Brutkey

Ernie Smith
@ernie@writing.exchange

“&udm=14” is the Konami code of the Enshittification era

Ernie Smith
@ernie@writing.exchange

Gonna be straight up with y’all. I share paywalled links sometimes. I may not gift link them, or even call it out.

I’m a journalist and I want to support journalism. If I share something that’s intriguing enough for you to support a journalist, awesome.

Support my field.

Ernie Smith
@ernie@writing.exchange

Hey all, just a heads-up that starting Monday, I am officially a full-time #freelancer. If you need help with content strategy, or you want a writer who knows how to knock two pieces of verbal flint together, reach out. Cheers. #writing #journalism

Ernie Smith
@ernie@writing.exchange

Here’s my new-ish #introduction for Mastodon:

Hey, I’m Ernie. I’m a writer and journalist and I’m best known for starting the Tedium newsletter. (https://tedium.co). I also run a secondary newsletter called MidRange (https://midrange.tedium.co).

I have run in a lot of circles over the years, but my primary interests are history, obscurities, and tech. I will talk about #politics sometimes—I have a poli-sci degree—but my focus is offbeat stuff.

Ernie Smith
@ernie@writing.exchange

Me, 9am: I wanna get work done, let’s head to the coworking space. Also, let’s bring lunch to save money!
Me, 12pm: *spends 20+ minutes cleaning microwave because lunch exploded in the microwave, killing productivity gains*

Ernie Smith
@ernie@writing.exchange

Kind of impressed that nobody seems to be talking about the Subway sandwich thing over here. That may be the most insane viral video I’ve seen in quite some time.

Ernie Smith
@ernie@writing.exchange

OK, I finally wrote about the story I accidentally helped expose to a large audience.

On AOL and dial-up, and what it means for it to go away.

https://tedium.co/2025/08/11/aol-dial-up-ending-retrospective/

new @tedium@social.tedium.co

https://writing.exchange/@ernie/114996043264907534

Ernie Smith
@ernie@writing.exchange

In lieu of a new AOL piece right now, here are some AOL related pieces from the @tedium@social.tedium.co archives:

A piece on flat-fee internet and how it turned dial-up on its head.

https://tedium.co/2020/04/09/dial-up-internet-access-history/

Ernie Smith
@ernie@writing.exchange

The story about the thousands of people who became volunteer AOL moderators in exchange for free dial-up.

https://tedium.co/2021/07/23/aol-community-leader-volunter-program-history/

Ernie Smith
@ernie@writing.exchange

In lieu of a new AOL piece right now, here are some AOL related pieces from the @tedium@social.tedium.co archives:

A piece on flat-fee internet and how it turned dial-up on its head.

https://tedium.co/2020/04/09/dial-up-internet-access-history/

Ernie Smith
@ernie@writing.exchange

So apparently we are within the last 60 days of dial-up AOL being a thing.

https://help.aol.com/articles/dial-up-internet-to-be-discontinued

ht @mattl@social.coop

Ernie Smith
@ernie@writing.exchange

Online ads. You hate them, they track you, yet they’re still with us. What’s their deal?

A new book out this week, targeted at Google’s dominant, monopolistic role in adtech, proves surprisingly revealing. My review:

https://tedium.co/2025/08/07/ari-paparo-yield-google-antitrust-review/

new @tedium@social.tedium.co

Ernie Smith
@ernie@writing.exchange

Not sure what to make of Tim Cook giving Trump an elaborate desk ornament, so I decided to write fanfic about Gil Amelio.

https://tedium.co/2025/08/06/tim-cook-apple-trump-gift/

new @tedium@social.tedium.co

Ernie Smith
@ernie@writing.exchange

“&udm=14” is the Konami code of the Enshittification era

Ernie Smith
@ernie@writing.exchange

Gonna be straight up with y’all. I share paywalled links sometimes. I may not gift link them, or even call it out.

I’m a journalist and I want to support journalism. If I share something that’s intriguing enough for you to support a journalist, awesome.

Support my field.