Pluralistic: 03 Aug 2020

Today's links

A universal remote for killing people: It's really time to trade in your Medtronic Minimed insulin pump. Really.
New podcast episode: Part 12 of my reading of "Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town.
The sordid tale of We Charity: Black Hat SEO, investigating critical journalist's children, and more.
NSO Group cyberweapons targeted Togo's opposition: Another dictator for NSO's reference customer list.
This day in history: 2010, 2015, 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

I'm being inducted into the Canadian SF/F hall of fame: A club that would have me as a member!
Mexico's copyright vs self-determination and national sovereignty: Colonialism 2.0.
Self-bricking medical device: "Once EXOGEN delivers 343 treatments, it will not provide further treatment."
Apple's internal Right to Repair fight: Ifixit got leaked receipts.
Challenge questions suck: Your favorite food is pizza.
This day in history: 2005, 2015, 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

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

Constitution Illustrated: R Sikoryak's amazing chameleon take on the US Constitution.
My HOPE 2020 talk: Trying out my "grand unified theory."
Replace the police: 10 steps to improve safety by reducing dependence on police.
NYPD disciplinary records: Propublica has the receipts.
New podcast episode: Part 11 of "Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town."
Finger-mounted crossbows: For your cuke-slaying needs.
This day in history: 2010, 2015
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Judge won't release Black learning-disabled kid jailed for missing homework: Mary Ellen Brennan is up for re-election in 2020.
Podcast: Part 10 of Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town: "A glorious book unlike any book you’ve ever read" -Gene Wolfe.
Christopher Brown's Failed State: I'm helping him launch an outstanding and timely novel on Aug 12.
The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist: Comparison is the thief of joy.
Luxury homes to be washed away: Australian plutes voted for climate deniers and now they're about to literally fall off a cliff.
As We May Think: Danny O'Brien on the past future of news.
Trump's spent a billion on re-election: Biden spent $165m.
This day in history: 2015, 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Poesy the Monster Slayer: My first picture book is out today!
Atlas of Surveillance: How are your local cops spying on you?
Catalan politician hacked with NSO Group malware: Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead.
Artists vs tax havens: A report from Tax Havens: Normalized Grand Theft.
Free "extended preview" of my next book: "Attack Surface" AKA "Little Brother III."
Target workers strike over chickenization: Working for a chickenshipt outfit.
Big Oil can have you locked up: Chevron's old legal firm have the oil company's most effective critic under house arrest.
California goes antitrust on Google: Xavier Becerra rides again!
2019's highest-paid execs: I'm sure they earned every dime.
This day in history: None
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

New Little Brother/Homeland edition is out today!: With an intro by Edward Snowden.
There is no automation employment crisis: But there is a climate emergency.
Cyberpunk Culture: An online conference, Jul 9/10.
Or What You Will: Jo Walton's new, brilliant meta-meta-novel.
#BlackOutDay2020: Pledge not to spend a dime in a store or online, except in Black-owned businesses.
Right wing press duped by state-sponsored influence campaign: Deepfakes and avatars manipulated to defeat reverse image searches.
Coronavirus tests are a taxable benefit: HMRC creates a perverse incentive.
Big 4 accounting firms headed for breakup: When the referee cheats.
Home security cameras are really insecure: Even encrypted video streams can give away sensitive info.
Why covid cases are spiking but deaths aren't: Lead-time bias.
This day in history: 2010, 2015, 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

New podcast: Part nine of my reading of Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town.
Europe's interop coalition: DSA + Interop = Competition.
Scarfolk beermats: Ministers' Stout Hubris and more.
Miami cop owns illegal mansion nightclub: For some reason, the cops didn't prevent the nightly Lamborghini races.
Video and transcript of my OII talk: If you missed last week's "What Big Tech does to discourse, and the forgotten tech tool that can make tech less big."
Shower temperature vs handle position: You're not imagining it.
This day in history: 2005, 2010, 2015, 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Female Furies: Cecil Castellucci finds the story that Jack Kirby missed.
How to break up Google: A making things company, not a buying things company.
Facebook and Trump collaborate on rule-rigging: You can't break the rules if you make the rules.
NYC housing lottery favors the least-needy: The private sector cannot and will not solve the housing crisis.
Podcast: Part 8 of Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town: Families are weird.
This day in history: 2005, 2010, 2015
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Locus Awards winners: Fantastic science fiction and fantasy from 2019.
Bailouts should come with strings attached: Ensure financial resources are reinvested productively.
This day in history: 2010, 2015, 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading