100 Q's

1. Please introduce yourself.

Well, well, well, where do I even begin? Shucks…

2. How long have you been making websites?

More than I would want to admit

3. And what got you into the hobby?

My first website was to pad my resume, but eventually, and as of today, it’s hard to say what sustains it. To be fair is this even a hobby?

And if we’re being even more specific, of the hobby of making websites, I’m not sure if that applies to what I do here.

4. What kind of website are you most interested in?

I don’t know. I avoid, when possible, getting too interested in others because the more you invest yourself in other peoples’ lives the more you abandon your own life, and then a few more years pass and you’re still stuck there.

I mean if it somehow ends up where it’s a mutually beneficial spiral somewhere, sure, but honestly, I’m bad at these sort of things.

5. What’s your workflow? Do you plan your websites out thoroughly or do you come up with the design as you go along?

For this iteration I started making my own shoddy SSG, but then eventually migrated to Astro™. The design of the website changes, on occasion, but I generally avoid any feelings of wanting to add more to it. I don’t want to invest too much time into the website other than the bare minimums of returns. Such returns include exorcisms, mostly.

6. Please link to your biggest inspirations.

I never went on a website and was compelled to make something similar. Folks that do 3D stuff and put the hard hours making such things work sure is neat. Like bending beyond control what’s capable in the browser. It’s impressive, but again, it’s not like I’m inspired to mimick such feats, or to make a good website for myself personally.

Despite the lack, even if there were sources, I’d feel slightly pinned against the wall involving anyone with this website. It’s not fair to them; I don’t think anyone wants to claim association to this place. I accept my leprosy.

7. What’s your favourite part about making websites?

I like the idea of poking at the world, mostly. Not the entire world, because then you’re playing against the house and the house makes sure we’ll continue to evolve slowly, with catacylsms inbetween, in this supposed peace, but nevertheless I like the thought of poking things.

Though it’s extremely ironic, beacuse it surprises me whenever I write something and it affects things. It’s hard for me to imagine the things I write exist in the same world others live in, honestly. It’s a little separate world (which I guess, in some way, I live in) and I get cold sweats whenever someone links to this website or writes out the name or shows any evidence of engaging with it beyond a small drive by, inadvertently.

8. And the thing you struggle with the most?

Well, in terms of websites it’s probably being motivated enough to try a different design. More abstractly, in the context of the Neocities Experience, I struggle with interacting. On here and out in the world, too. It’s obviously a deficiency even if everyone loves to LARP as the loner and misunderstood.

I mean, I wrote about it, and it’s just how we’re missing the foundations. While I love the idea of being a good friend, I haven’t been. So this is my hermit retreat even though I know it’s useless. I suppose the whole purpose of the current project is to transfigure uselessness into a useless with useful ends, maybe.

9. Do you keep the same layout on all of your pages? Or do you use different ones?

‘Tis the same layout, definitely, I suppose. I’m not a fan of this distinction between layout and “components” of a site. But it’s a fair distinction to make.

10. How confident are you with CSS?

I always try to find a redemption arc in CSS but I’ve since been enslaved to Tailwind and friends. I have to look things up all the time, too, but that’s okay.

11. Do you know how to correctly use <dl>?

I don’t think there’s a “correct” way to do it, actually. The semantic web was a failure, probably.

12. What is your favourite HTML element?

The <span> element because it’s the lesser known patron saint of non-semantic web. Though we’ve the <div> in dominance, I always turn my hidden devotion toward the true deity of non-semantic web, and that’s the <span>.

13. If you’re making a new web page from scratch, what is the first thing you do?

I don’t.

If I do, it takes a few days. After a few days, I don’t.

If I still do, then I pop veins adding each element until it somewhat makes sense.

14. Do you know JavaScript?

Do you ever know JavaScript? Have you heard about Realms?

15. How about PHP?

A little bit…

16. Does your website have a theme that you stick to?

You tell me.

If there was a theme, it’d be figuring out what’s next.

17. Are you more focused on content or design?

Design of course

18. Do you own a domain name? If not, would you ever want to?

I own a few domain names I’ve advertised on here. It’s not like I want to own things. I don’t want to own anything. I’m happily falling in line for the next world order. My pod awaits.

19. What do you think of nostalgia-focused or “retro” websites?

Nostalgia is a scam since you can recreate everything of it in your mind anyway. The true aspect to mourn isn’t the time passing, but the disfigurement of your mind. If you teleported back to those nostalgic days you’d smear the pizza across the wall, actually

20. Is your HTML valid? Do you even check?

It works. What are these appeals to “correct” or “Proper” or “valid” if it works?

21. What are your opinion on buttons and banners?

Because I’m too inept in connection I’ve never made them, but it’s whatever you want to do

22. What do you think of button walls in particular?

I don’t have an opinion…

23. If you started over again, would you make something similar or completely different?

God, I hope I’d make something different. I wonder how different things would be if I just committed to any other platform. I could be earning $20 a month on Substack, maybe!

24. Are you envious of other people’s websites?

I don’t envy anyone too deeply since we share the same human condition. I know you hide your vexations. I can feel it. I’ll hover my hand over your scars and whisper understandings that underpin our wretchedness

25. What text editor do you use?

When I first got real into funposting I was an Emacs user. Then I went back to VSCode. Then I tried some NeoVim. Back to VSCode, and now on Zed™. I don’t care what the editor is anymore.

Though coincidentally, today I was wondering whether I’d enjoy programming more again if I went back to Emacs. Probably not, but maybe it’s worth a shot.

The emacs keybindings within Zed work well enough, so whatever.

26. Why do you use that one?

Because I don’t like configuring things in the end. Or that’s something I gaslight myself about as a self-exploiting worker-bee who needs to be the most efficient.

I remember when I worked through Org-Mode tutorials, had the binding and quick pop up for What I’m Up To, Big Journals, Big Ideas, but nothing was resolutely accomplished.

Like all these people with advanced note taking systems, what are you even writing? What’s in that trusty vault of yours? Is it notes on how to write more notes? For the average case I can imagine the vault of 50 pages, and 49 of the pages are dedicated on the idea of taking notes, modding obsidian, trying different platforms… I wonder what’s on the last page.

I do concede the real smart ones probably have a vault that puts my scrambled mind to shame…

27. Do you host your image files on your web server, or on another host?

Sometimes neocities, sometimes catbox, mostly neocities though

28. This might not be relevant to you, but what’s your opinion on the Neocities vs. Nekoweb debate?

It seems a little presumptuous to stake the amount of relevance it has to me… this, why this…! This has the utmost relevance to me!

I don’t necessarily feel like I am “a part” of neocities. If I were I would feel capable of commenting and engaging more, but alas I am too self-conscious and a mole-creature so I’ll roam here and accept. Whenever I do engage I feel the Elephant Man in me daring a little too much and scurrying between posts and sets grimacing down the unattainable reality I could ever be anything else other than a spectacle.

Nekoweb has some innovations, and that’s great, but it has Discord. There’s your answer, whether fortunately or unfortunately

29. How much server space would you estimate your main website takes up?

Why estimate when I can look? It is using 55.5 megabytes.

30. Do you keep local backups of your files?

Inevitably, because of Astro™. Though of previous websites if this computer dies they die with it. I’m okay with that.

31. Do you prefer simple or highly visual websites?

I prefer websites which have something to say, whether through visuals or simples. But it’s okay if you have nothing to say. We all eventually reach a point where there’s nothing to say. In fact, I think a reason why I even write here is because I’m constantly grappling with things being said, but there ought to be silence. Nothing.

32. Do you stick to certain colours? Do you do that on purpose, or is it your subconscious?

The only contingency is that it’s readable in the darker hours, otherwise everyone is up for grabs

33. Have you ever thought about quitting? Why?

What’s with this aggression! I would never think about that… are you kidding me?

34. Do you have many webmaster friends, or is it a solitary hobby?

Isn’t it the quality of the friend that matters, rather than quantity?

35. Do people in your real life know about your website?

No.

36. Do you update your website very often? How often is “very often”?

Unfortunately more than I would like. It’s a constant purging. I have maggots popping capillaries, unfortunately.

37. And the overall design, do you change that much? Why or why not?

Sometimes I’m compelled to change it a smidgen, and when I do, I get a flush of existential dread that I wanted to change it, and that it didn’t change anything. So I don’t change it that much unless I want the nuclear option to commence

38. Is your website more you-focused, hobby-focused, or outside world-focused?

I’m not actually sure. I don’t know.

39. Do you do web design professionally?

My, my, getting a little personal, aren’t we?

40. If not, would you like to? And if you’re comfortable answering, what do you do for work?

Whether I do or do not, why would you want to be a professional of anything? Why the hell can’t I walk outside and build a fort. What’s this stupid permit and avoiding nails in my thumbs and nonsense?

Hello? I am entitled to build a little hut in the middle of six lane highways. Who are you to tell me?

41. Do you communicate with people by email very much?

What’s with all of these personal questions? It’s probably a straightforward question.

42. Some people reject social media and use websites as a replacement. Do you keep social media outside of your website?

No. Maybe I should. I could be getting paid to funpost.

43. How about instant messengers? Do you use a mainstream one like Discord or Telegram? Or something like Matrix? Do you avoid them?

No. I don’t like talking about nothing all the time, or sitting in a call in silence, or popping awkward silences when a big team fight is happening, and then my flesh crawls around and straps me to the chair as the videogames consume me for its end, for its development; I’d rather be a faceless entity on my own terms, frankly

44. Do you listen to music while you work on websites? If so, what kinds of artists?

I do, but I’ve been becoming increasingly aware that I use it too much. To be fair though, I think music is one of the few art forms left that truly transport you somewhere magical.

People love to rave about movies or anime and shows, sure, whatever, but it’s the soundtrack that does it for me. Perhaps because it has no words, and I like the change of scenery on occasion.

45. Do you keep everything you make on one website, or do you have more than one?

Personal QUESTION yet AGAIN!

46. On a similar note, do you keep to one topic on your site, or many?

I don’t think so. There are a lot of topics here, with residual themes popping up between. This very questionnaire is quite out of the ordinary, for example. I prefer to keep things sterile, and this isn’t, but whatever

47. Do you present your real self, or at least try? Or do you construct a persona on purpose?

What do you think?

Someone once said they can never tell when I’m joking. I have a permanent smirk on with everyone I meet. Let me line up my makeup for the clown I’m destined to be, adjunct to the twinkle of our encouter and futures seen; I’ve learned to tap dance by my incessant reverie and its transaction, upon boarding, is all of the soaked up wailing to screams of this Halja feast, of this very sense of being. I have twenty masks in demonic rotation, honestly.

But I don’t think anyone wants to see my real face, actually.

48. Have you ever made a good friend thanks to your website?

I’ve made many, many good friends. Even if we never exchange an email I like to think friends are those with a silent mutual understanding. That’s all you can likely get in the modern world, in my opinion.

And I think that silent understanding persists, even if I delete this website and we forget about each other. We all want to be secretly haunted, don’t you think?

49. Are you happy with the way HTML and CSS currently work?

Long ago I would wonder if there were better primitives for the web as Application rather than Markup, but I don’t care. Life is easier when you begin to accept rather than dream “the next” in the technological context, though whether I take this advice devotely is up for debate.

50. What are practices that you think people should avoid?

I think you should do whatever works for you

51. What about under-utilised practices, or things you think people should do more?

I’m surprised anyone would have an opinion about this, though I do think people would be well advised to write more. Or not. Maybe you’re the winners. I’m the one stuck with thousands of words that lead to nowhere.

You’re peachy under that suntan, aren’t you? Look at you going to and from Paris. I’m here scribbling on the walls and you’re smiling by the ball drop, NYC to Niagara, and now you’re posing below the Southwest “thumb”. You lived. I’m writing my death.

To be fair I think you’re still dying if the best way you can live is by traveling. But maybe that’s only another deficiency on my part, of my experiences. You’re still peachy, aren’t you?

52. Do you use a lot of semantic HTML? Or are you guilty of generic structure?

“Guilty” makes this an egregiously loaded question.

53. Do you consider different browsers?

No.

54. Speaking of, what’s your preferred browser? Convince your readers why they should use it.

I’m surprised people could be passionate about web browsers. Not that it’s a bad thing.

55. And what OS are you on?

iToddler

56. Do you have a strong opinion on that, or do you just happen to use it?

I don’t have a strong opinion on anything related to web dev and tooling, apparently

57. Are your websites mobile-friendly?

No. Or, I tried for a bit, and it’s a best-effort while keeping the same markup.

58. What are your thoughts on autoplay?

I mute

59. What are your thoughts on webrings? Are you in any?

I am in one, concocted by the eleventh hour in the recessions
of autumn (I don’t actually know when), but when I deleted my website I lost the submission form for it. I could add the submission form back, but I wonder if anyone else would actually want to join.

If any of the members of the webring have visions or wants to rectify the situation I’ll swiftly act, but only then.

Perhaps its time to expand the ring’s operations… we are the secret cabal that actually runs things around here, though you’ll never prove it.

60. Do you have any web shrines? What do you like to see in that sort of page?

God kills those who engage in idolatry

61. Are your websites “cliche”, in your opinion?

There is no punchline.

62. What is your ideal website? Are you striving for that, or for something else?

I don’t have such an ideal. Of what I’m striving for, I don’t know.

63. Are you an artist? Do you draw or design your own assets?

I don’t draw, no

64. What are your favourite resource sites?

I don’t have any.

65. Is there a habit you just can’t get away from no matter how hard you try?

Writing nonsense, unfortunately.

66. What’s your biggest advice for a new webmaster?

Take everything you love and put it in the other room. Lock the door, and then lock your door, and then you can begin.

67. Do you keep all your styling in CSS? Or do you hard-code some?

‘Tis a Tailwind oddity, luv

Editor’s Note: it does include water.css as a base, actually.

68. What do you think of frameset layouts?

I don’t have an opinion.

69. How about table-based layouts?

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70. Do you subscribe to the ideas of “one-column”, “two-column” and “three-column” layouts? Do you use any of these?

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Editor’s note: upon reading this again I do seem to use the “two column” layout on my index page. I don’t “subscribe” to any ideas, but you will know them by their actions, won’t you?

71. Do you spend longer on the HTML or the CSS?

I think it’s probably the CSS. Though HTML and CSS are bound together. So it’s an interplay, innit?

72. Have you ever made a page with no CSS? It’s useful for your thoughts.

Are thoughts useful?

73. Do you ever find yourself making layouts with nothing to put on them? Or do you only make layouts when the need arises?

Perhaps I could help someone who’d make layouts for me. I have the opposite problem.

74. Would you consider yourself a beginner? Or advanced? Somewhere in the middle?

We are all perpetually beginners. The game is afoot. Listen!

75. Do you have a habit of looking at the source code of websites you visit?

Sometimes, if I like something I see, but this is only in the context of building a non-personal website.

76. How did YOU learn how to make websites?

I followed free documentation online and then expanded from there. Books can be helpful. People forget about books, but I guess only if you want to learn how to use Rails, for example.

And to be fair I do think those so enamored with static site design are missing a lot by not having access to any backend.

The web truly comes alive through APIs & websockets, webhooks, templating and powerful programming tools. I do wonder what people would do if they were provided Lua… to make their own backend, with SQLite… maybe someone should make that.

77. Do you ever force elements to do things they’re not supposed to?

Semantic web is a failure.

78. Thoughts on floating elements?

I avoid it, as eventually I find I have to remove it to make it all work.

79. When you’re sizing stuff, what do you use first? Do you use px, em, %, or something else?

I use tailwind which does it for me

80. Do you have a favourite font?

If I had to choose, it’d probably be Iosevka. If anyone has a recommendation for another monospace font I’ll give it a try, but I just like the narrowness of Iosevka. It’s quite efficient.

81. Would you run a website with another person? How would that work?

Indeed, how would that work! Well, I suppose you’d have to share a login. What if someone made collaborating as simple as opening the same editor? And you see the cursor the same as Google Docs, what then?

Now, whether anyone would actually want to collaborate, I think it could be fun. For a small bunch.

I could see myself collaborating on something. Probably a minigame in the browser. I was going to say zine, but again, I get cold sweats about it.

82. Do you surf the Web to find new personal websites very often?

I’ve been doing it more lately because I’ve been finding everything else online boring

83. Do you bookmark other people’s websites? How would you feel knowing someone else bookmarked yours?

I don’t use bookmarks. Instead I memorize where I found the site, and either use my history or follow URLs back to it.

If someone bookmarked my site… well, I’m not sure. I’m sure they’ll get bored of it.

84. What do you want people to be most impressed with when they see your website?

I don’t want people to feel anything about me.

85. Are you interested in technology outside of websites? Do you collect?

I am interested in other technologies, more out of a wish for salvation rather than hope and enthusiasm. Alas, I settle on the same stuff over and over.

86. How often and for how long are you online?

More than I would care to admit, though to be fair, we live in a dead world anyway

87. When it comes to your website, who is your target audience?

I don’t know. I never had anyone in mind. I’m always surprised anyone reads this stuff.

Perhaps I’m targeting those in the throes of wondering what’s going to happen next. To all of us.

88. Have you ever been interested in XHTML?

No.

89. Do you program in general? Have you ever written a program for use with or on your website, not counting simple JavaScript?

Sure, but it’s whatever

90. Speaking of programs that help you make websites, what do you think of static site generators (SSGs)? Have you ever used one?

I think SSGs ruin one’s passion and creativity, because it boxes one into relying on the same templates and funposting. IF there’s a build step. The build step changes things… I think. If I had to create an HTML page each time to blog, maybe I would actually feel interested enough to try out different webpages and concepts. But alas, it’s about minimal returns on investment. The only thing that seems to work is writing nonsense.

91. Do you keep a hitcounter? Why or why not?

I have a “most viewed” section, powered by val.town, but it’s mostly bots anyway

92. Do you frequent forums? Which ones?

I frequent some programming forums, and peruse some ones I’ve come across, on occasion, but it seems I have difficulty in making a post anywhere other than this

93. Do you write your page content directly into the editor, or do you prepare it elsewhere, like a text document or a Word document?

already answered

94. Do you think you appear cool to others? A more accurate answer now: do other people ever say you’re cool?

It doesn’t matter how cool you’re perceived. Both in terms of actual outcomes, and there’s a reason why it’s better to be feared than loved. Love evaporates so quickly, especially as you get used to a person and even take for granted all the nice things you both do for each other.

95. Are you embarrassed of your old work? Have you ever deleted everything out of shame?

Embarrassment is a strong word here. I just didn’t jive with it anymore. But I have deleted everything. Out of shame? More like disillusionment.

96. Would you close down your website if you couldn’t update it, or would you leave an archive?

I would close down my website, definitely. I don’t like leaving lingering evidence of my existence. I don’t want to be remembered.

97. Do you reveal a lot about yourself on your website? Or are you more secretive?

Candidness is what I hope for, but not of myself.

98. Are you willing to reveal who your best online friend is, and/or if they have a website?

I do not want to associate anyone with this website…

99. And do you optimise the images on your website?

Astro does it for me!

100. We’re out of time! How do you feel after answering 100 questions? …other than exhausted.

It was okay.

I wonder, in that hypothetical collaborative website creator environment, whether such 100 questions could become a tradition of such a place. With everyone adding their own question. Refastening web’s saturnalia for one’s own ends. A Webmention of Milan for posterity.

Or not. I think a better tradition would be to do a wrap up news report.

Yeah, if I had to collaborate on something, it’d be a meta-newspaper.

This week we have a newcomer, gabriel007, to share his vision for a website universe only through picture and sound. A spatial outlining, he admits, inspired by Philip K Dick’s Exegesis. In other corners two new clubs formed, fanning out, and did you know the idea behind that? Well it all started… oh, the multiplayer cardgame? That? well we recently upgraded the… see, we didn’t know whether to stay faithful to the format or add our spin, to account for a virtual habitat and transition and…

My editorials will brim in fury, in indignation that someone could ever suggest misusing, or completely forgoing, the <dt>.

Ah, I guess that’s me.