Ethan Marcotte
@ethanmarcotte.com
designer, writer, roommate to two kittens. I think you deserve a union, and I wrote a book about that: https://ethanmarcotte.com/books/you-deserve-a-tech-union/
hi friend
hi friend
Pinned
Ethan Marcotte
@ethanmarcotte.com
· Mar 17
Refresh. — ethanmarcotte.com
In 2023, I wrote a book. Several months later, my publisher closed its doors. And now? We’re back, and better than ever.
ethanmarcotte.com
🦊
I am downright delighted to announce that my latest book, YOU DESERVE A TECH UNION, has a brand new look. I really love it, and I hope you do too.
Here’s a look at what’s changed and—maybe more importantly—what’s stayed the same:
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/refres...
#YDATUbook #books #unions #1u
I am downright delighted to announce that my latest book, YOU DESERVE A TECH UNION, has a brand new look. I really love it, and I hope you do too.
Here’s a look at what’s changed and—maybe more importantly—what’s stayed the same:
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/refres...
#YDATUbook #books #unions #1u
Reposted by Ethan Marcotte
“I have good news for you, though: assholes are a minority. People of conscience, people with good will and good intentions have always outnumbered psychopaths and sycophants.” https://okayfail.com/2025/in-praise-of-dhh.html
November 10, 2025 at 4:02 PM
“I have good news for you, though: assholes are a minority. People of conscience, people with good will and good intentions have always outnumbered psychopaths and sycophants.” https://okayfail.com/2025/in-praise-of-dhh.html
shushing! on the quiet car
November 8, 2025 at 6:03 PM
shushing! on the quiet car
Reposted by Ethan Marcotte
We expect a lot more detail about this stuff to come out in court in the coming months, and when we learn more, we'll put it in our chronological archive with all the rest:
unbreaking.org/issues/immig...
unbreaking.org/issues/immig...
Immigration — Unbreaking
How the administration is breaking the government, and what that means for all of us.
unbreaking.org
November 6, 2025 at 10:19 PM
We expect a lot more detail about this stuff to come out in court in the coming months, and when we learn more, we'll put it in our chronological archive with all the rest:
unbreaking.org/issues/immig...
unbreaking.org/issues/immig...
Reposted by Ethan Marcotte
This week's @unbreaking.org update on immigration is *also* an update on data security because the administration is using immigration enforcement as a way to trial and operationalize a full-on surveillance state.
Our Immigration and Data Security teams worked together this week to understand how immigration-linked data grabs and shoddy facial recognition apps are laying the groundwork for a surveillance state.
unbreaking.org/blog/this-we...
unbreaking.org/blog/this-we...
This week at Unbreaking, November 6 — Unbreaking
Unbreaking is built to be an antidote to information overload. Since we launched, we have been meticulously documenting lawsuits, executive orders, court rulings, countermoves, and other key events.
unbreaking.org
November 6, 2025 at 10:13 PM
This week's @unbreaking.org update on immigration is *also* an update on data security because the administration is using immigration enforcement as a way to trial and operationalize a full-on surveillance state.
Reposted by Ethan Marcotte
Today, Thursday, November 6th at 3 pm ET, we're going to have RV Dougherty on our public picket line. RV wasn't just one of our original organizers but went on to become a staff organizer at OPEIU! Join us on Zoom kickstarterunited.org/picket/
November 6, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Today, Thursday, November 6th at 3 pm ET, we're going to have RV Dougherty on our public picket line. RV wasn't just one of our original organizers but went on to become a staff organizer at OPEIU! Join us on Zoom kickstarterunited.org/picket/
Extremely excited about this event tomorrow on Luddism, and the lessons we can draw from it today: scienceandsociety.columbia.edu/events/new-l...
(If you’re there too, come say hi!)
(If you’re there too, come say hi!)
New Luddism: Technology and Resistance in the Modern Workplace | Science and Society
scienceandsociety.columbia.edu
November 6, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Extremely excited about this event tomorrow on Luddism, and the lessons we can draw from it today: scienceandsociety.columbia.edu/events/new-l...
(If you’re there too, come say hi!)
(If you’re there too, come say hi!)
NINETY TWO PERCENT of Starbucks union members just voted to authorize a strike, kicking off on 13 November unless they (finally) get a fair contract: www.cbsnews.com/news/starbuc...
#labor #1u
#labor #1u
Starbucks unionized workers say they'll strike on Nov. 13 if coffee giant doesn't finalize contract
Union members say they are ready to strike on the chain's Red Cup Day if Starbucks doesn't finalize a contract with their union by then.
www.cbsnews.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:23 PM
NINETY TWO PERCENT of Starbucks union members just voted to authorize a strike, kicking off on 13 November unless they (finally) get a fair contract: www.cbsnews.com/news/starbuc...
#labor #1u
#labor #1u
Reposted by Ethan Marcotte
“”AI” is a failed technology. … LLMs haven’t met any markers of success we’d apply to, well, literally any other technology.” Great article by Ethan Marcotte @ethanmarcotte.com
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/agains...
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/agains...
Against the protection of stocking frames. — ethanmarcotte.com
“Artificial intelligence” is a failed technology. It’s time we described it that way.
ethanmarcotte.com
November 1, 2025 at 4:59 PM
“”AI” is a failed technology. … LLMs haven’t met any markers of success we’d apply to, well, literally any other technology.” Great article by Ethan Marcotte @ethanmarcotte.com
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/agains...
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/agains...
we must attack and dethrone time
November 2, 2025 at 12:59 PM
we must attack and dethrone time
i just read the words “generative craft” in a glitzy press release and the phrase “artisanal slot machine pulling” has now taken up permanent residence in my brain
October 31, 2025 at 7:28 PM
i just read the words “generative craft” in a glitzy press release and the phrase “artisanal slot machine pulling” has now taken up permanent residence in my brain
- what if i buy a new laptop bag
- what if i redesign my website
- maybe this new typeface will fix me
month’s going great, why do you ask
- what if i redesign my website
- maybe this new typeface will fix me
month’s going great, why do you ask
October 30, 2025 at 5:07 PM
- what if i buy a new laptop bag
- what if i redesign my website
- maybe this new typeface will fix me
month’s going great, why do you ask
- what if i redesign my website
- maybe this new typeface will fix me
month’s going great, why do you ask
EXTREMELY glad I could show up for @kickstarterunited.org’s Boston rally today.
History in the making, folks.
History in the making, folks.
October 23, 2025 at 6:53 PM
EXTREMELY glad I could show up for @kickstarterunited.org’s Boston rally today.
History in the making, folks.
History in the making, folks.
real nice decentralized network you’ve got there, be a real shame if capitalism happened to it
October 20, 2025 at 2:49 PM
real nice decentralized network you’ve got there, be a real shame if capitalism happened to it
Reposted by Ethan Marcotte
unless you want to see a thousand accounts dunk quoting and arguing with these propaganda accounts, this is a handy block list
white house has joined bluesky
click here to block all official us government accounts instantly
bsky.app/profile/did:...
click here to block all official us government accounts instantly
bsky.app/profile/did:...
October 17, 2025 at 10:34 PM
unless you want to see a thousand accounts dunk quoting and arguing with these propaganda accounts, this is a handy block list
Reposted by Ethan Marcotte
We banged our heads against the true costs of healthcare cuts this week and JFC. It's not just ACA price hikes + people losing Medicaid coverage, though that's already bad It's also hundreds of hospitals and nursing homes poised to fall like dominos. Healthcare will be worse for all of us.
Congressional Democrats are refusing to authorize short-term measures to keep the government open unless Republicans agree to renew ACA subsidies, and possibly to reverse Medicaid cuts as well. As the shutdown enters its third week, we look at the ripple effects of this summer’s healthcare cuts.
October 16, 2025 at 8:03 PM
We banged our heads against the true costs of healthcare cuts this week and JFC. It's not just ACA price hikes + people losing Medicaid coverage, though that's already bad It's also hundreds of hospitals and nursing homes poised to fall like dominos. Healthcare will be worse for all of us.
[updates browser]
i am so tired
i am so tired
October 15, 2025 at 2:57 PM
[updates browser]
i am so tired
i am so tired
Reposted by Ethan Marcotte
This is excellent.
“…the technology’s real value isn’t improving productivity, or even in improving products. Rather, it’s a social mechanism employed to ensure compliance in the workplace, and to weaken worker power.”
“…the technology’s real value isn’t improving productivity, or even in improving products. Rather, it’s a social mechanism employed to ensure compliance in the workplace, and to weaken worker power.”
We are well past the point at which talking uncritically about AI should be seen as deeply embarrassing. https://ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/against-stocking-frames/
Against the protection of stocking frames. — ethanmarcotte.com
“Artificial intelligence” is a failed technology. It’s time we described it that way.
ethanmarcotte.com
September 19, 2025 at 6:50 PM
This is excellent.
“…the technology’s real value isn’t improving productivity, or even in improving products. Rather, it’s a social mechanism employed to ensure compliance in the workplace, and to weaken worker power.”
“…the technology’s real value isn’t improving productivity, or even in improving products. Rather, it’s a social mechanism employed to ensure compliance in the workplace, and to weaken worker power.”
Reposted by Ethan Marcotte
“The fact that copyrighted works aren’t eligible unless they’ve formally registered feels like a lawyerly dodge: a legal maneuver to help Anthropic reduce the size of its payout pool …”
— @ethanmarcotte.com
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/a-righ...
— @ethanmarcotte.com
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/a-righ...
A right to copy. — ethanmarcotte.com
This is one author’s short, failed journey to file a claim in Anthropic’s copyright lawsuit. (Oops. Spoilers, sorry.)
ethanmarcotte.com
October 8, 2025 at 5:21 AM
“The fact that copyrighted works aren’t eligible unless they’ve formally registered feels like a lawyerly dodge: a legal maneuver to help Anthropic reduce the size of its payout pool …”
— @ethanmarcotte.com
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/a-righ...
— @ethanmarcotte.com
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/a-righ...
🦊
IN WHICH ONE AUTHOR tried to file a claim in the Anthropic copyright case, failed, got frustrated, then blogged about it while still pretty hot under the collar.
(it’s me; i’m author)
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/a-righ...
IN WHICH ONE AUTHOR tried to file a claim in the Anthropic copyright case, failed, got frustrated, then blogged about it while still pretty hot under the collar.
(it’s me; i’m author)
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/a-righ...
A right to copy. — ethanmarcotte.com
This is one author’s short, failed journey to file a claim in Anthropic’s copyright lawsuit. (Oops. Spoilers, sorry.)
ethanmarcotte.com
October 7, 2025 at 8:32 PM
🦊
IN WHICH ONE AUTHOR tried to file a claim in the Anthropic copyright case, failed, got frustrated, then blogged about it while still pretty hot under the collar.
(it’s me; i’m author)
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/a-righ...
IN WHICH ONE AUTHOR tried to file a claim in the Anthropic copyright case, failed, got frustrated, then blogged about it while still pretty hot under the collar.
(it’s me; i’m author)
ethanmarcotte.com/wrote/a-righ...
Reposted by Ethan Marcotte
hey I run my own invite-only mastodon server and it's a little decrepit and in need of some sysadmin love from its somewhat neglectful landlord (me), and lord knows fedi has its own multitude of Problems™ and is not a solution, but if you want a backup space and we're mutuals dm me for an invite
October 6, 2025 at 7:56 PM
hey I run my own invite-only mastodon server and it's a little decrepit and in need of some sysadmin love from its somewhat neglectful landlord (me), and lord knows fedi has its own multitude of Problems™ and is not a solution, but if you want a backup space and we're mutuals dm me for an invite
Reposted by Ethan Marcotte
This was a quick one — I think video creators are under a big risk right now, bigger actually than before Kimmel was pulled off the air. One part of the reason why is a behind-the-scenes consolidation that almost nobody is paying attention to. youtube.com/shorts/3cK51...
The Threat to Video Creators Online
YouTube video by Anil Dash
youtube.com
October 4, 2025 at 5:11 PM
This was a quick one — I think video creators are under a big risk right now, bigger actually than before Kimmel was pulled off the air. One part of the reason why is a behind-the-scenes consolidation that almost nobody is paying attention to. youtube.com/shorts/3cK51...
“But that's how it's always been, when change has to happen. There's nobody to do it but us.”
As always, but especially right now, @dansinker.com’s words are worth your time:
As always, but especially right now, @dansinker.com’s words are worth your time:
ICE unleashed tear gas on the street in Chicago’s Logan Square today and I tried to find meaning among the fog and my own anger about, well, everything. dansinker.com/posts/202…
October 3, 2025 at 10:43 PM
“But that's how it's always been, when change has to happen. There's nobody to do it but us.”
As always, but especially right now, @dansinker.com’s words are worth your time:
As always, but especially right now, @dansinker.com’s words are worth your time:
Reposted by Ethan Marcotte
This is the essential value of a union contract.
Without one, the boss always has the right to change terms and conditions.
With one, both sides are legally bound to the agreement and changes have to be negotiated. If management wants a change, they have to make it worthwhile to employees.
Without one, the boss always has the right to change terms and conditions.
With one, both sides are legally bound to the agreement and changes have to be negotiated. If management wants a change, they have to make it worthwhile to employees.
October 3, 2025 at 2:46 PM
This is the essential value of a union contract.
Without one, the boss always has the right to change terms and conditions.
With one, both sides are legally bound to the agreement and changes have to be negotiated. If management wants a change, they have to make it worthwhile to employees.
Without one, the boss always has the right to change terms and conditions.
With one, both sides are legally bound to the agreement and changes have to be negotiated. If management wants a change, they have to make it worthwhile to employees.
Really enjoyed this piece by @jjlee.bsky.social on the @kickstarterunited.org strike: what the union is fighting for, and why it matters to all of us. medium.com/labor-new-yo...
Kickstarter Employees Launch Strike Over Four-Day Workweek, Pay Floor
The union wants the company to pay an $85,000 minimum salary to its workers.
medium.com
October 3, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Really enjoyed this piece by @jjlee.bsky.social on the @kickstarterunited.org strike: what the union is fighting for, and why it matters to all of us. medium.com/labor-new-yo...