Fireside Fedi Chat https://sightlessscribbles.com/newsletters/20250412/ #Blog #Blogs #Blogging #IndieWeb #NoPaywall
In which I am a freak who still writes things by hand in #cursive
https://axxuy.xyz/blog/posts/2025/handwriting/
#Blog #Blogging #Blogpost #IndieWeb #PersonalWebsite #PersonalBlog
"A Dream for the Web" was shared today in the #powRSS feed.
"I dream of a web that’s small and strange and wonderful. Where personal websites grow like gardens – each one unique, crafted by hand, reflecting the beautiful weirdness of its creator. Where the web feels big because it’s made of small, individual voices."
Hello Mathstodon.
Any recommendations for RSS feeds when dealing with KATEX?
What do you do?
Stick with dollar signs in the post?
Make them into images?
Put a note at the top?
Other?
@reillypascal brought this up in Indie Web Camp's Homebrew today.
Probando el tema https://sr.ht/~bacardi55/MinIndie/ con las modificaciones que ha hecho @bacardi55 para su sitio web, y me está gustando como queda :-) #blog #indieweb #hugo
Für alle Blogger*innen eventuell interessant:
The saga continues. I have added a contact page on the blog. Would appreciate some perspective:
https://chavanniclass.wordpress.com/2025/06/11/like-the-sun-they-shall-return/
#blog #blogging #writing #life #philosophy #SocialMedia #AI #AntiAI #IndieWeb
I decided to add a #microblog section to my website. Just experimenting a bit. Hopefully it will be a way to write more!
https://ggirelli.info/micro/2025-06-11-foo-bar
#website #indieweb #blog
💛 Webring Wednesday #12 💛 | Cyber World Webring
The Cyber World Webring is a retro, surreal little portal for fans of Deltarune and Undertale. The webring’s aesthetic nods to classic video game vibes, offering a cozy corner of the web for fans to gather. It’s perfect for those who appreciate a bit of nostalgia mixed with a love for these iconic games.
If you’re a fan of Deltarune, Undertale, this webring is a great way to meet and connect with fellow enthusiasts!
Check it out here: https://cyberworld.cartoon-aa.xyz/
-----
-----
@sovereignweb @indieweb @neocities @smallweb @webdev @blog @webdesign
#Deltarune #Indieweb #NekoWeb #Nostalgia #Oldweb #Smallweb #Sovereignweb #Undertale #Webdev #Webring
💛 Webring Wednesday #11: The Cookie Clickers Webring 💛
The Cookie Clickers Webring is a sweet little corner of the Indie Web just for folks who love to cook and share their recipes the old-school way—on personal websites without any of that modern bloat. It’s like stumbling upon a digital community cookbook made by passionate home cooks, bakers, and kitchen witches who’d rather connect through flavor than likes and follows. All you need to join is your own website and a few recipes to share, and you’re in.
It’s refreshing to see a cooking-focused space that values simplicity, authenticity, and connection over SEO games and algorithm-chasing. Whether you’re posting comfort food, experimental concoctions, or recipes tied to your culture, this webring creates a beautiful little web of taste and tradition. It’s all about community, care, and good eats—and that’s something worth clicking into.
Check it out here: https://insqueeration.neocities.org/webring
-----
-----
@sovereignweb @indieweb @neocities @smallweb @webdev @blog @webdesign
#Cooking #Indieweb #NekoWeb #Nostalgia #Oldweb #Recipes #Smallweb #Sovereignweb #Webdev #Webring
💛 Webring Wednesday #10: The Cutie Club 💛
The Cutie Club is an adorably curated webring for anyone who swoons over Japanese street fashion. Whether you’re rocking full-on Lolita coords, curating a collection of fashion magazines, designing your own pieces, or just admiring from the sidelines with stars in your eyes, this webring is your stylish little home on the web. It’s a welcoming space where j-fashion lovers of all kinds can connect and share their passions, free from the judgment or noise of mainstream platforms.
What’s especially nice about the Cutie Club is its emphasis on personal expression and nostalgia. If your heart flutters at the sight of frills, platform shoes, and pastel pixel art, this is a corner of the web you’ll absolutely want to strut into.
Check it out here: https://ita.toys/cutie-club/
-----
-----
@sovereignweb @indieweb @neocities @smallweb @webdev @blog @webdesign
#Fashion #Indieweb #Jfashion #NekoWeb #Nostalgia #Oldweb #Smallweb #Sovereignweb #Webdev #Webring
💛 Webring Wednesday #9: The Magical Ring 💛
The Magical Ring is a beautifully curated webring for pagans, polytheists, occultists, witches, and spiritual seekers who call the Small Web their home. It’s a soft, glowing thread between sites that dive into the mystical, the metaphysical, and the magical—offering a spiritual alternative to the often noisy, commercialized social web. Whether your site has a cozy altar page, a blog full of lunar musings, or a personal grimoire, this ring brings together folks walking their own unique paths in the craft.
It’s got a strong emphasis on community, respect, and intentionality—no fluff, no bigotry, no corporate nonsense. Just real people sharing what speaks to their soul. The Magical Ring is also refreshingly inclusive, welcoming both seasoned practitioners and curious newcomers alike. It’s the kind of space where your magical self can breathe a little easier and where your little HTML cottage in the woods gets a trail of lanterns leading to kindred spirits. ♥
Check it out here: https://magical-ring.neocities.org/
-----
-----
@sovereignweb @indieweb @neocities @smallweb @webdev @blog @webdesign
#Indieweb #NekoWeb #Nostalgia #Occult #Oldweb #Pagan #Smallweb #Sovereignweb #Webdev #Webring
💛 Webring Wednesday #7: AutisTBH Webring 💛
AutisTBH is a webring lovingly curated by and for autistic creators! It’s a safe, cozy little corner of the internet where neurodivergent folks can link up, share their websites, and celebrate their special interests, passions, and personal projects. Whether your site is a shrine to a hyperfixation, a blog about your day, or just a rainbow blinkie-filled space to call your own, if you’re autistic, you’re welcome here.
The webring is refreshingly personal—free of pressure, expectations, or polished perfection. It’s all about self-expression in whatever form feels right, from messy little pages about niche fixations to beautifully crafted digital journals. What ties it all together is the autistic identity behind each site and the shared joy of carving out space in a neurotypical internet. Bonus: there’s even a Discord server to hang out in!
Check it out here: https://autistbh.neocities.org/
-----
-----
@sovereignweb @indieweb @neocities @smallweb @webdev @blog @webdesign
#Autism #Indieweb #NekoWeb #Nostalgia #Oldweb #Smallweb #Sovereignweb #Webdev #Webring
💛 Webring Wednesday #6: Christians of the Internet Webring 💛
Christians of the Internet is a webring made to help fellow believers find each other out in the wild west of the Small Web. It’s a welcoming way to build connection and community between Christian-run sites. Whether your site is focused on faith, personal reflections, or something completely unrelated but made with love, this ring is about being present and connected in the digital space as people of faith.
What’s especially nice about this webring is that it doesn’t push a particular denomination or doctrine. It’s more about encouragement and shared values—an internet version of waving to your neighbors from across the street. If you’re a Christian with a personal site and you’re looking to feel a little less isolated online, this might be exactly the kind of small but meaningful connection you’re after.
Check it out here: https://christian-webring.nekoweb.org/
-----
-----
@sovereignweb @indieweb @neocities @smallweb @webdev @blog @webdesign
#Christian #Indieweb #NekoWeb #Nostalgia #Oldweb #Smallweb #Sovereignweb #Webdev #Webring
💛 Webring Wednesday #5: Anime Webring 💛
The Anime Webring is your cozy corner of the Small Web where anime lovers unite! Whether your site is a shrine to your favorite character, a place to post fan art or fanfic, or just a general anime-themed hangout, this webring brings together a colorful patchwork of fans who just get it. There’s a nostalgic charm here—like stumbling into a late ’90s fansite and realizing you’ve found your people.
Created by the wonderful folks at Moonlight Promise, this webring is all about keeping the spirit of anime fan communities alive in a more personal, ad-free space. If your site is anime-related and safe for all ages, you’re welcome to join and link arms with other fans through the ring. It’s a great way to get discovered, meet kindred spirits, and show off your slice of the anime world.
Check it out here: https://moonlightpromise.neocities.org/webring
-----
-----
@sovereignweb @indieweb @neocities @smallweb @webdev @blog @webdesign
#Anime #Indieweb #NekoWeb #Nostalgia #Oldweb #Smallweb #Sovereignweb #Webdev #Webring
💛 Webring Wednesday #4: Pixel Cuties Webring 💛
Pixel Cuties is a throwback dream for lovers and makers of pixel dollz—those tiny, highly detailed avatars that once ruled the early 2000s internet. This webring is all about reviving the charm of customizable pixel art characters, made with bases and dressed up in everything from fairy wings to platform boots. It’s a perfect digital hangout for anyone who misses the glittery days of The Doll Palace or just loves the pixel-perfect aesthetic of the old web.
What makes Pixel Cuties feel so special is its vibrant sense of community and dedication to keeping the dollz hobby alive. The site feels like a scrapbook filled with love, nostalgia, and sparkles, where new members are welcomed with open arms and old-school creativity thrives. Whether you’re a seasoned dollmaker or just discovering the scene, this webring offers a warm, pastel-hued welcome to one of the internet’s most adorable art forms.
Check it out here: https://pixelcuties.club/
-----
-----
@sovereignweb @indieweb @neocities @smallweb @webdev @blog @webdesign
#Dolls #Indieweb #NekoWeb #Nostalgia #Oldweb #Smallweb #Sovereignweb #Webdev #Webring
💛 Webring Wednesday #3: Fediverse 💛
If you’re a proud member of the Fediverse and have a personal site, the FediRing webring is the perfect way to connect with fellow fedizens across the open web! 🌐✨ This webring is all about linking the personal websites of Fediverse users, creating a decentralized, people-powered network that mirrors the spirit of federated platforms like Mastodon, Pleroma, and Misskey.
Just like the Fediverse stands as an alternative to corporate social media, the Small Web thrives on independent, self-hosted spaces where creativity and individuality shine. FediRing embraces this philosophy, bringing together bloggers, tinkerers, artists, and anyone else who believes in the freedom of the open web. If you’ve got a personal site and you’re part of the Fediverse, why not join and weave your presence into this ever-growing network?
👉 Check it out: https://fediring.net/
Are you a fedizen with a personal site? What are your thoughts on the connections between the Fediverse and the Small Web? Let’s chat in the comments! 🚀💬
-----
-----
@sovereignweb @indieweb @neocities @smallweb @webdev @blog @webdesign
#Fediverse #Indieweb #NekoWeb #Neocities #Nostalgia #Oldweb #Smallweb #Sovereignweb #Webdesign #Webdev #Webrevival #Webring
💛 Webring Wednesday #2: Cult of Usakumya 💛
If you love frills, lace, and the whimsical charm of lolita fashion, the Cult of Usakumya webring is calling your name! 🧸✨ This delightful webring is a haven for lolitas of all substyles, bringing together fashion enthusiasts who want to showcase their coordinates, share their personal sites, and connect with fellow frilly friends across the web.
Much like the Small Web itself, lolita fashion is all about creativity, self-expression, and standing out from the crowd. Whether you’re into sweet, gothic, classic, or even old-school lolita, this webring welcomes you with open arms!
👉 Check it out: https://ophanimkei.com/you/usakumya
Are you part of the Cult of Usakumya, or do you have fond memories of lolita fashion forums and personal blogs? Feel free to drop your favorite lolita-related website in the comments! 🎀💌
-----
-----
@sovereignweb @indieweb @neocities @smallweb @webdev @blog @webdesign
#Indieweb #NekoWeb #Neocities #Nostalgia #Oldweb #Smallweb #Sovereignweb #Webdesign #Webdev #Webrevival #Webring
💛 Webring Wednesday #1: Bill’s PC 💛
This week on Webring Wednesday, we’re checking out Bill’s PC, a fun little corner of the web dedicated to Pokémon fans. 🕹️ Whether you’re into classic Game Boy games, Pokémon Go, the TCG, or the latest titles, this webring is for everyone with a dedicated Pokemon space on their site! This is a great way for Pokémon lovers to meet other fans on the Small Web, connect, share their fandom, and celebrate all things Pokémon. ✨ 👉 Check it out! https://bills-pc.neocities.org/
💡 What’s your all-time favorite Pokémon game or character? Let us know!
-----
-----
@sovereignweb @indieweb @neocities @smallweb @webdev @blog @webdesign
#Indieweb #NekoWeb #Neocities #Nostalgia #Oldweb #Pokemon #Smallweb #Sovereignweb #Webdev #Webrevival #Webring
🧡 Tuesday Tips #5: 🧡 Why You Should Own Your Online Space (and How to Start Today)
Let’s get one thing straight: having your own corner of the internet is not just for techies, artists, or people with too much time on their hands. It’s for you. Yes, you—with your odd hobbies, your half-finished journal entries, your overthinking, your bad puns, your brilliance. You deserve a space that’s yours, where you’re not being watched, monetized, or squeezed into a template made by a company that sees you as a number.
And let’s be honest: the internet kind of feels like a giant shopping mall these days. You can hang out, sure—but it’s usually in someone else’s space, under someone else’s rules, and you’re constantly being watched, tracked, and served ads you’re 93% sure you said out loud in a private conversation.
But here’s the good news: you don’t have to live in the mall. You can build your own weird little house on the web. Paint the walls neon green. Hang up digital fairy lights. Play ambient frog sounds. Whatever you want—because it’s yours. Owning your online space is about reclaiming a little bit of digital freedom. A place to plant your flag. To say, “Here I am. This is mine.”
This article is a call to arms (or at least to keyboards): it’s time to own your online space. And no, you don’t need to be a tech genius or code wizard to get started. Let’s dive in.
The Problem with Borrowed Space
Right now, most people exist online through borrowed platforms: Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), YouTube, etc. These are free to use—but you pay in other ways. Algorithms decide who sees what. Accounts can disappear overnight. And you’re building your digital life on rented land. Social media platforms might feel like home, but really, you’re just crashing on a billionaire’s couch. Sure, it’s comfy and familiar and there’s always a party going on, but at any moment, the host could kick you out, change the rules, or suddenly decide that your favorite snack is banned. When you rely on social media alone, you’re kind of at the mercy of tech landlords. Want to post a link? Hope it doesn’t get buried. Want to share a thought? Better make it catchy or controversial enough to survive the scroll. And don’t even get me started on data privacy.
When you build your own site—whether it’s a blog, a personal page, a digital garden, or a collection of your favorite playlists—you’re not at anyone’s mercy. You’re setting up your own little house on the web. You choose the furniture, the wallpaper, the music playing in the background. And if you want to take a sledgehammer to the whole thing and start over? You can. Because it’s yours.
Unlike social media, your site won’t randomly vanish because someone flagged your joke about raccoons as “suspicious behavior.”
So, What Does It Mean to Own Your Online Space?
There’s something weirdly powerful about having a space that’s fully under your control. You start thinking differently. You stop trying to perform for likes or tailor everything to fit an algorithm. You’re not trying to go viral. You’re trying to make something that feels true. And that changes everything. You let your thoughts breathe. You let yourself experiment. Writing a blog post on your own site doesn’t feel like shouting into the void—it feels like writing in a cozy notebook that just happens to have a door open in case someone else wants to read.
Owning your online space means having a place on the internet that you control completely. That could be:
- A personal website
- A digital garden
- A blog
- A landing page or portfolio
- A space that doesn’t rely on ads, likes, or algorithms
It’s a corner of the web where you make the rules, you decide the vibe, and you get to exist outside the noise of social media. When you’re not worried about how your content will “perform,” you start creating in a way that’s a little more honest. Maybe a little messier. But real.
Why Bother?
Here’s why it’s 100% worth it:
- It’s more permanent. You don’t disappear if a platform shuts down or changes its policies.
- It reflects you. No templates forced by a social platform—just your voice, your style.
- It’s creative. Building a site lets you play, design, explore, and experiment. It’s digital self-expression at its finest.
- It’s empowering. There’s something powerful about knowing, “Hey, I made this. This is my space.”
- You’re harder to erase. Whether you’re an artist, a writer, a weirdo, or just a curious human—you exist online on your own terms.
And let’s be honest: the modern internet is a surveillance nightmare. Every tap, scroll, click, pause—it’s all being recorded. Your online behavior is constantly fed into machines that exist to sell you things. Or worse, manipulate your emotions for “engagement.”
When you run your own site, you don’t need trackers. You don’t need cookies (unless they’re literal cookies). You’re not harvesting data—you’re just making stuff. You get to choose what information to collect (if any), and who sees it. No shady data mining. No selling your soul for a sliver of reach. It’s not just about avoiding ads—it’s about refusing to be turned into a product.
Social media gives you a profile. A little rectangle to summarize your entire existence. A name, a picture, maybe a few links. But who you are—your thoughts, interests, sense of humor, bad takes, brilliant insights—that barely fits in a bio.
Your own site is like your room. You can put posters on the wall. Leave your laundry on the floor. Paint the ceiling bright yellow if you want. It’s where your digital self can be fully, gloriously you. Not a brand. Not a product. Not a carefully managed online persona.
We’re so used to being boxed in by platforms that we forget how expansive the web used to be. But when you build something from scratch, even a tiny something, you realize—you can be as weird, bold, chaotic, soft, or contradictory as you want. And no one can stop you. Owning your online space is a quiet kind of rebellion. A way of saying: “No, I don’t want to live inside a feed. I want to make something that’s mine.” And yeah, it might not get you thousands of followers overnight. But it might help you find your people. The ones who stick around. The ones who see you.
How to Start Today (No, Seriously—Today)
If the idea of setting up a personal site sounds like something only people in hoodies and hacker movies do, don’t worry. You don’t need to be Neo from The Matrix to do this.
Here’s a super chill beginner path:
1. Pick Your Platform
There are plenty of easy, beginner-friendly tools that make starting a website simple:
- WordPress – A solid place to start, especially if you like flexibility later and feature rich. (While WordPress.com is a solid starting point, I do recommend going with a hosting provider instead as it will provide you with A LOT more freedom and less restrictions for a much cheaper cost).
- Carrd – Great for simple, beautiful one-page sites
- Neocities – Perfect if you want that old-school web feel (HTML/CSS knowledge helps with this one)
- MMM.page – A really fun drag and drop website builder! No coding knowledge required.
- Straw.page – Another extremely simple web page builder. Again, no coding required for this one AND it is optimized for mobile devices!
Most of these are free, and some with limitations until you upgrade, though you shouldn’t need advanced features just starting out anyways. This is a “dip your toes in” experience! Once you pick your chosen platform, start experimenting with it! Try building your first page. Mess around with different buttons, discover and learn what everything does. Soon you’ll be well on your way to creating something spectacular.
2. Choose a Domain (Optional But Empowering)
A domain is your web address (like yourname.com). It’s not required to start, but having one makes your site feel official—and it’s easier to share.
Domains usually cost around $10–15/year. Try something short, memorable, and personal. You can buy one through providers like Namecheap or Go Daddy.
3. Set Up Your Home Base
Once you’ve got your platform and (maybe) a domain, it’s time to build. Start small. Don’t overthink it. Some ideas for your first few pages:
- A homepage that says hi and what you’re about
- An “About Me” page with your story
- A blog or journal to share updates, thoughts, photos, projects
- A links page for your favorite sites or social media
If you need more inspiration, be sure to check out my 54 page ideas post.
4. Make It Yours
Add colors you love. Use silly gifs. Write in your voice. Add a moodboard. This is your corner of the internet—there are no rules except your own.
The goal isn’t perfection—it’s presence. Let your site evolve as you do.
5. Keep Showing Up
Your website isn’t something you launch once and forget about (unless you want it to be). It’s a living space and a place you should enjoy coming to regularly. Check in with it. Tidy it up. Add something new every now and then. Make it a space you love working on and enjoy being in.
Like a garden, it gets better the more you tend it.
Final Thoughts: You Belong Here
The web isn’t just for brands, influencers, or tech pros. It’s for people like you. People with stories, art, opinions, weird little jokes, dreams, playlists, favorite links, and digital lives that deserve more than just borrowed space.
So go on—plant your flag. Build your weird digital house. Start messy. Start small. Just start.
Your space is waiting.
P.S. If you do make a site, I’d love to see it! Leave a comment, share your link, and join the lovely folks making the sovereign web feel like home again.
-----
-----
@sovereignweb @indieweb @neocities @smallweb @webdev @blog @webdesign
#Indieweb #NekoWeb #Neocities #Smallweb #Sovereignweb #Webdesign #Webdev #Webrevival
