264. Computers, Software, and Skookum Tech

2026-01-30

Software companies are keen to Move Fast & Break Things™, & computers are eager to comply, but users want reliable, bulletproof, “skookum” devices.

Audio Version MP3

  1. 1,000 systems pwned in Romanian Waters ransomware attack. https://www.theregister.com/2025/12/22/around_1000_systems_compromised_in/ (2025).
  2. Computers rarely go wrong, but computer systems often do. The Guardian (2024).
  3. Ramnath, R., Kinnear, N., Chowdhury, S. & Hyatt, T. Interacting with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay When Driving: The Effect on Driver Performance. https://trl.co.uk/publications/interacting-with-android-auto-and-apple-carplay-when-driving (2020)
  4. Doctorow, C. Pluralistic: Code is a liability (not an asset) (06 Jan 2026) – Pluralistic: Daily links from Cory Doctorow. https://pluralistic.net/2026/01/06/1000x-liability/ (2025).
  5. Blow, J. Preventing the Collapse of Civilization / Jonathan Blow (Thekla, Inc). (2019).
  6. Reid, C. Rejoice! Carmakers Are Embracing Physical Buttons Again. Wired (2025).
  7. Gabriel, R. P. Rise of Worse Is Better. https://dreamsongs.com/RiseOfWorseIsBetter.html.
  8. Wikipedia. Skookum. Wikipedia (2025).
  9. Kohniac. Why are computers still almost always unstable? r/AskComputerScience https://www.reddit.com/r/AskComputerScience/comments/1ci2y49/why_are_computers_still_almost_always_unstable/ (2024).

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