Cory Doctorow
Cory Doctorow  ·  3 days ago
Today's threads (a thread)

Inside: Reverse engineers bust sleazy gig work platform; and more!

Archived at: https://pluralistic.net/2024/11/23/hack-the-class-war/

#Pluralistic

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An EU flag made up of circuit tracery. In the foreground is a huge figure in a top hat, with a sour expression, peering through a magnifying lens. In the figure's palm is a man on a pennyfarthing bike with a courier backpack. Behind them, the EU flag is disintegrating to reveal a code waterfall as seen in the credit sequences of the Wachowskis' 'Matrix' movies. In the opposite corner, a cyclist is entering the frame: she wears Victorian garb, and her head is a 'hacker in a hoodie' cliche image. Image: EFF (modified) https://www.eff.org/files/issues/eu-flag-11_1.png CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/
An EU flag made up of circuit tracery. In the foreground is a huge figure in a top hat, with a sour expression, peering through a magnifying lens. In the figure's palm is a man on a pennyfarthing bike with a courier backpack. Behind them, the EU flag is disintegrating to reveal a code waterfall as seen in the credit sequences of the Wachowskis' 'Matrix' movies. In the opposite corner, a cyclist is entering the frame: she wears Victorian garb, and her head is a 'hacker in a hoodie' cliche image. Image: EFF (modified) https://www.eff.org/files/issues/eu-flag-11_1.png CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/
An EU flag made up of circuit tracery. In the foreground is a huge figure in a top hat, with a sour expression, peering through a magnifying lens. In the figure's palm is a man on a pennyfarthing bike with a courier backpack. Behind them, the EU flag is disintegrating to reveal a code waterfall as seen in the credit sequences of the Wachowskis' 'Matrix' movies. In the opposite corner, a cyclist is entering the frame: she wears Victorian garb, and her head is a 'hacker in a hoodie' cliche image. Image: EFF (modified) https://www.eff.org/files/issues/eu-flag-11_1.png CC BY 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/us/
Cory Doctorow
Cory Doctorow  ·  7 days ago
Today's threads (a thread)

Inside: Forcing Google to spin off Chrome (and Android?); and more!

Archived at: https://pluralistic.net/2024/11/19/breaking-up-is-hard-to-do/

#Pluralistic

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An early 20th century editorial cartoon depicting the Standard Oil Company an a world-spanning octopus clutching the organs of state - White House, Capitol dome, etc - in its tentacles. It has been altered: to its left, curled within its tentacles, stands an early 20th century cartoon depicting Uncle Sam as a policeman with a billyclub, with a DOJ Antitrust Division crest on his chest. On its right, one of its tentacles clutches an early Google 'I'm Feeling Lucky' button. Its head has been colored in with bands in the colors of the Google logo, surmounted by the Chrome logo. Its eyes have been replaced with the eyes of HAL9000 from Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey.' Nestled in one of its armpits is the Android robot. Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en
An early 20th century editorial cartoon depicting the Standard Oil Company an a world-spanning octopus clutching the organs of state - White House, Capitol dome, etc - in its tentacles. It has been altered: to its left, curled within its tentacles, stands an early 20th century cartoon depicting Uncle Sam as a policeman with a billyclub, with a DOJ Antitrust Division crest on his chest. On its right, one of its tentacles clutches an early Google 'I'm Feeling Lucky' button. Its head has been colored in with bands in the colors of the Google logo, surmounted by the Chrome logo. Its eyes have been replaced with the eyes of HAL9000 from Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey.' Nestled in one of its armpits is the Android robot. Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en
An early 20th century editorial cartoon depicting the Standard Oil Company an a world-spanning octopus clutching the organs of state - White House, Capitol dome, etc - in its tentacles. It has been altered: to its left, curled within its tentacles, stands an early 20th century cartoon depicting Uncle Sam as a policeman with a billyclub, with a DOJ Antitrust Division crest on his chest. On its right, one of its tentacles clutches an early Google 'I'm Feeling Lucky' button. Its head has been colored in with bands in the colors of the Google logo, surmounted by the Chrome logo. Its eyes have been replaced with the eyes of HAL9000 from Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey.' Nestled in one of its armpits is the Android robot. Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en
Cory Doctorow
Cory Doctorow  ·  2 weeks ago
Today's threads (a thread)

Inside: Canada's ground-breaking, hamstrung repair and interop laws; and more!

Archived at: https://pluralistic.net/2024/11/15/radical-extremists/

#Pluralistic

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https://pluralistic.net/2024/11/14/radical-extremists/#sex-pest An e-waste dump. In the foreground are two waste-barrels. A limp Canadian flag emerges from the left barrel; the nude head and shoulders of a grinning Tony Clement emerge from the right barrel. Image: JeffJ (modified) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tony_Clement_-_2007-06-30_in_Kearney,_Ontario.JPG CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ -- Jorge Franganillo (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duga_radar_system-_wreckage_of_electronic_devices_(37885984654).jpg CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
https://pluralistic.net/2024/11/14/radical-extremists/#sex-pest An e-waste dump. In the foreground are two waste-barrels. A limp Canadian flag emerges from the left barrel; the nude head and shoulders of a grinning Tony Clement emerge from the right barrel. Image: JeffJ (modified) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tony_Clement_-_2007-06-30_in_Kearney,_Ontario.JPG CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ -- Jorge Franganillo (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duga_radar_system-_wreckage_of_electronic_devices_(37885984654).jpg CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
https://pluralistic.net/2024/11/14/radical-extremists/#sex-pest An e-waste dump. In the foreground are two waste-barrels. A limp Canadian flag emerges from the left barrel; the nude head and shoulders of a grinning Tony Clement emerge from the right barrel. Image: JeffJ (modified) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tony_Clement_-_2007-06-30_in_Kearney,_Ontario.JPG CC BY-SA 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/ -- Jorge Franganillo (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duga_radar_system-_wreckage_of_electronic_devices_(37885984654).jpg CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
Cory Doctorow
Cory Doctorow  ·  2 weeks ago

Today's threads (a thread)

Inside: Boss politics antitrust; and more!

Archived at: pluralistic.net/2024/11/12/the

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An altered version of a Gilded Age editorial cartoon titled 'Who controls the Senate?' which depicts the Senate as populated by tiny, ineffectual politicians ringed by massive, bloated, brooding monopolists. A door labeled 'people's entrance.' is firmly locked. A sign reads, 'This is a senate of the monopolists, by the monopolists and for the monopolists.' The image has been altered: an editorial cartoon of Boss Tweed, portrayed as a portly man in a business suit with a money-bag for a head, stands in the foreground. He is wearing a MAGA hat. On his shoulder perches a tiny, 'big stick' swinging FDR from another editorial cartoon. The logos of the monopolists in the background have been replaced with logos for Chevron, Coinbase, Google, Microsoft, WB, PGA, Apple, Comcast, Realpage and KKR.
An altered version of a Gilded Age editorial cartoon titled 'Who controls the Senate?' which depicts the Senate as populated by tiny, ineffectual politicians ringed by massive, bloated, brooding monopolists. A door labeled 'people's entrance.' is firmly locked. A sign reads, 'This is a senate of the monopolists, by the monopolists and for the monopolists.' The image has been altered: an editorial cartoon of Boss Tweed, portrayed as a portly man in a business suit with a money-bag for a head, stands in the foreground. He is wearing a MAGA hat. On his shoulder perches a tiny, 'big stick' swinging FDR from another editorial cartoon. The logos of the monopolists in the background have been replaced with logos for Chevron, Coinbase, Google, Microsoft, WB, PGA, Apple, Comcast, Realpage and KKR.
An altered version of a Gilded Age editorial cartoon titled 'Who controls the Senate?' which depicts the Senate as populated by tiny, ineffectual politicians ringed by massive, bloated, brooding monopolists. A door labeled 'people's entrance.' is firmly locked. A sign reads, 'This is a senate of the monopolists, by the monopolists and for the monopolists.' The image has been altered: an editorial cartoon of Boss Tweed, portrayed as a portly man in a business suit with a money-bag for a head, stands in the foreground. He is wearing a MAGA hat. On his shoulder perches a tiny, 'big stick' swinging FDR from another editorial cartoon. The logos of the monopolists in the background have been replaced with logos for Chevron, Coinbase, Google, Microsoft, WB, PGA, Apple, Comcast, Realpage and KKR.
Cory Doctorow
Cory Doctorow  ·  3 weeks ago
Today's threads (a thread)

Inside: Antiusurpation and the road to disenshittification; and more!

Archived at: https://pluralistic.net/2024/11/07/usurpers-helpmeets/

#Pluralistic

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A diptych. On the left side, a dragon is biting the head off a man, posed on the 'Hell' background from Bosch's 'Garden of Earthly Delights.' The serpent has the glaring red eye of HAL 9000 from Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey.' On the right, a saluting, smiling gas-jockey stands beside a vintage gas-pump, against a background cropped from the 'Heaven' third in 'Earthly Delights.' The pump's logo has been replaced with an oval of 'code waterfall' effect as seen in the credit sequences of the Wachowskis' 'Matrix' movies. The other panels and signage on the pump have been replaced with Right to Repair logos: a fist holding an adjustable wrench and a crossed wrench and hammer icon. Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en
A diptych. On the left side, a dragon is biting the head off a man, posed on the 'Hell' background from Bosch's 'Garden of Earthly Delights.' The serpent has the glaring red eye of HAL 9000 from Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey.' On the right, a saluting, smiling gas-jockey stands beside a vintage gas-pump, against a background cropped from the 'Heaven' third in 'Earthly Delights.' The pump's logo has been replaced with an oval of 'code waterfall' effect as seen in the credit sequences of the Wachowskis' 'Matrix' movies. The other panels and signage on the pump have been replaced with Right to Repair logos: a fist holding an adjustable wrench and a crossed wrench and hammer icon. Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en
A diptych. On the left side, a dragon is biting the head off a man, posed on the 'Hell' background from Bosch's 'Garden of Earthly Delights.' The serpent has the glaring red eye of HAL 9000 from Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey.' On the right, a saluting, smiling gas-jockey stands beside a vintage gas-pump, against a background cropped from the 'Heaven' third in 'Earthly Delights.' The pump's logo has been replaced with an oval of 'code waterfall' effect as seen in the credit sequences of the Wachowskis' 'Matrix' movies. The other panels and signage on the pump have been replaced with Right to Repair logos: a fist holding an adjustable wrench and a crossed wrench and hammer icon. Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en
Cory Doctorow
Cory Doctorow  ·  4 weeks ago
Today's threads (a thread)

Inside: Conspiratorialism as a material phenomenon; and more!

Archived at: https://pluralistic.net/2024/10/29/hobbesian-slop/

#Pluralistic

1/

A man lying in a hospital bed, wearing a sinister mind-control helmet. His hands are clenched into fists and he is grimacing. Through a hole in the wall we see a prancing vaudevallian, whose head has been replaced with the head of Mark Zuckerberg's Metaverse avatar. Behind this figure is the giant red eye of HAL9000 from Stanley Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey.' At the end of the bed stand a trio - Mom, Dad and daughter - in Sunday best clothes, their backs to us, staring at the mind-controlled man's face. Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en
A man lying in a hospital bed, wearing a sinister mind-control helmet. His hands are clenched into fists and he is grimacing. Through a hole in the wall we see a prancing vaudevallian, whose head has been replaced with the head of Mark Zuckerberg's Metaverse avatar. Behind this figure is the giant red eye of HAL9000 from Stanley Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey.' At the end of the bed stand a trio - Mom, Dad and daughter - in Sunday best clothes, their backs to us, staring at the mind-controlled man's face. Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en
A man lying in a hospital bed, wearing a sinister mind-control helmet. His hands are clenched into fists and he is grimacing. Through a hole in the wall we see a prancing vaudevallian, whose head has been replaced with the head of Mark Zuckerberg's Metaverse avatar. Behind this figure is the giant red eye of HAL9000 from Stanley Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey.' At the end of the bed stand a trio - Mom, Dad and daughter - in Sunday best clothes, their backs to us, staring at the mind-controlled man's face. Image: Cryteria (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HAL9000.svg CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en