Posts by ricmac@mastodon.social
(DIR) Post #Awf68U4WqcONcEsoKm by ricmac@mastodon.social
0 likes, 0 repeats
Finally, I'll just note that I self-published 'Bubble Blog' in December 2024, but I purposely DID NOT seek out blurbs and reviews for the book, as is common practice in book publishing. I really dislike that aspect of book publishing — having to curry favors from other authors (for blurbs) and basically beg people on social media to leave a review. So thanks @deane for writing this review of my book completely independently! For others, here's the link for my book: https://ricmac.org/bubble-blog/
(DIR) Post #Awf6UgZd30relA14qW by ricmac@mastodon.social
0 likes, 0 repeats
@_elena I might need an AI avatar to present the courses :)
(DIR) Post #AwgUQ6QE6np7XLvTKC by ricmac@mastodon.social
0 likes, 0 repeats
The Web is made of people…who increasingly get tricked into viewing slop by AI. https://mastodon.social/@Sarahp/114944354954013310
(DIR) Post #AwgWGEjiXbqkKtSx6G by ricmac@mastodon.social
0 likes, 0 repeats
@_elena Absolutely, the fediverse truly is 'the human network' in this current era.
(DIR) Post #AwxpUXCW9y9r6SPN2m by ricmac@mastodon.social
0 likes, 0 repeats
@_elena @feed Thanks Elena :) Looks like there are a few quirks to sort out, but generally speaking the Ghost integration is working.
(DIR) Post #AwxpUZNE57ubqFQx0q by ricmac@mastodon.social
0 likes, 0 repeats
In 1999, David Bowie starred in a 3D game about a hacker attacked by a demon in meatspace, who then escapes into the Omikron network. “An old legend recounts that only a nomad soul can hunt the demons out of Omikron,” he says in the introduction. The music became his album 'hours...', but in retrospect the video game didn't quite match the likes of Everquest and Ultima Online for "human presence." https://cybercultural.com/p/bowie-1999-omikron/ #InternetHistory #BowieForever
(DIR) Post #AwxpUa4TUKVU0NfUQK by ricmac@mastodon.social
0 likes, 0 repeats
I decided to start a Ghost blog after its 6.0 upgrade and what seems like full integration with the fediverse (ref @index). My new site: https://webtechnology.newsYou can also follow it on Mastodon here: @feed As it says on the tin, it will be a newsletter about web technology news (for once, I am using a straight-forward name, rather than mouthfuls like ReadWriteWeb or Cybercultural)I just started this today, but what I'm thinking is it'll be a weekly linkblog with commentary, for now.
(DIR) Post #AwxpUf2B2IdjOhdE2K by ricmac@mastodon.social
0 likes, 0 repeats
For more context: I want to truly experience what Ghost is bringing to the table for indie publishers on the fediverse. Its community actually reminds me of the Radio Userland community when I started blogging in 2002. I want to be part of something like that again. Indeed, as with Radio Userland, I'll start with doing linkblog-type things, with some hot takes about web tech thrown in. It may turn into a full-on newsletter later, but it's not like I don't already have enough writing to do.
(DIR) Post #AwxpUfkUNY5Lc8Mc6a by ricmac@mastodon.social
0 likes, 0 repeats
In other words, this is an experimental site for now. But my plan is to deliver a weekly email of web tech links and commentary. So if that doesn't sound like too much strain on your inbox, and you are interested in web tech news, then I invite you to subscribe for free here: https://webtechnology.news/. And/or follow @feed for the same feed.(I will also be pecking away at the design etc, so this is def a WIP website)
(DIR) Post #AwxpUj93keWQ9CsmJs by ricmac@mastodon.social
0 likes, 0 repeats
One more thing: my tagline is "What's next on the Web." That used to be the motto for ReadWriteWeb in its heyday. I thought this would be a good opportunity to bring it back :)
(DIR) Post #Awxq2EEXBe1C7ePyiG by ricmac@mastodon.social
0 likes, 0 repeats
@_elena @feed I’m currently on the Pro trial, and I will pay for that once I am sure things are (mostly) working as intended. I’m not as brave as you re self-hosting Ghost :) Plus, after reading @molly0xfff’s pricing breakdowns, seems like Pro is only a little more expensive than self-hosting…tbh it’s the email delivery part that scares me off. All I can say is: good luck with Docker! I definitely admire you getting in the weeds with this.
(DIR) Post #AwxrFbAXKAR2yTUGky by ricmac@mastodon.social
0 likes, 0 repeats
@_elena Yikes, that sounds like a lot of work. But as a learning project for you and everyone who reads your posts, very valuable!
(DIR) Post #Awy54nhlm3RS1jmF4S by ricmac@mastodon.social
0 likes, 0 repeats
@_elena Thanks for the shoutout Elena. Wow, yes hardware is really difficult... Since the mid-2000s I’ve been ensconced in the Apple ecosystem, and been on iPhone since the first generation. I’m like Tom Cruise and scientology…I’m in too deep! But you’re right, why should we stop at software when it comes to ethical judgements of technology.
(DIR) Post #AyXREHh8gcrkyBWS1Y by ricmac@mastodon.social
0 likes, 0 repeats
In this week's issue of Cybercultural, my online magazine about internet history, I look at how Slashdot's "karma" system inspired the moderation efforts of BowieNet version 2.0 (launched in May 2000). I also check in with Google and Amazon in the year 2000: despite the dot-com downturn, their karma was just fine. (bonus: a pic of Google's founders wearing tin foil capes at that year's Webbys!). https://cybercultural.com/p/karma-2000-slashdot-bowienet-v2/
(DIR) Post #AyXREHhqdzQv0Nr184 by ricmac@mastodon.social
0 likes, 0 repeats
OMG, I just discovered I got a mention in Tim Berners-Lee’s memoir!! Totally unexpected. Ok, he spelled my name wrong, but that doesn’t matter :) The read-write web lives on!
(DIR) Post #AyXREIdz9pwBuh3RkO by ricmac@mastodon.social
0 likes, 0 repeats
This week's Web Technology News comments on Chrome's reinvention as an AI browser, along with other news in these 3 categories: Web Platform, Open Social Web, Web + AI. https://webtechnology.news/wtn-7-chrome-becomes-an-ai-browser-with-agents-to-come/Fedi folk featured in this week's newsletter: @Gargron, @tarek, @biilmann, @patrickbrosset, and some 2000-era Seattle bloggers I wish were on the fediverse.If you ❤️ the Web too, I'd love for you to sign up to WTN via email. You can also follow @feed here on Mastodon.
(DIR) Post #AyXRGQUIxucsotXZz6 by ricmac@mastodon.social
0 likes, 0 repeats
@_elena @anca The Resistance Substackers don’t even realize they’re already owned.
(DIR) Post #AybgFWgai93DhM9jSC by ricmac@mastodon.social
0 likes, 0 repeats
In this week's Web Technology News, I discuss my interview with Evan You — the creator of Vite and (I'm suggesting) one of the new rock stars of web development. https://webtechnology.news/wtn-8-the-new-rock-stars-of-web-development/As usual, you'll also find other news in these 3 categories: Web Platform, Open Social Web, Web + AI.Fedi folk featured in this week's newsletter: @jaredwhite, @cloudflare, @_elena, @sia, @cheeaun, @deane You can sign up to WTN via email and/or follow @feed here on Mastodon.
(DIR) Post #B18Ov7p7Isqe8YOyqO by ricmac@mastodon.social
0 likes, 0 repeats
Here's a summary of my web values:1. Support open source software like Mastodon over “walled gardens” like X & Threads.2. Support open web platform technology; ideally blessed by the Web’s governing body, the W3C.3. Distribution on the web should never be throttled. (think Net Neutrality, but for social media platforms!)4. External links should be encouraged, not de-emphasized. Speaking of which 👇 https://cybercultural.com/p/web-values/
(DIR) Post #B18Ov8oRcru9Cl5xR2 by ricmac@mastodon.social
0 likes, 0 repeats
In this week's internet history post, I look back at the peak of Flash web design in 2003. In particular, the launch of BowieNet version 3 — designed completely in Flash (which made it a huge challenge to get screenshots from the Wayback Machine!). Also featured: MTV2 and tokyoplastic v1. Hat-tip to @alienmelon, who I quote on Flash history. https://cybercultural.com/p/bowienet-v3-flash-2003/ #InternetHistory #Flash