James Austin
@jamestaustin.com
Staff Writer for Wirecutter, covering hobbies and games. Let's talk about dice and meeples!
Reposted by James Austin
The best description I ever read of copy editors is this, from Lawrence Downes in 2008:
“The copy editor’s job, to the extent possible under deadline, is to slow down, think things through, do the math and ask the irritating question.”
“The copy editor’s job, to the extent possible under deadline, is to slow down, think things through, do the math and ask the irritating question.”
Opinion | In a Changing World of News, an Elegy for Copy Editors (Published 2008)
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 6:13 AM
The best description I ever read of copy editors is this, from Lawrence Downes in 2008:
“The copy editor’s job, to the extent possible under deadline, is to slow down, think things through, do the math and ask the irritating question.”
“The copy editor’s job, to the extent possible under deadline, is to slow down, think things through, do the math and ask the irritating question.”
Reposted by James Austin
Reposted by James Austin
Aaron Judge is certainly a valid choice for MVP, this is not a robbery, he put up a historic season and is firmly establishing himself as one of the best hitters of all time
but come on, a catcher just hit 60 home runs
but come on, a catcher just hit 60 home runs
November 14, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Aaron Judge is certainly a valid choice for MVP, this is not a robbery, he put up a historic season and is firmly establishing himself as one of the best hitters of all time
but come on, a catcher just hit 60 home runs
but come on, a catcher just hit 60 home runs
Reposted by James Austin
Reinstatement now!
November 12, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Reinstatement now!
Reposted by James Austin
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
November 13, 2025 at 11:33 AM
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Reposted by James Austin
BREAKING: Starbucks workers have launched a massive, nationwide strike.
Baristas in 40 cities have walked off the job on the busiest day of Starbucks' year.
Upwards of 12,000 @sbworkersunited.org members could ultimately go on strike as the union escalates.
Baristas in 40 cities have walked off the job on the busiest day of Starbucks' year.
Upwards of 12,000 @sbworkersunited.org members could ultimately go on strike as the union escalates.
November 13, 2025 at 1:31 PM
BREAKING: Starbucks workers have launched a massive, nationwide strike.
Baristas in 40 cities have walked off the job on the busiest day of Starbucks' year.
Upwards of 12,000 @sbworkersunited.org members could ultimately go on strike as the union escalates.
Baristas in 40 cities have walked off the job on the busiest day of Starbucks' year.
Upwards of 12,000 @sbworkersunited.org members could ultimately go on strike as the union escalates.
Reposted by James Austin
WE WON! After 42 days of striking we have a tentative agreement in hand that protects our existing 4 day work week, establishes a minimum salary, and adds protections against AI replacing jobs at our workplace!
![Graphic with multiple picket signs that reads "[up arrow] Minimum Salary", "4 day Work Week", and a big cancel sign over "AI Replacing Jobs" and so much more. Go to kickstarterunited.org to see it all!](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:gdife25rfr5drwr2nhncr3rf/bafkreidfgv3xytmgta3x35mjze22ojok7lwh3vlhgrcfbcwr7hjg6bb6eu@jpeg)
November 12, 2025 at 10:54 PM
WE WON! After 42 days of striking we have a tentative agreement in hand that protects our existing 4 day work week, establishes a minimum salary, and adds protections against AI replacing jobs at our workplace!
<unclenches>
So...
Pluribus is pretty good huh?
So...
Pluribus is pretty good huh?
November 13, 2025 at 4:42 AM
<unclenches>
So...
Pluribus is pretty good huh?
So...
Pluribus is pretty good huh?
Reposted by James Austin
Fortunately, I already figured out the plots of the next several Toy Story films
November 12, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Fortunately, I already figured out the plots of the next several Toy Story films
Is Slack down for anyone else?
November 10, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Is Slack down for anyone else?
Reposted by James Austin
BREAKING: We won!
Today the 3rd Circuit Court ordered the @post-gazette.com to restore our contract it illegally tore up 5 years ago. That’s our health care, PTO, right to a 40-hr. work week, short-term disability and so much more we’ve struck for 3+ years.
pghguild.com/2025/11/10/p...
Today the 3rd Circuit Court ordered the @post-gazette.com to restore our contract it illegally tore up 5 years ago. That’s our health care, PTO, right to a 40-hr. work week, short-term disability and so much more we’ve struck for 3+ years.
pghguild.com/2025/11/10/p...
November 10, 2025 at 5:48 PM
BREAKING: We won!
Today the 3rd Circuit Court ordered the @post-gazette.com to restore our contract it illegally tore up 5 years ago. That’s our health care, PTO, right to a 40-hr. work week, short-term disability and so much more we’ve struck for 3+ years.
pghguild.com/2025/11/10/p...
Today the 3rd Circuit Court ordered the @post-gazette.com to restore our contract it illegally tore up 5 years ago. That’s our health care, PTO, right to a 40-hr. work week, short-term disability and so much more we’ve struck for 3+ years.
pghguild.com/2025/11/10/p...
Reposted by James Austin
Stand with Condé Nast Union 🚨 We’re calling on you to sign our petition telling management to reinstate the Fired Four, reverse the suspensions, and end the union busting.
Sign here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
Sign here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
November 9, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Stand with Condé Nast Union 🚨 We’re calling on you to sign our petition telling management to reinstate the Fired Four, reverse the suspensions, and end the union busting.
Sign here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
Sign here: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
Reposted by James Austin
“gambling is the worst, most game integrity destroying crime you can commit against the game of baseball
now please read this sports betting advertisement, they’re our biggest sponsor”
truly one of the most predictable disasters of all time
now please read this sports betting advertisement, they’re our biggest sponsor”
truly one of the most predictable disasters of all time
November 9, 2025 at 6:46 PM
“gambling is the worst, most game integrity destroying crime you can commit against the game of baseball
now please read this sports betting advertisement, they’re our biggest sponsor”
truly one of the most predictable disasters of all time
now please read this sports betting advertisement, they’re our biggest sponsor”
truly one of the most predictable disasters of all time
Reposted by James Austin
Reposted by James Austin
Super excited that we're hiring a senior writer to join @wired.com's culture team! If you're obsessed with internet culture and like our vibe, apply! condenast.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/CondeC...
Senior Writer, Culture
WIRED is where a better future is imagined. For three decades, we have been the indispensable guide to a world in constant transformation. We cover humanity’s biggest challenges, from climate change t...
condenast.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Super excited that we're hiring a senior writer to join @wired.com's culture team! If you're obsessed with internet culture and like our vibe, apply! condenast.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/CondeC...
Reposted by James Austin
I'm one of the four fired employees. I was a writer & producer at Bon Appétit for nearly five years, during which I helped organize our union and sat on our bargaining committee.
I am, to my knowledge, the only trans woman in our union and the only trans woman on editorial who doesn't work at Them
I am, to my knowledge, the only trans woman in our union and the only trans woman on editorial who doesn't work at Them
New: Conde Nast fired four employees who were among a group that confronted the company's head of human resources on Wednesday over the decision to fold Teen Vogue into Vogue/recent cuts. Employees who were fired included journalists from the New Yorker, Wired, and Bon Appétit.
November 6, 2025 at 6:32 PM
I'm one of the four fired employees. I was a writer & producer at Bon Appétit for nearly five years, during which I helped organize our union and sat on our bargaining committee.
I am, to my knowledge, the only trans woman in our union and the only trans woman on editorial who doesn't work at Them
I am, to my knowledge, the only trans woman in our union and the only trans woman on editorial who doesn't work at Them
Reposted by James Austin
A statement from Wired's Conde Union Members
November 6, 2025 at 8:19 PM
A statement from Wired's Conde Union Members
Reposted by James Austin
As my general two cents: don't cancel your WIRED subscriptions.
Best culture, best newsroom of anywhere I've worked. I love the living shit out of these folks, and they don't deserve to be negatively impacted by a decision that was made by the parent company, not them. And it's only $2 a month.
Best culture, best newsroom of anywhere I've worked. I love the living shit out of these folks, and they don't deserve to be negatively impacted by a decision that was made by the parent company, not them. And it's only $2 a month.
November 6, 2025 at 6:39 PM
As my general two cents: don't cancel your WIRED subscriptions.
Best culture, best newsroom of anywhere I've worked. I love the living shit out of these folks, and they don't deserve to be negatively impacted by a decision that was made by the parent company, not them. And it's only $2 a month.
Best culture, best newsroom of anywhere I've worked. I love the living shit out of these folks, and they don't deserve to be negatively impacted by a decision that was made by the parent company, not them. And it's only $2 a month.
Reposted by James Austin
I was one of the four people who got canned.
In the interim, you can subscribe to my newsletter, Straight From The Hut. No paywall, but feel free to choose the pay to support model. I'm not going anywhere — the show goes on, and I'll be back on MSNBC Saturday night. straightfromthehut.substack.com
In the interim, you can subscribe to my newsletter, Straight From The Hut. No paywall, but feel free to choose the pay to support model. I'm not going anywhere — the show goes on, and I'll be back on MSNBC Saturday night. straightfromthehut.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I was one of the four people who got canned.
In the interim, you can subscribe to my newsletter, Straight From The Hut. No paywall, but feel free to choose the pay to support model. I'm not going anywhere — the show goes on, and I'll be back on MSNBC Saturday night. straightfromthehut.substack.com
In the interim, you can subscribe to my newsletter, Straight From The Hut. No paywall, but feel free to choose the pay to support model. I'm not going anywhere — the show goes on, and I'll be back on MSNBC Saturday night. straightfromthehut.substack.com
Reposted by James Austin
Good things are possible and we don’t have to settle.
November 5, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Good things are possible and we don’t have to settle.
Reposted by James Austin
Reposted by James Austin
Defense is now questioning Lairmore on cross-examination. They show a video still of the sandwich and wrapper on the ground, post-throw.
"Do you recognize that sandwich?" the attorney asks.
Lairmore won't confirm.
"I did not go back to collect it," he says.
"Do you recognize that sandwich?" the attorney asks.
Lairmore won't confirm.
"I did not go back to collect it," he says.
November 4, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Defense is now questioning Lairmore on cross-examination. They show a video still of the sandwich and wrapper on the ground, post-throw.
"Do you recognize that sandwich?" the attorney asks.
Lairmore won't confirm.
"I did not go back to collect it," he says.
"Do you recognize that sandwich?" the attorney asks.
Lairmore won't confirm.
"I did not go back to collect it," he says.
Reposted by James Austin
it is kinda crazy ngl like if you have a sibling, cousin, nephew, idk if you literally know any man between the ages of 16-25 you should probably be keeping tabs on them and giving support because at this point statistically speaking hes either an outlier or he's losing tons of sports betting weekly
"do you know how many industries would go out of business if you re-regulated sports gambling or online betting" idk dog it seems bad to base the foundation of the economy on industries that exist entirely to make young men kill themselves bc of gambling debt
November 4, 2025 at 5:18 AM
it is kinda crazy ngl like if you have a sibling, cousin, nephew, idk if you literally know any man between the ages of 16-25 you should probably be keeping tabs on them and giving support because at this point statistically speaking hes either an outlier or he's losing tons of sports betting weekly
Reposted by James Austin
It’s not ever about the numbers—you can bring insane audience engagement, views, eyeballs to your verticals, shape the conversation in wonderful ways, win awards and on and on
And they still will nuke your job and your entire desk in the name of capital consolidation and kissing the fucking ring
And they still will nuke your job and your entire desk in the name of capital consolidation and kissing the fucking ring
November 3, 2025 at 8:45 PM
It’s not ever about the numbers—you can bring insane audience engagement, views, eyeballs to your verticals, shape the conversation in wonderful ways, win awards and on and on
And they still will nuke your job and your entire desk in the name of capital consolidation and kissing the fucking ring
And they still will nuke your job and your entire desk in the name of capital consolidation and kissing the fucking ring