Cory Doctorow: Microsoft criticizes Apple’s monopolism – and Microsoft oughta know about monopolies!
But companies that try to sic antitrust regulators against competitors need to watch out, because that kind of thing bites back.
Thousands of tampons! The Hugo Girls discuss Mary Robinette Kowal’s Hugo award winning novel, “The Calculating Stars,” which is, they say, basically Mrs. Maisel in space. They also discuss women’s body hair. And also feminism and sexism and stuff.
Today, Explained: A good day for DREAMers: The Supreme Court’s decision upholding DACA was a wonderful surprise, but Trump can strike down DACA again in literally a few hours. The Supreme Court didn’t rule on the specifics of DACA; it just said Trump didn’t file the right paperwork. Transcript
Still, it’s a good day for for DREAMers, who can breathe a little easier. And also a good day for all Americans with empathy for their fellow human beings. And now we all get to enjoy a little more the contributions that DREAMers make to society.
Ice skating in a suit. 1930s via
My new employer needs a professional looking photo.
Medical supply company threatens to sue to stop iFixit from distributing repair manuals
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Cory Doctorow: When a once-in-a-century public health emergency strikes, some people leap to help. Others leap to sue. Ifixit published maintenance manuals for medical equipment. Steris Corporation threatened to sue them for it. Steris, makes sterilizer equipment, is behaving obscenely. This is why we need “right to repair” laws – you have a moral right to do whatever you want with your own property. In this case, that right is literally a matter of life and death.
The EU has an opportunity to break Big Tech's monopolies by requiring interoperability
Thursday, June 18, 2020
This is the EU’s interoperability moment – Cory Doctorow It should be legal for you to buy a third-party service to manage your Facebook feed.
Oracle: How sports teams are keeping fans engaged during the pandemic shutdown: Money quote: “Sports fans are committed and involved. They are the only customers I know who are willing to have their favorite team logo tattooed on their bodies.”
How to stop Google Calendar from automatically including Google Meet links in meeting invitations.
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Zoom: Disable Google Hangout on Google Calendar This has been a stone in my shoe for years; now that I’m sending out meeting invitations more frequently, it’s become a real problem. The article refers to “Google Hangout,” which is what “Google Meet” was called recently.
Television promo photo 1970 in Hungary via
Welcome to the future, brought to you by America’s Independent Electric Light and Power Companies, advertising art from Newsweek, April 1959. via
Cory Doctorow: “Hue and cry, posses, sheriffs: What did we do before cops?” Professional policing is a relatively recent invention, and one whose time has gone.
Cory Doctorow: Americans don’t trust Big Tech to moderate their communities: Censorship by big business in partnership with government is not the answer to harassment, hate speech and fake news on the Internet.
Cory Doctorow: The Earbuddy is experimental technology that takes advantage of wireless earbuds' microphones being sensitive enough to tell the difference between touching different parts of your face. You could control your phone or communicate with each other just by touching your face (except of course you shouldn’t touch your face). Didn’t Carol Burnett pioneer this technology?
Cory Doctorow: “Robots aren’t stealing your job: Your boss is destroying it and blaming it on automation.” Automation enables gig-economy jobs, offshoring and flexible scheduling that drives down pay and turns people into robots.
Cory Doctorow: “SF anthology to benefit covid charities: Surviving Tomorrow is a new anthology whose entire profits go to pay for covid-19 tests for front-line workers. Contributors include Neil Gaiman, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Robert Silverberg, Jonathan Maberry, Seanan McGuire, Andrew Mayne, Scott Sigler, Orson Scott Card, Alan Dean Foster, A.C. Crispin” and Cory.