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Like many people I bought a Nintendo Switch when it was released in 2017. A year or so after its release people started noticing that the joysticks on the Joy-Con controllers suffered from controller drift. After public backlash Nintendo started a free repair program: send in your joy-cons and they will replace the joysticks. I have done this and it works, but it is annoying to lose them for a couple weeks. Now a little known company has a solution.

In November I went to Bono’s Broadway-esque book talk (more of a show) and started reading Surrender. Clocking in at over 500 pages it is a long book that is a series of shorter stories spanning Bono’s life. Bono takes us on a time machine tour of moments ranging from the formation of U2 to dining with the Obamas in the White house. Where many autobiographies can be antiseptic, Surrender has grit and honesty.

• Alphabet cuts 12,000 jobs. Working in tech, and having many friends that work in tech, LinkedIn has become the most depressing social network.
• Selling Houses While Black chronicles the challenges faced by Black real estate agents.
• Scientists made a major breakthrough in producing hydrogen fuel from solar power. Neat.
• The Smithsonian has a large collection of images they are offering as open access.
• PAX East still has badges for sale. This celebration of gaming has always been one o my favorite events. Pre-COVID it used to sell out on release day. I guess people really do not like masks.
• The Computer History Museum is offering the Apple Lisa source code for free download.
• Rest in Peace Tweetbot.

Wikimedia Foundation announced the release of a Wikipedia redesign this week. I was surprised because I do not think I have seen the Wikipedia design change in many years. Take a look and make a contribution after you read something interesting.

Among all the software companies Apple has done a lot to improve the accessibility of computer systems. By accessibility I typically mean the ability of the computer to use a screen reader or other adaptive features to present an interface to humans. As complexity of web technologies has exploded, the compatibility of the resulting products with screen readers has declined, leading to a large group of folks rightfully asking “WTF?”