Tracey's Blog

Proposal for community-driven, accessible, direct boycotts of fossil fuels

Protest sizes have dwindled. Thunberg continues to post a photo each week, and rarely is she in the company of more than 10 people. I feel silly attending rallies and pretending that this is working. Short overview of problem spaceStrikes and mass gatherings have all had an important role in

collage

Western values are not universal

Western psychology assumes that people seek cognitive consistency, meaning that they avoid mutually conflicting bits of information. This seems to be less the case in East and Southeast Asian countries. — Hofstede, G., Hofstede, G. J., & Minkov, M. (2010). Cultures and Organizations: Software of the Mind, 3rd edition. New York:

opinion

Is democracy overrated? Are liberalism and individualism overrated?

I think that democracy is over-sold. It is excessively romanticised as a panacea; the supposed only suitable alternative to authoritarianism. But defaulting to majority rules is not necessarily the best solution for navigating challenges that we face. The downsides of majority rules — concerns of minorities neglected and this gives rise

cooking

Recreating Emelia Jackson's Pistachio Financier, Mousse and Raspberry Meringue Dessert

I made a slightly modified version of Emelia Jackson's MasterChef Season 12 finale dessert, featuring the flavours of pistachio, raspberry and white chocolate.

cooking

Recreating Martin Benn's Toffee Apple

A reflection on re-creating Martin Benn's spectacular toffee apple and leaves.

opinion

"The Greta effect" may be a wave of inspiration, but it's not without a subconscious personality cult

Fridays for Future appears to have an over-reliance on "personality cults" surrounding particular activists. Part 1 in a series of pieces on Fridays for Future's founder's personality politics & provocation.

opinion

A narrative of "inspiration porn" about autism

Autistic climate activist Greta Thunberg is perhaps getting carried away with her "autism is a superpower" narrative, veering into notions of autistic superiority and repeated cynicism of non-autistic people. Part 2 in a series on Fridays for Future's founder's personality politics & provocation.

opinion

Try wielding anger like you would spiciness

Does Greta Thunberg's use of emotional appeals and identity politics serve to give way to substance, or is it grounded in a "quickness to self-righteousness"? Part 3 in a series on Fridays for Future's founder's personality politics & provocation.

computing

What is computing? A suggestion

A computer is a type of system that can run arbitrary code safely; computing is about systems design. Dynamic medium doesn't necessarily have to mean virtualisation.The interfaces can be designed to suit human needs and support ways of thinking.

personal

Introduction

Hi, I'm Tracey. I am interested in a range of topics, but the main in-depth ones are computing and politics, or social justice more broadly. Some other areas include art, music, user experience design, game design, science, mathematics, cooking and journalism. In relation to computing, I am interested in the