"whatever you now find weird, ugly, uncomfortable and nasty about a new medium will surely become its signature... and cherished as soon as it can be avoided." — Brian Eno
February 8, 2026 at 12:27 AM
"whatever you now find weird, ugly, uncomfortable and nasty about a new medium will surely become its signature... and cherished as soon as it can be avoided." — Brian Eno
Reposted by Rob Beschizza
Learned about the depressing trend of describing books as TL;DR (Too Long, Didn't Read) at a conference last weekend.
Instead, I propose LR;WI (Long Read and Worth It). What are some long books that you read recently and enjoyed? I'll start: 🗃️
www.hup.harvard.edu/books/978067...
Instead, I propose LR;WI (Long Read and Worth It). What are some long books that you read recently and enjoyed? I'll start: 🗃️
www.hup.harvard.edu/books/978067...
The Tame and the Wild — Harvard University Press
A dramatic new interpretation of the encounter between Europe and the Americas that reveals the crucial role of animals in the shaping of the modern world.When the men and women of the island of Guana...
www.hup.harvard.edu
February 6, 2026 at 1:59 PM
Learned about the depressing trend of describing books as TL;DR (Too Long, Didn't Read) at a conference last weekend.
Instead, I propose LR;WI (Long Read and Worth It). What are some long books that you read recently and enjoyed? I'll start: 🗃️
www.hup.harvard.edu/books/978067...
Instead, I propose LR;WI (Long Read and Worth It). What are some long books that you read recently and enjoyed? I'll start: 🗃️
www.hup.harvard.edu/books/978067...
"The Expendables" but instead of action-movie meatheads it's quietly dangerous retired types trying to have normal lives. Keanu Reeves, Mark Rylance, Bob Oedenkirk, Denzel Washington, Vigo Mortenssen, Tilda Swinton.
February 7, 2026 at 1:28 AM
"The Expendables" but instead of action-movie meatheads it's quietly dangerous retired types trying to have normal lives. Keanu Reeves, Mark Rylance, Bob Oedenkirk, Denzel Washington, Vigo Mortenssen, Tilda Swinton.
Without commenting on any other part of this argument, I'd like to point out that AI use does not result in professionalism, professional-quality work or its valued qualities. If results in a technical competency strewn with consistent error patterns selected for by those making the generators.
February 6, 2026 at 6:41 PM
Without commenting on any other part of this argument, I'd like to point out that AI use does not result in professionalism, professional-quality work or its valued qualities. If results in a technical competency strewn with consistent error patterns selected for by those making the generators.
Always make your own recording!
👀 Apparently, Ross Douthat invited Seth Harp to debate him on Douthat's "Interesting Times" NYT podcast. Harp says that the episode was recorded, Douthat got crushed, and RD/NYT decided not to publish it.
What? x.com/sethharpesq/...
What? x.com/sethharpesq/...
February 6, 2026 at 1:55 PM
Always make your own recording!
When being alarmed at whatever the CIA might be up to, it's good to balance the media image of the CIA (here embodied by Oliver Stone presenting former Director Helms to the audience as a literal demon) with the reality that Laura Loomer can get them fired. Humans torturing humans!
February 6, 2026 at 1:49 PM
When being alarmed at whatever the CIA might be up to, it's good to balance the media image of the CIA (here embodied by Oliver Stone presenting former Director Helms to the audience as a literal demon) with the reality that Laura Loomer can get them fired. Humans torturing humans!
Craig Mazin directing Baldur's Gate on HBO makes me want Chernobyl with D&D 5e rules.
February 6, 2026 at 12:11 PM
Craig Mazin directing Baldur's Gate on HBO makes me want Chernobyl with D&D 5e rules.
Reposted by Rob Beschizza
Some personal news. For real. After 12 years at @wsj.com I’m leaving.
I’m starting my own consumer tech media company, building a new home with the same mission I've always had: help real people navigate the tech changing their lives + have fun while doing it.
Sign up! www.thisismynexthing.com
I’m starting my own consumer tech media company, building a new home with the same mission I've always had: help real people navigate the tech changing their lives + have fun while doing it.
Sign up! www.thisismynexthing.com
Home | This Is My Next Thing
Joanna Stern
www.thisismynexthing.com
February 5, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Some personal news. For real. After 12 years at @wsj.com I’m leaving.
I’m starting my own consumer tech media company, building a new home with the same mission I've always had: help real people navigate the tech changing their lives + have fun while doing it.
Sign up! www.thisismynexthing.com
I’m starting my own consumer tech media company, building a new home with the same mission I've always had: help real people navigate the tech changing their lives + have fun while doing it.
Sign up! www.thisismynexthing.com
Quasi domesticated white tails in Pittsburgh, literally have to walk around them
February 5, 2026 at 12:32 AM
Quasi domesticated white tails in Pittsburgh, literally have to walk around them
Reposted by Rob Beschizza
by the bane of my blade, a mighty spell is made and
far beyond the battle blood shall fall like a hard rain
far beyond the battle blood shall fall like a hard rain
February 4, 2026 at 9:27 PM
by the bane of my blade, a mighty spell is made and
far beyond the battle blood shall fall like a hard rain
far beyond the battle blood shall fall like a hard rain
People love the TMS34010 CPU-GPU. Strange and magical chip. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TMS34010
February 4, 2026 at 2:16 PM
People love the TMS34010 CPU-GPU. Strange and magical chip. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TMS34010
What would have been a weirder early 1990s fictional home computer?
1. Motorola 68000 + Z80 (like other 16 bits) but with the fabled Yamaha V9978/V9990 graphics chip intended for the never-made MSX3
2. The Texas Instruments TMS34010 CPU/GPU used in weird arcade games, but no coprocessor/chipset
1. Motorola 68000 + Z80 (like other 16 bits) but with the fabled Yamaha V9978/V9990 graphics chip intended for the never-made MSX3
2. The Texas Instruments TMS34010 CPU/GPU used in weird arcade games, but no coprocessor/chipset
February 3, 2026 at 11:09 PM
What would have been a weirder early 1990s fictional home computer?
1. Motorola 68000 + Z80 (like other 16 bits) but with the fabled Yamaha V9978/V9990 graphics chip intended for the never-made MSX3
2. The Texas Instruments TMS34010 CPU/GPU used in weird arcade games, but no coprocessor/chipset
1. Motorola 68000 + Z80 (like other 16 bits) but with the fabled Yamaha V9978/V9990 graphics chip intended for the never-made MSX3
2. The Texas Instruments TMS34010 CPU/GPU used in weird arcade games, but no coprocessor/chipset
Sir you are being hunted
February 2, 2026 at 9:53 PM
Sir you are being hunted
I thought I was over e-ink writing gadgets but now this one has shown up
boingboing.net/2026/02/02/z...
boingboing.net/2026/02/02/z...
Zerowriter Ink: sleek e-ink typewriter
The Zerowriter Ink is another focus-writing gadget featuring a mechanical keyboard, e-ink screen, and no distracting apps or features beyond simple word-processing tools. Similar to the Freewrite Alph...
boingboing.net
February 2, 2026 at 4:15 PM
I thought I was over e-ink writing gadgets but now this one has shown up
boingboing.net/2026/02/02/z...
boingboing.net/2026/02/02/z...
Reposted by Rob Beschizza
@rubenbolling.bsky.social writes about Will Eisner's creations, most notably the Spirit, going on the block. What hedge fund will win the auction? Groan.
I wrote on @boingboing.net about the entire intellectual property of the late legendary cartoonist Will Eisner now up for sale.
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boingboing.net/2026/01/31/l...
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boingboing.net/2026/01/31/l...
Legendary cartoonist Will Eisner's life's work, including The Spirit, is up for sale
Will Eisner pioneered the graphic novel. His heirs are now selling his entire life's work, including The Spirit.
boingboing.net
February 2, 2026 at 12:45 PM
@rubenbolling.bsky.social writes about Will Eisner's creations, most notably the Spirit, going on the block. What hedge fund will win the auction? Groan.
To my 8 year old son watching Trolls 3: Trolls Band Together: "you realize this is just neoliberal smurfs"
February 2, 2026 at 1:00 PM
To my 8 year old son watching Trolls 3: Trolls Band Together: "you realize this is just neoliberal smurfs"
Reposted by Rob Beschizza
My new talk “AI will live forever!” is now available on VHS and laserdisc.
February 1, 2026 at 11:03 PM
My new talk “AI will live forever!” is now available on VHS and laserdisc.
Many pointed out this was after he was convicted of soliciting sex from a 14 year old girl, but it was also after her first anti-trans stuff on social media. The stuff about womens' and childrens' safety is *always* retrofitted.
JK Rowling's team invited Jeffery Epstein to the deathly hallows play and to a Harry potter dinner.
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov/epstein/file...
www.justice.gov
February 1, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Many pointed out this was after he was convicted of soliciting sex from a 14 year old girl, but it was also after her first anti-trans stuff on social media. The stuff about womens' and childrens' safety is *always* retrofitted.
Reposted by Rob Beschizza
I wrote on @boingboing.net about the LAPD Police Chief’s refusal to enforce California’s law prohibiting ICE from wearing masks.
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boingboing.net/2026/01/31/l...
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boingboing.net/2026/01/31/l...
LAPD chief says enforcing ICE mask ban could cause "armed conflict" between cops and federal agent
LAPD Chief says enforcing the mask ban against ICE could cause "armed conflict." But illegal entry is also a misdemeanor.
boingboing.net
January 31, 2026 at 2:03 PM
I wrote on @boingboing.net about the LAPD Police Chief’s refusal to enforce California’s law prohibiting ICE from wearing masks.
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boingboing.net/2026/01/31/l...
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boingboing.net/2026/01/31/l...
Sony used to sell computers.
January 31, 2026 at 12:34 AM
Sony used to sell computers.
