Big-Tech-as-cop vs. abolishing Big Tech
Since late 2000, EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) has made steady progress, and now, despite US Big Tech companies’ illegal lobbying, it has become a law.
Unspeakable
Author: Cory Doctorow
Pluralistic: 16 Oct 2022 RIP, Roger Wood, genius assemblage sculptor
Today's links
- RIP, Roger Wood, genius assemblage sculptor: Sorely missed already.
- Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
- This day in history: 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017, 2021
- Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading
Continue reading "Pluralistic: 16 Oct 2022 RIP, Roger Wood, genius assemblage sculptor"
Pluralistic: 15 Oct 2022 How lawyers became sadists
Today's links
- How lawyers became sadists: What about the incentive not to be perceived as a colossal asshole?
- Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
- This day in history: 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017, 2020.
- Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading
Continue reading "Pluralistic: 15 Oct 2022 How lawyers became sadists"
Pluralistic: 14 Oct 2022 Medieval Times invents a modern union-busting tactic; Billionaire dilletantes vs good Democrats
Today's links
- Medieval Times invents a modern union-busting tactic: Trademark, like all "IP," is a tool to control critics, customers and competitors.
- Billionaire dilettantes vs good Democrats: Even the best Democratic candidate is no match for the worst Republican when wealthy "Democratic" donors meddle.
- Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
- This day in history: 2007, 2012.
- Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading
Pluralistic: 13 Oct 2022 US health insurers get more and more federal funding, deliver less and less care
Today's links
- US health insurers get more and more federal funding, deliver less and less care: Medicare Advantage will murder your grandparents – and you're next.
- Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
- This day in history: None
- Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading
Pluralistic: 11 Oct 2022 Trusting (machine learning) trust; The housing market turns (more) toxic
Today's links
- Undetectable, undefendable back-doors for machine learning: IMPNet will give your model hallucination and you can't stop it.
- Shelter in place: Prison for homelessness and lock-ins for home owners.
- Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
- This day in history: None
- Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading
Pluralistic: 10 Oct 2022 Antitrust is – and always has been – about fairness
Today's links
- Antitrust is – and always has been – about fairness: SCOTUS is entitled to its own (judicial) opinions, but not its own facts.
- Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
- This day in history: 2007, 2012, 2017
- Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading
Continue reading "Pluralistic: 10 Oct 2022 Antitrust is – and always has been – about fairness"
Pluralistic: 09 Oct 2022 $100 billion later, autonomous vehicles are still a car-wreck
Today's links
- $100 billion later, autonomous vehicles are still a car-wreck: The self-driving car fraud was great business for Uber and Tesla.
- Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
- This day in history: 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017, 2021.
- Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading
Bankruptcy protects fake people, brutalizes real ones
Debts that can’t be paid, won’t be paid.
“Debts that can’t be paid, won’t be paid.” There, in eight simple words, we have Michael Hudson’s key insight into the role debt and debt cancellation plays in the rise and fall of human civilizations.
Debts are inescapable.
In order to provide a society with its necessities — food, shelter, energy — producers need the inputs (seed, fertilizer, materials, tools) before they have the means to buy them.
In order to produce, producers must borrow.
Continue reading "Bankruptcy protects fake people, brutalizes real ones"
Pluralistic: 07 Oct 2022 "Don't spy on a privacy lab," and other career advice for university provosts
Today's links
- "Don't spy on a privacy lab" (and other career advice for university provosts): Northeastern grad student vs surveillance-driven austerity.
- Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
- This day in history: 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017, 2021
- Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading