:root {
      --stripe-blue: #a8d8ff;
      --paper-white: #fcf4d5;
      --paper-shadow: rgba(226, 218, 203, 0.5);
      --grid-green: rgba(205, 234, 192, 0.25);
      --card-bg: #ffffff;
      --bg: #fdfcf9;
      --accent: #cab7ff;
      --accent-soft: #e7deff;
      --text-main: #444;
      --text-soft: #666;
      --radius: 24px;
      --shadow: 0 4px 20px rgba(0,0,0,0.07);
    }

    body {
      margin: 0;
      background: var(--bg);
      font-family: "Inter", sans-serif;
      color: var(--text-main);
      overflow-x: hidden;
    }

    /* --- Background features --- */
    .side-stripe {
      position: fixed;
      left: 0;
      top: 0;
      width: 80px;
      height: 100%;
      background-color: var(--stripe-blue);
      box-shadow: 3px 0px 2px var(--paper-shadow);
      z-index: -2;
    }

    .graph-paper {
      position: fixed;
      left: 0;
      top: 0;
      width: 100%;
      height: 100%;
      background-color: var(--paper-white);
      background-image:
        linear-gradient(to bottom, var(--grid-green) 4px, transparent 4px),
        linear-gradient(to right, var(--grid-green) 4px, transparent 4px);
      background-size: 20px 20px;
      z-index: -3;
    }

    /* --- CENTERED CARD --- */
    .hero {
      min-height: 100vh;
      display: flex;
      align-items: center;
      justify-content: center;
      text-align: center;
      padding-left: 90px; /* avoid overlapping with stripe */
    }

    .hero-card {
      background: var(--card-bg);
      padding: 3rem 2.5rem;
      width: min(500px, 75%);
      border-radius: var(--radius);
      box-shadow: var(--shadow);
      transition: transform 0.4s ease, opacity 0.4s ease;
    }

    .hero-card.shrink {
      transform: scale(0.85) translateY(-40px);
      opacity: 0.9;
    }

    .hero-card h1 {
      margin: 0;
      font-size: 2.6rem;
      color: var(--accent);
      font-weight: 700;
    }

    .hero-card p {
      margin-top: 0.5rem;
      color: var(--text-soft);
      font-size: 1.1rem;
      line-height: 1.6;
    }

    /* Social links row */
    .social-row {
      margin-top: 1.5rem;
      display: flex;
      gap: 0.6rem;
      justify-content: center;
    }

    .social-row a {
      text-decoration: none;
      padding: 0.45rem 0.9rem;
      background: var(--accent-soft);
      color: var(--text-main);
      border-radius: var(--radius);
      font-size: 0.9rem;
      transition: background 0.2s;
    }

    .social-row a:hover {
      background: var(--accent);
      color: white;
    }

    /* --- TOPIC CAROUSEL --- */
    .carousel {
      padding-left: 80px;
      padding-bottom: 3rem;
      margin-top: -20px;
      opacity: 0;
      transform: translateY(40px);
      transition: opacity 0.4s ease, transform 0.4s ease;
    }

    .carousel.visible {
      opacity: 1;
      transform: translateY(0);
    }

    .carousel-title {
      font-size: 1.3rem;
      margin-bottom: 1rem;
      color: var(--text-soft);
    }

    .carousel-row {
      display: flex;
      gap: 1rem;
      overflow-x: auto;
      padding-bottom: 1rem;
      scroll-snap-type: x mandatory;
    }

    .carousel-item {
      width: 240px;
      background: white;
      padding: 1.2rem 1rem;
      border-radius: var(--radius);
      box-shadow: var(--shadow);
      scroll-snap-align: start;
      flex-shrink: 0;
      transition: transform 0.2s, scale 0.2s;
      cursor: pointer;
    }

    .carousel-item:hover {
      scale: 105%;
      transform: translateY(-4px);
    }

    .carousel-item h3 {
      margin: 0 0 0.6rem 0;
      color: var(--accent);
    }

    .carousel-item p {
      margin: 0;
      color: var(--text-soft);
      font-size: 0.9rem;
    }

    .post-card {
      min-height: 200px;
      display: block;
      text-align: left;
      margin-left: 90px; /* avoid overlapping with stripe */
      background: var(--card-bg);
      text-decoration: none;
      color: var(--text-main);
      padding: 0.5rem 2.5rem;
      width: min(575px, 85%);
      border-radius: var(--radius);
      box-shadow: var(--shadow);
      z-index: 1;
    }

    .invitation {
      display: flex;
      float: right;
      margin-top: -5%;
      text-decoration: none;
      color: var(--text-soft);
    }

    .paper-margin {
      position: absolute;
      float: left;
      margin-left: -30px;
      width: 3px;
      height: 100%;
      background-color: rgba(240, 128, 128, 0.5);
      box-shadow: 2px 0px 2px var(--paper-shadow);
      z-index: 1;
    }

    .entryreader {
      display: flex;
      flex-direction: column;
      float:right;
      margin-right: 12%;
      margin-left: 90px;
      margin-top: 10%;
      padding-bottom: 720px;
      padding-left: 125px;
      padding-right: 5%;
      background-color: var(--bg);
      background-image: linear-gradient(to bottom, var(--grid-green) 3px, transparent 4px);
      background-size: 100% 25px;
      min-width: min(620, 65%);
      max-width: 85%;
      z-index: -2
    }