Alan Henry
@halophoenix.bsky.social
Author: Seen, Heard, & Paid: https://amzn.to/4dXOAHv
Now: Managing Editor, @pcmag.com
Then: WIRED, NYT, Lifehacker. Forever: Yours. Recovering physicist. Always: Black. He/Him. 🎨: @mavisdeluna.art
https://www.alan-henry.net | https://www.novawerks.net
Now: Managing Editor, @pcmag.com
Then: WIRED, NYT, Lifehacker. Forever: Yours. Recovering physicist. Always: Black. He/Him. 🎨: @mavisdeluna.art
https://www.alan-henry.net | https://www.novawerks.net
New free poll up on my Patreon, which I'm increasingly tempted to use more like a personal blog...which could be a good thing?
Anyway, this one's about music sharing! Go drop a vote, would you?
www.patreon.com/posts/what-d...
Anyway, this one's about music sharing! Go drop a vote, would you?
www.patreon.com/posts/what-d...
What Do We Think About Music? | The Phoenix Directorate
Get more from The Phoenix Directorate on Patreon
www.patreon.com
February 14, 2026 at 5:41 PM
New free poll up on my Patreon, which I'm increasingly tempted to use more like a personal blog...which could be a good thing?
Anyway, this one's about music sharing! Go drop a vote, would you?
www.patreon.com/posts/what-d...
Anyway, this one's about music sharing! Go drop a vote, would you?
www.patreon.com/posts/what-d...
Reposted by Alan Henry
The @washingtonpost.com layoffs disproportionately affected union members of color, per data from the @postguild.bsky.social.
50% of Hispanic/Latino guild members, 45% of Black members, and 43% of Asian members were laid off, compared to 37% of white members.
www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/wash...
50% of Hispanic/Latino guild members, 45% of Black members, and 43% of Asian members were laid off, compared to 37% of white members.
www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/wash...
Washington Post layoffs disproportionately affected union members of color, preliminary Guild data shows
"We cannot ignore what this means for equity, representation, and the future of this organization."
www.niemanlab.org
February 13, 2026 at 10:48 PM
The @washingtonpost.com layoffs disproportionately affected union members of color, per data from the @postguild.bsky.social.
50% of Hispanic/Latino guild members, 45% of Black members, and 43% of Asian members were laid off, compared to 37% of white members.
www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/wash...
50% of Hispanic/Latino guild members, 45% of Black members, and 43% of Asian members were laid off, compared to 37% of white members.
www.niemanlab.org/2026/02/wash...
Always love seeing a @lordravenscraft.bsky.social byline, even moreso when it's a topic I adore, like niche dating apps for queer and quirky folks - if the big names aren't helping you meet people, try these instead:
www.pcmag.com/articles/i-s...
www.pcmag.com/articles/i-s...
I Swiped Right on 4 Niche Dating Apps. Ready to Swap Hinge for My Top Pick?
As a polyamorous software reviewer, I have unique insight into the world of dating apps. If you're ready to trash Tinder, here are some picks that might actually land you a lasting connection.
www.pcmag.com
February 13, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Always love seeing a @lordravenscraft.bsky.social byline, even moreso when it's a topic I adore, like niche dating apps for queer and quirky folks - if the big names aren't helping you meet people, try these instead:
www.pcmag.com/articles/i-s...
www.pcmag.com/articles/i-s...
Reposted by Alan Henry
I am starting to suspect that making journalism an ad-engagement chasing endeavor concentrated in the hands of the planet's richest assholes might have been an ill-advised choice
To Save the Media, Ditch Capitalism, a New Study Says
www.asc.upenn.edu
February 13, 2026 at 7:22 PM
I am starting to suspect that making journalism an ad-engagement chasing endeavor concentrated in the hands of the planet's richest assholes might have been an ill-advised choice
Reposted by Alan Henry
Flirty text messages aren't the only things you have to look out for in infosec this week.
Flirty Frauds, Discord Dramas, and Payroll Pirates: This Week in Digital Danger
Flirty text messages aren’t the only things you have to look out for in infosec this week. We’ve known for a long time that smart home devices are a prime target for hackers, since many of them are easily exploited on their own or depend on your home network for security. Thankfully, we have tips to make sure everything is locked down.
bit.ly
February 13, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Flirty text messages aren't the only things you have to look out for in infosec this week.
I want to talk about this for a second. Don't click through, the article contains the words "if one can get a Nazi tattoo innocently" which should tell you how intellectually honest this piece is (read: it's not. at all.)
But I want to talk about this header image a little. Walk with me.
But I want to talk about this header image a little. Walk with me.
A base that has long made pragmatic, sober decisions appears increasingly attracted to charismatic outsiders who promise to break from the party’s failures of the last decade. They see their party’s leaders as feckless and inept.
It’s the Democratic Tea Party, with a twist. trib.al/mC5cBDA
It’s the Democratic Tea Party, with a twist. trib.al/mC5cBDA
February 13, 2026 at 4:22 PM
I want to talk about this for a second. Don't click through, the article contains the words "if one can get a Nazi tattoo innocently" which should tell you how intellectually honest this piece is (read: it's not. at all.)
But I want to talk about this header image a little. Walk with me.
But I want to talk about this header image a little. Walk with me.
Reposted by Alan Henry
I hate that the tech people gentrified the word “agent”. That’s supposed to mean a guy who butters you up in a passive aggressive way only to exploit your talent and likeness, ultimately not doing any wo–oh wait never mind.
February 12, 2026 at 3:25 AM
I hate that the tech people gentrified the word “agent”. That’s supposed to mean a guy who butters you up in a passive aggressive way only to exploit your talent and likeness, ultimately not doing any wo–oh wait never mind.
Related reading:
White tears, white rage: Victimhood and (as) violence in mainstream feminism
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
White tears, white rage: Victimhood and (as) violence in mainstream feminism
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
With alt text, because everyone should know what a manipulative piece of shit she is.
February 11, 2026 at 8:10 PM
Related reading:
White tears, white rage: Victimhood and (as) violence in mainstream feminism
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
White tears, white rage: Victimhood and (as) violence in mainstream feminism
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Hey hi there was some fuckass shit on the TL today about AI hype so let me take a sec to re-up what I wrote about where that hype is actually coming from:
buttondown.com/alanhenry/ar...
buttondown.com/alanhenry/ar...
February 11, 2026 at 6:50 PM
Hey hi there was some fuckass shit on the TL today about AI hype so let me take a sec to re-up what I wrote about where that hype is actually coming from:
buttondown.com/alanhenry/ar...
buttondown.com/alanhenry/ar...
Reposted by Alan Henry
A 2022 lawsuit accused G.Skill of misleading advertising because the company claimed that its RAM could "run at the advertised speed out of the box."
Got G.Skill RAM? How to Get a Cut of Its $2.4M Deceptive Advertising Settlement
A 2022 lawsuit accused G.Skill of misleading advertising because the company claimed that its RAM could "run at the advertised speed out of the box." However, "trying to get the advertised speed requires altering the PC firmware," the lawsuit claimed. "And there is a substantial risk that the memory will not achieve the advertised speed or will not run stably."
bit.ly
February 10, 2026 at 11:49 PM
A 2022 lawsuit accused G.Skill of misleading advertising because the company claimed that its RAM could "run at the advertised speed out of the box."
Reposted by Alan Henry
Oh BITCH. Google bent all the way over.
Google Handed ICE Student Journalist’s Bank and Credit Card Numbers
Amandla Thomas-Johnson didn't know how much information ICE requested in a subpoena now. Google never gave him a chance to fight it.
theintercept.com
February 10, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Oh BITCH. Google bent all the way over.
Reposted by Alan Henry
Rep. Delia Ramirez to DHS officials: "I have as much respect for you as I do for the last white men who put on masks to terrorize communities of color. I have no respect for the inheritors of the Klanhood and the slave patrol. Those activities were criminal and so are yours."
February 10, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Rep. Delia Ramirez to DHS officials: "I have as much respect for you as I do for the last white men who put on masks to terrorize communities of color. I have no respect for the inheritors of the Klanhood and the slave patrol. Those activities were criminal and so are yours."
Reposted by Alan Henry
Hey Bluesky! I'm a senior writer at WIRED and I'm shifting beats to cover the tech I'm most obsessed with right now—PREDICTION MARKETS.
Eager to hear tips on the industry at [email protected]
Eager to hear tips on the industry at [email protected]
February 10, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Hey Bluesky! I'm a senior writer at WIRED and I'm shifting beats to cover the tech I'm most obsessed with right now—PREDICTION MARKETS.
Eager to hear tips on the industry at [email protected]
Eager to hear tips on the industry at [email protected]
Reposted by Alan Henry
HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW: “.. In our in-progress research, we discovered that AI tools didn’t reduce work, they consistently intensified it.”
hbr.org/2026/02/ai-d...
hbr.org/2026/02/ai-d...
February 10, 2026 at 1:17 PM
HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW: “.. In our in-progress research, we discovered that AI tools didn’t reduce work, they consistently intensified it.”
hbr.org/2026/02/ai-d...
hbr.org/2026/02/ai-d...
Reposted by Alan Henry
Got a couple of pieces on the go. First, I want to talk to indie developers about accessibility for The Verge: about the process, how daunting it is, the solutions open to you. Second, I want to speak to POC and trans folks in the gaming accessibility space. Hit me up at the contacts in my bio.
February 9, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Got a couple of pieces on the go. First, I want to talk to indie developers about accessibility for The Verge: about the process, how daunting it is, the solutions open to you. Second, I want to speak to POC and trans folks in the gaming accessibility space. Hit me up at the contacts in my bio.
Reposted by Alan Henry
I'm stoked that the Humble Bundle of my and @annaleen.bsky.social's books from Tor has raised nearly $5000 for the TGI Justice Project and Miss Major/Alexander Lee Black Trans Cultural Center.
www.humblebundle.com/books/charli...
Let me tell you about when I went to the TGIJP's anniversary party
www.humblebundle.com/books/charli...
Let me tell you about when I went to the TGIJP's anniversary party
Humble Book Bundle: Charlie Jane Anders & Annalee Newitz by TOR
Don’t miss this bundle of novels and story collections from acclaimed authors Charlie Jane Anders and Annalee Newitz! Pay what you want and support charity!
www.humblebundle.com
February 8, 2026 at 4:53 PM
I'm stoked that the Humble Bundle of my and @annaleen.bsky.social's books from Tor has raised nearly $5000 for the TGI Justice Project and Miss Major/Alexander Lee Black Trans Cultural Center.
www.humblebundle.com/books/charli...
Let me tell you about when I went to the TGIJP's anniversary party
www.humblebundle.com/books/charli...
Let me tell you about when I went to the TGIJP's anniversary party
based chiitan
There are people in the world who say that there are only two genders: male and female.
But the heart and soul have much more personality.
It's very sad that people who can't accept this sometimes utter very harsh words.
You were born to live freely.
Chiitan is an ally of transgender people🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
But the heart and soul have much more personality.
It's very sad that people who can't accept this sometimes utter very harsh words.
You were born to live freely.
Chiitan is an ally of transgender people🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
February 8, 2026 at 8:53 PM
based chiitan
I initially started this piece saying "big week for hacks at questionable companies," but I decided I didn't want to make my boss have to take it out.
Anyway, here's this week's infosec roundup:
www.pcmag.com/news/another...
Anyway, here's this week's infosec roundup:
www.pcmag.com/news/another...
Another Week, Another Data Disaster: Substack, Coinbase, and a Malicious Notepad++ Update
If you have accounts on any of these services, now's a good time to check your security settings. Plus more from a busy week in cybersecurity chaos.
www.pcmag.com
February 7, 2026 at 11:29 PM
I initially started this piece saying "big week for hacks at questionable companies," but I decided I didn't want to make my boss have to take it out.
Anyway, here's this week's infosec roundup:
www.pcmag.com/news/another...
Anyway, here's this week's infosec roundup:
www.pcmag.com/news/another...
Reposted by Alan Henry
"This time, they want to build the next big thing with their own interests at heart from the outset, so they can shape it, monetize it" - @halophoenix.bsky.social buttondown.com/alanhenry/ar...
We Need to Talk About Where AI Hype Is Coming From
It’s definitely about “the future,” but it’s definitely not about yours.
buttondown.com
February 6, 2026 at 8:29 PM
"This time, they want to build the next big thing with their own interests at heart from the outset, so they can shape it, monetize it" - @halophoenix.bsky.social buttondown.com/alanhenry/ar...
Speaking of AI nonsense, my latest newsletter is out now! Check it out:
We Need to Talk About Where AI Hype Is Coming From
buttondown.com/alanhenry/ar...
We Need to Talk About Where AI Hype Is Coming From
buttondown.com/alanhenry/ar...
Anyway, I've been thinking about AI boosterism and where it really comes from, so the next newsletter will be about that, and some excellent Black History Month reads.
Sub here to get it for free: buttondown.com/alanhenry
Or support my Patreon for early access: www.patreon.com/halophoenix
Sub here to get it for free: buttondown.com/alanhenry
Or support my Patreon for early access: www.patreon.com/halophoenix
February 6, 2026 at 7:19 PM
Speaking of AI nonsense, my latest newsletter is out now! Check it out:
We Need to Talk About Where AI Hype Is Coming From
buttondown.com/alanhenry/ar...
We Need to Talk About Where AI Hype Is Coming From
buttondown.com/alanhenry/ar...
It is 2008 and legacy media won't call racism what it is.
It is 2016 and legacy media won't call racism what it is
It is 2020 and legacy media won't call racism what it is.
It is 2024 and legacy media won't call racism what it is.
It is 2026 and legacy med-
It is 2016 and legacy media won't call racism what it is
It is 2020 and legacy media won't call racism what it is.
It is 2024 and legacy media won't call racism what it is.
It is 2026 and legacy med-
The New York Times has finally covered the Trump video of Obama as an ape — and they are still providing cover for him. Fuck the Times.
February 6, 2026 at 3:50 PM
It is 2008 and legacy media won't call racism what it is.
It is 2016 and legacy media won't call racism what it is
It is 2020 and legacy media won't call racism what it is.
It is 2024 and legacy media won't call racism what it is.
It is 2026 and legacy med-
It is 2016 and legacy media won't call racism what it is
It is 2020 and legacy media won't call racism what it is.
It is 2024 and legacy media won't call racism what it is.
It is 2026 and legacy med-
Razer, I want to love you so, SO bad, but come on the hell on (this mouse is $1300)
The mouse doesn't come with a laptop, but the PC vendor is betting at least a few customers will pay for its special edition Boomslang model, which it views as a collector's item.
Razer Is Selling Its Revamped Boomslang Gaming Mouse for How Much?!
The mouse doesn't come with a laptop, but the PC vendor is betting at least a few customers will pay for its special edition Boomslang model, which it views as a collector’s item.
bit.ly
February 6, 2026 at 12:16 AM
Razer, I want to love you so, SO bad, but come on the hell on (this mouse is $1300)
Reposted by Alan Henry
You laugh, but I remember the guy whose dong was so huge he lost at pole vault
Times article has an incredible illustration
February 5, 2026 at 11:23 PM
You laugh, but I remember the guy whose dong was so huge he lost at pole vault
Reposted by Alan Henry
Ebenezer's writing is poetic and haunting, and the anonymized interviews in here are gutting. A true privilege to edit this piece.
“You’re playing with people who assume safety. But safety is not universal.” - from Ebenezer Mowete's first byline for Mothership
www.mothership.blog/queer-nigeri...
www.mothership.blog/queer-nigeri...
We spoke to queer Nigerian gamers about the identities they hide online
Voice chat can mean teamwork, coordination, and banter, but for many of the queer Nigerian gamers we spoke to, the mic is a risk assessment tool.
www.mothership.blog
February 5, 2026 at 7:05 PM
Ebenezer's writing is poetic and haunting, and the anonymized interviews in here are gutting. A true privilege to edit this piece.
Hey journo friends thinking about starting newsletters - I know it's trendy, but there are SO MANY reasons to use anything other than Substack, and here's another one on top of the ones I could already list off.
According to an email sent to some Substack users, and first reported by The Verge, the brand's CEO says internal data was accessed by an unauthorized third party in October.
Substack Newsletter Platform Data Breach Saw Phone Numbers, Emails Exposed
According to an email sent to some Substack users, and first reported by The Verge, the brand's CEO says internal data was accessed by an unauthorized third party in October. Substack identified the issue earlier this week and notified affected users within two days of discovery.
bit.ly
February 5, 2026 at 4:09 PM
Hey journo friends thinking about starting newsletters - I know it's trendy, but there are SO MANY reasons to use anything other than Substack, and here's another one on top of the ones I could already list off.