Friday links for March 27th 2026
Another batch of fresh Friday links.
1. Iran built a vast camera network to control dissent. Israel turned it into a targeting tool
A clear demonstration of the core issue with data collection. It’s an asset until it becomes a vulnerability. Every database you build is a future liability in the wrong hands.
Neal Stephenson, who coined the term “Metaverse” in his 1992 novel Snow Crash, reflects on the death of its unsanctioned Facebook-created counterpart. His take on VR headsets pretty much matches my view, they’re a dead-end technology.
Exactly what you need for your next meeting or social media post. A translation tool that translates from standard language to that mysterious lingo all the LinkedIn influencers speak.
4. Web Rewind
A nostalgic journey through the history of the internet made by the people behind the Opera browser. Remember Flash? It’s got a very similar vibe to the old flash sites and games. You need to explore to figure out how it works.
5. Unstream
A Mac app that detects what you’re listening to on Apple Music, Spotify, or other services, and shows you better ways to support these artists (streaming definitely doesn’t do that). Like buying directly on Bandcamp or supporting them via Patreon.
Have a quality weekend!
Colin