From joanwestenberg.com
Goodbye, Reddit: How the Internet’s Front Page Is Eating Itself
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Reddit once proudly proclaimed itself the "front page of the internet" - a bold statement that resonated with millions of users who flock...
on Sep 6
From joanwestenberg.com
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How to Destroy a Generation? Make Them Think the World Runs on Their Feelings—and Then Use Those Feelings Against Them If you wanted to dismantle an entire generation from the inside out, it wouldn’t take much. Forget bombs or economic sabotage—too messy, too obvious. No, if you
#tech #socks #Twitter #bluesky #culture #history #politcs #threads #writing #Mastodon
on Wed, 10PM
From joanwestenberg.com
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Stoicism has pulled off the comeback of the ages, appearing everywhere from Silicon Valley boardrooms to self-help bestsellers. Modern interpretations are cherry-picking Stoic practices, presenting them as tools for productivity, emotional control, and personal achievement - a kind of ancient...
on Fri, 1AM
From joanwestenberg.com
The Fucked Up Truth About Growing
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We live in an era of instant gratification. We’re sold easy answers and five-step solutions to life’s problems. The idea of “hustle” is glorified, but when it comes down to the real work—the gritty, painful, often lonely path to growth—so many people check out. And the
on Thu, 10AM
From joanwestenberg.com
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My alarm jolted me awake at 5 am. Like every morning. I rubbed my eyes, already feeling the weight of the day pressing down on me. I had a meeting at 7:30, a project deadline at noon, and a seemingly endless stream of meetings that could have been emails
on Thu, 1AM
From joanwestenberg.com
I Work On A 5 Year Time Frame. Anything Less Is A Loss.
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I have a rule: I don’t start anything I’m not willing to commit five years of my life to. No projects I’m going to get bored with after six months, no half-hearted schemes for a quick cash grab. If I can’t see myself grinding away at
on Wed, 1AM
From joanwestenberg.com
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It’s a typical Monday morning. You wake up, reach for your phone, and within seconds, you’re scrolling through an endless stream of updates. Your college roommate has a new puppy. Your aunt’s dog just died. Your coworker made homemade sourdough bread. Your second cousin just broke up
on Wed, 1AM
From joanwestenberg.com
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You can control exactly one thing: that you show up. Every day. That’s about it. Showing up isn’t a silver bullet. It’s not an easy win. It’s not a lifehack. It’s not a shortcut. But it’s the only way to build anything. The truth
on Tue, 10PM
From joanwestenberg.com
The Death of Critical Thinking Will Kill Us Long Before AI.
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We have witnessed a multi-generational decline in reading comprehension. We read less, retain less of what we read, and struggle to engage in critical analysis. And if this trend continues, we risk undermining the very foundations of our society. In the bite-sized content and viral media age,...
on Tue, 9PM
From joanwestenberg.com
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I know this is going to make me sound old – but I miss the internet. The real internet. The one we used to have. Before it all got so much less – and somehow so much more – complicated. I went online for the first time around 2001. The 90s had ended,
on Tue, 9AM
From joanwestenberg.com
Is Cultural Technical Debt Sabotaging Our Survival?
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Technical debt occurs when software development relies on quick-fix solutions or outdated code to keep systems running smoothly. These temporary patches often serve immediate needs, but over time, they accumulate, slowing down performance and complicating future changes. Collectively, we’re...
on Mon, 11PM
From joanwestenberg.com
Why ‘Non-Frequentist Probabilities’ Are Gaining Ground
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Probabilities are the skeleton key for every decision worth sweating over, from medicine to finance, guiding “experts” as they stumble through outcomes and uncertainties like drunks in a minefield. For centuries, the frequentist cult has ruled, insisting probability is nothing more than the...
on Nov 11
From joanwestenberg.com
Why Right-Wing Media Thrives While The Left Gets Left Behind
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Why are progressive creators barely scraping by while right-wing media has the cash to dominate? The answer: algorithms, billionaire backers, and a system that’s anything but fair. Here’s why it’s time for real support. In the wake of the US election, it’s time to confront an
on Nov 8
From joanwestenberg.com
Why 'Draining the Swamp' Is a Lie
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The political ‘outsider’ narrative is a con. No one running for office is truly outside the system. Here’s why we need to stop chasing saviors and start focusing on policies and grassroots change. There's something intoxicating about the notion that an outsider will come in and fix everything the
on Nov 7
From joanwestenberg.com
No, The Election Wasn’t Rigged
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Think Republicans rigged the election against Kamala Harris? The truth is far messier—and more painful—than any conspiracy theory. Here’s why her loss isn’t part of some grand scheme, it's the ugly reality of American politics. Let’s not fuck around. The idea that Republicans somehow rigged
on Nov 6
From joanwestenberg.com
How to Talk About Fascism in Trump's Second Term
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Once the “Fourth Estate,” now the sideline observer. When did journalism start treating democracy’s meltdown as casual news? It’s time to ask: where’s the outrage? When did journalism become the noble art of tiptoeing around democracy’s flaming wreckage, like it’s just the charred remains of
on Nov 6
From joanwestenberg.com
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Based on data about higher rates of women turning out in early voting, I incorrectly predicted a femmwave backlash to the repeal of Roe V. Wade in a viral Threads post, and criticized pollsters who weren't seeing what I was seeing. I could not have been more wrong. Women who
on Nov 6
From joanwestenberg.com
How Social Media’s Creator Payouts Fuel a Toxic Race to the Bottom
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Perverse Incentives are Poisoning the Well Think creator payouts are lifting up talent? Think again. Social media’s reward systems are driving creators into a race for views, churning out content at all costs. Here’s how it’s breaking the creator economy. Perverse incentives are the hidden...
on Nov 4
From joanwestenberg.com
No More Layoffs with a Payoff: It's Time to Freeze CEO Salaries
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Thousands of jobs get slashed, but CEO payouts keep growing. Why are workers bearing the brunt while execs walk away richer than ever? Here’s how to fix the “shared sacrifice” myth. You know what sucks? As companies slash jobs by the thousands, their CEOs continue to pocket millions. In
on Nov 1
From joanwestenberg.com
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The internet used to be limitless, open to anyone with an idea. Now, it’s a polished prison run by tech giants. Is this the future we signed up for? Here’s how Big Tech quietly turned freedom into captivity. Remember when the internet felt infinite? When every click could
on Oct 29
From joanwestenberg.com
The New Party Bosses: How Data Scientists Became Power Brokers
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Elections have turned into data games, where algorithms decide which voters matter and who gets ignored. The rise of data-driven campaigning didn’t just change politics—it’s undermining the very foundations of democracy. Are we ready for the consequences? Data barons like Nate Silver made...
on Oct 28
From joanwestenberg.com
Why "Cultural Marxism" is Made Up Right Wing Horsefuckery
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From fringe theory to mainstream talking point, this is how “Cultural Marxism” became a political weapon. Breaking down the anatomy of a conspiracy theory designed to manipulate and divide. In the late 1990s, a conservative influencer (wank) named William Lind began making the rounds on the...
on Oct 24
From joanwestenberg.com
Is Podcasting’s Golden Age Already Over?
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Podcasting was unstoppable—until it wasn’t. The bubble’s burst, and the battle for survival has begun. Are we watching the death of podcasting as we know it? Remember when podcasts were the hot new thing? Advertisers couldn't throw money at them fast enough. The big names like "This
on Oct 22
From joanwestenberg.com
Why Today’s Centrism Stands for Nothing
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(And How to Change Direction) Centrism is broken. Here’s why ‘pissing your pants in the middle’ isn’t a political stance. At its best, centrism is meant to cut through the extremes, advocating for compromise, pragmatism, and measured progress. But centrism as a philosophy has lost its way. Rather
on Oct 21
From joanwestenberg.com
The Privacy Paradox: Why We Don't Practice What We Preach
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We say we value privacy. So why the fuck do we keep giving away our data? It’s more complicated than you think. As a journalist and tech fan, I’m relatively “passionate” about privacy; I attend conferences, I do the reading and I write blog posts and essays about
on Oct 18
From joanwestenberg.com
No, Trump's Weird-Ass Dance Party is not Part of a Tradition
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How The Conversation’s article on Trump’s DJ session missed the mark and normalized a campaign fiasco. Donald Trump just ditched his own town hall questions for a surprise DJ set. Ridiculous? Definitely. But somehow, Matt Harris in The Conversation frames this surreal stunt as just another day on
on Oct 17
From joanwestenberg.com
The Biggest Tech Scandals in Politics
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How governments and politicians keep screwing up technology (and what it means for all of us) Tech and politics have, on many occasions, felt like a forced marriage—or more accurately, a complete fucking mess—rather than anything remotely harmonious. Sure, there are moments when the latest...
on Oct 17
From joanwestenberg.com
NYT’s Latest Miss: The Harris Book Fake Controversy
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Breaking down a right-wing hit job on Kamala Harris—amplified yet again by the New York Times. Well, here we are again, folks. It seems the New York Times has once more fallen into the trap of "publish first, question later" when it comes to Kamala Harris. In their latest
on Oct 17
From joanwestenberg.com
Decoding Trump’s 53% Odds on Polymarket
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The truth behind Polymarket’s Trump odds: When betting becomes a game of perception. Prediction markets have always been intriguing, especially when big events like elections are on the line. They take the buzz of public opinion and turn it into odds, promising to predict outcomes better than...
on Oct 10
From joanwestenberg.com
The Nostalgia Vote: Why Politicians are Selling a Return to an Idealized Past
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From MAGA to Putin’s Russia, here’s how leaders weaponize nostalgia to seize power. Nostalgia is a powerful emotion, isn’t it. A bittersweet longing for a time when life seemed simpler, more certain, and, most importantly (and vaguely) better. It’s the mental tug of familiarity that draws
on Oct 9
From joanwestenberg.com
Billionaire Brainrot: An Explainer
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Elon Musk and JK Rowling used to inspire millions—now they’re spreading hate. Here’s how wealth distorts morality. Elon Musk, the driving force behind Tesla, SpaceX, and Neuralink used to be called a visionary. We said he was the man who would lead humanity to Mars and reshape
on Oct 8
From joanwestenberg.com
Douglas Murray’s Op-Ed on Fact Checking is Not Very Good
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Douglas Murray calls out media bias—but his own op-ed is a case study in partisan double standards. In his recent Op-Ed about media bias, Douglas Murray demonstrates precisely why half-baked, half-assed media criticism does more harm than good. Murray, a conservative internet influencer known...
on Oct 4
From joanwestenberg.com
Staying Sane in the 24/7 News Cycle: A Tech Journalist's Guide to Information Balance
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Feeling overwhelmed by the news? You’re not alone—here’s how to break free from the 24/7 info flood. Imagine standing at the base of a mountain, frozen in place and watching as an avalanche of snow cascades down towards you. Now, replace that snow with information -
on Oct 3
From joanwestenberg.com
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RSS Lives - Mac Wallpaper (4480 x 2520 px)RSS Lives - Mac Wallpaper (4480 x 2520 px).png181 KBdownload-circle
on Oct 1
From joanwestenberg.com
Reddit's Anti-Protest Policy Exposed
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Reddit’s community-driven spirit is dying. Their new policies prove they’re more about profit than people—here’s how it all went wrong. Reddit has always stood out through its unique model of self-governance. Unlike the manicured lawns of Facebook or the algorithmic overreach of Twitter,...
on Oct 1
From joanwestenberg.com
Remote Work Was Meant to Reshape the Political and Social Landscape. What Happened?
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The remote work experiment proved we don’t need to be in an office to succeed—so why are we still being dragged back to our desks? Remember when COVID-19 was supposed to revolutionize work? Millions of us were suddenly Zooming from makeshift home offices, fumbling through virtual “watercooler” moments.
on Sep 30
From joanwestenberg.com
OpenAI Sells Out. And We All Lose.
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OpenAI was supposed to save humanity from dangerous AI. Now, it’s chasing billions in investor returns. Who’s looking out for us? OpenAI, arguably the household name in AI research and development, is at a crossroads. The company that brought us ChatGPT is prepping for dramatic shift, from its
on Sep 26
From joanwestenberg.com
The New York Times Missed the Fucking Mark on Trump's Immigrant Lies
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Trump’s baseless claims about Haitian immigrants sparked bomb threats and harassment. So why is the New York Times playing it down as ‘stoking fears’? On September 24, 2024, the New York Times ran a headline that read: "Trump Stokes Fears About Haitian Migrants in Charleroi, Pennsylvania." To...
on Sep 24
From joanwestenberg.com
The AI Election: Is Artificial Intelligence Reshaping Democracy
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Is AI the future of democracy, or the end of it? The 2024 elections are the battleground for a new kind of warfare—where artificial intelligence could decide who wins. 60+ nations. Half the world's population. One game-changing technology. From Sri Lanka to Germany to the US, this year's global
on Sep 24
From joanwestenberg.com
How Technology Empowers Authoritarians and Autocrats
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Autocrats have flipped the script on the digital revolution. The same tools that were meant to free us are now controlling us—here’s how the internet became their ultimate weapon. The dawn of the digital age promised a renaissance for democracy and freedom. The internet, we were told, would
on Sep 23
From joanwestenberg.com
How to Beat Disinformation: A Practical Guide for 2024
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Disinformation spreads like wildfire, but it doesn’t have to fool you. Learn how to spot the fake news before you hit ‘share’ and help break the cycle. It turns out all we needed to make reality itself disappear was a paid-for blue checkmark and a semi-plausible fake username. Seriously,
on Sep 21
From joanwestenberg.com
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Code isn’t just zeros and ones—it’s the language of modern life. But should creators of digital weapons have the same constitutional rights as journalists? Should code be protected speech, in the same category as books, art, or journalism? The easy answer is yes—all human creativity can
on Sep 19
From joanwestenberg.com
The Unraveling of a Legacy: Netanyahu's Triple Failure in Israel's Darkest Hour
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Netanyahu’s legacy is unraveling. October 7 exposed his catastrophic failures—unable to protect Israelis, recover hostages, or defeat Hamas. How does a leader survive such a profound breach of trust? October 7, 2023 is a day that redefined Israel's security paradigm and throw a harsh spotlight...
on Sep 18
From joanwestenberg.com
Tesla’s Board Have the Moral Fortitude of a Damp Cheeseburger
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Tesla’s board should be a check on Musk’s power, but they’ve become Musk’s biggest enablers. From wild conspiracy tweets to unchecked billion-dollar payouts, where is the accountability? In a Delaware courtroom In January 2024, Judge Kathaleen McCormick dropped a bombshell that should have...
on Sep 18
From joanwestenberg.com
How Personalization is Fragmenting Democracy
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Your digital life is perfectly personalized. Ads, news, everything made for ‘me and me alone.’ But as we eliminate what doesn’t fit, what’s left of the world we shared? We are living in an era of peak personalization. Algorithms work constantly behind the scenes, shaping our online experiences
on Sep 17
From joanwestenberg.com
The Political Media Dumpster Fire: How We Got Here and Why It's Worse Than You Think
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The media isn’t broken—it’s been a mess for years. We’re just finally seeing the consequences, amplified by a political landscape that’s more polarized than ever. Can we stop the circus before the tent burns down? For decades, we've been operating under this quaint notion that
on Sep 17
From joanwestenberg.com
Roe Is Gone. Your Search History Isn’t.
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In a world where your iPhone knows more about your body than your doctor, your digital footprint could be used against you. How secure is your data in a post-Roe America? When the United States Supreme Court drop-kicked Roe v. Wade into oblivion, it hurled digital natives headfirst into a
on Sep 17
From joanwestenberg.com
The U.S. Government Must Reconsider Elon Musk’s Role as a Defense Contractor
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Elon Musk’s latest unhinged claims aren’t “bad takes”—they’re national security risks. Is it time for the U.S. to cut ties with a defence contractor who’s fanning political violence? For a petulant edgelord, Elon Musk exercises far too much influence on American technology, space exploration,
on Sep 16
From joanwestenberg.com
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Substack’s newsletter revolution isn’t all it seems. Behind the creative freedom lies a venture capital engine driven by controversy and growth-at-all-costs. Can independent journalism really thrive under VC pressure? One by one, the journalists and writers we've admired for years are...
on Sep 13