Alex
@blangry.bsky.social
Generalist civic technologist (& final year DPhil). Principal consultant. Norwich with a cargo bike. Greyhound pictures extra.
A thing I do like is when people type as they speak.
February 14, 2026 at 12:43 PM
A thing I do like is when people type as they speak.
Reposted by Alex
This survey was among the worst I've seen for loaded questions. Lots of "do you support x" without placing in continuum of context and some that seemed clearly designed to manufacture the illusion of support ("how great am I from 5-10" sort of thing).
And if you persevere, you will be rewarded with a #FixTheForms special bonus - a double negative so convoluted that it gets its own explanation - agreeing means no and disagreeing means yes. Of course.
February 12, 2026 at 9:42 PM
This survey was among the worst I've seen for loaded questions. Lots of "do you support x" without placing in continuum of context and some that seemed clearly designed to manufacture the illusion of support ("how great am I from 5-10" sort of thing).
This is a prime example of _govern_ don't _follow_. Choosing a product goal and making it happen rather than building what does well in a consultations. Reminds me of the difference between acting on deep UR vs acting on surveys.
From that experience, I take two and a half lessons.
First, a survey of current usage and demand is unlikely to give you a coherent or prioritised picture of what benefits *could* be if data were more accessible.
Better to take a govt goal and work backwards to data that unlocks it.
First, a survey of current usage and demand is unlikely to give you a coherent or prioritised picture of what benefits *could* be if data were more accessible.
Better to take a govt goal and work backwards to data that unlocks it.
February 12, 2026 at 9:13 AM
This is a prime example of _govern_ don't _follow_. Choosing a product goal and making it happen rather than building what does well in a consultations. Reminds me of the difference between acting on deep UR vs acting on surveys.
@duncanjbrown.com Thanks a lot for the talk yesterday, I'm still chewing it over this morning. Have you written bits of it up elsewhere at all?
February 12, 2026 at 9:11 AM
@duncanjbrown.com Thanks a lot for the talk yesterday, I'm still chewing it over this morning. Have you written bits of it up elsewhere at all?
Thinking about the short feedback loop of policy. Breakfast clubs: manifesto commitment to make them free in 2024, by 2026 a pilot in some schools. If you vote for something that's essentially "fund existing capability" then you want it to happen in less time than your kid going through school.
February 11, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Thinking about the short feedback loop of policy. Breakfast clubs: manifesto commitment to make them free in 2024, by 2026 a pilot in some schools. If you vote for something that's essentially "fund existing capability" then you want it to happen in less time than your kid going through school.
Reposted by Alex
I was awake most of the night with a sick toddler and this just went around and around in my brain for the whole night.
How have we let this evil go unchecked.
How have we let this evil go unchecked.
“Four of my children just evaporated,” Badran said, holding back tears. “I looked for them a million times. Not a piece was left. Where did they go?”
There are no words to adequately describe the evil here.
There are no words to adequately describe the evil here.
Israel used weapons in Gaza that made thousands of Palestinians evaporate
US-made thermal weapons burning at 3,500C caused 2,842 people to "evaporate" in Gaza, Al Jazeera investigation finds.
www.aljazeera.com
February 11, 2026 at 10:16 AM
I was awake most of the night with a sick toddler and this just went around and around in my brain for the whole night.
How have we let this evil go unchecked.
How have we let this evil go unchecked.
Why is there only one picture of Chris Wormald? Lad should have got a proper one.
February 11, 2026 at 10:30 AM
Why is there only one picture of Chris Wormald? Lad should have got a proper one.
It's all about quiet Yo La Tengo and designing software asset registers today.
February 11, 2026 at 9:41 AM
It's all about quiet Yo La Tengo and designing software asset registers today.
Always surprises me that there isn't a regular vox-pop feature on the nearby residents of the Manor of Northstead when it gets a new Steward. Feels like a nice magazine piece.
February 11, 2026 at 9:35 AM
Always surprises me that there isn't a regular vox-pop feature on the nearby residents of the Manor of Northstead when it gets a new Steward. Feels like a nice magazine piece.
Cambridge are looking for a Lead Delivery Manager with decent enough pay. www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/lead-de...
Lead Delivery Manager
University Information Services (UIS) is the central engine delivering the digital services, IT infrastructure, business information, and powerful research computing services at the core of the
www.cam.ac.uk
February 10, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Cambridge are looking for a Lead Delivery Manager with decent enough pay. www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/lead-de...
Reposted by Alex
I really dislike exciting soap
opera politics. Even the thought of Nick Robinson getting all sweaty and breathless with speculation makes me long for the luxury of boring days and serious policy proposals and interesting problems and not knowing the names of SpAds.
opera politics. Even the thought of Nick Robinson getting all sweaty and breathless with speculation makes me long for the luxury of boring days and serious policy proposals and interesting problems and not knowing the names of SpAds.
February 10, 2026 at 7:43 AM
I really dislike exciting soap
opera politics. Even the thought of Nick Robinson getting all sweaty and breathless with speculation makes me long for the luxury of boring days and serious policy proposals and interesting problems and not knowing the names of SpAds.
opera politics. Even the thought of Nick Robinson getting all sweaty and breathless with speculation makes me long for the luxury of boring days and serious policy proposals and interesting problems and not knowing the names of SpAds.
Reposted by Alex
This website has everything...
February 9, 2026 at 10:48 AM
This website has everything...
I'm just amazed how close we stare to the Archers fans.
February 9, 2026 at 9:16 AM
I'm just amazed how close we stare to the Archers fans.
Hang on, the dogs in Bluey eat grapes with their cheese? Well that's ruined my immersion.
February 8, 2026 at 10:08 AM
Hang on, the dogs in Bluey eat grapes with their cheese? Well that's ruined my immersion.
Bike people - if your recently replaced gears were doing this weird little curling up thing on the secondary cog thing, what words would you be googling to work out how to fix it?
February 7, 2026 at 7:32 PM
Bike people - if your recently replaced gears were doing this weird little curling up thing on the secondary cog thing, what words would you be googling to work out how to fix it?
It's been at least two months since the last time I had films back. So here are some films back.
February 7, 2026 at 2:57 PM
It's been at least two months since the last time I had films back. So here are some films back.
Which one of you? Own up.
Senior Developer in the Civil Service. I always feel unmotivated and depressed this time of year, so to make myself feel better at work I draw small pixel football kits in MS Paint, like I did when I was a kid.
February 6, 2026 at 4:21 PM
Which one of you? Own up.
Reposted by Alex
"Notre Dame only cost €600m to refurbish, how can Parliament cost so much?"
Notre Dame is 1/19th the floor area of the Palace of Westminster. If you scale that cost up by 19 times and add inflation it makes the Parliament renovation look pretty good value.
Notre Dame is 1/19th the floor area of the Palace of Westminster. If you scale that cost up by 19 times and add inflation it makes the Parliament renovation look pretty good value.
February 6, 2026 at 1:26 PM
"Notre Dame only cost €600m to refurbish, how can Parliament cost so much?"
Notre Dame is 1/19th the floor area of the Palace of Westminster. If you scale that cost up by 19 times and add inflation it makes the Parliament renovation look pretty good value.
Notre Dame is 1/19th the floor area of the Palace of Westminster. If you scale that cost up by 19 times and add inflation it makes the Parliament renovation look pretty good value.
I did a microsite for Parliament for the remove the asbestos/stop sinking programme in 2011. You can only kick the can so far. As with so many things in UK politics, you have to decide that you are changing not reforming. Big change is good, possible, and potentially polls poorly before it starts.
Ah, it's the annual "hair shirts for MPs will make them work better" season
February 6, 2026 at 12:56 PM
I did a microsite for Parliament for the remove the asbestos/stop sinking programme in 2011. You can only kick the can so far. As with so many things in UK politics, you have to decide that you are changing not reforming. Big change is good, possible, and potentially polls poorly before it starts.
Real proliferation of backpfeifengesichten in the news this week.
February 5, 2026 at 9:43 PM
Real proliferation of backpfeifengesichten in the news this week.
Ah, it's the annual "hair shirts for MPs will make them work better" season
February 5, 2026 at 6:50 PM
Ah, it's the annual "hair shirts for MPs will make them work better" season
Reposted by Alex
it's really not over yet
February 5, 2026 at 1:28 PM
it's really not over yet
Reposted by Alex
