Cool Link: stop being an audience member of your own life

Nice, cozy video reflecting on how we are often a distant audience of other people’s lives instead of living our own. It’s definitely that damn phone.

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About Cool Links

Cool links are a collection of interesting things I find around the web. They can range from fun dumb websites to deep thought-provoking essays, or more commonly something in between. The feed here updates frequently, and I compile everything into a blog post on the last day of each month.

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Matt shared a Cool Link

This project aims to make it easy for CSS to have access to things only JS could have previously, all through CSS variables. This makes it way easier for CSS to still be responsible for the presentation layer, without having to add animations, transitions and status information through JS.

I gotta point out that the performance on that site specifically is pretty horrid. It’s probably better used sparingly, but I get why the demo site would use it everywhere 😅

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Matt shared a Cool Link

Nice, cozy video reflecting on how we are often a distant audience of other people’s lives instead of living our own. It’s definitely that damn phone.

Open

Matt posted a Quick Review

Brave New World

2000, Iron Maiden

Reviewed on Aug 17, 2026

Didn't like it

Decent

I like it

Loved it!

One of my favorite albums ever. Not only it is very good, it also holds a special place in my heart due to it being the most recent album when I discovered Iron Maiden, and my brother and I used to watch the Rock in Rio concert from this album’s tour every. single. day. It’s special to the band too, as a perfect comeback album after the rough 90s they had. It’s what made they become the best band in the world… for a second time.

Album

Matt posted a Quick Review

Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie

2025, Matt Johnson

Reviewed on Aug 16, 2026

Didn't like it

Decent

I like it

Loved it!

Super funny and interesting! I love the way it was shot, it succeeds in not taking itself seriously and is all the better for it.

Movie

Matt shared a Cool Link

Pretty cool study about how our brains work in finding optimal routes and how surprisingly good we are at it, even when compared to computers. Lots of visual and interactive demos inside!

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Matt shared a Cool Link

I found out about this when looking at my website’s analytics: this is cool! It’s an aggregator of cool links from the indie web, where nobody posts anything: every link comes from RSS feeds of various sites, and users upvote the best to make them bubble up to the top. It’s a great way to find new blogs and people to follow.

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Matt posted a Quick Review

1984

1949, George Orwell

Reviewed on Aug 12, 2026

Didn't like it

Decent

I like it

Loved it!

This is a punch in the gut, but I am better for having read it. Not much can be said that hasn’t already been said; it’s one of the most discussed books ever (even if often misinterpreted to fit whatever you believe in). As a “quietly rebellious” person myself, I have to say it left me in a deep state of melancholy as I was nearing the end, and that feeling still lingers the following day.

Book

Matt published a Blog Post

Sauda

Araucaria trees stand tall against a blue sky.

Saudade

5 min read

A reflection on Saudade, being away from home, and everything that comes with it.

Personal

Read

Matt shared a Cool Link

This is a survey for developers about everything but coding, that is accepting answers up to September 5. If you’re a developer, it’s worth participating! It doesn’t take long to fill and can help understanding the current environment of the dev industry in such chaotic times.

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Matt shared a Cool Link

There’s a lot of websites that mimic retro desktops nowadays (they’re cool!), but this one feels truly special by having its own aesthetic, and it feels so fun to explore! I love ghow you can draw your own stamps and leave your own mark on it.

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Matt shared a Cool Link

Play a different hole of mini-golf in your browser every day. You can see other people playing as well, and share your play with friends if you’re into that.