Pluralistic: Nurses whose shitty boss is a shitty app (17 Dec 2024)

Today's links

Nurses whose shitty boss is a shitty app: "Uber for nurses" is even worse than it sounds.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2014, 2019, 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.

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Pluralistic: When the app tries to make you robo-scab (30 July 2023)

Today's links

When the app turns you into a robo-scab: The implacable, inarguable tactics of disciplinary technology.
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: 22 Sep 2021

Today's links

Gig workers around the globe: One disease, many pathologies.
Mutual Aid and David Graeber: A new, illustrated edition of Kropotkin's masterpiece, with an introduction from the great, much-missed hero of Occupy.
Facebook algorithm boosts pro-Facebook news: Orwell was an optimist.
This day in history: 2006, 2011, 2016, 2020
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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Pluralistic: 08 Jul 2021

Today's links

Indonesia's gig work tech resistance: Tuyul apps and the IT of the Road.
Owning a sports-team is a plute's get-out-of-tax-free card: Here's what to do about it.
This day in history: 2006, 2011, 2016, 2020
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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Pluralistic: 19 Jun 2021

Today's links

The gig economy's dark-money, astroturf "community groups": Uber and Lyft spent their way into a rep for racial justice.
The doctrine of dynastic wealth: Abigail Disney on tax evasion and the American caste system.
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: 07 Apr 2021

Today's links

Leaked NYPD "goon squad" manual: The NYPD isn't "undertrained" – the cruelty is the point.
Door Dashers organize app-defeating solidarity: The #DeclineNow movement vs Tony's Casino.
This day in history: 2011, 2016, 2020
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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Pluralistic: 22 Sep 2020

Today's links

Uber for evicting people: Civvl, a gig economy company, will pay you to evict people.
Part 15 of Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town: Returning to my serialized podcast reading.
Facebook threatens to leave EU: It wants to export Europeans' data to the USA…or else.
Brick House: Kickstarting an independent, "wolf-proof" media co-op.
This day in history: 2005, 2010, 2015, 2109
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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Pluralistic: 02 Sep 2020

Today's links

Amazon drivers hide phones in trees: Chickenizing the workforce.
Russia didn't hack Michigan: The voter data is just public records.
Chevron's dirty tricks against environmental lawyer: Steven Donziger caught them doing genocide, now HE'S under arrest.
Amazon's weird, terrible Flex: Spying on their chickenized workforce.
How to report on vote-by-mail: A recipe from Propublica.
This day in history: 2005, 2010
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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Pluralistic: 18 May 2020

Today's links

Ada Palmer, being brilliant for 2.5h: On the Singularity Podcast.
Restaurateur wreaks algorithmic vengeance upon Doordash: Nonconsensual delivery services vs arbitrage.
England's storks are back: A 600 year old deep cut.
See through walls with free software: TEMPEST, GNU Radio style.
Universal broadband now: Broadband is a human right.
Airgap-busting malware: Probabilistic sneakernet injections.
Deliveroo, without Deliveroo: The problem isn't the service, it's the social arrangements.
Podcast: Part 3 of Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town: Have your read all those books?
US insurers say paying for pandemic treatment is "selfless": Blind boxes r us.
This day in history: 2010, 2015, 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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