It's truly a corner now
I love libraries.
Libraries have always been a place of comfort for me. Growing up, I went to the Newburgh Free Library, which has a gorgeous view overlooking the Hudson River. It was my introduction to a lot of culture that I wouldn't have had acess to otherwise. I didn't have a lot of access to pop culture growing up since my family didn't have internet or money and also because my parents saw pop culture as threatening to their belief system.
I started my own library as a kid, which basically meant I organized my bookshelf. I'm pretty sure I also made a sign-out sheet, but I'm not sure if I went as far as making library cards.
When I started my job and was given a few bucks to decorate my desk, I chose to decorate it as a library by buying a small corner bookshelf. That way, I can be surrounded by books even when I'm coding. I prioritized conversation starters for populating the bookshelf, but I also included overflow from my bookshelves at home.
I recently was happy to purchase a new bookshelf handmade by a local craftsperson. I had been thinking about the shallow bookshelves of Books & Bookshelves (located at 99 Sanchez St, SF) ever since I saw them a couple years ago and finally pulled the trigger to get my own.
So, I think having my site be somewhat library-themed is appropriate. I think it enables a pulling together of an eclectic variety of ideas. I also think it conjures feelings of home, of warmth, and of comfort. I think the fireplace also brings in the idea of cinders, which is on brand, but also fits into the concept of a library. It brings to mind Victorian-era libraries, like Vassar College.
Website updates:
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Replaced the big home screen buttons with a sidebar for every page. The sidebar is styled as a bookshelf. I've remixed the existing button art as the icon and cover backgrounds. I've also added a bunch of other touches to make them feel more organic. The glass buttons were rather short-lived. Claude added the orange cube on the shelf as a nod to cinder cube, and I couldn't help but be charmed, so I've kept it. An easter egg from the original buttons lives on.
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Home screen revamp. Now that the big ol buttons are gone, the home page needed a little lovin'. I'm trying to avoid making the site strictly a blog site, so I've chosen to keep the blog somewhat deprioritized visually and instead add illustrations to complement the bookshelf.
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I've added a proper Games section. You can now play the WebGL games I've made directly from this site! Ideally I'd like to serve the Java and Solarus games as well, but for now they're just downloads. I haven't included the mac download for Carnival Town because afaict it doesn't work.
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Swapped icons for handdrawn versions
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Updated Contacts because I felt like it