Pluralistic: 16 Aug 2020

Today's links

Self-driving cars are bullshit: Ford CEO: I "overestimated."
How to Argue With a Racist: Adam Rutherford on "race science."
Combat Wheelchairs: Homebrew rules for a new kind of D&D; mount.
Amazon bans podcasts that criticize Amazon: The purpose of "IP" is controlling competitors, critics and customers.
This day in history: 2005, 2010, 2015, 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Muppet Hamilton: Bork bork bork
EFF celebrates its 30th (!) birthday with a full day of livestreams: July 10!
Stepping Stones by Lucy Knisley: A graphic memoir for young adults.
Cops are buying breach data: Why get a warrant when there are hackers?
Rock dust vs climate change: Some good (preliminary) news about carbon sequestration.
This day in history: 2015, 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

A grifter's border wall is about to fall into the Rio Grande: Who knew the Rio Grande was such a big river?
Hong Kong law threatens people all over the world: China claims the right to kidnap anyone, anywhere.
1000+ accidental trigger-phrases for smart speakers: You bugged yourself.
Roller derby's brilliant re-opening plan: A template for global sport.
Unauthorized seat: BMW drives you straight to the Internet of Shit.
Don't Believe Proven Liars: The absolute minimum standard of prudence in merger scrutiny.
This day in history: 2010, 2015, 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Surveillance electoralism: Comparing the surveillance of the Biden and Trump apps.
Blueleaks: Dox the police.
Virtual Ignite talks: Weds at 6PM.
Congress wants to read all your DMs: The EARN-IT Act doesn't mention encryption, but it still bans encryption.
Privacy in tracing tokens: Bunnie Huang's parameters for a privacy-respecting contact-tracing system.
A/B Seattle: Design your own urban grid.
Against AI phrenology: Stop publishing machine-learning "race science."
This day in history: 2010, 2015, 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Save Forbidden Planet NYC: Keep NYC weird.
Which guillotine is right for you: Current Affairs's guide for the perplexed.
A labradoodle breeder is in charge of America's vaccines: An actual labradoodle could do a better job.
"Inject disinfectant" vs both sides-ism: We report, you decide.
US healthcare fails insured people too: A laundry list of gaps and errors.
Masks work: Lasers reveal your revolting, spittle-flecked utterances.
US telcoms sector isn't doing better than Europe's: Net Neutrality's murderers want you to believe they saved the American internet.
Amazon uses its sellers' data to figure out which products to clone: And they lied to Congress about it.
Facebook let advertisers target "pseudoscience" and "conspiracy": Son of "jew-haters."
Security expert conned out of $10,000: If you think you're too smart to get phished…
California Adventure, Minecraft edition: New maps for the Imagineering Fun server.
This day in history: 2010, 2015, 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Neighbors treated to socially isolated buildingside screening: Scott Duggan treated his terrace to "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes."
Philips quadruples ventilator costs: They reneged on their HHS deal and will get $646.7m for their trouble.
Kansas GOP nukes ban on large Easter gatherings: What's wrong with Kansas?
Kickpunch's Disney comics/horror movie mashups: Daniel Björk's terrifying poster children for fair use.
Plastic-eating enzyme: Leaf-branch compost cutinase to the rescue.
Cold brew coffee chemistry: Making the black stuff reproducible.
Tails adds Secureboot support: Evil chambermaids, beware!
Crisis makes heroes of IT workers: When Sysadmins Ruled the Earth.
Automating fake PDF signatures: Make it look like you printed, signed and scanned.
Pocket Art Director: Your high-handed boss in D20 form.
This day in history: 2019
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming appearances, current writing projects, current reading