Before MYTHOS, SATAN: a 1990s Software Satanic Panic
In 1995 an app called 'SATAN' could find software vulnerabilities automatically, when its creators announced a public release panic ensued.
Pessimists Archive Newsletter
Fears about old things when they were new
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New York Once Banned Free Legal Advice Over Radio
Before NYC moved to ban AI legal advice, it moved to ban legal advice over radio.
New Year's Resolutions of the Past: Vices That Became Virtues
Virtues we now aspire to were once habits people vowed to quit
When Ozzy Osborne Survived Crucifixion
Ozzy Osborne died a saint - but was once considered a surrogate of Satan, if not the anti-christ himself.
Most Americans Opposed the Moon Landing
July 20th, 2025 marks the 56th anniversary of the moon landing.
The Forgotten War on the Walkman
The Sony Walkman is now iconic of the 1980s, eliciting nostalgia for the ‘good old days’ of owning music, rather than renting it.
The War on Artificial Ice
Before artificial meat was attacked as ‘unnatural’ by incumbents, artificial ice was also.
Audio Version: Thinking Different is Never Popular (at First)
A podcast version of our most recent post using NotebookLM - we’ve vetted for mistakes/misquotes and errors.
Thinking Different is Never Popular (at First)
“Think Different” is Apple’s iconic motto, capturing the essence of what made it one of the world’s most beloved brands—often overlooked is how much criticism Apple often faces for daring to go against the grain…
Thomas Jefferson Hated Kids Reading Novels
Over two hundred years ago - in 1818 - Thomas Jefferson wrote a letter in which he communicated his distaste for ‘kids these days’ reading too many novels…