Will Oremus points out that the recent "Upworthy traffic collapse" stories rely on short-term traffic estimates from quantcast which everyone knows are questionable. It's just more interesting to believe that Facebook is pulling the strings of the entire web: "journalists will believe anything about the social network, as long as it's totally outlandish." He points out an example, at Business Insider, where insinuations over advertising/publisher shenanigans were allowed to be presented as outright accusations–and soon quietly edited out.
The truth about Facebook
California's net neutrality law survives courtroom challenge
As Ars Technica puts it, "ISPs can't find any judges who will block California's Net Neutrality law", and it's not like they haven't been shopping hard. FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, who voted for federal net neutrality rules in 2015 and opposed their repeal in 2017, applauded yesterday's court decision."This is big. Because when the FCC… READ THE REST
The mystery of ⍼, a Unicode character of unknown purpose
⍼, "RIGHT ANGLE WITH DOWNWARDS ZIGZAG ARROW", is a Unicode character of uncertain origin. It may be summoned as the HTML entity ⍼. Jonathan Chan set out to uncover its mysterious purpose, a journey that led way back to Unicode's own antecedents. The meaning of ⍼ will be whatever meaning is assigned by whoever uses… READ THE REST
Etsy sellers on strike
Etsy sellers are going on strike to protest a 30% fee increase, algorithmic moderation and the growing presence of resellers pitching manufacturered and sweatshop-sourced junk (the platform was originally for crafted and vintage items, but is slowly turning into pastelibaba). We are striking to protest Etsy's treatment of sellers. We will put our shops on… READ THE REST
Enjoy a pet without the mess with this robotic canine!
The world is full of reasons to love dogs. How could you not? They are cute, kind, thoughtful, and always trying to make friends. The world is also full of reasons to love technology. But is there a way to bring these two together? Is the world ready for robotic dogs? The answer is yes! Petoi just… READ THE REST
This Unlimited Lifetime Learning Subscription Bundle with Rosetta Stone is the perfect way to learn a new skill
If there was ever a time to refresh what's going on in that noggin, it's now that you're finally digging into new technology instead of the old hat ways you're used to. You've finally got a good hold on life, and now it's time to elevate your value. This Unlimited Lifetime Learning Subscription Bundle is perfect for… READ THE REST
Get a taste of van life with this unique living space for your car
Everyone's been seduced by the idea of camping at one point or another, right? Spotting the stars at night, falling asleep to the sounds of the woods, waking up to a sunrise … There's just something magical about sleeping in the great outdoors. But, of course, reality is often disappointing. Tents, in particular, can be tiny… READ THE REST
