Richard Urwin
@soronlin.richard-urwin.co.uk
Writer, technical proof-reader, software engineer
Books:
Artificial Intelligence: The Quest for the Ultimate Thinking Machine -- lay person's introduction
Artificial Intelligence in easy steps -- developer's introduction
WIP:
Return to Fairyland
Books:
Artificial Intelligence: The Quest for the Ultimate Thinking Machine -- lay person's introduction
Artificial Intelligence in easy steps -- developer's introduction
WIP:
Return to Fairyland
Reposted by Richard Urwin
Looks like LLMs are *very* vulnerable to attack via poetic allusion: "curated poetic prompts yielded high attack-success rates (ASR), with some providers exceeding 90% ..."
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
November 20, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Looks like LLMs are *very* vulnerable to attack via poetic allusion: "curated poetic prompts yielded high attack-success rates (ASR), with some providers exceeding 90% ..."
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
https://arxiv.org/html/2511.15304v1
The work is real. Your people are real. ... the ones who love and value what you are making, and the weirdoes who are just like you, the ones who maybe haven't found your work yet, but when they do, it will mean something to them.
Writers, publishing will suck all the joy and light from your life if you let it.
So don't let it.
This week, on Undercover in the Apocalypse: my dreams came true, but I just found new ways to be miserable.
undercover-in-the-apocalypse.ghost.io/my-dreams-ca...
So don't let it.
This week, on Undercover in the Apocalypse: my dreams came true, but I just found new ways to be miserable.
undercover-in-the-apocalypse.ghost.io/my-dreams-ca...
My dreams came true and I just found new ways to be miserable.
My fifth novel Red Star Hustle just dropped, and on pub day I did what I usually do on pub day - I swung by Union Square, where there's the Strand and a Barnes & Noble very near one another - probably...
undercover-in-the-apocalypse.ghost.io
November 18, 2025 at 9:23 PM
The work is real. Your people are real. ... the ones who love and value what you are making, and the weirdoes who are just like you, the ones who maybe haven't found your work yet, but when they do, it will mean something to them.
Fantastic writing and an uplifting story.
I am so flabbergasted & tearful & grateful & JUST REALLY EMOTIONAL over everything that’s happened around this so-special pup since this saga started on…good god, how was it only Wednesday morning?
That it has meant as much to so many of you fills me up to the brim.
www.patreon.com/posts/142111...
That it has meant as much to so many of you fills me up to the brim.
www.patreon.com/posts/142111...
Tiny Adds Up: Unshittification and The Pawshank Redemption | Catherynne M. Valente
Get more from Catherynne M. Valente on Patreon
www.patreon.com
October 29, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Fantastic writing and an uplifting story.
Reposted by Richard Urwin
Dam been writing a book about this and she just TikToked it in 90 seconds.
September 19, 2025 at 9:33 AM
Dam been writing a book about this and she just TikToked it in 90 seconds.
Reposted by Richard Urwin
"The silence is so loud. So loud. If this feels like a meaningless metaphor to you, then you have not heard it. When you do, it is a sound unlike any other."
White People Wielding Needles
The more of us stand together, the faster this change will be and the fewer people will suffer in the meantime. In what I hope is a quite obvious note: this is not me saying this. This is a known a…
strangehorizons.com
September 15, 2025 at 12:30 PM
"The silence is so loud. So loud. If this feels like a meaningless metaphor to you, then you have not heard it. When you do, it is a sound unlike any other."
Reposted by Richard Urwin
We won’t let politicians and media pit women against trans people. Instead, we’re building solidarity across our differences.
✍️ Join us and sign our letter at change.org/nion_women
#WhyWeSigned #NIONWomen #NotInOurName #Feminism #WomensRights #TransRights #TransAlly #WithTheT
✍️ Join us and sign our letter at change.org/nion_women
#WhyWeSigned #NIONWomen #NotInOurName #Feminism #WomensRights #TransRights #TransAlly #WithTheT
Sign the Petition
Not in our name: Women in support of the trans+ community
change.org
August 31, 2025 at 8:00 AM
We won’t let politicians and media pit women against trans people. Instead, we’re building solidarity across our differences.
✍️ Join us and sign our letter at change.org/nion_women
#WhyWeSigned #NIONWomen #NotInOurName #Feminism #WomensRights #TransRights #TransAlly #WithTheT
✍️ Join us and sign our letter at change.org/nion_women
#WhyWeSigned #NIONWomen #NotInOurName #Feminism #WomensRights #TransRights #TransAlly #WithTheT
Reposted by Richard Urwin
so having a broken foot kinda sucks.
when i run out of things to do, i've started having #chatGPT tell me my stories again as bedtime stories, little shorts that make me cry & hopeful at the same time.
i'm not posting them anymore, but here's a big chunk #CodeNINA www.tumblr.com/dickensign/7...
when i run out of things to do, i've started having #chatGPT tell me my stories again as bedtime stories, little shorts that make me cry & hopeful at the same time.
i'm not posting them anymore, but here's a big chunk #CodeNINA www.tumblr.com/dickensign/7...
Post by @dickensign · 1 image
💬 0 🔁 1 ❤️ 0 · 📌 Welcome to #codeNINA · “She was built to fold towels. She learned to fold time.”
This is the ongoing story of NINA—a lavender-hued domestic robot designed for care and protecti…
www.tumblr.com
August 28, 2025 at 5:59 PM
so having a broken foot kinda sucks.
when i run out of things to do, i've started having #chatGPT tell me my stories again as bedtime stories, little shorts that make me cry & hopeful at the same time.
i'm not posting them anymore, but here's a big chunk #CodeNINA www.tumblr.com/dickensign/7...
when i run out of things to do, i've started having #chatGPT tell me my stories again as bedtime stories, little shorts that make me cry & hopeful at the same time.
i'm not posting them anymore, but here's a big chunk #CodeNINA www.tumblr.com/dickensign/7...
Reposted by Richard Urwin
Sex work is 1000% more honorable and socially beneficial than working as an ICE agent.
August 28, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Sex work is 1000% more honorable and socially beneficial than working as an ICE agent.
It seems the imperial troops just rolled up in Mos Eisley and I don't know who I'm cheering for.
Ofcom has 4chan in its sights.
www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...
Ofcom has 4chan in its sights.
www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...
Investigation into 4chan and its compliance with duties to protect its users from illegal content
We are initiating an investigation to determine whether the online discussion board 4chan has failed—or is currently failing—to comply with its obligations under the Online Safety Act 2023.
www.ofcom.org.uk
August 15, 2025 at 12:04 PM
It seems the imperial troops just rolled up in Mos Eisley and I don't know who I'm cheering for.
Ofcom has 4chan in its sights.
www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...
Ofcom has 4chan in its sights.
www.ofcom.org.uk/online-safet...
Reposted by Richard Urwin
In hot weather like this, remember to keep an eye on your freelancers. Move them to a shaded spot, indoors if possible, away from ‘people’. Distract them with a computer or some unrealistic deadline. Do check on them, by email, but don’t forget to set yours to out of office in case they reply 🙏
August 12, 2025 at 8:52 AM
In hot weather like this, remember to keep an eye on your freelancers. Move them to a shaded spot, indoors if possible, away from ‘people’. Distract them with a computer or some unrealistic deadline. Do check on them, by email, but don’t forget to set yours to out of office in case they reply 🙏
Reposted by Richard Urwin
Dear people who design book covers, titles that go vertically are really hard to read. , and if you're mixing numbers and letters, please make sure your 5s don't look like Ss or your 1s like Ls or Is. We stopped using lower case l (L) as 1 (one) a very long time ago.
August 8, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Dear people who design book covers, titles that go vertically are really hard to read. , and if you're mixing numbers and letters, please make sure your 5s don't look like Ss or your 1s like Ls or Is. We stopped using lower case l (L) as 1 (one) a very long time ago.
Reposted by Richard Urwin
Goddamn. What a sobering and poignant piece of conceptual art. What an amazing artist.
August 6, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Goddamn. What a sobering and poignant piece of conceptual art. What an amazing artist.
Here's a couple I made. The longer one is around 3 feet long. Pine, finished with beeswax.
August 6, 2025 at 4:26 AM
Here's a couple I made. The longer one is around 3 feet long. Pine, finished with beeswax.
Reposted by Richard Urwin
For anyone who got a notification that I've written a dark romantasy trilogy (this is book 1) - I haven't. Please don't buy any of them.
These books are AI generated &
Amazon should be removing them today.
For anyone who may have bought one, I hope you can get a refund from Amazon.
These books are AI generated &
Amazon should be removing them today.
For anyone who may have bought one, I hope you can get a refund from Amazon.
August 1, 2025 at 8:00 AM
For anyone who got a notification that I've written a dark romantasy trilogy (this is book 1) - I haven't. Please don't buy any of them.
These books are AI generated &
Amazon should be removing them today.
For anyone who may have bought one, I hope you can get a refund from Amazon.
These books are AI generated &
Amazon should be removing them today.
For anyone who may have bought one, I hope you can get a refund from Amazon.
July 31, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Reposted by Richard Urwin
Piece of this book that I've been bashing my head against endlessly....
...and have FINALLY got it to bloody work.
Yeah, ShitGPT. Let's see you recreate the sense of wonder, triumph and relief that comes with doing THAT!
...and have FINALLY got it to bloody work.
Yeah, ShitGPT. Let's see you recreate the sense of wonder, triumph and relief that comes with doing THAT!
July 31, 2025 at 10:22 AM
Piece of this book that I've been bashing my head against endlessly....
...and have FINALLY got it to bloody work.
Yeah, ShitGPT. Let's see you recreate the sense of wonder, triumph and relief that comes with doing THAT!
...and have FINALLY got it to bloody work.
Yeah, ShitGPT. Let's see you recreate the sense of wonder, triumph and relief that comes with doing THAT!
Reposted by Richard Urwin
Cheat Sheet v.2
nothing from the prior version is incorrect, but ive made it a little easier to read, plus included a bit more helpful information
imgur link: imgur.com/a/wWaLY2i
more comprehensive info can be found here:
stop-paypros.neocities.org
yellat.money
MAKE YOUR CALLS!!!
nothing from the prior version is incorrect, but ive made it a little easier to read, plus included a bit more helpful information
imgur link: imgur.com/a/wWaLY2i
more comprehensive info can be found here:
stop-paypros.neocities.org
yellat.money
MAKE YOUR CALLS!!!
July 27, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Cheat Sheet v.2
nothing from the prior version is incorrect, but ive made it a little easier to read, plus included a bit more helpful information
imgur link: imgur.com/a/wWaLY2i
more comprehensive info can be found here:
stop-paypros.neocities.org
yellat.money
MAKE YOUR CALLS!!!
nothing from the prior version is incorrect, but ive made it a little easier to read, plus included a bit more helpful information
imgur link: imgur.com/a/wWaLY2i
more comprehensive info can be found here:
stop-paypros.neocities.org
yellat.money
MAKE YOUR CALLS!!!
There are lots of posts complaining about #KWS #KidsWebServices and #Epic, their parent company.
KWS uses Yoti to handle the age verification. I have checked the developer documentation and privacy policy for Yoti and this is what I found.
tl;dr: It's absolutely safe and secure.
1/6
KWS uses Yoti to handle the age verification. I have checked the developer documentation and privacy policy for Yoti and this is what I found.
tl;dr: It's absolutely safe and secure.
1/6
July 25, 2025 at 3:42 PM
There are lots of posts complaining about #KWS #KidsWebServices and #Epic, their parent company.
KWS uses Yoti to handle the age verification. I have checked the developer documentation and privacy policy for Yoti and this is what I found.
tl;dr: It's absolutely safe and secure.
1/6
KWS uses Yoti to handle the age verification. I have checked the developer documentation and privacy policy for Yoti and this is what I found.
tl;dr: It's absolutely safe and secure.
1/6
Proud to make my National Geographic debut with this incredible discovery: an extremely weird little guy with independently-evolved "feathers" that solves a longstanding Triassic mystery and makes one of the period's oddest families even stranger
Crested Triassic Reptile
Mirasaura grauvogeli had a featherlike crest and a tail like a monkey. “It's been a long time since I've been so blown away by a new fossil discovery.”
www.nationalgeographic.com
July 23, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Reposted by Richard Urwin
From now on when there's any discourse about the female gaze and what defines a sexy, manly man, I'm just going to start posting this video
You, of course, know what to do:
You, of course, know what to do:
Lip Sync Battle - Tom Holland
YouTube video by Comedy Central Latinoamérica
youtu.be
July 20, 2025 at 2:13 PM
From now on when there's any discourse about the female gaze and what defines a sexy, manly man, I'm just going to start posting this video
You, of course, know what to do:
You, of course, know what to do:
The three herbs that I know I can't kill*.
---
OK, so I killed my rosemary plant this year. I've killed a cactus through under-watering; it's always a risk.
---
OK, so I killed my rosemary plant this year. I've killed a cactus through under-watering; it's always a risk.
July 20, 2025 at 2:52 PM
The three herbs that I know I can't kill*.
---
OK, so I killed my rosemary plant this year. I've killed a cactus through under-watering; it's always a risk.
---
OK, so I killed my rosemary plant this year. I've killed a cactus through under-watering; it's always a risk.
Reposted by Richard Urwin
This story is horrifying, but behind it lie the consequences of all but abolishing legal aid in civil cases. As a lawyer you hear so often of police telling victims of blatant scams and frauds "it's a civil matter" but what help is that when they can't afford legal help?
How fake-will fraudsters steal millions from the dead
A trail of suspicious wills led to an organised gang committing fraud and stealing millions from dead people's estates.
www.bbc.co.uk
July 5, 2025 at 9:39 AM
This story is horrifying, but behind it lie the consequences of all but abolishing legal aid in civil cases. As a lawyer you hear so often of police telling victims of blatant scams and frauds "it's a civil matter" but what help is that when they can't afford legal help?
It seems stupid that workers are required to work in unsafe temperatures. I've had to endure this a time or two myself, even without climate change, and, even sitting at a desk, it's horrible.
www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/we...
www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/we...
We need a maximum working temperature
Every summer, temperatures are rising and working in prolonged heat and sun can be dangerous. It can cause a number of health concerns, from dehydration and dizziness to the most serious of illnesses....
www.megaphone.org.uk
June 30, 2025 at 3:17 PM
It seems stupid that workers are required to work in unsafe temperatures. I've had to endure this a time or two myself, even without climate change, and, even sitting at a desk, it's horrible.
www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/we...
www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/we...
My letter to Liz Kendal
June 5, 2025 at 10:42 AM
My letter to Liz Kendal