Pluralistic: The enshittification multiverse (27 Apr 2026)

Today's links

The enshittification multiverse: It's a useful analogy.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Every complex ecosystem has parasites; Prison for "attempted infringement"; When We Were Robots in Egypt; Golfing in The Blitz; Copyright vs privacy (NZ edn); GOP support for pedophile Hastert; EFF's music license; RIP Jane Jacobs; California is fanfic; DMCA v medical implants; "Burglar's Guide to the City"; Flaming river; Fantasy accounting.
Upcoming appearances: Berlin, NYC, Barcelona, Hay-on-Wye, London, NYC.
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 cost of doing business: "Market definition" is a denial-of-service attack on antitrust law.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Union Pacific v model railroads; Warners v Potter fans; NYT's trademark trolling; Why Rebecca Black mashups suck; Jabba the peep; Grenfell costs v tenants.
Upcoming appearances: Berkeley, Montreal, London, Berlin, Hay-on-Wye.
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's AI pricing plan: From each according to their ability (to pay).
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Disney buys Pixar; Bruces on "vernacular video"; Hickey paralysis; RIP David Hartwell; Personalized pricing; They were warned.
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.

Where did the money go? Turning a mountain of (their) money into a pile of (your) money.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Revolutionary Colossus; T-Mobile CEO v EFF; Broadband isn't gasoline.
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.

Big Tech joins the race to build the world's heaviest airplane: Die as Microsoft, or live to become the IBM you overthrew.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Bean-sprouting keyboard; Ink rant; FBI wanted to deport John Lennon; "Concrete Park"; Plutocratic lane-changes.
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.

They're just trying to earn a buck: No, they're taking what they can get.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Milk jug Storm Trooper; HIV-positive muppet; Optimal copyright; EU v NSA; Pig bomb; Maine's disgraceful public defenders; Google Reader launches; Bill Gates hates Blu-Ray; NYPD steals Black woman's BMW and puts her in a mental institution; Baby flask; Zombie mouth cupcakes.
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.

How much (little) are the AI companies making?: Ed Zitron does the math.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Wil Wheaton on /., G20 Toronto; London's war on photograhy, debating C-11 on Twitter with James Moore, breaking up Google, Female Furies…
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.

There's no such thing as "shareholder supremacy": When "fiduciary duty" means "whatever I wanted to do."
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2004, 2014, 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.