The Best Defense Against Rubber-Hose Cryptanalysis

The cypherpunks were wrong (but also right)

A medieval engraving of a prisoner being tortured on a rack; in the background is a waterfall effect from The Matrix.

Listen to those who extol the virtues of blockchain and cryptocurrency and pretty soon, you’ll hear about the power of cryptocurrency to resist tyranny.

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Pluralistic: 21 Feb 2022

Today's links

A(nother) massive Swiss banking leak: Sunshine won't disinfect anything on its own.
The people's disruption: Tech rights are workers' rights.
This day in history: 2002, 2007, 2012, 2017, 2021
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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Pluralistic: 07 Jan 2022

Today's links

Jackpot watch: How the klept operates in the UK.
This day in history: 2007, 2012, 2017, 2021
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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Pluralistic: 25 Nov 2021

Today's links

Unions are finally fighting two-tier contracts: How the actual fuck did they fail to see through this bullshit decades ago?
McKinsey taught Big Pharma how to price-gouge: Leaked slides document the lies, sleaze and profiteering.
This day in history: 2016, 2020
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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Pluralistic: 18 Nov 2021

Today's links

This is your Congress on drugs: Corruption kills.
Harvard is full of rich, white low-achievers: 43% of white Harvard students didn't get in on merit.
This day in history: 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2020
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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Pluralistic: 27 Oct 2021

Today's links

Hospital rings up $2755 upcharge by sending pregnant woman to ER: Poudre Valley Hospital is a clip-joint.
This day in history: 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2020.
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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Pluralistic: 16 Oct 2021

Today's links

The Chicago Tribune is being murdered before our eyes: And it's a serial killing.
This day in history: 2001, 2020.
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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Pluralistic: 06 Oct 2021

Today's links

We paid to develop Merck's covid pill: And now they're charging us a 4,000% markup on it.
This day in history: 2016, 2020.
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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Pluralistic: 04 Oct 2021

Today's links

Podcasting "Take It Back": My Medium column on copyright termination and rights reversion.
Savage Love A-Z: A bestiary of good sex.
The Pandora Papers: Tax avoidance is tax evasion.
USPS pilots postal banking: Slashing taxes (on the poor).
This day in history: 2001, 2006, 2011, 2016, 2020
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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Pluralistic: 29 Sep 2021

Today's links

Debts that can't be paid, won't be paid: The first David Graeber Foundation meetup, between Thomas Piketty and Michael Hudson.
"Are you calling me a racist?": The libertarian case for racism.
Wells Fargo can't stop criming: The nation's third-biggest bank is a criminal enterprise.
This day in history: 2001, 2011, 2016, 2020
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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