Publish HMS '24 newsletter

Reviewed-on: conferences/hmc_site_source#1

assets/js/main.js

@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@
     const modal = document.querySelector(`#${target}`);
     if (modal) {
       btn.addEventListener("click", (e) => {
-        toggle_modal(modal, true);
+        if (e.target.tagName !== 'A')
+          toggle_modal(modal, true);
       });
     }
   });
@@ -77,10 +78,36 @@
   document.addEventListener("keydown", (e) => {
     if (e.key === "Escape") {
       var modal_id = body.getAttribute("modal");
-      if(modal_id) toggle_modal(document.querySelector(`#${modal_id}`), false);
+      if (modal_id) toggle_modal(document.querySelector(`#${modal_id}`), false);
     }
   });
 
+  // timelines
+  // ----------------------------------------
+  const updateTimeline = (timeline) => {
+    const day_target = timeline.getAttribute("data-day-target");
+    timeline.querySelectorAll(".day-events:not(.hidden)").forEach((day_events) => { day_events.classList.toggle("hidden", true); });
+    timeline.querySelector(`[data-day-title="${day_target}"]`).classList.toggle("hidden", false);
+    timeline.querySelectorAll(`.day_listing.active`).forEach((listing) => {
+      listing.classList.toggle("inactive", true);
+      listing.classList.toggle("active", false);
+    });
+    var new_active = timeline.querySelector(`.day_listing[data-day-target="${day_target}"]`);
+    new_active.classList.toggle("active", true);
+    new_active.classList.toggle("inactive", false);
+  };
+
+  document.querySelectorAll(".timeline_grid_container").forEach((timeline) => {
+    const days = timeline.querySelector(".day-listing-container");
+    days.addEventListener("click", (e) => {
+      const day_target = e.target.getAttribute("data-day-target");
+      if (day_target) {
+        timeline.setAttribute("data-day-target", day_target);
+        updateTimeline(timeline);
+      }
+    });
+  });
+
   // Swipers
   // ----------------------------------------
   const swipers = document.querySelectorAll(".swiper-slider");

assets/scss/custom.scss

@@ -50,16 +50,26 @@
 }
 
 .testimonial a,
-.img_grid_container a {
+.img_grid_container a,
+.timeline_grid_container a {
     color: var(--meetups-color) !important;
     text-decoration: none;
 }
 
 .testimonial a:hover,
-.img_grid_container a:hover {
+.img_grid_container a:hover,
+.timeline_grid_container a {
     text-decoration: underline;
 }
 
+// .day_listing.active {
+
+// }
+
+.day_listing.inactive {
+    color: rgb(163, 163, 163);
+}
+
 .modal-bg a {
     color: var(--meetups-color) !important;
     text-decoration: none;
@@ -104,3 +114,10 @@
     background-color: #fff3cd;
     color: #856404;
 }
+
+// Disable the horrendous open and close quotes on blockquote content
+blockquote p:first-of-type {
+    &::before, &::after {
+        content: "" !important;
+    }
+}

config/_default/menus.en.toml

@@ -35,19 +35,19 @@ weight = 4
 parent = "Explore"
 name = "Discord"
 url = "https://discord.com/invite/txcCe8vyQ6"
-weight = 1
+weight = 3
 
 [[main]]
 parent = "Explore"
 name = "Meetups"
 url = "/meetups"
-weight = 2
+weight = 1
 
 [[main]]
 parent = "Explore"
 name = "Members"
 url = "https://donorbox.org/handmadecities"
-weight = 3
+weight = 2
 
 [[main]]
 name = "About"

content/english/_index.md

@@ -94,24 +94,26 @@ features:
     side: "center"
     bg_img: 
       parallax: true
-      img: "/images/devon_starfield.png"
+      img: "/images/net.jpg"
     transition:
-      start: "/images/transition.svg"
-      start_class: "mb-5 transform"
+      start: "/images/transition2.svg"
+      start_class: "mb-5 mt-12 transform"
+      start_style: "mask-repeat: repeat-x;mask-position:top;"
       start_color: "#fff"
-      start_dark: "/images/transition2.svg"
+      start_dark: "/images/transition.svg"
       start_dark_color: "#150e31"
-      end: "/images/transition.svg"
-      end_class: "mt-20 transform -scale-y-100 -scale-x-100"
+      end: "/images/transition3.svg"
+      end_class: "mt-20 transform -scale-x-100 -pb-1"
       end_color: "#fff"
-      end_dark: "/images/transition2.svg"
+      end_dark: "/images/transition3.svg"
+      end_style: "mask-size:cover;mask-position:bottom;height:165px;"
       end_dark_color: "#150e31"
     bg_color: "#0a0a0a"
-    content: "The Handmade Network is your online community and go-to hub when there's no in-person events. Participate in jams, be awed by software projects and enjoy a huge Discord community."
-    content_class: "text-white mt-12 px-12 pb-12 pt-24 bg-[rgba(0,0,0,0.5)] rounded-lg"
+    content: "The Handmade Network is our online community and go-to hub when there's no in-person events. Participate in jams, be awed by project showcases and enjoy a huge Discord community."
+    content_class: "text-white mt-12 px-12 py-8 bg-[rgba(0,0,0,0.85)] rounded-lg !col-9"
     button:
       enable: enable
-      class: "meetups-bg dark:meetups-bg"
+      class: "bg-white dark:bg-white text-black"
       label: "Network"
       link: "https://handmade.network"
 

content/english/about/index.md

@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ features:
       start_dark_color: "black"
     bg_color: "#060610"
     content_class: "mt-4"
-    content: "[Abner](https://abnercoimbre.com) is the founder of Handmade Cities and sole organizer for our conferences.<br>His professional story began when he left Puerto Rico for a yearlong internship at NASA. Abner was mentored on how they make software and after winning NASA’s Intern of the Year, he published an essay on their programming philosophy ([featured](https://observer.com/2017/07/a-look-into-nasa-coding-philosophy-kennedy-space-center-programming/) in the news.) He was promoted to launch control engineers.<br><br>Abner also started the [Handmade Network](https://handmade.network/), an online community learning to make quality software. He went on to work for Jonathan Blow multiple years and then Cyan Worlds to help ship the [Myst remake](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1255560/Myst/).<br><br>His concern of declining standards—both ethical and technical—pushed Abner to run tech conferences full-time, with ironclad conviction that we need independent organizers more than ever."
+    content: "[Abner](https://abnercoimbre.com) is the founder of Handmade Cities and sole organizer for our conferences.<br><br>His professional story began when he left Puerto Rico for a yearlong internship at NASA. Abner was mentored on how they make software and after winning NASA’s Intern of the Year, he published an essay on their programming philosophy ([featured](https://observer.com/2017/07/a-look-into-nasa-coding-philosophy-kennedy-space-center-programming/) in the news.) He was promoted to launch control engineer.<br><br>Abner also started the [Handmade Network](https://handmade.network/), an online community learning to make quality software. He went on to work for Jonathan Blow multiple years and then Cyan Worlds to help ship the [Myst remake](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1255560/Myst/).<br><br>His concern of declining standards—both ethical and technical—pushed Abner to run tech conferences full-time, with ironclad conviction that we need independent organizers more than ever."
 
   - title: "Morgan Rammell"
     title_class: "text-white"

content/english/boston/index.md

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 title: "Handmade Boston 2024"
 meta_title: "About"
 description: "this is meta description"
-image: "/images/avatar.png"
+image: "/images/hmb/boston-dark-mode.svg"
 draft: false
 layout: under_construction
 ---

content/english/media/_index.md

@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 +++
 title="Media"
+image="/images/under-construction.svg"
 +++

content/english/news/a-breakdown-of-my-indie-life.md

@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+---
+title: "A Breakdown of My Indie Life"
+meta_title: ""
+description: "Allen Webster, creator of 4coder and programmer at Epic Games, digs deep into Abner Coimbre's life as an indie organizer."
+date: 2023-04-17T05:00:00Z
+image: "/images/news/breakdown_of_an_indie_life.webp"
+categories: ["Press Release"]
+author: "Abner Coimbre"
+draft: false
+aliases:
+- /a-breakdown-of-my-indie-life
+---
+
+
+#### Allen Digs Into My Affairs
+
+[Allen Webster](https://mr4th.com/), creator of 4coder and systems programmer at RAD (now part of Epic Games), interviewed me in earnest about my life as an indie organizer—where I must confess I’ve never opened up like this before.
+
+Have you ever asked yourself, while attending one of our conferences:
+
+* What does Abner do as a full-time organizer?
+* What does it actually _look like_, day in and day out?
+* Why the obsession with being sponsor-free?
+* Aren’t there good tech companies that can help him grow the conferences even faster?
+
+If you’ve wondered along these lines before then this video should hopefully prove fun and enlightening. You’ll learn about my strange (but, in my view, necessary) career path that’s been a bit of a black box until now.
+
+![](/images/news/breakdown_of_an_indie_life.webp)
+
+
+#### Follow Along More Conversations
+
+This is the first in a series of important discussions Allen is having with industry figures. He’s zooming in on angles most us programmers tend to miss and tries to understand what people are doing in a broader sense. I think it’s a very worthwhile and interesting project! (Fun fact: the awesome visualizer you see in the video was programmed by Allen himself. [Over a weekend jam.](https://handmade.network/jam))
+
+Join Allen’s [newsletter](https://newsletter.mr4th.com/) to know when his next conversation gets published.
+
+
+#### Post-Interview Notes
+
+Nearing the end of my conversation with Allen I accidentally imply you must go through the first 25 to 30 episodes of [Handmade Hero](https://guide.handmadehero.org/) in order to attend [Handmade Boston](https://handmadecities.com/boston). **Please note you’re not actually required to go through all the episodes.** (All the power to you if you decide to though!) This is just a rule of thumb to convey the real expectations:
+
+1. That you’re already comfortable with the kind of programming shown in Handmade hero.
+
+2. Alternatively, that you’ve written some substantial application or game in a systems language like C.
+
+And you should be good to go.

content/english/news/almost-gone-spring-sale-2023.md

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+---
+title: "Almost Gone: Spring Sale 2023"
+meta_title: ""
+description: "Our Spring Sale for the Handmade conferences is coming to a close on April 30th. Thanks to popular demand we've extended the deadline to accomodat..."
+date: 2023-04-25T05:00:00Z
+image: "/images/news/clock-2015460_1280.jpg"
+categories: ["Press Release"]
+author: "Abner Coimbre"
+draft: false
+aliases:
+- /almost-gone-spring-sale-2023
+---
+
+
+#### Dear Handmade Folks,
+
+Our Spring Sale for the Handmade conferences is coming to a close on April 30th. Thanks to popular demand we’ve extended the deadline to accommodate more of our community, especially students.
+
+Get ready for what should be a remarkable year! We’re shipping conferences on both the west and east coast: exclusive masterclasses in Boston this summer, and brand new talks in Seattle this fall (featuring an expanded job fair and tradeshow). Secure your spot at the best price by registering now:
+
+<div class="flex justify-center">
+  <a href="https://handmadecities.com/tickets" class="btn bg-blue-700 dark:bg-blue-700 
+  dark:text-white hover:bg-blue-800 text-white">Early Bird</a>
+</div>
+
+
+#### The Making of an Indie Organizer
+
+Handmade is currently a niche interest, championing low-level understanding and quality in a world that elevates the production of McSoftware – the digital manifestation of chowing down on Big Macs.
+
+Within this niche my career occupies a distinct corner: orchestrating indie conferences to further our shared values. If you’ve ever wondered about the daily ins and outs of such a position, my friend Allen Webster interviewed me to offer a glimpse:
+
+<div class="flex justify-center">
+  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqZ6QbKzgW4" class="btn bg-blue-700 dark:bg-blue-700 
+  dark:text-white hover:bg-blue-800 text-white">YouTube Interview</a>
+</div>
+
+
+#### Handmade Jams
+
+While it’s not true that the online community ([Handmade Network](https://discord.gg/hmn)) creates delicious strawberry jams (though I think it would be fantastic marketing), they do host cool jam events for programmers. Very often we pick the best entries to be featured at a conference
+
+With the completion of the [Visibility Jam](https://handmade.network/jam/visibility-2023/recap) I encourage you to explore the recap and maybe even join the [upcoming initiative](https://handmade.network/blog/p/8690-three_big_initiatives_for_2023) called _Time Machine: reminding ourselves how things used to be._
+
+
+#### Stay Tuned: New Batch of Speakers
+
+We’ve been quietly (but intensely) seeking new instructors for Handmade Boston and reviewing proposals for Handmade Seattle. Keep an eye out for our new lineup reveal next month!
+
+##### A Note on Instructor, Speaker & Demo Proposals
+
+For those who have reached out for instructor, speaker, or demo opportunities, please bear with me if you haven’t received a response yet. I’ve been recovering from the flu but I’m catching up this week. You can always reply to this email if you have any questions.
+
+See you soon,
+
+Abner

content/english/news/anniversary-rebrand-2024.md

@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+---
+title: "Anniversary Rebrand"
+meta_title: ""
+description: "Faster website, new logos, new chat server, and Handmade Seattle 2024"
+date: 2024-10-20T05:00:00Z
+image: "/images/news/seattle-2024-1080x675.jpg"
+categories: ["Press Release"]
+author: "Abner Coimbre"
+draft: false
+aliases:
+- /anniversary-rebrand-2024
+---
+
+
+#### Dear Handmade Friends,
+
+Notice the new logo? There’s more to share about our rebrand below.
+
+![](/images/news/cities-withpc-light-mode-row.png)
+
+However, let’s discuss the conference next month first.
+
+##### Handmade Seattle 2024: Anniversary Edition 🌟
+
+We’re a little over a month away from Handmade Seattle, celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Handmade movement. Thanks to everyone who’s shown interest to participate!
+
+If you haven’t heard from me or my staff yet, you should get a response by ~~Monday~~ Tuesday. Worst case, send me a ping on Discord (**@abnercoimbre**) in case ~~Monday~~ Tuesday passed by and you still didn’t hear from us.
+
+It’s never ideal for us to take a long time responding to all emails and submissions. Please forgive us.
+
+
+#### Twitch marathon for ticket sales
+
+This ~~Monday, October 21st~~ Tuesday, October 22nd. I’ll kick off a multi-week Twitch stream running through November 1st. It’ll be my side-project Terminal Click while keeping an eye on how conference registrations are going.
+
+<div class="flex justify-center">
+  <a href="https://twitch.tv/abnercoimbre" class="btn bg-purple-700 dark:bg-purple-700 
+  dark:text-white hover:bg-purple-800 text-white"><i class="fab fa-twitch"></i> Twitch</a>
+</div>
+
+Loris Cro offered to help me port my terminal site from Hugo to [Zine](https://zine-ssg.io/). If he’s around I’ll collab with him during one of the streams!
+
+---
+
+#### Full website rewrite ⚡
+
+[handmadecities.com](http://handmadecities.com/) is getting a much-needed upgrade too. This self-hosted WordPress site is slow and clunky—not great for a community that’s all about software quality!
+
+Thanks to staff member Devon along with the Handmade Network [team](https://handmade.network/about), I’m switching to a static site that’s lightning-fast by comparison. I won’t promise an exact release date, though it’ll ship well ahead of the conference.
+
+As part of this overhaul [Jes Chuhta](https://vimeo.com/887532756/2972a82e55) also designed amazing new logos. You saw the Cities one at the top. We also have a version for Handmade [Meetups](https://handmadecities.com/meetups):
+
+![](/images/news/meetups-light-mode-fixed.png)
+
+The conferences gets fresh logos too: one for Handmade Boston and Handmade Seattle. Dude there’s even a cute favicon! She did incredible work, so keep an eye out for all of them soon.
+
+_Note: With everything going on with WordPress [lately](https://www.theverge.com/2024/10/4/24262232/matt-mullenweg-wordpress-org-wp-engine), it was a good time to ditch it and build our own site anyway. Ben Visness will cover the drama in a Handmade Network newsletter soon—be sure to [subscribe](https://handmade.network/newsletter) there!_
+
+---
+
+#### From Vimeo to YouTube
+
+By popular demand, from both my staff and the audience, I’m mirroring our Vimeo catalog to YouTube. As a matter of principle I’m keeping monetization off and will always point people to [handmadecities.com](http://handmadecities.com/) to support us directly.
+
+You’ll get updates through the [newsletter](https://handmadecities.com/news) when the uploads begin.
+
+---
+
+#### Revolt replaces Matrix 🥳
+
+I’ve switched our chat server from Matrix to Revolt. Complaints against Matrix kept mounting every year, and after a lot of feedback (and some near ticket-holder boycotts), Revolt is now self-hosted live at [chat.handmadecities.com](http://chat.handmadecities.com/). It’s not as feature-rich as Discord yet, but it works really well for short-term events like Handmade Seattle:
+
+![](/images/news/hmc_revolt_screenshot.png)
+
+Revolt is our private chat server for conferences: where ticket holders join live Q&As and official discussions. During the off-season we use our [public](https://handmadecities.com/discord) Discord instead.
+
+_Note: Read more about my decision to drop Matrix (and their CEO’s reaction) in [this](https://handmadecities.com/new-discord-server/) blog post._
+
+_Note note: Jamie Brandon of [HYTRADBOI](https://hytradboi.com/) fame dropped Matrix too. He’s trying Zulip instead, so we both challenged each other to write post-mortems after each conference!_
+
+---
+
+#### Speaker lineup coming soon ⏳
+
+We’re aiming to have most of the Handmade Seattle speaker [lineup](https://handmadecities.com/seattle) ready by November 1st (the last day of my Twitch marathon.) It’s been tough locking in speakers due to the current economic climate, but like Boston, we’ll deliver great talks and demos even if the final list comes in late.
+
+---
+
+#### Slimming down the conference
+
+Conferences, big and small, have been shutting down since COVID and this year saw even more go under. Deconstruct, O’Reilly, E3, Strangeloop, XOXO and bang bang con, to name but a few.
+
+Like so many, I’m really feeling the squeeze this year. 2024 is a survival year, and we’re making some cuts:
+
+* **No hotel assistance:** We tried, but the terms I’d have to sign to secure mass discounts are too financially risky. Our Discord server is your best bet for advice on where to stay in Seattle for cheap.
+* **No free merch this time:** We’ll be selling shirts if we can. However, if you registered for both Boston and Seattle, send proof and the merch is yours. (Physical tickets only.)
+* **No in-person trade show:** Seattle Center’s new booth fees make it prohibitive, so we’re going virtual for the trade show and job fair (using Revolt.)
+
+We still convene at the Seattle Center as always, at the Nesholm Family Lecture Hall:
+
+![](/images/news/lecture_hall.jpg)
+
+**The talks and demos on stage are happening here.** And we’ll still have group lunches, dinners, and official hangouts.
+
+---
+
+#### Register ASAP 🎫
+
+It’s frankly such a delightful miracle that we’re alive and kicking. The community likes to joke that we’re playing Last Con Standing.
+
+[Tickets](https://handmadecities.com/tickets) and [donations](https://handmadecities.com/member) need to pick up a bit to keep Handmade Cities going, hence the Twitch marathon next week. If you’re thinking about attending, please consider registering early—even if the lineup isn’t finalized just yet.
+
+---
+
+#### Handmade Cities and what the future holds
+
+Once we make it through this year, **I see a new business model for conferences emerging:** community-driven, 100% indie, and making juuust enough profit to cover the basics—rent, groceries, healthcare, and the occasional night out. That’s it. I’ll never get rich doing this, and that’s fine. In fact, I think the big, sponsor-heavy conferences are fading out, while indie events like HYTRADBOI are making a comeback (they were [inspired](https://www.scattered-thoughts.net/writing/why-start-a-new-database-conference#funding) by Handmade Seattle.)
+
+So how am I still here? The people supporting Handmade Cities point to one thing: _community_.
+
+![](/images/news/hms_hangout.jpg)
+
+When we’re not running tech conferences, Handmade Cities is quietly growing monthly **meetups** around the world. Handmade [Australians](https://handmadecities.com/meetups/australia) met for the first time this month. We’ve just added [Vienna](https://handmadecities.com/meetups/vienna) and [Tokyo](https://handmadecities.com/meetups/tokyo), and in Seattle my technical producer Phil pioneered **co-working** sessions, which are now a community staple: they happen every other week. I also started weekly **hangouts** on Sundays—a third place where people gather and do whatever they want; new friendships and a couple of job offers have already come out of them! (Although job networking isn’t the goal.)
+
+At these meetups I’ve met founding engineers from multiple high-profile startups who are burned out by the impact their companies have on society—whether it’s software quality degrading, endless mass layoffs or immoral business practices. They’re starting to come to us. These reliable, growing interactions among very competent programmers who care are sparking… _something_.
+
+![](/images/news/boston-scaled.jpg)
+
+Handmade Cities, not accountable to any company or investor, will galvanize this energy after I’ve muscled my way through 2024.
+
+See you on Twitch,<br>
+Abner
+
+Your indie organizer

content/english/news/attend-handmade-boston-get-a-new-terminal.md

@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+---
+title: "Attend Handmade Boston, Get a New Terminal"
+meta_title: ""
+description: "Abner announces the imminent release of a brand new desktop terminal, yours to use when you attend Handmade Boston."
+date: 2023-07-04T05:00:00Z
+image: "/images/news/terminal_click_home-980x526.png"
+categories: ["Press Release"]
+author: "Abner Coimbre"
+draft: false
+aliases:
+- /attend-handmade-boston-get-a-new-terminal
+---
+
+
+#### Dear Handmade Folks,
+
+We’re one month away from Handmade’s début in the east coast: August _3-4th_! Both the speakers and myself are preparing to give you an incredible first conference at Boston. I’ve also been cooking up something extra, quietly and in earnest…
+
+Terminal Click is a brand new desktop terminal. It’s my take on how terminal emulators are supposed to serve you going forward, and represents my first Handmade software release to a general public.
+
+<div class="flex justify-center">
+  <a href="https://terminal.click/" class="btn bg-blue-700 dark:bg-blue-700 
+  dark:text-white hover:bg-blue-800 text-white">Terminal Click</a>
+</div>
+
+**How soon can you get your hands on it? If you attend [Handmade Boston](https://handmadecities.com/boston) this August, whether in-person or online, you’re getting a copy that very month.** A closed beta is precisely what I need to suss out bugs and understand which current features are the most useful (and which ones need refining.) Our events are popular so slots are limited!
+
+This personal project has been evolving in the background for several years, and I am pumped to finally share this with you. My life may be consumed with organizing indie conferences, but I remain a programmer at heart.
+
+
+#### Reminder: Early Bird Extension🎫
+
+Just a friendly reminder that the early bird ticket sale has been extended indefinitely this year. I’ve taken this step in response to the surge of discount requests and financial assistance (given the climate of mass layoffs and economic uncertainty.
+
+It’s pretty dicey for a conference to not raise ticket prices over time, because people might just wait until the last minute to buy one! However, I’m banking on those who can afford to register early will decide to do so. That way, those who need the most time will be able to get this reprieve.
+
+I appreciate anyone who’s able to join us early!
+
+
+#### Schedule Breakdown
+
+The Handmade Boston website shows all of our speakers but we still haven’t explained the physical and online track split, the exact order of the masterclasses, and other logistical details of that nature.
+
+Before the week expires this information will be published.
+
+
+#### Your Handmade Boston Journey ✈
+
+I’ve received requests to recommend hotels and other tips for traveling. I intend on adding this information to our website too, but there are attendees already sharing cool suggestions on the Handmade Discord.
+ 
+<div class="flex justify-center">
+  <a href="https://discord.gg/hmn" class="btn bg-blue-700 dark:bg-blue-700 
+  dark:text-white hover:bg-blue-800 text-white">Discord</a>
+</div>
+
+This can be found specifically in the “meetups” channel. Visit the server and scroll up slightly little to see.
+
+
+#### Handmade Seattle Up Next
+
+In the same way Terminal Click was silently taking shape off-screen, Handmade Seattle 2023 announcements are right. Around. The corner.
+
+With this conference, I am expanding the scale and scope to cater to the growing popularity of the event. I can finally afford to take some interesting risks for you to experience (and hopefully create lasting memories.)
+
+Forgive me for keeping things vague, for now. Expect news and updates shortly—especially after the masterclasses in Boston have wrapped up!
+
+
+#### Closing Notes: Abner’s Email Backlog
+
+As this year unfolds, I find myself myself chipping away at a backlog that never really disappears. There’s a couple of factors contributing here.
+
+* _Volume Problem:_ Since I’m running two indie conferences in a single year, my bandwidth occasionally reaches its limits.
+* _Lack of Delegation:_ As the sole organizer for Handmade Cities, I bear the weight of all responsibilities. This is not going to change, but the need for an administrative assistant has become apparent.
+
+This time around, my solution is to depend on your patience as I work through your messages. On average I respond within a few days, but in rare occasions it may take weeks (unless the conference is imminent. By then my undivided attention shifts exclusively to customer support.)
+
+Looking ahead to future years, I just need to actually hire someone 🙂 If not full-time then certainly in a seasonal capacity. Having trusted staff is the way to expand Handmade Cities further.
+
+Happy Fourth.

content/english/news/beyond-conferences-handmade-cities-all-year-round.md

@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+---
+title: "Beyond Conferences: Handmade Cities All Year Round"
+meta_title: ""
+description: "We now have a permanent Matrix server for chat conversations all year round."
+date: 2023-12-20T05:00:00Z
+image: "/images/news/forever-1080x675.jpg"
+categories: ["Press Release"]
+author: ["Abner Coimbre", "Ben Visness"]
+draft: false
+aliases:
+- /beyond-conferences-handmade-cities-all-year-round
+---
+
+#### Dear Handmade Community,
+
+Warm holiday greetings! Abner Coimbre and Ben Visness here, teaming up to announce that the Handmade Cities Matrix server will remain online permanently. In past years, it has been shut down at the end of conferences, but now it will remain active year-round!
+
+This might surprise you, since most of you are probably already members of the (now rather large) Handmade Network Discord server. So why keep the Matrix server as well?
+
+The Handmade movement has grown an incredible amount in the past several years. Importantly, it has grown both online _and_ in the real world. Both domains are vital to the health of the larger Handmade community – but there are some critical differences between the two. Let’s dive into it.
+
+
+#### Two communities? Not quite.
+
+The [Handmade Network](https://handmade.network/) (HMN) is the online hub for the Handmade movement. Led by Ben and his team, they run programming jams, Twitch shows, and online social gatherings. They provide a place for community members to discuss programming, learn from each other, and share what they’re working on. The Handmade Network is also the home of [Handmade projects](https://handmade.network/projects), including the Orca initiative and Abner’s own Terminal Click.
+
+In essence, HMN is the _online_ community – and it’s accessible to everyone, including those who prefer to remain anonymous.
+
+[Handmade Cities](https://handmadecities.com/) (HMC) brings the Handmade movement into the physical realm. Headed by Abner and his own staff, HMC orchestrates tech conferences like Handmade Boston and Handmade Seattle, which are venues to present to the rest of the world our software and ideals. HMC also organizes monthly in-person [meetups](https://handmadecities.com/meetups) worldwide.
+
+In essence, Handmade Cities is all about _in-person_ events. HMC emphasizes real-world interactions; by its very nature, those who participate in these events can’t be anonymous!
+
+For several years now, Handmade Cities has used a Matrix server for discussions related to conferences and conference meetups. This server has always complemented the Handmade Network Discord server, rather than competing with it. And that is not going to change!
+
+The HMN Discord remains open to all, while users on the HMC Matrix are tied to real individuals participating in Handmade events: ticket holders, local meetup members, and so on. The Discord is the hub for jams and other online events; the Matrix is the hub for meetups and other in-person events.
+
+
+#### What about Handmade Hero? How’s that going?
+
+At the start of the Handmade movement was [Handmade Hero](https://handmadehero.org/), a Twitch series showing how to craft a video game from scratch. Casey Muratori, president of Molly Rocket, started it in November 2014 and quickly found great success, forming a huge community around its values that has lasted almost a decade.
+
+So, what’s become of our bouncy little friend? Casey’s passions have expanded beyond this project, reflecting [Molly Rocket](https://mollyrocket.com/)‘s commitment to multiple initiatives. We’re not privy to the specifics of Casey’s plans with Handmade Hero, but this year, we collaborated directly with him to shape the opening blurbs for both Handmade Network and Handmade Cities:
+
+
+> **handmade.network**
+>
+> Originally inspired by Casey Muratori’s Handmade Hero, we dig deep into our systems and learn how to do things from scratch. We’re not satisfied by the latest popular language or the framework of the month. Instead we care about how computers **actually work**.
+
+> **handmadecities.com**
+>
+> **Inspired by Handmade Hero**
+>
+> Like Handmade Hero by Molly Rocket we believe in breaking software down to the bare bones and building back an understanding of how it all really works.
+
+While Molly Rocket, Handmade Network, and Handmade Cities share a spirit of mutual support, it’s crucial to emphasize that we exist as separate entities, and are not formally affiliated. You might instead see us as independent stewards of the Handmade movement.
+
+And at the end of the day, that’s the way we like it. We each have our own expertise, our own experiences, our own goals, and ultimately our own businesses. We feel that we’re at our best, and the Handmade movement is at its best, when we are run independently but collaborate at every opportunity.
+
+We look forward to bringing you improved conferences, jams, meetups, shows, and projects in 2024. With our 10-year anniversary fast approaching (!) the future of Handmade shines brighter than ever. 😊
+
+All the best,
+Abner and Ben

content/english/news/boston-schedule-and-updates.md

@@ -0,0 +1,95 @@
+---
+title: "Boston Schedule and Updates"
+meta_title: ""
+description: "The Handmade Boston 2023 schedule and final updates."
+date: 2023-07-31T05:00:00Z
+image: "/images/news/hourglass-2910948_1920-980x653.jpg"
+categories: ["Press Release"]
+author: "Abner Coimbre"
+draft: false
+aliases:
+- /boston-schedule-and-updates
+---
+
+
+#### Dear Handmade Folks,
+
+The first ever Handmade Boston begins this Thursday!
+
+Whether you attend the physical or online track I hope you have a good time with our instructors, learn something new, and make friends with programmers like yourself: those who care about building quality software.
+
+**Note:** Handmade Boston is an experiment on forming mentor-pupil relationships; the software industry is in dire need of apprenticeships (even if they’re informal.) While I can’t guarantee an instructor will become your mentor after the conference, I’m helping create the fertile grounds for it. You may even discover a fellow audience member, a seasoned expert, who willingly decides to teach you things.
+
+If you’re comfortable in any systems language and are not a complete beginner this conference is for you. We’re here to help you grow if you’re feeling stuck.
+
+_P.S. This conference is a more intimate affair compared to Handmade Seattle. Think of “dozens” instead of “hundreds” in attendance._
+
+
+#### The Schedule 🕰
+
+The [Boston page](https://handmadecities.com/boston) has been updated with the conference schedule for both tracks. Make sure to keep it bookmarked for quick reference.
+
+Unlike Handmade Seattle, the physical track in Boston will not be live-streamed. However, fret not, as I will be recording all the sessions exclusively for ticket holders. You’ll have the privilege of accessing these recordings a number of months before they’re made available to the public.
+
+While the online track awaits these recordings, tune in for a special livestream show featuring our online instructors. Keep an eye out for masterclasses with a Twitch logo, as those are designed specifically for the online track. While this show will be streamed to the public, take-home assignments will remain private just for ticket holders.
+
+
+#### Door Prices 🎫
+
+Yes, tickets can still be purchased on the day of the conference! Rest assured, there will be no increase in prices. I firmly believe in maintaining the early-bird sale indefinitely for 2023. We must assist the financially disadvantaged; it’s been a tough year in tech. 
+
+**We have a sponsoring pool from fans who donated some cash to spare. If you or someone you know needs a discount, or even a free seat, send Abner an email and briefly tell us your story:** abner@handmadecities.com
+
+
+#### Demoscene Masterclass Postponed
+
+Andreas Fredriksson has had to deal with a family illness, preventing him from contributing to Handmade Boston. Naturally, family comes first, and his well-being and that of his family are the priority.
+
+![](/images/news/eon_the_black_lotus_postponed.png)
+
+We apologize for this inconvenience. However, Andreas has graciously agreed to turn his lecture into a Handmade Seattle talk this fall, so I hope you will join us there!
+
+
+#### Mitchell Hashimoto
+
+My friend [Mitchell](https://mitchellh.com/), founder of HashiCorp, has always been a hacker at heart. Mitchell has recently developed a keen interest in Handmade, just like many of you!
+
+We both independently embarked on creating terminal emulators from scratch, looking to innovate in this somewhat barren landscape. During our countless hours of project comparisons we stumbled upon a fun idea: to record a conversation dubbed **The Future of Terminals**. Mitchell and I agree on a bunch of things but disagree on others, so this discussion should prove entertaining and insightful.
+
+![](/images/news/hashiterm.png)
+
+This will be streamed for the online track: we should treat it as bonus content to compensate for the cancellation of the demoscene masterclass.
+
+And don’t forget that by joining Handmade Boston you’ll be enrolled into the closed beta for [Terminal Click](https://terminal.click/) – taking place later this August.
+
+
+#### Private Forums
+
+Forgive me if you’re still waiting on an invite to the private forums. I had promised to send them a week in advance, and unfortunately, I wasn’t able to meet that timeline.
+
+You should still receive an invite ahead of the conference, but we might be coming in clutch! Note that the forums are for:
+
+* Accessing take-home assignments
+* Accessing recordings once they’re available
+* Downloading any files the instructors post during their masterclass
+
+Which means it’s not strictly necessary for you to be in the forums right away. Stay tuned for further updates and your forum invite.
+
+
+#### Discord Chat 💬
+
+Unlike Handmade Seattle, we’re not self-hosting a private chat server. It’s only the private forums. However, the [Handmade Network](https://discord.gg/hmn) has a public channel called **meetups-boston** for anyone looking for things to do around Boston 🙂
+
+If you ping me there and I don’t respond immediately, please be patient! I’m the sole organizer of this conference so my bandwidth will be a bit saturated. (I generally prefer that you email me instead.)
+
+
+#### Closing Notes: Sponsoring Tickets
+
+If an individual wishes to donate to the sponsoring pool, please use our [Donorbox](https://donorbox.org/handmadecities) and in the comments write in “Sponsoring Pool” or similar.
+
+If you mark yourself as an anonymous donor I won’t be reaching out to you. Otherwise, I’m happy to report progress on how your donation helped the cause!
+
+Finally, if you don’t trust me to handle this, you can always buy a seat and use the **transfer** button in the ticket email to gift it to a friend or loved one. For me the best feeling in the world is to run conferences that are independent and powered by individual engineers, not corporations.
+
+Thank you for helping,<br>
+Abner

content/english/news/call-for-submissions-2024.md

@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+---
+title: "Call for Submissions"
+meta_title: ""
+description: "Handmade Seattle 2024 is looking for presenters and job booths."
+date: 2024-09-13T05:00:00Z
+image: "/images/news/seattle-2534686_1920-980x497.jpg"
+categories: ["Press Release"]
+author: "Abner Coimbre"
+draft: false
+aliases:
+- /call-for-submissions-2024
+---
+
+
+#### Dear Handmade Friends,
+
+Thanks for your patience on the Handmade Boston recordings—we’re just about done. Sorry for the delay! Meanwhile, you can still catch the online track on Twitch [VOD](https://www.twitch.tv/videos/2219804427) and it’ll be up on the Media page and YouTube afterwards.
+
+
+#### On the hunt for speakers (and more!)
+
+It’s time to ramp up Handmade Seattle 2024, and I’m looking for presenters and job fair participants. We’ve got spots for:
+
+* Talks
+* Demos
+* Fireside chats (informal interviews)
+* Job Booths
+
+![](/images/news/slots.png)
+
+Whether you’re in person or online, there’s room for both. Check out the [Media](https://handmadecities.com/media) and [Job Fair](https://handmadecities.com/jobs) pages for examples.
+
+
+#### How to apply
+
+The beauty of indie conferences is there’s no convoluted process: just send me an [email](mailto:abner@handmadecities.com)! Let me know what you want to present and why you’re the one to do it.
+
+Slots are limited. Either I or [staff](https://handmadecities.com/about) on my behalf should get back to you within 1-3 business days.
+
+##### Wheel Reinvention Jam
+
+Are you joining the Handmade Network [jam](https://handmade.network/jam/wheel-reinvention-2024)? We usually pick a couple of entries for a demo slot at the conference, so it’s a good way to get noticed.
+
+![](/images/news/wheel-reinvention-jam-2024.png)
+
+---
+
+#### This year’s themes: “awakening” and “post-awakening”
+
+2024 marks the 10th anniversary of the Handmade movement. Many in our community talk about the “aha” moments that transformed how they think about programming, kickstarted by the [Manifesto](https://handmade.network/manifesto). So this year, we want talks that dive into the:
+
+* **Awakening:** Did you learn something that felt like a superpower once you grasped it? Share it with us and open our eyes too. A community favorite is Andreas Fredriksson’s [Context is Everything](https://vimeo.com/644068002).
+
+* **Post-Awakening:** What have you done since your own awakening? A great example is Billy Basso’s [presentation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KixgF8Ru1Mw) last month at Handmade Boston, about his journey shipping _Animal Well_ after his own Handmade realizations.
+
+Not every talk needs to fit perfectly into these categories—the lines can get blurred and that’s fine.
+
+---
+
+#### Honest opinions encouraged
+
+You can have raw, controversial takes: bring on the heat. You can criticize any tech company if you believe it’s well-deserved. That’s the whole point of Handmade events (we have no sponsors.) You can be shocking, comedic or use curse words if it serves your point.
+
+Just don’t overindulge please. My motto is spicy but classy.
+
+_Note: You’re allowed to go all in with references to Majora or ChocoVine, my two great loves. (Hope this doesn’t discourage ticket sales..)_
+
+Thanks for reading—I’m excited to see your proposals! Next time, I’ll update you on the [Third Place](https://handmadecities.com/the-third-place/) initiative and other exciting meetup announcements.
+
+Your indie organizer,<br>
+Abner
+
+---
+
+#### FAQ
+
+**Q: I can’t afford a ticket**
+
+A: Shoot me an email and explain your situation. We offer discounts, and some of my [donors](https://handmadecities.com/member) offer free seats for those in need.
+
+**Q: How does the online track work?**
+
+A: Unlike Boston, Handmade Seattle is fully hybrid. The entire event is live-streamed for free, and your online ticket gets you into the private chat for live Q&A.
+
+**Q: Are you using Matrix?**
+
+A: Nope! We’re switching to Revolt, which I hope works better. Read more about the Matrix drama [here](https://handmadecities.com/new-discord-server/).
+
+**Q: I have travel/lodging questions.**
+
+A: Join the Handmade Cities Discord to receive guidance from other ticket holders. If you don’t have Discord you can email me: just be aware that it might take me a few business days to respond.
+
+**Q: Bang Bang Con wrapped up for good. Is Handmade Seattle headed the same way? Going out with a bang or fading away?**
+
+A: Conferences are shutting down everywhere—E3, Deconstruct, Strangeloop, XOXO, and yep, even Bang Bang Con just held their final one last month.
+
+But if there’s one thing I’m proud of, it’s pulling off indie conferences since 2019, even when I come through last-minute in tough years like this.
+
+I’m here to stay.