R. Alex Anderson
@ralexanderson.com
He/Him • Husband • Dad • Latter-day Saint • Code Poet • Hobby Chef • Spaceship Enthusiast • Serial Optimist • Determined Dreamer
Living in Utah
https://thoriumsim.com
Living in Utah
https://thoriumsim.com
The second in my series of notes from the computer literacy class I'm teaching. This time we discussed AI generated images!
Notes from my Beginner Computer Literacy Class Part 2
alexanderson.leaflet.pub
January 15, 2026 at 11:45 PM
The second in my series of notes from the computer literacy class I'm teaching. This time we discussed AI generated images!
Reposted by R. Alex Anderson
The news is appalling. I believe what we're seeing today in Minneapolis on full display is what Dr. King called "The Three Evils of Society"; a sickness of Racism, Excessive Materialism, and Militarism.
Non-protesting dad just trying to hustle his kids, as young as 6mo, out of the neighborhood. ICE threw a flash-bang INTO HIS car, all 6 kids in the hospital now.
If anyone wondered how things turn against occupying armies there's a case study playing out in front of you.
If anyone wondered how things turn against occupying armies there's a case study playing out in front of you.
That is what was relayed
January 15, 2026 at 5:34 PM
The news is appalling. I believe what we're seeing today in Minneapolis on full display is what Dr. King called "The Three Evils of Society"; a sickness of Racism, Excessive Materialism, and Militarism.
Pro-tip: Wear noise cancelling headphones, like AirPods Pro, when testing smoke detectors. No more ear-splitting and ringing!
January 14, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Pro-tip: Wear noise cancelling headphones, like AirPods Pro, when testing smoke detectors. No more ear-splitting and ringing!
I've been called out — instead of fine dining, I prefer stuffing myself at all-you-can-eat buffets.
Remember to be intentional, even if you're intentionally listening to everything at 2x speed.
Remember to be intentional, even if you're intentionally listening to everything at 2x speed.
Intentional Entertainment
Productivity-maxing is entertainment
alexanderson.leaflet.pub
January 14, 2026 at 5:35 PM
I've been called out — instead of fine dining, I prefer stuffing myself at all-you-can-eat buffets.
Remember to be intentional, even if you're intentionally listening to everything at 2x speed.
Remember to be intentional, even if you're intentionally listening to everything at 2x speed.
Let's throw "Google Stadia Controllers" up there as "doing the right thing with discontinued tech"
Plus they used WebSerial to flash the firmware, which is super metal!
www.marcia.no/words/eol
Plus they used WebSerial to flash the firmware, which is super metal!
www.marcia.no/words/eol
EOL
Blog post by Marciano Planque: EOL
www.marcia.no
January 14, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Let's throw "Google Stadia Controllers" up there as "doing the right thing with discontinued tech"
Plus they used WebSerial to flash the firmware, which is super metal!
www.marcia.no/words/eol
Plus they used WebSerial to flash the firmware, which is super metal!
www.marcia.no/words/eol
A short list of things I've just done
Things I've Just Done
alexanderson.leaflet.pub
January 13, 2026 at 10:46 PM
A short list of things I've just done
Anchor Positioning is so great. I'm using it for one of those application tour things, where it highlights parts of the page with a popover explaining it. Thus far it's been flawless (aside from the positioned element needing to be after the anchor element - I had to work around that with a modal)
CSS anchor positioning is newly baseline! This opens the door for lots of new creative CSS.
It's a huge feature, but here are the basics.
It's a huge feature, but here are the basics.
January 13, 2026 at 4:18 PM
Anchor Positioning is so great. I'm using it for one of those application tour things, where it highlights parts of the page with a popover explaining it. Thus far it's been flawless (aside from the positioned element needing to be after the anchor element - I had to work around that with a modal)
Not the direction I expected this piece to go, but I stand by the conclusion. Do the thing until you're not scared to do the thing. Avoid being boring by iterating instead of repeating. It's okay to be bad at things sometimes.
Just Do The Thing
Even... no... especially if it's bad
alexanderson.leaflet.pub
January 13, 2026 at 2:28 AM
Not the direction I expected this piece to go, but I stand by the conclusion. Do the thing until you're not scared to do the thing. Avoid being boring by iterating instead of repeating. It's okay to be bad at things sometimes.
It's increasingly clear to me that the current administrations brazenness has only served to shine a light on the harm, terror, and cruelty that has existed for a long time.
Abolish ICE. Destroy systems of cruelty. Remove incentives to keep them in place.
Abolish ICE. Destroy systems of cruelty. Remove incentives to keep them in place.
This picture was taken in 2000 by an Associated Press photographer who was allowed to be present as an observer. ICE now keeps press blocks away from the areas where they are operating. One of the first actions ICE takes during a raid is to confiscate phones.
January 12, 2026 at 4:25 PM
It's increasingly clear to me that the current administrations brazenness has only served to shine a light on the harm, terror, and cruelty that has existed for a long time.
Abolish ICE. Destroy systems of cruelty. Remove incentives to keep them in place.
Abolish ICE. Destroy systems of cruelty. Remove incentives to keep them in place.
Reposted by R. Alex Anderson
"I'm not in Minnesota -- what can I do to help?"
A list of ideas!
A list of ideas!
January 11, 2026 at 10:33 PM
"I'm not in Minnesota -- what can I do to help?"
A list of ideas!
A list of ideas!
You might be surprised how much you can do if you stop assuming someone is going to stop you.
You Can Just Do Things
alexanderson.leaflet.pub
January 11, 2026 at 5:43 PM
You might be surprised how much you can do if you stop assuming someone is going to stop you.
If you want an easy way to get to know new people and help them feel at ease, here's a question you can ask.
PS - I'd love to hear your answer in the comments!
PS - I'd love to hear your answer in the comments!
What do you love to do?
A sure-fire question to make friends at unfamiliar places.
alexanderson.leaflet.pub
January 9, 2026 at 2:52 PM
If you want an easy way to get to know new people and help them feel at ease, here's a question you can ask.
PS - I'd love to hear your answer in the comments!
PS - I'd love to hear your answer in the comments!
It's happening!
📝 Algorithmic hover states with contrast-color() - Taking some cool new features for a spin.
daverupert.com/2026/01/algo...
daverupert.com/2026/01/algo...
Algorithmic hover states with contrast-color()
Firefox 146 added support for contrast-color() joining Safari 26 in the First Implementor’s Club. For those unfamiliar, contrast-color(<color>) is a new CSS function that will take a <color> as input ...
daverupert.com
January 8, 2026 at 5:49 PM
It's happening!
The title calls out React Router v7, but it applies to any framework that server-renders HTML, but provides client-side transitions. Making both work as an offline PWA is incredibly difficult, mostly because it's a user experience paradox.
Why React Router v7 Doesn't Have A Good PWA Solution
It's tradeoffs, all the way down.
alexanderson.leaflet.pub
January 8, 2026 at 3:39 PM
The title calls out React Router v7, but it applies to any framework that server-renders HTML, but provides client-side transitions. Making both work as an offline PWA is incredibly difficult, mostly because it's a user experience paradox.
The first in a short, intermittent, series on modern media, starting with the best stuff that I enjoyed reading, watching, or listening to in 2025. I'd love to hear what would be on your list!
Best Media of 2025
alexanderson.leaflet.pub
January 8, 2026 at 2:53 PM
The first in a short, intermittent, series on modern media, starting with the best stuff that I enjoyed reading, watching, or listening to in 2025. I'd love to hear what would be on your list!
If you're a US citizen and have issues with the way the government is conducting itself *gestures wildly*, a great place to start is calling or emailing your representatives.
democracy.io is a great way to do that quickly and conveniently.
Let them know you're not okay with the status quo.
democracy.io is a great way to do that quickly and conveniently.
Let them know you're not okay with the status quo.
Democracy.io - Contact your Members of Congress
Democracy thrives when people’s voices are heard. Send a message to your legislatures using EFF's simple new tool.
democracy.io
January 7, 2026 at 9:14 PM
If you're a US citizen and have issues with the way the government is conducting itself *gestures wildly*, a great place to start is calling or emailing your representatives.
democracy.io is a great way to do that quickly and conveniently.
Let them know you're not okay with the status quo.
democracy.io is a great way to do that quickly and conveniently.
Let them know you're not okay with the status quo.
BRB. Changing my profile picture to this from the USA's new upside-down food pyramid.
January 7, 2026 at 7:33 PM
BRB. Changing my profile picture to this from the USA's new upside-down food pyramid.
I'm teaching a weekly class for my community all about computers, the internet, AI, and how to navigate it all. Here are my notes from the first class.
Notes from my Beginner Computer Literacy Class Part 1
Helping the uninitiated navigate this brave new digital world
alexanderson.leaflet.pub
January 7, 2026 at 5:49 PM
I'm teaching a weekly class for my community all about computers, the internet, AI, and how to navigate it all. Here are my notes from the first class.
Reposted by R. Alex Anderson
write for yourself and the audience will show up
January 6, 2026 at 3:38 PM
write for yourself and the audience will show up
Thanks to @chriscoyier.net for putting this deep dive into React Server Components in my feed today. RSCs are technically impressive, and I've enjoyed using the model, but it's complicated and has a lot of pitfalls. If it doesn't magically improve performance, is the juice worth the squeeze?
React Server Components: Do They Really Improve Performance?
alexanderson.leaflet.pub
January 6, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Thanks to @chriscoyier.net for putting this deep dive into React Server Components in my feed today. RSCs are technically impressive, and I've enjoyed using the model, but it's complicated and has a lot of pitfalls. If it doesn't magically improve performance, is the juice worth the squeeze?
I'm not retro-nostalgic, you are.
Cassette Tapes
alexanderson.leaflet.pub
January 6, 2026 at 2:46 PM
I'm not retro-nostalgic, you are.
I'm getting poetic about how warm this winter has been in my neck of the woods.
Unseasonably Warm
alexanderson.leaflet.pub
January 5, 2026 at 3:07 PM
I'm getting poetic about how warm this winter has been in my neck of the woods.
I’ve been wanting to write about more varied topics for a while now, and I’ve finally decided to do it. The first in what I hope is a long series of daily posts about whatever I feel like writing about.
Daily Writing
A post a day keeps the AI away
alexanderson.leaflet.pub
January 4, 2026 at 2:00 PM
I’ve been wanting to write about more varied topics for a while now, and I’ve finally decided to do it. The first in what I hope is a long series of daily posts about whatever I feel like writing about.
Reposted by R. Alex Anderson
I built a free in-browser tool that re-exports GLTF/GLB to GPU-compressed KTX2 (plus mipmaps, mesh compression options). Built on the excellent gltf-transform by @donmccurdy.com
Try it: gltf-optimizer.simondev.io
Try it: gltf-optimizer.simondev.io
SimonDev KTX Tool
gltf-optimizer.simondev.io
January 3, 2026 at 5:26 PM
I built a free in-browser tool that re-exports GLTF/GLB to GPU-compressed KTX2 (plus mipmaps, mesh compression options). Built on the excellent gltf-transform by @donmccurdy.com
Try it: gltf-optimizer.simondev.io
Try it: gltf-optimizer.simondev.io
Reposted by R. Alex Anderson
Outlook for the new year ...
December 31, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Outlook for the new year ...