Looking Ahead

This is the last day of March and the last day that I will be writing regularly here until at least the end of April.  But with that in mind, I wanted to look ahead to what's coming up--things that you can celebrate in April, and also share a few of my own plans.

But first, I hope that your March was a good one--that you learned something new, and that you found some peace in your life.  I hope you were happy and that you felt loved.  And I hope that even if your days were dark, you know that you're not alone.

Starting tomorrow, April Fool's will be here with us once again, but it will also be the first day for me to embark on a poetry challenge from Writer's Digest--A Poem a Day for April.  I'm really looking forward to the challenge, but I'm also dreading getting back into exercising again--which I will also be doing.  On top of that, I finally get to register for school tomorrow--or at least that's my hope.

Still, there are a few others things happening this month:

April 5 -- Easter and the End of Passover
April 7 -- National Beer Day (and also World Health Day)
April 12 -- First Day of Ramadan
April 15 -- Tax Day (though some of us may get a reprieve, still best to get them done!)  and World Art Day
April 19 -- Patriots' Day and also my step-dad's birthday (Also the day of the Boston Marathon)
April 21 -- San Jacinto Day (Texans will know what I'm talking about.)
April 22 -- Earth Day
April 23 -- National Book Day
April 27 -- Full Moon (a Supermoon!)
April 30 -- Arbor Day

If you don't know what some of these days are, I encourage you to look them up and learn a bit more about them.  Learning new things is important to our continued growth and health; so, I hope you'll do some learning in April.

And with that done, I bid you adieu for now.  Be safe this April, and please be kind to one another. 

March Reflections

Hey there, everyone!

I just got my first shot of the vaccine today, and I was feeling pretty tired afterward, which is why I didn't have anything up earlier today.  I'm sorry for those of you who were expecting something more, but I figured it might be nice, before March is gone, to reflect a bit and to ask that if you saw something this month that gave you hope, or made you happy, that you reach out to those groups and offer assistance in whatever way you can manage.

I spent this morning talking with my step-dad, just listening to him recount thoughts about Vietnam and his war experiences and how our movies and media don't always do a good job of showing the human sides of conflicts.  We often get so caught up in partisanship that we forget that there are human beings that are often suffering or dealing with the consequences of the laws, wars, and decisions we make.  I remembered, too, a time when my dad told me about a situation where he was forced to watch as the Viet Cong army murder people because they had helped Americans and other foreigners during the war.  I can't imagine having to let atrocities happen because doing otherwise would get many more of your own people killed--having to let others sacrifice their lives while you watch.  I don't know what kind of scars that would leave on me, but hearing about the George Floyd case and Derek Chauvin being on trial--the young woman who video taped it all.....  I can't imagine the trauma of that experience that weighs upon her--the guilt that haunts her for not doing more, even as many of us are grateful for the fact that she documented what happened that day.  Suffice to say that I begin to understand that pain, but not in any real way, and again I am grateful that I haven't had those experiences.  I know that if it eats away at my soul even a little, the feelings of those who have experienced it are a thousand times worse.

And yet, just as there is actual death, there can also be a more subtle death of someone through depression, self-loathing, and marginalization--being told over and over again that you are worthless.  We need to do better, and we need to believe that we deserve better which is part of the reason why I've been sharing so many of these causes to celebrate over the last month.  Each of them, I believe, helps to give life to people--to remind us that we are not alone, that we are not powerless, and that our voices, however small, can change the world.

As I wrote to a friend less than a week ago, we mustn't give in to the idea that our actions are useless.  We must continue to work to promote the causes which we believe in, and even if our life's work seems as though it did nothing in a greater context, we have still touched the lives and the people around us in ways that we will never fully know.  So to all of you out there despairing: don't give up hope.  Remember that you are the light in the darkness, and even at your lowest point, you have changed the world just by being here.  Your story is important; you matter.

Tomorrow is The Planetary Society's day of action, and I really hope that our congress people will listen to the joy and wonder that space exploration and space science has given to those who go to speak with them.  And if you get a chance, and you love space and science as much as I do, please consider joining in by writing a letter or calling your representatives and senators.  Heck, even if you want to talk about something else besides space, take a moment tomorrow to champion those causes that are important to you.  It may not seem like much, and you may not think you're heard, but I can assure you that you are.  What you believe and what you hope for is just as important to our congressional leaders as their own thoughts.  It helps them know what to talk about, and what to work on educating us about.  It helps them to know when their messages are failing, and when they are resonating.  And it's always pleasant to get a message from someone who cares passionately about something for which they are advocating--far more pleasant than getting e-mails or messages from corporations, lobbyists, or monied interests.

Last, but not least, please remember to be kind to one another.  I know, sometimes, it can seem like the world is against you, or that the changes that you've been fighting for are impossible, but the world is full of good people--people who care, and people who believe in the importance of equality and the power of choices and opportunities for everyone; they believe in the strength of democracy, and aren't simply looking to prey upon your weaknesses.  To everyone, I hope you will offer kindness and the benefit of your perceptions.  The only way a voice can be heard is if it is willing and able to speak.  So I hope you will speak the truths that important to you, but also be kind enough to listen to the truths and the hopes of others, too (unless they are just promoting hate, fear, and bigotry, at which point, I hope you will stand up against those things no matter what you believe.)

I've been hearing a lot lately about judging others--about how, often, we tend to promote our own ideas based solely on the experiences we've had.  We tend to want to assert truths in order to ascribe blame or assuage our own pain or guilt.  In our hunt for justice or perceived righteousness we fail to see someone as another human being, and in so doing, we create cultures of hate.  I'm not saying that we shouldn't judge wrong actions and hold people accountable for them, but perhaps it's time we took a moment to consider how our actions affect others.  Maybe if we did that we'd consider our own failings and mistakes and be a little more empathetic toward others.

In short, please be kind to others; your choices affect a lot more than you can know, and if you ever doubt that, look back on the ways that other people have affected you and the way you look at life because of them.  If nothing else, that should give you a reason to want to be kinder.

And here's a picture of me with my vaccine card--my first dose done!

Let's head forward into April hopefully, mindfully, kindly, and purposefully!

National Vietnam War Veterans Day 2021

It's a strange thing to find out that today is meant to commemorate and honor those men and women who served in the Vietnam War by reading an article in a local paper about a female journalist who was only the second woman journalist at UPI back in the day, but somehow I wound my way through the article to a book she was featured in about the war, then on to several other books about the war, then reading an introduction to one of those books only to google the day mentioned therein, to find out that yes; today is a special day meant to honor those men and women who served during the Vietnam War.

What drew me to the story in the first place is that my step-dad is a Vietnam War veteran, and while he's told me some of the amusing or funny stories that came out of the war, he's been reluctant to share many of the ones that haunted him when he came back home to the States after the war.  There are memories of moments in his mind that only he will likely ever know, but those experiences are echoed in the memories and recollections of others who were there--in art, movies, books, and songs.

We think more often about the antiwar movement these days than the real challenges that surrounded what was going on back then, and there are still resentments buried deep in the hearts and minds of Vietnam vets about how they were treated--not just by the antiwar protesters when they came home, but by the very government that sent them over there to fight and die for our country.

I'm not here to debate the ethics of war, nor do I want to debate whether or not the Vietnam War was right or wrong.  Because today isn't about rehashing those debates; it's about honoring the men and women who were willing to go and do a difficult thing--to fight a war.  Some of those people didn't have a choice, which is what makes the Vietnam War so much more important in my eyes.  We implemented the draft, and that meant that people who probably knew next to nothing about what was going on at the time were sent to fight and die.

I have never been to the Vietnam War Memorial, though I hope I get to see it one day.  I know when a part of the wall came to Bellville where my parents live, it was a moving experience for both of them.

And as I'm learning as I grow older, things aren't always as black and white as we want them to be when we are passing judgment on them weeks, months, or years later.  We pretend that the hype is the truth and fail to look beyond it to the people--men and women, and even some children.  The reasons and the whys and the wherefores of peoples' decisions are discarded in the easy narrative of dismissal or hate for a cause.  We forget that hate can bury itself into hearts and minds; we forget that there are people who had to make choices--not about a cause or an ideal, but about their own beliefs and their own hopes for the world.  And we often forget that these things are never easy--often far more complex than stigmas and labels make them out to be.

Our government used chemicals during the Vietnam War that are still having lasting effects on the men and women of not only our own country, but in Vietnam, as well.  The cover-up about Agent Orange finally came to light in the '80's but it wouldn't be until 1991 when Congress recognized its use and its harmful effects on ground troops.  It wouldn't be until 2015 that air delivery personnel, airpersons, and ground crews that loaded the planes were considered eligible to be treated for Agent Orange disease due to their exposure to it, as well.

My step-dad was one of those ground troops who had developed complications due to Agent Orange, and the treatment that he's able to get now is due to the hard work and tireless efforts of investigative journalists and tireless politicians and the veterans themselves who helped give journalists information regarding what they'd seen and heard, as well as describing their own symptoms.  And while there are many stories of perseverance, there are many more stories about those who suffered, died, or committed suicide.

Our views about the wars our country fights can often color our views about the men and women who serve in them.  But we can't let the politics of war make us forget that there are people behind those wars having to make difficult decisions--to define for themselves what is the right thing and the wrong thing to do.  And even if we disagree with those decisions, it is important to acknowledge and to respect that men and women choose to serve and die for the hope of making the world a better place.

I cannot fathom what the decision to kill another person takes; I do not know what seeing a world at war can do.  But I can understand the desire to stop bad things from happening.  I know the anger, and the pain, and the passion that injustices makes me feel.  And I understand the impetus of wanting to fight those things.

We are quick to label others who do violence in the world without understanding their reasons.  We want to believe that violence in any form is wrong.  We want to condemn those who kill others as a wrong thing (and it is.)  But that also fails to acknowledge a world in which other people and other nations don't care about others' lives and are happy to use violence and killing to attain their desires.  It fails to acknowledge that there are scars buried deep in the hearts and minds of generations of those who are oppressed, killed, raped, beaten, and physically or mentally tortured--or both.  Wars are wounds that we haven't learned to heal, and the men and women who fight in them bear the scars of those conflicts.  If we fail to listen to their stories, if we forget the wounds they carry, and if we are not willing to forgive the ugliness we asked them to do for us, we will never be able to heal, and neither will they.

So while today is meant as a day to honor the men and women who fought in the Vietnam War, I feel it's also a day to remember that wars, even the ones we claim to have won, still resonate in the world--in the conflicts and the wars we are fighting even now.  And even if you disagree with the reasons, it takes a certain insanity to be willing to go to war, and that is something that is worthy of respect--worthy of acknowledgement, and worthy of praise when the hope was, not for deaths, but life.

Today I hope you will find it in your hearts to reach out to any veterans you know, but especially to those Vietnam vets in your lives.  Listen to their stories; hear their side, and help them heal the wounds that not only we, but the wars they fought for us, have inflicted upon them.  We owe that to them and to every man and woman willing to put their lives on the line to save other lives.  That is what I wish to convey to all Vietnam veterans, and all veterans--not just today, but every day.

Thank you for your service.  Many of us will never see, never know, and never feel the pain of war and the torment that the decisions of war create.  And more than anything, for that last, I am truly grateful.  But I am also sorry that those things were asked of you, and when and if you ever want to talk about it, I hope you will share your pains, your hopes, and your joys with those of us who need to, and are willing, to hear it.

Dear Mr. President

Evan Vucci AP -- taken from USA Today

 

Dear Mr. President,

Congratulations on your first news conference this past Thursday.  I could tell that you felt pretty passionately about everything you talked about, and while CJR criticized the media there, saying they'd wasted the opportunity, I did find a few of them asked cogent questions--especially that fellow from Bloomberg.  Your comments to him about your time spent with China's leader, Xi Jinping, revealed to me that you understand the threats facing our own nation and the world from China--its leaders' ideals and policies.  That you're still willing to work with them where you can is frustrating to me, but completely cutting ourselves off from them is likely worse than at least continuing to try.

I need to get this off my chest before I move on, because it's really been bugging me.  The thing about Jamal Khashoggi still bothers me, and I suspect it bothers a lot of other reporters, too.  That the press is hostile with politicians comes as no surprise when their lives are dismissed in the interests of global politics and relationships.  There is plenty of evidence to tie his death back to the Crown Prince; and yet, after all this time, nothing has been done--or at least that's the impression I've gotten.  If it's a mistake in messaging, or a lost message (clearly left unconveyed, since it isn't being touted,) that would be one thing, and that's what I hope it is.  But if we've excused the killing of a reporter by people with whom we're doing business, that's not okay.  Not by any standard worth having, as far as I'm concerned.

Okay.  That said, I am looking forward to the infrastructure bill you're going to announce this week.  It sounds ambitious, which is something we definitely need right now.  I did happen to read something this weekend though that gave me pause, since it deals with biomass burning--the burning of wood pellets for energy.

As it stands, I think there's some pretty wonky math being used to discuss carbon emissions and getting to a place where we're carbon neutral.  From what I read, for example, Europe, who uses the most biomass fuel, calls burning it carbon neutral because they only count the carbon used in the process to create the biomass, and not the burning of it--which doesn't make sense to me.  You can't count one part of the process and say that then the other doesn't count.  That's sort of ridiculous.  In either case, our country supplies a lot of that biomass for energy, and policies regarding it have been left for a few administrations to try and solve and been left in limbo.  Your administration has the chance to finally do something about that.

If you have read science fiction for a long time, you'll often read a common theme over and over again--doing things quickly for short term gains has a cost, but doing things right over the long term creates numerous advantages and gains.  Now, sometimes there just isn't time to do everything right, and you've got to go with what you've got.  But taking the time to do something right seems to be a reward in and of itself.  As an example, if you take the time to ensure that you're creating a bio-diverse and locally inhabited forest, you create an ecosystem that sustains more local wildlife and opportunities for species growth.  But if, say, you introduce plants into an ecosystem where they're not normally grown, they can become a problem--especially if there aren't natural predators that eat those plants or have uses for them.

That last happened in Africa when a non-native bush was brought into the savannahs to help preserve the area and its water.  It certainly helped at first, but over the long term, when a long rainy season happened, those bushes proliferated and started harming the local ecology--starving out local water sources and thereby killing much of the wildlife that lived there.  There weren't animals that fed on the plant, and so it became a problem.  There wasn't a proper balance maintained.

Time and time again we want to rush ahead and do the progressive things because we need to do them to save something--in the case of the climate, ourselves.  But we also need to remember that everything should have a balance.  Cutting down trees to make way for replanting of non-native species of trees that will, in time, just be harvested again for biomass fuel isn't creating more actual forest land, and the funky math we have of saying that it does create more forestland is disingenuous at best.  We need to look at the practices of the logging industry and its corporations and stop rewarding them for finding creative loopholes that allow them to get richer at the cost of losing natural forestlands and local trees and fauna and wildlife.  We have to stop pretending that if we count one part of a process it counts for all of it.  These practices need to stop, Mr. President.  Otherwise we're just making up lies to assuage our greed.

The sad part of that is that we're going to need to help out farmers who are doing those plantings for the payouts, otherwise they're going to lose what little insurance they have in the lands that they've bought and maintained for so long.  That is their family wealth in a lot of ways, and if we start doing the right thing, they're going to have make changes, too.

But I really do believe that if we start doing the right things, we're going to be rewarded for it in the long run.  One last thing on that before I move on: one of the biggest reasons for clearcutting in the world has to do with farming and food production.  This is something that we need to look into, much like some Asian countries are.  If we can find ways to cultivate food using less space, that's probably a good thing, and vertical growth (growing up instead of out,) might be one possible solution to this.  I don't know how viable it is, of course, but I do think it's something we should invest in researching.

Speaking of the climate, I read another article this week about geoengineering.  I hear they're going to be releasing chalk into the stratosphere sometime in July over Sweden to test the efficacy of it helping to cool our temperatures.  I don't know how I feel about these things, but I suppose since we haven't been able to curb our carbon emissions, we've got to try looking at other solutions.  On one hand, I'm excited to see what will happen, and on the other, I'm worried we might create yet another cascading set of problems.  So I guess we'll want to keep an eye on this, Sir.  And maybe prepare for any problems that might occur because of it--you know, put some scientists on the job considering the effects of these experiments.

I was excited to see what you did on Equal Pay Day--acknowledging that there are disparities that need to be addressed still and highlighting them.  I'm also looking forward to seeing what causes your wife chooses to endorse as First Lady of our country.  I've always loved the idea that while the President is doing the work of protecting the interests of the country, their spouse is working to preserve the heart and soul of it.  And since that is something that you ran on, I'm hoping that Mrs. Biden will be as excited and hopeful and giving as you have been and promote a cause that helps remind us of the goodness, kindness, and love that is at the heart of our America.

Yesterday was SWAN Day -- Support Women Artists Now Day.  It makes me happy to know that often marginalized voices have a day to shine--especially when those voices often encourage the kinds of behavior that bring about unity instead of divisiveness.  It was exciting to see that there were two women nominated for Best Director at the Oscars this year, too.  I feel like maybe, hopefully, the message is starting to shine through--that women work just as hard at what they do as men, and that they deserve to be recognized equally, instead of being disparaged as somehow "less than."  It is one of the reasons that I'm so glad that we have Kamala Harris as our Vice-President.  And that you showcased the vibrant and beautiful poetry of Amanda Gorman at your inauguration.  Or that you chose to have a Native American woman as your Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland.    Seeing so many diverse people, and women, serving our country in such visible roles is exciting; it makes me feel like maybe the voice of our country will actually start reflecting the voice of the people in it.  And that's no small accomplishment, Mr. President.

Of course, I wouldn't mind seeing some disabled representation there, too, but I'll take what I can get for now.

As Winter fades and Spring starts to settle in here, there are going to be a lot of problems we're going to face, Sir.  We've already begun to see it with the recent mass shootings, and I'd like to offer some thoughts on that.

Taking away guns from people probably isn't the solution, and I know you've got a "holding gun manufacturers liable" bill in the works, but maybe it's time to really consider gun licensing.  The military, for example, doesn't allow people with disabilities or mental problems to join them, because they are operating dangerous technologies and handling sensitive information.  And we don't just let anyone drive a car in this country.  We make sure they know how to use and operate a car.  They take a test, and they are given a license that says they've passed those tests.  I think it's time that we created a gun license program to ensure that people who do own guns know how to use them safely, and properly store them and take care of them.  Many gun owners already know these things, but the idea at the beginning of our country was that militias would be ensuring these things on a local level--something we don't really have these days.

So if we want to keep the spirit of the framers alive--that ability for people to rise up against an unjust government if it becomes warranted, I feel like we also need to ensure that the ideal of the militia is maintained in some way, too.  National licensing isn't necessary, per se.  We could leave it up to the state governments to issue licenses and determine the criteria needed for obtaining one--how often they should be tested and renewed, etc.  We could offer national guidelines, of course, like the CDC does for health directives, but this takes away the stigma of the federal government having a national registry of licensed gun owners, for example.  Still, licensing would help, I think, to promote the safe use of guns.  That doesn't mean, of course, that we won't still have mass shootings, but it does mean we won't be giving licenses to people who aren't qualified to use guns.  Make federal funding contingent upon gun licensure programs in each state.

And look--I know my ideas are pretty simplistic, but I'm trying to compromise between ideologies that have made the gun debate an ongoing disaster for generations.  And we've tried banning things, and in some cases that has worked (like extended magazines, for instance.)  But it hasn't stopped the killings and the mass shootings.  And while there are some out there who don't care for guns at all, (I, myself, don't really care for them,) there are others who feel that part of America's identity is the freedom to own a gun.  I'm just trying to find a middle-ground, and I really think licenses and testing will help.  Leaving it in the hands of the states, to me, is important, since it was that idea of the state militia that was part of the wording of the Constitution in the right to keep and bear arms.  But requiring it for federal funding is also important to me, as it stipulates that we, as a nation, believe that responsible gun ownership is necessary to the continued preservation of it.  And I think that's something the framers of our country would approve of, too.

One last thing before I head off for today, Sir.  Have you met Katie Porter?  She's our House Representative here for our Orange County district, and she's amazing.  She's working hard for all of us, and she really cares about the people of this country and our district, too.  If you get a chance, please invite her over for a chat some time and hear her out.  I'm just...really impressed with her work ethic and her desire to do right by the American people.  I also love that she gets to give "Mom" looks to people who try to pretend like what they're saying isn't a lie.  I think, sometimes, we need more people like her in government.

And with that, I'll be going, Sir.  I hope you have a lovely second week of Spring, and please consider supporting that legislation about Daylight Savings Time.  The switching of the clocks, as amusing and time-honored a tradition as it is, needs to go.

Until next week, then, stay safe and keep moving forward.

~~ Jenni

P. S. So last week I mentioned that someone close to me had gotten COVID-19.  They are, thankfully, on the recovering end of it, and I am grateful for it more than I can express in words.  I guess I just wanted to share that--to let you know that things are better today than they were last week.  But also to remind people that the pandemic is still out there, and it's still happening.  The people I love were lucky; not everyone will be.  So please keep pushing the messages about masking, and washing hands, and being kind and respectful to our fellow human beings.  This isn't over yet, and we can't start acting like it is; or a lot more people might die.  And I wouldn't wish that agony, of losing a loved one, on anyone.

From Winter to Spring

This week I have been continuously amazed and awe-inspired by a woman from Spain named Priscilla Hernandez.  She writes music; she sings; she writes her own lyrics; she draws and paints.  She makes many of her own costumes, and she is simply a beautiful person.  This song in particular I helped inspire the title for, and it and another of her songs, "Longing to Bloom" have really incapsulated my feelings of late.

With the vaccination effort ongoing, there is this new sense of hope for what is to come, and with Easter just around the corner as the flowers are starting to bloom and storms are throwing themselves against our shores, it feels like there is an overall awakening as from a long, deep slumber.

Today is also SWAN Day -- Support Women Artists Now Day, and while I can think of several women artists that inspire me, I've felt as though Priscilla has been calling me the most this week to share her work, her beauty, and her hope with the world.

I think hope is something all of us could use right now; so, wherever you are, whatever you're doing, I wish you a hopeful spring full of blossoming inspiration, laughter, new friends, and new beginnings--the memories of those we've lost over the past year a touchstone that can grow our sorrows from pain into something that brings peace.

If you'd like to hear more of Priscilla's music, check out her Youtube Page, consider joining her Patreon, and if you're as enchanted by her work as I am, please look up her work on Bandcamp where you can buy her music!

Causes to Celebrate: Popular Information

“A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both.” — James Madison

I love this particular quote which is the tagline and the first thing you see when you visit the About page of Popular Information.  It reminds us of the importance of getting, not just news, but actual information that helps us make informed decisions, rather than getting the story that a multi-billion dollar news conglomerate wants us to hear.  As Judd Legum, the author of Popular Information, says:

You are not a spectator and democracy is not a game. But so much of what is written about politics treats you that way. That’s why I created Popular Information. It is daily news and analysis that respects you as citizen. You won’t just learn about who is up and who is down. You’ll get in-depth information and perspective on the things that really matter.

I've been watching Judd's progress for a few years now, and it's telling that much of his reporting focusses on issues where there is a lot of hype, disinformation, or outright lying going on.  He holds businesses and politicians accountable for the things that they say and do, and his work has changed the way that those people and companies do business because of public outcry and public sentiment.  If I had to put a name to what he does, I'd say that he's a leading voice in technological activism.  And the best part about his work is that he's been in the trenches and knows how the business of politics works.  He served on a presidential campaign and even ran for office in his own state.  So while many of us have never done more than host a party or two, he's seen from the inside how stories are told about the people that are running our government, and he knows how the money flows.

One of his most recent successes came after the January 6th failed coup attempt where he began pointing out companies that supported candidates who themselves supported the actions of the protestors that day.  And when those companies were called out on their support, they started pulling back their donations.  It cost the Republican Party a lot of money, and while those donations are slowly but surely returning now that the public and national news cycle has moved on from the incident, Popular Information continues to watch that money flow.

This is a really important thing, too, as money is a big part of politics these days, sadly.  Instead of local issues and small-town priorities, our local, state, and national governments are riddled with monetary donations to campaigns in return for candidate cooperation once they've won office for issues that those donors believe to be important.  It's a sad truth that is part of our current democratic process, and one that I'd love to see changed, but it's better by far than an autocratic dictatorship where there's no transparency at all in the process.  At least this way we can, more or less, see where the money is coming from and make choices based on what we believe is good.  (Part of the PAC process is to help hide the names of  individual corporate donors, which is problematic as far as I'm concerned.  If you're giving money to someone, you're endorsing their policies; and if you're not willing to admit to that, then maybe there's a problematic reason for it.)

What I also like about Popular Information is that it isn't driven by news cycles, but rather by data, something that in recent years is an amazing tool for helping people to become more aware of what's going on in the world around them.  This data-driven approach is something that I believe is important; it helps us to find trends and see where the words don't match the actions.  And that's something that is integral to growth--both on a personal level, but also on a national and global perspective, as well.  We need to know when we're making mistakes so that we can change.

And it is that hope for change, that belief that data and accountability are information worth sharing, that makes Popular Information a cause worth celebrating.

Causes to Celebrate: bell¿ngcat

Continuing in the vein of investigative journalism, I wanted to share with you a journalism site that I found sometime in late 2019 by way of a podcast.  The podcast had nothing to do with the site, but the person who did the podcast was also an investigative journalist for the site--and that site is Bellingcat; (the spelling above is their marketing version of their name.)

From its inception in July of 2014, Bellingcat has been a place where investigative journalists can work together and crowdsource information on a variety of things--from state-sponsored chemical warfare (Syria and Russia,) to our most recent failed coup here in America.  If something bad is happening somewhere in the world, Bellingcat seeks to help people and journalists uncover more information about it.

What started as a one-man operation by Elliot Higgins expanded to the company it is today.  It was first funded by a Kickstarter campaign and now receives numerous grants and gifts along with public donations.

The Columbia Journalism Review sat down to interview him in early 2015 shortly after his successful crowdfunding campaign and launch of the platform to talk to him about the work he was doing and the Bellingcat he was hoping to create.  Here's a small snippet of his hopes for Bellingcat's future:

What will the site become if it fulfills your ultimate ambition for it? Ultimately a huge global network of investigators exploring a wide range of topics, from conflict to corruption, with transferable skills and tools that can be quickly brought to bear, regardless of where a story is occurring in the world. I want the very idea of open-source information existing to put the fear of God into the sort of people who have something to hide, because they’ll know there’s a network of people primed to use it to expose what they’re trying to keep hidden.

And here is what the Bellingcat site of today says of their work:

Bellingcat is an independent international collective of researchers, investigators and citizen journalists using open source and social media investigation to probe a variety of subjects – from Mexican drug lords and crimes against humanity, to tracking the use of chemical weapons and conflicts worldwide. With staff and contributors in more than 20 countries around the world, we operate in a unique field where advanced technology, forensic research, journalism, investigations, transparency and accountability come together.

 All in all, their seven official years of operation have been a success earning them global recognition and awards.  But the appeal to Bellingcat, for me, wasn't simply the journalism that they do, but also their ability to use technology to investigate various sources of information--from pictures to videos, and even publicly available satellite data.  They also offer courses and training in how to do these things for anyone willing and able to pay for it, helping to defray some of their operating costs which allows them to use more of their income on conducting actual investigations.

This desire to share their knowledge is incredibly important to me--the idea of empowering citizen journalists (that's you and me,) to be part of creating information sources that could, potentially, be used for the good of all of us; that, to me, is pretty impressive.  And that's part of what has made Bellingcat so successful--their ability to crowdsource information, getting local people to share what they see, what they hear, and what they're being told.  All of this combined can help to tell a more truthful account of something than merely one person's view.  And that is the true beauty of what Bellingcat offers to its viewers and to fellow journalists and media organizations--a bigger picture.

As I have iterated all this week, it really is important for us to have a diverse and free press--to have local and cultural voices sharing with us their insight, knowledge, and understanding in the stories that they tell, and with Bellingcat's international collective of journalists, they help to add to our greater understanding of events all over the world.  Not only that, but they are also helping to hold accountable those parties that do bad things in the world and are also ensuring that sources of information are not destroyed, but preserved for the future--which is incredibly important for future cases and investigations which may be able to use their data to hold people accountable for their actions.  And that is why I believe Bellingcat is a cause worth celebrating.

Causes to Celebrate: International Consortium of Investigative Journalists

People in power seem bent on abusing that power far more often than they are seen using that power for good ends.  Often they perpetuate systems and ideas that benefit them to the detriment of those of us who have little in the way of power in the world.  And while it would be a nice fiction to believe that all people in the world are truly altruistic in nature, sadly there is far more evidence to the contrary.  But when it comes to speaking truth to power, there are few ways that this can be done.  In the past there were great wars and revolutions that did a great deal to change the status quo, but ultimately those who have power have retained it--often illegally or by outright lying.  And while we have a robust legal system, this has also, often, been gamed to benefit those in power rather than serving the needs of the people of the world.  So where, then, can we turn?  Where can we seek redress to the ills and harms that have befallen us through no fault of our own?  I present to you once more the media, and one non-profit organization in particular: the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

From tax evasion to medical malpractice, the ICIJ has been speaking truth to power for nearly 24 years.  In 2017 they split from the foundation that started them to form this non-profit in the hopes that they could have a broader reach and a larger impact.

Their stories have uncovered a hidden world of grift, cheating, kidnapping, extortion, and money laundering that spans the globe, and it isn't easy work.  Often the reporters on the ground are putting their lives in danger, and those who bring leaks to the organization may be party to reprisals should their involvement be found out.  And because this is an organization run by journalists, the information and the stories that they provide to the rest of the local, national, and international media have been vetted and investigated thoroughly.  This dedication to the truth has garnered them several awards, including the coveted Pulitzer Prize for their Panama Papers Project.

Here is just one example of some of the work they're doing to help inform the public about the work they do:

While much of their work remains behind the scenes, evidence of their findings have prompted several countries to hold hearings to make law breakers accountable.  And while sadly we have seen little in the way of fallout from some of their work, there have been modest gains with the implementation of new laws, court cases, and access to information that was and has been hidden.  Having that information is an invaluable tool and resource to the world, and it is one of the many reasons that I believe the work these journalists are doing is so important.

As I stated previously this week, we often forget the details and that is to our own detriment.  So having sources of information available to us that we and the media can use to hold the powerful accountable--at least in the eyes of the public, if not the courts or the legislature, is immensely powerful itself.

What I find saddest about their work is that much of it goes unreported here in America and in the mainstream media, which is why I keep an eye on their work and read over it from time to time to gain insights that might not otherwise be available.  And that is why I am calling attention to their work today in the hope that you'll take a look at it for yourself, as well.  Because I truly do believe that the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists is a cause worth celebrating.

Causes to Celebrate: Columbia Journalism Review (CJR)

So if I had to name one place that helps me keep track of news media in all its many forms, I would have to point to the Columbia Journalism Review.  CJR was essential during the past election as it helped to bring to light stories from all parts of the country--not just those that reflected my own views.  It was just as important to me to understand news journalism from a local standpoint as it was to understand it from national and international perspectives, and CJR really helped with that.  In essence, they are a news site about news sites--talking about local trends in journalism, noting where local journalism is dying, and where new opportunities are being found.  They highlight some common threads in journalistic writing, and point to where they've been more, or less, helpful to the overall conversations taking place around just about any issue you can think of.  And I believe that it is just as important to understand the forces and voices that bring us the news as it is to get that news.

Being informed about these trends, and hearing from those critiquing their own fellow journalists is something I really find to be helpful.  It lets me know where conversations have come from and where they were started, and whether or not those conversations are actually useful to have and then also helpful to the overall discussion.  CJR informs me about what good questions are and where local and national news teams are failing to ask them; they also highlight journalism sources that are looking to deepen our conversations and create more thoughtful and insightful reporting instead of just looking for clicks or the latest hype.

Their reporting during the election centered on small towns in America and the issues that were on the minds of various swathes of people--from the east coast to the west.  It was invigorating to see what the concerns of other communities were--to understand their points of view and to consider them when making my own decisions.  And when the pandemic began to really hurt the media industry as a whole, it was good to see those trends--to know that a lot of local journalism was being replaced by big money investment companies that might be more interested in shilling propaganda rather than unvarnished accounts of events.

Now, to be clear, most news organizations have a bias and an agenda, and while some of them are more open about it than others, it's important to understand those biases so that you can decide if the news is actually important or just someone's own calculated views to slant the stories in a way that will get the responses they want.  And yes; that does actually, and unfortunately, happen.

Case in point, when the news about George Floyd started showing up, and as local protest movements were going on, many newspapers stopped people of color from covering those stories out of fears of bias or ...something.  But who better to cover those stories?  Why not allow it?  Many journalists of color were disheartened and disappointed that, while there was a national movement to reconcile our biases and bring more diverse views to bear, local and national news organizations were often more intent on stymying those impulses.  Learning about that through CJR colored (hah) my own perceptions of the news and the way its reported to us and informed me about a lot of work-place biases that have become ingrained in our national institutions--including the media.  And that was really important to know and to understand, because if you're not getting a local or a community-based story, then is the news really a good representation of what's going on?  Can we actually have a conversation if our sources don't actually understand the politics and local sentiment where the stories are coming from?  My sincere belief on this is that, no; we cannot.

So this is why CJR is so important; it talks about these issues and strives to ensure that our news industry is actually trying to do good work for the people (and pointing out when it doesn't.)  And that is why I think it is both so vital for all of us and also a cause worth celebrating.

Causes to Celebrate: Press Freedom Defense Fund

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

That is the first amendment to the United States Constitution, part of a group of amendments known as the Bill of Rights.  It is from this first amendment that we are granted what the framers of our country believed to be the most important of freedoms--religion, speech, press, and peaceful petition to redress grievances.

This week I wanted to highlight those causes and organizations that continue to ensure that we are able to have a free press here in our country, and today I wanted to speak first and foremost about those people seeking to defend journalists and photographers who, every day, put their lives on the line to bring us information that is vital to our remaining informed citizens, able to think critically about the decisions that effect all of us.  And so I want to begin with an organization with one simple aim: to defend the freedom of the press--the Press Freedom Defense Fund.

Much of the freedom that our press currently enjoys stems from a group of papers circulated in England during the early 1700's known as the Cato Papers.  These ideas influenced the framers of the Constitution, with Virginia being the first state to formally protect press freedoms in their 1776 Declaration of Rights which states, "The freedom of the Press is one of the greatest bulwarks of liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic Governments."

And that is what the Press Freedom Defense Fund seeks to protect--those rights which our founders believed were so important they named them in the very first amendment to our Constitution.  Rather than try to express the fund's ideas in words, however, I'll let their press video speak for itself.

Those who founded our country believed that a free press was vital to protecting the integrity of our government.  They also knew that it was one of the few ways that people could get information that was necessary to making good, sound decisions for not only their own future, but that of our country as well.  And while there may be those who view the press as an enemy of "truth," I believe that it is only because of the press that we are able to view the many differences that make up our own individual truths.  I also believe that the press is one of the ways that people can hold those in power accountable for their actions--by recording what is said and what is done and making that information available to people.  Because let's face it; many of us forget what we ate just a week ago, much less remember what politicians, businessmen, and our fellow people have said.  And having that information available--having those records in a public forum, is so important for enabling us to make decisions about who our leaders are, and what we believe they should be--among so many other things.  And while the press may not always get it right (after all, they're people who make mistakes just like you and me,) they help us put into perspective those things which we hold to be most important.

And that is why today I am grateful that the Press Freedom Defense Fund exists--to ensure that one of our most basic constitutional rights is being protected and defended.  And that is why I am sharing their organization as a cause worth celebrating.

Dear Mr. President

Dear Mr. President,

I can't stop thinking of the images that I saw of Honduran migrants in The New York Times as they were deported to Mexico--not told where they were being taken by border officials, not given any warning until they were already across the bridge (at least according to their reports.)  And I guess I'm ...angry, and frustrated--one that you couldn't offer asylum to people of Honduras who have nowhere else to go after hurricanes devastated their homes.  We should have known this was coming, Sir.  And you have the power to do something about it.  These people deserve to be treated as human beings, and if that means we need more help there, then we find a way to fund it; we make that happen.  I'm not saying to grant asylum to everyone, but those countries hit by hurricanes last year--one after the other?  We should be helping them--not sending them away.

We've done our part in making South America what it is today, too, Sir, and as many South American people will tell you, most of it isn't good.  We need to work more closely with them, though; and if we can't work with their governments, we should be offering those that want to leave them some hope for a better life here.  Turning them away, even during (and perhaps especially during,) a pandemic is heartless.  The message of "go home" doesn't seem to be resonating too well right now, either.  But I hope you'll get a chance to clarify that on March 25th.  It's just...seeing images like the one below and knowing there are thousands more like that--wondering if, someday, it might be me having to make such a trek to a new land, I want to be treated fairly, not taken places without being told where I'm going and given over to the authorities of some other country.

Photographs by Daniel Berehulak

I just feel like we could be doing more here, Sir.  And I get it; we're still dealing with the pandemic.  We're still trying to make it through our own emergencies, but that doesn't mean the rest of the world stops needing our help.  I just hope you'll keep that in mind moving forward.

I am heartened by everything you're doing for the people of America with the difficulties of the pandemic still on-going, and I felt grateful to see your Nowruz celebration, and your statement against racial hatred--your willingness to work with leaders from the American Asian and Pacific Islander communities.  I imagine after your predecessor's treatment of them, it must have been nice to feel heard and seen--to be believed.  It won't end the hatred, but at least there's a spotlight on it, now--someone saying that it isn't right and won't be tolerated.

I loved the phone call you had this week with Jocelyn.  Those are heartening moments, and you're getting better at them.  I guess it's hard to make a phone call seem as real as a face-to-face interaction, but I am still glad to see them from week to week.

The thing about marijuana....  I understand the reasoning for it, but you also have the power to deal with that, as well.  With so many states making it legal, maybe it's time to put in the money and research needed to make it legal at a federal level, much like we've done with alcohol.  I can't imagine the people who lost their jobs are very happy, but marijuana use is illegal federally right now, and security clearance concerns need to be taken seriously--especially these days.  But again, I think it's time we looked at changing those FDA regulations, Sir.

Easter's in two weeks, but I can't say I'm looking forward to it right now.  There was some bad COVID news that hit close to home for me this week, and since I don't have the luxury of going and helping out there (still no vaccine available for me yet.), my emotions have been all over the place.  Anger.  Resignation.  Frustration.  Grief.  Worry.  Anxiety.  You name it; I've probably felt it.  It meant a lot to hear you reminding people to keep masking up, washing hands, social distancing, and all the rest.  The worst part is, even if I could get there, being legally blind leaves me unable to actually help them in any meaningful way, either.  And I have to say, that last really kills me the most--knowing that someone important to me is in need, and knowing, as well, that trying to do something to help may cause more trouble than doing nothing at all.  It's agonizing to feel powerless, Mr. President.  But I'm sure you know that better than most.

I feel like you've been somewhat defensive of late, Sir--curt with your answers in some cases without explanations as to why.  I read your recent remarks after Marine One landed, and it felt like you were rushed or hurried, or worse still, that you weren't interested in really talking and answering questions.  And I guess I get it.  You're probably tired a lot--exhausted more like.  But please remember not all of us out here are against you, Sir.  Help us to understand what's going on.  Remember that the reporters aren't always the ones whose questions your answers are reaching; remember that there are people out here wishing and hoping for the best for you and your administration.

I don't know what to say at this point with regard to Russia and China; I feel like they don't care about us any longer--bulls in a china shop wanting to plow ahead regardless of the consequences.  I guess just keep doing your best out there and remember that we do still have allies who share our desire to see people free from oppression and able to make choices for themselves through government systems that don't seek to dominate, rule, and subjugate them.  And as for Iran, as I said last week, I think we need to consider something new besides sanctions.  Also, I think we should end the sanctions that came into being and work with them on creating a new deal--but I'd prefer if those deals were also made with Congressional approval; that way they can't just be changed on a whim.

Ah well...it's late.  I'm tired, and it's been a long week.  I did have a good St. Paddy's Day, though, and I loved seeing the fountain at your house changed to green for it.  We went out for my birthday on Wednesday, a small, careful celebration with family and one friend.  And let me just say how wonderful it was to be out with people again.  I'll be glad when I can do that again without worrying.  We were talking today about that July 4th comment you made, and I think many of us are longing for it with all our hearts--getting to be out in the world with other people celebrating again, the fireworks, the laughter, the hugs...most of all, the hugs.  But, we'll get there when we get there, I guess, and in the meantime we'll keep doing what we can to make sure everyone stays safe.

There are still a lot of hills to climb yet, Mr. President, but we can be lights in the darkness, too.  I hope you'll consider some of the suggestions I made.  I was thinking, maybe we can create a better border experience, too--instead of walls, halls.  Instead of cells, rooms.  Anyway...I look forward to your press conference on the 25th.  Remember that you're not alone and that people need to be told the complex things because the media is always going to try to make sound bites out of you.  But the people who care are going to listen to more than just those moments.

And with that, I bid you good night, Mr. President.  Try to get some rest, and I'll talk to you again next week.

Until then,....

~~ Jenni

P. S.  How are the doggos?  We miss them!

A Gray Saturday

So I just spent the better half of my morning trying to find a song.  But I did find it, and I wanted to share my success with all of you.  The song reminded me of today's blog title--a sort of feeling I got by the alliteration of the words that brought this song and its own alliterations to mind.  So here it is--Sweetwater's "Through an Old Storybook."

I got some troubling news yesterday evening; so, the feeling's just kind of stuck.

Looking to the week ahead, I'll be doing more causes about writing and politics--which inevitably involves talking about the press, something that I've been wanting to do this month quite a bit.  Over the past year, media and news sites have suffered and languished in many ways--local news organizations either thriving or dying as the pandemic took us all from the outside world to being stuck in our homes.  I read a lot about the subject over the past year, and now I'm looking forward to sharing some of those discoveries.

Tomorrow's letter to the President is going to be a difficult one, namely because my own emotions are something of a mess right now.  But I do want to touch on the immigration problems at our border.  I also want to talk a bit about our government technology infrastructure.  Do we even have an IT working standards governmental group--you know, a CDC for computer technology--best practices, best infrastructure setups, best practices for securing data at government sites, etc.?  It would be nice to have some leadership starting from the top, since technology is so much a part of our lives now--and with the pandemic, it became vitally essential.

Mostly, though, I am just hoping that things don't get worse, and I'm deathly afraid that they will.

One last thing before I go: in April I'll be taking a break from writing daily posts here.  These things take time and effort to write, and I have some other projects that I really want to dig into.  So rather than sitting down to write these most days, I'll be getting to work on those other projects, some of which I hope I get a chance to share with you here as I'm doing them, or more likely, once they're done.  So if you don't see much of me in April, that's why.  The President will still get my letters, though.

Please mask up and stay safe while you're out there.  I know many people have already gotten vaccinated, but there are many more of us, myself included, who haven't been able to get an appointment or aren't eligible yet for the vaccine.  I know it's tempting to want things to be normal again, but they're not--not yet.  So please, please please--be safe.  Be considerate.  Wear your masks, and wash your hands.  The lives you can save just by doing that may not be important to you, but they are important to someone--and that someone could be you.

Been holding on to this one since the beginning of the year, but today it seems really important to say--especially the last part.  I don't know where I got this or who made it, but if anyone knows or would like to claim it, please let me know and I'll be happy to add the appropriate attributions.  Of course, this scene is taken from a Despicable Me movie--I just can't remember which one.

Causes to Celebrate: WomenArts

Because this month is National Women's History Month and because this week I wanted to feature causes that support art and artists, today I want share with you an organization that deserves mention: WomenArts.

Like some of the other causes I've mentioned this month, this is one I recently came across and now that I've found it, I can't believe I hadn't heard about it before.  WomenArts seeks to promote women artists of all kinds by offering resources and seeking grants to create projects that further advocate for women artists.  They also started an annual event known as SWAN Day -- Support Women Artists Now Day!  This event, typically celebrated the last Saturday of March (this year, it's March 27th;) is meant to showcase women artists and help to promote their art not only through the simple act of sharing it, but also by offering resources to women artists.  They extend SWAN Day celebrations throughout the months of March and April, as well so that local groups and organizations can host events of their own in support.

While the pandemic seems to have stifled some of the creative energy and ability to support art in many ways, WomenArts continues to trudge ever forward seeking to create a world where marginalized voices of women are heard, believed, and valued.  One of the projects they created with grant money was called "The Harmony Project" which studied how to better involve women artists in organizations as well as supporting women-led projects in opera, dance, and art.  Here's what they said about the project:

To create lasting social change, the women’s movement needs to shift firmly entrenched attitudes that are not entirely rational. Facts and figures are not enough to win the battles for equal pay, reproductive rights, more education, political power, or an end to violence. We need to reach people’s hearts as well as their minds.

Artists know how to do this, and there are many women artist-activists who are looking for ways to increase their impact.

What I love most about this is that it shows an understanding of how women-created art is viewed in the world--and how often it is undervalued.  But rather than deal with simple facts and figures, they want to use the arts to promote their cause--to show the value of women-led art projects and women-created spaces in the hopes that by doing so, along with all the facts and figures, change can begin to truly take root in the hearts and minds of people.

But they don't just promote the art of women creators, they also provide resources to help women promote not just themselves, but also the fundamental idea that women artists should be valued in their own right.  WomenArts shares places to get grants, organizations that are looking for women artists, provides a list of women artists for organizations to contact, and are an all-around resource for women and groups looking to promote women artists.

I also love that they have a blog that shines a spotlight on art projects about, for, and/or by women--shining a spotlight on them in particular since so few other media sources do.  All in all, WomenArts is pretty phenomenal in the scope of what they're trying to do, and I am looking forward to a day when they have the money and resources to do even more.

So today I hope you'll share with me the joy of not only Women's History Month, but also WomenArts as causes to celebrate!

Causes to Celebrate: Americans for the Arts

Shortly before the National Endowment for the Arts came into being in 1965, a group of enterprising people got together to create what is now known as Americans for the Arts.  Since its first iteration in 1960 up until the present, Americans for the Arts has striven to ensure that arts education and leadership are available to all.  Their work spans many disciplines and even now involves the business sectors of America to help ensure that the arts has a lasting place in our American way of life.

Before today, I had never heard of this group, which is quite honestly sad considering the work that they are doing.  But like many things in the world, there are a lot of people wanting to create organizations to promote the things they care deeply about; so, it's easy to miss something if you're not out there searching for it.  Part of the reason I started this "Causes to Celebrate" series was so that I could learn more about organizations that support causes that I believe to be important and also to highlight some of the ones I already knew about and share them with the rest of you.  So even if you've never heard of some of these groups and organizations, rest assured that I'm right there with you learning and growing, too.

Americans for the Arts has some serious money behind it, too--philanthropic donations coming from both domestic and international investors.  And while that may be off-putting to some, the mission of the organization is something worth promoting:

Our mission is to build recognition and support for the extraordinary and dynamic value of the arts and to lead, serve, and advance the diverse networks of organizations and individuals who cultivate the arts in America.

Connecting your best ideas and leaders from the arts, communities, and business, together we can work to ensure that every American has access to the transformative power of the arts.

What I like most about their approach is that they are working with leaders from all walks of life to ensure that the arts are appreciated and promoted.  Having not only civic leaders involved, but also business leaders and the public, Americans for the Arts gains traction from places where they might not otherwise be found.  And while it may seem obvious that promoting the arts in our schools, work, and play are vitally important, sometimes this can get forgotten in the rush to cut costs, save money, and make a profit.  Sometimes there are investments that don't offer a monetary benefit, but which offer benefits to the hearts, minds, and souls of people.  And that is what Americans for the Arts is seeking to promote and remind us about with their work.

There is so much work that they're doing that even I find it daunting to try and find everything there is to do and be involved in, but from what I can see, Americans for the Arts is looking to provide information on the arts to people in so many ways.  They also have programs to encourage the arts in the world, and I feel like if more people knew about their existence, there is a lot more that could be done all throughout America--things they could help with, things people could benefit from.  And that is why, today, I am really excited to promote Americans for the Arts as a cause worth celebrating.

Causes to Celebrate: Ko-fi

So, yesterday I wrote about Patreon, but today I want to introduce you to its cousin (of sorts,) Ko-fi (pronounced "co-fi or coffee.)  While Patreon trades on the stock exchange and has shares that support the running of its business, Ko-fi is a business that supports itself by asking creators for money to help support the platform that allows them to take in donations.  And while Patreon charges for currency conversions,--money from patrons flowing through the platform before going to creators, Ko-fi is a platform for creatives to accept donations directly to their PayPal or Stripe accounts.  Both are subject to local laws; both allow for creators from all over the world to accept donations, but where Patreon pays creators based off of donations sent to Patreon's platform (and thus how they make money by taking a small bit of each contribution given to creators,) Ko-fi merely presents a place for people to connect to creator's money accounts, but those accounts are run by fairly reputable businesses, like Paypal and Stripe.

There is another difference between Patreon and Ko-fi as well; Ko-fi has a completely free version of their platform, only asking creator's to opt into their Gold program for more options on their Ko-fi accounts.

Sadly, both sites require you to do your own tax prep--which I'm thinking about lately since it's nearing the end of March and taxes here in America are due April 15th.  One of the nice things that Patreon eliminates is having to consider whether or not you're doing business with credible people since your payouts come from Patreon the company rather than individual donors.  And while Paypal and Stripe won't allow business from unlawful sources, that doesn't mean you always know who you're doing business with.  You, as the creator, have to consider that rather than having someone else to do it for you.

Both platforms allow for creatives to share and accept donations for their work, however, and with Patreon being traded on the stock market, they will be likely to survive economic downturns more easily.  What I like about Ko-fi, though, is that it doesn't require you to have a model for showcasing your work.  You can use other platforms to house your creations and link to them from your Ko-fi page.  Or you can just set up a page to accept donations that is nothing but a repository for exactly that and nothing more--letting your work speak for itself elsewhere (where you can place a tasteful Ko-fi button or create a link to your page where people can then leave you money for the work you've done.)

Ko-fi came into being in 2013, just a year after Patreon, though it wasn't much at the time.  Over the years, the service has grown and now has Creator Pages, monthly tier-based contributions, and other amenities.  At its inception, though, it just linked people to creator's Paypal accounts where they could offer them money.

It started because a developer found another developer's work that helped them turn an hours-long project into a 20-minute session.  But I'll let Nigel, the owner of Ko-fi, share his own story:

Back in 2012 I was living in Bangkok, working as a freelance developer. Sometimes it was impossible to tell how long a project would take or what technical hurdles might come up. Clients usually demand a fixed price, so you estimate how long a project will take and then just work the rest out as you go.

One project had become a real nightmare. I had underestimated the project and was starting to feel the pressure. The deadline was approaching fast, yet I was stuck on some obscure issue.

Desperate for a solution, I scoured the web and stumbled upon a Stack Overflow post. Someone else had had the same problem and posted the full solution. This turned days of work into 20 minutes. The developer that posted the solution was my new personal hero. Because of his willingness to share, I’d managed to complete the ‘project from hell’ and move on.

Yet something didn’t feel right. How could I show this person my appreciation? The only option on Stack Overflow was an ‘upvote’. It wasn’t enough. It wasn’t human.

In the real world a show of appreciation might buying a coffee for a co-worker as a token of appreciation. These gestures are more meaningful. Why couldn’t I buy this guy a coffee online for helping me out?

There should be a way to send a thank you and a few dollars to someone for doing a good turn. More than a ‘like’, ‘retweet’ or ‘upvote’, but less formal than a ‘‘fee’. This idea stuck with me and a good friend Javan challenged me to hack together something over the following weekend.

And thus began the story of Ko-fi.

What I like most about Ko-fi is that it doesn't take anything from the creator, and it doesn't take a whole lot to get started.  You can sign up for free, and if you find that you're making enough money to justify it, you can level up to their Gold premium version.  It's this sense of freedom that makes this platform seem more accessible to me, even if it isn't as well-known.  I even have an account there, though I have yet to set it up--especially since I don't know that what I'm doing here offers any real value to others.  One day, though, I might work myself up to getting a project together, and when I do, you'll definitely hear about it. 

One of the drawbacks to Ko-fi is having to operate through PayPal or Stripe, though I already do a lot of business through my PayPal account and haven't seen much of a problem with it.  Stripe I know a lot less about; so, I'd have to do some research there.

All in all, though, I am just as excited about Ko-fi as I am about Patreon as it offers creators and artists platforms to express themselves and share their work with others while offering those of us who appreciate and enjoy that work a means whereby we can offer them our gratitude with money.

I especially love the fact that our digital world has allowed artists from all over the world to gain acclaim or create a fanbase that 30 years ago wouldn't have even been possible.  And it is platforms like Ko-fi that make those things possible, which is why I am happy to share it with you today as a cause worth celebrating.

Causes to Celebrate: Patreon

As the pandemic set in, and as my need for comfort and art and inspiration deepened, I found myself looking around on twitter and facebook and other websites for something that could make the anxiety and tragedy less overwhelming.  And while I had known that Patreon existed, I hadn't really considered myself the kind of person who could afford it.  Still I'd been paying for games and loot crates in the past--and while the value of those things was questionable, I had enjoyed them for the most part.  But when I stopped to think about it, and as the pandemic set in, I realized that there were some wonderful artists and creators out there in the world that were deserving of recognition.  So rather than spending my money on things that didn't give me something tangible, or worse, gave me tangible things I didn't really care for, I found myself excited at the prospect of being able to patron people whose art and creation gave me hope or sparked in me a sense of artistic kinship.

It was funny talking with John about this today, but thinking about Patreon now, I had this feeling like it had always been around.  But the truth is, it has only existed since 2013.  In two years, it will be celebrating its tenth anniversary.  For something I had considered to have existed since...forever, it was both disconcerting, and yet comforting, to know that Patreon is a thing that now exists in the world--even if it hadn't less than ten years ago.

But what is Patreon?  Let me share with you their vision:

Patreon powers membership businesses for creators by giving them the tools they need to acquire, manage, and energize their paying patrons. With a subscription-style payment model, fans pay their favorite creators a monthly amount of their choice in exchange for exclusive access, extra content, or a closer look into their creative journey.

This model is a win-win; creators retain creative freedom while getting the salary they deserve, and fans get to rest easy knowing that their money goes directly towards creating more of what they love.

In short, we can patron the arts!

While there are costs associated with creating a Patreon account (transactional costs for different currencies, for instance, and then the cost for the site itself,) most of the money donated to creators goes directly to paying for their art.  Most creators have found ways to deal with some of the money issues, as well, asking patrons to donate in the currency of the creator's home country.  And yes!  Patreon is international in scope.  I personally donate to artists from the Netherlands, Spain, and a few here in America, as well.  But the fact that there is such an international base of artists on the platform means that I am able to support all kinds of projects.  The only limitation, of course, being how much money I have to spend.

The platform isn't without its problems, as many creators can attest, but the company is willing to reach out and talk to the artists to try and work at accommodating their needs.  So, the company is trying to improve day upon day as they can.

What I love most about Patreon, though, is that it allows creators to get an income for doing the things that they want to be doing--from art, to music, to writing, to podcasting, and so much more.  It's a place where creators can establish themselves or reinvent themselves if something isn't working.  And they can get money for the things they do; some even make a living off of the money they get there.  And to me that last is something amazing--that our digital age has created an independent path forward for artists.

That said, I sometimes wish a place like Patreon weren't necessary--that art and artists could thrive regardless of the monetary value of their work, so that they could simply create beautiful things.  But our world doesn't work like that for now, and perhaps it never will.  And in light of that, I am glad that there is a place like Patreon for creative people to offer their work to the world and receive recognition for it.

So that is why, today, I am so happy to be able to share Patron with the rest of you as a cause worthy of celebrating!

Causes to Celebrate: Hyperallergic

Are you looking for some of the latest art news?  Interested in all the arts?  Do you feel like there isn't enough coverage of art from minorities?  If you answered yes to any of those questions, Hyperallergic is the site for you.

I came across their reporting last year, though I can't remember the reason.  Perhaps it was a photo, or a story about artists using their talents to promote the protest movements against police violence.  Whatever the case may have been, I signed up for their weekly newsletter and was pleasantly surprised to find myself wandering through the articles and reading through the obituaries.  It was like a whole new world had opened up for me--a new aspect of learning that I hadn't known I needed.  They also offer a monthly post for various arts-related competitions--something I highly recommend to any aspiring artists.

I want to include their About write up here, because I think it's important to understand the inspiration for this website as their views are something I believe to be indispensable.

Sensitive to Art and Its Discontents

Hyperallergic is a leading voice in contemporary perspectives on art, culture, and more. The online publication was founded by the husband-and-husband team, Veken Gueyikian and Hrag Vartanian, in 2009 as a forum for playful, serious, and radical perspectives on art in society. With over one million visitors monthly, Hyperallergic combines round-the-clock art world news coverage with insightful commentary.

Challenging the art world status quo, Hyperallergic goes beyond the surface to investigate the inner workings of art institutions and markets, shedding light on the movements and individuals fighting for greater inclusion and representation. With hundreds of global contributors, Hyperallergic is a constant source for the latest in film, visual art, books, and performances around the world.

Or their more succinct:

Hyperallergic is a forum for serious, playful, and radical thinking about art in the world today. Founded in 2009, Hyperallergic is headquartered in Brooklyn, New York.

I especially love the fact that they are inclusive to all kinds of art--not just paintings and galleries, but books, and plays, music, and film.  They also host a podcast that offers insight into some of the latest trends and topics in the art-sphere.

If you're looking for somewhere that isn't full of all the hype and "newsworthy" latest on the arts, but is full of necessary and significant art news, I can't think of a better place to find it.  And that is why today I am happy to focus on Hyperallergic as a cause worth celebrating.

Dear Mr. President

President Biden signed a historic $1.9 trillion economic relief package into law Thursday afternoon, a day earlier than the White House had planned, ushering in new federal aid across the country amidst the coronavirus pandemic.CreditCredit...Doug Mills/The New York Times

Dear Mr. President,

Well, ...one bill passed in the Congress, several of your nominees promoted to their new government positions, and it looks like the Republican party is doing its best to implode.  Two of those seem pretty good to me.  The last seems a worrying sign that there are still people in the world willing to believe anything if it means they're seen and heard.  I wish I knew a way to change that last, but I feel like they need to want to change first.  And here in America we're a pretty stubborn bunch--not always a bad thing, but not always a great thing, either.

I was happy to see that you were continuing to reach out to NASA, and I'm excited to see where our work in space exploration will take us; but I am worried about China and Russia's newfound friendship and enthusiasm about the Moon.  It feels like there's this new (not so new, really, but very, very old) war brewing between authoritarian regimes and proponents of democracy.  I find myself wondering why there are governments that want to halt criticism and promote a culture of fear.  Is it just that they want to hold on to power?  Do they only care about themselves?  Does the power they have attained make them less interested in the welfare of other people, or does it make them foolishly believe that their way is the only right way?  I worry that those who serve in such regimes are hurting people--likely many of them minorities and women, and I am afraid of the growing power they are having in the world.  Unfortunately, I'm also not certain how useful sanctions have been of late.  I feel like we need to try something new, because the old way of doing things (sanctions) aren't cutting it any more--like the bad guys have figured us out and have made plans and ways around those pesky monetary stops we've imposed.  I can't say I'm an advocate for war, but how else do you fight against such governments?  And more importantly, how do you un-brainwash generations of people who have grown up believing in a world without personal freedoms and liberties?  I often ask myself this about my own biases having grown up here in the United States.  Is it really all about those who want freedom and accountability and allowing people to have a say in how things are done versus those who do not?  I want to believe that our way is a good and right way to do things in the world, but the pandemic has taught me that capitalism can often be an evil in the world--where profits matter more than people.

I know you have some great people on your team--diplomats who are interested in promoting America while acknowledging the good things about the people and countries with whom they're working.  And I feel like it's important to have that dialogue open.  I'm just not sure what to do about the countries that don't want that.  Without communication, (and I mean actual communication, not the song and dance that mimics it that is sometimes offered in its stead,) we can't really resolve these differences in a way that benefits people.  And since we have a global economy now, without that communication we are just waiting for the shoe to drop when someone eventually decides they no longer want to care about the conventions and norms that have been agreed upon.  Hell, we don't even abide by many international agreements; so, why should anyone else be expected to?  We can't continue to pretend that having a world cake is meant for us if we're not willing to contribute to the making of it.  And I get it; governments are flawed--ours included.  But we can't work at fixing that if we refuse to even be a part of the discussion.

Sir, I think it's time we started looking at our international obligations and doing more than just offering contributions.  I feel like we need to be a part of them.  Let's join with our allies; let's be a part of something bigger than ourselves.  We've returned to giving aid and money to the WHO, and your administration has rejoined the Paris Accords, but we need more than momentary commitments.  Because if we aren't willing to sign on to international agreements and our enemies are--guess who is setting the agendas there?  Not us.  And to me, that's not great.

Okay...what else?  Oh!  During the pandemic, a lot of mutual aid societies cropped up all over the country.  I think it would do your administration and the country good to actually acknowledge their work and their efforts.  I also think maybe it's time we considered listening to what their leaders have to say in order to see if they can't help us make our own government agencies better and work more "for the people" than against.  They've been thinking about these things for a while, I'd bet, and if they can help keep the people of this country fed and safe during a pandemic, maybe they have some ideas to offer on how our government can be doing that better so that those groups aren't needed as much as they were.  Just something to consider.

I love how much you're trying to reach people via the internet, though I do think your own White House page could offer more of that instead of just your Facebook page.  And, well...if you want to wean people away from big companies that are using their platforms and our information in ways that are harmful to us, moving away from Facebook and Twitter, or making your Facebook and Twitter posts available from the government's own pages might be one way to do that.  I'd much rather be directed to the White House page from those places to get the latest videos and press conferences than watching them there--especially considering the comments sections.  I get that people should be allowed to have their say, but the amount of vitriol and outright meanness I've read there is just...awful.

I gotta tell you--a lot of times I don't have the time to sit and watch those videos and conferences and such.  It's troubling to me that there's so much business of the government going on, but that is why we have a press in this country.  Nine times out of ten, I'm getting news from them, and it's important to me that they have access to the workings of our government in more ways than just press conferences and the like.  I hope you'll do more to ensure the freedom of the press, Mr. President.  I hope you'll do what you can to ensure that our news--the good and the bad, are equally kept safe.  But I also hope you'll do what you can to keep Americans safe from foreign propaganda--because it's out there; it's prevalent, and it is creating some real problems.

A short aside, and then I'll end for today.  Talking to my step-dad this weekend, and then John's dad in Russia, I got some similar vibes.  For instance, both of them seemed to feel that COVID wasn't as big of a deal as we here in America have made it out to be--as in, the loss of life was just something to take in stride--something normal and natural and not something we should have been alarmist about.  It made me think a lot about our health care culture that we have here in America that maybe the rest of the world doesn't understand.  Let me see if I can put this into words: while we have great health care here in America, there are a lot of places that don't have that.  Likewise, most of the people in this country can't afford the benefits of the great health care we have in this country.  So the idea that we can and should prevent such deadly viruses, for them, isn't something that seems important.  After all, if we're saying that only some people are important and worthy of care (because they have money or because they hold office or positions of power,) why should we suddenly start caring about everyone's health and welfare when a pandemic happens?  I hated seeing that Russian-mindset in John's dad and his wife, and I hated hearing my own dad's reluctance to believe that COVID was a big deal.

I guess what I'm trying to get at is: are we lying to ourselves when we say that life is important if we're not actually making laws that assert those things?  And I understand there's a religious component to this that is going to skew a lot of Christians when it comes to abortion for instance (though I think abortions are something only a woman and her doctor should get to have a say in and pretty much no one else should get to make decisions for them--) but when we see stuff like George Floyd or the unequal treatment of protestors, there's a message being sent there about who and what matters.  And maybe it's time we started looking at that more.  Maybe it would help to change the way people act about things like COVID and global pandemics.

All right.  I've said my peace for today, Sir.  Time to get going so that I can actually get some things done before the day is over.  Oh!  One last thing--please get rid of the time change!  Help make that legislation happen.  While the reasoning behind it was good in its day, those reasons are no longer really viable.  And the problems caused by Daylight Savings Time are real and apparent.  It's time to be done with it.  So please help get that done.

Until next week, then!  Stay safe!

~~ Jenni