Pluralistic: Cigna's nopeinator (29 Apr 2024)

Today's links

Cigna's nopeinator: When computer says no, doctors are the moral crumple-zone.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2004, 2009, 2014
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.

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Pluralistic: Wellness surveillance makes workers unwell (15 Mar 2024)

Today's links

Wellness surveillance makes workers unwell: As ever, the important thing isn't what the gadget does, it's who it does it for and who it does it to.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019, 2023
Upcoming appearances: Where to find me.
Recent appearances: Podcasts, events and more.
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.

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Pluralistic: The REAL AI automation threat to workers (11 Jan 2024)

Today's links

The real AI automation threat to workers: The robot can't replace you, but it CAN replace your shitty boss.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2009, 2014, 2019, 2023
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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Pluralistic: Forcing your computer to rat you out (02 August 2023)

Today's links

Forcing your computer to rat you out: Self determination starts with the right to decide who can know which facts about you.
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

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Gig Work Is the Opposite of Steampunk

They turned the cottage into a factory.

A woodcut of a weaver’s loft, where a woman works at a hand-loom. Out of the window opposite her looms the glowing, menacing red eye of HAL 9000 from Stanley Kubrick’s ‘2001: A Space Odyssey.’ On the wall behind her is the poster from Magpie Killjoy’s ‘Steampunk Magazine’ that reads, ‘Love the machine, hate the factory.’ — Cryteria/CC BY 3.0 (modified)

Despite what you may have heard, the Luddites weren’t technophobes. They were skilled workers, expert high tech machine operators who supplied the world with fine textiles. Thanks to a high degree of labor organization through craft guilds, the workers received a fair share of the profit from their labors. They worked hard, but they earned enough through their labors to enjoy lives of dignity and comfort.

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Pluralistic: 30 Jan 2022

Today's links

The battle for Ring Zero: The esoteric argument I have been having with myself since 2002.
This day in history: 2002, 2017, 2021
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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Pluralistic: 04 Sep 2021

Today's links

Proctorio's awful reviews disappear down the memory hole: Ian Linkletter saved the receipts.
This day in history: 2020
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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Pluralistic: 01 May 2021

Today's links

Political economy vs inflation: Larry Summers is a dope.
This day in history: 2020
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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Pluralistic: 24 Feb 2021

Today's links

Bossware and the shitty tech adoption curve: White collar workers, your blue collar comrades tried to warn you.
EVs as distributed storage grid: Go green, buy a bigger truck.
The Mauritanian: Hitler painted roses and GWB does portraiture.
Court rejects TSA qualified immunity: Government genital massages can be video-recorded.
Why Brits can no longer order signed copies of my books: Brexit!
This day in history: 2006, 2011, 2016, 2020
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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Pluralistic: 01 Jul 2020

Today's links

EFF on EU interoperability policy: Securing Europeans' technological self-determination.
BAHA Blues: Patrick Costello's harrowing hearing aid implant experience.
Bossware: The remote work dystopia is here.
Big Cop's corporate armorers: Corporate "charity" funds police military and surveillance black budgets.
Invigilation CEO doxes student: Proctorio's CEO "takes privacy very seriously."
Sun Ra's syllabus: Lecture and reading list from "The Black Man in the Cosmos" (UC Berkeley 1971).
Snowden on Little Brother: The new Little Brother/Homeland omnibus is almost upon us!
This day in history: 2005, 2015, 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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