Self-publishing

The hard problem of politics, religion, advertising and literature

Vintage Benson Barrett ad, “How to MAKE MONEY WRITING..short paragraphs! promising “No tedious study. Learn how to write to sell, right away.”

Publishing is doing great

Publishing is doing great. Despite panic at the start of the lockdown, book sales were actually up during lockdown, as people turned to books to pass the time, joining online bookclubs and finding ways to support their local indie booksellers.

But authorship? Not so great.

Continue reading "Self-publishing"

Pluralistic: 23 Nov 2020

Today's links

Opsec and personal security: Runa Sandvik and Window Snyder on the Attack Surface Lectures.
Australian predictive policing tool for kids: Digital phrenology vs racialized kids.
A textbook grift: Economics, Final Edition.
Labor and large firms: Lessons from Caterpillar and Hollywood.
The power of procurements: A streamlined way to regulate IoT.
Guatemala's guillotines: Protesters torch the parliament.
Someone Comes to Town part 24: This week on my podcast.
This day in history: 2010, 2015, 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 23 Nov 2020"

Pluralistic: 19 Nov 2020

Today's links

Cyberpunk and Post-Cyberpunk: Bruce Sterling and Christopher Brown on the Attack Surface Lectures.
Disney stiffs writer: Sure, what's new, but this is next-level fuckery #DisneyMustPay.
Tyson execs bet on covid spread in unsafe plant: Upton Sinclair was an optimist.
This day in history: 2010, 2015, 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 19 Nov 2020"

Pluralistic: 19 Sep 2020

Today's links

Attack Surface vs Audible: My Publishers Weekly op-ed.
Foodcrime: The tech predators destroying America's restaurants.
We Are Beautiful: 3D printable anatomical models of real bodies.
Precursor: Andrew "bunnie" Huang's new open source hardware mobile platform.
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 19 Sep 2020"

Pluralistic: 17 Sep 2020

Today's links

Attack Surface a la carte: Kickstarter is not a shopping cart.
Kapital! The board game: France's new national obsession.
Private equity's new debt-and-loot bonanza: "Divi recaps" is plute for "stealing."
This day in history: 2010, 2015, 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 17 Sep 2020"

Pluralistic: 15 Sep 2020

Today's links

A new Little Brother short story collection: Inspired by your generosity.
EFF's 2020 Pioneer Awards: Livestreaming Oct 15.
Tax havens and monopolies: It's a system.
Obscure Texas election could change the world: Chrysta Castañeda for the Railroad Commission of Texas!
Motorcycle-part animals: New assemblage sculptures from Jud Turner.
This day in history: 2005, 2010, 2015, 2109
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 15 Sep 2020"

Pluralistic: 13 Sep 2020

Today's links

How the Attack Surface audiobook can reform Audible: Pebbles R Us.
How to buy doubt: The Koch brothers vs reality's left-wing bias.
Mr Gotcha v covid: We should improve public health somewhat.
This day in history: 2005, 2010, 2015, 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 13 Sep 2020"

Pluralistic: 10 Sep 2020

Today's links

Inaudible: Let's make "Audible exclusive" mean "for sale everywhere EXCEPT Audible."
The rise and rise of one of NYPD's dirtiest cops: Violent, racist repeat-offender Christopher McCormack, promoted to the top brass.
Georgia voter suppression, quantified: Greg Palast counted all 313,242 receipts.
Kids' smart-watches unsafe at any speed: Still a garbage-fire.
This day in history: 2005, 2015, 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 10 Sep 2020"

Pluralistic: 05 Aug 2020

Today's links

Contextual ads can save media: Behavioral ads aren't just creepy, they're a scam
GE's billion dollar tax-fraud: "Financial engineering" is a euphemism for doing crimes.
Qanon is an ARG: "I'm a researcher."
Cori Bush triumphs in Missouri: Ferguson uprising continues by another means.
Trump wants to force you to invest in failing fossil fuel companies: Big Oil sure loves Big Gubmint.
Qanon is magical thinking: Satanic Panic 2.0.
This day in history: 2015, 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 05 Aug 2020"

Pluralistic: 28 Jul 2020

Today's links

Afterland: Lauren Beukes's regrettably brilliantly timed plague novel.
Mexican copyright crushes free speech: Trump's trade deal takes away Mexicans' fundamental rights.
Audible Exclusives: Monopolists gonna monopolize.
Snowden's Little Brother intro: The Age of Mass Surveillance Will Not Last Forever.
Police "unions" are not unions: They're protection rackets.
Quick, inaccurate, cheap covid tests: Frequency vs accuracy.
Swarov.se: Once you see it…
This day in history: 2005, 2010, 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 28 Jul 2020"