beep

beep, 2 months ago to random

“Though it seemed completely automated, Just Walk Out relied on more than 1,000 people in India watching and labeling videos to ensure accurate checkouts. The cashiers were simply moved off-site, and they watched you as you shopped.” https://gizmodo.com/amazon-reportedly-ditches-just-walk-out-grocery-stores-1851381116

[removes glasses; pinches bridge of nose; sighs until the heat death of the universe]

beep, 6 months ago to random

The Washington Post union is striking on Thursday, 7 December, and they’re asking people to not cross the picket line:

“For 24 hours, please do not engage with any Washington Post content. That includes our print and online news stories, podcasts, videos, games and recipes. Instead, share information about our strike and send a letter to Post leaders in support of the people who make this institution run.”

More info here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LY2jViybLQPsgsm7hVo75V8aHNu5DUEZXB8vwc60YZo/edit

beep, 30 days ago to random

you first, asshole

beep, 4 months ago to random

I am a web designer in my twenties. I’m wondering why the industry is designing for one browser, and for a handful of screen resolutions.

I am a web designer in my thirties. I’m wondering why the industry is designing for one browser, and for a handful of screen resolutions.

I am a web designer in my forties. I’m wondering why the industry is designing for one browser, and for a handful of screen resolutions.

I am a web designer in my fifties. I’m wonderi

beep, 6 months ago to random

Duke University Libraries are canceling their subscription to Basecamp. Their post explaining the move is very good, and worth your time: https://blogs.library.duke.edu/blog/2023/11/30/why-were-dropping-basecamp/

beep, 9 months ago to Unions

I can’t quite believe it: my new book, YOU DESERVE A TECH UNION, is finally here. 📕🎉

I am so proud of this little book, and more than a little overwhelmed that it’s, like, finally REAL.

Thank you so much to everyone who’s supported the book, or preordered it, or talked it up to their friends. It really means the world to me.

💜

https://abookapart.com/products/you-deserve-a-tech-union

#YDATUbook #unions #TechUnions #1u #books #bookstodon #publishing

beep, 1 year ago to random

Tech workers: if you, like me, have ever wondered about how automation will impact your work, you should probably pay close attention to how “artificial intelligence” figures into the WGA strike. https://www.wgacontract2023.org/strike-hub

beep, 2 months ago to random

my love language is manually deleting all the tracking bullshit from a link before i text it to you

beep, 11 months ago to random

So here’s a thing that’s live: https://abookapart.com/products/you-deserve-a-tech-union

I’ll have more to say about it soon, but for now I’ll say this:

I wrote this little book for you, for me, for all of us. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever written, and I’m really very proud of it. And I hope it’s helpful to you.

#YDATUbook

beep, 4 months ago to random

“Workers at video game outlet IGN announced they’re unionizing Tuesday, with a supermajority of support from editorial and creative workers. With around 80 members in the unit, the union would be one of the largest unionized games journalism outlets in existence.”

HELL YES https://aftermath.site/ign-creators-guild-union-games-journalism

beep, 2 months ago to random

You’d think “it’s easier for many phones to render PUBG than modern websites” would be an industry-wide wake-up call, but. https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/modern-web-bloat-means-some-entry-level-phones-cant-run-simple-web-pages-and-load-times-are-high-for-pcs-some-sites-run-worse-than-pubg

beep, 1 month ago to random

“Amazon has launched a new ‘one-click to quit the union’ tool, and they’re relentlessly pushing it to every worker in their Coventry warehouse. […] If a worker scans the QR code and clicks the link, Amazon’s software automatically generates a letter from the worker and then emails it to the trade union, ending their membership.”

A legal challenge to some gnarly union-busting tactics that Amazon’s deployed in one of its warehouses in the UK: https://www.foxglove.org.uk/2024/05/02/legal-challenge-to-amazon-uks-new-one-click-to-quit-the-union-tool/

beep, 9 months ago to Unions

Some unionized tech workers could use your support this week, as we start the Labor Day weekend. 🧵

#1u #TechUnions #unions

beep, 4 months ago to random

oh my goodness: an interactive U.S. map dedicated to “uncovering, documenting and mapping thousands of New Deal public works and artworks around the country”:

https://livingnewdeal.org/map/

beep, 11 months ago (edited 11 months ago) to random

here’s a question for the #RSS users: what’s your favorite site you subscribe to? like, you get a little excited when it pops up in your newsfeed

(edited to add: share a link if you can!)

(One final edit to say I’m muting this now, but only because of volume: thank you so, so much to everyone who weighed in!)

beep, 5 months ago to random

Okay, I’m excited about this.

My publisher’s announced a change in the pricing for YOU DESERVE A TECH UNION: if you need or want a discount for any reason, you can use the code UNION to get 50% off the book when you buy it direct from @abookapart:

https://abookapart.com/products/you-deserve-a-tech-union

I’m so grateful to A Book Apart for supporting this change. 📕💖

#YDATUbook #bookstodon #1u

beep, 1 year ago to random

holy crap this article is thirteen years old today https://alistapart.com/article/responsive-web-design/

beep, 1 month ago to random

Solidarity with these tech workers, solidarity forever. https://www.instagram.com/p/C51DSugON4G/

beep, 3 months ago to Unions

pals we went to the library today and they HAD my BOOK on their SHELVES

i know you can’t tell from the mask but i was legit beaming, this might’ve thrilled me more than spotting it in a bookstore

okay thanks

ps. I LOVE LIBRARIES

#YDATUbook #TechUnions #unions #1u #libraries

I’m standing in the library while wearing an N95 mask, a blue winter cap, and a long black coat. I’m looking down at my hands while holding a copy of my latest book, YOU DESERVE A TECH UNION, which my local library apparently just procured.
A library shelf of newly-acquired nonfiction books, with my latest book YOU DESERVE A TECH UNION in the middle. A person’s finger is pointing at my book from off-camera.
I’m standing in the library while wearing a KN95 mask, a blue winter cap, and a long black coat. I’m looking at the camera while I hold up a copy of my latest book, YOU DESERVE A TECH UNION, which my local library apparently just procured.

beep, 1 month ago to random

every tech company designing products that assume a fast, reliable, always-on network connection is henceforth required to use hotel wifi for a month

these are just the rules i do not make the rules

beep, 1 month ago to random

Google in 2018, after the worker-led walkouts: “Thank you all for the feedback you’ve shared with us. This is an area where we need to continually make progress and are committed to doing so.” https://blog.google/inside-google/company-announcements/note-our-employees/

Google in 2024, after worker-led protests around Project Nimbus: “[speak up] over disruptive issues or debate politics”, lose your job. https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2024/04/22/google-nimbus-israel-protest-fired-workers/

beep, 2 months ago to random

okay this is all a horrorshow, but:

“At Meta, executives and lawyers last year debated how to get more data for A.I. development and discussed buying a major publisher like Simon & Schuster.”

this has just. remarkable levels of We Must Blow Up The Moon energy https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/06/technology/ai-data-tech-takeaways.html

beep, 2 months ago to random

🦊

wrote up how i’m blocking “artificial intelligence” bots from accessing my website, with some copy-and-paste code that should (🤞🏻) stay up-to-date whenever i update my blocklist https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/blockin-bots/