Pluralistic: Vicky Osterweil's "The Extended Universe" (28 Apr 2026)

Today's links

Vicky Osterweil's "The Extended Universe": How Disney killed the movies and took over the world.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Zappa v censorship; Chemistry set with no chemicals; Short cons; Mitsubishi's Dieselgate; "Bellwether."
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 (other) problem with automatic conversion of free software to proprietary software: You can't add ANY license to a public domain work.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Pimp My Snack; Abandoned Soviet missile silo full of cash; MPAA v 'democratizing culture'; 3,000 page garbage Kindle books; London's lost postal tunnels; Internet voting is stupid; Congress lobotomized itself; GWB v 'truth in politics'; Trump's FTC x tariff profiteering.
Upcoming appearances: San Francisco, London, 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.

It's extremely good that Claude's source-code leaked: Careful what you wish for.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: "Elephantmen"; Eve Online war bankrolled by casino; Phishers take Mattel for $3m; Sanders wins 6 primaries, CNN airs Jesus "documentary"; Cuba is a vaccine powerhouse; Embroidered Toast; Mass layoffs at ATT.
Upcoming appearances: Toronto, Montreal, Toronto, San Francisco, London, Berlin, NYC, Hay-on-Wye, London.
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.

Supreme Court saves artists from AI: Just because you're on their side, it doesn't mean they're on your side.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: KKK x D&D; Martian creativity; Scott Walker's capital ringers; UK v adblocking; Shitty jihadi opsec.
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.

End of the line for video essays: America's worst copyright law keeps getting even worse.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Payphone phaseout; Nvidia sock-puppets; Love picking; Fake locksmiths.
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.

Happy Public Domain Day 2026! The best way to cut through the hellishly complex thicket and bring our culture back to life.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Weird D&D advice; Email sabbaticals.
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 Reverse Centaur’s Guide to Criticizing AI: My speech for U Washington's Neuroscience, AI and Society lecture series.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Pac Man ghost algorithms; The US wrote Spain's copyright law; Illinois makes prisoners rent their cells; "Urban Transport Without the Hot Air"; "Ministry for the Future": Canada sues Google; In defense of 230; NYPD racist murder postmortem; Student debt trap; "That makes me smart."
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.

Disney has lost Roger Rabbit: Termination of Transfer is the most pro-artist form of copyright.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Why didn't AV apps block Sony's rootkit? Surveillance doesn't stop terror attacks; The last Pratchett; The true cost of terrorism.
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.

Raymond Biesinger's "9 Times My Work Has Been Ripped Off": A self-defense guide for creative workers.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Gingerbread Phantom Manor; Orwell estate censors 1984; The Abbadon; Ferris wheel fine dining.
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.

By all means, tread on those people: We know you love freedom, we just wish you'd share.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: The right to bear cameras; GOP wants slavery for undocumented migrants; Telepresence Nazi-punching.
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.