By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 08/08/2026Hardly a day goes by without my getting email from someone looking for ways to do good with tech. From computer science students thinking about post-grad careers to seasoned coders with decades of experience, there's an army of hackers looking for a way to turn their expertise into public goods. 1/ 10579222
By Cory Doctorow (GPG 0xBF3D9110957E5F4C) @doctorow.pluralistic.net · 08/08/2026If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog: pluralistic.net/2026/08/08/f... 2/pluralistic.netPluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow – No trackers, no ads. Black type, white background. Privacy policy: we don't collect or retain any data at all ever period. 110910
Coestar @coestar.live · 08/08/2026I can't understand Berulis. How is it that one can be motivated to serve the public good, yet so oblivious as to join with the entity most obviously against the public good? Their alignments and objectives were not secret, the only question was the extent of the damage. 220
Hillary Rettig (she / her) @hillaryrettig.bsky.social · 08/08/2026One thing that would make a huge difference would be a database of volunteer and paid techies who can help nontechnical people like myself switch to free software, degoogle, etc. It's hard to find these people! Should have reviews so you have a better idea of who you're trusting. 5486
Brandon Philips @ifup.org · 08/08/2026HMC added joint majors in a number of engineering disciplines with climate science. www.hmc.edu/about/2026/0...hmc.eduNew Mathematics and Climate Joint Major | Harvey Mudd College News | Harvey Mudd College 010
powys42.bsky.social @powys42.bsky.social · 08/08/2026I got a job at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for this exact reason. 030
TOMaSKY @tomasky.eurosky.social · 08/08/2026This is one of the most comprehensive analysis of the tech related corruption and the defense against it, I have ever read. It is hopeful. Finally a write up that portrays today’s hyper advertising as one of true threats to modern democracy. And if I might add one of the biggest sources of pollution 0265
another of the many David Mitchells @davidvmitchell.bsky.social · 08/08/2026I wonder if the rich ecosystem created by Software Libre presages life in general under Universal Basic Income. People left free to create without fear might well give us a real Golden Age, one for everyone. 040
davidjohngreen.bsky.social @davidjohngreen.bsky.social · 08/08/2026This isn’t one of GDS’ finest moments: Gov shutdown businesslink.gov.uk when they arrived as they and GDS suffer badly from NIH syndrome. Now make a big song and dance about doing what an award winning site had been doing since 2004. Shameless gds.blog.gov.uk/2026/08/06/g...link.gov.uk 100
Mr French Fries @mrfrenchfries.bsky.social · 08/08/2026There are major religious denominations divesting themselves from carbon fuels. A lot of them are the same ones that divested themselves from televangelism even before the VCR. I think some of those old dogs have been waiting for these new tricks. 000
Revenge of the Oxford Comma @pensivetoker.bsky.social · 08/08/2026Back in the day, I worked for Macmillan Computer Publishing (we built the internet). Published a book in 1999 titled The Inmates Are Running the Asylum. Not the kind of book we typically published, lots of pushback from the top throughout editing. Wasn’t a bestseller, no Oprah promotion … 🤔 030