Gruber on Facebook.

Gruber on Facebook.

The internet does not hate women. The internet doesn’t hate anyone, because the internet, being an inanimate network, lacks the capacity to hold any opinion whatsoever. People hate women, and the internet allows them to do it faster, harder, and with impunity.

– Laurie Penny

Bruce Schneier on Facebook and Cambridge Analytica:

Surveillance capitalism is deeply embedded in our increasingly computerized society, and if the extent of it came to light there would be broad demands for limits and regulation. But because this industry can largely operate in secret, only occasionally exposed after a data breach or investigative report, we remain mostly ignorant of its reach.

This might change soon.

The looming GDPR implementation date is timed like a taught rejoinder to all the privacy jokes which have been made at our expense, behind closed doors.

The United States has leaned on Europe to police tech using antitrust policy for years, it’s no surprise we’re outsourcing a privacy policy for the Internet to European regulators now as well.

Studios and networks are not only drawn to the proven storytelling a podcast provides, but they also like the built-in fan base — one that’s easier to reach and engage than, say, people who have bought a book. Tens of millions of listeners have downloaded StartUp, and “now Gimlet can go back to those people and tell them about ‘Alex, Inc.,” Mr. Davis said. “It’s great synergy.”

Podcasts are the new comic books.

Don’t worry though, comic books are still comic books too though.

It’s nice to see that the judiciary is holding strong against the Wisconsin Republican Party’s latest attempt to undermine democratic principles.

The governor and his fellow Republicans who control the Legislature are seeking to approve legislation next week that could cancel the need for special elections and give Walker broader powers to determine when to allow voters to fill vacancies in the Legislature. 

Circuit Judge Richard Niess noted the legislation to avoid the elections is slated to be taken up without voters from those districts having representation in the Senate and Assembly.

”They have no say in that bill at all,” Niess said.

In a late-night filing Monday, Walker asked the court to put off for a week the requirement that he call the special elections so the bill could get through the Legislature. Niess turned down the request. 

“It is certainly the Legislature’s prerogative to change the law, but until they do, it is the obligation of this court to enforce the law, and the law right now in this state under that statute and by order of this court is that this election shall be held as promptly as possible and that it should be ordered no later than Thursday at noon,” Niess said from the bench. 

Emphasis added.

Might be time to buy a hair dryer.

Good talk.