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Colin

@htmlandbacon.com
568 followers 365 following 269 posts

Front-end developer working in Government. Inclusive design advocate, html and taco fan. htmlandbacon.com

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Reposted by Colin
Eventua11y @eventua11y.com · 30/09/2026
Speaker applications for Access:Given 2027 in Newcastle are open. You can apply to give a lightning talk, deliver a longer talk, or join a panel. Applications close on 11 November. accessgiven.co.uk/speaker-guid... #accessibility
accessgiven.co.uk
Speaker Guidelines | Access:Given | Digital Accessibility Conference Newcastle 2027
This pack explains how to apply to speak at Access Given 2027.
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Colin @htmlandbacon.com · 29/09/2026
Looking forward to #GovDevNorth - should be a solid day www.uk-x-gov-software-community.org.uk/conferences/...
uk-x-gov-software-community.org.uk
GovDev North 2026
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Rob Whiting 📓 @whitingx.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
A look at the #Advertising approach for ‘Spartan’ - an #Apple ][+ emulator for the #Commodore64. buttondown.com/suchbadtecha...
buttondown.com
A bizarre Commodore 64 peripheral, a mime, and some pretty bad ads
Two years of nightmarish smiles and makeup before anyone laid hands on Mimic Systems' actual product.
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Rachel Coldicutt @rachelcoldicutt.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
This sounds like a great and very important job that someone excellent should be doing.
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zeldman @zeldman.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
You’ve just made a website, but now you're unsure where to go from here. Here are ideas for things to add and techniques to learn. 32bit.cafe/websiteideas/
32bit.cafe
32-Bit Cafe
A web space community that focuses on building websites for self-expression and creativity, made up of professionals, hobbyists, and enthusiasts of the personal web.
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Inclusive Design 24 (#id24) @inclusivedesign24.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Inclusive Design 24 is this week! 24 hours of free, live-streamed talks about inclusion and accessibility. You can check out this year's schedule here: inclusivedesign24.org/2026/schedule/ #id24 #a11y #accessibility #InclusiveDesign
inclusivedesign24.org
Inclusive Design 24 (#id24)
A free 24-hour online community event on accessibility and inclusion
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Mark O’Neill 🐻 @radiobeartime.com · 11/09/2026
Ouch arstechnica.com/tech-policy/...
arstechnica.com
ChatGPT-using lawyer punished for citing fake testimony from made-up witnesses
I didn't know that AI could hallucinate facts," New Mexico defense lawyer says.
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Lou Downe @loudowne.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
At the Bad Services Corporation we have 15 principles of Bad Service Design. Principle #2: A bad service does not enable users to complete the outcome they set out to Make sure you've completed your induction: good.services/writing/a-ba...
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Web Witch 🔮 Stephanie Stimac @seaotta.dev · 10/09/2026
I was ahead of the time. blog.stephaniestimac.com/posts/2023/0...
blog.stephaniestimac.com
Designing for Dual Screen and Foldable Devices With CSS - Stephanie Stimac's Blog
Revisiting the CSS media queries and environment variables for foldable devices.
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Mat “Wilto” Marquis @wil.to · 08/09/2026
We’re about halfway through the first run of Multipage #2: IMAGES, and I’m probably only doing the one re-issue of #1: HEADINGS — grab yourself a copy of each while you still can, and help out @translifeline.org at the same time! multipa.ge
Visible content:
WELCOME TO MULTIPAGE VERSION
A zine about HTML elements

FROM THE EDITOR

Alright. Here we go. The images issue.
Deep breaths.

WHAT’S YOUR PROBLEM?
This is the images issue.
SO?
That's like my entire deal.
YOUR "DEAL" IS IMAGES?
I mean, yeah, kind of. Images are in the
top three things that are my deal, easy.
Images, Mega Man 2, and some third thing,
probably.
WHY?
Because images might be the only thing
we’ve managed to fuck up worse than
headings, and we don’t even have the
excuse of a eternally-broken standard.
Good ol' `img` fires off a request for an
image source and puts it on the screen
with staggering efficiency, and it makes a
text alternative available. Worked great
for decades. It still does!
The first half, well, it's fast, so
whatever; may as well cram a huge PNG-24
down the pipe because we vaguely remember
hearing that a PNG doesn't "have
compression," and "compression" probably
looks bad, we bet! Besides, what's four or
five megabytes between friends?
Meanwhile we fully biffed the second half
of what it does; just, couldn’t be
bothered to do it. Enjoy hearing those
filenames, users browsing via assistive
tech.
NO YEAH NOT GREAT
Ah, but unlike headings, image standards
evolved to meet the changing times! You
see, `img` wasn’t up to the task of
delivering sources optimized for a
responsive layout, so through the hard
work and selfless dedication of a whole
crew of brilliant designers and developers
and the strikingly handsome Chair of their
web standards group—
OKAY DIAL IT BACK
—we got all manner of amazing new
standards that allowed `img` to keep on
doing what it did best, but with
brilliantly optimized—
STILL PRETTY BRAGGY
Well, I didn't come up with it. A bunch of
people way smarter and more talented than
I am came up with it all. I just got them
together and, like, printed up stickers
and t-shirts and posted about it and
stuff.
AH SO THIS IS YOUR THIRD "DEAL"
"This?" "This" what?
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AAAAHH-lex Plante 🐀👑 @aplante.com · 08/09/2026
i have so few pieces of fanart at my table but i always make sure to have a handful of these at pretty much any show i go to because they almost always get people clapping and going OH!!! these are also two of the only prints i regularly sell out of
Digital gouache painting of Sam reich from game changer on dropout standing at his little rainbow podium but make it a little golden book. "I've been here the whole time..."Illustration of taskmaster host greg davies sitting on a large gilded throne. He is holding a cartoonishly baby little Alex Horne on his knee. Alex is gently holding one of Greg's massive fingies in his delicate baby hand.
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Frontend Dogma @frontenddogma.com · 06/09/2026
CSS Units, by @mcslayer.com: cssunits.com/?ref=frontenddogma.com #websites #css #units
cssunits.com
CSS Units — The Complete Reference
A complete interactive reference to every CSS measurement unit. From the basics of px and rem to the nuances of svh, dvh, and cqw.
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Hidde @hidde.blog · 03/09/2026
If anyone here wants to understand more about WCAG-EM 2, the new evaluation method for WCAG, I'll be interviewed about it by IAAP UK folks today, and you can join us for free. - 2pm Amsterdam - 1pm UK - 8am New York abilitynet-org-uk.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
abilitynet-org-uk.zoom.us
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: IAAP Network and Learn - September. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
The IAAP’s (International Association of Accessibility Professionals) popular ‘Network & Learn’ events are especially for UK and India Chapter IAAP members, plus anyone considering becoming a member. ...
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Once Upon A Time On The Internet @newgroundsdoc.newgrounds.com · 01/09/2026
23 YEARS AGO TODAY, @mrweebl.bsky.social posted BADGERS to @Newgrounds.com
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Jukesie @jukes.ie · 29/08/2026
I found this screenshot I took from somewhere last year in my Downloads and I think it sums up why I get angsty about "AI" - in my head it defaults to meaning LLMs/GenAI and not all the things I think are probably useful 😅
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Brian Honan @brianhonan.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Happy Skynet day to all those who celebrate
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Stef Walter @stephaniewalter.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
The Recipe Isn't The Bake - What Design Systems Need Beyond Documentation. Design system don’t fail because of weak documentation, they fail from missing people context and support. I like the recipe metaphor here
alwaystwisted.com
The Recipe Isn't The Bake - What Design Systems Need Beyond Documentation
Why documentation alone does not make a design system work, and why maintainers, context, and feedback loops matter in real product teams.
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shri @shrikhalpada.dev · 27/08/2026
My latest interactive explainer all about the technology behind record players is done! perthirtysix.com/how-the-heck...
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Adrian Roselli, pH0 @aardrian.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Updated my link + popover nav post: adrianroselli.com/2026/07/link... Now includes `flex-wrap: balance` for the navigation items thanks to Ahmad Shadeed’s post: ishadeed.com/article/flex... I am amazed how much new CSS I see, then forget, seemingly immediately. #CSS
ishadeed.com
Balancing flex items with flex-wrap: balance
A look at how flex items wrap and how to balance them across lines.
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Geri Reid @gerireid.com · 27/08/2026
Social media occasionally presents me with a gem like this, making the terrible business of participating worthwhile.
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Astro @astro.build · 19/08/2026
Ever wanted to write Astro components without starting a new project? 👀 We built a Playground that shows you - preview, CSS, JavaScript, compiler output. play.astro.build
play.astro.build
Astro Playground
An online playground for the Astro compiler.
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amos @fasterthanli.me · 18/08/2026
infrastructure as code? *looks at code* n..no thanks
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Lyna @blooym.dev · 17/08/2026
GitHub should stop using a unicorn for the error page because unicorns are supposed to be rare, mythical creatures and not show up every other minute
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Joe Lanman @joelanman.com · 17/08/2026
The GOV.UK Prototype Kit has always been hugely undervalued as a way to help deliver policy via plugins Eg. the plugin means it's easy to use Notify in a prototype, makes it more likely to use Notify in a service.
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Kilian Valkhof @kilianvalkhof.com · 17/08/2026
Whether this is a boilerplate you like or not, Manuels explanations and rationales for each line are gold and well worth reading.
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Andy Bell @bell.bz · 11/08/2026
a simpler time
A Timehop reminder of a meme I modified 7 years ago. It’s an illustration of a metronome that shows the rod at each end, with arrows demonstrating motion. At one end the caption is “should designers code?” and at the other end, “is css a programming language”
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Colin @htmlandbacon.com · 12/08/2026
"What are the principles of prototyping?" charlottefountaine.medium.com/what-are-the...
charlottefountaine.medium.com
What are the principles of prototyping?
When designing services, many of the things we need to test are intangible: policies, processes, conversations, operating models. Therefore…
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UK Gov Camp @ukgovcamp.com · 11/08/2026
You voted, we listened! UKGovCamp 2027 is officially heading to Manchester. Want to help shape the event or have venue ideas for 200 to 250 people? Reply here or email organisers@ukgovcamp.com to join the conversations.
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Ned Hartley @nedhartley.com · 02/04/2025
In the Beano this week meet… Absolute Bananaman!
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steve @visitmy.website · 07/08/2026
We used a hackathon kindly organised by another team to explore a couple of hypotheses in our alpha, utilising some of the expertise around us. design-history.prevention-services.nhs.uk/managing-my-...
design-history.prevention-services.nhs.uk
Combining test results from multiple sources
What we learned about combining data from different systems into one easy-to-view feed at a hackathon.
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Tyler Sticka @tylersticka.com · 06/08/2026
I like to think I keep up with new #CSS features, but sometimes I overlook something fun. For example, improvements to text-stroke: tylersticka.com/journal/impr... #WebDesign #WebDev
tylersticka.com
Improved CSS Text-Stroke – Tyler Sticka
Arriving late to the party for this fun little CSS trick (with a few gotchas).
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Craig Abbott @craigabbott.co.uk · 06/08/2026
New blog post. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about why accessibility initiatives are hard. It’s often not because of standards. Or that people lack the skills or knowledge to do it. It’s often just where an org chooses to start. www.craigabbott.co.uk/blog/2026/ac... #accessibility #a11y
craigabbott.co.uk
Accessibility: Start with "why" - Craig Abbott
Why leading with compliance fails, and how starting with "why" builds a lasting accessibility culture
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Luke Murphy @lurkmoophy.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
Does anybody I know have a tattoo that they got for a band they love and would be interested in writing a couple of sentences about why you got it and what it means to you for a zine article for @nothingsoundsgood.bsky.social?
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Craig Abbott @craigabbott.co.uk · 31/07/2026
I’ve decided to start doing a monthly newsletter. It’s not going to be huge, just sharing things I’ve found interesting each month, with the main focus being accessibility, of course! If you’re interested you can sign up at the following link: buttondown.com/craigabbott #accessibility #a11y
buttondown.com
Monthly Newsletter, by Craig Abbott
One email a month, about interesting accessibility related things I’ve found on the web. Craig speaking at Access:Given conference.
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Indy @indy.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
I can't remember who predicted this class of happening @sonofsuntzu.bsky.social - but here it is in the wild.
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Colin @htmlandbacon.com · 26/07/2026
Lightly obsessed with brutalistwebsites.com
brutalistwebsites.com
Brutalist Websites
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WebDesignMuseum @webdesignmuseum.org · 26/07/2026
Web designer's desktop in 1996 #WebDesignHistory
Web designer's desktop in 1996
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Frontend Dogma @frontenddogma.com · 25/07/2026
State of Devs 2026, by @sachagreif@front-end.social (@devographics.com): survey.devographics.com/en-US/surve… #surveys #career
survey.devographics.com
State of Devs 2026
Take the State of Devs survey
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Nicolas Hedger @hedger.ch · 22/07/2026
I wanted to embed terminal recordings in my blog, so I built astro-asciinema. It lets you import a local .cast file and render it with a simple @astro.build component. hedger.ch/posts/2026/a...
hedger.ch
Terminal recordings for Astro with astro-asciinema
Making asciinema recordings feel like native Astro assets, including when the site changes theme.
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Colin @htmlandbacon.com · 20/07/2026
absolutely love this
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Colin @htmlandbacon.com · 20/07/2026
Briefly lifting out of some docs work to get lost in admonitions docs zensical.org/docs/authori...
zensical.org
Zensical
Adaptive systems for evolving ideas – Zensical creates scalable Open Source systems for technical writing that always keep you in the flow
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amie @heyamie.co · 19/07/2026
worked on something to help me build CLI experiences, decided to share it with the world ✌️ CLI Designer is a browser WYSIWYG tool: replay a real terminal session, lint against best practices, and export a runnable spec.
cli-designer.netlify.app
CLI Designer — Design your CLI before you build it
Model commands, script terminal sessions, lint against clig.dev, and hand off to engineering — all in the browser.
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Frankie Roberto @frankieroberto.com · 16/07/2026
The GOVUK design system team have today added the interruption page pattern and component: design-system.service.gov.uk/patterns/int... - based on previous work by teams across government. 🎉 This is a great example of where it is sometimes helpful to add some friction into a digital journey.
design-system.service.gov.uk
Interruption pages
Pause the user journey to give them important information
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Joe Lanman @joelanman.com · 16/07/2026
This is exciting, the GOV.UK Design System now has the Interruption Page pattern: design-system.service.gov.uk/patterns/int... We first used this pattern on GOV.UK Verify: designnotes.blog.gov.uk/2015/09/21/h...
designnotes.blog.gov.uk
Helping users understand GOV.UK Verify - designing with data
GOV.UK Verify is the new way to prove who you are online, so you can use services on GOV.UK safely, and securely. It lets people safely sign in and use government services using a certified company. N...
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depths of wikipedia @depthsofwikipedia.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
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Andy Bell @bell.bz · 06/07/2026
The only thing a date picker for a date of birth field is useful for is knowing what day of the week I was born on
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Colin @htmlandbacon.com · 02/07/2026
Playing with css vars, colour themes and a prototype kit plugin for ease of use "Browser toggle - GOVUK prototype kit plugin" htmlandbacon.com/words/2026-0...
Example of two GOV.UK confirm pages with different colour themes.

The first one shows a more traditional "dark theme" using the govuk black as a base.

The second one shows a "green theme" using the govuk green base colour as a starting point.
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Brandon T. Snider @brandontsnider.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Back on my bullsh
an image that has boxes and a flow chart- GET A NEW IDEA > START A NEW PROJECT > TELL EVERYONE. the pattern repeats circularly, ignoring the box that says FINISH PROJECT
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