alxblk
Curation and opinion on innovation, technology and creativity
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Fourteen
Our dog turns fourteen. A day trip to the North Norfolk coast was the only appropriate way to celebrate on an unexpectedly warm and sunny day.
Software
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First Aid Vibe
Vibe coding is democratising software — but at what cost? From GDPR fines to AI-exposed vulnerabilities, building without understanding creates real risk. Some suggestions for non-technical 'developers' before they ship.
Views from my kitchen sink
Inspired by Piet Oudolf's philosophy of naturalistic, resilient landscapes, I redesigned the view from my kitchen window and set myself the minor creative challenge of photographing it through that frame across the seasons.
Science
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We're going to the f'n moon!
It's hard not to be drawn into the orbit of the Artemis II mission. Only 66 years separated Kitty Hawk from the Sea of Tranquility — man reached the Moon with less computing power than the device you're reading this on.
Authentic Focaccia
A same-day focaccia recipe with no preferment, trading some flavour complexity for convenience.
Snow to go...
Unexpected snow in England provided for unexpected photo opportunities.
Martin Parr
Everyone has an opinion on Parr. Much of the negativity feels reductive. His work is intentional, using irony and discomfort to generate discourse. Love him or loathe him, his influence, advocacy, and patronage of photography are undeniable—and that is how he should be remembered.
Society
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A week of awards
The Nobel Prize’s integrity is a reminder that excellence still prevails over politics. Amid funding cuts and cynicism, the MacArthur Fellows highlight America’s diversity and brilliance - an antidote to the relentless noise and despair of the news cycle.