After WordPress Blogging, It’s Tumblr for the Win

No Comments

I was sitting here, strategizing about my next move on how to move next on social media, and thought about #Tumblr.  And after looking over all the platforms I currently use, I think people have be sleeping on the Tumblr platform and app.  I’m not sure how things like Pinterest, TikTok, Instagram and the like all became the go-to apps… some of them, you can’t even add links to enhance your content!

 

Maybe Twitter, was the hotness in its heyday; but with the addition of going live, Tumblr has all the tools necessary to take your online presence to another level.  It’s basically a miniaturized blog site that you can post everything from posts to videos.

 

I think some people were at one point complaining about the liberalness and artistic posts with splashes of nudity…. But if you learn how to work your account, you can block those things out that you don’t want to see or display. It has several different view displays, depending on how you use the app, and can be quite interesting to explore.   As with other platforms, you can both use the phone application or use it on your pc/computer.

 

I frankly like and enjoy the openness of the platform and the control you as an individual you have to control what you see in your stream.  I’m glad I circled back to it and plan to perhaps make it more of a prominent tool used in my social media tool box.  My Tumblr stream is dhspeller.tumblr.com  …go check it out.  Shout-out to Tumblr.

VA Should Not Be Its Own Entity (Part 1)

No Comments

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) should not be its own entity; especially the VA Claims.  It seems like it’s one big money laundering scheme for the private sector.   Full disclosure, I’m a Veteran and this is about me and other veterans who have gone through the system only to be denied by people who have never served in the actual military a day in their life.

This is going to be a post that damn well might turn into an eBook because that’s how much I have to say about this matter and how salty the “system” can make you feel.  And I hope every Service Member who has ever served thinks about this for themselves and for future Service Members.

Let’s explore a few things.

Of the approximate 331,441,281 plus Americans identified in the 2020 Census, less than 50 million have served in any branch of service over the history of the country.  I found this Census Bureau pdf about Veterans very interesting.  In one section it mentions a “Declining size of the veteran population“…  Let’s just say what it is.  They are DYING off, many without proper care or concern.  These folks were Service Members to the Armed Forces of the United States of America.  They should have never been shuffled off to the VA, just to be shuffled off to someone else.  In my opinion, the military has a duty and responsibility to anyone who raised their right hand to serve; regardless if it was for 20 years or 20 minutes.

It’s amazing how much money goes into the military budget.  They have found a place for lots of equipment,  contractors, and special organizations of all sorts, but dole off the ones who actually served.  It’s no wonder some people have a bitterness when they leave the military, and that needs to be fixed.

If Veterans were given the actual money that was put into supporting and operating the Veteran’s Administration personnel and facilities, would alone solve most of their issues.  That coupled with access to the military’s medical system and local providers would be a game changer and would more than likely create a win-win solution for both Veterans and their local communities.

There still need to be drastic changes made in support of Veterans, and it needs to start now.  No form of PTSD or any other mental disorder, or injury, should be belittled; so imagine the magnitude of difference in the amount of PTSD civilians claim they’ve had because of adjustments they’ve had to make because COVID– versus the amount of stress ALL Service Members go through with basic training, then training and preparation for deployments and then actually being deployed!

Our priorities are wrong in this country and we need to start looking more after our citizens, Veterans and Service Members.

Emails: Let’s Talk About Them

No Comments

Let’s talk about emails.   Today, to start the new year off right, I had the bright idea of tackling my emails more vigorously.  Mind you, during down time over the holidays, I had already fought my way through 7,000 of the 20k sum I had just sitting in my Inbox(es); but now, I Read More

The Reason I Talk Junk about Democrats is Because, I Want Them to Do Better

No Comments

Image: Microsoft | Bing Chess Strategy

I want Democrats to do so much better than they have done over the past 40 years. From what I’ve seen from the majority of Democrats is the willingness to fight against #Progressives and others who might be to the left of them. But that same energy does not exist in fights with Republicans.  

They are more apt to try to prove their conservatism than to show a willingness to vote for progressive legislation for the American people. And then comes the handwringing.

If you learn nothing more, nor do anything else—leave Progressives alone. There is a reason I am no longer a Democrat or Republican. I am not a fan of the two-party modal. It is disturbing to see progressive candidates vilified. I’m also sad to see Progressives and Independents run as Democrats. Please stop. The primaries is technically your time to shine. Even if Republicans and Democrats don’t want to give you oxygen in their rooms, take it! Get online. Use all the social medias. Ask your supporters for a ‘post’ or a ‘re-post’ instead of just going for the cash.  

What candidates want and need is traction. A re-blog or a re-post would both encourage the supporter to learn more about the candidate and show support for the candidate. Two years until the next election, use every second wisely. 

For the record, some of these people in the Democratic Party lost their race in 2022 because people didn’t know where they stood. A Democratic Republican look-a-like isn’t worth electing for many. 

“Not Voting” is Not the Answer

No Comments

To my #Progressive friends, let’s face it, not voting is not an option. And voting for #Republicans is opposite of everything we want. My solution is to keep pressing #Democrats to do better as we continue to try to add #Progressives and their allies to the Congressional ranks. 

Other things we can do is start distinguishing to the mainstream media on every opportunity that you are not a Democrat. Be bold about your decision to be progressive and explain why it is important to have options other than Democrats and Republicans. And, although you may decide to vote for Democrats, until more progressive candidates can be elected, let your preferences be known. 

The goal is to change the make-up of Congress… fewer non-progressive Democrats and way fewer Republicans. If we want better legislation, this will be necessary. It is always better to have liberties and not exercise them by choice, than be in a strict society where any perceived infraction will lead to imprisonment or some sort of punishment.  

We have waited far too long for change, which on occasion looks like it is going to occur, only to be delayed until… next time.