Ok, while composing this stream of consciousness hostage essay I left out the whole premise I.e. reason for writing this. There has been no essays since before this storm hit when my heat went out. Just wanted to make that clear. Dayum seems like typing on a keyboard makes the temperature drop 10 degrees lol.
Thanks for that. I took a peek and saw defections and even a few canceled paid subscriptions so this is my feeble attempt at putting a finger in that dike.
I did not cancel my subscription so much as blocked auto renew. I do the same with all my sub-stack subscriptions. I'm old school and don't like the auto renew world.
Be safe, X. Your loyal readers aren’t going anywhere. Hope you have enough firewood and the furnace is repaired soonest. Glad you have power! Meanwhile please bundle up and keep warm. Lots of hot tea and warm baths if you have a tub.
I’m thankful for my heat and only eighteen inches of snow but not for the gross toilet and tub backup from before Christmas, the leak from MLK day, that the plumbers say means I can’t use my sink. The mold and reek that is growing while the fix has been delayed by the snow issues. The dehumidifier and air purifiers cannot keep up with the wetness and bad air quality. The windows dare not to be opened for fresh but too frigid air for hot water heat. Not enough insulation in the walls of this apartment so the outside facing walls of this place radiate cold and the floor is cold slab concrete covered with carpet. The carpet that needs to be pulled up so that the plumbing crew can break through the concrete to reach the pipe that purportedly is the only problem but no guarantees. My little personal ranting saga….
I have heat but I am still cold physically and in rage and sorrow at the endless travesties unleashed by greed, hate and the abusive lust for sex and power in secrecy. May we all stand strong together for truth, justice and peace based in kindness and equality and more qualities than I can currently coalesce into words. My thanks to all the researchers, writers, lawyers, judges, protesters and those with strong backbones who work in truth for WE THE PEOPLE, all of them. The web of life requires this diversity for balance and freedom and human survival.
I went through an ice storm in Missouri about 20 years ago with no power for two weeks. Fortunately we had a fireplace insert and some wood, and were eventually lucky enough to find a gas generator before the pipes froze. I do know where you are coming from. Please consider that some of those subscriber losses might have been from lack of funds versus pissed off followers. Keep on trying to stay warm and we'll be here when you get your brain and fingers working again. No need for videos for me anyway, I read and comprehend faster than I watch, and dislike performative influencing, so I don't watch videos, except for evidentiary value. Good luck!
Ugggh that’s the cold and these distracting fans getting to me. So what I wanted to also say is that the videos will be structured for people who want a different perspective or different insight into the essays. So I’m saying that to say essays and posts on breaking news as well as cultural analysis will remain the backbone.
Also ideally these videos will be live and allow for audience interaction via chat and call in by phone.
I feel ya Bela which is why I’ve hesitated for sooooooo long in implementing it. Here’s a little bit of backstory. XVOA started as a YT channel that I had to abandon after my volunteer assistant ghosted me. Too many technical glitches I guess. I was like huuuuum…lemme try this Substack thing…huuuuum I don’t need a technician to write essays!
I’m on the Bela train…haven’t really gotten into the vids or live casts. For example, I was glad to see some famous-type newscasters land on Substack after being booted from networks (which I don’t watch as I do not have a tv, but catch a yt, eg, the day after broadcast). However, I have not successfully made the switch from reading their essays to watching their live casts. I guess I don’t take the time to schedule myself around their live cast schedules…..I hope your heater gets fixed soon because I like your writing. I try to promote your essays as well by restacking. I will admit that I have not given any free subscriptions….my own hang up: I don’t like any of those “programs” that try to entice one to buy more or reward one for buying in the first place. Like I said - my hang up! And yeah, “let a thousand flowers bloom” 🌷 🌷 🌷
And I never do podcasts. Your point about scheduling is how it is for me. If interrupted chances are I'll never return. Certainly part is being schooled to research using printed text.
Transitioning to on line newspaper is something I've worked on for a decade. I still get print version on my daily two days a week. I get the online version but hardly ever access it. The newspaper does offer a course on making better use of the electronic version, but I missed that last year.
My kids told me about that one. They were living in Springfield at the time. When we moved back, one of the first things we did is install a whole house generator. It was expensive, but it's saved us a few times. We had a three-day winter outage a while back and we were inviting neighbors over to warm up, charge devices, etc.
Those of us who like and enjoy your thinking and writing aren't going anywhere. I wish you warmth for your body and clarity for your mind. Oh, and yes, peace in your heart.
I was wondering why we hadn't heard from you for a while, but I figured there was a good reason-- and there is! Take care of yourself; your true friends will still be here when this is over. At least that's what my daddy always used to say, and he was right.
I had no heat for days one winter (Chicago), and writing would not have been my top concern (keeping my kids warm was). Anybody who drops you doesn’t deserve you. The news on Substack is unending. I don’t have time to read everything in my feed, and I read all day. Try to get warm, let your fingers thaw, and start dancin’ on those keys. We know it’ll be worth the wait!
If I could hang on through 21 years of my 2nd marriage 'til death did us part, toughing it out for 5+ days while you get your heat restored is a walk in the park. (As long as we're sharing cliches.) Plus, I've lived through weather exactly like that, when I heated the house with woodstoves & waded through hip-deep snow to feed livestock. Believe me, ICR. Take care of yourself.
Yeah 1st world problems I get it. If this post keeps 2 more subscribers from canceling who otherwise would have, then I’d like to think it was worth to say something rather than leave readers with 24-48 hours of radio silence.
Hey man, I'm stickn with you. I read all your posts in any case, and as life goes, so goes writing, meaning you can't always be at your best, especially when you're freezing.
You have probably noticed Trump is working on his lastest attempt to distract us from the illegally unturnedover Epstein files. Playing way too rough with the good citizens of Minnesota has been a real bust for him, so now he will take it out on the Iranians by misusing our Navy, figuring that nuclear holocaust might solve his Epstein files problem. Actually, it would probably solve all our problems. Stay warm.
Yeah friend. You won’t write if you aren’t warm. Just a fact. We’re in the below zeros up here in Maine right now. Even with working heat, my brain shuts down and raises a hairy eyebrow if I even think about going “out there.” Basics first. We’ll be here.❤️
Ok, while composing this stream of consciousness hostage essay I left out the whole premise I.e. reason for writing this. There has been no essays since before this storm hit when my heat went out. Just wanted to make that clear. Dayum seems like typing on a keyboard makes the temperature drop 10 degrees lol.
You're good. Stay warm. It's OK to take a break. Some of us will read other stuff, that's OK too. We're not going away!
Thanks for that. I took a peek and saw defections and even a few canceled paid subscriptions so this is my feeble attempt at putting a finger in that dike.
I'm really sorry about your furnace.
I bought an automated generator 10 or 12 years ago & that sucker has paid for itself many times over. Very good investment.
We didnt get the ice this time, but about 2 feet of snow and COLD - under 10 degrees.
Hope you get your warm back on soon!
I did not cancel my subscription so much as blocked auto renew. I do the same with all my sub-stack subscriptions. I'm old school and don't like the auto renew world.
That makes sense I can understand that.
⬆️ What she said.
Be safe, X. Your loyal readers aren’t going anywhere. Hope you have enough firewood and the furnace is repaired soonest. Glad you have power! Meanwhile please bundle up and keep warm. Lots of hot tea and warm baths if you have a tub.
Don’t worry about it. There are people who are cold in Minneapolis too. We live in a cold country. You warm us up every time you share your thoughts.
I’m thankful for my heat and only eighteen inches of snow but not for the gross toilet and tub backup from before Christmas, the leak from MLK day, that the plumbers say means I can’t use my sink. The mold and reek that is growing while the fix has been delayed by the snow issues. The dehumidifier and air purifiers cannot keep up with the wetness and bad air quality. The windows dare not to be opened for fresh but too frigid air for hot water heat. Not enough insulation in the walls of this apartment so the outside facing walls of this place radiate cold and the floor is cold slab concrete covered with carpet. The carpet that needs to be pulled up so that the plumbing crew can break through the concrete to reach the pipe that purportedly is the only problem but no guarantees. My little personal ranting saga….
I have heat but I am still cold physically and in rage and sorrow at the endless travesties unleashed by greed, hate and the abusive lust for sex and power in secrecy. May we all stand strong together for truth, justice and peace based in kindness and equality and more qualities than I can currently coalesce into words. My thanks to all the researchers, writers, lawyers, judges, protesters and those with strong backbones who work in truth for WE THE PEOPLE, all of them. The web of life requires this diversity for balance and freedom and human survival.
I went through an ice storm in Missouri about 20 years ago with no power for two weeks. Fortunately we had a fireplace insert and some wood, and were eventually lucky enough to find a gas generator before the pipes froze. I do know where you are coming from. Please consider that some of those subscriber losses might have been from lack of funds versus pissed off followers. Keep on trying to stay warm and we'll be here when you get your brain and fingers working again. No need for videos for me anyway, I read and comprehend faster than I watch, and dislike performative influencing, so I don't watch videos, except for evidentiary value. Good luck!
I also avoid videos and prefer to read. I mostly regret the effort of watching vid.
Ugggh that’s the cold and these distracting fans getting to me. So what I wanted to also say is that the videos will be structured for people who want a different perspective or different insight into the essays. So I’m saying that to say essays and posts on breaking news as well as cultural analysis will remain the backbone.
Also ideally these videos will be live and allow for audience interaction via chat and call in by phone.
I feel ya Bela which is why I’ve hesitated for sooooooo long in implementing it. Here’s a little bit of backstory. XVOA started as a YT channel that I had to abandon after my volunteer assistant ghosted me. Too many technical glitches I guess. I was like huuuuum…lemme try this Substack thing…huuuuum I don’t need a technician to write essays!
I’m on the Bela train…haven’t really gotten into the vids or live casts. For example, I was glad to see some famous-type newscasters land on Substack after being booted from networks (which I don’t watch as I do not have a tv, but catch a yt, eg, the day after broadcast). However, I have not successfully made the switch from reading their essays to watching their live casts. I guess I don’t take the time to schedule myself around their live cast schedules…..I hope your heater gets fixed soon because I like your writing. I try to promote your essays as well by restacking. I will admit that I have not given any free subscriptions….my own hang up: I don’t like any of those “programs” that try to entice one to buy more or reward one for buying in the first place. Like I said - my hang up! And yeah, “let a thousand flowers bloom” 🌷 🌷 🌷
And I never do podcasts. Your point about scheduling is how it is for me. If interrupted chances are I'll never return. Certainly part is being schooled to research using printed text.
Transitioning to on line newspaper is something I've worked on for a decade. I still get print version on my daily two days a week. I get the online version but hardly ever access it. The newspaper does offer a course on making better use of the electronic version, but I missed that last year.
Yes, and to my mind your essays read authentic and that's a good thing. But let a thousand flowers bloom.
Me too- I even prefer to read a transcript of an interview….
Me too!
My kids told me about that one. They were living in Springfield at the time. When we moved back, one of the first things we did is install a whole house generator. It was expensive, but it's saved us a few times. We had a three-day winter outage a while back and we were inviting neighbors over to warm up, charge devices, etc.
It's hard to not include the odd cliche in speaking or writing, but I try to avoid them like the plague.
Lol!
Those of us who like and enjoy your thinking and writing aren't going anywhere. I wish you warmth for your body and clarity for your mind. Oh, and yes, peace in your heart.
Take care!!
🙏
Sorry about your heating problems -- do take care of yourself!
I was wondering why we hadn't heard from you for a while, but I figured there was a good reason-- and there is! Take care of yourself; your true friends will still be here when this is over. At least that's what my daddy always used to say, and he was right.
I had no heat for days one winter (Chicago), and writing would not have been my top concern (keeping my kids warm was). Anybody who drops you doesn’t deserve you. The news on Substack is unending. I don’t have time to read everything in my feed, and I read all day. Try to get warm, let your fingers thaw, and start dancin’ on those keys. We know it’ll be worth the wait!
This subscriber is not going anywhere. You'll have heat again soon!
If I could hang on through 21 years of my 2nd marriage 'til death did us part, toughing it out for 5+ days while you get your heat restored is a walk in the park. (As long as we're sharing cliches.) Plus, I've lived through weather exactly like that, when I heated the house with woodstoves & waded through hip-deep snow to feed livestock. Believe me, ICR. Take care of yourself.
Yeah 1st world problems I get it. If this post keeps 2 more subscribers from canceling who otherwise would have, then I’d like to think it was worth to say something rather than leave readers with 24-48 hours of radio silence.
Hey man, I'm stickn with you. I read all your posts in any case, and as life goes, so goes writing, meaning you can't always be at your best, especially when you're freezing.
You have probably noticed Trump is working on his lastest attempt to distract us from the illegally unturnedover Epstein files. Playing way too rough with the good citizens of Minnesota has been a real bust for him, so now he will take it out on the Iranians by misusing our Navy, figuring that nuclear holocaust might solve his Epstein files problem. Actually, it would probably solve all our problems. Stay warm.
Yeah friend. You won’t write if you aren’t warm. Just a fact. We’re in the below zeros up here in Maine right now. Even with working heat, my brain shuts down and raises a hairy eyebrow if I even think about going “out there.” Basics first. We’ll be here.❤️