The only way to prevent mass surveillance and censorship - and therefore ensure that democracy can continue to function - is to make it systemically impossible.
Should academics get involved in social justice issues, even if their research helped uncover the problem in the first place? (Spoiler alert: of course they should.) http://
This is a super-interesting spreadsheet of tech’s “notable” (here, sizeable) exits in 2017.
http://
This is a great - and a little bit daunting - summary of what happened in front-end web development in 2017. https://
In just over a week I’ll turn 39. They say that your thirties are like your twenties but better; there’s been some truth to that. But what should I definitely do over the next year to close out this arbitrary decade of my life?
This is a technical piece, but summary: letting your web browser remember passwords for you allows websites to track you in ways you don’t expect. Disable that function and use something like 1password instead. https://
Nationalism and exceptionalism divide us far more than Trump’s idiot wall. Everyone is connected. Every person has value and should have the right to live well. Being proud to be an American, or British, or Swiss, or Dutch, is arbitrary. We’re all a global family: proudly human.
A powerful story of immigration, empathy, and love in today’s Daily. Real-life parable. https://
Roast lamb
Goat cheese soufflé with a filo crust
Tofurkey roast [non-homemade]
Vegetarian stuffing
Roast potatoes and parsnips
Cranberry sauce
Vegetarian + lamb gravies
Mince pies + cream
In our low-key way, with everyone making something, happily chatting in the kitchen. 👍👍
“Merry Christmas” was, once upon a time, a drunken snub to the church, while “happy holidays” was the more Christian salutation. Merry Christmas! http://
A devastating, desperately sad story. https://
Meanwhile, over at Modern Farmer, it’s Sheep Week. https://
I mean, sure. This seems normal. https://
In so many cases, "targeting" is really discrimination. The law still applies on the internet. https://
The next new software project I create will absolutely, 100% for real, use this versioning syntax. http://
The subtext here: making money (which is an unfortunate necessity) while staying in line with open web principles is really, really hard if you’re focusing on consumers. https://
Sound advice from Andrew Chen. I've been blogging since 1998, but I haven't kept up a continuous site or domain name. I really wish I had. http://
I feel privileged and grateful to be able to do this job every day. Today more so than most. Big day.
The nice thing about taking a left turn from engineering is that I’ll probably never have to whiteboard another algorithm.
The trick is making sure I still can.
In news media - and everywhere! - transparency is key to building trust. https://
Net neutrality is about freedom. That’s why we need to keep it. My piece: https://
Find the perfect podcast for you and your love ones. This is really cool. https://
Net neutrality isn't a technical issue. It's all about freedom of speech. Here's why you need to care. https://
1 in 4 people in Silicon Valley is at risk of hunger. This is our responsibility to fix. https://
This is so good. I agree 1000% with what Sue Gardner is arguing for here. https://
I tried to write the first version of a personal mission statement this morning before work. It's hard. Feedback is a gift! https://
Keith Chegwin, a British TV entertainer, sadly died from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis today. Awareness is important, but coverage of the disease is mixed. This is actually one of the better ones. http://