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On Elizabeth Warren’s big tech breakup proposal

“Any sort of antitrust proposal that does not seriously grapple with the reality that the power of these companies flows from controlling demand — that is, consumer choice, willingly made — not from controlling supply, like monopolies of old, is going to be fundamentally flawed.” ~ Ben Thompson

There’s lots more great analysis to be found in Ben’s article, Where Warren’s Wrong.

As always, the challenge with finding an answer to a hypothesis is that you need to be asking the right questions in the first place, based on a fundamental understanding of the system you’re looking to solve for.

Alas, Senator Warren’s premise is off base due to a misrepresensentation of how big tech came to be, so we’re left with a series of conclusions that can’t meet the objectives she’d like to reach.

I’m all for limiting big tech’s access to and use of personal data and leaving room for new players to thrive, but this proposal would lead to more harm than good.

The full proposal from Senator Warren: Here’s how we can break up Big Tech

#senator warren #elizabeth warren #big tech #big tech proposal #ben thompson #monopolies #technology #business

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June 30. Last night late night dance party here we come! #everydayinjune

#party #dancing #Nora en pure #coda #june30 #everydayinjune

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June 10. Manifesto warmup. Mint Julep and Gin and Blackberry smash.

#June 10 #every day in June

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Jimmy Kimmel shared a lovely, heartfelt tribute for Don Rickles last night. These are the highlights from the 17 times Don was on Jimmy Kimmel Live. 

#Don Rickles #RIP #Jimmy Kimmel #Jimmy Kimmel Live

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"It’s only a matter of time before downloading the contents of people’s phones becomes a standard procedure for entering every country. This already happens in Canada."

https://medium.freecodecamp.com/ill-never-bring-my-phone-on-an-international-flight-again-neither-should-you-e9289cde0e5f#.g7fvsboj7

#privacy #encryption #travel #law #customs #borderpatrol

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Stock, poster, invite. 

From Malaga to San Jose.

UPDATE: the stock photography is another artist who appears to be aping the primary artist who directly worked on the WWDC poster, with the stock released in September 2016.

The Malaga piece from 2010 appears to be inspired by the original artist’s work, who has been working in this style for much longer.

The original artist is Geoff McFettridge.

#Apple #WWDC #Artwork #Poster #Stock #Illustration #Style #Design #Graphic Design #Posters

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Voter apathy Trumps America.

Trump gets fewer votes than the 2008 or 2012 Republican Candidates, but there are 10,000,000 fewer Democratic Candidate voters than 2008, causing an upset by apathy. 

A too little, too late reminder: The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

#Voting #Vote #Election #Election 2016 #us elections 2016 #Democrat #Republican #Apathy #Turnout #America #Democracy #Fail #Politics

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September fun.

This month has been quite hectic at work, as we’ve been juggling a number of interesting projects and products, from web to wearables.

I did manage to catch Eric André with Irene last night. It was insane. We were both showered with ranch dressing. Irene made the wise decision of wearing vinyl (maybe it was leather, but she’s being a vegetarian this week, so that can’t be) so she didn’t smell like foul mayo for the rest of the evening, like I did.

This Saturday, I’ll be speaking at Spotlight UX on the Let’s Talk About UX panel. All the trials, tribulations, and benefits of doing great UX work will be shared with attendees. Ask your questions on Twitter with the hash tag #letstalkaboutux.

I’m heading away at the end of next week for an extra long weekend in St Maartens, strictly for fun. 

This coincides with voting for the CIRA board of directors, which kicks off on Sep 22. I’m running as a nomination committee candidate. I’d love your support as the board voting is typically very close. Please reach out if you’re interested in helping with your vote and inviting others to vote for me.

Tuesday and Wednesday the 27th and 28th, I’ll be checking in on the Blue Jays at the (former) Skydome. Fingers crossed they can get out of this funk, but it sounds like wear and tear has beaten the boys down.

#September #Blue Jays #CIRA #BOD #Eric Andre #UX #Spotlight UX #FITC #Skydome #St Maartens #Fun

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Early August milestones.

On Aug 6, 25 years ago, the world's first website went online.

This makes me feel both old and young at the same time, having “grown up” with the internet. Time to listen to some baudy sounds to bring back those early days BBS memories. 

On Aug 5, 50 years ago, the Beatles’ Revolver was released.

15 facts you didn’t know about Revolver. Not about a gun: “it's a reference to what an album does: It revolves.” Spin the black circle.

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Help me build a better online Canada.

I’m very pleased to have been selected by CIRA’s nomination committee as a candidate for the organization’s upcoming Board election happening September 22 through September 29.

CIRA is best recognized for managing the .ca domain registry, but they lead a number of other programs and initiatives that build towards a safe, connected, and valuable Internet across Canada.

One of the reasons I started Say Yeah was because I recognized that now, more than ever, technology has the power to change the world. This was true in 2008 when Say Yeah was formed, and it is exponentially more so now with the worldwide proliferation of smartphones, technological efforts in healthcare and energy, and the forthcoming explosion of big data and artificial intelligence. 

I am thrilled at the opportunity to join the Board of an organization that is directly shaping Canada’s digital identity, support our citizenry, and highlight Canada as a leader in digital the world over.

I would welcome your support during the voting period and ask now that you confirm that you’re not just a .ca owner, but that you register with CIRA as a Member, which provides you with the opportunity to vote. 

Once a member, you’ll also have the opportunity to engage in discussions with my fellow Board candidates and other CIRA members in the pre-election forum, which will be open from Sep 15 to Sep 22.

You do need to confirm your membership well in advance, so now is the time. It takes just a couple of minutes. Click this link and look for the Get Started text link to begin the process.

UPDATE, August 31:

With CIRA’s September 22 conference and AGM announcement, we’ve published more details on how you can participate on Say Yeah’s site: Learn more and register for Canadians Connected 2016.

#CIRA #Canada #Internet #.ca #Digital #BOD #Board of Directors #Voting #Membership #Citizenship #Domains #World Wide Web

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This new Barbie commercial is epically awesome. Mattel is doing some great work with Barbie and across all their lines. 

“We are a creations company, the inspires the wonder of childhood.”

#Mattel #Barbie #Diversity #Wonder #Kids #Childhood #Inspiration #Learning #Imagination #Awesome

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"When millions of people stand up and fight, they win. And when people do not stand up and fight, we lose."

#Bernie Sanders #America #Election #Reform #Society #Politics #Fight

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John Oliver on America’s greatest satirist...and America’s next President if people don’t start getting the joke.

#John Oliver #Donald Trump #America #Trouble

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"If you're sad today, just remember the world is over 4 billion years old and you somehow managed to exist at the same time as David Bowie." ~ Quick update: this should be credited to Dean Podestá who shared it on Twitter yesterday (it was incorrectly attributed to Simon Pegg by the BBC)

#david bowie #rip

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Cute and heart-warming holiday ads from PC and Mac.

#Holiday #Ads #Mac #PC #Apple #Microsoft #Peace

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The internet corrects Ben Carson.

Ben Carson: I believe in an omni-present sky God who will welcome me to paradise when I die.

Everyone on the internet: Oh. Cool, man.

Ben Carson: I believe a large man-made structure was used to store food during a famine.

Everyone on the internet: WTF! You crazy!

#Ben Carson #Bible #God #Pyramids #Granary #Internet Justice

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Picture framers, personal trainers, architects, coffee, and a diner. Zulu Alpha Kilo talks RFPs, spec work, and intellectual property with trades that are having none of it!

#Design #Advertising #Spec Work #Zulu Alpha Kilo #Services #Professional Services #RFPs #Pitches #Fun