Weeknotes 26:38

Posted 56 minutes ago

Week of September 13–19

Front End Study Hall #58

I attended Front End Study Hall #58 last week. I did not participate much in the discussion this week. I did not have much to add to the topics that ended up being discussed. I did enjoy watching and listening to other people. One of the participants asked for help with creating an effect for a webpage with a desktop UI feel. The person wanted the scrollbar to look like it was outside the window. I enjoyed seeing different people chime in with thoughts and Eric put together a Codepen using masks. I don’t think it got quite worked out during the time but it was a fun exercise to observe.

Our opening discussion about sites using a desktop UI metaphor made me think of a couple of sites that have caught my eye in the last year. One is Scott Riley’s site that I shared a couple of weeks ago (screenshot below).

The other site was The Web Creative Conference (2025).

Around the workshop

These are the main projects that I am focused on these days:

  • Wonder of the Word templates – I made some edits to the “hub” this week and hope to finish it up this next week.
  • Study through the Bible email template – I updated the template on Friday and will pass it off to our backend developer to add some dynamic content. Our next step will be to add content to our database and create sample emails to test and then pass on to our international teams to review.
  • Updating logo and colors on Revive Our Hearts sites – I worked with our designer to get early copies of the international logos so that I could begin updating our international sites with placeholder images. The final images will be SVGs with custom properties that will allow me to change colors especially for those that overlay hero photos.

I mentioned last week that I had begun playing with a prototype for a freelance project. I wanted to animate it so that the radial pieces fan out on hover. It took me a couple of days but I was finally able to work out something that I was fairly happy with. I would like to play around with a couple of settings and polish it a bit more. I am currently waiting on some graphics from the agency to fully flush it out. Unfortunately, I cannot share the work in progress because I have not even shared it with the agency yet.

Is CSS Tricks Dead … again?

It came to light last week that CSS Tricks is in limbo again as Digital Ocean has not paid invoices to its writers or the lead editor, Geoff Graham. This is the second time in the history of Digital Ocean’s ownership that things have gone quiet. Many in the front-end community are concerned about the uncertainty of the site’s future. This comes on the heels of a huge donation to Omarchy, led by someone with far-right, racist idealogy.

I was bummed the first time around and I am not sure quite what to make of the newest chapter of this drama. I want Geoff and others to get paid for their work and I would love to see CSS Tricks continue to publish new content.

I had the privilege of writing for CSS Tricks a year ago. I enjoyed working with Geoff and would like to contribute again in the future if it continues on.

Articles I read

Caught my eye

Snail racing simulator (Adam Greenough) – I found this one through Piccalilli’s The Index. My snail came in fourth.

What I watched

  • CSS can count now! (Kevin Powell, YouTube) – This is a great introduction to sibling-count() and sibling-index(). It’s got me excited about using it.
  • Chiefs-Broncos (ABC Monday Night Football) – I enjoyed getting to see my Chiefs open the season by beating the Broncos. It was great to see Mahomes back though he looked a little rusty. And big welcome to Kenneth Walker. I’m glad the Chiefs added him which gives them a great running game to add to Mahomes arsenal.
  • Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy (Network TV)
  • Antiques Roadshow (Samsung TV Plus)
  • The Mandolarian and Grogu (Disney+) – I was entertained. I think this would have worked better on Disney+ to start with instead of the movie theater. I enjoyed it but could see why people would be disappointed seeing it in a theater.
  • Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (Disney+)

Books I am reading

  • The Discipline of Grace (Jerry Bridges) – I read chapter 7 on “Obeying the Greatest Commandment” this week. The chapter includes an illustration that has stayed with me over the last 33 years since I first read the book, the idea of “cruise control obedience.” I enjoyed discussing the chapter with my teammate on Friday.
  • Enjoying Jesus (Tim Chester)
  • Desiring God (John Piper) – I read chapter 3 on worship this week and discussed it with my small group on Wednesday night.
  • The Heart Taken Up (Stephen Yuille)

Walking

  • Friday – 1.53 miles in 28 minutes – I took a walk to clear my head on Friday morning.

What I played

MLB The Show 23 (Orioles) – I went 3-2 in games played this week.

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