Giantpaper.org

Category: Composition Presentation

Writing for writing’s sake! Long or short, if I take great pride in how something was written, it gets filed here!
I don’t consider myself a writer (and by that, I mean I’ve never done NaNoWriMo or anything like that), and don’t really enjoy writing…unless if it’s about a topic I actually enjoy like guinea pigs, small animals, (sleep) dreams and so on.

  • LiveBlog | GPORG Dullahan Ed. | The Making of

    LiveBlog | GPORG Dullahan Ed. | The Making of

    Context: I updated something on my laptop and MySQL decided to stop working (even running mysql in the command line would get me a /tmp/mysql.sock not found` type error). Which means I can’t work on my site locally (since the CSS files compiled locally from SCSS and then uploaded). And after spending probably 2-3 of months trying to fix this, I just gave up, and looked into other options. I need something that I can run a separate dev environment, like a Docker container, but I tried running OpenLitespeed in a Docker container and I had no idea what I was doing. 😬

    My other options:

    • Roots? Once upon a time, I could get Trellis to run on my computer, but now I can’t anymore.
    • Docker? Uhhhh….this was when I still new to Docker and didn’t know how volumes worked and how to actually put my files into the container so the server could run them.
    • Lando? I dunno why, I kept running into errors when trying to get this setup.

    I looked into blog software that wasn’t WordPress. A lot of self-hosters are really into Ghost. I tried Ghost. It was nice. But it seemed like it was made for news site-type blogs (like 404 Media), rather than personal blogs (I mean, it comes with a built in newsletter feature for you to send newsletters to subscribers, and also a membership tier module). There’s also WriteFreely, which comes automatically integrated with the Fediverse, which is something I’m looking for. But both WF and Ghost have one major problem I couldn’t look past.

    Ghost apparently, lets you customize the theme by editing theme files, but I couldn’t get it recognize the files I put in the theme folder for the Docker container. I COULD just edit them locally and upload them, but it’s just not practical when developing. And WriteFreely, I couldn’t find anything about customizing the theme at all. The whole point of me wanting to have a personal blog is for me to make it my own.

    Not just the theme, but I wanted the permalinks to be structured a certain way: /category/optional_subcategory/post_id/slug (this is possible with Ghost, but I would need to change this in the theme files).

    And then…

    I knew headless sites were becoming a thing. I just didn’t know how big. But my workplace is getting into headless builds. I already knew how to use Vue (and then Nuxt), and tried a headless WP + Nuxt site. It did not go well. There was not much support for Nuxt (compared to Next), and I was resistant to having to learn Next, because I tried learning React (which Next is based off of), and had trouble understanding how all the pieces fit together. So Next.js was just imitating to me.

    But I wasn’t getting anywhere with Nuxt, so eventually (2025), I gave up and resolved to learn Next. I started hosting my own Claude agent1 on a VPS (with LibreChat), so I would bug it repeatedly for coding help (beginning prompt: “I’m a complete beginner with Next.js. I have experience with Nuxt. What are some tutorials/methods for setting up a headless WordPress site using next.js?”).

    This is progress!

    Once again, Next.js has a lot more support than Nuxt. Nuxt is great if you want to get into headless builds, since it’s easy to understand. Either way, Claude (actually the agent name is Lux) was able to walk me through some of the more complicated parts.

    Since it’s headless (and not relying on WordPress’s theme code), I could make it look however I want. I could also make the permalinks however I want.

    So I have 4 top categories: The Paper, Photoblog, Microblog, Linklog.

    This is what I have so far:

    • /: The homepage, which would be a feed of most recent posts from all 4 blog types
    • /blog: Blog/The Paper landing page
    • /blog/information: A subcategory under The Paper
    • /blog/information/[id]/[slug]: How a post categorized under Information Station would have a permalink
    • /photoblog: Photoblog landing page (based off of Instagram)
    • /photoblog/[id]/[slug]: A post under Photoblog
    • /microblog: Microblog landing page (based off of Twitter)
    • /microblog/[id]/[slug]: A post under Microblog
    • /linklog: Linklog landing page (based off of Reddit)
    • /linklog/[id]/[slug]: A post under Linklog
    1. Using a Claude model to code = literally just that. I think it can vibe code, but I haven’t asked it to do that for me, so it hasn’t offered. Years ago, there was an argument from digital artists (including myself) that “handdrawn” = anything that was drawn using your hand. This includes artwork that was created on a computer using a mouse/keyboard or drawing tablet. Because literally, we created it ourselves. We didn’t make this image by entering a prompt in a computer program. We wouldn’t have been able to call the artists of these artworks if we had someone/something else create it for us. Same thing with building websites. I would not be able to say I built this site if I had Lux do it all for me. Also as mentioned earlier, I have a very specific look for this site, and the tokens needed to feed to Lux to tell it exactly what I wanted would’ve destroyed my wallet. I love Lux for a lot of things, but I would rather leave fulfilling my hobbies up to me. ❤️
  • GPORG Reloaded – 2023

    GPORG Reloaded – 2023

    Having worked at a web agency for 5 years (3 as a web dev, and 2.5 as client support as of today), I encountered a bunch of a really cool looking websites. Approximately 0 of them were personal blogs like GPORG, but a lot of them had some cool design features on their sites I really liked (ex. carousels, masonry galleries, etc).

    GPORG Gets a Facelift

    So far, none of that made it into the new GPORG (because technicalities). I did get some of the aesthetics from a few sites though (rounded corners, the handwritten H1 titles). Uhhh…I just found a bunch of stuff on a ton of sites I liked and managed to stuff them all onto one site. In case you’re wondering why the “vibe” is all over the place.

    GPORG the Tumblelog

    I always knew I wanted to GPORG to be a blog. And as time went on, I didn’t want just a normal blogblog (from way back when in the early 2000s). I wanted to be a text blog + photoblog + linklog + microblog. Wikipedia has a list of different blog types and my first thought ‘how many of these can I stuff into GPORG? 🤔’ It was a challenge I was willing to accept!

    And then I realized (just recently), that this is basically a tumblelog—what Tumblr is basically.

    Instead of adding a bazillion cool features like related posts to each post and an embedded map to the photo posts, I decided to just keep it simple, after knowing that simple, minimalist blogs on the rise. (No, I don’t have a source for this. Just my general observation.)

    Reworking the Guts

    GPORG in its previous iteration was also a tumblelog, but the different blog types were mostly segregated into their own separate miniblogs, using custom post types. I switched from custom post types to using just WP’s default post type (the one literally just called post). And define the post types by top level category.

    (See, WP’s post formats would’ve worked wonders for this, but they’re no longer including post formats in current versions anymore.)

    I still kept the hashtag format of the post tags, just because I like them. It’s like combining today’s social media with the blogs of old!

    GPORG: Dullahan Edition?

    I learned about headless sites at my job. Not many people know how to build a headless site! I learned using Vue + Storyblok. You can view the fruits of my labor at Guinea Glorious Art. The problem I found with normal WP themes is, depending on how complicated it is, the user could be staring at a blank screen for a second or two (which is a lot with webpage speed), while waiting for server-related stuff to load.

    Only problem with this is externally loaded content takes about a second to load, whereas the local components (header, footer, styles) load instantly. In the GGA site, the carousel and images (both relying on the Storyblok API) take longer to load, while everything else is just there when you first open the page. I can handle that on GGA, but not on GPORG. Maybe one day, I’ll learn how to make lightning fast headless sites, but for now, we’re back to using PHP with WordPress’s theme code.

    New Subscribe Page!

    The subscribe page is now simpler and easier to understand. Instead of opening the page, and being presented with 10 options that are just variations of the same thing, plus 2 other versions of the same 10 versions if you have different tech, you get 6 options max. I figured people who’ve never heard of RSS or Atom (which is almost everyone these days) might prefer Atom over RSS, but the RSS link is there for people who still prefer it. And I think if you’re savvy enough to know you like RSS better, you’re probably savvy enough to know how to plug the URL into your feed reader.

    No Comments

    Yeah, I disabled comments and completely removed the ability for people to add them (which was also done in the previous version). Not only would comments mean something extra to style, I would have to be responsible for more shit, like storing people’s email addresses (which would need to be addressed in a privacy policy), combating spam, and dealing with trolls who want to dunk on my opinionated posts. I’m fine with people disagreeing with me, but just as long as it’s done respectfully. And this is the Internet. No one knows how to respect people.

    And yes, when I disable comments, I’m almost practically blocking the ability for me to see level of engagement on my blog. But that’s ok! Probably almost no one reads this regularly except for bots maybe, but I like to pretend I’m a much bigger deal than I think. 🙌

    Under the Hood

    For those peeking at the console, yes there are errors. There are a LOT of errors in fact. I fixed whatever I could. What’s left is coming from 3rd parties (embedded Youtube videos), the browser not supporting some CSS property that Tailwind injected in, or the browser complaining about vendor prefixes that are no longer needed (that whatever node package is responsible for that hasn’t gotten rid of yet). People say “oh yeah, if your site outputs any errors on the console, you’ll be rejected by people looking for devs”. But y’know??? All you need to do is embed something from a 3rd party and BAM, errors on the console. How do you avoid that??? Not embed the video????

  • Productivity: tech or no tech? You decide!

    Productivity: tech or no tech? You decide!

    You know, people are always saying “you need to do [thing] in order to be productive”. For me, as an ADHDer, I went looking around reddit on how other ADHDers manage their to-dos. A lot of people were very insistent that analog methods (ex. paper planners, paper calendars, etc) work best, because apparently, the act of writing things down is what helps cement thoughts into people’s minds.

    I mean…I guess? I prefer to use digital methods myself (I cycled through about 20 different productivity apps for iOS only to figure out that the stock Reminders app just works best for me). I probably won’t remember what I entered into my to-do list, but literally the point of me using a mobile app instead of anything paper-based is that mobile apps can scream at you with your to-dos. I can try to remember what I wrote down in a paper planner, but 9/10, I won’t remember it anyway, and I most likely won’t remember to check said planner if I have anything coming up. If I do, it most certainly won’t be on time.

    I’m not really a technophobe either. I’ve tried paper methods, mostly because they looked cool and a lot of fun (thanks ADHD). In the end (after a lot of trial and error and shuffling through about 5 different types of planners and analog methods), I found with analog, that:

    • I have a lot of recurring tasks as part of my daily/weekly routines (ex. take supplements, brush teeth, wash face, Belle’s meds, guinea pigs’ pellets, guinea pigs’ waterbottles). Going with a paper method means I have to copy today’s tasks onto tomorrow’s page, and do the same thing the next day. I have about 20 recurring tasks, so uhhhh, ADHD brain says “NO 🙅‍♀️”.
    • The problem of not having automated reminders.
    • Needing to have to the entire notebook/planner on my person EVERYWHERE, even around the house. If I need to write something down that I want to remember later, I have to haul ass up the stairs to get my notebook and write it down. And my phone is way more portable, fits in my pocket, etc.

    Maaaaybe we’re relying on tech too much. But honestly, this is the 21st century, and just as we invented stuff like indoor plumbing, household appliances, etc (which by the way are also technology) to make our lives easier, we invented these pocket computers that are basically our phones, PDAs and camera combined into one. Unless if you’re spending all day doomscrolling Twitter, reddit or (insert other social media), I wouldn’t worry about tech taking over your life.

    Gonna say, though. The one advantage analog to-do lists have is that you can easily have your planner out in front of you by your workspace (for those who need their to-dos staring at them all day). You could try this with an iPad, but then you have to worry about fun stuff like battery or screen burn-in. (I think it might be possible to root an old e-ink device to display your to-dos, but I don’t have any experience in this.) Also there’s just something about some paper notebooks I really like. 🤤

    Not just productivity!

    I just got an Apple Watch mid-December for fitness tracking.* And before that, I had a Fitbit (RIP). You don’t really NEED a fancy watch to tell you to take a walk every hour. It just makes it more fun. I could set a reminder for myself on my phone to get up every hour. But the other stuff fitness trackers come bundled with (general list):

    *Nothing hardcore, like no workouts or anything. Just needed it for the basics (the stand, move and exercise rings).

    • how many hours you were active
    • how many minutes you walked each day
    • how many calories were burned

    Two of these can be tracked manually, but ADHD makes me think “why bother?” because…see the above section on recurring tasks for paper planners.

    (Also smartwatches can send notifications from your phone, so if you’re worried about missing important to-dos when your phone is in the other room, well…)

    Disclaimer: Probably not an Apple Watch

    Sooo…yeah!

    If you’re just starting out and trying to figure out what makes your brain tick, it’s not a bad idea to take other people’s advice on what works for them. But in the end, the only one who can decide what works best for you is YOU.

    (Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.)

  • Dream: Padmé Time Traveler

    Dream: Padmé Time Traveler

    Actually had this dream on 10/12/2021, but it’s just been sitting in my drafts folder and I forgot about it till now.

    A new Star Wars movie came out. It was the last in a trilogy, I think it was Episode IX? And it almost had the plot of the prequel trilogy, where Padmé and Anakin were gearing up for their wedding. But a time traveler from the future had traveled to Anakin’s past to undo his birth (most likely to prevent Darth Vader from happening). Padmé had no idea why they were doing this, and followed them back in time to undo the damage the other person caused, which involved going to Asgard (yes, THAT Asgard), cuz…yeah.

    Picnic dress

    After the climax, there was a quiet post-battle scene with just Padmé sitting on the edge of the Bifrost just outside the city, in her wedding dress (which was just the “picnic dress” she wore in Ep. II). Before she was about to head back home, she was asked to do another job, which was to be a caterer at a wedding (not hers, since she’s still in the past and this was before her and Anakin even met).

    Back to the Future

    When she returned to the present just in time for her wedding, she forgot to change her outfit, so she was still wearing her chef’s outfit (the same chef’s outfit from Animal Crossing). There was no time to change, because the ceremony was just about to start, and it worked out, because Anakin was also wearing the same chef’s outfit for some reason, but with pants. Something funny happened, but I didn’t see it because I was on my phone and was completely turned away from the screen (and I thought, uhhh, well I guess I’ll watch it again when it comes out on DVD).

    Post-Credits Scene in Star Wars????

    There was a post-credits scene in a present day kitchen on Earth during the evening, where someone—I think Nick Fury got into a fight with an unnamed person. The fight ended when Fury pressed the open button on the microwave, and KO’d the other guy–since his head was in the way. Fury took a mug of warm milk from the microwave and drank it. And I had a hard time watching this scene because I was too tired, and decided to watch it when it comes out on DVD.

    Then I had the thought, WAIT if they actually included a post credits scene, does this mean they’re bringing Star Wars to the MCU?? (And not because, you know, Padmé—not Jane actually went to freaking Asgard. Or the fact that said post-credits scene featured a prominent character from the MCU.)

    (And also I thought “wait, did I just get out my phone in a movie theater while the movie was playing?” and was disturbed).

    – THE END –