A space for mostly short form stuff and responses to things I see elsewhere.
The Substackerati - Columbia Journalism Review
Very interesting article about Substack that can't quite decide whether it thinks Substack is a good thing or not. Also, I don't buy Substack's excuses about showing only the top 25 earners. Why not show earners 26-50? Or a random selection of 25 newsletters? It's the Matthew Effect all over again.
The Fall of Rome (just the poem) (Interconnected)
So few words, so much intent.
Americans Need to Kick Addiction to Polling - Bloomberg
Yeah, and maybe not just Americans, eh?
Don't Contribute Anything Relevant in Web Forums Like Reddit
Here's hoping this sensible person soon becomes active in IndieWeb things.
How quick and dirty Covid tests could end the weariness | Tim Harford
Far too sensible for anyone in position to make it happen, to make it happen.
Protests and Power (Idle Words)
Seems fair to me.
On the efficiency of my scythe | Small Farm Future
Another great post from Chris Smaje, and how about those comments?
The reason that you see farmers nowadays with combines and not with scythes is because energy and capital are cheap, labour is dear, and most people don’t work the land. Like it or not, I think all this is going to change in the future.
I had a scythe once. I loved that thing, and the sheer joy of becoming skilled in using it and keeping it sharp.