*Australia's offshore asylum centres have been a cruel disaster. They must not be replicated by the UK.*

Cory Doctorow: we should break up monopolies in lots of fields.

And not only those involved in digital activities. Many fields are too concentrated now in the US: some that come to my mind instantly include pesticides, seeds, meat, pharmacies, book publishing, and airlines.

Every area needs to have many competitors, or become a regulated monopoly and perhaps not for profit.

My tax scheme could be part of the solution.

The 1880s counterpart to today's Amazon was the railroads: a monopoly of intermediation which could exploit producers and end-users. One of the anti-monopoly parties had this song.

From now on, New York City will fine people up to a thousand dollars if they refuse to accept a gratis mask and wear it.

The article says "aggressively", but I think that starting with the offer makes it a rather kind and gentle manner of enforcement: "Please let us help you do what is needed to stamp out disease."

A Texas sheriff has been charged with destroying video evidence showing how thugs tased Javier Ambler to death.