🧶 ICYMI #13: March 6, 2020

Howdy,

Well, well... It's been a hot minute then, hm? In my most recent email last September, I wrote that August/September always seem to be very busy, and months of great change for me. And they were! They were also the beginning of a severe depressive episode taking firm hold. But... I'm still here! What better installment to come back on than lucky #13?

Kurt and I are relaunching Fullstack Health soon. We've already recorded our relaunch episode, which addresses the unplanned hiatus and our individual experiences with depression.

✏️ Writes

Josh Comeau wrote a piece on The Perils of Rehydration, illuminating an issue that has frustrated many a Gatsby user.
John Otander wrote an interactive piece on random color generation, Randomness and Color (or as Chris Biscardi called it, "clicky clicky slidey draggey"), answering some questions I've never even thought about.
Aisha Blake wrote an important and insightful new piece on the Gatsby blog on Changing the Open Source Status Quo.

🔨 Projects + Tools

These generative artistry tutorials from Ruth John and Tim Holman look rad.
Last Black Friday, I bought a few different things supporting independent tech creators. One of those things was the Testing JavaScript course by Kent C. Dodds. I jumped back on it this week, and 10/10 recommend -- if you want to learn to test JavaScript, this is the place to jump in.
The Twitter card validator lets you preview how a url will unfurl when shared on Twitter.

🎤 Talks

What You Need to Know About Stalkerware by Eva Galperin.

💬 Twitter

This tweet thread on the "Unified Cutlery Theory" -- a series of metaphors used by people with a disability or chronic illness that explains the reduced amount of mental and physical energy available to complete day-to-day tasks.
Webdev is witchcraft in the woods.
COVID-19 is the worst JIRA ticket.

🎧 Podcasts

My doctor tasked me with meditating every day. As part of that, I've started listening to an episode of the Meditation Minis podcast every night as I'm getting ready for bed. They're always around ten minutes long (which is about perfect for my evening routine) and I've really been enjoying them.

🗣 Shout-outs

Tara Vancil has returned to Austin! She started an awesome new job at Indeed.
In related awesomeness, we restarted our tech social meetup, Backlot Banter!

🦄 Random

Join the Party Corgi Network Discord! A network of streamers and creators started by the superlative party corgi, Chris Biscardi.
Working remotely I use Freedom to manage and block distractions. But working remotely also gets really isolating and lonely. Freedom has a feature to listen to coffee shop sounds, which I find comforting. This blog post has a lot of other great options as well.
Tito's Vodka (Texas proud!) has had a fun time trying to explain to the internet that it can't be used as a replacement for hand sanitizer. (Dallas Morning News coverage too because this is just too funny).
These creative and useful business cards that make me actually want business cards again.

🌵 Personal

I foster failed. Meet Lyla.
I recently started back at a new crossfit gym, and am working with a nutrition coach. Starting to feel better, and optimistic about progress. I'm excited to share more about all of this on Fullstack Health.
I'm still here, still trying.

Have a lovely weekend! 💜,

Amberley

March 6, 2020, midnight

🧶 ICYMI