Dave Rupert: Enshittification as a matter of taste
“Enshittification” is a termed coined by Cory Doctorow in 2023 to describe a pattern of decreasing quality observed in online services and products. Since Doctorow’s post, there’s been no shortage of think pieces on enshittification and its role in our society and to a large extent I agree with them all. I think it’s an inevitable problem that shows the splitting seams of Capitalism. If you will allow, I’d like to add a tangential thought – one slight embellishment – to this topic.
To me, enshittification means that a person who lacks taste was put in a position of power.
Fast Company: Tesla Cybertruck recalled 2025: trim detaching from vehicle
The recall could prove to be a setback for Tesla, whose stock has lost about half its value this year as the company grapples with rising competition, an aging lineup, and backlash against CEO Elon Musk’s controversial role overseeing cuts to federal spending in the Trump White House.
The recall is meant to address a stainless-steel exterior trim panel that can detach from the vehicle, making it a road hazard that boosts the risk of a crash, according to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) notice. Tesla’s service will replace the assembly for free.
Tom’s Guide: I use ChatGPT every day — 7 prompts I can’t live without
What’s been most surprising is how practical ChatGPT has become for ordinary situations. It’s now my go-to assistant for life’s regular challenges.
Here are seven prompts you can use regularly to make life a little bit easier.
- Diagnose home repair issues …
- Generate recipes based on what you have to hand …
- Create an itinerary for a trip …
- Get targeted health advice for common ailments …
- Craft clear and concise emails …
- Translate laundry care symbols …
- Organize your grocery list …
You can even combine them: generate a recipe and produce an organized shopping list.
Tom’s Guide: Forget ChatGPT Canvas — I just tried Gemini Canvas and I’m floored by the difference
Gemini Canvas doesn’t do the work for you, it guides you. If you’re looking for an AI tool to write your next novel for you, this isn’t it. If you have great ideas and need some guidance on how to shape your story and make it the best it can be, this is the tool for you.
It’s not just for novel writers. I can see Gemini Canvas being very useful for creatives working on essays, blogs, or any place where one may need a little extra feedback.
Wikipedia: Cryptonomicon
Cryptonomicon is a 1999 novel by American author Neal Stephenson, set in two different time periods. One group of characters are World War II–era Allied codebreakers and tactical-deception operatives affiliated with the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park (UK), and disillusioned Axis military and intelligence figures. The second narrative is set in the late 1990s, with characters that are (in part) descendants of those of the earlier time period, who employ cryptologic, telecom, and computer technology to build an underground data haven in the fictional Sultanate of Kinakuta. Their goal is to facilitate anonymous Internet banking using electronic money and (later) digital gold currency, with a long-term objective to distribute Holocaust Education and Avoidance Pod (HEAP) media for instructing genocide-target populations on defensive warfare.
Cryptonomicon is closer to the genres of historical fiction and contemporary techno-thriller than to the science fiction of Stephenson’s two previous novels, Snow Crash and The Diamond Age. It features fictionalized characterizations of such historical figures as Alan Turing, Albert Einstein, Douglas MacArthur, Winston Churchill, Isoroku Yamamoto, Karl Dönitz, Hermann Göring, and Ronald Reagan, as well as some highly technical and detailed descriptions of modern cryptography and information security, with discussions of prime numbers, modular arithmetic, and Van Eck phreaking.
from a rabbit hole created by Spencer Greenhalgh
PBS Newshour: What to know about Greenpeace after it was found liable in the Dakota Access protest case
A North Dakota jury on Wednesday found Greenpeace must pay hundreds of millions of dollars to a pipeline company in connection with protests against the Dakota Access oil pipeline.
The jury found Greenpeace liable for defamation and other claims and awarded Dallas-based Energy Transfer and subsidiary Dakota Access more than $650 million in damages.
The lawsuit accused Netherlands-based Greenpeace International, Greenpeace USA and funding arm Greenpeace Fund Inc. of defamation, trespass, nuisance, civil conspiracy and other acts.
NYT: Americans Are Unhappier Than Ever. Solo Dining May Be a Sign.
The United States slipped to its lowest ranking ever in the World Happiness Report, in part because more Americans are eating alone. Once again, the Finns came out on top.
CBC: Canada drops to 18th in 2025 World Happiness Report rank, among the ‘largest losers’
Canada has slipped to 18th place in the global World Happiness Report, down three spots from last year and placing it among the “largest losers” in happiness rankings over the last two decades, according to the annual report released Thursday.
At its peak, in the 2015 report, Canada had placed fifth. Now, in 18th, Canada has dropped to its lowest-ever position since the polling began in 2005. The United States has also dropped to its lowest-ever position at 24th, having previously peaked at 11th place in 2012. The U.K. fell to 23rd.
I wonder how much polarized views contribute to that, epitomized by the current political situation?
ScienceAlert: New Type of Fossilization Revealed by Griffon Vulture Found in Volcanic Ash
A surprising discovery in the feathers of a fossil vulture from central Italy has revealed that volcanic deposits can preserve delicate tissue structures in unprecedented detail, offering new insights into the fossilisation process.
Last Updated: 20.Mar.2025 23:20 EDT
