Jeff Finley's Blog

The WordPress Drama has Made Me Reconsider My Website Rebuild

So if you remember, I was soooo obsessed with redesigning my website back in the spring. I wrote a bunch of posts about web design and WordPress, even considering going back to school for web design.

Well, that didn’t happen lol. I’ve completely neglected my website.

My rebuild is on hold for the time being because I feel like there’s a shakeup coming in WordPress land. Shit is going down and the future of WordPress is in jeopardy. The vibes suck, and CEO Matt Mullenweg is being revealed to be the wolf in sheep’s clothing all along.

WordPress Drama ContinuesImage generated by ChatGPT

I wrote about ​another WordPress meltdown​ at the end of September, and it’s only gotten worse since then. I can’t possibly recap the whole thing, so you might want to ​read this to catch up​ or check out the ​wpdrama subreddit​.

Here’s a TLDR from ​The Verge​:

In late September, Automattic CEO and WordPress cofounder Matt Mullenweg started a public dispute with the hosting provider WP Engine, calling the company “a cancer to WordPress.” He ​accused WP Engine​ of not contributing enough to the WordPress ecosystem and profiting off of trademark confusion. As a result, WP Engine was blocked from accessing WordPress.org’s servers.

Automattic has since sent a cease and desist order to WP Engine to stop it from using its trademarks, while WP Engine has ​followed up with a lawsuit​ that accuses Automattic and Mullenweg of extortion.

The series of events set off a public battle that ​calls into question​ the boundaries between WordPress.com host Automattic, the WordPress open-source project, and the nonprofit that’s behind it.

Here’s a ​video from his recent appearance at Tech Crunch Disrupt​. Yes he went on there as part of his own PR campaign to maintain his good-guy image, but it’s just creepy. The interviewer at least tries to be real with Matt, but he continues to spin, deflect, and dodge any serious questions. It’s uncomfortable to watch.

Why do I even care?

I care for a few reasons:

1. I’m a creator and WordPress DIYer. Which means I use the open source WordPress CMS as the backend of my site. It powers my home on the web and has been awesome for years, but it’s innovation has stagnated. It’s slow, bloated, and taken over by greedy plugin devs pushing their premium subscriptions. Including Automattic.

Me working on my website

As a creator, I want a home base to publish all creations and my thoughts. WordPress was great for that. But it seems it hasn’t kept up with the times. I’ve felt that the vibes have been off for years and this recent dumpster fire with Matt is just the latest. It gives me pause and makes me hesitate wanting to rebuild with its future in jeopardy.

Meanwhile the vibes seem great over at ​Ghost​. The CEO John O’Nolan wrote a ​thoughtful response​ to the drama. Ghost has always intrigued me, except they’re strictly focused on being a blogging or newsletter platform (like a self-hosted Substack). I’ve considered switching, but I feel like it’s too limited for my needs as a multi-faceted creator. I don’t just write, I make music, art and design, podcasts, and sell digital prodcuts, and books. I need something for all of that.

I feel like the solution for me just isn’t out there yet. I’m not techy enough to build it myself or use something like ​Statamic​ or ​Craft CMS​. I’m not trying to be a web developer. I’ll just stick with WordPress for now and see how things shake out over the next year.

2. I use several other Automattic products such as ​Day One​ and ​PocketCasts​. (They were not developed by Matt’s Automattic, but acquired, in his attempt to be the ​Berkshire Hathaway of the internet​). I’m concerned about the future of those apps, which I’ve used daily for years. I’ve got thousands of journal entries in Day One since 2013.

I’m not really concerned those apps are going to fail, as they’re run by their own teams under the Automattic umbrella. But I’ve got to think the ​vibes are just off​ at that company and people have to be feeling it. With vibes like this, you know a shakeup is on the horizon.

3. I’m fascinated by Matt’s hero to villian arc. How a nerdy ​nice guy​ with good intentions gets corrupted by power. In some ways I can see myself in him. In a past life, I would have wanted to be him. It seems like he’d be on top of the world and thriving. But he’s clearly struggling with his mental health as many have pointed out to him. It’s like I’m watching the makings of another ​WeCrashed​ style doc in real time. Netflix producers get in there!

What Else I’ve Been Up To:

Trying out ​Zen Browser​. Enjoying it so far. It’s built on Firefox and has many features of the beloved Arc browser (which its devs have pivoted to a new project and may have abandoned it).

Ai generated lo-fi music is taking over. So I was listening to this channel called ​ETERNAL PAST​ and vibing out to their 90s dreamcore vaporwave tracks. Really digging it in the background while I played Magic on my computer. I went to see who the artists were and saw, “Music generated by genAi & mixing and mastering by ETERNAL PAST”. I was like, whaaa?

Then yesterday morning I see his video pop up in my feed: ​Ai lofi music is ruining youtube.​ I also heard that AI music is flooding other streaming platforms too. To me, it was indisiguishable from the real thing and served well as background music. But I couldn’t help but feel cheated. Welcome to the future!

Apple’s new M4 Mac Mini

Bought the new M4 Mac Mini! I’ve been wanting to get a new desktop computer for years, still chugging away on my self-built PC from 2015. I’ve been choosing to work more on my laptop lately (M2 Macbook Air) which I just feel more at home with than my Windows PC.

I grew up on Windows and enjoyed building my own PC when I was younger. I debated whether to do another custom-built PC, but I just don’t have the energy or interest in researching it all and somehow doing it wrong. I like the simplicity of the Mac Mini and was stoked to see Apple was releasing a new model this month. I went ahead and pre-ordered it and it should arrive this week. I’m excited to work on my music and try Logic Pro again.

Now THIS is a great use of AI: A creator by the name of ​Neural Viz​ has been making a ​mockumentary series on YouTube​ using various genAI tools to aid his creative storytelling. Imagine a future where aliens tell their story of humans in an retro unsolved-mysteries style. Each episode is only a couple minutes long but the lore is deep and hilarious. Tiggy Skibbles!! 😂

Tiggy Skibbles is the real deal

That’s about all. Thanks for reading and I’ll talk to you again soon.

✌️

Jeff

Free “Feeling States” Meditation for Interval Timers

A few weeks ago I created this “feeling states” meditation using an interval timer app on my phone. I wanted to build a custom timer to prompt me into “higher” states of being (such as gratitude, truth, peace) because it’s so easy to just default into negative, critical, or cynical states of being. I’ve been really loving it and finding it useful so I thought I’d share it with you for free.

My Feeling States Meditation

Most meditation focuses on mindfulness or becoming the witness to your thoughts and sensations. This is effective in helping you disidentify with your thoughts and start to identify more as the presence behind it all. That’s great but this is different.

The idea came to me in meditation actually. In my practice, I don’t just sit there and observe myself or my thoughts. I tend to adopt a state of surrender to what is or prime reality, which is different than mindfulness. It’s more “relational” than a discipline. It’s a coming home, or a letting go and going back to my source. It feels like there’s a relationship with small me and the great mystery of existence.

This meditation is kind of like that, but that’s just one feeling state. An important one, but there are different flavors you can enjoy and only take a minute to experience. It’s easy to forget about this aspect of your being when you’re spending all day reacting to the world around you, putting out fires, and feeling out of touch with your divine self.

I invite you to try this out and see how you like it.

Click here to access the meditationInstructions for setting up the meditation:Use the Seconds App: ​Use my link​ and access the timer on the web or import it into your app. If for some reason that link doesn’t work, you can try manually setting it up below:Alternative setup in any timer app: Use an interval timer app of your choosing. Add each feeling state as an “exercise” and set the duration for one minute each. If you have text-to-speech enabled, use that. Feel free to change settings as you see fit.Music to elevate the experience: I recommend background music to enhance your experience and get you in the right head space. I use ​Brain.FM’s “serene calm”​ as my go-to option, but you can find lots of meditation music on Spotify/YouTube.Screenshots of the Seconds interval timer and Brain.FM background music20 Feelings in 20 Minutes

Here’s a list of the different feelings in my meditation right now. Feel free to customize to your own preferences. The idea is to let yourself feel these. It’s like a remembering. You already know how to do this, you’ve only forgotten. If it seems difficult at first, that’s okay, don’t try so hard. This isn’t about effort.

You’re going to get thoughts. You’re going have various images or memories pop up in your minds eye. Notice them with curiosity and lightness. Don’t take this practice too seriously. Just try it on and see how you like it.

I provided some descriptions of each, but do what you feel like.

Presence
Let yourself come into the present moment. Think to yourself, “I am here.” or “I’m coming home.” Feel what it’s like to fully be here now.
Trust
Say to yourself, “Trust…what does if feel like to trust?” Imagine what it feels like to feel like you can fully trust yourself or the divine.
Devotion
What does it feel like to bow in devotion to your beloved? What if your beloved wasn’t outside of yourself, but the divine essence within you? What if it was also bowing to you in return?
Awe & Wonder
The magic and great mystery of life. Think, “What if everything is a miracle? What if I AM a miracle?” Feel the wonder as you see the world with fresh eyes.
Peace
What does “peace” feel like? You might now it’s opposite. Settle into what you know. Say, “I am peace, embodied.” Feel the deep stillness that resides inside, untouched by external chaos.
Truth
Align with your deep inner knowing of ultimate truth. It cannot be spoken or even described, so set your intention on the source of truth within. The true essence of what is without agendas or opinions.
Joy
Let lightness fill you. Say to yourself, “Joy… what would true joy feel like?” Feel the expansive energy of pure happiness bubbling up inside.
Laughter
Connect to the playful side of life. Think, “I can laugh at the absurdity.” Imagine a cheerful smile inside your heart. Feel the release and freedom that comes from laughter.
Acceptance
Think to yourself, “I accept what is.” It doesn’t mean condoning wrongful behavior, but stepping out of denial. Let go of resistance, allow what is.
Abundance
Recognize the true wealth around and within you. Say, “I have everything I need. I AM everything. I AM abundance itself.” Feel the richness of life, overflowing in every moment.
Creativity
Open up to the creative flow. Say, “I am a vessel for creation. I am creativity itself.” Remember what it feels like to create from pure joy.
Security
Ground yourself in true safety. Say, “I am safe. I am safety embodied.” Feel what it might feel like to be fully supported, safe, and held.
Confidence
Step into your own power. Think, “I know myself.” Feel the strength and assurance that comes from really knowing who you are.
Freedom
Release all limitations. Say, “I am free.” Feel the boundless space around you, the limitless possibilities ahead. The relief of no obligations and sense of infinite possibilities.Service What is “true service” instead of servitude? Feel the fulfillment that comes from effortless giving without agendas or obligations.Certainty Anchor into what it feels like to know. Say, “I am certain. I know. I remember.” If you can’t feel it, embrace it’s opposite.Alignment Bring all parts of yourself into harmony. Think, “I am doing exactly as I am meant to do.” Feel the balance between your mind, body, and soul.Synchronicity Tune into the flow of life’s perfect timing. Remember magical coincidences that you have forgotten.Ease & Flow Let go of effort and struggle. Imagine wind in your sails and the feeling of the natural flow of life.Gratitude End the meditation with gratitude and appreciation. Think, “I am grateful for all that is.” Feel the warmth in your heart as you appreciate not only the divine mystery, but also your human self for going through it.

After the 20 minutes are up, you can continue to stay in the zone if you’re feeling it. Or end the meditation and move on with your day.

Embrace the Opposites

Every one of these feelings has its opposite or absence. I’m sure you can remember what those feel like too. For example, when I am feeling “confidence” I can distinctly remember what it feels like to NOT be confident. Or uncertainty, insecurity, illusion, denial, fear, despair, etc.

Sometimes remembering how the opposite feels helps us tuning into what the presence of it is. Think to yourself, “Oh yeah, that’s what this feels like.” Spend time with it until the timer prompts you to move onto the next feeling state.

Try it for a week – 7 Day Challenge

Try it out for a week and see how you feel. Add it to your existing meditation practice. Or shorten it down to just ten feelings in ten minutes. Whatever you do, I hope that you enjoy it and get something out of it.

Again, here’s the ​link to the meditation​ and the ​background music​ I use.

If you have any thoughts or suggestions let me know!

Peace ✌️

Jeff

Photo by Dorota Dylka on Unsplash

Hurricane Helene hits close to home

Man, it’s been a wild week.

Hurricane Helene hit, and we were fortunate enough to only experience minor damage here in southwest Ohio. We lost power for five hours and our internet connection for six days—a mild inconvenience compared to the devastation across the southeastern U.S.

Damage from Hurricane Helene hits close to home

Cara has family in western North Carolina, who fled their home in South Carolina to avoid the storm by retreating to their mountain cabin. Unfortunately, western NC was one of the hardest-hit areas. They live just outside Asheville, which was ​severely impacted​.

The scenic river behind their cabin flooded and caused massive damage to their property. They lost power, water, and sewage. Their cars flooded. Trees down everywhere. The roads leading to their house were impassable, covered by a landslide. Thankfully, they were okay and had a generator, as well as a neighbor who had access to a natural spring for water.

Cara and I were just down there a few weeks ago, staying at this little cottage at the ​Celo Inn​, a cute, family-owned bed and breakfast. Yesterday, I learned that the cottage we stayed in is completely gone. Washed away in the flood.

The cottage we stayed in at the Celo InnThe cottage after Hurricane Helene, obliterated.

That was just a small part of the damage that hit close to home. The lovely towns of ​Burnsville​ an ​Spruce Pine​ were ​wrecked beyond belief​. Beyond what anyone was prepared for. We always like to visit these towns whenever we visit Cara’s family down in NC. It was unbelievable to learn what happened.

Spruce Pine beforeSpruce Pine after Hurricane Helene

The “DT’s” circled in this photo is for ​DT’s Blue Ridge Java​, the community coffee shop and a local staple. I remember having coffee there with Cara’s family back in 2020. I still can’t believe what I’m seeing in these photos.

Fortunately, the owners of the Celo Inn and Blue Ridge Java are safe, but are grieving the loss of their family business. Despite the devestation, they (and many others) are finding comfort in the way the ​community has come together​ to rebuild.

This was just my personal glimpse into the tragedy. The entire Appalachia region, and much of the Southeast, are reeling and will never be the same. Here’s a video below of some of the devestation:

It’s hard to write about anything joyful this week, but I’m grateful to be alive and to live in a town that’s relatively safe, with access to everything we need.

Cara and I often fantasize about living off-grid in a mountain cabin, away from it all. But the reality is much different. When you’re living off a winding mountain road—an offshoot of another back road, and 30 minutes from the nearest grocery store—you gotta be rugged and ready for something like this.

Some good things from this week

I will say that spending almost a week without WiFi had its perks. It snapped me out of my normal routines, disrupted my habits, and forced me to figure out creative ways to get things done.

Cara and I joked that she was thriving during the outage. Getting to light candles, cozy up to read and color in her coloring books. We dusted off our DVD player and borrowed ​Midsommar​ and ​Hereditary​ from the library. We also watched ​Inside Out 2​, which we loved.

I stopped checking my feeds for new content and instead caught up on a backlog of audiobooks that I had downloaded to my phone. I finished Tony Tulathumitte’s fiction novel ​Rejection​ and finished Jenny Odell’s ​How to Do Nothing​—both of which I’d recommend.

When we finally got our internet restored after six days, I got caught up on the ​WordPress drama​ between Matt Mullenweg and WP Engine. This week’s latest developments are WP Engine officially ​filing a legal complaint against Matt​, and one of the spicier bits were a series of texts where Matt tried to poach WP Engine CEO Heather Brunner to work for him at Automattic.

Here’s a ​comperensive rundown​ of everything that’s happened so far with Matt and WP Engine. Definitely worth a read if you want to catch up.

Creatively, I made more progress on my b-boy funk track. It’s coming along, but not ready to share just yet.

Oh, and ​ConvertKit​, the app I’m using right now to write this newsletter, ​rebranded to Kit​ this week. Nothing has really changed for me yet, aside from seeing a new logo and updated UI. I like the rebrand, but I’m curious how they plan to roll out new tools for creators “who mean business”.

Well, that’s about all for this week.

Thanks for reading and I’ll talk to you soon. ✌️

Jeff

Another WordPress Meltdown

Remember when I wrote about ​whose reality are you living in​? Well, this week my attention has been glued to the latest WordPress drama following co-founder Matt Mullenweg’s keynote speech at WordCamp US in Portland.

WordPress Drama Unfolds: Matt vs. WP Engine

The gist is that the Matt used ​his keynote​ to pick a fight with ​WP Engine​, claiming they are exploiting WordPress and not giving back enough. He even went as far as calling them a “cancer” to the WordPress community and demanded they pay tens of millions to Automattic (Matt’s company) to make things right.

Automattic would “go to war” if WP Engine did not agree to pay its competitor Automattic a significant percentage of its gross revenues – tens of millions of dollars, in fact – on an ongoing basis. Mr. Davies suggested the payment ostensibly would be for a “license” to use certain trademarks like WordPress, even though WP Engine needs no such license.

— Source: ​cease-and-desist letter from WP Engine to Automattic​

The talk made attendees cringe and scratch their head. But it didn’t stop there. Matt’s been manically ​posting​ ​all​ ​week​, even on the ​official​ ​WordPress.org channels​. He banned WP Engine’s access to the WordPress.org servers, making it near-impossible for their customers to update their themes and plugins. He’s even ​changing the trademark policy​ to single out WP Engine and make it so what they’re doing violates their trademark, even though other companies do it and it hasn’t been a problem until lately. Matt says he’s been asking them “nicely” for 18 months and it’s their fault he had to turn this into a public fiasco.

He went on a livestream yesterday to explain his motivations, but it all just comes across as ​petty and unprofessional​. We’re all wondering how this guy can get away with doing what he’s doing. Like he has nobody around him telling him its not a good idea. He’s causing more damage to WordPress than WP Engine ever could.

Matt tries to explain his case against WP Engine

Now, I’m not going to say WP Engine is innocent in all this. It’s complicated. Their biggest crime, according to Matt, is they’re too greedy, using words like “extracting” and “exploiting”. The evils of capitalism, personified. They’re funded by a private equity firm and only care about “squeezing their customers for profit.”

WordPress takes another hit

This doesn’t make WordPress look good. Not at all. It’s got the community in shambles and people are starting to see the writing on the wall. Folks are looking for alternatives, yet again. Companies like Webflow are posting guides helping users ​migrate away from WordPress​.

You know I’ve been ​deliberating​ ​what platform​ I’d like to ​rebuild my website​ on for a year or more. I’ve used WordPress since 2005 and it’s what I know. It’s what I’ve decided to keep using after months of research on alternatives. But things like this, combined with the overly commercialized theme and plugin ecosystem tell me that maybe it’s really time to walk away from WordPress?

The “free” and “open source” era of WordPress is just marketing speak at this point. Anything else you want to do besides blogging is gonna cost you extra in premium subscriptions. The enshittification of WordPress is in effect.

But is it enough to actually get us (re: me) to move? We’ll see. Part of me wants to find a refreshing new platform to build a website with that isn’t a drag. Despite all it’s drawbacks, my website works fine. Sometimes changing things breaks things. It’s risky to move to something else, knowing that they all will likely run into similar problems too.

But that’s about all I have to say on that. Here are some additional posts if you want to dive deeper on the topic:

​Brian Coords: Misconceptions About Matt, Open Source, and Contributions​​CSS Tricks: Catching Up on the WordPress 🚫 WP Engine Sitch​​Jeff Matson: Matt vs Everyone Else​What else I’m up to this week:

Aside from this, I did manage to carve out time for my own creative work.

Music: I experimented with ​Suno AI​ to “extend” my uploaded audio clip with some fresh ideas that I could then extract stems from and manipulate as I wish in my DAW. I had it sing some lyrics for me which I was able to sample and work into my track. I don’t know if I’ll keep them or do my own vocal takes. We’ll see.

Starseed Supply Co: Restocked a bunch of patches for ​my Etsy shop​. Been shipping out orders for customers all week.

Tosha Silver: I’ve been vibing with her work lately. Here are some clips: ​Trusting the divine​, ​how to receive divine bounty,​ and ​God is sexy​.

Good reads: I finally got around to reading the short story ​Cat Person​ by Kristen Roupenian and watching the ​recent film​ that came out about it. I loved it. It’s a “dark, unsettling exploration of modern dating, power dynamics, and miscommunication, centering on a young woman’s brief, awkward relationship with an older man.” I also enjoyed ​The Feminist​ by Tula Tulathimutte. It’s “a sharp, satirical tale about the performative nature of wokeness, following a man’s misguided attempts to prove his feminist credentials while grappling with his own insecurities and self-deception.” I really dug his writing style so I picked up his latest book ​Rejection​.

That’s about it for this week. What do you think of the WordPress mess? Is it time to move on to something new? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Talk soon ✌️

Jeff

AI writing tools making me a better writer?

Cara and I were having one of those chats—the AI is coming for our jobs kinda chats. She’s a copy editor and sent me ​a podcast​ with two editors talking about how AI has affected their work. One was skeptical and fearful, the other was optimistic and had pivoted to selling ​AI for Editors courses​. By the end of the pod, the doom-and-gloom gal was an AI-convert, excited about the possibilities of improving her editing workflow.

I went on with my week and forgot about it. But I kept synchronistically stumbling across AI writing and editing apps and sending them over to Cara being like, “Ooh look at this one!” I thought she’d get a kick out of it and maybe try them out for herself.

The first one I came across was ​ProWritingAid​. I sent it to her, but I signed up for the free version to try it for myself. I loved how you could ​use their editor for free​ without signing up. Just paste your text in there and have their AI analyze it and provide suggestions.

But then three days later, I was reading on the ProWritingAid subreddit and someone mentioned ​Fictionary​. It was an app geared toward helping you write a full novel from start to finish. Much more comprehensive than PWA.

Naturally, I sent it to Cara, who’s been hinting at writing fiction to get the ideas swirling in her head onto the page. She tells me she’s got these vast worlds and characters in her imagination, but when it comes time to write, she goes blank. The pressure to “make it good” kicks in, and her inner critic takes over.

So I thought, hey, why not brainstorm some ideas with AI and a tool like Fictionary would be perfect!

Bespoke audiobooks for personal use

A day or two later, I was chatting with Claude and ChatGPT about some psycho-spiritual material from a YouTube video I was trying to better understand. I’ve been using AI to break down transcripts and ask deeper questions—mostly for my own curiosity.

A fun trick I like is asking AI to write fictional stories based on the concepts I’m exploring. I’ll tell it to create characters and scenes that illustrate the ideas in a way my right brain can process. It’s like how watching a film or TV show can help you grasp emotional or spiritual truths more deeply than a nonfiction book ever could.

Last month, I experimented with having Claude write me a full ten-chapter spiritual sci-fi novel based on some esoteric theories. I gave it as much info as I could, and it generated the chapters one by one. I’d copy them into Notion, export a PDF, and use an app like ​Speechify​ to listen to it as an audiobook.

I didn’t really care how the book turned out since it was just for my own enjoyment, but I was surprised by how coherent it was. There was solid character development, dialogue, plot twists, a climax, and an ending. It wasn’t perfect—repeated motifs, flowery prose, and some predictable moments—but for a 1-2 hour audiobook on a hike? Not bad at all.

Speaking of creating bespoke audio content, have you tried Google’s ​NotebookLM​ app? It’s a free tool where you can upload documents—even full ebooks—and it will analyze them, summarize the content, and chat with you about it.

However, what I really like is their ​Audio Overview​ feature that generates a podcast-style conversation where two voices go back and forth, discussing the material. It sounds just a professional radio How cool is that?

Fumbling my way into fiction writing?

I don’t read fiction. Just never been into it. I don’t write fiction either—except when I use AI to work through interesting spiritual and mystical ideas. Creating character-driven stories helps me visualize the concepts I’m grappling with.

Since I was already using Claude and ChatGPT to write these stories for myself, why not try using Fictionary and see if I can write even better ones?

I signed up for a free trial and played around with the interface. I saw you can start from scratch or with an outline template, where they give you a tried-and-true story structure. Huh, I never even considered that before.

What I could create if I actually stuck to a proven story structure? What if I followed their guidance and suggestions?

I spent a day working with it before I stumbled upon a new tool that I find much better and more inspiring. And that is ​NovelCrafter​.

NovelCrafter: A better tool for AI-assisted fiction

NovelCrafter is like Fictionary, but with generative AI tools built in. You can connect it to various large language models (LLMs), not just Claude 3.5 or GPT-4. It works with ​Open Router​, which gives you access to tons of different models—even NSFW ones if that’s your thing.

Other tools I know about but haven’t tried are ​Sudowrite​, ​NovelAI​, and ​Dibbly Create​. For tutorials, check out the ​Nerdy Novelist on YouTube​. He have some good content on AI-assisted writing.

AI making me a better writer?

What’s really blown me away about NovelCrafter is how it’s forced me to think more deeply about storytelling—structure, pacing, character development. It’s not just about having the AI generate prose, but about crafting the vision in my head and making it come to life.

The cool thing is they have a Codex feature, which is basically where you store info about your characters and lore, and it all gets referenced by the AI when you generate text.

I learned that a good strategy is what’s called the ​Fractal Technique​ (thanks Nerdy Novelist). You start at the tip of the iceberg or pyramid and work your way down.

Instead of having AI generate an entire book all at once, you start with a logline—a brief, one-sentence summary of your story. Then, you work with the AI to expand that logline into a synopsis, a chapter outline, and eventually scene beats for each chapter. From there, the AI helps you write the actual prose based on those beats.

Is AI writing bad or unethical?

It depends. The default prose that you get can be pretty formulaic and cliche. The initial wow factor fades once you realize how repetitive it can get. But you can fine-tune the AI to write more like you. I’ve been experimenting with giving it samples of my writing to create a style guide. It’s not perfect, but it’s been a fun process.

In the end, though, I’m starting to think I should just write it myself—because that’s where my authentic voice comes through. The AI tools help get your creative juices flowing. They help you get past writer’s block. If you let it do everything for you, it will sound like any other AI generated book out there

Is it ethical? I still don’t know. I use AI for my own research and learning, and I love having AI-generated audiobooks or podcasts to listen to while I’m hiking. Would I publish a fully AI-written novel? Maybe—if it were free and I didn’t claim it as my own. But if I had a heavy hand in the writing and editing process, shaping the story and characters, then yeah, I think I’d publish it. Maybe under a pen name.

But that’s assuming I actually write a novel. Hah. Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves here.

Have you tried any of these AI tools for your writing? What do you think of them so far? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

That’s all for this week.

Peace✌️

Jeff

Whose Reality Are You Living In?

I went on a group trip last weekend, and I had that familiar craving for solitude after several days of socializing. Trips like this always feel like I’m stepping out of my world and entering someone else’s for a while. It really got me thinking about people’s energy fields and how powerful their gravity is… How we can get sucked into someone else’s reality and lose track of our own.

It got me thinking… Whose reality are we living in?

Every living creature on this planet operates within its own reality and shared reality. Whether it’s cicadas buzzing in the trees or birds doing their bird things, every life form has its own world, its own perspective. Humans are no different. Each of us is the main character in our own story while also playing roles in other people’s stories. It’s fascinating when you think about it.

We all have our own unique way of seeing the world, shaped by our experiences, beliefs, and the stories we tell ourselves. The more time you spend around certain people, especially dominant or loud personalities, the easier it is to get pulled into their world. And when you’re in their orbit for too long, you start to forget where their reality ends and yours begins.

Ever had that happen? You’re around someone with strong opinions or heavy energy, and before you know it, you’re questioning your own thoughts or beliefs. It’s subtle, but you start holding opinions that aren’t really yours. You begin comparing your life to their standards, and suddenly you’re thinking, “Why don’t I have that kind of job, that relationship, that house, or that life?” But then you realize… those aren’t even things you want. It’s what they want. What they value.

Living in Someone Else’s Orbit

I’ve definitely been there. One trip that stands out is when I went hiking at Mt. Zion with a new girlfriend and her friends—people I barely knew. I wasn’t making any plans, just tagging along, excited to hike in the mountains. I remember feeling like an outsider the whole time, not really speaking up for what I wanted or asserting my point of view within the group. In fact, I was the sober support person while they smoked weed and tripped on acid. I wasn’t living in my reality. I was a curious explorer looking to expand my horizons, but got a bit too far from my core. By the end of it, I was exhausted and needed a long break.

Another time, I took a two-week road trip through central Australia with a couple of women I met online. They were locals, and I thought it’d be a chill ride where I could sit back and enjoy getting to know each other. But it turned into a passive, uncomfortable experience. Our conversations ran dry a few days into the trip and there wasn’t much else left to talk about. It was near impossible to get space from each other. The louder and more domineering personalities led the way and the dreadful summer heat of the Australian outback did us all in.

It’s crazy how easy it is to let yourself fade into the background of someone else’s world.

Family Dynamics: Multiple Realities, One Room

Even with family, this happens. I recently spent time with my Gen Alpha niece and nephew. Physically, they were there, but mentally? Buried in their phones the whole time. I’d occasionally glance at their screens—my niece flicking through TikToks of different beauty influencers, and my nephew churning through YouTube shorts on science and history while chatting with his buddies on Discord. I asked if anyone watched the Olympics, and my parents jumped in with ignorant soundbites straight from Fox News, talking like they had the absolute truth. I didn’t even respond because I knew how the conversation would end. Pointless. Their world made sense to them—but was it my truth? Not really.

The Danger of Losing Yourself

I don’t really consider myself “conflict avoidant,” but I pick my battles. I’m not going to debate my point of view with someone who isn’t genuinely curious. In group settings, I read the room. I prefer to observe, reflect, and stay open. I speak up when I feel it’s prudent. If I get good, welcoming vibes, then great! Let’s go.

And because of that, I can get stuck in a passive role. Sometimes I notice I’m taking on the projections of others, acting in ways I normally wouldn’t, just to fit what they need me to be as a supporting actor in their drama.

Have you ever been the “good” person, always there for others, only to face backlash when you set a boundary? Suddenly, you’re labeled selfish or mean just for saying no. It’s as if you’ve stepped out of the role they assigned you, and they can’t handle it.

This response often reflects deeper, unhealthy dynamics and unresolved issues. It’s not about truth but about old wounds and codependency. When we prioritize others’ needs at the expense of our own, we lose our center and authenticity.

For example, when Cara and I first started dating, she noticed that she sometimes adopted my beliefs, even when they didn’t align with her own. I’d express my views with certainty, and she’d get defensive, feeling pressured to accept my perspective as truth. Over time, I realized the importance of respecting her space and beliefs, even if they differ from mine. I’ve learned to question my own convictions and remain open to the reality of others, rather than imposing my beliefs.

We can share space and blend realities for a while, but it’s vital to allow each other the freedom to move in and out of these shared energies. Controlling someone’s reality or not letting them explore their own truth isn’t healthy. Just because someone else’s reality is valid for them doesn’t mean it has to be yours.

Reclaiming Your Reality

So, whose reality are you living in right now? Is it truly yours, or have you been drifting into someone else’s story without even realizing it? It’s not a straightforward question, but one worth sitting with. Lately, I’ve been reflecting on what my life would look like if I invited people into my reality more often, instead of always stepping into theirs. But then the deeper question comes up: What is my reality? And what would I actually like it to be?

So, how do you reclaim your reality? The first step is to find real solitude. Not just physical alone time, but a deeper disconnect from the constant noise—TV, social media, podcasts, all the external voices that drown out your own. Sit with yourself, in silence, and listen. What do you truly value? What’s your truth beneath all the conditioning and expectations?

When you strip away the noise, what surfaces might surprise you. Your reality, your energy, your truth—it’s all there, waiting for you to tune back in.

That’s it for this week.

Have a great weekend ✌️

Jeff

Making Music, WordPress Drama, and Rumpelstiltskin

Here’s what I’ve been working on and working through this week. Making music, WordPress drama, mindful fitness habits, and a Jungian analysis of Rumpelstiltskin lol.

Making Music – Bboy Funk

Inspired by my ​Bboying Music playlist​, I wanted to try my hand at creating some vintage funk inspired breaks. I deliberately set aside time this week to focus on music production and I’m glad I did. I really like how it’s sounding so far.

I’ve never tried making funk before so here’s my first attempt. It’s not organized yet, just a few ideas smashed together, ready to be arranged into a song. I know the organ is a bit all over the place!

🥁 Listen to the track: ​bboy breaks idea_2.mp3​

For drums, I used ​EZ Drummer 3​, the default kit with the Fat Funk Drive preset. Works really well for this. Now, I also have the ​Funkmasters EZX​ with sounds and grooves from Clyde Stubblefield and Jabo Starks (legendary funk drummers known for their work with James Brown). I started with a pretty aggressive Clyde beat, made some modifications, and went from there.

For the horns and organ, I had to do some digging. That organ has such a distinct sound and after doing research it’s called a ​Hammond B-3 Organ​. I didn’t actually have any instruments or plugins for this. I could have used samples, but I’m not much of a sample guy. I like to try with virtual instruments first and see if I can make my own unique sound.

I came across a free VST plugin from Orchestral Tools called ​Sine Factory​. They have a Big Band Horn section and a Tonewheel Organ. These were damn near perfect for what I was looking for. This will tide me over until I can afford Toontrack’s impressive ​Session Organ expansion​ for EZ Keys.

Sine Factory’s big band horns and tonewheel organ

I was putting all this together in ​FL Studio​ and playing around with the new ​EZ Mix 3​ plugin from Toontrack. I was able to give it a more gritty, vintage breaks sound. I dig it so far. Maybe I’ll add some guitar here and there before I flesh it out into a full track.

WordPress Drama

It wouldn’t be a Finley Fridays week without some WordPress drama. Here goes:

​WP Minute: The Problems With WordPress​ – a presentation by Marc Benzakein. This talk raises some great points about why WordPress is falling behind and frustrating its community. It points fingers directly at Matt Mullenweg, the co-founder of WordPress and CEO of Automattic. The talk references the podcast below which is an eye opening look into who’s really has say over where WordPress is heading.

​Whose WordPress is it anyway?​ Jason Tucker and Sé Reed discuss the concept of who “owns” the WordPress open-source project and the broader question of who controls WordPress, highlighting the tension between the open-source community’s ideals and the reality of centralized control. The episode concludes with a call for transparency and accountability in the WordPress community, particularly within project leadership.

Mindful Fitness Habits

I got inspired to start tracking my eating again (was heavier than I’d like to be). I’m using the ​Lose It app​ and walking 8-10k steps a day with my FitBit and ​Pacer app​. Cara and I renewed our Rec Center memberships and I made an effort to go 3x this week. I also signed up for some “drumming fitness” classes starting next month. We’ll see how that goes!

Rumpelstiltskin!

I somehow got into this Rumpelstiltskin kick. I was reading ​The Sacred Prostitute​ and the author was talking about the Jungian concept of the anima and animus – how Rumplestiltskin is an example of a woman’s negative animus. It sounded like it was talking about a strong inner critic, or little troll in your mind that’s trying to mess with you. Reminded me of this OCD book called ​The Imp of the Mind​, and that by naming it, you reclaim its power over you.

So I ended up watching the 1996 fantasy horror film ​Rumpelstiltskin​, and boy was it terrible. But in a so bad it’s good way. Watch the trailer:

I was watching it through a Jungian lens and taking notes. Yep, a fine way to spend a Sunday night. Apparently, it’s only loosely based on the original fairy tale. But it sent me into a bit of a rabbit hole. I read ​Emma Jung’s Animus and Anima​ and got halfway through ​The Feminine in Fairy Tales​ by Mary Louis von Franz. Interesting stuff.

So that about does it for this week. Have a good weekend!

Jeff

PS… I’m now offering ​1-on-1 sessions via Superpeer​. 🤙

My Thoughts on Raygun and Olympic Breaking

So the Olympics ended last week and I’ve been sorely missing it. But I’ve been glued into the drama around the breakdancing event all week. If you haven’t been living under a rock, then you’ve probably heard about ​Raygun​, the 36 year-old Australian b-girl who went mega viral and ​became a meme​ for her “cringe” performance.

I have my own breakdance cringe moment. But I’ll share that later in this post.

I’m not here to rehash the entire situation, it’s too much to go into. It’s hard to find a good ​explainer video​ that doesn’t have some bias, misinformation, or misunderstanding. Nor is it easy to find video of her actual performance and not just random clips or ​supercuts of her worst moments​.

Due to her virality, she’s been the target of ​mockery and ridicule​. In her first public post since the Olympics, she say ​it’s been devastating​. It’s sad.

But aside from the Raygun situation, the rest of the Breaking event was outstanding. I loved it. Both the b-girl and b-boy events featured some of the best breakers in the world, including several former world champions. Here’s some ​footage of B-Boy Victor​ (USA) who won bronze.

So now that I’ve basically caught you up, here’s my thoughts:

My Thoughts and Backround in Breaking

First, I loved the fact that breaking was in the Olympics. I have been looking forward to it since it was first announced like 3-4 years ago. I was so hyped to see it live. The music was so good, featuring tons of b-boy classics like ​Organ Donor​, ​The Mexican​, ​It’s Just Begun​, and ​Superstar Part Zero​. I had to shove the couch to the side and bust out some top rock in my living room with a big smile on my face.

I used to break. First got into it around 2001 when a friend showed me the six step at a party. Then I started looking at videos on sites like bboy.org or bboyworld.com. I was hooked. I started making my own music and brought it to my friends basement parties and we taught each other top rock, freezes, and various moves.

In college at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, I made my ​final animation project​ about breaking. I designed and animated a CG b-boy and composited him into a ​music video​ for one of my songs. It was some of the most fun I’ve ever had with my friends.

My Reaction to Raygun as it Happened

During the b-girl event, I saw Raygun perform live in the round robin portion. She had to face off against some of the top b-girls such as Logistx, Syssy, and Nikka (2023 world champ). I remember Raygun’s performance was kinda quirky. Slow and unorthodox. She looked outmatched out there.

I did feel a bit embarassed for her. I cringed a bit. I laughed a bit because some of her performance was actually funny. Having comical bits in your breaking routine is not uncommon. Having unorthodox moves is encouraged.

But she did the sprinkler. She did a kangaroo hop. She rolled around on the floor like Homer Simpson. She pretended to be a snake. Her dance moves looked like something your kid does when they first try to breakdance. Or they looked like that stereotypical “white person” who attempts to break and it comes across as corny.

Raygun moments at the Paris Olympics 2024

There’s a way for these moves to not be corny. If b-boy ​Jeffro​ or gold medalist ​Phil Wizard​ did the sprinkler, it would probably be perceived as dope. Because they would have included it the flow of other traditional footwork and power moves.

I looked online at some live comments on Reddit, X, and even 4chan. Everyone was talking about it. Nobody knew what to make of it. Was she serious? Was this a joke? A satire?

Then it came out that she has a ​PhD in Cultural Studies​ and writes and lectures about the ​cultural politics of breaking​. She’s written some ​serious think pieces​ on gender, inclusivity, and masculinist meritocracy in breaking and hip hop. She wrote a paper on the Olympics and ​sportification of breaking​.

It put her performance into a new light. Now people thought she might have purposely made a mockery of breaking as a form of protest. She did bad “on purpose” to prove that putting breaking in the Olympics was a bad idea and was some sort of cultural appropriation or gentrification of black culture.

Online Bullying and Social Media

Once word got out that she was a “woke academic white woman” that turned the ridicule into politicized hate. You started to see influencers and rage baiters using her to support their culture war arguments.

Then disinformation and conspiracy theories started getting bandied about, saying she rigged the system and conned her way into the Olympics. Using her white privlege or academic status to take spots away from marginalized people. Or saying her husband was a judge and set up the qualifiers to basically get herself chosen to represent Australia in the Olympics. A change.org petition was even started to “hold her accountable” for fraud. None of this was real, but people took the bait and ran with it.

I can’t imagine what Rachael, the actual person, had to have been going through. Seeing everyone talking about her and criticizing not just her performance, but caricatures of what she supposedly represents.

Suddenly everyone had an opinion on breaking. Suddenly people are embarassed because she didn’t uphold “Olympic values.” Suddenly she’s a shining example of “participation trophies” and what happens when “women are never told no.”

I could go on.

I just felt awful about it. In ​her video response​, she said she gave it her all and was devastated by the online hate mobs. I’m a big fan of Jon Ronson’s book ​So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed​ which dives deep into the early cancel culture. In his latest podcast ​Things Fell Apart​ (which I love), he tells stories of how innocent people’s lives are ruined by social media culture wars. Rachael is definitely a victim for this.

But when she makes a video about how she’s devastated and asking people to stop harassing her and her family, that only adds fuel to the fire. People get meaner and say ​she’s playing the victim​ as this one “mental health expert” describes. People say it’s “just criticism” and she’s the one who is wrong for “getting her feelings hurt.” I read the comments and it’s like people aren’t even living in reality. They’re attacking a made up idea in their head of what they think she represents.

People demand that she “take accountability” like she did something terribly wrong. They want her to “own it” like the ​Hawk Tuah girl​ and laugh at herself, make merch, and monetize her moment as a “successful” way to handle this situation. Like she owes any of these people anything.

It made me feel sick following it, but I couldn’t stop reading about it.

But why am I personally invested? Why do I care?

I could relate. I felt like an outsider sometimes in the scene. Not feeling like I fit in.

Like I said, I have a history with breaking. I was more seriously involved from 2009-2014 where I took classes from respected b-boys in the Cleveland scene. I wanted to get better and learn from real mentors instead of just watching videos online and practicing in my basement.

Me Breaking at WMC Fest 2016 (Photo by Amber Patrick)My own breakdance cringe moment

In my very first breakdance class, I found myself standing out. I was 28 years old. Around me were kids ages 5-15. My teacher was 32, but that’s okay because he’s the teacher. But hey, it was advertised as “all ages”. I already felt like an outsider, doing something I haven’t really done before in front people I didn’t know.

The class was going well, following the steps from the instructor… dripping sweat as my body hadn’t worked this hard in years. But then came the final cypher at the end of class. Where a circle opens up and each dancer takes turns going off in the center.

The instructor encouraged me to get out there. So I went in and did a few moves that I knew from my college days. I did some okay top rock and footwork, and some basic freezes.

But then…

I did this front hand-spring into a headstand front flip. Straight into the chest of a five year old boy. Sending him flying backwards into the wall where he prompty started wailing in tears. Everyone in the room gasped and stopped. I ran over to check on him and apologize, but he looked terrified. I feel absolutely horrible.

Fortunately, he was fine, just a little shaken up. He rejoined the group and we all finished the cypher. But I was mortified.

This was my first impression. On the other side of the window watching were moms and dads practicaly the same age as me. That was someone’s kid that I just hit. Fuck. I felt terrible.

Afterward, I spoke to the instructor and the owner of the dance studio. I apologized multiple times in shame, but they told me it was okay. That accidents happen. We’re glad everyone is okay. Next time just be more aware of my surroundings.

I wasn’t sure I even wanted to come back. Or if they’d even have me. But they encouraged me to come back and give it another go. I did.

Sticking with it

Four months later I was invited to perform with the kids at the local mall. Here’s a ​video of it​. I’m the one with the white shirt and hat. Go ahead and laugh, cringe, or clap along lol.

Some of you will say, “dang, good on him for giving it a go!” It’s something many people just wouldn’t dare do. Getting out there and dancing in front of strangers is freaking scary. Especially when you’re not really practiced or confident in your moves. Especially if you didn’t grow up doing it.

I’m someone that can be quite in his head and prone to social anxiety. But I just love the music and dance so much that I had an inner passion that inspired me to do it.

Over the course of the next few years I’d get better and do some more performances. Every time I felt nervous as hell and in disbelief that they’d even let me out there. But maybe I wasn’t as bad as I thought. Maybe it was kind fun having me out there.

I enjoyed myself and would love to get back into it, just as a way to stay in shape and keep my body moving. I have no aspirations to battle or perform

Raygun will probably be remembered in a few years as a legend. Making breaking go mainstream. Inspiring a new generation of kids to get into it after doing her Kangaroo Hop move. That’s awesome.

Most b-boys I’ve heard comment on the situation say it’s sad she’s getting so much hate online, but are supporting her. They say her original moves are part of what breaking is all about. She qualified for the Australia team fair and square and shined a light on her country’s lack of support for breaking. But it will only grow from this.

Raygun brought millions of eyeballs onto the breaking scene. While her videos overshadowed some of the awesome performances at the Paris Olympics, eventually her time in the spotlight will fade and the good stuff will rise. I feel like this will be a positive for the breaking community overall.

But I really feel for Rachael as a person. I hope she is doing alright.

Thanks for reading. Have a good weekend. ✌️

Jeff

Some Tips for Microdosing Psilocybin Mushrooms

This week, a reader (hi Rich 👋) asked me my thoughts on microdosing shrooms. Any do’s and don’ts. I shared my experience so far (almost two months in) and thought it might be helpful to others, so I am including it here.

But first, a disclaimer. I am definitely not an expert in psychedelics and this is an “at your own risk” kinda thing. I’m just sharing my experience as someone whose relatively new to psilocybin (see my original post on ​why I’m doing it​). Take my advice with a grain of salt and consider other sources as well.

Here’s my reply:

Hi Rich, I’m using 100mg psilocybin capsules and take them every three days. But the last two weeks I’ve done every four to five days, because I needed a break from it.

Your experience will be unique to you, but what I can tell you about mine is that it brings up my “stuff” (pain, repressed emotions, etc) and helps me feel more embodied (I have noticeable less tolerance or desire to analyze or think). It enhances my ability to FEEL and be present with my emotions to help aid me in real emotional processing work. I usually feel a strong aversion to screens after the 2 hour mark, and more interest in physical reality, touch, sensations, food, etc.

It also helps “cut through the bullshit” where it’s harder to resist lying to yourself about your issues. It also allows for greater capacity to love yourself. For me personally I have felt a stronger connection to biological life, myself included, and start feeling like it’s okay to be a body here on earth, like it makes sense. Normally, I feel kind of a desire to escape my body or hang out in the mind or on my computer in various mental spaces. But when I Microdose I feel like that shit doesnt matter as much as I think.

So since it brings up my issues to my conscious awareness, I am triggered a lot. On microdose day, feeling through my issues is easier. But on the following days, I feel extra sensitive to my triggers and can be anxious or emotional, but in building better habits to sit with the discomfort and cry it out or purge, do yoga, or be in nature. Instead of analyzing, ruminating, or acting out in ways where I could use or hurt others. I’m in my room a lot but it’s like it helps me adjust my priorities to “what really matters.” I wouldn’t say it is helping me work or make money though lol, it just makes me see how bullshit most of that is.

To sum up, it helps with my desire to see and be with reality. I’m pretty sensitive to it and it takes to me well, whereas my gf said it made her nauseous and didn’t get much out of a 100mg dose. She’s more of a larger trip kinda gal.

I’ll also add that the point of microdosing is to be subtle and barely noticable. But I personally notice the effects and use them as kind of micro-trips. For context, most standard mushroom trip guides recommend a 1,000mg-4,000mg dose, but that’s not what we’re going for here. 100mg is pretty tiny and safe and you might not notice any effects if you’re not paying attention.

You might notice subtle shifts in your perception or how you relate to your thoughts. You might better be able to surf the waves of a ruminating mind instead of getting tossed about. You might notice subtle but pleasant sensations of “aliveness” in your body that you didn’t notice before. You might remember that you’re a biological creature and not just a mind on a stick.

Oh, I forgot to add “do’s and don’ts” to my response to Rich, so I’ll add those here.

Dos:Educate yourself: Read up on the effects, potential benefits, and risks of psilocybin. Here’s a simple ​microdosing guide​ or ​/r/microdosing.​Order from a reputable source. I went with a site someone recommended and had a good experience with so I felt better ordering from them.Start small. 100mg is usually recommended. But do what works for you.A regular routine. Every three days is recommended.Take breaks if necessary. If it’s too much for you or interfering with your life, feel free to stop and start again when you’re ready.Keep a journal. Write about what comes up and keep track of the themes and insights you get.Be intentional. On microdose days, set aside time to be alone and present with yourself. Give yourself time to really feel and be with whatever comes up. Write about your experience in your journal.Practice your spirituality. Whatever it is for you, use this time to connect to your higher power or source of spiritual wisdom.Get real. Have the courage to face reality and drop the bullshit.Be considerate. Let other people know what you’re doing so they know what’s going on with you.Integrate other mindfulness practices like meditation or yoga. This should be a foundation before even starting.Get better at FEELING. It’s not always about aha moments, but learning to develop the courage to sit with your uncomfortable emotions and be an empathetic witness to your own struggles.Don’tsDon’t expect miracles: (but don’t count them out) Microdosing isn’t a cure-all or shortcut to enlightenment. It’s a subtle, gentle aid that supplements your existing self-care practices.Don’t be reckless. Pay attention to what you’re doing and go into it with a sense of respect and reverence. Don’t microdose on days with critical responsibilities or when you need to be highly focused unless you know how it affects you.Don’t follow trends or social pressures. This isn’t a “you’re missing out” kinda thing. If you feel called to try it, listen to your own body and intuition.Don’t neglect legalities: Be aware of the legal status of psilocybin in your area. Understand the risks.

So maybe that was helpful to some of you. If you have any specific questions, I’m happy to answer them. I’m more of an “expert” in the self-care, self-love area rather than the actual substance or science of it.

That’s about all for this week. Hope you have a great weekend.

Talk soon ✌️

Jeff

Photo by Artur Kornakov on Unsplash

Bridge Builders: AI Website Design and Other Workflows

Today I had the pleasure of watching the latest ​Bridge Builders live-stream​. It was a deep dive into two different website building workflows starring ​Anne Bovelett ​& ​Max Ziebell​. Anne was using ​Greyd Suite​ in WordPress and Max was using various AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude and getting really good results.

Incredible content: Bridge Builders ep04

I was blown away by the depth and professionalism both designers brought. What I like about this Bridge Builder series, which is still fairly new, is that it’s not just “speed build” novelty content, but an intentional measured look at different website building approaches out there. Each time they do an episode, they show off new workflows I hadn’t considered before. For someone that’s re-learning the ​craft of good web design​, I find these demos invaluable.

Two things surprised me about this presentation, which lasted over 2.5 hours. First was the kind shout-out I received in the beginning. I sent Mark and Matty ​a doc with a bunch of designers​ who I’d love to see on the show. Glad to see they were appreciative!

Second was Max’s impressive research and presentation behind his AI workflow. Seriously, you gotta watch it (his portion ​starts at 1:09​). No, he’s not using AI website buidler SaaS apps like Uizard or Relume, or using AI add-ons for various page builders (Like Wix’s new AI feature), he’s just using ChatGPT and Claude directly.

He had a part in his presentation where he discussed all the abstractions that have been built on top of the fundamentals of web design that we all learned 20 years ago. You know, basic HTML and CSS. Here’s a screengrab of what he meant:

Max Ziebell’s layers of abstraction in web developmentGetting Away from Code

At the foundation, is computing and the webstack. Basically, for the layperson, is your computer and the technologies used to write and render web pages. When you built your first website on Geocities or Angelfire, or used Dreamweaver and uploaded your files to your server via FTP, you were working with the raw elements of web pages. That is what we were taught in school. And if I were to go back to school for web design, I’d no-doubt have to learn this again.

But nowadays a lot of of us no longer work with the HTML and CSS files directly. We use ​WordPress​ (or Wix, Squarespace, Webflow, Shopify, etc). These are web apps built on top of the webstack that essentially help you build and manage your website visually, without having to know code. Now obviously, if you’re a WordPress user, you probably know at least some code. Enough to customize things, mess with templates, etc. But that’s not the only layer of abstraction between you and the source code.

On top of WordPress, you have ​Gutenberg​ which is their own content and page-builder. It’s an evolution of the old WYSIWYG editor, which many of us remember writing our blog posts and page content in. They’re now becoming a “full site editor” (FSE) and trying to “democratize web design” by hiding even further the actual source code from the user. No longer does a user need to know anything about HTML or CSS, they can just drag and drop blocks, adjust their sliders, choose colors and fonts and there ya go.

The no-code, drag-and-drop experience of building a website has become the norm the past ten years. Even for agencies and freelancers who used to code their own websites back in the day. Builders like ​Elementor​, ​Beaver Builder​, or ​Bricks​ (as seen in the image above) are additional plugins built on top of WordPress that essentially turn WordPress from a blogging platform to a full website builder. They allow you drag elements such as sliders, cards, sections, text blocks, forms, etc onto your page and adjust the look and feel with sliders and presets. Professional tools like ​Webflow​ are becoming more popular. It’s like an evolution of software like ​Microsoft Front Page​ or ​Dreamweaver​ if you remember those!

These page builders actually paved the way for Gutenberg, which is essentially WordPress’ own builder. Except that it’s very limited and has been largely considered a disaster. A hinderance for professionals. In it’s attempt to simplify web design for the layperson they’ve added extra complexity that other tools have to compensate for. And because of its open source nature, it doesn’t have a streamlined focus on its development like say, Webflow or Wix. See my post ​WordPress vs Everyone Else​.

Because of the popularity of these builders, many of us have gotten so far removed from the code that we’ve forgotten how it even works. We rely on these tools, which write the code for us. And much of the time, the code is a bloated mess full of unecessary divs. Or that it’s not written with accessibility standards in mind. It encourages the user to style their web elements on the ID level (not using a class-first workflow). It also locks you in to their particular builder, and if that builder goes out of business (like ​Cwicly did earlier this year​), you are out of luck. Many use shortcodes and when you turn the builder off, all of your content is bricked, like a giant wall of propritary code that is useless and needs to be rebuilt.

And to add an even further layer of abstraction… People are buying paid add-ons for their page builder of choice. Such as ​Advanced Themer​ for Bricks, or ​AutomaticCSS​ and ​Frames​ which is what I am working with at the moment. These are CSS frameworks and GUI improvements that help speed up the page-building workflow so you don’t have to do everything from scratch. With AutomaticCSS, a lot of the grunt work of setting up a color palette, elegantly scaling typography, or responsive design, is done for you. You can build out web pages pretty quickly once you get the hang of it.

But these tools are like add-ons to add-ons to add-ons… They are solutions to problems that the no-code page builders created by encouraging people to build websites without knowledge of the web development foundations. Bricks has really clean code output, but it’s still not as clean as a hand-coded site built by a knowledgable and careful developer.

Speaking of hand-coded, I briefly emailed with ​Laura Eddy​, the creator of ​Typeheist​. Which is shop for her hand-made fonts. I was impressed by the clean code and attention to detail so I reached out to ask how she built it. She hand-coded it herself with ​Vue​/​Nuxt​ which are frameworks for Javascript that help you build web applications faster. This is closer to the software development side of website building.

Which leads me to my next point.

Max Ziebell’s “clash of approaches” in web devClash of Approaches

The above image is another screengrab from Max’s presentation on Bridge Builders today. (Seriously ​go watch​, it’s great). On the left you have web design with the common coding languages such as HTML, CSS, Javascript, PHP, and MySql. But on the right, you have software development tools like React, Vue, Svelte, Node, and C++.

As a web designer, I’ve never even touched the stuff on the right. But the people who built the no-code software you use to design websites (like WordPress) sure do. That’s the language they speak.

In the middle, you have modern web development, where WordPress is.

Where does AI fit into this?

Well, according to Max Ziebell, you gotta start removing the layers of abstraction from your web design process and get back to the source code if you can. Because when you ask ChatGPT or Claude to design you a webpage, they’re going to give you raw HTML, CSS, and Javascript. Because that’s what a webpage is built with! It doesn’t care that you use WordPress or Wix or Squarespace. It’s going to give you the raw code output and you can do with that what you will.

So Max was copying and pasting that code into ​VS Code​ or into ​Pinegrow​, which is an old school page builder that lets you work directly with the source code and file structure. He was pasting what Claude gave him and instantly saw the results. He gives several examples with the prompts he used.

Example website design by Claude AI

If you’re working with flat files (like we did back in the day), you could just upload the index.html file via FTP and see it on the web. It’s not that simple anymore with all these layers on top like WordPress and Bricks. You can do it, by adding a “code” block, and pasting it in there, but it’s still a workaround. Or you can just recreate it in your page builder of choice (which is what I do).

All of this to say, is that I appreciate these approaches and I learned a lot from this video. I felt like I was in class learning bleeding-edge workflows for web design. On the edge of my own awareness that is. And I didn’t have to go back to school for it.

I appreciate the fundamentals. The language of web design. I appreciate clean code. It’s a breath of fresh air to see a site like ​Typeheist​, which is not just pretty on the surface, but behind the scenes too. You know it was crafted with love and from someone who cares about her craft.

It’s not just looks that matter, but the insides too. (how cute)

That’s about all for this week. Thanks for reading.

Have a great weekend! ✌️

Jeff