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