselves?

Can the Tide of AI Investment Lift All Boats on the Web?

Jason Grigsby has a great article where he surfaces an opinion from the Safari team about how AI agents shouldn’t get special treatment:

An agent acting on a user’s behalf is, in effect, assistive technology: it should operate a site as the user would, and the site should not single it out for different treatment.

Jason synthesizes different discussions happening at standards levels to argue, in essence, that agents should be required to use existing technologies and solutions (APIs, semantics, etc.) rather than get their own bespoke ones. And where there are gaps in the platform, solutions should be centered around closing those gaps generally for everyone (vs. specifically for agents).

Imagine that! Take the billions being invested in AI and funnel it towards improving and enhancing the existing technology agents already use and profit from. No bespoke solutions just for AI, but generalized solutions everyone can benefit from.

In other words: allow the rising tide of AI investment to lift all boats in the platform because the web is for everyone. As Jason says:

If we’re solving this problem for AI, perhaps we can find a solution that works for end users too.

His suggestion being that maybe we should frame AI needs in the web platform the same way we do other needs in the web’s priority of constituents: user needs come before developer needs, implementor needs, spec writer needs — or even agent needs. ( UX over DX over AX.)

Now for the funny part. Here’s Jason:

let’s set aside for the moment the irony that AI is supposed to replace all of our jobs and become a super intelligence and at the same time we also need to add special AI training wheels for it to use the web.

It’s like that person you know who prides themselves on their independence, that they don’t bend to society and culture, and that they don’t need anyone or anything — oh, and by the way, could you spot them twenty bucks?


Reply via:

Email · Mastodon ·

Bluesky

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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This is something. WordPress now supports RSS.chat in an interesting way, and it's surprisingly deep. Once it's cross-posted a message to RSS.chat, any comment in response will be cross-posted to the comment thread on RSS.chat and vice versa. What's great about this is that you never can tell what people will do when you are on the web. Matthias is a friend, I was on his podcast last year. If people use this connection and see how it works, then we'll get an idea of where to go next.

Con Stories: SDCC Sunday 2026

We’ve got one more day of memorable moments from SDCC to share! So follow along as we take you through our adventures from the last day of the con. Road to 1K Giveaway An overarching theme of our SDCC experience this year was our road to 1K giveaway! As of Sunday morning we were at... Continue Reading →

The post Con Stories: SDCC Sunday 2026 appeared first on SKKAW.BLOG.

Pay Attention: David Pakman's New Book Deserves Yours

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You helped put my book on the New York Times bestseller list. If you liked mine, you'll love my fellow independent creator's new book, too and you'll want to reserve your copy now.

Protopia

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For over a decade I have been talking about protopia, but I have never written out my description of it.

WebKit Features for Safari 26.6

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Safari 26.6 is here.

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

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Last week in the #PleiadesGazetteer (20-27 July 2026): Over the course of the last week the Pleiades editorial college published 17 new and 169 updated place resources, reflecting the work of Jeffrey Becker, Catherine Bouras, Anika Campbell, Tom Elliott, Ethan Gruber, Greta Hawes, Sebastian Heath, Daniel C. Browning Jr., Brady Kiesling, Chris de Lisle, Gabriel Mckee, Andy Meadows, John Muccigrosso, Louis Mulot, Jamie Novotny, Chiara Palladino, Karen Rubinson, Joe Scholten, Rosemary Selth, R. Scott Smith, and René Voorburg, as well as contributors to Wikidata.

A list of all new and changed resources, complete with titles, descriptions, bylines, change summaries and links to the actual gazetteer entries, as well as an overview map, may be read on the blog at https://pleiades.stoa.org/news/blog/last-week-in-pleiades-20-27-july-2026

#ancientGeography #ancientHistory #archaeology #classics #DH #gazetteers #HGIS #LOD

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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Of course we have a feed for RSS.chat updates.

Fa Fa

My brain-breaking trick for weaning off of Facebook involved creating a fake URL for Google News. Blame the home row.

Last Week in Pleiades (20-27 July 2026)

Last week the Pleiades editorial college published 17 new and 169 updated place resources, reflecting the work of Jeffrey Becker, Catherine Bouras, Anika Campbell, Tom Elliott, Ethan Gruber, Greta Hawes, Sebastian Heath, Daniel C. Browning Jr., Brady Kiesling, Chris de Lisle, Gabriel Mckee, Andy Meadows, John Muccigrosso, Louis Mulot, Jamie Novotny, Chiara Palladino, Karen Rubinson, Joe Scholten, Rosemary Selth, R. Scott Smith, and René Voorburg, as well as contributors to Wikidata.

Wed, July 29nd, 7pm ET - Our Weekly Hopium Paid Subscriber Get Together

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Welcome New Subscribers!

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

, updated:

How we document APIs. We did a lot of work on API docs this morning. Claude had done a draft, which we published, and turned over to users, and on review realized it was insufficient. That was the word I used, and rolled up my sleeves, told Claude we're going to get this stuff right and set a pattern as we go forward. At the end I asked Claude to summarize what we agreed on, and it's more or less exactly what I was aiming at. If you're working with Claude on docs for APIs, I offer this as open source, feel free to point your Claude at this doc. I have a vested interest, in my job I read a lot of bad API docs.

★ Ads in Software Are Like Stickers on Laptops

Putting themselves in customers’ shoes today, how many ads do Apple’s executives want stuck in the results when they search for an app in the App Store?

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

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New in the #PleiadesGazetteer Zotero library: Spathi 2020 = Maria G. Spathi, “Sanctuaries & Cults in the Peloponnese: New Evidence for Sanctuaries & Sacral Contexts, 2010–2020,” Archaeological Reports 66 (November 2020): 145–59, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0570608420000071.

Available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0570608420000071

Bibliographic record: https://www.zotero.org/groups/2533/items/Y8MWITIV

@DAIR blog

New on Mystery AI Hype Theater 3000!:

AI boosters want to hand off emergency services to the bullshit generators. @emilymbender.bsky.social and @alexhanna.bsky.social take on the latest automated horrors threatening our collective health and safety.

Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2126417/episodes/19535278-state-of-emergency-2026-06-29

Recordando a Sam Neill: nuestras interpretaciones favoritas del icónico actor

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Ya son dos semanas desde que el querido Sam Neill falleció y la tristeza se sigue sintiendo en el equipo de Palomita de maíz. Con base en los muchos tributos que aparecieron con las noticias de su deceso, Neill se caracterizó por ser, más allá de un excelente actor, una gran persona y un memorable […]

La entrada Recordando a Sam Neill: nuestras interpretaciones favoritas del icónico actor se publicó primero en Palomita de maíz.

Circular financing ain’t what it used to be

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Nvidia is falling. The mood has changed.

French Theory And Tuna

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Writing of lasting value

What do voters in each congressional district think about Trump? Immigration? The midterms?

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I've published a bunch of graphs of district-level opinion over at the Strength In Numbers Pro polling dashboard

My Support Blog

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Many years ago I blogged about how developers should do tech support, so after joining Automattic as an Android developer I was pleased that an annual support rotation is a requirement. Previously a support rotation… More

2026-07-27 Ethics

2026-07-27 Ethics

I was following a link that @dahukanna had posted and followed a link as one does, and saw the following:

Interviewing is not Computer Science

Philosophy is not Computer Science

Ethics is not Computer Science

But why though? Why aren’t these things part of what we do? Shouldn’t they be?

When I was a young programmer, I felt that talking to customers was important and sometimes my fellow programmers failed at the task.

When I was a middle-age programmer, I felt that thinking about the whys and hows was important and sometimes my fellow programmers failed at the task.

These days, I feel that thinking about the blood on the hardware we use and thinking about the crimes committed using the software we use is important and sometimes my fellow programmers are failing at the task.

#AI #Programming #Philosophy

Mapping Trump’s crypto empire on Last Week Tonight

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A new Citation Needed data project maps the Trump family’s web of cryptocurrency ventures, which have been generating billions in income for the president.

It’s Time to End DC's Blank Check for Endless War

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For decades, American politicians from both parties have insisted that US and Israeli military interests are inseparable, that what benefits one inherently benefits the other.

Don't bring sensitive data to a border crossing

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The DOJ is trying to prosecute Sam Tunick for allegedly using a duress passcode. It's a lesson in why your best protection is having nothing to protect.

"Fighting For An Affordable America," Getting Troy Jackson Launched And Ready To Win, "Republicans See ‘Scary’ Lack Of Enthusiasm Among Core Voters"

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We have one job now - winning the election and taking back power next January

How I see the network evolving

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A frequently asked question about RSS.chat. How about adding external feeds to the timeline. Of course we thought of doing this, and even started development, you might even find some traces in the code of that attempt.

The thing about bootstraps is you can't anticipate all the questions in advance, and thus can't have answers prepared for them.

RSS.chat is a group chat app that uses RSS and OPML to present its face to the world, along with an API that still needs more docs. It's similar to half of Mastodon, and we're going for something completely different. People will want to run all-size workgroups. I like having one with 20 or 30 people, friends who develop software. I don't mind doing a little bit of moderation, but I don't want to drive deliberately into a scale that only works if you have extensive and very expensive moderation.

"Small pieces loosely joined" means we have a great writing app, and connect to feed reading apps, ones with a few new features to do the things people want to do with a social network that happens to use RSS and OPML to get stuff around the net. It would be a different kind of feed reader but the underlying technology is identical, because we built on a set of web standards, widely supported by feed readers. This is a UI exploration for them, primarily.

Just to be sure everyone understands -- I already have such an app, called FeedLand. You can set up an account there for free. And read the docs. It may not have all the features we'll need, but it will be a good place to start.

FeedLand supports a crucial feature that most readers don't -- subscribable lists of feeds. If you want a collection of things to read that you can reply to even if you aren't on the site, that's where we're going to put that feature, that's where all the RSS.chat and compatible apps can be in one flow, arranged however you like. And from a user interface standpoint, we can make it look like it's all happening in one app, thanks to the rssCloud protocol and the websockets firehose feature in RSS.chat FeedLand has the same feature.

We decided there was a line there, that RSS.chat would be one of the small pieces as would FeedLand, and both would be replaceable which is the other fundamental value. And with FeedLand and dynamic lists, will come the user interface people ask for. Many different user interfaces I hope because another way we've been cheated by the dominatioin of twitter-like social networks is there's no room to try out radically new ideas. Software should move. But Twitter didn't live on the web, so it didn't have the ethos of small pieces loosely joined. I know Jack wanted to do this, I had lunch with him in 2007 when he described the protocol, and I was very enthusiastic. But it never got out because the juggernaut that Twitter became didn't leave any room for new architectures.

I hope this clears it up. I want RSS.chat to be the coral reef for a new network of feed-based apps running on the web that does what social networks do, but with no one owning it, and everyone gets to play.

Harper on Better Stack

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Harper on Better Stack

It was a nice week­end treat to see Harper fea­tured on Better Stack’s YouTube chan­nel. Even if the script has more than a few Claudisms, it is awe­some when­ever Harper gets this kind of at­ten­tion.

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

Export Updates 2026-07-27:

Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places

6 updated places.

1. Downloads: https://pleiades.stoa.org/downloads

2. pleiades.datasets: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades.datasets:

"main" branch:

189cdb76 - updated json

no change: rdf/ttl

412d6149 - updated gis package

no change: data quality

8dc07aca - updated bibliography

29a1baeb - updated indexes

no change: sidebar

3. pleiades-geojson: https://github.com/ryanfb/pleiades-geojson:

580448ce - updated geojson and names index

4. pleiades_wikidata: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades_wikidata/:

f50c4068 - updated pleiades wikidata

Vivariums, drone shows, and TV kits, all powered by Raspberry Pi

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Here are some highlights from the latest batch of third-party products to join the Powered by Raspberry Pi roster.

The post Vivariums, drone shows, and TV kits, all powered by Raspberry Pi appeared first on Raspberry Pi.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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A new utility exports the contents of a Frontier object database into a single large JSON file. I needed this because I'm preparing to move my code editing suite to Drummer running on new Mac hardware. Took a long time to get here, but with Claude's help the project looks possible. In the meantime the list of stuff I want to do with RSS.chat, while much shorter than it was, still has some juicy bits in it.

Thabo Rametsi Unveiled As Apartheid Era Music Legend Hugh Masekela In First-Look Image For Bill Condon’s ‘The Road Home’

South African actor, writer, director and producer Thabo Rametsi (Silverton Siege) has been unveiled in his role as activist and music legend Hugh Masekela in Bill Condon’s The Road Home as the filming continues in South Africa. A first-look image released by the film’s backers and producers Canal+, Studiocanal and Flora Film as well as […]

Diego Luna To Receive Honorary Heart Of Sarajevo Award

Diego Luna is set to be awarded an Honorary Heart of Sarajevo Award at the upcoming Sarajevo Film Festival in recognition of his career and contribution to world cinema.  The Mexican actor-director-producer, whose work spans across film, TV and theater, will touch down at the Bosnian festival to present his latest directorial feature Ashes, which premiered […]

Netflix Unveils Live Darts Event With Teenage Sensation Luke Littler

Teenage darts champion and prodigy Luke Littler is headlining Netflix’s next big live event. Littler posted a vid this morning asking for members of the public to come forward and challenge him for £501,000 ($667,000) at a live event in which they will attempt to beat him at his own game. Those who want to […]

Cognyte Sells a Mobile Cell Surveillance Van

Yet another Israeli mass surveillance company:

Made by Israeli surveillance company Cognyte, the tech simulates a mobile phone tower, which forces nearby phones to connect to it. That enables cops to keep tabs on any phones in the vicinity ­ whether they’re owned by a suspect in a case or not. Cognyte’s contract with the state of Texas reveals that the simulator, called FalcoNet, can be concealed within the vehicles, hidden in a backpack for on-foot missions or attached to a helicopter. It’s the same technology as the infamous Stingray, one of the original cell-site simulators made by defense giant L3Harris...

Unconscious Mitch McConnell Scores Higher Approval Rating Than Conscious Version

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Voters pointed to progress on guns, the environment, and a host of other issues that could have been achieved if only McConnell had not been sentient.

Protopia

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[For over a decade I have been talking about protopia, but I have never written out my description of it. What follows is my best case for this idea, which I first coined in 2011.] Protopia is a plausible, desirable … Continue reading →

Cradle to the Grave

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As Sam Moyn has recently argued, "class reductionism" fails to explain differentiation along the generational gradient — a pattern clearly visible in economics, politics, and ideology. Yet a clear picture of how age mediates class would reveal not gerontocracy, but capitalism and the fractionated class system it produces.

Cristiano Ronaldo Reportedly Lining Up First Drama Series With Matthew Vaughn, Damian Lewis & Some Big Name Guest Stars

After a disappointing World Cup, it appears that Cristiano Ronaldo has his next project. According to The Sun, the Portuguese superstar is working with Kingsman director Matthew Vaughn on a show about a UK soccer agent starring Damian Lewis and a number of big stars from the sport. Coming from an original idea by soccer […]

Pluralistic: How the EU can punish Google (despite Trump) (27 Jul 2026)

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Today's links How the EU can punish Google (despite Trump): Grant me the courage to change the things I can. Hey look at this: Delights to delectate. Object permanence: Chilling Effects; Billy Bragg v Myspace; Glenn Beck calls murdered Norwegian children "Hitler Youth"; Photog sues Getty for $1b copyfraud; Best paid CEOs perform worst; Olympics v "Olympics"; Alberta tar sands v "hot lesbians"; IoT security apocalypse; 3 Little Pigs in pidgin; The nasty party; Copyright extortionist infringed fellow extortionist; Grandpa mobbed for photographing grandson in park; Ice Bucket Challenge didn't cure ALS; Twiddling enshittifies your brain. Upcoming appearances: Edinburgh, Sydney, Melbourne, Brighton, London, South Bend. Recent appearances: Where I've been. Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em. Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em. Colophon: All the rest. How the EU can punish Google (despite Trump) (permalink) The "Serenity Prayer" (Serenity to accept things I can't change/Courage to change the things I can/Wisdom to know the difference) is usually cited as pop psychology or addiction recovery advice, but I think there's a place for it in policymaking. Take the EU's fight against US Big Tech. During the Biden years, the EU's tech policy matured into something serious and ambitious, culminating in the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA), a pair of big, muscular policies that would curb Big Tech's most abusive conduct. The EU's ambition didn't occur in a vacuum: it was part of a global wave of antitrust fervor whose top agenda item was reining in tech: https://pluralistic.net/2025/06/28/mamdani/#trustbusting In this fight, the EU had important partners all over the world. For example, South Korea and Japan used the facts uncovered through EU enforcement action against Google and Apple to pursue similar cases: https://pluralistic.net/2024/04/10/an-injury-to-one/#is-an-injury-to-all But the EU's most important partner in its fight against American Big Tech was America. Biden's trustbusters – Lina Khan, Rohit Chopra, Jonathan Kanter, Tim Wu, et al – were every bit as serious about Big Tech power as anyone in the EU. After all, the American public are always the first victims of any new tech scam, and America is the only country with a large, affluent population who lack modern, comprehensive consumer privacy protection, making Americans highly prized prey for tech companies: https://pluralistic.net/2025/04/23/zuckerstreisand/#zdgaf With America and the EU on the same side of the tech fight, the world had a fighting chance. Tech knew this, which is why Big Tech backed Trump hard during the 2024 election and aggressively curried his favor after he won. From the tech barons who paid $1m each to sit behind Trump on the inaugural dais to the millions tech companies donated to Trump's Epstein Ballroom at the White House, tech has made it clear that it supports anything Trump wants to do, provided he shields Big Tech from any attempt to limit their ability to spy on and steal from Americans and the world. Even before he took office, Trump made it clear how he would reward tech's loyalty: weeks before the inauguration, Trump went to Davos and threatened the EU with reprisals if they enforced the DSA or DMA against his tech companies: https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/23/trumps-not-happy-with-how-eu-regulators-have-treated-us-tech-giants/ Trump wasted no time leaning on US trading partners on behalf of Big Tech. He bullied Canadian PM Mark Carney into dropping his plan to tax US tech companies. Big Tech uses a variety of tax-cheating gambits to evade taxation around the world, making it impossible for (tax-paying) domestic companies to compete: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2025/06/canada-rescinds-digital-services-tax-to-advance-broader-trade-negotiations-with-the-united-states.html Trump also got UK PM Keir Starmer to drop his plan to tax tech: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/01/starmer-offered-big-us-tech-firms-tax-cuts-in-return-for-lower-trump-tariffs And he got the EU to roll back its plan to regulate AI: https://fortune.com/2025/11/07/eu-ai-act-weaken-regulation-delay-big-tech-trump-government/ None of the governments that caved to Trump got anything in return. As I've written: Give Trump everything he asks for and he'll demand more. Deny Trump anything and he'll demand more. Sign a contract with Trump and he'll break it. Send Trump an invoice and he'll stiff you. For Trump, "the art of the deal" can be summed up in one word: renege. https://pluralistic.net/2026/07/22/table-flipper/#graveyard-of-indispensable-nations Case in point: after the EU surrendered to Trump on AI regulation, Trump announced that a on ban EU officials who had worked on the Digital Services Act from traveling to the USA: https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2025/12/announcement-of-actions-to-combat-the-global-censorship-industrial-complex/ Then, after the EU made more concessions to Trump, he announced a ban on even more EU officials: https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-trump-administration-targets-europe-s-content-moderation-laws Trump ordered his tech giants to dig through EU officials' private correspondence so he can figure out who to ban next: https://www.politico.eu/article/us-congress-judiciary-committee-big-tech-private-communication-eu-officials/ Trump's tech companies got the memo. When the EU ordered Apple to follow the law, Apple told the EU to fuck off: https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/06/spoil-the-bunch/#dma After all, Apple is a key partner in the Trump administration's mass deportations. Apple blocked an iPhone app that warns Apple customers if they're about to be kidnapped or murdered by ICE. Trump needs Apple, just as much as Apple needs Trump: https://pluralistic.net/2025/10/06/rogue-capitalism/#orphaned-syrian-refugees-need-not-apply Despite this, the EU keeps trying to enforce its laws against Trump's companies. Last week, the Commission announced a $1b fine against Google for violating the Digital Services Act with conduct that cost Europeans many billions: https://digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/commission-fines-google-eur890-million-breaches-digital-markets-act-2026-07-23_en In other words, Google wasn't even being ordered to disgorge all the money it stole, just some of it. Remember, a fine is a price: the EU's fine here will only make this kind of cheating slightly less profitable. Nevertheless, Trump responded immediately by threatening the EU with many billions more in tariffs if they continue to attempt to enforce the law against one of his companies: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2026/07/24/trump-says-eu-to-pay-very-big-price-for-890-million-google-fine_6755804_4.html Trump, the European Commission and Google all know this is about more than one $1b fine. The DSA and DMA both provide for steeply rising fines and other penalties for repeat offenders, and Google clearly has no plan to end its very profitable European crime-spree. Trump's threats aren't a bid to kill this enforcement – Trump wants to kill all enforcement. Retaliatory tariffs aren't the only weapon Trump has at his disposal. If the EU (or any other country) levies a serious fine against Google, Apple, Oracle, Microsoft, or any of Trump's other tech companies, Trump can order US banks not to turn over those fines, even after the EU sends them a court order for the money. If a bank defies Trump, he can threaten to yank its charter. Or he could just run the same swindle he pulled on Tiktok: stealing the whole company and selling it to one of his buddies, who will run it the way Trump wants. The reality is that without America's assistance, the EU has precious little hope of forcing American companies to do things they don't want to do. In terms of the Serenity Prayer, this is "a thing they cannot change." The Serenity Prayer doesn't stop with "things you can't change." The next line seeks "the courage to change the things I can." The EU has no control over Google's conduct, but it has total control over its own conduct. Specifically, the EU could get rid of the laws that ban European companies from modifying US tech exports. The EU adopted the Copyright Directive in 2001. Article 6 of the EUCD makes it a crime to reverse-engineer and modify a device without the manufacturer's permission. This law was adopted under pressure from the US Trade Representative, who threatened the EU with tariffs on its exports unless it adopted an "anticircumvention rule" that banned EU technologists from making products that let Europeans prevent US tech companies from stealing their money and data": https://pluralistic.net/2026/01/01/39c3/#the-new-coalition This law is still in force in the EU, despite the fact that Trump (predictably) reneged on the US side of the bargain, hitting the EU with massive tariffs and even threatening to steal part of Denmark. Article 6 of the Copyright Directive is the reason European tech companies can't jailbreak America's apps, whether that's to get its government and corporate data off of US platforms: https://pluralistic.net/2025/10/15/freedom-of-movement/#data-dieselgate Or to modify American social media apps to respect EU privacy laws: https://pluralistic.net/2026/01/30/zucksauce/#gandersauce The EU can't control what Apple or Google do. But the EU can absolutely decide whether Trump's companies can use Europe's courts to destroy European companies that defend the privacy and economic integrity of the European people. If the EU kills off Article 6 of the Copyright Directive, they can use European companies to bring Google and Apple's defective tech exports into compliance with European law. Unlike Trump's companies, those companies can be forced to pay their taxes and respect their users' privacy, labor and consumer rights. That's the Serenity Prayer's "wisdom to know the difference." Hey look at this (permalink) Nate Silver discovers the educated poor https://crookedtimber.org/2026/07/25/nate-silver-discovers-the-educated-poor/ Imagine a World in Which Microsoft Sold Cars the Way It Sells Software https://www.thesling.org/imagine-a-world-in-which-microsoft-sold-cars-the-way-it-sells-software/ Tesla swapped a solar owner’s lease contract for the Book of Enoch https://electrek.co/2026/07/23/tesla-solar-lease-contract-book-of-enoch/ Canadian legislator reads out apparent LLM response in floor speech https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/07/canadian-legislator-reads-out-apparent-llm-response-in-floor-speech/ The Resistance Liberal Lawyers Helping Trump Take Over the Media https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/the-resistance-liberal-lawyers-helping Object permanence (permalink) #25yrsago Chilling Effects https://web.archive.org/web/20010801172448/http://eon.law.harvard.edu/chill/ #25yrsago 13-year-old hacker's book deal: “The Unofficial Guide to Ethical Hacking" https://web.archive.org/web/20011102164905/http://www.vnunet.com/News/1124279 #20yrsago France’s new copyright law slaughters kills use and open source https://web.archive.org/web/20060812223624/http://soufron.typhon.net/spip.php?article150 #20yrsago Billy Bragg gets MySpace’s terms of service changed https://web.archive.org/web/20100809150257/http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&amp;friendID=34570397&amp;blogID=137856388&amp;MyToken=626131d4-c695-42ba-867b-754b9e2bfeaa #15yrsago Buy an Old West town in South Dakota for $0.8M https://web.archive.org/web/20110728012824/https://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/07/27/south.dakota.town.sale/index.html #15yrsago Glenn Beck compares murdered Norway campers to “Hitler Youth” https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/top-of-the-ticket/story/2011-07-25/opinion-glenn-beck-hits-new-low-compares-norway-victims-to-hitler-youth #15yrsago 3 Little Pigs rendered into Papua New Guinea pidgin https://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200709/r184705_686227.mp3 #15yrsago Why they call the Tories “the nasty party” https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jul/28/tory-lib-dems-clash-on-policy #15yrsago US ISP/copyright deal: a one-sided private law for corporations, without public interest https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/07/graduated-response-deal-what-if-users-had-been #15yrsago Copyright extortionist ripped off his competitor’s threatening material https://torrentfreak.com/anti-piracy-lawyers-rip-off-work-from-competitor-110727/ #15yrsago Karl Schroeder: Science fiction versus structured study of the future, sf as aspiration https://www.antipope.org/charlie/blog-static/2011/07/beyond-prediction.html #15yrsago Norwegian PM refuses to let terrorist attacks drive his country to intolerance and paranoid “security” https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/world/europe/28norway.html?_r=1 #15yrsago Man with camera in park who fled angry parent sought by police (turns out he was taking pix of his grandson) https://web.archive.org/web/20110829052009/https://pixiq.com/article/man-photographing-grandkid-in-park-deemed-suspicious #10yrsago Laurie Penny at the DNC: “Dissent will not be tolerated. Protest will not be permitted.” https://medium.com/welcome-to-the-scream-room/bad-moon-rising-8cd348df50e9#.9lhcixjn1 #10yrsago The Ice Bucket Challenge did not fund a breakthrough in ALS treatment https://web.archive.org/web/20160914225439/http://www.healthnewsreview.org/2016/07/ice-bucket-challenge-breakthrough-experts-pour-cold-water-superficial-reporting/ #10yrsago Silicon Valley banks offer tech giants’ new hires 100% mortgages on 24 hours’ notice https://web.archive.org/web/20160727095557/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-27/zero-down-on-a-2-million-house-is-no-problem-in-silicon-valley #10yrsago Patent fighters attack the crown jewels of three of America’s worst patent trolls https://web.archive.org/web/20160727191625/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/07/patent-defense-group-seeks-to-knock-out-top-three-trolls-of-2015/ #10yrsago Censorship company drops bogus lawsuit against researchers who outed them https://citizenlab.ca/research-interest/ #10yrsago Photographer sues Getty Images for $1B because they’re charging for pix she donated to LoC https://hyperallergic.com/photographer-files-1-billion-suit-against-getty-for-licensing-her-public-domain-images/ #10yrsago First-ever Michelin star for street food awarded to Singaporean hawker stalls https://web.archive.org/web/20160723174014/http://uk.reuters.com/article/us-singapore-food-hawkers-michelin-star-idUKKCN1021XA #10yrsago Highest-paid CEOs generate lowest shareholder returns https://www.msci.com/documents/10199/91a7f92b-d4ba-4d29-ae5f-8022f9bb944d #10yrsago Olympics to companies: mentioning “Olympics” in social media is a trademark violation #https://web.archive.org/web/20160727075209/https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/17120510/united-states-olympic-committee-battle-athletes-companies-sponsor-not-olympics #10yrsago Pro-tar-sands activists say dirty Canadian oil is better because “lesbians are hot” https://www.joeydevilla.com/2016/07/26/this-ill-advised-hot-lesbians-ad-promoting-canadian-vs-saudi-oil-is-real-and-not-a-parody-by-the-onion/ #5yrsago The infosec apocalypse is nigh https://pluralistic.net/2021/07/27/gas-on-the-fire/#a-safe-place-for-dangerous-ideas #1yrago How twiddling enshittifies your brain https://pluralistic.net/2025/07/28/twiddlehazard/#outboard-brains-considered-harmful Upcoming appearances (permalink) Virtual: EFFecting Change: Who the Machine Serves, Aug 12 https://www.eff.org/event/effecting-change-who-machine-serves Edinburgh International Book Festival with Jimmy Wales, Aug 17 https://www.edbookfest.co.uk/events/the-front-list-cory-doctorow-and-jimmy-wales Sydney: The Festival of Dangerous Ideas, Aug 23-24 https://festivalofdangerousideas.com/program/ Melbourne: Enshittification at the Wheeler Centre, Aug 25 https://www.wheelercentre.com/events-tickets/season-2026/cory-doctorow-enshittification Brighton: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Carole Cadwalladr (Brighton Dome), Sep 8 https://brightondome.org/whats-on/LSC-cory-doctorow-the-reverse-centaurs-guide-to-life-after-ai/ London: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Riley Quinn (Foyle's Picadilly), Sep 9 https://www.foyles.co.uk/events/enshittification-cory-doctorow-riley-quinn South Bend: An Evening With Cory Doctorow (Notre Dame), Oct 6 https://franco.nd.edu/events/2026/10/06/an-evening-with-cory-doctorow/ Recent appearances (permalink) A Conversation with Lina Khan (Law and Economy Student Network) https://www.youtube.com/live/7Ak5LZllqwE Will AI ever come alive, and what happens if it does? (BBC News) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lzk4o3fPZZE Waarom jij straks het hulpje van AI bent (VPRO) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOnvR2fs8CA Talk Tech Bock (Vera Linß) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PFjGvQoBgc How To Think About AI Before It’s Too Late (This Is Hell) https://thisishell.com/episodes/1919 Latest books (permalink) "The Reverse-Centaur's Guide to AI," a short book about being a better AI critic, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, June 2026 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374621568/thereversecentaursguidetolifeafterai/ "Canny Valley": A limited edition collection of the collages I create for Pluralistic, self-published, September 2025 https://pluralistic.net/2025/09/04/illustrious/#chairman-bruce "Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, October 7 2025 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374619329/enshittification/ "Picks and Shovels": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about the heroic era of the PC, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2025 (https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865908/picksandshovels). "The Bezzle": a sequel to "Red Team Blues," about prison-tech and other grifts, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), February 2024 (thebezzle.org). "The Lost Cause:" a solarpunk novel of hope in the climate emergency, Tor Books (US), Head of Zeus (UK), November 2023 (http://lost-cause.org). "The Internet Con": A nonfiction book about interoperability and Big Tech (Verso) September 2023 (http://seizethemeansofcomputation.org). Signed copies at Book Soup (https://www.booksoup.com/book/9781804291245). "Red Team Blues": "A grabby, compulsive thriller that will leave you knowing more about how the world works than you did before." Tor Books http://redteamblues.com. "Chokepoint Capitalism: How to Beat Big Tech, Tame Big Content, and Get Artists Paid, with Rebecca Giblin", on how to unrig the markets for creative labor, Beacon Press/Scribe 2022 https://chokepointcapitalism.com Upcoming books (permalink) "The Post-American Internet," a geopolitical sequel of sorts to Enshittification, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2027 "Unauthorized Bread": a middle-grades graphic novel adapted from my novella about refugees, toasters and DRM, FirstSecond, April 20, 2027 "Enshittification, Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It" (the graphic novel), Firstsecond, 2027 "The Memex Method," Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2027 Colophon (permalink) Today's top sources: Currently writing: "The Post-American Internet," a sequel to "Enshittification," about the better world the rest of us get to have now that Trump has torched America. Fourth draft completed. Submitted to editor. A Little Brother short story about DIY insulin PLANNING This work – excluding any serialized fiction – is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. That means you can use it any way you like, including commercially, provided that you attribute it to me, Cory Doctorow, and include a link to pluralistic.net. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Quotations and images are not included in this license; they are included either under a limitation or exception to copyright, or on the basis of a separate license. Please exercise caution. How to get Pluralistic: Blog (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): Pluralistic.net Newsletter (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://pluralistic.net/plura-list Mastodon (no ads, tracking, or data-collection): https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic Bluesky (no ads, possible tracking and data-collection): https://bsky.app/profile/doctorow.pluralistic.net Medium (no ads, paywalled): https://doctorow.medium.com/ Tumblr (mass-scale, unrestricted, third-party surveillance and advertising): https://mostlysignssomeportents.tumblr.com/tagged/pluralistic "When life gives you SARS, you make sarsaparilla" -Joey "Accordion Guy" DeVilla READ CAREFULLY: By reading this, you agree, on behalf of your employer, to release me from all obligations and waivers arising from any and all NON-NEGOTIATED agreements, licenses, terms-of-service, shrinkwrap, clickwrap, browsewrap, confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-compete and acceptable use policies ("BOGUS AGREEMENTS") that I have entered into with your employer, its partners, licensors, agents and assigns, in perpetuity, without prejudice to my ongoing rights and privileges. You further represent that you have the authority to release me from any BOGUS AGREEMENTS on behalf of your employer. ISSN: 3066-764X

The Fire This Time

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The willful ignorance, it burns

Lit Hub Daily: July 27, 2026

D/Annie Liontas, Sara Nović, Chet’la Sebree and Maria Adelman discuss the literary word’s unacknowledged class system. | Lit Hub In Conversation On that time Johnny Cash almost started a riot at California’s most infamous prison. | Lit Hub Music Why

The Saudi nuclear farce and governance by whim and meme

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Trump has made the word of the US government worthless.

Prime Video Inks Multi-Year Deal With CJ ENM Bringing More Than 100 Korean Shows To India

Prime Video India has signed a multi-year deal with Korean studio CJ ENM through which a slate of 26 new titles will be rolled out in India over the next two years, alongside popular titles from CJ ENM’s existing content library.  The collaboration spans more than 100 titles in total and is an extension of the […]

Stop Chasing New Models. Build Once and Access Them All.

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Swapping LLMs sounds simple, but managing separate SDKs, credentials, and billing turns model evaluation into an infrastructure headache. Otari solves this with a unified gateway, decoupling application logic from providers so teams can seamlessly route traffic, test new models, and control spend.

Bill Oddie Dies: British TV Presenter & Birdwatcher Was 85

Bill Oddie, Britain’s most beloved birdwatcher and wildlife TV presenter, has died aged 85. His death was confirmed by his agent, David Foster, in at a statement carried by several British news outlets. “It is with deep sadness that I announce the passing of Bill Oddie, the country’s best-loved birder. “Bill was a multi-talented celebrity […]

The Time Johnny Cash Almost Started a Prison Riot at San Quentin

“I think this is a very important thing: to give a man some hope in prison, to give a man some encouragement to be a better citizen while he is there and if he is a better citizen, while he

On Reckoning With the Literary World’s Unacknowledged Class System

When I walk into a room full of writers, I’m often struck by the sense that I don’t belong. I’m an immigrant, first-generation to college; my father was a welder. Swearing was the third language we spoke at home—after English

This Week in Literary History: Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” is Published in The Atlantic Monthly

This first appeared in Lit Hub’s Literary History newsletter—sign up here. Robert Frost’s most famous poem, “The Road Not Taken,” “has confused audiences literally from the beginning,” David Orr has written. In the spring of 1915, Frost sent an envelope to Edward

Why Black Americans Need Reparations Now

As a Haitian American, I have heard stories of resistance from my elders starting at the tender age of three. The accounts were often told through fairy tales, but as I grew older, the message became more direct. By late

What Barriers Do Women in Science Face When Trying to Publish?

I went to high school and college at the height of the women’s liberation movement, in the 1970s. We knew that sexism was a problem—but we were solving it. My father, the center of our household, encouraged me to become

“Copernicus Is Dying”

It seems impossible, but the lanky Petco cashier with the shiny blond pompadour insists that he’s telling the truth. “A shortage?” I ask. He nods. “All of them?” He nods again. I look at his name tag with the idea

Benedict Cumberbatch Says Paramount-Warner Deal Is A “Calamity” That Must Be Blocked

Benedict Cumberbatch has co-authored an op-ed with Alan Cumming and Benedict Wong in which the actors argue that Paramount’s takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery should be blocked in the UK. In The Guardian article, headlined ‘A TV and cinema calamity could be disastrous for what you watch and what you know. Act now to stop […]

"Charitable Giving" Isn't What You Think

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And the gusher of it is just beginning

HTTP Message Signatures with curl

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The recently published RFC 9421 describes how to do HTTP Message Signatures, and starting just now, curl experimentally supports them. Message Signatures The specification describes this as a mechanism for creating, encoding, and verifying digital signatures or message authentication codes over components of an HTTP message. It is a way to verify that selected parts … Continue reading HTTP Message Signatures with curl→

Netflix India Boss Monika Shergill Eyes Global Format Adaptations After “Captive Reality” Series ‘Lock Upp’ Hits 50 Million Hours

EXCLUSIVE: Is Netflix eyeing an Indian version of Love is Blind or Too Hot to Handle? In an exclusive interview with Deadline, Netflix India VP of Content Monika Shergill revealed her service was working on developing Netflix-owned unscripted formats locally, without revealing their identities. “We are working on a couple of very interesting, big global […]

The new yet familiar CodePen 2.0

CodePen v2 is now released! Because I co-host a podcast with Chris I’ve had an up-close perspective at this monumental effort over the last five years. I know how much work has gone into this release and I applaud the team for hitting the finish line.

At the crux of the new experience is the new and improved editor. When you first launch into the v2.0 editor, your first response will probably be “Who moved my cheese!?” New is always uncomfortable, but there’s a fix for getting back to the old familiar UI…

  • Hit ⌘ + U or CTRL + U to hide the new pen sidebar
  • Install the Classic Block Template to remove ~14 lines of HTML (Optional)

Okay, now hit ⌘ + U or CTRL + U again, because what’s in the sidebar are all the new features and favorite parts I want to talk about.

An entire file system Link to heading 'An entire file system'

slaps roof of car meme: slaps roof of codepen, this bad boy can fit over 300 files

The first thing you’ll notice when entering the new CodePen editor is a file explorer. That’s right! CodePen is breaking out of its three-file constraint and allowing you to build entire multi-file and multi-page websites.

A not-so-secret feature of CodePen was that you could mimic a file system in CodePen by using other pens as external resources, but referencing your custom reset.css by importing <user>/pen/<slug>.css wasn’t the JS module-like experience you come to expect from the modern web.

But gone are the days of 2,000 line JavaScript files, I can now import foo from './foo.js' like TC39 intended. I must admit that my more complex ideas were hitting the limit of what was comfortable to type into a tiny textbox. But now creating a folder of web components or JSON data files to loop through is easier than ever. I can build multi-file and multi-page prototypes (e.g. view-transitions! service-workers!) all without spinning up a local dev server. Digging up an old CodePen is much easier than finding an old folder on an old hard drive and it’s arguably the easiest way to put a custom webpage up on the internet right now.

Without drawing too many comparisons to competitors, CodePen at times felt a bit underpowered when compared to other online code editing environments. But those other services that spin up an entire Node.js Docker so that I can build my <fart-button> always felt like overkill to me. CodePen now occupies not just the entry-level and middle ground, but almost the entire spectrum of needs that I have for prototyping and small site building.

Versioning and deployments Link to heading 'Versioning and deployments'

Who amongst us hasn’t totally beefer’d up a good pen before?

Ruining an otherwise quality pen to idea creep or losing work to a browser refresh is always a possibility with online editors. It’s typically not world-ending for me and my … ahem… spartanly styled pens, but for sure results in a couple choice swear words. I imagine trending tab experts and newbie beginners find this even more frustrating. But now pens have a version history so you can roll back if necessary.

The deployments are better now too. Sometimes when building an idea, I like to send the “chromeless” version of the pen to non-developer friends or partners/clients to avoid overwhelming them with CodePen UI. This is also useful when debugging on your phone. The debug/ URL worked, but if you’ve ever URL-hacked a private pen URL on your phone you know how un-fun that is. But now I can deploy the pen, get a nice codepen.dev URL or point my custom subdomain at CodePen’s DNS, and Airdop that URL to myself. A small but meaningful quality of life improvement for me.

Blocks Link to heading 'Blocks'

My favorite feature of the new CodePen is Blocks. One of my biggest gripes with modern web development is the amount of tooling it takes to get started. We’ve made it so damn complex to make a webpage, no wonder AI is so popular.

Blocks adds a visual layer to the opaque world of preprocessors, linters, and build processes. CodePen takes those processes and stack them on top of each other to form a predictable pipeline that you can easily visualize and understand how the sausage gets made. Imagine how this must feel for beginners compared to a dozen config files littering the root of your repo! Web development demystified.

I’ve wanted a UI like this for build processes for a long time: Gulp, Webpack, Vite, GitHub Actions, Azure DevOps Pipelines… I feel every service would be better if it had a Blocks UI. Like Scratch, but for servers. Experienced developers might even be less afraid to operate on their build tools if they had something like this.

I think CodePen has created something special here that most people won’t fully understand. A perfect fit for their beginner audience as well as their professional audience who don’t want to copy, paste, and manage config files to build a simple website or goofy pen.

A simplified but more powerful UI Link to heading 'A simplified but more powerful UI'

A whole new product with a new file-system, versioned deployments, and customizable build chain smooshed in… yet the UI still feels familiar. It’s rare for products to evolve so intuitively. There’s more features, but everything feels more predictable. In the “classic” CodePen editor you’d have to surf through a handful of dropdowns and modals to tweak your settings and now a lot of that work is automatic. You want Sass? Add the .scss file extension. You want TypeScript? Add the .ts extension. CodePen will add all the Blocks for you with a default config that works.

It feels like all the configuration options are all co-located in the right place now. And the new omnibar search box is the ultimate get-out-of-jail-free card, exposing most of the features you’d need without all the hunting and pecking. Expanding the capabilities of the product while maintaining simplicity deserves some applause and I feel the team at CodePen walked this delicate line and succeeded.

A couple final thoughts Link to heading 'A couple final thoughts'

I’ve said it before (and I’ll say it again) I admire the team at CodePen and –despite my obvious biases– I think they’re one of the best product teams out there. In their podcast they give you a rare, honest, behind-the-scenes look at how they are thinking about and building their product. No one even comes close to their level of transparency.

Probably my favorite part of Team CodePen is that they’re not afraid to tackle the hard work and pay down technical debt when needed. They stay small, sweat the details, and take their time. There’s no back-pressure from venture capital to move fast and break your things. In my view it’s software done right.

Because I was part of the beta, I’m already using the hell out of CodePen 2.0. I’ve built dozens of big ideas (a browser-based camera, a service-worker based declarative shadow DOM solution, a half-dozen in-browser AI chatbots, a minimum viable design system, and more) that would have been either cumbersome or next-to-impossible in the previous editor. CodePen 2.0 is already enabling me to build bigger, better, and more complex ideas without leaving the comfort of one of my favorite applications on the whole entire internet.

So thanks, CodePen, for the huge upgrade and congrats to the team on the launch. 🎉

July 26, 2026

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From the time he took office in January 2025, Trump and his cronies have not simply challenged laws or constitutional provisions.

‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Writer-Director Reveals Sequel Has Been Written, Hasn’t Been Made For “Financial Reasons”

After three years, Dungeons & Dragons has another campaign in store for fans of the 2023 movie… if it can just get the greenlight. Jonathan Goldstein, who co-wrote and co-directed Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves with John Francis Daley, revealed at Comic-Con that they wrote a sequel to their 2023 adaptation of the tabletop […]

Ryan Reynolds Thanks ‘Deadpool’ Fans For “Unapologetic Devotion” After Undercover Comic-Con Appearance – Watch Video

With Deadpool regenerating for a fourth blockbuster outing, Ryan Reynolds is already getting back into character as the wisecracking mercenary. After his surprise in-costume appearance at Comic-Con during Marvel’s Hall H presentation on Saturday, the Golden Globe nominee shared a behind-the-scenes video of his undercover visit with fans as he walked the floor at the […]

@Andy Sylvester's River of News

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Updated my install of rss.chat (rsschat.andysylvester.com) to the latest server code to pick up a security patch, everything seems to be running smoothly. It is open to all!

Dylan Mulvaney Responds To Trump’s WHCD “Diss Track,” Feels Like “The One That Got Away” For MAGA Men

More than three years after sparking conservative backlash with her Bud Light social media partnership, Dylan Mulvaney was as surprised as anyone to hear her name in Donald Trump’s mouth at the rescheduled White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Counting “four times” the POTUS mentioned her name in his speech on Friday, the Broadway actress, TikTok personality […]

‘House Of The Dragon’s Benjamin Evan Ainsworth Discusses Daeron Targaryen’s Choices & Future Motives As Season 3 Hits Home Stretch

SPOILER ALERT: This story contains details from episode 6 of House of the Dragon on HBO. With only two episodes left of the third season of HBO’s House of the Dragon, the pieces are falling in to place for Ormund Hightower (James Norton) as Daeron Targaryen (Benjamin Evan Ainsworth) watches in the wings. In the […]

Turning our OpenAPI schema into a bug finder

How Buttondown uses Schemathesis fuzz tests to turn its OpenAPI contract into a practical API robustness check.

Engineering with AI podcast

Kyle Hodgson asks his guests about all things 'Engineering with AI' on this podcast, we touched on spec-driven development, harness engineering, local models, and much more

Custom tracking links broken

Our public postmortem for the incident on July 24th, 2026.

Monday 27 July, 2026

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Bike park… …well, maybe not. Quote of the Day ”Civilisation is a thin film across an ocean of chaos”. Werner Herzog  Musical alternative to the morning’s radio news Ry Cooder and David Lindley | Jesus on the Mainline Link My … Continue reading →

Today was a good day for sessions in Belfast!

Today was a good day for sessions in Belfast!

Sunday caption contest: Blockage

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And last week's winner

How Democrats can win over more midterm voters

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YouGov finds most holdouts on the generic ballot are low-turnout voters and indecisive Democrats

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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Many of the questions about RSS.chat center on how do we make this centralized. I don't want this, I want feed readers to add some features and then we can connect these systems together in a million different ways. They just have to think differently about subscription lists. Not radically different, even.

Confession: I still drive a Tesla.

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Wanted to switch but nothing I tried is as great a driving experience the Model Y is. Instead I've had a lot of fender benders and haven't gotten any of them fixed.

  1. Backed into a charging station.
  2. An act of terrorism (exaggerating) but I caused it, and paid for it, dented the well over right rear wheel.
  3. My right side mirror was pulled off its foundation hitting the side of the garage, used duck tape to keep it going. A new one costs $1000. I like the look.
  4. A deer ran in front of my car and took out the panel over the right front wheel. I was able to force the metal back in. A friend saw the car and said "hit a deer eh?" Yup.

I don't know if it accomplishes anything but to me it feels like retribution of a sort.

More on Trotsky and interpretation of Trotsky

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A quick reply to Alex Callinicos

Sunday evening session in Belfast

Sunday evening session in Belfast

Sunday evening session in Belfast

Universal Responds To Online Leak Of ‘The Odyssey’ With Takedown Protocols

Christopher Nolan has taken pains to urge fans to see The Odyssey in Imax if they want the best experience. After all, his film was shot entirely in that format to optimize the moviegoing experience. Imagine the director’s chagrin, then, when a high-quality version of the film was leaked on X this weekend, reportedly garnering […]

‘Transformers: The Movie’ Getting Fall Theatrical Re-Release From Hasbro & Fathom – Comic-Con

The 1986 animated Transformers: The Movie is getting a 4K theatrical re-release from Fathom Entertainment in partnership with Hasbro on Sept. 17. The Nelson Shin directed movie featured the voices of the late Orson Welles, Robert Stack, and Leonard Nimoy respectively in the roles of Unicorn, Ultra Magnus, and Galvatron. Tickets go on sale on […]

‘Black Panther’ Actor Winston Duke Reveals What He Told David Jonsson About Taking On The Iconic Role

At San Diego Comic-Con this weekend, director Ryan Coogler took the stage to announce that not only will Black Panther 3 hit theaters on December 15, 2028, but David Jonsson will play T’Challa’s grown son who was introduced at the end of Wakanda Forever. Jonsson had a role in last year’s The Long Walk, directed by Francis Lawrence. Coogler specifically mentioned that […]

Our Wins Of The Week

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This week had some welcome news for Democrats as they seek to regain majorities in Congress this November.

‘The Odyssey’ Holds Strong Worldwide, Cume Near $640M; ‘Toy Story 5’ Third Pic YTD To Cross $1B WW – Global Box Office Update

Refresh for updates…Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is just laying siege and holding the box office fort at the domestic box office, but worldwide. OMG, the second global weekend was $215.3M, a -18% dip from the Universal pic’s opening which was $263.7M WW. Of that global total, Imax is driving $140M or 53%. Soon, Universal can […]

Week Nine in 250 to 250

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This was the ninth week of videos from the 250 to 250 Project that we’re producing to honor the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Another Sunday session in Belfast

Another Sunday session in Belfast

Another Sunday session in Belfast

Rollday

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Well, two of us know With Apple Is the King of AI and Nobody Knows It, Limited Edition Jonathan does a better job of saying what I’ve been saying about where Personal AI is going, most recently here. Mutterings Dana Blankenhorn on The Biggest Shitpie. Steven K. Roberts on Archiving Meets AI. Cory Doctorow: Dealing […]

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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New docs for the browser JavaScript interface to the RSS.chat API.

Local radio lives in Burlington and Graham

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WBAG’s callsign stands for Burlington And Graham: two adjoining towns between Greensboro and Durham in North Carolina. I have many kinfolk in the hood, and have been living or visiting here all my life. As it happens, WBAG and I were also born the same year. So was the station’s broadcast tower, which stands in […]

Guest Newsletter: Five Books - Wilderness And Machu Picchu

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Five Books features in-depth author interviews recommending five books on a theme

Rallying For Troy Jackson In Maine, Encouraging Generic Ballots Polls, Big Wins For Katie Phang And The Dem AGs

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Happy Sunday everyone.

‘The Odyssey’s $87M Second Weekend A Record For Christopher Nolan, Besting ‘Dark Knight’ – Sunday Box Office Update

SUNDAY AM WRITETHRU: Universal’s The Odyssey remained muscular after a near $26M Friday and $34.6M Saturday, posting Christopher Nolan’s best second weekend ever at the domestic box office with $87M. That’s also, as we told you before the weekend got underway, the best second weekend for a R-rated movie after Deadpool & Wolverine ($96.8M) and […]

Sunday session in Belfast

Sunday session in Belfast

Sunday session in Belfast

rss.chat isn't really a product

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It's what we used to call a coral reef. A deliberate attempt to get people to do more than it does. To think about the web the way it was meant to be thought of, as small pieces loosely joined, with the emphasis on small. If you have formats and protocols that connect the pieces, you can make anything you want out of the pieces. If we don't try to capture our users, instead we try to serve them.

This all sounds nice in theory, I imagine, but -- there's a practical side to it. I wrote about this in a comment in a thread on rss.chat repo. The key point is this, you can do what you want with the data. And if you want to build new data that includes this stuff, go right ahead. RSS is extensible. It's all about working together in a web of people, because you can't have a web of pages if the developers aren't web'd.

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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Scott Hanson has a new service that connects RSS.chat to WordPress.

Con Stories: SDCC Saturday 2026

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We had an amazing time at SDCC on Saturday! Like Friday we experienced so many fun activities we had to share a few of our most memorable moments with you all. Here are some of our highlights from the con. Dungeon Crawler Comics Every year we like to get original art from our favorite artists.... Continue Reading →

The post Con Stories: SDCC Saturday 2026 appeared first on SKKAW.BLOG.

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

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New in the #PleiadesGazetteer Zotero library: Frantz 1988 = Alison Frantz, The Athenian Agora XXIV: Late Antiquity: A.D. 267-700, with Homer A. Thompson and John Travlos, The Athenian Agora 24 (American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 1988), https://doi.org/10.2307/3602001.

Available at: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3602001

Bibliographic record: https://www.zotero.org/groups/2533/items/PRL54LAC

@Dave Winer's Scripting News

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A note to people who run WordCamp conferences. Please, there should be a feed for each event, and as you ramp up to the big day, the news should flow faster. Help people find other people to network with. Get ideas out that aren't in the conference program.

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

Export Updates 2026-07-26:

Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places

6 new and 51 updated places. 5 new and 20 updated linked data sidebars.

1. Downloads: https://pleiades.stoa.org/downloads

2. pleiades.datasets: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades.datasets:

"main" branch:

d3b4b0df - updated json

b5d243fb - updated rdf/ttl

452c61a2 - updated gis package

bc0215ec - updated data quality

b88b9332 - updated bibliography

1db1c60b - updated indexes

5a6a61f5 - updated sidebar

3. pleiades-geojson: https://github.com/ryanfb/pleiades-geojson:

58fa94fb - updated geojson and names index

4. pleiades_wikidata: https://github.com/isawnyu/pleiades_wikidata/:

1e07380d - updated pleiades wikidata

Inside Trump’s Stealth Trick to Rig the Census—and Congress

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The administration’s latest power grab is disguised as boring technical guidance.

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

New in the #PleiadesGazetteer Zotero library: Staab 2025 = G. Staab and M. Eisenberg, “Councilmen (Bouleutai) and Veterans as Executives: Two Inscriptions from the Polis of Hippos and Its Territory,” Zeitschrift Für Papyrologie Und Epigraphik 236 (2025): 159–65.

Bibliographic record: https://www.zotero.org/groups/2533/items/SNLFU4GM

@Pleiades STOA at hcommons.socal

, updated:

New in the #PleiadesGazetteer Zotero library: Keenan 2025 = J. G. Keenan et al., “Papyrus Fragments from En Boqeq, Israel,” Zeitschrift Für Papyrologie Und Epigraphik 235 (2025): 191–206.

Bibliographic record: https://www.zotero.org/groups/2533/items/N5WTS99Y

“Fly Me To The Moon”

, updated:

A Reason To Smile

Against Oligarchy, Part II: Wealth Taxes

, updated:

Going where the money — and the power — is

The Logic Behind Trump's Saudi Nuclear Deal, Applied to Other Situations

, updated:

TBR Sunday Read

Teaching LLMs to Update Beliefs for Efficient Long-Horizon Interaction

ABBEL overviewOverview of ABBEL compared to traditional recursive summarization. Beliefs replace the full interaction history as the agent’s working context, and belief grading improves performance by supervising the contents of each belief state..

As task horizons grow, LLM contexts can’t scale forever. Self-summarization enables concise, interpretable contexts, but at a significant performance cost, especially for human assistance domains where high quality data is scarce, e.g., collaborative code generation. We address this with ABBEL: a framework that isolates and supervises the information content of summaries in the form of natural-language belief states.

Motivation: the cost of recursive summarization

For language models to effectively assist with increasingly complex tasks such as software development, they must be able to interact with us over hundreds or even thousands of steps. For such long tasks, it is impractical to keep the history of the entire interaction in context. The heuristic approach used so far has been summary generation, sometimes called context compaction. For example, Cursor’s latest model composer 2.5 uses compaction during training for improved performance ( Cassano et al., 2026). Alongside composer, Grandcode ( DeepReinforce et al., 2026), the first system to consistently beat all human competitors in online coding competitions, despite using one of the newest efficient attention models (Qwen 3.5-397B),1 still found it necessary to employ context summarization.

But compaction has a problem. Despite seemingly low performance gaps in benchmarks, model servers like Cursor continue to recommend that users avoid compaction with their coding assistants in the middle of a task ( Heule et al., 2026).

To understand why, see below the performance over RL fine-tuning of a Context summary model compared to full context models in Combination Lock, a Wordle-like game that allows up to 16 guesses.2 Though both model types improve over the course of training, the summary model never closes the gap.

Average attempts to guess target word with context summary vs full context policies over trainingFig. 1: Average attempts to guess the target word on Combination Lock over RL fine-tuning (lower is better). Context-summary policies improve with training but do not close the gap to full-context policies.

Making models self-summarize while completing a task increases the complexity of the learning problem. While this could typically be addressed by training with more data, the performance degradation observed in real world interactive settings likely arises from the difficulty we have in creating and using human simulators effectively to generate high quality training environments ( Lin et al., 2025, Tomlin et al., 2025). Thus, the better you can learn to summarize on the limited and messy multiturn interaction trajectories you can collect, the better off your model will be for downstream users.

ABBEL: acting through belief bottlenecks

ABBEL belief grading diagramFig. 2: Autoencoder-inspired belief grading. The model encodes prior belief, action and observation (bt, at, ot) into posterior belief bt+1 and is rewarded for how well select information from the history can be reconstructed from that belief.

To address poor learning efficiency, we isolate the summary generation task. Drawing inspiration from recursive Bayesian estimation, we formulate summaries as belief states, which we periodically prompt the model to update based on new information.3

ABBEL overview animation frame

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Fig. 3: ABBEL rollout. Belief updates from the latest observation alternate with action selection conditioned only on the current posterior belief.

Belief grading

We then extract and supervise the contents of the belief states (Fig. 2, Belief Grading). Belief grading can be thought of as adding an auxiliary RL task, using heuristics designed to capture what makes a good belief as the reward. An example heuristic for coding could be shorter is better, but closer to being able to reconstruct the git diff is also better, so balancing these would yield a good belief. In domains where good heuristics are hard to define, we propose a general autoencoding-inspired grading function, which treats the current language model πθ as both encoder and decoder of information from the history, and the belief states as the codes. We grade each belief bt+1 by how well it can be used by the current model πθ to reconstruct the most recent observation ot:

Eq. 1: Reconstruction grading objectiveEq. 1: Reconstruction grading objective. Here bt+1 is the updated belief, ot the latest observation, at the action just taken, bt the prior belief, pI the task prompt, and πθ the current model. Higher grades reward beliefs that retain information needed to decode the latest observation.

What do we gain by grading beliefs?

Collaborative coding on CollabBench

We demonstrate the utility of belief grading in our motivating domain of human-driven assistive coding, with the CollabBench environment from Sweet-RL ( Zhou et al., 2025).

CollabBench collaborative coding environmentFig. 4: CollabBench collaborative coding environment. The agent asks clarifying questions, then submits a function scored against hidden unit tests.

We see that with the general reconstruction-based belief grading function we reduce the performance gap from full context models by about 50%, and train in 50% fewer steps compared to training models to summarize without belief grading (no BG). After training, ABBEL still uses significantly less memory than the full context setting, as measured by the peak context token length (Peak Tokens).

ModelTest Pass Rate ↑Success Rate ↑Peak Tokens × 10² ↓Training Steps ↓Full Context0.52±0.020.39±0.0214.08±0.55100ABBEL (no BG)0.46±0.020.31±0.024.20±0.37100ABBEL-rec-BG0.48±0.010.36±0.016.01±0.3350

Fig. 5: CollabBench results. With reconstruction belief grading, ABBEL-rec-BG recovers about half the gap to full context while using fewer peak tokens, and trains in 50 steps instead of 100.

Combination Lock

Additionally, in CombinationLock, we demonstrate that ABBEL with a belief grader which leverages domain knowledge (by computing useful statistics over the history and checking that they can be reconstructed from the belief state), enables even higher learning efficiency than full context (FULL CTX) models.

Average Attempts to guess target word ABBELFig. 6: Average attempts to guess the target word on Combination Lock (lower is better). With domain-knowledge belief grading, ABBEL approaches or exceeds FULL CTX in this setting; without belief grading, learning is slower.

Multi-objective question answering

In a third environment, multi-objective question answering (from MEM1 Zhang et al., 2025, a recent work which performed end-to-end optimization in a modified version of typical recursive summarization), we demonstrate the utility of isolating belief states from reasoning, by showing that a Peak Belief length Penalty (more details in paper) significantly reduces memory usage with minimal performance degradation, unlike is commonly observed when penalizing reasoning lengths ( Arora et al., 2025).

Performance and memory usage in multi QAFig. 7: Exact-match score and peak memory versus number of objectives in multi-objective QA. ABBEL with a peak belief penalty (PBP) maintains comparable performance while using less memory than MEM1 and ABBEL without PBP in this evaluation.

Related work

Alternative solutions to managing long contexts involve different tradeoffs, and are worth considering depending on the requirements of a deployed system. Context compression methods generate dense representations which, while computationally efficient, sacrifice human-understandability ( Kontonis et al., 2026, Eyuboglu et al., 2025, Gupta et al., 2025, Chevalier et al., 2023, Deng et al., 2025, Deng et al., 2025, Bulatov et al., 2022). Hand-designed summarization prompts ( Wang et al., 2025, Örwall et al., 2025, Starace et al., 2025) and pruning strategies ( Jiang et al., 2024) specific to target environments require expert human knowledge and don’t allow an agent to learn what to remember as part of its decision-making strategy. Methods that process long contexts into an external memory store ( Packer et al., 2023, Xu et al., 2025) for the agents or subagents to query ( Zhang et al., 2025) are complementary, as they may benefit from better next context creation through summarization training. We would like to point out some exciting works in the space of general recursive summarization focused on math ( Wu et al., 2026), reasoning with belief generation ( Zhou et al., 2025), competitive coding with a distilled summarization module using similar autoencoding objectives to our general belief grader ( DeepReinforce et al., 2026), and adding continuous features to summaries ( Kontonis et al., 2026).

What’s next for better memory?

Many more possibilities are enabled through using explicit belief states as information bottlenecks for multi-step interaction. You could reward actions based on their effect on the belief state to guide exploration, transmit the explicit belief states for better communication between agents, or even improve user controllability by directly modifying the memories on which the agents’ decisions are based.

Some forms of information, e.g., what a person looks like, are not represented well by text alone. A continuously learning system will also have to capture such information. Additionally, if we want a system to learn to communicate in a brand new language or to play a brand new game better than any person in the world, the skills accumulated over the lifetime of conversations or games must be stored in a very compressed form, essentially taking on the role of the weights of the model itself.

More powerful systems will likely utilize a combination of multiple forms of memory, where the contents of the context may correspond to working memory while other approaches are used for short and long-term memory. How to instantiate these other forms of memory, for instance via test-time training, adapter memories, continuous context memories, or some combination thereof, presents an exciting challenge.

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements: We would like to thank Alane Suhr and Kartik Goyal for advising this research as well as Ethan Mendes, David He, Jitesh Jain, and Nicholas Tomlin for comments on early drafts of this post. We would like to thank the MEM1 authors for their email correspondence and for sharing private reviewer feedback which we found particularly insightful.


Citation

If abbel was inspiring for your future work, please cite us with this! And here is some advice for doing similar research!

@misc{lidayan2026abbellearningnaturallanguagebelief,
      title={ABBEL: Learning Natural-Language Belief States for Memory-Efficient Interaction},
      author={Aly Lidayan and Jakob Bjorner and Satvik Golechha and Kartik Goyal and Alane Suhr},
      year={2026},
      eprint={2512.20111},
      archivePrefix={arXiv},
      primaryClass={cs.CL},
      url={https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.20111},
}


  1. With newer models the number of tokens till 50% compute spend is on attention gets much larger than 25K. Interleaving linear attention alternatives with full attention as is done with gpt-oss and DeepSeekv4, results in massive flops reductions for the attention computation. For example with DeepSeekv4-Pro (1.6T A49B) it requires nearly 450 thousand tokens to reach the 50% tradeoff point. Grandcode uses Qwen-3.5-397B-A17B a model which hits 50% FLOPs for attention at ~150 thousand tokens.

  2. This setting is technically solvable with much more computationally effective tools, but serves as a flexible test bed to study properties of recursive summarization. Bertsimas et al., 2022, showed that an exact solution for the wordle game instantiated with the original vocabulary of the javascript game can be found with dynamic programming, but evidently the general formulation of wordle as a guessing game on K letters with L attempts and some dictionary of valid words and correct words D is NP hard to determine the minimal number of moves required.

  3. In practice there is an O(N/K) overhead cost for summary. N is the total number of actions. K is the number of actions till summarization is triggered. This is necessarily true for any summary approach. For ease of illustration this gif uses K = 1. In our experiments, to put more emphasis on summarization weaknesses we also use K=1. In practice overhead is small as K can be chosen to be near the efficient hardware limit.


A GTK4 ssh-askpass in Zig

, updated:

Every ssh-askpass in the _Gentoo_ tree pulls in _X11_ or a full _KDE_ stack, so I wrote my own with _Zig_ 0.16 and _GTK4_, with hand-written bindings that keep `X` out of the build.

Sunday thought: When the sleeping giant dances

, updated:

Friends,

July 25, 2026

, updated:

It turns out Trump has not abandoned his plan to paint the massive grey granite Eisenhower Executive Office Building white.

PBS SoCal Leads 2026 Los Angeles Area Emmy Awards Winners, KVEA & ABC7 Top Newscasts – Full List

PBS SoCal again collected the most trophies at the 78th Los Angeles Emmy Awards, held Saturday night at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, matching its 2025 haul with 8. Also equaling its last year’s tally is KMEX-TV with 7, followed by KVEA (6), ABC7 4, NBC4 (4), Spectrum News 1 and Spectrum SportsNet […]

Bookmarks - llm, ai, library, politics

, updated:

These are some things I’ve wandered across on the web this week.

🔖 Refusal as Instruction Equipping Patrons to Resist AI, Data Brokers, BigTech, & More

This column explores the ways in which library workers can better align technology use and instruction in library settings with library values, through championing the refusal of technologies that conflict with values like privacy and intellectual freedom. Drawing on experiences with individual patron instruction, class design, and passive programming, the author shares practical steps for helping patrons to understand and fight back against exploitation by digital technologies. Rejecting the myth that any technology is “neutral,” the column argues that libraries as values-driven organizations have a role to play in facilitating patrons’ rejection of technology, just as much as in their adoption of it.

activism library llm

🔖 The race tocollect every book ever written

In the Amsterdam zoo, Bodó outlined two traditions of the internet to me, ones that he saw playing out in the AI gold rush today. On one side is the libertarian capitalist tradition, with its roots in Silicon Valley, which sees the entire corpus of the world’s literature as a resource to be mined by machines to create profitable subscription services, automate jobs and concentrate wealth. On the other side is the anarcho-communist tradition, originating in grassroots mutual-aid projects in post-Soviet countries, which seeks to collect and preserve the world’s literature for individual users to read, enjoy and learn from as they please. “Move fast and break things” versus “move fast and save things”.

copyright library llm piracy zlibrary

🔖 coalliance-matchkey

A reference Java implementation of the Gold Rush MARC matchKey algorithm used by the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries (CoAlliance) to identify common bibliographic records across heterogeneous library catalogs.

This repository exists so that other libraries — inside the consortium and out — can generate matchKeys that interoperate with the Gold Rush system, or port the algorithm to other languages.

🔖 Harold Adams Innis: The Bias of Communications & Monopolies of Power

Monopolies of knowledge tend to polarize societies into a mass of the ignorant and a knowledge elite. Monopolies of knowledge encourage centralization of power. Those who control knowledge have the power to define reality.

book communication history information technology

🔖 Knowledge Graph Construction with Claude

You have a pile of unstructured documents and need to answer questions that span them — “who works with people who worked on project X”, “which vendors are connected to this incident”. No single document contains the answer. RAG retrieval won’t chain the facts for you. You need a knowledge graph: entities as nodes, typed relations as edges, so that multi-hop reasoning becomes graph traversal.

Building one used to mean training a named-entity recognizer on your domain, training a relation classifier, writing entity-resolution heuristics, and maintaining all three as your data shifted. With Claude, each of those stages becomes a prompt.

claude graph llm

🔖 What Rose Petals Teach Us about Induction

Hume called it the problem of induction; a catchier name is the No Free Lunch theorem, although it’s about as far from being a “theorem” as it’s possible to get. And it is simply this: there is no general, systematic way to go from observation to understanding.

If you haven’t encountered it before, it’s likely you don’t see what the big deal is. Don’t we all do this all the time, without even thinking about it? We do, but we don’t know how we do it, which means we don’t know how to teach it, how to automate it, or even if we’re doing it right.

What’s needed is a simple, concrete example which illustrates the idea without any particular need for mathematical sophistication. I’m going to give just such an example, show how various algorithmic approaches fare, and try to explain the unavoidable trade-off at the heart of the problem

ml

🔖 Chasing new skills, going back to basics and pushing for collectiveaction: how software engineers are adapting to AI

But since the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in 2022, more than 600,000 US tech workers have lost their jobs, according to the tech layoff tracker Layoff.fyi. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate for computer science graduates rose to 7% in 2024, up from 6.1% the previous year, and their underemployment rate was more than 19%, data from the New York Fed shows. US tech job postings on Indeed also dropped 36% from 2020 to 2025.

ai programming work

🔖 Protecting our FLOSS commons from LLMs

LLMs are a very costly technology, and those costs keep rising as the companies providing them have to start recouping their investments. They are not only costly for those who use and explicitly subscribe to these services. The costs are not only hidden in ‘normal’ cloud and service subscriptions that cross-finance the ‘innovative new features’ you never asked for. LLMs are so costly that companies externalize the costs on a massive scale - on those who don’t use them and society at large. Increased hardware prices, energy use and environmental damage - we all pay for it!

git llm programming

🔖 The Socialist Case Against Nationalizing AI

AI represents an attempt to industrialize the production of language. When we hear AI, we shouldn’t fall for the AI peddlers’ narratives of productivity explosions and mass unemployment. We should think of Taylorism, of the myriad ways in which capital centralizes knowledge, measures people, and carves up work in order to maximize its control and minimize its costs. Translation: minimizing the bargaining power and income of workers.

ai gov llm politics socialism

🔖 gurk:Signal Messenger client for terminal

On the first run, it will open a QR code in your favorite image viewer, such that you can link the client as a new device. This will also create a configuration file at the default config location. For the configuration directives, see src/config.rs.

Note: The binary cannot be published on crates.io, because it depends on several official Signal libraries that are not available on crates.io.

commandline socialmedia

🔖 toxiproxy

Toxiproxy is a framework for simulating network conditions. It’s made specifically to work in testing, CI and development environments, supporting deterministic tampering with connections, but with support for randomized chaos and customization. Toxiproxy is the tool you need to prove with tests that your application doesn’t have single points of failure. We’ve been successfully using it in all development and test environments at Shopify since October, 2014. See our blog post on resiliency for more information.

sysadmin testing tool

🔖 AI Companies Are Buying Tons of Old Books Because They’re Free of AISlop

As AI companies search for more training data to improve their models, one company is offering old, printed books as an ideal source because they are guaranteed to be free of the very AI slop AI companies are producing.

book data llm

🔖 Claude Is Not a Compiler

Claude was a vertically integrated resource, a multi-compiler. Its ability to work across the stack accelerated and augmented my ability to make a bunch of decisions at different levels, including about which decisions were important. (Most individual lines of code don’t make that cut.) That’s vibe-engineering.

I’d say that, in all the ways that matter, I understand the code. Sure, if I had to hand-edit it now, there’d be a serious learning curve. But I won’t have to. And more importantly, I can reason about the system, share perspectives with my colleagues, and guide agents on future work. And there’s an enduring artifact that encapsulates the central, intentional aspects of the design that were important enough to record, across all layers, and should thus survive bug fixes and code churn.

ai design engineering management

🔖 Powered ByWho?

Public-record reporting on the data centers reshaping American grids, communities, and elections. Independent, non-partisan, no paywall.

datacenter map politics

🔖 OpenAI and Hugging Face partner to address security incident duringmodel evaluation

Last week, Hugging Face disclosed a new kind of security incident⁠(opens in a new window) after they detected and contained an AI agent that compromised their infrastructure, something we expect to become more commonplace with the proliferation of increasingly cyber-capable models. After investigating, we now know that this particular incident was driven by a combination of OpenAI models — including GPT‑5.6 Sol and an even more capable pre-release model, all with reduced cyber refusals for evaluation purposes — while being internally tested on a benchmark⁠(opens in a new window) of cyber capabilities.

We consider this incident to be an unprecedented cyber incident, involving state-of-the-art cyber capabilities, and are responding accordingly. We are sharing preliminary findings at this stage to help defenders understand what happened and to help calibrate on what models are now capable of. We will continue to conduct a thorough investigation alongside Hugging Face and will share more details on the vulnerabilities, incident, and findings when our investigation is complete.

llm security

🔖 User:Alaexis/AI Source Verification

AI Source Verification uses large language models to check whether a Wikipedia citation actually supports the claim it’s attached to. Click any reference, and the tool will analyze the source content and tell you if the claim is supported, partially supported, or not supported.

citation llm wikipedia

🔖 AI-supported conversation

A practice of respectful interaction in which AI is an aid, not a replacement

ai communication ethics llm

🔖 Lorelei and the Laser Eyes

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes is a 2024 puzzle game developed by Simogo and published by Annapurna Interactive centered on exploring and problem-solving across a massive hotel, without prior explanation as to the player’s whereabouts, identity, or relations. This information is instead revealed over the course of the game.[2] Likened to classic point-and-click adventure games such as the Monkey Island series, the game has been described as “one big puzzle box” by IGN.[2] The game was released for Nintendo Switch and Windows on 16 May 2024, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on 3 December 2024, and Nintendo Switch 2 on 23 April 2026. The game was nominated for Independent Game Of The Year at The Game Awards 2024.[3]

game

🔖 Los Thuthanaka releases “Waq’a” and tells the story of the birth of thesun

Last Friday, Nashville’s Chuquimamani-Condori did their first interview in ten years on WNXP. In the interview, they announced that in partnership with their band Los Thuthanaka that they would release an instrumental EP and a booklet written in Aymara that tell the story of the birth of the sun. The EP and booklet are out now. The songs stand on their own, but having the context and story in English can enhance the listening experience.

interview music

Tom Holland Admits Some Of His Movies Were Hard To Promote “Because It’s Sh*t”

While Tom Holland is proud of his two summer blockbusters, he wouldn’t recommend certain pieces of his past filmography. The actor, whose movies The Odyssey and Spider-Man: Brand New Day are in theaters this summer, recently admitted that while those press tours have been “really easy,” some of his past films were “shit” and not […]

‘Carrie’ Schools Comic-Con With Prime Video Release Date, Trailer Depicts “Cruelty” Of Modern High School, Mike Flanagan Teases “Big Surprise”

Nothing is scarier than trying to fit in at high school.  During a Saturday panel at Comic-Con, Prime Video revealed an Oct. 7 release date for Carrie and the first teaser trailer that showcased all the hair-raising trauma that is in store: from classmates fainting on the iconic gymnasium floor to revealing Carrie White’s prom […]

David Jonsson To Play T’Challa’s Grown Son In ‘Black Panther 3’; Pic Hits Theaters In December 2028 – Comic-Con

Today at San Diego Comic-Con, director Ryan Coogler took the stage to announce that not only is Black Panther 3 hitting theaters on December 15, 2028, but David Jonsson will play T’Challa’s grown son who was introduced at the end of Wakanda Forever. T’Challa comes of age in the new movie with eyes on the […]

‘The Rookie’ Creator Reveals Supersized Season 9 Premiere As Melissa O’Neil Apologizes For Shocking Season 8 Finale Cliffhanger

The Rookie creator Alexi Hawley and the cast, led by Nathan Fillion, made a return to Comic-Con with some news about ABC series’ upcoming ninth season. It started production this week without Fillion, who will join the rest on set Monday but was reunited with his colleagues during the show’s Comic-Con panel Saturday. Hawley revealed […]

Ryan Gosling Unveiled As Ghost Rider At Marvel’s Comic-Con Panel

What was rumored has become reality. Three-time Oscar nominee Ryan Gosling has been named Marvel’s next Ghost Rider. The Gosling movie will come out in 2028, and he’s reteaming with Shawn Levy and Jonathan Tropper after Star Wars: Starfighter. Levy will direct, and Tropper is writing the script again. The latest role keeps Gosling, who […]

lynx --nocolor

I really dislike how the Lynx WWW browser looks on some modern systems. On my SGI it was OK - it simply respected IRIS terminal colors. On modern systems in seems to be full of colors with gray background. Text colors are quite nice but I have disliked the gray background. I have wished to have or black one or transparent one (it a terminal emulator supports transparency).

Working from home

And this is my main tool:

Workflow: Changes and additions

Things are continuously developing or at least changing. For example, my gVim on my GPD Pocket (Ubuntu MATE 18.04) has issues with text encoding. If I create a new file then I everything is OK. But when I save it and re-open it then it en-codes local language characters incorrectly. It is strange because I have been using the same .vimrc/.gvimrc for ages on several Linux machines and I never encountered such behaviour.

Tungsten W + PalmPix

As you may know I do have a Palm Tungsten W. And I als othave the KODAK PalmPix for m5xx devices. So I have almost modern smarphone (jsut 17 years old!) with the (detachable camera).

TRGpro tuning (2)

Just a tiny update this time. I only replaced the broken battery door by unused one (which I have borrowed them from my Palm IIIe).

TRGpro tuning

The PILOT Pentopia Chameleon stylus for Palm III and VI {sup}1{/sup} arrived today. It is a stylus with integrated reset pin and - last but not least - an actual pen. The pen refill is thin and it is labelled "Pilot" but I assume that a thin (non-pressurized) Fischer refill will fit here. This stylus has a bit different shape than the original Palm III pen and its tip is a bit harder but it is usable (I am writing this post with it). It is also little thicker than the original which is actually a plus - it sits more reliable in stylus housing of my heavily used Palms - I lost several styli from my old IIIxe and almost lost one of my TRGpro recently. The {sup}1{/sup} says that it is better for writing than the original stylus but I don't think so. I see no improvement.

TRG Pro: first impressions

The title is all wrong because I extensively used the TRG Pro in the past. But the last time when I synced the TRG was in 2/2016 and then I have been using the original Palm III devices (IIIx + IIIxe) instead of the TRG. I have not wanted to damage or lost my only TRG Pro (which is pretty rare as you may know). Now I have two TRGs so I can use one of them on daily basis, I think.

Standing desk attempt

I'm trying to set up a standing desk in my office. I found a (less or more) space, two older LCDs (the ViewSonic vp171s), then prepared the keyboard and mouse.