The strandbeest as a metaphor for our role in machine evolution
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The strandbeest as a metaphor for our role in machine evolution

ByJosh Bernoff

Theo Jansen’s “strandbeest” creatures captured my imagination. If you like these eldritch and fascinating machines you can copy his plans and make one yourself. Which makes me wonder: are we creating them, or serving them? Theo Jansen is an inventive Dutch artist who builds creatures called strandbeests (calling them “kinetic sculptures” doesn’t do them justice) out…

The Facebook privacy hoax illuminates the viral bullshit machine

The Facebook privacy hoax illuminates the viral bullshit machine

ByJosh Bernoff

A message purporting to preserve your privacy rights on Facebook is making the rounds. It’s a hoax. But it’s a great example of how the current state of the Internet is perfectly suited to spread bullshit. As briefly as possible: the idea behind the hoax is that Facebook is going to charge you for privacy…