Michael Crider
@michaelcrider.bsky.social
News, reviews, and short-form videos for PCWorld.
Formerly Android Police, Review Geek, How-To Geek, Digital Trends.
Opinions are my own.
I have a personal website, almost never updated: thegumshoe.com
I write fiction: http://amazon.com/author/crider
Formerly Android Police, Review Geek, How-To Geek, Digital Trends.
Opinions are my own.
I have a personal website, almost never updated: thegumshoe.com
I write fiction: http://amazon.com/author/crider
Reposted by Michael Crider
If Jeff Bezos could afford to spend $75 million on the Melania movie & $500 million for a yacht to sail off to his $55 million wedding to give his wife a $5 million ring, please don't tell me he needed to fire one-third of the Washington Post staff.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
February 5, 2026 at 12:16 AM
If Jeff Bezos could afford to spend $75 million on the Melania movie & $500 million for a yacht to sail off to his $55 million wedding to give his wife a $5 million ring, please don't tell me he needed to fire one-third of the Washington Post staff.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
Reposted by Michael Crider
There is an actual argument that this curse actually worked.
February 4, 2026 at 3:34 AM
There is an actual argument that this curse actually worked.
Reposted by Michael Crider
"rich dipshit owner doesn't understand the industry he's bought into and clumsily destroys what made it good" feels less like a narrative unique to the washington post and more like the music that's been playing in the background of all our lives for at least 40 years
February 4, 2026 at 2:53 PM
"rich dipshit owner doesn't understand the industry he's bought into and clumsily destroys what made it good" feels less like a narrative unique to the washington post and more like the music that's been playing in the background of all our lives for at least 40 years
Reposted by Michael Crider
Reposted by Michael Crider
“Welcome to the Bloodborne podcast with me, Gehrman. In this week’s main story - NOTHING! FUCKING NOTHING! YOU GET NOTHING! Tune in again next week!”
Sony has patented the idea of AI-generated podcasts hosted by characters from its games.
The idea would see players getting their own bespoke podcasts on their console, telling them what's new, hosted by the characters of the games they've been playing.
www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sony-pa...
The idea would see players getting their own bespoke podcasts on their console, telling them what's new, hosted by the characters of the games they've been playing.
www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sony-pa...
Sony patents AI-generated podcasts voiced by characters from its games | VGC
Players would get their own personalised podcasts on their consoles telling them what’s new…
www.videogameschronicle.com
February 3, 2026 at 8:18 PM
“Welcome to the Bloodborne podcast with me, Gehrman. In this week’s main story - NOTHING! FUCKING NOTHING! YOU GET NOTHING! Tune in again next week!”
Reposted by Michael Crider
"but doctor, i am pagliacci!"
"You’re right, I made a mistake. Sorry about that — I'll be sure to be more careful in my responses next time. Let me know if you want me to find any clowns nearby!"
"You’re right, I made a mistake. Sorry about that — I'll be sure to be more careful in my responses next time. Let me know if you want me to find any clowns nearby!"
February 3, 2026 at 6:11 AM
"but doctor, i am pagliacci!"
"You’re right, I made a mistake. Sorry about that — I'll be sure to be more careful in my responses next time. Let me know if you want me to find any clowns nearby!"
"You’re right, I made a mistake. Sorry about that — I'll be sure to be more careful in my responses next time. Let me know if you want me to find any clowns nearby!"
Reposted by Michael Crider
they should make a movie series about how it’s irresponsible to use technology to mess with the natural order of things for profit
Xfinity has just released its Jurassic Park-themed Super Bowl ad that features a digitally de-aged Sam Neil, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum. https://bit.ly/4rmRhrK
February 3, 2026 at 3:32 AM
they should make a movie series about how it’s irresponsible to use technology to mess with the natural order of things for profit
"Return to the office is rarely about team cohesion and productivity, and is mostly about control and a need to make use of expensive office space"
It's also a massive don't-call-it-a-layoff, as people "quit" because it's now impossible for them to go back to an office.
No severence, cha-ching.
It's also a massive don't-call-it-a-layoff, as people "quit" because it's now impossible for them to go back to an office.
No severence, cha-ching.
Ubisoft fires team lead for criticising stupid return-to-office mandate:
aftermath.site/ubisoft-montre...
aftermath.site/ubisoft-montre...
February 2, 2026 at 11:40 PM
"Return to the office is rarely about team cohesion and productivity, and is mostly about control and a need to make use of expensive office space"
It's also a massive don't-call-it-a-layoff, as people "quit" because it's now impossible for them to go back to an office.
No severence, cha-ching.
It's also a massive don't-call-it-a-layoff, as people "quit" because it's now impossible for them to go back to an office.
No severence, cha-ching.
Reposted by Michael Crider
Ubisoft fires team lead for criticising stupid return-to-office mandate:
aftermath.site/ubisoft-montre...
aftermath.site/ubisoft-montre...
February 2, 2026 at 11:31 PM
Ubisoft fires team lead for criticising stupid return-to-office mandate:
aftermath.site/ubisoft-montre...
aftermath.site/ubisoft-montre...
Reposted by Michael Crider
The shell games will continue until the rickety table collapses.
A memo just went out to employees at two of Musk's companies: SpaceX has acquired xAI.
February 2, 2026 at 9:46 PM
The shell games will continue until the rickety table collapses.
Spent the last week or two making changes to my phone provider, ISP plan, streaming, etc., to save some money...and it was all gobbled up and then some by my power bill. Up 40% from the same (also very cold) month last year.
Thanks, AI! Making life more miserable in a bunch of little ways.
Thanks, AI! Making life more miserable in a bunch of little ways.
February 2, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Spent the last week or two making changes to my phone provider, ISP plan, streaming, etc., to save some money...and it was all gobbled up and then some by my power bill. Up 40% from the same (also very cold) month last year.
Thanks, AI! Making life more miserable in a bunch of little ways.
Thanks, AI! Making life more miserable in a bunch of little ways.
Reposted by Michael Crider
The hidden cost of cashback: How shopping extensions track you—and how to limit it
www.pcworld.com/article/3043...
www.pcworld.com/article/3043...
The hidden cost of cashback: How shopping extensions track you—and how to limit it
it’s popular to use cashback sites. But you should know what data you’re giving up in exchange—and how to minimize it.
www.pcworld.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:30 PM
The hidden cost of cashback: How shopping extensions track you—and how to limit it
www.pcworld.com/article/3043...
www.pcworld.com/article/3043...
Reposted by Michael Crider
Microsoft and Blackrock have "have largely given up on organic adoption [of AI] by consumers. They have moved on to a new dream of forced adoption mandated by government and managerial coercion."
Fascinating piece here on what Davos can teach us about the AI industry by @mattseybold.bsky.social
Fascinating piece here on what Davos can teach us about the AI industry by @mattseybold.bsky.social
"You have to use it. You have to trust it.": Forced Adoption of AI is The Subtext of Davos
Authoritarianism is the AI Bailout; But If AI Doesn't Need a Bailout, Does it Need Authoritarianism?
theamericanvandal.substack.com
January 29, 2026 at 12:38 PM
Microsoft and Blackrock have "have largely given up on organic adoption [of AI] by consumers. They have moved on to a new dream of forced adoption mandated by government and managerial coercion."
Fascinating piece here on what Davos can teach us about the AI industry by @mattseybold.bsky.social
Fascinating piece here on what Davos can teach us about the AI industry by @mattseybold.bsky.social
Reposted by Michael Crider
May as well dive right in.
Did you know that dogs in ancient Mesopotamia also refused to drop the ball?
According to a Sumerian proverb, “The dog understands ‘Take it!’ It does not understand ‘Put it down!’”
Source: cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts/34...
Did you know that dogs in ancient Mesopotamia also refused to drop the ball?
According to a Sumerian proverb, “The dog understands ‘Take it!’ It does not understand ‘Put it down!’”
Source: cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts/34...
November 13, 2024 at 11:20 AM
May as well dive right in.
Did you know that dogs in ancient Mesopotamia also refused to drop the ball?
According to a Sumerian proverb, “The dog understands ‘Take it!’ It does not understand ‘Put it down!’”
Source: cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts/34...
Did you know that dogs in ancient Mesopotamia also refused to drop the ball?
According to a Sumerian proverb, “The dog understands ‘Take it!’ It does not understand ‘Put it down!’”
Source: cdli.mpiwg-berlin.mpg.de/artifacts/34...
Reposted by Michael Crider
Same with others like teachers, nurses, garbage collectors. The rich steal hours a day in forcing commutes for their theme parks.
January 28, 2026 at 9:28 PM
Same with others like teachers, nurses, garbage collectors. The rich steal hours a day in forcing commutes for their theme parks.
Reposted by Michael Crider
looks like the source was found here thanks to one of the quote posts
urbanists.social/@danwentzel/...
urbanists.social/@danwentzel/...
Dan Wentzel 🏳️🌈 (@[email protected])
“My hot take on “15 minute cities” is if you can get to the coffee shop within fifteen minutes, but the barrista who makes your drink can’t afford to live closer than a half-hour away, then you live i...
urbanists.social
January 28, 2026 at 8:34 PM
looks like the source was found here thanks to one of the quote posts
urbanists.social/@danwentzel/...
urbanists.social/@danwentzel/...
This isn't mine, and I can't definitively find the original source. But I love this little bit of wisdom:
"If you're a fifteen-minute walk from a coffee shop, but the server there has to drive an hour to get to work, you don't live in a walkable city. You live in a theme park."
"If you're a fifteen-minute walk from a coffee shop, but the server there has to drive an hour to get to work, you don't live in a walkable city. You live in a theme park."
For all the fearmongering about capital flight from New York City, there’s an exodus few want to talk about: working people.
Sky-high rents and outrageous child care costs are already pushing families out of the city they keep running.
That’s what we have to change.
That’s what we have to change.
January 28, 2026 at 7:59 PM
This isn't mine, and I can't definitively find the original source. But I love this little bit of wisdom:
"If you're a fifteen-minute walk from a coffee shop, but the server there has to drive an hour to get to work, you don't live in a walkable city. You live in a theme park."
"If you're a fifteen-minute walk from a coffee shop, but the server there has to drive an hour to get to work, you don't live in a walkable city. You live in a theme park."
Reposted by Michael Crider
WARNING, fellow journalists: As @nicoschmidt.io explains, attackers are trying to hijack reporters' Signal accounts by tricking people into handing over their 2FA codes. www.linkedin.com/posts/nicosc...
January 28, 2026 at 7:49 PM
WARNING, fellow journalists: As @nicoschmidt.io explains, attackers are trying to hijack reporters' Signal accounts by tricking people into handing over their 2FA codes. www.linkedin.com/posts/nicosc...
Reposted by Michael Crider
I tried one of these at the Vegas airport, without really meaning to. I just wanted a snack, hopped into a little C-store. The person working there...at a store without a checkout...said I'd have to log in to an Amazon terminal. I put the stuff down and went to another store. I wasn't the only one.
Amazon’s Physical Store Experiment Has Failed
Amazon’s Physical Store Experiment Has Failed
Amazon is taking its brick-and-mortar business and going home.
gizmodo.com
January 27, 2026 at 8:24 PM
I tried one of these at the Vegas airport, without really meaning to. I just wanted a snack, hopped into a little C-store. The person working there...at a store without a checkout...said I'd have to log in to an Amazon terminal. I put the stuff down and went to another store. I wasn't the only one.
Reposted by Michael Crider
"I think it's no surprise that a company run by a man who sat behind Trump at his inauguration, and donated to the destruction of the White House, has taken a stance that helps ICE agents retain anonymity."
Scoop from @davidgilbert.bsky.social
Scoop from @davidgilbert.bsky.social
Meta Is Blocking Links To ICE List on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads
Users of Meta's social platforms can no longer share links to ICE List, a website listing what it claims are the names of thousands of DHS employees.
www.wired.com
January 27, 2026 at 6:51 PM
"I think it's no surprise that a company run by a man who sat behind Trump at his inauguration, and donated to the destruction of the White House, has taken a stance that helps ICE agents retain anonymity."
Scoop from @davidgilbert.bsky.social
Scoop from @davidgilbert.bsky.social
Motherfucker, you've been telling us for DECADES that the right to walk in with guns was worth watching CHILDREN get shot in their classrooms, over and over and over again.
Trump: "With that being said, you can't have guns. You can't walk in with guns. You just can't. You can't walk in with guns. You can't do that. But it's just a very unfortunate incident."
January 27, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Motherfucker, you've been telling us for DECADES that the right to walk in with guns was worth watching CHILDREN get shot in their classrooms, over and over and over again.
Reposted by Michael Crider
undocumented presence is a misdemeanor
Donald Trump was convicted of thirty four felonies
Donald Trump was convicted of thirty four felonies
January 27, 2026 at 5:19 PM
undocumented presence is a misdemeanor
Donald Trump was convicted of thirty four felonies
Donald Trump was convicted of thirty four felonies
Reposted by Michael Crider
“The brave men and women of ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol are doing their best to carry out these executions in a safe and professional manner,” said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem
Kristi Noem Calls On Minneapolis Residents To Stop Obstructing Murders
WASHINGTON—Urging locals to “fully cooperate” with federal agents, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called on Minneapolis residents Monday to stop obstructing murders. “The brave ...
theonion.com
January 27, 2026 at 12:30 AM
“The brave men and women of ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol are doing their best to carry out these executions in a safe and professional manner,” said Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem