Pluralistic: Kickstarting a book to end enshittification, because Amazon will not carry it (31 July 2023)

Today's links

Kickstarting a book to end enshittification, because Amazon will not carry it: "The Internet Con: How to Seize the Means of Computation" comes out from Verso on Sept 5.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2003, 2008, 2013, 2018
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: Kickstarting a book to end enshittification, because Amazon will not carry it (31 July 2023)"

Microincentives and Enshittification

How the Curse of Bigness wrecked Google Search.

A clip from a Jenga ad showing a dad knocking over the Jenga tower.

It’s hard to convey just how revolutionary Google Search was when it debuted in 1998. It blew rivals — from AskJeeves and Altavista to Yahoo — out of the water. It was so good, it was almost spooky, surfacing the best of the web with just a few clicks.

Today, Google owns the search market, controlling more than 90 percent of searches. Its worth hovers in the trillion-dollar range, and it employs some 180,000 people in offices all over the world. Almost every online journey we take starts with a Google search.

And here’s the thing: Google Search suuuuucks.

Continue reading "Microincentives and Enshittification"

Pluralistic: Autoenshittification (24 July 2023)

Today's links

Autoenshittification: How the computer killed capitalism.
This day in history: 2003, 2008, 2013, 2018
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: Autoenshittification (24 July 2023)"

Pluralistic: Hollywood is the single best example of mature labor power in America; On the Media on the enshittification (pt 1) (06 May 2023)

Today's links

Hollywood is the single best example of mature labor power in America: Unions don't just improve wages, they create stable careers.
On the Media on the enshittification (pt 1): The power of a great interlocutor.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2003, 2008, 2013
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: Hollywood is the single best example of mature labor power in America; On the Media on the enshittification (pt 1) (06 May 2023)"

Pluralistic: Podcasts are hearteningly enshittification resistant; Red Team Blues excerpt (27 Jan 2023)

Today's links

Podcasts are hearteningly enshittification resistant: Walled gardens considered harmful (to performers and audiences).
Red Team Blues excerpt: The final adventure of Marty Hench.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2003, 2008, 2013, 2018, 2022
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: Podcasts are hearteningly enshittification resistant; Red Team Blues excerpt (27 Jan 2023)"

Pluralistic: Tiktok's enshittification (21 Jan 2023)

Today's links

Tiktok's enshittification: The company manually allocates surplus to creators, and they can take it away again, too.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2003, 2008, 2013, 2018
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: Tiktok's enshittification (21 Jan 2023)"

Pluralistic: Expert agencies and elected legislatures (21 Nov 2024)

Today's links

Expert agencies and elected legislatures: Legislatures are entitled to their own (political) opinions but not their own facts.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019, 2023
Upcoming appearances: Where to find me.
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.

Continue reading "Pluralistic: Expert agencies and elected legislatures (21 Nov 2024)"

Pluralistic: Forcing Google to spin off Chrome (and Android?) (19 Nov 2024)

Today's links

Forcing Google to spin off Chrome (and Android?): Structural separation is the ultimate anti-cheat hack.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019
Upcoming appearances: Where to find me.
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.

Continue reading "Pluralistic: Forcing Google to spin off Chrome (and Android?) (19 Nov 2024)"

Pluralistic: Harpercollins wants authors to sign away AI training rights (18 Nov 2024)

Today's links

Harpercollins wants authors to sign away AI training rights: Rights come from power.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019, 2023
Upcoming appearances: Where to find me.
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.

Continue reading "Pluralistic: Harpercollins wants authors to sign away AI training rights (18 Nov 2024)"

Pluralistic: Canada's ground-breaking, hamstrung repair and interop laws (15 Nov 2024)

Today's links

Canada's ground-breaking, hamstrung repair and interop laws: It's time for the "radical extremists" to have their day.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2004, 2014, 2019, 2023
Upcoming appearances: Where to find me.
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.

Continue reading "Pluralistic: Canada's ground-breaking, hamstrung repair and interop laws (15 Nov 2024)"