Pluralistic: 30 Aug 2021

Today's links

India's 'toxic' ed-tech giant: How Byju's hard-sells desperate parents into taking out predatory loans for their kids' education.
Podcasting "Utilities and Empires" and "FB's War on Switching Costs": A twofer from EFF's Deeplinks blog, on this week's podcast.
This day in history: 2001, 2011, 2016, 2020
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 30 Aug 2021"

Pluralistic: 28 Aug 2021

Today's links

The "work ethic" is a dirty trick we play on ourselves: Rationalizing away the pointlessness and indignity of low-waged work.
Facebook's war on switching costs: Network effects attract users, switching costs take them hostage.
This day in history: 2001, 2006, 2020.
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 28 Aug 2021"

Pluralistic: 07 Jul 2021

Today's links

Technological self-determination: Competition is a means, not an end.
Biden delivers Right to Repair via executive order: End of the line for John Deere's asshole lobbyists.
Comic book store files comic-book lawsuit: Third Planet Comics has already won its case…in my heart.
This day in history: 2006, 2011, 2016, 2020
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 07 Jul 2021"

Pluralistic: 24 May 2021

Today's links

Podcasting "The Memex Method": Reading my inaugural Medium column for my podcast.
Watomatic, for lower Whatsapp switching costs: Comcom in action.
This day in history: 2006, 2011, 2016, 2020
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 24 May 2021"

Pluralistic: 12 Apr 2021

Today's links

Fraud-resistant election-tech: A "transparent" ballot-marking device.
Big Tech's secret weapon is switching costs, not network effects: Mr Zuckerberg, tear down that wall.
Podcasting How to Destroy Surveillance Capitalism: Part 2.
This day in history: 2011, 2016, 2020
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading

Continue reading "Pluralistic: 12 Apr 2021"

By reading this website, you agree, on behalf of your employer, to release me from all obligations and waivers arising from any and all NON-NEGOTIATED agreements, licenses, terms-of-service, shrinkwrap, clickwrap, browsewrap, confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-compete and acceptable use policies ("BOGUS AGREEMENTS") that I have entered into with your employer, its partners, licensors, agents and assigns, in perpetuity, without prejudice to my ongoing rights and privileges. You further represent that you have the authority to release me from any BOGUS AGREEMENTS on behalf of your employer.