Ben Werdmuller
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Ben Werdmuller

Ben Werdmuller

Do we really need private schools?

One of my most controversial opinions is that private schools should not be allowed. Quite how controversial is always a surprise to me: from my perspective it feels very straightforward. In a nutshell, my argument comes down to the following complementary ideas: 1. Every child deserves to have an equal

02 Aug 2022

American Express' platinum-level duplicity

“American Express' decision to begin donating to Republican objectors reflects the desire of some in the business community to put the events of January 6, 2021, behind them. That, according to an open letter recently signed by former American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault and other prominent business leaders, is

02 Aug 2022

Varo layoffs are a sign of neobanks’ struggle to break even

““Most American neobanks cater to lower-income customers, who previously may have incurred overdraft, [non-sufficient fund fees] and maintenance fees at big establishment banks,” Mikula told Protocol. “But these consumers also tend to be higher credit risk, making it challenging to lend to them. No U.S. neobank has built a

02 Aug 2022

Vast New Study Shows a Key to Reducing Poverty: More Friendships Between Rich and Poor

“The findings show the limitations of many attempts to increase diversity — like school busing, multifamily zoning and affirmative action. Bringing people together is not enough on its own to increase opportunity, the study suggests. Whether they form relationships matters just as much.”  #Society [Link]

01 Aug 2022

ShotSpotter Asks Court To Hold It In Contempt Rather Than Turn Over Information To Defense Lawyer

“It’s tough to say what a judge will find admissible, but ShotSpotter’s past history suggests it is willing in some cases to alter reports to justify arrests that have already occurred. If the PD contacted ShotSpotter post-arrest to get a report altered, it may show officers had no

01 Aug 2022

Sen. Tiara Mack says twerking video response has led to harassment, threats

““It’s been a whirlwind. Anywhere from misogynistic comments, racist comments, classist comments,” she said. “I’ve received death threats. I’ve received emails and phone calls of people calling me the n-word. I’ve received fatphobic comments. Just everything under the sun.””  #Democracy [Link]

01 Aug 2022

Rethinking notable links

I’m thinking about splitting off my notable links into a new newsletter. For the record, you can always follow them from this page on my site (which also has an RSS feed); I’ve also started to post them consistently to my Twitter feed. But I might move the

01 Aug 2022

Building an inclusive, independent, open newsroom

I didn’t make a big announcement about it, but for the last few months I’ve been working as the CTO at The 19th, a nonprofit newsroom that reports on stories at the intersection of gender, politics, and policy. It was a necessary move for me: I needed stronger

01 Aug 2022

The Quest for a Memex

“This made me think about making a new view of a post, where the inbound and outbound links are shown in the margins of the page, and the flow is more dynamic. The inbound links can be found with Webmention, which is already here, but scanning the outbound links and

31 Jul 2022

The problem with Facebook

“I am unsure what direction Apple wants to take us, but I can bet my last dollar; I don’t want to be in the future of the Internet that Zuckerberg is trying to build.”  #Technology [Link]

31 Jul 2022

Reading, watching, playing, using: July, 2022

This is my monthly roundup of the articles I found interesting. Here's my list for July, 2022. Notable Articles Business Bank of America Memo: “We Hope” Worker Power Worsens. “A Bank of America executive stated that “we hope” working Americans will lose leverage in the labor market in

31 Jul 2022

Aboard the World's First Hot-Air Balloon Restaurant

“During the flight, Schmeinck serves wine and gives more information about her dishes. Standing-room only encourages interactions between the chef, pilot, and other diners as the balloon sails above the countryside, taking in the view from a cruising altitude that ranges 500 to 2,500 feet. “Sometimes when the clouds

30 Jul 2022
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Ben Werdmuller

Ben Werdmuller

Writing at the intersection of technology, journalism, and community.

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Ben Werdmuller explores the intersection of technology, democracy, and society. Always independently published, reader-supported, and free to read.