Vale.Rocks
Vale.Rocks
Declan Chidlow
Long-form writings spanning an assortment of topics, though oft technical in nature.
Latest Posts
Accessibility overlays (sometimes called ‘accessibility plugins’ or ‘accessibility widgets’) are tools placed on websites that claim to improve accessibility. They usually appear as a small icon on the side or in a corner of a website’s...
When I powered on my Xbox Series S for the first time, there was no ceremony. A flat interface presenting a collection of rounded boxes arranged in grids and lists. It felt no different from Windows 11. An interface designed for general...
I have dedicated substantial amounts of time moderating communities on the internet. One of the duties I fulfil at Stoat has been to moderate content, and in doing so I’ve seen a great number of horrific things. The sort of things that...
As years have stretched on, browser user-agent styles have grown somewhat estranged from how many developers use the web platform. I am no exception to this rule and find my own needs at odds with the predefined user-agent stylesheets of...
Ratz Instagib is a fast-paced first-person shooter. As the name suggests, each hit is an instant kill. Be not disillusioned by my writing of this article, for this is not a game I am good at. In honesty, one shouldn’t even venture as far...
This is my annual pulse post, which is data heavy and contains visualisations and interactive elements. The experience of viewing it in a feed reader might be compromised, so I advise viewing it directly on the web at Vale.Rocks. As is...
I’m frustrated, and I’m angry at the state of accessibility on the web. I’m usually not much one for profanity, but I’m fucking pissed off. I’ve been worn down slowly by thing after thing – death by a thousand cuts. I feel powerless and...
As a unicyclist, I draw a certain amount of attention, and whether it be a busy sunny Saturday morning or 21:00 on a grim Monday evening, people are inclined to ask me questions. I imagine the spectacle and presumed friendliness of...
There are few greater joys in life than the creation of a strongly worded email. I have an innate love for the medium. It is an art form that sits at the intersection of literature, warfare, and therapy. Strongly worded emails are,...
I’ve been fortunate enough to write for a number of publications under some fantastic individuals and have taken away many lessons via observations and from making mistakes while doing so. I figured I’d collate some of them so that I and...
Personal notes on assorted nootropics I've tried and used, including stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine. Anecdotal experiences, musings, and reflections on optimising cognitive performance.
Details of my choice and experience switching to the Colemak-DH keyboard layout from QWERTY for the purposes of speed and improved ergonomics.
AI-generated content is commonplace and largely indistinguishable from content created via other means, such that trying to identify or detect it is largely futile and impossible to do on the whole.
Reviews and thoughts on various teas I've tried and formed opinions on. Covering assorted black teas, green teas, herbal teas, and masala chais.
Discussing the donation of material produced by one's body, such as blood and plasma, and my failed attempts at donating due to elevated heart rate.