Karen K. Ho
@karenho.bsky.social
Canadian writer-reporter and floofy dog owner.
If Taylor Swift fans can get re-releases of her albums onto sales charts, I have a good feeling the TV show-tie in versions of the Heated Rivalry paperback and audio books will make them New York Times bestsellers.
December 10, 2025 at 3:07 PM
If Taylor Swift fans can get re-releases of her albums onto sales charts, I have a good feeling the TV show-tie in versions of the Heated Rivalry paperback and audio books will make them New York Times bestsellers.
Reposted by Karen K. Ho
good morning, I have noticed that some of the critical responses to the Crave show Heated Rivalry have been, let's say, incomplete
sex scenes are craft! goddammit!
sex scenes are craft! goddammit!
Anatomy of a Sex Scene: Heated Rivalry Edition - Reading the End
Heated Rivalry, AKA the gay hockey show, has been getting a lot of buzz for its explicit(-ish) sex scenes, and a lot of that buzz has been coming from viewers and critics whose experience with the rom...
readingtheend.com
December 10, 2025 at 1:36 PM
good morning, I have noticed that some of the critical responses to the Crave show Heated Rivalry have been, let's say, incomplete
sex scenes are craft! goddammit!
sex scenes are craft! goddammit!
Reposted by Karen K. Ho
Seven straight Warner Bros. pictures earned over $40 million on their opening weekends. Warner Bros. led the Golden Globes noms. It's having one of the best years critically and financially in its history.
Why is it auctioning itself off?
The answer explains a lot about the modern economy.
Why is it auctioning itself off?
The answer explains a lot about the modern economy.
Why Is Warner Bros. for Sale at All? - The American Prospect
Its product has never been more critically or financially successful. Why is it auctioning itself off?
prospect.org
December 10, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Seven straight Warner Bros. pictures earned over $40 million on their opening weekends. Warner Bros. led the Golden Globes noms. It's having one of the best years critically and financially in its history.
Why is it auctioning itself off?
The answer explains a lot about the modern economy.
Why is it auctioning itself off?
The answer explains a lot about the modern economy.
Reposted by Karen K. Ho
I'm so glad Vince Staples talked about being a descendant of enslaved Canadians with Ziwe because every time I talk about the history of slavery up here, somebody thinks I'm lying.
December 10, 2025 at 1:40 PM
I'm so glad Vince Staples talked about being a descendant of enslaved Canadians with Ziwe because every time I talk about the history of slavery up here, somebody thinks I'm lying.
Reposted by Karen K. Ho
The NYT's top editor did an "interview" with a staff sycophant and the result was an embarrassment to him and his organization. Press critic Dan Froomkin explains why:
New York Times editor Joe Kahn misunderstands what the readers want | Press Watch
They want the Times to be more honest, not more partisan
presswatchers.org
December 10, 2025 at 8:11 AM
The NYT's top editor did an "interview" with a staff sycophant and the result was an embarrassment to him and his organization. Press critic Dan Froomkin explains why:
Reposted by Karen K. Ho
I wish more people would test before going, just as a precaution. Even just with a shitty RAT, it's better than nothing. Asymptomatic COVID exists! and if you're sniffly, even if it's not COVID, don't give people con crud.
I test with nucleic but recognise it's not affordable or possible for most.
I test with nucleic but recognise it's not affordable or possible for most.
I can't believe I have to say this, but if you have COVID don't go to public gatherings/events.
December 10, 2025 at 3:56 AM
I wish more people would test before going, just as a precaution. Even just with a shitty RAT, it's better than nothing. Asymptomatic COVID exists! and if you're sniffly, even if it's not COVID, don't give people con crud.
I test with nucleic but recognise it's not affordable or possible for most.
I test with nucleic but recognise it's not affordable or possible for most.
Reposted by Karen K. Ho
Reposted by Karen K. Ho
“It’s hard to call it affordable housing, because it’s not meant for people to live in” 🤔
Working 2 minimum wages jobs in California to pay $750/mo for a storage shed without running water or electricity
Estrada's home is smaller than a parking space furnished with a foldout bed and 2 blankets
Working 2 minimum wages jobs in California to pay $750/mo for a storage shed without running water or electricity
Estrada's home is smaller than a parking space furnished with a foldout bed and 2 blankets
In L.A., $750 a Month to Live in a Backyard Storage Unit
www.nytimes.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:52 AM
“It’s hard to call it affordable housing, because it’s not meant for people to live in” 🤔
Working 2 minimum wages jobs in California to pay $750/mo for a storage shed without running water or electricity
Estrada's home is smaller than a parking space furnished with a foldout bed and 2 blankets
Working 2 minimum wages jobs in California to pay $750/mo for a storage shed without running water or electricity
Estrada's home is smaller than a parking space furnished with a foldout bed and 2 blankets
Reposted by Karen K. Ho
One of the things that irritates me about defunding the Post Office is that the Post Office is just a great place to go to. People getting presents, sending off Christmas letters, the hustle and bustle of American Capitalism, people meeting people, babes and hunks, get laid at the Post Office folks
December 9, 2025 at 5:22 PM
One of the things that irritates me about defunding the Post Office is that the Post Office is just a great place to go to. People getting presents, sending off Christmas letters, the hustle and bustle of American Capitalism, people meeting people, babes and hunks, get laid at the Post Office folks
Reposted by Karen K. Ho
It's like they are actively trying to kill the tourist industry.
December 10, 2025 at 1:46 AM
It's like they are actively trying to kill the tourist industry.
Reposted by Karen K. Ho
When I was starting out as an erotica writer, I hung out a lot with an older gay man who'd been writing smut forever. He told me that without straight women writing gay paperbacks in the 1950s, gay culture as we know it might not exist. He insisted gay men owed these ladies a huge unpayable debt.
December 10, 2025 at 1:34 AM
When I was starting out as an erotica writer, I hung out a lot with an older gay man who'd been writing smut forever. He told me that without straight women writing gay paperbacks in the 1950s, gay culture as we know it might not exist. He insisted gay men owed these ladies a huge unpayable debt.
Reposted by Karen K. Ho
since using Calbiri (easier for visually impaired people) rather than TNR costs literally nothing, this is just ableism for its own sake. these are the kind of people who resent seeing a wheelchair ramp.
Marco Rubio ordered diplomats to return to using Times New Roman font in official communications, calling his predecessor's decision to adopt Calibri a “wasteful” diversity move
Rubio Stages Font Coup: Times New Roman Ousts Calibri
The secretary of state called it a "wasteful" diversity move, according to an internal department cable seen by Reuters.
www.huffpost.com
December 10, 2025 at 1:39 AM
since using Calbiri (easier for visually impaired people) rather than TNR costs literally nothing, this is just ableism for its own sake. these are the kind of people who resent seeing a wheelchair ramp.
Reposted by Karen K. Ho
A little known fact is the author @rachelreidwrites.bsky.social of the Game Changer/ Heated Rivalry series has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s so some fans have been donating to Parkinson’s research in her honour.
www.parkinson.ca/research/
www.parkinson.ca/research/
December 9, 2025 at 10:15 PM
A little known fact is the author @rachelreidwrites.bsky.social of the Game Changer/ Heated Rivalry series has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s so some fans have been donating to Parkinson’s research in her honour.
www.parkinson.ca/research/
www.parkinson.ca/research/
Reposted by Karen K. Ho
collaboration with AI company torched relationship with tiktok art community
TikTok Muse Lost The Entire Art Community Over This Mistake
YouTube video by Mohammed Agbadi
www.youtube.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:34 PM
collaboration with AI company torched relationship with tiktok art community
Reposted by Karen K. Ho
Here's a video of Jonathan's arrest, from his own Instagram account:
www.instagram.com/reel/DR_IQu_...
www.instagram.com/reel/DR_IQu_...
December 9, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Here's a video of Jonathan's arrest, from his own Instagram account:
www.instagram.com/reel/DR_IQu_...
www.instagram.com/reel/DR_IQu_...
Reposted by Karen K. Ho
new iOS update is sleek and also defaults in Music to “you must want songs transition as they would on a dance floor.” so many people will wonder why they can’t just listen to an album. Apps > Music > Song Transitions > toggle off.
December 9, 2025 at 7:23 PM
new iOS update is sleek and also defaults in Music to “you must want songs transition as they would on a dance floor.” so many people will wonder why they can’t just listen to an album. Apps > Music > Song Transitions > toggle off.
Reposted by Karen K. Ho
Reminder that not only do library systems have physical media (& many also lend tools, electronics etc), your library card may give you access to streamers Kanopy and Hoopla. We just watched Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of The Rainmaker via a hoopla the other night. Pretty good!
“As prices for streaming subscriptions continue to soar and finding movies to watch, new and old, is becoming harder as the number of streaming services continues to grow, people are turning to the unexpected last stronghold of physical media: the public library.”
The Last Video Rental Store Is Your Public Library
Audio-visual librarians are quietly amassing large physical media collections amid the IP disputes threatening select availability.
www.404media.co
December 9, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Reminder that not only do library systems have physical media (& many also lend tools, electronics etc), your library card may give you access to streamers Kanopy and Hoopla. We just watched Francis Ford Coppola’s adaptation of The Rainmaker via a hoopla the other night. Pretty good!
Reposted by Karen K. Ho
A nice piece on algorithmic pricing worth your time.
A question I got frequently when I led BLS was why the agency went into stores and didn’t just collect prices online. My answer, “prices online are often different than in the store, so we do both” often surprised people.
A question I got frequently when I led BLS was why the agency went into stores and didn’t just collect prices online. My answer, “prices online are often different than in the store, so we do both” often surprised people.
Same product. Same store. Same time. But on Instacart, different customers may see different prices.
My story on a fascinating new experiment from @groundwork.bsky.social & @consumerreports.org and how the idea of a single price is breaking down in the digital age:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/b...
My story on a fascinating new experiment from @groundwork.bsky.social & @consumerreports.org and how the idea of a single price is breaking down in the digital age:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/b...
Same Product, Same Store, but on Instacart, Prices Might Differ
www.nytimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 5:01 PM
A nice piece on algorithmic pricing worth your time.
A question I got frequently when I led BLS was why the agency went into stores and didn’t just collect prices online. My answer, “prices online are often different than in the store, so we do both” often surprised people.
A question I got frequently when I led BLS was why the agency went into stores and didn’t just collect prices online. My answer, “prices online are often different than in the store, so we do both” often surprised people.
Since I was laid off, I have seen so many other layoffs, and heard directly from friends and other people I know about their layoffs. So many people will pivot to other careers besides journalism. They repeatedly sacrificed time with family and friends, their health, and sleep. It didn't matter.
December 9, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Since I was laid off, I have seen so many other layoffs, and heard directly from friends and other people I know about their layoffs. So many people will pivot to other careers besides journalism. They repeatedly sacrificed time with family and friends, their health, and sleep. It didn't matter.
Reposted by Karen K. Ho
What if there was, like, a single payer?
Rand Paul on his healthcare plan: "What if you could join Costco? Costco has 44m members and if one person negotiated for all 44 and they bought a group plan like Toyota or General Motors does, they would be the largest collective entity in the country. They would drive prices down by sheer might."
December 9, 2025 at 4:36 PM
What if there was, like, a single payer?
Reposted by Karen K. Ho
In May, Human Rights Watch released a report showing how gig platforms use opaque algorithms to erode workers' wages.
Now a new investigation finds Instacart is running AI price experiments: charging different people different prices for the *same* groceries, sometimes by more than 23%.
Read this:
Now a new investigation finds Instacart is running AI price experiments: charging different people different prices for the *same* groceries, sometimes by more than 23%.
Read this:
Same Cart, Different Price: Instacart’s Price Experiments Cost Families at Checkout - Groundwork Collaborative
groundworkcollaborative.org
December 9, 2025 at 2:59 PM
In May, Human Rights Watch released a report showing how gig platforms use opaque algorithms to erode workers' wages.
Now a new investigation finds Instacart is running AI price experiments: charging different people different prices for the *same* groceries, sometimes by more than 23%.
Read this:
Now a new investigation finds Instacart is running AI price experiments: charging different people different prices for the *same* groceries, sometimes by more than 23%.
Read this:
Reposted by Karen K. Ho
Talking to somebody yesterday about a Cdn oral history archive that disappeared - turns out LLMs were scraping it so much it crashed their servers so it’s offline. Vile vulture technology.
December 9, 2025 at 2:15 PM
Talking to somebody yesterday about a Cdn oral history archive that disappeared - turns out LLMs were scraping it so much it crashed their servers so it’s offline. Vile vulture technology.
Every journalist of color I know would be punished or fired for being repeatedly late on deadline and filing "provocative" expense reports. We are also constantly concerned about layoffs or had direct experience with them. I hate this.
The breathtaking, audacious confidence of this passage…
You’re telling me you came up in political journalism of the 2010s and 20s and *never once* worried about job security? Really???
That’s… diagnosable.
You’re telling me you came up in political journalism of the 2010s and 20s and *never once* worried about job security? Really???
That’s… diagnosable.
December 9, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Every journalist of color I know would be punished or fired for being repeatedly late on deadline and filing "provocative" expense reports. We are also constantly concerned about layoffs or had direct experience with them. I hate this.
One thing at a time
December 9, 2025 at 2:54 PM
One thing at a time
If I still worked at ARTnews, this would have been fun to write about and interview the artist.
Our gorgeous #WakeUpDeadMan end credit portraits, painted from life by Isabella Watling. We’re still in theaters, see my pinned post for a theater finder!
December 9, 2025 at 4:51 AM
If I still worked at ARTnews, this would have been fun to write about and interview the artist.