A wider-ranging closing batch: web politics, cultural criticism, and some pure delight to end on.
Heather Burns’s Rewilding the Web, Maria’s Version reports from an Edinburgh symposium on “Diversity & Resilience in Sociotechnical Infrastructure.” The framing: the internet has become a monoculture (Google ~84% of search, Amazon and Microsoft ~50% of cloud), and technologists are calling for “rewilding” via decentralization, but if decentralization alone were sufficient, how did the monopolies arise in the first place? The piece celebrates the original rewilding concept from Maria Farrell and Robin Berjon while calling out corporate co-option of grassroots ideas. “Rewilding begins at the grassroots. Make sure you choose the real grass. Not the astroturf.”
Geoff Graham’s Distinguishing Technology From Technology uses the evolution of car center consoles, from a 1989 Corolla’s knobs to a 2021 Subaru’s touchscreen, to separate technical progress from marketing. Some products sold as advancements are less usable than what they replace. A physical radio knob does not fail in an internet dead spot or require looking away from the road. Graham extends the argument to phones, diminishing returns, and a religious framing about idolatry.
Matt Birchler’s Welcome to the New Quick Tier List updates his tier-list web app. The original was one static HTML file with local storage, no synchronization, and one list at a time. The new version adds optional passwordless accounts, cloud sync, and up to 20 saved lists while preserving the local, account-free mode. It shows how to add a backend without discarding the original tool’s simplicity.
Bird History’s The 100 Greatest Bird Names of All Time is exactly what the title promises: a ranked, annotated collection of gloriously strange bird names. It is pure fun after a heavy dose of AI discourse.
Gizmodo’s New Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror Books for June 2026 lists the month’s speculative-fiction releases. Because I am writing science fiction, I follow the premises, framing, and trends publishers are backing. This one will also add several books to my reading list.
Andy McKay’s Kepler Track reports on a four-day New Zealand Great Walk with GPX data, elevation profiles, and photos. Kea, the intelligent alpine parrots that damage tents at Iris Burn, steal the show. McKay spends a windy night wondering whether each disturbance comes from the birds or the weather. I need bookmarks like this that have nothing to do with work; the world is bigger than our screens.
Finally, Stephen Musoke’s AI Podcast Information Feed, June 2026 curates AI-focused podcast episodes. It offers an audio route through the current AI discussion and saves listeners from sorting through a crowded feed themselves.