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

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

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.

Continue reading "Gig Work Is the Opposite of Steampunk"

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

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 22 Sep 2021"

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

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 08 Jul 2021"

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

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 19 Jun 2021"

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

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 07 Apr 2021"

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

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 22 Sep 2020"

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

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 02 Sep 2020"

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

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 18 May 2020"

Pluralistic: 31 Mar 2020

Today's links

100 Ideas for Dungeon Masters: Based on the Pathfinder Bestiary, readily adaptable for other systems.
Attack Surface author's note: My latest podcast is the afterword from the third Little Brother book.
Trump admits voter suppression: Proving intent was never easier.
Reality endorses Sanders: Pandemics have an obvious leftist bias.
Amazon fires walkout organizer: Low waged workers, doing the most important work in America, exposed to lethal risk.
Monopolists stole your respirator: Dying a gasping death is pareto-optimal.
Corporate welfare vs food stamps: A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon it adds up to real money.
How viruses experience social distancing: XKCD mixes atavistic satisfaction with science communications.
Scarfolk pandemics: This isn't the worst timeline after all.
This day in history: 2005, 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 31 Mar 2020"