Pluralistic: Thwarted (09 Oct 2026)

Today's links

Thwarted: Behold the awesome destructive power of a fully operational billionaire.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Anthrax v National Inquirer; Grey goo v Second Life; Predictive policing v actual crime; Spooky cookies; California v algorithmic price-fixing; Tivo self-destructs; Disney exec endorses piracy; TSA v geologists; Handheld printer; Mandatory DRM for all Canadian music sales; Iceweasel; "Snuff"; "Shade the Changing Girl"; Latam surveillance; Scotland Yard brands encryption terrorism; RBS slaughtered 10k small businesses to seize and sell their assets; Dead Letters.
Upcoming appearances: Calgary, Winnipeg, Paris, Vancouver, Victoria, Ottawa, Kilkenny, Sheffield, Oxford, Montreal.
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.

Trump fought the law and Trump won: Administrative competence is trumped by total lawlessness.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020
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.

The long sleep of capitalism's watchdogs: "Self-regulation is to regulation as self-importance is to importance."
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019, 2023
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

The FTC has Big Pharma's number: The sleazy game of Orange Book evergreening.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2013, 2018, 2022
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

In defense of bureaucratic competence: The nine most uplifting words in the English language: "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help."
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

Being good at your job is praxis: The FTC can mandate Right to Repair without (further) Congressional authorization.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: None
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Vaccine refusal and health insurance: Insurers to unvaccinated: "Drop dead."
Congress has allocated enough money to end the eviction crisis: But they asked the states to hand it out.
Utilities governed like empires: One bad account disconnection can cost you everything.
This day in history: 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2020
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

NYPD can't stop choking Black men: A postmortem on many postmortems.
Rolling back the Trump rollback: Administrative competence has its uses.
YMCA, Trump edition: "I said old man, get your Ass. Out. Of. Town."
This day in history: 2006, 2011, 2016, 2020
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Image Scrubber: An in-browser image sanitizer that doesn't require you to trust a random website.
Trump's bailout guy is making millions for his family: Justin Muzinich isn't a flamboyant villain like Mnuchin. He's a quiet villain.
Fix the police: What evidence says about police reform.
After Jim Crow, broken windows: Kelling and Zimbardo have a lot to answer for.
This day in history: 2005, 2010, 2015
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading