+- Cory Doctorow -- 22h ----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | nostr:nprofile1qy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyd968gmewwp6kyqpqkqfazvjl4cltn2ehvahd5dz | | 8346r7qank2wpxu9ycy6y89vjmxuqdejctj Only the modifications. | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+nostr:nprofile1qy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyd968gmewwp6kyqpqkqfazvjl4cltn2ehvahd5dz8346r7qank2wpxu9ycy6y89vjmxuqdejctj Only the modifications.
npub1yxzkmtuyctjw2pffp6e9uvyrkp29hrqra2tm3xp3z9707z06muxsg75qvv
pluralistic@mamot-fr.mostr.pub
By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow. Archived at pluralistic.net I post long threads. If you don't like these in your timeline but want to read them, I suggest unfollowing me here and subscribing to my RSS, or my newsletter, or any of my various long-form feeds. Links at https://pluralistic.net.
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | I'm also on Bluesky. Read today's thread there at: | | | | https://bsky.app/profile/did:web:pluralistic.net/post/3mkcwykmgpc2t | | | | eof/ | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+I'm also on Bluesky. Read today's thread there at: https://bsky.app/profile/did:web:pluralistic.net/post/3mkcwykmgpc2t eof/
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | You can follow these posts as a daily blog at pluralistic.net: no ads, | | trackers, or data-collection! | | | | Here's today's edition: https://pluralistic.net/2026/04/25/machiavellian/ | | | | -- | | | | If you prefer a newsletter, subscribe to the plura-list, which is | | ad-/tracker-free, and is utterly unadorned save a single daily emoji. Today's | | is "🧩". Suggestions solicited for future emojis! | | | | -- | | | | You can also get a fulltext RSS feed, licensed CC BY 4.0: | | | | https://pluralistic.net/feed/ | | | | 13/ | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+You can follow these posts as a daily blog at pluralistic.net: no ads, trackers, or data-collection! Here's today's edition: https://pluralistic.net/2026/04/25/machiavellian/ -- If you prefer a newsletter, subscribe to the plura-list, which is ad-/tracker-free, and is utterly unadorned save a single daily emoji. Today's is "🧩". Suggestions solicited for future emojis! -- You can also get a fulltext RSS feed, licensed CC BY 4.0: https://pluralistic.net/feed/ 13/
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | Recent appearances: | | | | * Artificial Intelligence: The Ultimate Disruptor, with Astra Taylor and | | Yoshua Bengio (CBC Ideas) | | https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-23-ideas/clip/16210039-artificial-intel | | ligence-the-ultimate-disruptor | | | | * When Do Platforms Stop Innovating and Start Extracting? (InnovEU) | | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cccDR0YaMt8 | | | | * Pete "Mayor" Buttigieg (No Gods No Mayors) | | https://www.patreon.com/posts/pete-mayor-with-155614612 | | | | * The internet is getting worse (CBC The National) | | https://youtu.be/dCVUCdg3Uqc?si=FMcA0EI_Mi13Lw-P | | | | * Do you feel screwed over by big tech? (Ontario Today) | | https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-45-ontario-today/clip/16203024-do-feel- | | screwed-big-tech | | | | 12/ | | | | https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/146/637/734/305/origin | | al/a5032cbb4738d313.jpg | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+Recent appearances: * Artificial Intelligence: The Ultimate Disruptor, with Astra Taylor and Yoshua Bengio (CBC Ideas) https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-23-ideas/clip/16210039-artificial-intelligence-the-ultimate-disruptor * When Do Platforms Stop Innovating and Start Extracting? (InnovEU) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cccDR0YaMt8 * Pete "Mayor" Buttigieg (No Gods No Mayors) https://www.patreon.com/posts/pete-mayor-with-155614612 * The internet is getting worse (CBC The National) https://youtu.be/dCVUCdg3Uqc?si=FMcA0EI_Mi13Lw-P * Do you feel screwed over by big tech? (Ontario Today) https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-45-ontario-today/clip/16203024-do-feel-screwed-big-tech 12/ https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/146/637/734/305/original/a5032cbb4738d313.jpg
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | Upcoming appearances (cont'd): | | | | * #NYC: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Jonathan Coulton | | (The Strand), Jun 24 | | https://www.strandbooks.com/cory-doctorow-the-reverse-centaur-s-guide-to-life- | | after-ai.html | | | | 11/ | | | | https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/146/008/791/046/origin | | al/8f14b38bbfd0d08c.jpg | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+Upcoming appearances (cont'd): * #NYC: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Jonathan Coulton (The Strand), Jun 24 https://www.strandbooks.com/cory-doctorow-the-reverse-centaur-s-guide-to-life-after-ai.html 11/ https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/146/008/791/046/original/8f14b38bbfd0d08c.jpg
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | Upcoming appearances (cont'd): | | | | * #Berlin: Re:publica, May 18-20 | | https://re-publica.com/de/news/rp26-sprecher-cory-doctorow | | | | * #Berlin: Enshittification at Otherland Books, May 19 | | https://www.otherland-berlin.de/de/event-details/cory-doctorow.html | | | | * #HayOnWye: HowTheLightGetsIn, May 22-25 | | https://howthelightgetsin.org/festivals/hay/big-ideas-2 | | | | * SXSW #London, Jun 2 | | https://www.sxswlondon.com/session/how-big-tech-broke-the-internet-b3c4a901 | | | | 10/ | | | | https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/145/186/173/504/origin | | al/2ace8394bb8e3843.jpg | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+Upcoming appearances (cont'd): * #Berlin: Re:publica, May 18-20 https://re-publica.com/de/news/rp26-sprecher-cory-doctorow * #Berlin: Enshittification at Otherland Books, May 19 https://www.otherland-berlin.de/de/event-details/cory-doctorow.html * #HayOnWye: HowTheLightGetsIn, May 22-25 https://howthelightgetsin.org/festivals/hay/big-ideas-2 * SXSW #London, Jun 2 https://www.sxswlondon.com/session/how-big-tech-broke-the-internet-b3c4a901 10/ https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/145/186/173/504/original/2ace8394bb8e3843.jpg
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | Upcoming appearances: | | | | * #London: Resisting Big Tech Empires (LSBU), Apr 25 | | https://www.tickettailor.com/events/globaljusticenow/2042691 | | | | * #NYC: Enshittification at Commonweal Ventures, Apr 29 | | https://luma.com/ssgfvqz8 | | | | * #NYC: Techidemic with Sarah Jeong, Tochi Onyebuchi and Alia Dastagir (PEN | | World Voices), Apr 30 | | https://worldvoices.pen.org/event/techidemic/ | | | | * #Barcelona: Internet no tiene que ser un vertedero (Global Digital Rights | | Forum), May 13 | | https://encuentroderechosdigitales.com/en/ | | | | 0 | | | | https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/144/132/108/091/origin | | al/7a0cd65b0a31036f.jpg | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+Upcoming appearances: * #London: Resisting Big Tech Empires (LSBU), Apr 25 https://www.tickettailor.com/events/globaljusticenow/2042691 * #NYC: Enshittification at Commonweal Ventures, Apr 29 https://luma.com/ssgfvqz8 * #NYC: Techidemic with Sarah Jeong, Tochi Onyebuchi and Alia Dastagir (PEN World Voices), Apr 30 https://worldvoices.pen.org/event/techidemic/ * #Barcelona: Internet no tiene que ser un vertedero (Global Digital Rights Forum), May 13 https://encuentroderechosdigitales.com/en/ 0 https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/144/132/108/091/original/7a0cd65b0a31036f.jpg
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | My ebooks and audiobooks (from FSGxMCD, Tor Books, Head of Zeus, McSweeneys, | | Beacon, Verso and others) are for sale all over the net, but I sell 'em too, | | and when you buy 'em from me, I earn twice as much and you get books with no | | DRM and no license "agreements." | | | | https://craphound.com/shop/ | | | | 8/ | | | | https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/143/534/659/665/origin | | al/920c1b60b23ef9f5.jpg | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+My ebooks and audiobooks (from FSGxMCD, Tor Books, Head of Zeus, McSweeneys, Beacon, Verso and others) are for sale all over the net, but I sell 'em too, and when you buy 'em from me, I earn twice as much and you get books with no DRM and no license "agreements." https://craphound.com/shop/ 8/ https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/143/534/659/665/original/920c1b60b23ef9f5.jpg
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | My latest novel is "Picks and Shovels," a historical technothriller set in the | | Weird Era of the PC, about Ponzi schemes, techbros, and the dawn of | | enshittification: | | | | https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865908/picksandshovels | | | | -- | | | | My latest nonfiction book is the internationally bestselling | | "Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It," | | from MCD/Farrar, Straus and Giroux: | | | | https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374619329/enshittification/ | | | | 7/ | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+My latest novel is "Picks and Shovels," a historical technothriller set in the Weird Era of the PC, about Ponzi schemes, techbros, and the dawn of enshittification: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250865908/picksandshovels -- My latest nonfiction book is the internationally bestselling "Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It," from MCD/Farrar, Straus and Giroux: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374619329/enshittification/ 7/
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | Yesterday's threads: A free, open visual identity for enshittification; and | | more! | | | | https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic/116459799836379297 | | | | 6/ | | | | https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/141/457/266/114/origin | | al/1e28367943515ec9.jpg | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+Yesterday's threads: A free, open visual identity for enshittification; and more! https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic/116459799836379297 6/ https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/141/457/266/114/original/1e28367943515ec9.jpg
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | #5yrsago Foxconn's Wisconsin death-rattle | | https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/23/reputation-laundry/#monorail | | | | #5yrsago Laundering torturers' reputations with copyfraud | | https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/23/reputation-laundry/#dark-ops | | | | #1yrago Sarah Wynn-Williams's 'Careless People' | | https://pluralistic.net/2025/04/23/zuckerstreisand/#zdgaf | | | | 5/ | | | | https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/140/502/300/714/origin | | al/1d74bac7e2b652ac.png | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+#5yrsago Foxconn's Wisconsin death-rattle https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/23/reputation-laundry/#monorail #5yrsago Laundering torturers' reputations with copyfraud https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/23/reputation-laundry/#dark-ops #1yrago Sarah Wynn-Williams's 'Careless People' https://pluralistic.net/2025/04/23/zuckerstreisand/#zdgaf 5/ https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/140/502/300/714/original/1d74bac7e2b652ac.png
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | #25yrsago Gloating NYT editorial about the dotcom crash | | https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/23/opinion/editorial-observer-after-the-fall-t | | he-new-economy-goes-retro.html | | | | #20yrsago RIAA sues family that doesn’t own a PC | | https://www.techshout.com/riaa-sues-local-family-without-computer-for-illegal- | | music-file-sharing/ | | | | #15yrsago Righthaven copyright troll loses domain | | https://web.archive.org/web/20110425035158/http://www.domainnamenews.com/legal | | -issues/righthavencom-invalid-whois/9232 | | | | #15yrsago Steampunk Venetian mask | | https://bob-basset.livejournal.com/160226.html | | | | #5yrsago John Deere's dismal infosec | | https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/23/reputation-laundry/#deere-john | | | | 4/ | | | | https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/139/446/258/525/origin | | al/fd09d26662833b61.png | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+#25yrsago Gloating NYT editorial about the dotcom crash https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/23/opinion/editorial-observer-after-the-fall-the-new-economy-goes-retro.html #20yrsago RIAA sues family that doesn’t own a PC https://www.techshout.com/riaa-sues-local-family-without-computer-for-illegal-music-file-sharing/ #15yrsago Righthaven copyright troll loses domain https://web.archive.org/web/20110425035158/http://www.domainnamenews.com/legal-issues/righthavencom-invalid-whois/9232 #15yrsago Steampunk Venetian mask https://bob-basset.livejournal.com/160226.html #5yrsago John Deere's dismal infosec https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/23/reputation-laundry/#deere-john 4/ https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/139/446/258/525/original/fd09d26662833b61.png
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | Hey look at this | | | | * Coyote vs. ACME | Official Trailer | | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-43VeYGiPM | | | | * From the Jew Bill to the Mamdani Act | | https://coreyrobin.com/2026/04/22/from-the-jew-bill-to-the-mamdani-act/ | | | | * This Alberta Startup Sells No-Tech Tractors for Half Price | | https://wheelfront.com/this-alberta-startup-sells-no-tech-tractors-for-half-pr | | ice/ | | | | * Half of AI health answers are wrong even though they sound convincing | | https://theconversation.com/half-of-ai-health-answers-are-wrong-even-though-th | | ey-sound-convincing-new-study-280512 | | | | * Emails show Amazon colluding with other firms to raise prices, California | | authorities allege | | https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/apr/20/amazon-sellers- | | price-raises-california | | | | 3/ | | | | https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/138/493/886/967/origin | | al/9a46f0ac45414c11.jpg | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+Hey look at this * Coyote vs. ACME | Official Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-43VeYGiPM * From the Jew Bill to the Mamdani Act https://coreyrobin.com/2026/04/22/from-the-jew-bill-to-the-mamdani-act/ * This Alberta Startup Sells No-Tech Tractors for Half Price https://wheelfront.com/this-alberta-startup-sells-no-tech-tractors-for-half-price/ * Half of AI health answers are wrong even though they sound convincing https://theconversation.com/half-of-ai-health-answers-are-wrong-even-though-they-sound-convincing-new-study-280512 * Emails show Amazon colluding with other firms to raise prices, California authorities allege https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/apr/20/amazon-sellers-price-raises-california 3/ https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/138/493/886/967/original/9a46f0ac45414c11.jpg
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | Ada Palmer's "Inventing the Renaissance": A tour-de-force, a magnum opus, a | | work of utter brilliance. | | | | https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic/116465078964277678 | | | | 2/ | | | | https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/137/517/182/976/origin | | al/f50d70307788bd3d.jpg | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+Ada Palmer's "Inventing the Renaissance": A tour-de-force, a magnum opus, a work of utter brilliance. https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic/116465078964277678 2/ https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/137/517/182/976/original/f50d70307788bd3d.jpg
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | day's threads (a thread) | | | | Inside: Ada Palmer's "Inventing the Renaissance"; and more! | | | | Archived at: https://pluralistic.net/2026/04/25/machiavellian/ | | | | #Pluralistic | | | | 1/ | | | | https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/459/897/476/763/040/origin | | al/a819b78ba726319d.jpg | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+day's threads (a thread) Inside: Ada Palmer's "Inventing the Renaissance"; and more! Archived at: https://pluralistic.net/2026/04/25/machiavellian/ #Pluralistic 1/ https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/459/897/476/763/040/original/a819b78ba726319d.jpg
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | Those correspondences between the deep historical record and our current | | moment make *Inventing the Renaissance* extremely important and timely - a | | book hundreds of years in the making, and bang up to date. | | | | | | eof/ | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+Those correspondences between the deep historical record and our current moment make *Inventing the Renaissance* extremely important and timely - a book hundreds of years in the making, and bang up to date. eof/
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | Palmer wants us to understand that the majority of censorship is | | *self*-censorship - that the Inquisition could only intervene in a tiny | | minority of cases of prohibited thought and word, and they had to rely on key | | people - printers, for example - anticipating the Inquisitors' tastes and | | limiting their speech without an Inquisitorial edict (if this seems relevant | | to the Trump administration's "war on woke," then you're clearly paying | | attention): | | | | https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/22/self-censorship/#hugos | | | | 20/ | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+Palmer wants us to understand that the majority of censorship is *self*-censorship - that the Inquisition could only intervene in a tiny minority of cases of prohibited thought and word, and they had to rely on key people - printers, for example - anticipating the Inquisitors' tastes and limiting their speech without an Inquisitorial edict (if this seems relevant to the Trump administration's "war on woke," then you're clearly paying attention): https://pluralistic.net/2024/02/22/self-censorship/#hugos 20/
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | One of Palmer's areas of specialty is free speech and censorship. Along with | | Adrian Johns, we co-taught a grad seminar called "Censorship, Information | | Control, and Information Revolutions from Printing Press to Internet" that | | connected Ada's work to the current battles over online speech: | | | | https://neubauercollegium.uchicago.edu/research/censorship-information-control | | -and-information-revolutions-from-printing-press-to-internet | | | | 19/ | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+One of Palmer's areas of specialty is free speech and censorship. Along with Adrian Johns, we co-taught a grad seminar called "Censorship, Information Control, and Information Revolutions from Printing Press to Internet" that connected Ada's work to the current battles over online speech: https://neubauercollegium.uchicago.edu/research/censorship-information-control-and-information-revolutions-from-printing-press-to-internet 19/
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | The omnipotent third person narrator is a lie. I don't know if Palmer got this | | idea from Walton, or if Walton was inspired by Palmer, but it is a wonderful | | living example of how intellectual and creative movements (like those that are | | attributed to the Renaissance) feed one another. | | | | 18/ | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+The omnipotent third person narrator is a lie. I don't know if Palmer got this idea from Walton, or if Walton was inspired by Palmer, but it is a wonderful living example of how intellectual and creative movements (like those that are attributed to the Renaissance) feed one another. 18/
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | And this June, she'll bring out *Everybody's Perfect*, a novel that uses | | Palmer's trick of telling a story from many viewpoint characters, each of whom | | perceives the events so differently that their versions can't really be | | reconciled, except by understanding that there is no one history and there | | cannot be one history. There are only the histories, ever changing. | | | | 17/ | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+And this June, she'll bring out *Everybody's Perfect*, a novel that uses Palmer's trick of telling a story from many viewpoint characters, each of whom perceives the events so differently that their versions can't really be reconciled, except by understanding that there is no one history and there cannot be one history. There are only the histories, ever changing. 17/
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | Then there was *Lent*, Walton's story of the fanatical reformer Savonarola, | | who is forced to re-live his life over and over, with breaks in hell where he | | is tormented by his failure: | | | | https://web.archive.org/web/20190516170659/https://www.latimes.com/books/la-ca | | -jc-review-jo-walton-lent-20190516-story.html | | | | 16/ | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+Then there was *Lent*, Walton's story of the fanatical reformer Savonarola, who is forced to re-live his life over and over, with breaks in hell where he is tormented by his failure: https://web.archive.org/web/20190516170659/https://www.latimes.com/books/la-ca-jc-review-jo-walton-lent-20190516-story.html 16/
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | First, there were Walton's "Philosopher Kings" books, a three-book long | | thought experiment in which every person of every era who ever dreamed of | | living in Plato's Republic is brought through time and space to the doomed | | volcanic island that will someday give rise to the story of Atlantis, to try | | out Plato's ideal society for real: | | | | https://memex.craphound.com/2015/01/13/jo-waltons-the-just-city/ | | | | 15/ | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+First, there were Walton's "Philosopher Kings" books, a three-book long thought experiment in which every person of every era who ever dreamed of living in Plato's Republic is brought through time and space to the doomed volcanic island that will someday give rise to the story of Atlantis, to try out Plato's ideal society for real: https://memex.craphound.com/2015/01/13/jo-waltons-the-just-city/ 15/
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | Palmer is a close literary - and personal - ally of the equally brilliant | | sf/fantasy writer Jo Walton, whose work has mined classical and Renaissance | | history to great effect since she and Palmer struck up their friendship. | | | | 14/ | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+Palmer is a close literary - and personal - ally of the equally brilliant sf/fantasy writer Jo Walton, whose work has mined classical and Renaissance history to great effect since she and Palmer struck up their friendship. 14/
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | Palmer's sensitive, beautifully researched and written accounts of the lives | | of these figures - highborn and lowly, sinister and virtuous - highlights the | | contradictions of this centuries-long "moment" we call "the Renaissance" and | | shows us how those contradictions can't ever be resolved, only acknowledged | | and understood. | | | | This is Palmer the novelist, blending seamlessly with Palmer the historian. | | | | 13/ | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+Palmer's sensitive, beautifully researched and written accounts of the lives of these figures - highborn and lowly, sinister and virtuous - highlights the contradictions of this centuries-long "moment" we call "the Renaissance" and shows us how those contradictions can't ever be resolved, only acknowledged and understood. This is Palmer the novelist, blending seamlessly with Palmer the historian. 13/
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | There will *always* be multiple histories, overlapping each other, warring | | with one another, supplanting each other, or being revived as "lost" histories | | that reveal a truth that "they" have buried. | | | | This is *such* an ambitious book, and the ambition pays off in so many ways. | | Take the book's structure: there's a long middle section in which Palmer | | describes how more than a dozen figures from the Renaissance experienced their | | era, with many overlapping events and timelines. | | | | 12/ | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+There will *always* be multiple histories, overlapping each other, warring with one another, supplanting each other, or being revived as "lost" histories that reveal a truth that "they" have buried. This is *such* an ambitious book, and the ambition pays off in so many ways. Take the book's structure: there's a long middle section in which Palmer describes how more than a dozen figures from the Renaissance experienced their era, with many overlapping events and timelines. 12/
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | She develops these themes in the most charming, accessible manner imaginable, | | weaving her own journey into history with her accounts of how different eras | | consciously created and deployed the *idea* of "the Renaissance" and how these | | ideas were bolstered, undermined, or ultimately demolished by new evidence. | | You could not ask for a better account of why there is not, and can never be, | | a single, canonical "history" of an era or a moment. | | | | 11/ | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+She develops these themes in the most charming, accessible manner imaginable, weaving her own journey into history with her accounts of how different eras consciously created and deployed the *idea* of "the Renaissance" and how these ideas were bolstered, undermined, or ultimately demolished by new evidence. You could not ask for a better account of why there is not, and can never be, a single, canonical "history" of an era or a moment. 11/
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | From the servant who bears a message from one great power to another, up to | | those great powers themselves, each person guides the course of history, even | | if they can't halt some of its outcomes. | | | | Though Palmer unpacks this exercise and its meaning and results in the final | | part of her *magnum opus*, this message about forces and people is really the | | key to her historiography. | | | | 10/ | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+From the servant who bears a message from one great power to another, up to those great powers themselves, each person guides the course of history, even if they can't halt some of its outcomes. Though Palmer unpacks this exercise and its meaning and results in the final part of her *magnum opus*, this message about forces and people is really the key to her historiography. 10/
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | The point of this exercise is to expose the students to the power and limits | | of both "great historical forces" *and* the human agency that every one of us | | has within the envelope defined by those forces. Palmer wants her students to | | get a bone-deep understanding that while every moment has great forces bearing | | down on it, that the *people* of each moment have an enormous amount of leeway | | to channel the floodwaters that history will unleash. | | | | 9/ | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+The point of this exercise is to expose the students to the power and limits of both "great historical forces" *and* the human agency that every one of us has within the envelope defined by those forces. Palmer wants her students to get a bone-deep understanding that while every moment has great forces bearing down on it, that the *people* of each moment have an enormous amount of leeway to channel the floodwaters that history will unleash. 9/
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | That's because the final candidates are *never* quite the same, nor are the | | cardinals who cast votes for the winner. And yet, there are certain bedrocks | | that *never* shift, including the fact that Italy is *always* invaded by some | | of the factions involved in the election, though which cities burn *also* | | changes. | | | | 8/ | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+That's because the final candidates are *never* quite the same, nor are the cardinals who cast votes for the winner. And yet, there are certain bedrocks that *never* shift, including the fact that Italy is *always* invaded by some of the factions involved in the election, though which cities burn *also* changes. 8/
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | At the climax, the students take over the university's faux-Gothic cathedral, | | dressed in Renaissance drag (Palmer has a Google alert for theater companies | | that are selling off their costumes, and her tiny office at the university | | overflows with racks of cardinals' robes and other period garb), and they | | invest a Pope: | | | | https://pluralistic.net/2021/10/17/against-the-great-forces-of-history/ | | | | This exercise is nothing short of genius, and the students who experience it | | often report that it is life-changing. | | | | 7/ | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+At the climax, the students take over the university's faux-Gothic cathedral, dressed in Renaissance drag (Palmer has a Google alert for theater companies that are selling off their costumes, and her tiny office at the university overflows with racks of cardinals' robes and other period garb), and they invest a Pope: https://pluralistic.net/2021/10/17/against-the-great-forces-of-history/ This exercise is nothing short of genius, and the students who experience it often report that it is life-changing. 7/
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+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | Recent appearances: | | | | * Artificial Intelligence: The Ultimate Disruptor, with Astra Taylor and | | Yoshua Bengio (CBC Ideas) | | https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-23-ideas/clip/16210039-artificial-intel | | ligence-the-ultimate-disruptor | | | | * When Do Platforms Stop Innovating and Start Extracting? (InnovEU) | | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cccDR0YaMt8 | | | | * Pete "Mayor" Buttigieg (No Gods No Mayors) | | https://www.patreon.com/posts/pete-mayor-with-155614612 | | | | * The internet is getting worse (CBC The National) | | https://youtu.be/dCVUCdg3Uqc?si=FMcA0EI_Mi13Lw-P | | | | * Do you feel screwed over by big tech? (Ontario Today) | | https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-45-ontario-today/clip/16203024-do-feel- | | screwed-big-tech | | | | 12/ | | | | https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/146/637/734/305/origin | | al/a5032cbb4738d313.jpg | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+Recent appearances: * Artificial Intelligence: The Ultimate Disruptor, with Astra Taylor and Yoshua Bengio (CBC Ideas) https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-23-ideas/clip/16210039-artificial-intelligence-the-ultimate-disruptor * When Do Platforms Stop Innovating and Start Extracting? (InnovEU) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cccDR0YaMt8 * Pete "Mayor" Buttigieg (No Gods No Mayors) https://www.patreon.com/posts/pete-mayor-with-155614612 * The internet is getting worse (CBC The National) https://youtu.be/dCVUCdg3Uqc?si=FMcA0EI_Mi13Lw-P * Do you feel screwed over by big tech? (Ontario Today) https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-45-ontario-today/clip/16203024-do-feel-screwed-big-tech 12/ https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/146/637/734/305/original/a5032cbb4738d313.jpg
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | Upcoming appearances (cont'd): | | | | * #NYC: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Jonathan Coulton | | (The Strand), Jun 24 | | https://www.strandbooks.com/cory-doctorow-the-reverse-centaur-s-guide-to-life- | | after-ai.html | | | | 11/ | | | | https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/146/008/791/046/origin | | al/8f14b38bbfd0d08c.jpg | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+Upcoming appearances (cont'd): * #NYC: The Reverse Centaur's Guide to Life After AI with Jonathan Coulton (The Strand), Jun 24 https://www.strandbooks.com/cory-doctorow-the-reverse-centaur-s-guide-to-life-after-ai.html 11/ https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/146/008/791/046/original/8f14b38bbfd0d08c.jpg
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | Upcoming appearances (cont'd): | | | | * #Berlin: Re:publica, May 18-20 | | https://re-publica.com/de/news/rp26-sprecher-cory-doctorow | | | | * #Berlin: Enshittification at Otherland Books, May 19 | | https://www.otherland-berlin.de/de/event-details/cory-doctorow.html | | | | * #HayOnWye: HowTheLightGetsIn, May 22-25 | | https://howthelightgetsin.org/festivals/hay/big-ideas-2 | | | | * SXSW #London, Jun 2 | | https://www.sxswlondon.com/session/how-big-tech-broke-the-internet-b3c4a901 | | | | 10/ | | | | https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/145/186/173/504/origin | | al/2ace8394bb8e3843.jpg | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+Upcoming appearances (cont'd): * #Berlin: Re:publica, May 18-20 https://re-publica.com/de/news/rp26-sprecher-cory-doctorow * #Berlin: Enshittification at Otherland Books, May 19 https://www.otherland-berlin.de/de/event-details/cory-doctorow.html * #HayOnWye: HowTheLightGetsIn, May 22-25 https://howthelightgetsin.org/festivals/hay/big-ideas-2 * SXSW #London, Jun 2 https://www.sxswlondon.com/session/how-big-tech-broke-the-internet-b3c4a901 10/ https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/145/186/173/504/original/2ace8394bb8e3843.jpg
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | Upcoming appearances: | | | | * #London: Resisting Big Tech Empires (LSBU), Apr 25 | | https://www.tickettailor.com/events/globaljusticenow/2042691 | | | | * #NYC: Enshittification at Commonweal Ventures, Apr 29 | | https://luma.com/ssgfvqz8 | | | | * #NYC: Techidemic with Sarah Jeong, Tochi Onyebuchi and Alia Dastagir (PEN | | World Voices), Apr 30 | | https://worldvoices.pen.org/event/techidemic/ | | | | * #Barcelona: Internet no tiene que ser un vertedero (Global Digital Rights | | Forum), May 13 | | https://encuentroderechosdigitales.com/en/ | | | | 0 | | | | https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/144/132/108/091/origin | | al/7a0cd65b0a31036f.jpg | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+Upcoming appearances: * #London: Resisting Big Tech Empires (LSBU), Apr 25 https://www.tickettailor.com/events/globaljusticenow/2042691 * #NYC: Enshittification at Commonweal Ventures, Apr 29 https://luma.com/ssgfvqz8 * #NYC: Techidemic with Sarah Jeong, Tochi Onyebuchi and Alia Dastagir (PEN World Voices), Apr 30 https://worldvoices.pen.org/event/techidemic/ * #Barcelona: Internet no tiene que ser un vertedero (Global Digital Rights Forum), May 13 https://encuentroderechosdigitales.com/en/ 0 https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/144/132/108/091/original/7a0cd65b0a31036f.jpg
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | My ebooks and audiobooks (from FSGxMCD, Tor Books, Head of Zeus, McSweeneys, | | Beacon, Verso and others) are for sale all over the net, but I sell 'em too, | | and when you buy 'em from me, I earn twice as much and you get books with no | | DRM and no license "agreements." | | | | https://craphound.com/shop/ | | | | 8/ | | | | https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/143/534/659/665/origin | | al/920c1b60b23ef9f5.jpg | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+My ebooks and audiobooks (from FSGxMCD, Tor Books, Head of Zeus, McSweeneys, Beacon, Verso and others) are for sale all over the net, but I sell 'em too, and when you buy 'em from me, I earn twice as much and you get books with no DRM and no license "agreements." https://craphound.com/shop/ 8/ https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/143/534/659/665/original/920c1b60b23ef9f5.jpg
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | Yesterday's threads: A free, open visual identity for enshittification; and | | more! | | | | https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic/116459799836379297 | | | | 6/ | | | | https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/141/457/266/114/origin | | al/1e28367943515ec9.jpg | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+Yesterday's threads: A free, open visual identity for enshittification; and more! https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic/116459799836379297 6/ https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/141/457/266/114/original/1e28367943515ec9.jpg
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | #5yrsago Foxconn's Wisconsin death-rattle | | https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/23/reputation-laundry/#monorail | | | | #5yrsago Laundering torturers' reputations with copyfraud | | https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/23/reputation-laundry/#dark-ops | | | | #1yrago Sarah Wynn-Williams's 'Careless People' | | https://pluralistic.net/2025/04/23/zuckerstreisand/#zdgaf | | | | 5/ | | | | https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/140/502/300/714/origin | | al/1d74bac7e2b652ac.png | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+#5yrsago Foxconn's Wisconsin death-rattle https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/23/reputation-laundry/#monorail #5yrsago Laundering torturers' reputations with copyfraud https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/23/reputation-laundry/#dark-ops #1yrago Sarah Wynn-Williams's 'Careless People' https://pluralistic.net/2025/04/23/zuckerstreisand/#zdgaf 5/ https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/140/502/300/714/original/1d74bac7e2b652ac.png
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | #25yrsago Gloating NYT editorial about the dotcom crash | | https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/23/opinion/editorial-observer-after-the-fall-t | | he-new-economy-goes-retro.html | | | | #20yrsago RIAA sues family that doesn’t own a PC | | https://www.techshout.com/riaa-sues-local-family-without-computer-for-illegal- | | music-file-sharing/ | | | | #15yrsago Righthaven copyright troll loses domain | | https://web.archive.org/web/20110425035158/http://www.domainnamenews.com/legal | | -issues/righthavencom-invalid-whois/9232 | | | | #15yrsago Steampunk Venetian mask | | https://bob-basset.livejournal.com/160226.html | | | | #5yrsago John Deere's dismal infosec | | https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/23/reputation-laundry/#deere-john | | | | 4/ | | | | https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/139/446/258/525/origin | | al/fd09d26662833b61.png | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+#25yrsago Gloating NYT editorial about the dotcom crash https://www.nytimes.com/2001/04/23/opinion/editorial-observer-after-the-fall-the-new-economy-goes-retro.html #20yrsago RIAA sues family that doesn’t own a PC https://www.techshout.com/riaa-sues-local-family-without-computer-for-illegal-music-file-sharing/ #15yrsago Righthaven copyright troll loses domain https://web.archive.org/web/20110425035158/http://www.domainnamenews.com/legal-issues/righthavencom-invalid-whois/9232 #15yrsago Steampunk Venetian mask https://bob-basset.livejournal.com/160226.html #5yrsago John Deere's dismal infosec https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/23/reputation-laundry/#deere-john 4/ https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/139/446/258/525/original/fd09d26662833b61.png
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | Hey look at this | | | | * Coyote vs. ACME | Official Trailer | | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-43VeYGiPM | | | | * From the Jew Bill to the Mamdani Act | | https://coreyrobin.com/2026/04/22/from-the-jew-bill-to-the-mamdani-act/ | | | | * This Alberta Startup Sells No-Tech Tractors for Half Price | | https://wheelfront.com/this-alberta-startup-sells-no-tech-tractors-for-half-pr | | ice/ | | | | * Half of AI health answers are wrong even though they sound convincing | | https://theconversation.com/half-of-ai-health-answers-are-wrong-even-though-th | | ey-sound-convincing-new-study-280512 | | | | * Emails show Amazon colluding with other firms to raise prices, California | | authorities allege | | https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/apr/20/amazon-sellers- | | price-raises-california | | | | 3/ | | | | https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/138/493/886/967/origin | | al/9a46f0ac45414c11.jpg | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+Hey look at this * Coyote vs. ACME | Official Trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-43VeYGiPM * From the Jew Bill to the Mamdani Act https://coreyrobin.com/2026/04/22/from-the-jew-bill-to-the-mamdani-act/ * This Alberta Startup Sells No-Tech Tractors for Half Price https://wheelfront.com/this-alberta-startup-sells-no-tech-tractors-for-half-price/ * Half of AI health answers are wrong even though they sound convincing https://theconversation.com/half-of-ai-health-answers-are-wrong-even-though-they-sound-convincing-new-study-280512 * Emails show Amazon colluding with other firms to raise prices, California authorities allege https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/apr/20/amazon-sellers-price-raises-california 3/ https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/138/493/886/967/original/9a46f0ac45414c11.jpg
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | Ada Palmer's "Inventing the Renaissance": A tour-de-force, a magnum opus, a | | work of utter brilliance. | | | | https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic/116465078964277678 | | | | 2/ | | | | https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/137/517/182/976/origin | | al/f50d70307788bd3d.jpg | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+Ada Palmer's "Inventing the Renaissance": A tour-de-force, a magnum opus, a work of utter brilliance. https://mamot.fr/@pluralistic/116465078964277678 2/ https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/465/137/517/182/976/original/f50d70307788bd3d.jpg
+- Cory Doctorow -- 1d -----------------------------------------------------[...]+ | | | day's threads (a thread) | | | | Inside: Ada Palmer's "Inventing the Renaissance"; and more! | | | | Archived at: https://pluralistic.net/2026/04/25/machiavellian/ | | | | #Pluralistic | | | | 1/ | | | | https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/459/897/476/763/040/origin | | al/a819b78ba726319d.jpg | | | +-- reply ------------------------------------------------------------------- ---+day's threads (a thread) Inside: Ada Palmer's "Inventing the Renaissance"; and more! Archived at: https://pluralistic.net/2026/04/25/machiavellian/ #Pluralistic 1/ https://static.mamot.fr/media_attachments/files/116/459/897/476/763/040/original/a819b78ba726319d.jpg
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