Daily notes

I’ve just ordered myself a new Mac Mini. Having been working on a fairly clunky Windows all-in-one machine for a few years, am looking forward to getting back on the Mac full time.

I just find the apps available on the Mac to be higher quality and more useful than on Windows, where the experience always seems to fall short somehow.

I’ve long been looking for a decent Evernote replacement. Keep It looks like a potential winner, especially now I am returning to the Mac ecosystem: https://reinventedsoftware.com/keepit/

Is there a more consistently brilliant thing than In Our Time? This one’s about the film director Fritz Lang: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0fy7kcp

I heartily approve of this message: https://twitter.com/katebevan/status/1689587674535940096

“Why I no longer believe in Content Design” https://uxdesign.cc/why-i-no-longer-believe-in-content-design-e71aeb5f060c

I wrote a quick and snarky post about Cipfa’s recent report about blockchain: https://da.vebrig.gs/2023/08/09/cipfa-claims-blockchain-is-a-promising-solution-for-the-public-sector-i-disagree/

“Why does PDF content persist when it sucks so much, and how can you get rid of it?” https://lapope.com/2023/08/07/pdfs-vs-web-pages-whats-better-for-users/

A 17 minute video on web accessibility. Lovely! https://gcs.civilservice.gov.uk/webinars/digital-accessibility-best-practice-essentials-2/

An explainer from some clever people about AI and public services: https://public.digital/2023/08/08/what-public-digital-thinks-about-ai-the-short-read

“Dear Alt-Twitter Designers: It’s about the network!” http://www.zephoria.org/thoughts/archives/2023/07/19/dear-alt-twitter-designers-its-about-the-network.html

“How common platforms deliver brilliant digital services” https://gds.blog.gov.uk/2023/08/08/how-common-platforms-deliver-brilliant-digital-services/

Some intresting points on the political side of tech policy – “Manifesto manifestation” https://blangry.medium.com/manifesto-manifestation-877001398ed0

“Wigan Council and residents win from digital deal – a decade on, a focus on residents’ needs backed by digital efficiency is benefiting Wigan’s local authority and citizens” https://diginomica.com/wigan-council-and-residents-win-digital-deal

How did I not know about this? Emulated Macs going back to the original, all in the browser: https://infinitemac.org/ Fairly pointless, but amazing.

“How to play Mundane Superhero” https://smithery.com/2023/08/03/how-to-play-mundane-superhero/ – looks a fun way to kick off workshops etc.

“Council Spotlight: Stockport’s Family Context tool” https://medium.com/ldcu/council-spotlight-stockports-family-context-tool-5cb0eb3e4e51

“Why Open Source Matters” https://redmonk.com/sogrady/2023/08/03/why-opensource-matters/

This is an extremely important thread for anyone wanting to understand the financial pressures felt across local government (and no, it’s not related to solar farms…) https://twitter.com/JackTShaw/status/1683415430126247936

Following on from my post about where we are with digital and technology in local government, I have been trying to put some thought into an idea around how to make this a bit easier for everyone involved. As is often the case, I am struggling with getting something small and quick done, against the knowledge that it might not be enough. As always I ought to be quaffing some of my agile mindset kool-aid, but it’s hard.

A thought is also very much in my mind: why is it me doing this? It really ought to be somebody’s job, rather than the hobby of a bloke in Spalding.

I have loved the album ‘original’ of this song since I first heard it, but when I came across this version, quite recently, I was absolutely blown away:

Lovely stuff from Simon at Adur & Worthing Councils: “5 Highlights from 5 Years of the Local Digital Declaration” https://medium.com/awc-digital-design/5-highlights-from-5-years-of-the-local-digital-declaration-f01cb2986103

Another good thread, this time on how we should be thinking about stuff published in ‘private’ online work networks: https://twitter.com/sharonodea/status/1686673530878840832

This is quite the story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotland-66384327