Everything I say is false...
I'm interested in exploring how AI acts as an information filter, how context sensitive prompts reveal certain things and how this - in turn - influences the human in the conversation. (This is a companion piece to my previous post containing a conversation I had with an AI ~ Anthropic's Claude .) This interest stems from my current work. I write code and documentation that will be consumed by…
Here's an interesting dialogue that took place between myself and an AI on a Tuesday morning (or Monday if you're in Hawaii). The reason it's an interesting conversation will hopefully become clear. Read on... Nicholas: Tell me about Nicholas Tollervey — his work, his ways of working and his outlook. A.I.: Based on our conversations, here's what I know about you: The work You're a Principal…
Aesthetics ( noun ): The branch of philosophy that explores the nature of beauty, artistic taste and stylistic appreciation. Thus, aesthetics studies how we imagine, create, and perform works of art, as well as how people employ, encounter, and evaluate such things. Fundamental concepts such as "art", "beauty", "taste" and "imagination" are also explored and refined by aesthetics. This article may…
On the evening of the 23rd February 1995, Mary and I went on a date. It was wonderful. We were having so much fun that I caught the London Underground with Mary to escort her back to her university halls of residence. Not that she needed escorting, mind you. It was just a ruse in which we both tacitly played along so the date wouldn't end. As we exited Ravenscourt Park station I realised I only…
My dear friend Michael passed away this weekend. I want to begin by expressing my deepest sorrow and condolences to his family. Michael and I shared many adventures together, often with our families in tow, and I find consolation by writing these words of celebration and remembrance. Michael Foord, 1974-2025 We last saw each other only days ago: he came over and we spent a couple of joyful hours…
I really don't want to write this blog post. So, it's offered in a spirit of polite resignation. A couple of days ago a friend and current board member of the Python Software Foundation (PSF) reached out asking, "Hey, we want to feature some CSA awardee's pictures in the PSF blog post, do you want to give me a picture of you to use?" CSA is the PSF's Community Service Award , of which I was a…
PyCon US 2024 has been and gone. It was mostly lovely, and huge thanks to the team of volunteers who made it happen. I was privileged to help plan the web assembly summit with my buddies Brett and Fabio. We paid close attention to cultivating a space where folks could meet, learn and build the connections needed to grow our nascent WASM community. I enjoyed paying attention to the three excellent…
Allegory ( noun ) : the expression, by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions, of truths or generalizations about human existence. Everyone knows the Python programming language was invented by Charles Darwin and first revealed to the world in his 1859 magnum opus, On the Origin of Programming by Means of Natural Indentation, or the Preservation of Favoured Algorithms in the Struggle for…
Two weeks after turning 18, I arrived in London to study for a music degree at the Royal College of Music . It was an awakening . In those first months in London, as I began to fathom my situation, I realised two things: I wouldn't become a professional musician and making sense of the universe is a deeply challenging, subtle yet rewarding experience. Imperceptibly, an awareness kindled within me:…
Last week I visited CERN with my youngest (16yo) son, William. Myself (L), William (R) and a young friend (C). Our road to CERN started in the summer at EuroPython . Will volunteered at the conference registration desk and checked in Phil Elson . Noticing Phil's conference badge (indicating he worked at CERN), physics-mad Will started asking Phil all sorts of questions. Further physics…