Frederick O'Brien
Cold, distant, otherwise perfect
Projects & Experiences
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About
Writings
All (150)
News (26)
Features (106)
Satire (6)
Weblog (3)
The art of forgiving yourself for your mistakes while holding other people's against them forever
The Hard Times
, 2025-03-08
Beautiful: band and audience connect over desire for gig to be over
The Hard Times
, 2025-03-05
Devastating: band still has a couple more songs for you
The Hard Times
, 2025-02-27
UK energy suppliers paid out £20m for billing mistakes in five years
The Guardian
, 2025-02-15
Svelte 5 and the future of frameworks: a chat with Rich Harris
Smashing Magazine
, 2025-01-28
An ode to side project time
Smashing Magazine
, 2025-01-17
Henry Kissinger masterminds first regime change in Hell
The Hard Times
, 2025-01-13
Self-described “free spirit” gets suspiciously irritable when asked how they pay rent
The Hard Times
, 2025-01-12
Shit! I asked this guy how he’s doing and now he’s telling me
The Hard Times
, 2024-11-23
With music streaming remuneration reform on hiatus, is it the government’s cue to step in?
Audioxide
, 2024-10-08
The web is decadent and depraved
Weblog
, 2024-09-30
The timeless power of spreadsheets
Smashing Magazine
, 2024-09-23
Cooking up recipe data for the Feast app
The Guardian
, 2024-09-23
MDX or: how I learned to stop worrying and love multimedia writing
Smashing Magazine
, 2024-06-21
‘In the sixth-richest country in the world, how can you build a welfare state on food banks?’ The stats that reveal just how widespread food poverty is in the UK
Byline Times
, 2024-06-18
Zen and the art of pet project maintainence
Weblog
, 2024-05-12
Growing like a weed
Bluedot Living
, 2024-04-19
Designing web design documentation
Smashing Magazine
, 2023-11-13
The gods will offer you chances
Weblog
, 2023-11-05
What Leonardo da Vinci can teach us about web design
Smashing Magazine
, 2023-03-15
Galaxies of the Guardian: the formation of an irregular org chart
The Guardian
, 2023-02-03
Web design done well: delightful data visualisation examples
Smashing Magazine
, 2022-06-16
Web design done well: perfectly pointless
Smashing Magazine
, 2022-02-11
Rock Against Racism: the concert in Victoria Park that united a nation
Roman Road LDN
, 2021-11-05
Hired Tunes: anatomy of a James Bond song
The Quietus
, 2021-10-03
Web design done well: excellent editorial
Smashing Magazine
, 2021-09-10
How we backfilled the Guardian’s in-house analytics tool to provide greater journalistic insight
The Guardian
, 2021-07-12
Web design done well: making use of audio
Smashing Magazine
, 2021-06-11
Old the front page! The story of 1821 Mode
The Guardian
, 2021-05-22
Artist-friendly music streaming alternatives to Spotify et al.
Audioxide
, 2021-04-26
Web design done well: the ordinary made extraordinary
Smashing Magazine
, 2021-04-22
Guarding against disposable design
Smashing Magazine
, 2021-04-02
What Saul Bass can teach us about web design
Smashing Magazine
, 2021-02-12
Statsioxide: our first 250 reviews in numbers
Audioxide
, 2021-02-05
Anders Filipsen channels Brian Eno and C418 in solo debut Waiting Music
Audioxide
, 2021-02-01
Seven classic books you can read for free
Reader's Digest
, 2021-01-21
How to Dismantle a Frontloaded Discography: U2’s studio albums ranked
Audioxide
, 2021-01-11
What would a music streaming minimum wage look like?
Audioxide
, 2021-01-04
Towards an ad-free web: diversifying the online economy
Smashing Magazine
, 2021-01-04
Making websites easier to talk to
Smashing Magazine
, 2020-12-10
State of Rapture: the music of BioShock
Audioxide
, 2020-11-24
Developing for the Semantic Web
Smashing Magazine
, 2020-10-07
The Quietus' top 50 needle drop moments In film
The Quietus
, 2020-09-02
A smashing guide to the world of search engine optimization
Smashing Magazine
, 2020-07-14
What Vitruvius can teach us about web design
Smashing Magazine
, 2020-06-19
Dylan Seeger returns, and a toast to the unexpected
Audioxide
, 2020-06-08
A new hope: how X-Men sparked the superhero genre
The Quietus
, 2020-06-05
A global pandemic of empty gestures
Citizen Obsessed
, 2020-05-30
Readability algorithms should be used as tools, not targets
Smashing Magazine
, 2020-05-01
Baking structured data into the design process
Smashing Magazine
, 2020-04-09
Mainstream media fails the public during coronavirus outbreak
Citizen Obsessed
, 2020-03-23
AI hotel assistant persuades guests to use less water and electricity
New Scientist
, 2020-03-18
Lady Shocker on the evolution of grime culture in Bow and beyond
Roman Road LDN
, 2020-03-06
What does a foldable web actually mean?
Smashing Magazine
, 2020-02-26
Balancing quantitative and qualitative user engagement
LogRocket
, 2020-01-13
The Legend of G.Kelly: making quality working class food for generations
Roman Road LDN
, 2020-01-10
The split personality of brutalist web development
Smashing Magazine
, 2020-01-08
Mercston: debut album and the camaraderie of Bow’s grime scene
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-12-09
Portrait: former food bank user on the plight of the homeless
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-12-07
OK boomer' is lazy language
Citizen Obsessed
, 2019-11-28
PragerU is just another safe space
Citizen Obsessed
, 2019-11-15
Extinction Rebellion stages East London Uprising
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-11-15
Applications open for Poplar Works fashion studios
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-11-10
What newspapers can teach us about web design
Smashing Magazine
, 2019-11-08
Captain Cook’s east London home on Mile End Road
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-11-03
Portrait: Marcus Tisson builds a mental health legacy following his mother’s suicide
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-11-01
Tower Hamlets Council reveals £1.67 million Globe Town regeneration project
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-10-31
Facebook is not the answer to lying politicians
Citizen Obsessed
, 2019-10-28
Hannah Brine’s Victoria Park Singers: from East London to the Royal Albert Hall
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-10-28
Italian restaurant Kisses from Nonna opens on Roman Road
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-10-25
Before they were kings: the boxing careers of Ronnie and Reggie Kray
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-10-24
Will a non-partisan crowdfunding platform please stand up?
Citizen Obsessed
, 2019-10-15
‘Shopfronts of London’ by Eleanor Crow – book review
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-10-11
Roman Road prepares to launch Tower Hamlets’ first borrow-a-bag scheme
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-10-10
Bethnal Green restaurant Da Terra awarded Michelin Star
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-10-09
Keep Faith: The music of Mirror's Edge
Audioxide
, 2019-10-06
Greedy Fish & Chips opens in Globe Town
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-10-03
Four Corners recruiting volunteers for Brick Lane 1978 project
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-10-02
Ad-centric revenue models will always create a race to the bottom
Citizen Obsessed
, 2019-09-28
Roman Road LDN teams up with Eastside youth centre to launch Mad About Grime programme
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-09-27
Ray Gipson – Bow’s top Geezer
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-09-27
Roman Road LDN publisher Social Streets releases annual report
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-09-20
Zee & Co: Bow’s male fashion hub for more than 25 years
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-09-20
G. Kelly pie and mash shop reopens on Roman Road
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-09-19
Dav Stewart on his ‘A Portrait of Roman Road’ photography project
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-09-13
The best East End sites to visit during Open House London
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-09-12
‘Since 9/11’ – the 9/11 public artwork in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-09-10
Confessions of an album reviewer
Audioxide
, 2019-09-08
Pizza Brixton restaurant opens on Roman Road
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-09-05
Hay, horseshoes, and Trooping the Colour: a morning at Bow Police Stables
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-08-14
Behind the red doors of Bethnal Green Fire Station
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-07-27
Bow playwright Simon Stephens on East London, the gentrification of bacon sarnies, and that Hot Priest
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-07-22
The 10 best things to do on Roman Road Market
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-07-20
Liveable Streets traffic trial cancelled – what’s next?
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-07-18
‘Raw Materials: Plastics’ exhibition explores the invention of plastic in East London
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-07-16
‘Black Widow’ Linda Calvey on the realities of East End gangster life
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-07-14
East London’s oldest school faces closure
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-07-11
New coworking space opens on Bow Road
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-07-06
Key roads in Bow to close during eight-day Liveable Streets trial
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-07-04
The shutter art of Roman Road
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-06-27
Portrait: Margie Keefe, aka Grime Gran, nan to the grime scene
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-06-17
Curtain falls on inaugural Fragments Festival at Genesis Cinema
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-06-16
The secret services of Roman Road
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-06-15
Sign of the times: the mystery of Henry Finkelstein
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-06-12
Bow filmmaker Aaron Christian on the privileged world of internships
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-06-09
Vehicle restrictions on Grove Road part of TfL proposals for cycle-friendly East London
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-06-06
Voices: how a single mother’s world was shattered by hostile immigration policy
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-05-31
Richard Lubbock – life after meth
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-05-17
‘Grime Kids’ book review – the inside story of a creative revolution
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-05-16
Discovering Chisenhale Art Place – three creative havens under one roof
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-05-13
Bow and Globe Town residents share their experiences of Ramadan
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-05-12
Bowling together – the Victoria Park Bowls Club keeps on rolling
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-05-04
Eddie Brown’s mental health story: Surviving a lifetime of archaic medical treatments
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-04-29
New look Nunnery Café up and running
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-04-21
Indigo Face channel the spirit of Bow Quarter
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-04-17
Soma, Spotify, and the brave new world of music consumption
Audioxide
, 2019-04-15
Rhythm Division – the (140 bpm) heart of grime
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-04-13
The quiet triumph of Hackney Wick Life Drawing
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-04-08
Painting the town red, green, white, blue… Ged Palmer on Luminor Sign Co and the analogue revival
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-04-06
Chris Kimberley: the cheeky Cockney on life after being a postman
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-04-01
The House Mill – industry, craftsmanship, and a boatload of gin
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-03-22
The Forum at Victoria Park – East London’s answer to Speakers’ Corner
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-03-14
Written from life – Sylvia Pankhurst and the Workers’ Dreadnought newspaper
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-03-08
Stour Space – Fish Island’s creative venue taking grassroots national
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-03-02
Blood and solidarity at York Hall boxing
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-02-20
Carolyn Clark, Bow superwoman
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-02-18
Have your say on plans to turn Whitechapel Bell Foundry into a boutique hotel
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-02-06
Brioche to the people – Saint Sugar of London celebrates over a decade of market life
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-02-04
When Fish Island powered Fleet Street – the story of John Kidd & Co ink works
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-01-30
Sculptor Paula Haughney on her place in an ever-changing East London
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-01-28
Cafe East reopens after winter refurb
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-01-25
Herbert’s fruits and salads – last of a market stall dynasty
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-01-20
PureGym opens at Bow Wharf
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-01-18
The Victoria Park alcoves – East End mementos of old London Bridge
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-01-10
Displaced Bethnal Green coffee vendor reaches fundraising target
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-01-09
On the trail of the Bow Heritage Trail
Roman Road LDN
, 2019-01-05
The red hands of William Gladstone’s statue
Roman Road LDN
, 2018-12-11
The Eleanor Arms pub – Bow’s very own French Quarter
Roman Road LDN
, 2018-12-07
Frank Wang’s last stand – support independent coffee in Bethnal Green
Roman Road LDN
, 2018-11-30
Urban Makers, flying the flag for East London designer-maker markets
Roman Road LDN
, 2018-11-22
The Nunnery Gallery: art by and for Bow
Roman Road LDN
, 2018-11-16
Statsioxide: Our first 150 reviews in numbers
Audioxide
, 2018-08-21
The ’80s according to Stewart Lee
Audioxide
, 2018-04-16
World on fire: The music of Fallout 3
Audioxide
, 2017-08-11
The rise and rise of audiobooks
Audioxide
, 2017-06-14
Keep playing: The fire at the heart of Whiplash
Audioxide
, 2017-06-09
Gorillaz go 1-D
Audioxide
, 2017-05-11
Be Here Now and Mr. Hyde
Audioxide
, 2016-10-14
The DMCA rabbit hole
Audioxide
, 2016-06-27
Album sides and beauty from circumstance
Audioxide
, 2016-03-11