Episodi

  • Cookies: How Ad Platforms Steal Your Mind (Part 2)

    Cookies: How Ad Platforms Steal Your Mind (Part 2)
    Jan 21 2026
    The web didn't have to be this way. Friend-of-the-pod CJ Horton joins us for a look at cookies: the completely reasonable web protocol that became host to the parasitic ad industry.References:"Lou Montulli: Sexiest Internet Mogul." People. 15 November 1999.https://adtech.org/best-demand-side-platforms/https://www.wsj.com/articles/federal-agencies-use-cellphone-location-data-for-immigration-enforcement-11581078600http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/07/undeletable-cookie/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/04/google-delays-third-party-cookie-death-again-now-scheduled-for-2025/https://arxiv.org/abs/cs/0105018https://blog.chromium.org/2020/04/temporarily-rolling-back-samesite.htmlhttps://blog.google/products/ads/next-steps-transparency-choice-control/https://blog.google/products/chrome/building-a-more-private-web/https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc2109https://digiday.com/uk/all-you-need-to-know-about-europes-data-privacy-regulations/https://github.com/w3c/web-advertising#ideas-and-proposals-links-outside-this-repohttps://github.com/w3c/web-advertising/blob/main/OnlineAdvertisingParticipants.mdhttps://github.com/w3c/web-advertising/blob/main/rtb-use-case.mdhttps://github.com/w3c/web-advertising/blob/main/understanding-privacy-advocates.mdhttps://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/investing-in-mobile-future-with-admob.htmlhttps://help.imdb.com/article/imdb/general-information/why-should-i-register-on-imdb/GHB62T7USTMYMCDC?ref_=helpart_nav_3#https://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/ietf-http-wg/1995OctDec/0458.htmlhttps://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/ietf-http-wg/1995OctDec/0501.htmlhttps://privacysandbox.google.com/blog/privacy-sandbox-next-stepshttps://privacysandbox.google.com/cookies/storage-access-apihttps://privacysandbox.google.com/protections/privacy-budgethttps://safety.google/safety/ads-data/https://scholarship.law.vanderbilt.edu/jetlaw/vol1/iss1/4/https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/9560818?hl=enhttps://techcrunch.com/2009/11/09/google-acquires-admob/https://thehistoryoftheweb.com/your-privacy-policy-doesnt-mean-a-thing-regulating-privacy-on-the-web/https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc2965https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6265https://w3cping.github.io/privacy-threat-model/https://web.archive.org/web/19991127212505/http://www.networkadvertising.org/https://web.archive.org/web/20000815060418/http://www.cookiecentral.com/faq/#2.3https://web.archive.org/web/20090627105722/http://www.cookiecentral.com/faq/#2.3https://web.archive.org/web/20100830143434/http://www.ecommerce-guide.com/article.php/3895466https://web.archive.org/web/20110530020518/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/25/microsoft-security-idUSN2517397120110525https://web.archive.org/web/20120119215316/http://www.ecommerce-guide.com/article.php/3877261https://web.archive.org/web/20131209210402/http://news.cnet.com/8301-10789_3-9918582-57.htmlhttps://web.archive.org/web/20141127185609/http://www.computerworld.com/article/2510494/data-privacy/microsoft-disables--supercookies--used-on-msn-com-visitors.htmlhttps://web.archive.org/web/20170906230653/http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/M/magic-cookie.htmlhttps://webkit.org/blog/10218/full-third-party-cookie-blocking-and-more/https://webkit.org/blog/9661/preventing-tracking-prevention-tracking/https://www.baekdal.com/thoughts/the-original-cookie-specification-from-1997-was-gdpr-compliant/https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/computer-internet/computer-use-1984-2009.htmlhttps://www.cnet.com/news/privacy/google-finds-apple-safari-anti-tracking-feature-actually-enabled-tracking/
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    1 ora e 19 min
  • Cookies: How Ad Platforms Steal Your Mind (Part 1)

    Cookies: How Ad Platforms Steal Your Mind (Part 1)
    Jan 14 2026
    The web didn't have to be this way. Friend-of-the-pod CJ Horton joins us for a look at cookies: the completely reasonable web protocol that became host to the parasitic ad industry.References:"Lou Montulli: Sexiest Internet Mogul." People. 15 November 1999.https://adtech.org/best-demand-side-platforms/https://www.wsj.com/articles/federal-agencies-use-cellphone-location-data-for-immigration-enforcement-11581078600http://www.wired.com/epicenter/2011/07/undeletable-cookie/https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2024/04/google-delays-third-party-cookie-death-again-now-scheduled-for-2025/https://arxiv.org/abs/cs/0105018https://blog.chromium.org/2020/04/temporarily-rolling-back-samesite.htmlhttps://blog.google/products/ads/next-steps-transparency-choice-control/https://blog.google/products/chrome/building-a-more-private-web/https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/rfc2109https://digiday.com/uk/all-you-need-to-know-about-europes-data-privacy-regulations/https://github.com/w3c/web-advertising#ideas-and-proposals-links-outside-this-repohttps://github.com/w3c/web-advertising/blob/main/OnlineAdvertisingParticipants.mdhttps://github.com/w3c/web-advertising/blob/main/rtb-use-case.mdhttps://github.com/w3c/web-advertising/blob/main/understanding-privacy-advocates.mdhttps://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/investing-in-mobile-future-with-admob.htmlhttps://help.imdb.com/article/imdb/general-information/why-should-i-register-on-imdb/GHB62T7USTMYMCDC?ref_=helpart_nav_3#https://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/ietf-http-wg/1995OctDec/0458.htmlhttps://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/ietf-http-wg/1995OctDec/0501.htmlhttps://privacysandbox.google.com/blog/privacy-sandbox-next-stepshttps://privacysandbox.google.com/cookies/storage-access-apihttps://privacysandbox.google.com/protections/privacy-budgethttps://safety.google/safety/ads-data/https://scholarship.law.vanderbilt.edu/jetlaw/vol1/iss1/4/https://support.google.com/adsense/answer/9560818?hl=enhttps://techcrunch.com/2009/11/09/google-acquires-admob/https://thehistoryoftheweb.com/your-privacy-policy-doesnt-mean-a-thing-regulating-privacy-on-the-web/https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc2965https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc6265https://w3cping.github.io/privacy-threat-model/https://web.archive.org/web/19991127212505/http://www.networkadvertising.org/https://web.archive.org/web/20000815060418/http://www.cookiecentral.com/faq/#2.3https://web.archive.org/web/20090627105722/http://www.cookiecentral.com/faq/#2.3https://web.archive.org/web/20100830143434/http://www.ecommerce-guide.com/article.php/3895466https://web.archive.org/web/20110530020518/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/25/microsoft-security-idUSN2517397120110525https://web.archive.org/web/20120119215316/http://www.ecommerce-guide.com/article.php/3877261https://web.archive.org/web/20131209210402/http://news.cnet.com/8301-10789_3-9918582-57.htmlhttps://web.archive.org/web/20141127185609/http://www.computerworld.com/article/2510494/data-privacy/microsoft-disables--supercookies--used-on-msn-com-visitors.htmlhttps://web.archive.org/web/20170906230653/http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/M/magic-cookie.htmlhttps://webkit.org/blog/10218/full-third-party-cookie-blocking-and-more/https://webkit.org/blog/9661/preventing-tracking-prevention-tracking/https://www.baekdal.com/thoughts/the-original-cookie-specification-from-1997-was-gdpr-compliant/https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/computer-internet/computer-use-1984-2009.htmlhttps://www.cnet.com/news/privacy/google-finds-apple-safari-anti-tracking-feature-actually-enabled-tracking/
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    1 ora e 8 min
  • Kalshi: the Betting App that's Helping to Destroy Democracy

    Kalshi: the Betting App that's Helping to Destroy Democracy
    Jan 7 2026
    Kalshi: is it "the first federally regulated prediction market," or just a shittier FanDuel? Join me and friend-of-the-pod Jeff Bonhag to learn:What modern science has in common with rolling fox knucklesHow Kalshi DOSed the Commodity Futures Trading CommissionWhy Donald Trump Jr is so interested in making prediction markets a thingReferences:https://blockworks.co/podcast/empire/fbd446de-a7e3-11f0-8d81-6380135dcd93 https://businesslawreview.uchicago.edu/print-archive/event-contracts-are-step-too-far-derivatives-regulation https://royalsocietypublishing.org/rspb/article-abstract/281/1784/20133305/77153/Decision-accuracy-in-complex-environments-is-often https://comments.cftc.gov/PublicComments/ViewComment.aspx?id=70788https://epicwins.io/2025/10/12/kalshi-raises-300m-and-expands-to-over-140-countries/ https://frontofficesports.com/kalshi-hit-with-nationwide-class-action-over-illegal-sports-betting/ https://gamblingharm.org/kalshi-college-ambassadors-program/ https://german.yale.edu/sites/default/files/hayek_-_the_use_of_knowledge_in_society.pdf https://mickbransfield.com/2025/08/11/summary-of-legal-actions-involving-kalshis-sports-event-contracts/https://news.kalshi.com/p/kalshi-cnn-prediction-market-partnership https://nexteventhorizon.substack.com/p/kalshi-and-tareks-not-so-excellent-pr-adventure https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/empire/id1554930038?i=1000731608313 https://readwrite.com/kalshi-sued-massachusetts-illegal-sports-gambling/ https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2016/07/why-political-betting-markets-are-failing.html https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cadc.41256/gov.uscourts.cadc.41256.1208669739.0.pdf https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/2023/11/kalshi-sues-cftc-over-election-betting-bid-denial-00124658 https://time.com/7095708/financial-scam-political-prediction-election/ https://users.wfu.edu/strumpks/papers/JEP_2004.pdf https://web.stanford.edu/~csimoiu/doc/wisdom-of-crowds.pdf https://www.axios.com/2024/04/10/us-legal-betting-prediction-market-events-kalshi https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2022-05-26/kalshi-s-stock-market-of-the-world-let-s-you-bet-on-anything https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-02/kalshi-s-top-lawyer-quits-to-become-leader-of-doge-team-at-sec https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-20/kalshi-pulls-announcement-of-xai-tie-up-hours-after-touting-deal https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-04-20/hedge-funds-are-wooed-by-startup-to-bet-millions-on-real-events https://www.cnbc.com/2021/12/29/this-new-exchange-lets-investors-vote-yes-or-no-on-major-events-to-hedge-their-portfolios.html https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/09/kalshi-expands-election-betting-options-cftc-complains.html https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/13/kalshi-names-donald-trump-jr-as-strategic-advisor-to-prediction-market-firm.html https://www.cnbc.com/2025/12/04/cnbc-and-kalshi-strike-exclusive-partnership.html https://www.cnbc.com/video/2025/12/04/on-kalshi-there-is-no-house-anybody-can-win-says-ceo-tarek-mansour.html https://www.covers.com/industry/kalshi-faces-class-action-over-alleged-unlicensed-sports-betting-nov-28-2025 https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/data-centers-and-water-consumption https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2022/02/19/will-prediction-markets-live-up-to-the-hype https://www.fastcompany.com/91399289/kalshi-prediction-markets-sports-gambling https://www.forbes.com/sites/aliciapark/2025/12/02/how-kalshis-luana-lopes-lara-cofounder-went-from-professional-ballerina-to-worlds-youngest-self-made-woman-billionaire/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffkauflin/2021/12/01/from-fintechs-crypto-top-...
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    1 ora e 25 min
  • Scantron: the Little Green Sheet that Ruined Education

    Scantron: the Little Green Sheet that Ruined Education
    Dec 31 2025

    This week we're joined by Brandon Romano to learn about Scantron: the company that made ubiquitous standardized testing possible. Find out:

    • How standardized tests were graded in the 1500s (hint: it involved throwing corpses over walls)
    • Why the hideous pseudoscience of eugenics is weirdly load-bearing for the SAT
    • How Scantron uses infrared light to transmute those little number-2 pencil marks into college rejection letters

    References:

    • https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2023/09/schools-standardized-testing-assessment-ai-future/675366/
    • https://blog.collegeboard.org/everything-you-need-know-about-digital-sat
    • https://edscoop.com/scantron-how-colleges-handle-old-unwanted-tech/
    • https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2016/12/scantron-technology-creates-more-efficient-testing
    • https://gizmodo.com/5908833/the-birth-of-scantrons-the-bane-of-standardized-testing
    • https://patents.google.com/patent/US3050248A/en
    • https://patents.google.com/patent/US3900961A/en
    • https://scantron.com/ScanToolsPlus/Help/v8/LINK/content/apicontent/overview/scanner_technology_overview.htm
    • https://web.archive.org/web/20120403020015/http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/ibm100/us/en/icons/testscore/
    • https://www.americanprogress.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2014/10/LazarinOvertestingReport.pdf
    • https://www.cxomagazine.com/reimagining-data-intelligence-through-human-centered-innovation-and-ethical-ai/
    • https://www.edutopia.org/blog/dark-history-of-multiple-choice-ainissa-ramirez
    • https://www.ipmetrics.net/blog/litigation/case-law/scantron-patent-marking/
    • https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/latimes/name/william-sanders-obituary?id=17291417
    • https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/orangecounty/name/michael-sokolski-obituary?id=8415721&fhid=3071
    • https://www.newspapers.com/image/402857246/?match=1&terms=Scantron
    • https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/s/BdPM5tl48r
    • https://www.reddit.com/r/fgcu/comments/320qqk/whats_up_with_having_to_buy_our_own_scantron/
    • https://www.scantron.com/blog/meet-mary-michael-sellers/
    • https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300026399/chinas-examination-hell/
    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85gAfiJGpVM
    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqRdrXUaESg
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    1 ora e 16 min
  • Shazam (Part 2)

    Shazam (Part 2)
    Dec 17 2025

    This week and last, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Rachel Kiel to talk about Shazam: the massive data analytics platform that occasionally tells you the names of songs. Find out:

    • How they use computers to turn all your favorite songs into constellations
    • What other things you can Shazam, if you're not a music person
    • What Shazam likes to do in its spare time, when you think it's not listening anymore

    References:

    • https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/11/24/shazam-for-ios-will-listen-to-songs-for-longer-before-giving-up
    • https://appleinsider.com/articles/24/05/22/shazam-can-now-run-in-the-background-with-live-activities
    • https://daniellenewnham.medium.com/fostering-innovation-and-choosing-the-right-founding-team-6287f7eed9f
    • https://d3.harvard.edu/platform-digit/submission/shazam-predictive-analysis-for-the-music-industry/
    • https://patents.justia.com/inventor/avery-li-chun-wang
    • https://profwurzer.com/shazams-ip-fortress-layered-protection-built-a-billion-dollar-app/
    • http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/12/the-shazam-effect/382237/
    • https://venturebeat.com/social/shazam-american-idol/
    • https://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/14/shazam-names-that-tune-drawing-in-money-and-users.html
    • https://www.computerweekly.com/news/450409644/How-Shazam-handles-its-data-reserves
    • https://www.ee.columbia.edu/~dpwe/papers/Wang03-shazam.pdf
    • https://www.linkedin.com/in/averywang08/
    • https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/s/uX3Gjl7FUm
    • https://www.seti.org/people/avery-wang/
    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3hNkU03sLA
    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0m-G6iwrCw
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    52 min
  • Shazam (Part 1)

    Shazam (Part 1)
    Dec 10 2025

    This week and next, I'm joined by singer-songwriter Rachel Kiel to talk about Shazam: the massive data analytics platform that occasionally tells you the names of songs. Find out:

    • How they use computers to turn all your favorite songs into constellations
    • What other things you can Shazam, if you're not a music person
    • What Shazam likes to do in its spare time, when you think it's not listening anymore

    References:

    • https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/11/24/shazam-for-ios-will-listen-to-songs-for-longer-before-giving-up
    • https://appleinsider.com/articles/24/05/22/shazam-can-now-run-in-the-background-with-live-activities
    • https://daniellenewnham.medium.com/fostering-innovation-and-choosing-the-right-founding-team-6287f7eed9f
    • https://d3.harvard.edu/platform-digit/submission/shazam-predictive-analysis-for-the-music-industry/
    • https://patents.justia.com/inventor/avery-li-chun-wang
    • https://profwurzer.com/shazams-ip-fortress-layered-protection-built-a-billion-dollar-app/
    • http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/12/the-shazam-effect/382237/
    • https://venturebeat.com/social/shazam-american-idol/
    • https://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/14/shazam-names-that-tune-drawing-in-money-and-users.html
    • https://www.computerweekly.com/news/450409644/How-Shazam-handles-its-data-reserves
    • https://www.ee.columbia.edu/~dpwe/papers/Wang03-shazam.pdf
    • https://www.linkedin.com/in/averywang08/
    • https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/s/uX3Gjl7FUm
    • https://www.seti.org/people/avery-wang/
    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3hNkU03sLA
    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0m-G6iwrCw
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    1 ora e 1 min
  • Clippy

    Clippy
    Dec 3 2025

    It looks like you're trying to listen to a podcast. Would you like some help with that? Join me and my guest Dana Vannen Anderson for the bizarre and frequently cringe story of Clippy, the paperclip that us helped write a thousand letters. Find out:

    • Where we got the notion that your computer should act like a person
    • Why Microsoft ditched the idea of Clippy ever shutting the fuck up
    • What celebrated actor brought the paperclip to life for Office XP's mortifying launch campaign

    References:

    • https://arxiv.org/pdf/1301.7385
    • https://jesse.cafe/blog/packard-bell-navigator/
    • https://guidebookgallery.org/tutorials/packardbellnavigator39/gettingstarted
    • https://web.archive.org/web/20110504005120/https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2008/04/-quot-clippy-quot-update-now-with-organizational-anthropology/8006/
    • https://web.archive.org/web/20110124023627/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/chris_pratley/archive/2004/01/31/65479.aspx
    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHgzgbLwhKM#t=1m41s
    • https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/nov/07/chatgpt-lawsuit-suicide-coach
    • https://web.archive.org/web/20070212204645/http://lis.dickinson.edu/Technology/Training/Tutorials/MsOffice/assistant.htm
    • https://web.archive.org/web/20010812061222/http://www.microsoft.com/office/clippy/
    • https://web.archive.org/web/20190214194638/https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/techtalk/2005/12/16/pm-at-microsoft/
    • https://web.archive.org/web/20121024125147/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1001-255671.html
    • https://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-city-life/2022/08/origin-story-of-clippy-the-microsoft-office-assistant
    • https://magnus919.com/2025/05/the-rise-and-fall-of-clippy-from-microsofts-bold-vision-to-internet-legend/
    • https://spir.aoir.org/ojs/index.php/spir/article/view/10923/9596
    • https://www.newspapers.com/image/1143853682/
    • https://www.newspapers.com/image/295620970/
    • https://www.newspapers.com/image/770293367/
    • https://www.newspapers.com/image/658114957/
    • https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/2001-05-03-clippy-campaign.htm
    • https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/191666.191703
    • https://archive.org/details/g4tv.com-video4080
    • https://hardcoresoftware.learningbyshipping.com/p/042-clippy-the-fcking-clown
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    1 ora e 20 min
  • Washing machines

    Washing machines
    Nov 19 2025

    Come with me, and you'll be, in a world of squeezing/agitation! This week, Rit Breisler and I discuss washing machines. Learn:

    • What fluid the ancient Romans used instead of detergent (hint: you're not gonna like it)
    • What your washing machine's onboard computer is for (hint: computers don't wash clothes)
    • Why washing machines have gotten so much more efficient in the last half century (hint: it's not the smartphone apps)

    References:

    • https://eaglesanddragonspublishing.com/ancient-everyday-pee-and-laundry-in-the-roman-world/
    • https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/washing-machines-vintage-photos/
    • https://patents.google.com/patent/US966677A/en
    • https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/374286/degrowth-economic-growth-washing-machines-electricity-global-poverty
    • https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-behind-the-bastards-29236323/episode/part-one-how-the-catholic-church-84227953/
    • https://www.iheart.com/podcast/105-behind-the-bastards-29236323/episode/part-two-how-the-catholic-church-84310436/
    • https://appliance-standards.org/blog/new-spin-clothes-washer-efficiency-coming-january-2018
    • https://home.howstuffworks.com/washer7.htm
    • https://automaticwasher.org/threads/when-did-ge-start-using-electronics.62935/
    • https://www.embedded.com/the-role-of-mcus-and-psocs-in-making-home-appliances-smarter/
    • http://www.oldandinteresting.com/history-of-washing-clothes.aspx
    • https://www.encyclopedia.com/science-and-technology/technology/technology-terms-and-concepts/washing-machine#2896500105
    • https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/1862_London_Exhibition:_Catalogue:_Class_VIII.:_Richard_Lansdale
    • https://patents.google.com/patent/US921195
    • https://patents.google.com/patent/US2165884
    • https://web.archive.org/web/20130523165728/http://gogd.tjs-labs.com/show-picture?id=1129064419
    • https://ifdesign.com/en/winner-ranking/project/national-na-v81/2264
    • https://www.whitegoodshelp.co.uk/how-long-should-a-washing-machine-last/
    • https://www.researchgate.net/publication/225802892_Electricity_and_water_consumption_for_laundry_washing_by_washing_machine_worldwide
    • https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090312150735.htm
    • https://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_the_magic_washing_machine
    • https://academic.oup.com/book/10245
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