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Ben Werdmuller
benwerd@nos.social
npub183ng...4n09
I lead technology at ProPublica and write speculative fiction. This is a personal account.
Every day, I write about tech, democracy, and society at https://werd.io.
More about me: https://about.werd.io
Biden Commutes 37 Death Sentences Ahead of Trump’s Plan to Resume Federal Executions 
Ben Werdmuller
Biden Commutes 37 Death Sentences Ahead of Trump’s Plan to Resume Federal Executions
[Aishvarya Kavi]
President Biden commuted the sentences of all but three prisoners on federal death row. (He doesn't have the power to pardon or c...
Companies issuing RTO mandates “lose their best talent”: Study 
Ben Werdmuller
Companies issuing RTO mandates “lose their best talent”: Study
[Scharon Harding at Ars Technica]
From the "gee, you don't say" department:
"Return-to-office (RTO) mandates have caused companies to lose some o...
The WP Engine Injunction: Rolling Back Logins, But Not Hurt Feelings 
Ben Werdmuller
The WP Engine Injunction: Rolling Back Logins, But Not Hurt Feelings
[Ernie Smith at Tedium]
Is the ongoing Matt Mullenweg / Automattic / WP Engine drama really about private equity undermining the open source WordP...
Ev Williams, Twitter and Medium Founder, Unveils New Social App 
Ben Werdmuller
Ev Williams, Twitter and Medium Founder, Unveils New Social App
[Erin Griffith at the New York Times]
I've been using Mozi for a little while and like it quite a bit:
"Mr. Williams views Mozi as an attempt to ...
The Werd I/O Holiday Gift Guide 
Ben Werdmuller
The Werd I/O Holiday Gift Guide
It's not too late. Probably.
what people in the global majority need from networks 
Ben Werdmuller
what people in the global majority need from networks
[Erin Kissane]
Erin Kissane breaks down some interesting research about alternative social media platforms for social justice organizations in the...
The open social web is the future of the internet. Here's why I'm excited. 
Ben Werdmuller
The open social web is the future of the internet. Here's why I'm excited.
It puts control back in your hands.
Open Source Veteran Launches Skyseed - First Ecosystem Fund and Incubator for the Bluesky AT Protocol 
Ben Werdmuller
Open Source Veteran Launches Skyseed - First Ecosystem Fund and Incubator for the Bluesky AT Protocol
[Skyseed]
Really fascinating play:
"Open Source veteran entrepreneur Peter Wang today launches Skyseed Fund, the world's first venture fund and i...
W3C Statement on Ethical Web Principles guides the community to build a better web 
Ben Werdmuller
W3C Statement on Ethical Web Principles guides the community to build a better web
[Daniel Appelquist and Yves Lafon at the W3C]
These ethical web principles that guide the ongoing development of the platform are great. And this ...
WordPress parent company must stop blocking WP Engine, judge rules 
Ben Werdmuller
WordPress parent company must stop blocking WP Engine, judge rules
[Emma Roth at The Verge]
I think this was almost inevitable:
"On Tuesday, a California District Court judge ordered Automattic to stop blocking W...
How Wall Street Billionaires Avoid Paying Medicare Taxes 
Ben Werdmuller
How Wall Street Billionaires Avoid Paying Medicare Taxes
[Paul Kiel at ProPublica]
If we're going to improve on Medicare, we have to fund it - and it turns out that even today's Medicare taxes are being ...
My most controversial opinion is that they should reboot Red Dwarf 
Ben Werdmuller
My most controversial opinion is that they should reboot Red Dwarf
Okay, I know, but hear me out.If you haven’t encountered it, Red Dwarf was an 80s / 90s science fiction comedy that has definitely aged
The “Bird and Baby” grows up: inside the new Eagle & Child 
Ben Werdmuller
The “Bird and Baby” grows up: inside the new Eagle & Child
[The Oxford Clarion]
I grew up in Oxford, and the Eagle and Child is one of my favorite pubs from back home. I'm also a longtime critic of certain...
Reclaim the internet: Mozilla’s rebrand for the next era of tech 
Ben Werdmuller
Reclaim the internet: Mozilla’s rebrand for the next era of tech
[Lindsey Lionheart O'Brien at Mozilla Distilled]
This is a rebrand and reorientation for Mozilla:
"Mozilla isn’t just another tech company — ...