Alex Hern

Dispatches from the front line of the internet

Syndicate contentRSS

New Statesman
By Alex Hern - 16 May 8:45

Dictionary of Numbers provides that much needed context.

New Statesman
By Alex Hern - 14 May 11:19

If the NYT wants to ensure its pieces are never sullied by the corrupting eye of a reader, it can lock them in lead-lined boxes and drop them in the Hudson. But if it wants to help Angelina Jolie in her mission to spread awareness about breast cancer, it needs to get over itself.

Photograph: BFI/Vimeo
By Alex Hern - 13 May 16:29

"They built an arch of marble, and called it Marble Arch."

New Statesman
By Alex Hern - 08 May 12:09

We aren't surprised Richard Branson introduced new see-through tops for the female staff at Virgin Trains. We thought a little photo-essay might explain why…

Photograph: Getty Images
By Alex Hern - 06 May 13:33

The company's staff are so ingrained with the network that they can't make products normal people want to use.

New Statesman
By Alex Hern - 05 May 11:31

The canon of comics is full of lost greats – but the gaps are slowly getting filled in.

A map of the proposed route. Photograph: Construction Manager
By Alex Hern - 04 May 13:38

Canal running from Pennines to London would transport goods, power and water.

A trophy on stage at TechCrunch Disrupt. Photograph: Getty Images
By Alex Hern - 03 May 9:36

Terms like "disruptive" and "tech business" just distract from the essential similarity between many companies.

Delingpole's Hitler pic.
By Alex Hern - 01 May 14:16

We complain about boring politicians, and then put them on the front page when they make a joke.

Apple CEO Tim Cook at a presentation for the company. Photograph: Getty Images
By Alex Hern - 30 April 14:48

Take off the pullover and put on a suit and tie – you aren't a tech stock anymore.

New Statesman
By Alex Hern - 29 April 14:43

Is the Government handing your photos to media giants?

Photograph: Getty Images
By Alex Hern - 25 April 17:55

"The separated workers then run in a densely packed circle until they all die from exhaustion".

Photograph: Getty Images
By Alex Hern - 24 April 11:19

The Grasshopper made it 250m in the air, hovered, and landed back down.

Photograph: Getty Images
By Alex Hern - 23 April 18:04

The site's general manager has apologised for its conduct during the Boston crisis.

Audrey Niffenegger's illustration for Raven Girl
By Alex Hern - 23 April 11:00

Alex Hern finds that sometimes it's better to let someone else illustrate your words.

Johannes Kepler, the 16th century astronomer for NASA's mission is named.
By Alex Hern - 19 April 16:41

The planets are the right temperature and size to support liquid water.

The FBI's two suspect photos, now identified as the Tsarnaev brothers.
By Alex Hern - 19 April 11:59

Reddit's initial hunt to find the Boston bombers devolved rapidly into a sort of "racist Where's Wally", profiling – racially and otherwise – scores of innocent people.

New Statesman
By Alex Hern - 18 April 9:24

There's enough misinformation coming from the traditional media itself over the bombings, but Reddit and 4Chan think they're helping.

Photograph: Getty Images
By Alex Hern - 17 April 18:02

Do you "copy" a website just by reading it? No, thankfully.

New Statesman
By Alex Hern - 17 April 16:11

Pokarekare ana / Nga wai o waiapu / Whiti atu koe hine / Marino ana e.

The Kobo Aura HD. Photograph: Kobo
By Alex Hern - 16 April 9:51

The Aura HD is a great bit of hardware, but that's not where the battle of ereaders is being fought.

By Alex Hern - 12 April 9:53

Thatcherites of the world, be reasonable.

The smashed Barnardo's. Photograph: Getty Images
By Alex Hern - 11 April 11:25

FAI claim Barnardo's "fund and administrate" a detention centre. Which they don't.

Photograph: Image Comics/Brian K Vaughan and Fiona Staples
By Alex Hern - 10 April 10:26

SAGA 12 is not for sale due to gay sex. Earlier issues, with explicit hetero sex, are still available.

New Statesman
By Alex Hern - 09 April 17:18

Edit wars and Alex Salmond.

Photograph: Getty Images
By Alex Hern - 09 April 11:45

RSPB also currently preparing research note into defecatory habits of Ursae in woodland areas.

Photograph: Getty Images
By Alex Hern - 08 April 17:27

Why beat Apple if you can make money from them?

Latest tweets