By: Kenneth E. Boone, Sr.
Back in 2020, when COVID was first running wild, I produced a show dedicated to all of the Freelance Gig Workers out there who managed to find a way to survive when traditional avenues of employment dried up. In fact, many of them came out the other side in much better shape than before the pandemic hit. In this episode, I will shine a spotlight one of them. The other day, I checked my mailbox, and found a CD of my brother Mike's latest album titled, “Enjoying the View”. This one marks the eighth he produced in his own name. All seven previous ones were self-financed and met with critical acclaim. I used to think that I was someone who never gave up, especially when it came to my pursuit of a career in music. While I love music and hope to be continue my involvement in it, in some capacity, for the rest of my life, I learned the hard way that it's not the be all end all I used to think it was. In hindsight, I believe the reason I went after it was less a burning desire to make a joyful noise, and more likely basic sibling rivalry. That became clear to me when I wrote an essay back in early 2020 for my old blog, when COVID was taking people out left and right. At the time, I was obeying the stay-at-home orders, collecting all the information I can about the virus. I was a little worried because, since I was considered to be in a fairly high-risk group and didn't want to chance a health setback. Trying not to obsess about things I couldn't control, I was looking for something that would keep my mind occupied. And I found it in the form of another podcast, which I titled “Freelancer Survival Stories.” I reached out to a number of people, asking them to come on the show and tell their stories, but had few takers. Sure, I had some “let me get back to you” replies, but that was just their polite way of saying they weren't interested. Since I was only four months away from retirement, I had a pension and social security benefits waiting for me. At the time, I was wrapping up my own freelance gig at the nonprofit, so Celia and I were going to be financially okay. For the most part, the individuals I wanted to interview for the podcast were artists of the musical and/or video sort. They were the ones who had to be the most creative as they tried to share their gifts as well as stay solvent. My brother Mike was the first one who agreed to appear on the show. While Mike and I worked out the technical challenges of recording the interview as clearly as possible via Zoom, I met a number of musician friends of Mike's on Facebook. The two I currently follow are vocalist Maci Miller and guitarist Larry Taminini. That's because both, along with Mike, did a lot to keep the spirits up for Philadelphia music lovers. I seem to have a love-hate relationship with public performances. Mostly because I'd have flashbacks of hundreds of times I really stunk up the joint. There were a few great moments on stage, but the duds far outnumbered the successes. I could come up with plenty of lame excuses as to why my performances were, at best, uneven. But the main reason was that I was totally unprepared! That's right, I rarely, if ever practiced. The same can't be said for the group I will now call “The Philly 3”. During the lockdown, Maci, Larry, and Mike spent hours not only practicing, they did a lot of listening to the classics. And if they found something they thought might be of interest to their fans, they would generously post links to the music on social media. I, as many others, looked forward to those postings. Whenever possible, and safe to do so, they would perform publicly. Maci played a number of outdoor gigs at what I think is a winery located in Bucks County, PA. Mike played the upright bass as part of her backing trio that included pianist Aaron Graves, another Facebook friend of mine. In addition to the solos he performed in his living room, Larry played a number of times at an establishment where he and his bandmates were set up on the front steps, while the audience was socially distancing on the sidewalk. Mike rented a studio with limited seating and the band spaced far apart. I may be wrong, but I think he hosted about a dozen of those events. Not only did the live audience partake in the activities, Maci, Larry, and Mike were generous enough to stream the performances on Facebook Live. Mike even set up a donation button in order for the players and crew to get compensated. I never had that kind of dedication or perseverence to my musical craft. But I've always been an effective cheerleader. What I could do was to Share anything that came across my feed, with a strong recommendation. And I always had my podcasts. I think I've given each of them at least a dozen shout outs over the past three years. I only wish I could have interviewed them, but I'm sure I'll get my chance to in the near future. At the time I wrote the original blog posts, Celia and I were in comeback mode. Or at least we said we were. We could no longer use our illnesses as a crutch for not doing what we believed we were called to do. So, we thought that all we had to do to get ourselves back down to figurative fighting weight was to dust off the old songbooks, practice a little bit, and stream away. Easier said than done. If I were to be completely honest with myself, playing music isn't my true calling. Listening to it is something I'm better equipped to do. I prefer talking into a mic over singing into one. And when it comes to my hands, I'd much rather type on a keyboard than play one or pluck strings. And there's nothing wrong with that. Celia, on the other hand, could practice for hours on ends. In fact, she even learned an entire 600-song hymnal when she was a teenager. And she never suffered from stage fright or pre-performance jitters. For me, I felt safest sitting on a stool behind her, giving her a steady, no-frills bassline. As for this show, I recorded 28 episodes at the time of my original blog post. The count is now up to 96 episodes, including this episode. I still don't like to practice, but at least I'm using a script on my episodes. My listeners still seem to like the sound of my voice, finding it soothing. I still suggest they get their ears checked while I thank them from the bottom of my heart for their kind words. I guess this is the thing I can't give up on, the thing I was really meant to do. This is also the thing that's mine, the area where sibling rivalry will never come into play. Here, I can do one of the things I was put on this earth to do, and that is to promote and advocate for others. In this case, sing the praises of “The Philly 3”. Parting Shots Maci Miller has just announced the release of her new album “Nine”. It is available on all streaming platforms and CDs are available for purchase through her website HERE. Larry Taminini is still quite active on the Philadelphia jazz music scene. In fact, I just heard a recent performance of his on Facebook. I'm proud to inform you that over the past few years, Larry has picked up some valuable endorsement deals. You can check out his music by visiting his website HERE. Mike Boone is not the type of person who does much self-promotion, so he doesn't use his website for that purpose. He is on Facebook, and his music is available on Spotify. I'll try to find out where you can purchase a physical CD. I'll also use this podcast as a means of getting the word out, so stay tuned for more. You can learn more about Mike by visiting his website HERE. As I mentioned at the top of this episode, Mike just released “Enjoying the View”, his eighth album as a bandleader. I just finished listening to the entire album, and it is fantastic! His range as a musician, writer and arranger, which was already quite broad, has expanded even further. The performances by the other musicians were incredible, especially his son, Mehki on the drums. My nephew was a child protege whose superpowers have increased exponentially over the years. These three incredibly talented musicians, who are also super nice human beings, went above and beyond to help us get through a difficult time. By sharing their gifts with us, at great personal risks, they kept us connected with each other. And now that we have a handle on the virus and are able to mingle once again, we have the opportunity to thank each of them in person at one of their gigs. If you are anywhere near Greater Philadelphia, I urge you to do just that! Today's Quote “Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.” Walter Elliott – American Priest and Missionary
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By: Kenneth E. Boone, Sr.
There's a saying that goes something like this... “what we planned for ourselves isn't always what life has planned for us.” Hopefully, life's plans will have a better outcome than mine. You can either plan things out methodically, or just throw a plate of spaghetti against the wall, hoping something will eventually stick to it. But no matter which method you choose, things may be simply out of your control. I had this ambitious dream of building an independent podcast network from scratch. I wasn't interested in taking on corporate sponsors. I just wanted to offer a place for hosts and guests to share their opinions and stories to their small niche audiences. Update on My Podcast Network As I mentioned in recent episodes, this show was placed "Under Review" for possible Terms of Service violations of my podcast hosting site. While I didn't do anything wrong, I decided not to wait for their review to conclude and pulled the show from their site. That turned out to be the right move. I also mentioned that they placed under review three of my new podcasts scheduled for release this Fall. My problem with that move was that I already recorded, published, and began promoting trailers for those shows. And it would be amateurish if I had to go back and tell all my listeners "never mind". I found new homes for the show hosted by Celia and the one hosted by Angel. In fact, I've already begun posting episodes of those podcasts on their new hosting sites. And if either Celia or Angel choose to resume recording, we'll just pick right up where we left off. I'm considering blowing up (deleting) ”From Grievance to Gratitude”, the first podcast I hosted. If I were to be honest with you, it makes me cringe every time I go back and listen to it. I'm prouder of the show's companion blog, so I'll be keeping that available. Now, all that's left are the three new shows. The shows were supposed to be part of my “First Friday” podcast series. I planned on alternating new episode releases every first Friday of the month. That meant that I would be publishing four episodes per year of each show. Since I didn't want to scrap production of these shows, I decided to roll them up into this podcast. The first episode of the former “First Friday” podcasts will be published on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, followed by the next one on Wednesday, November 1st, and so on. Here are the descriptions for the shows: New Podcast #1: Words That Encourage and Inspire On this podcast, I always end each episode of this podcast with a quote that has the effect of driving home my message more eloquently than I ever could. I try to draw from a cross-section of originators, regardless of their notoriety. Thats because quotes have the power to encourage, inspire, and motivate someone when they're not feeling their best. Inspirational quotes can make us feel ready to take on anything life throws at us. They can be happy quotes or funny quotes that remind us to see the brighter side of life. “Words that Encourage and Inspire” was intended to be a podcast where I bring you some of the many quotes and sayings that I've collected over the years. When possible, I would shine a light on the remarkable individuals whose words have both encouraged and inspired me. For example, which former U.S. President once said that “the best way to predict your future is to create it?” And which philosopher said, “it doesn't matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop?” And while we're at it, which Nobel Prize-winning statesmen said, “fools multiply when wise men are silent?” Stay tuned for the answers to those questions on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. New Podcast #2: The Music that Moved Me To know the genesis of this show idea, I'll have to take you back to my youth. Back then, I survived on a steady diet of hymns, anthems, and borderline chants. They were okay, but I felt that there was more out there for me to hear and embrace. That all changed for me in 1973, when my friend Fred, let me hear a vinyl album of Christian music done in a new and interesting way. That recording changed me in a profound way, that still captivates me to this day. The Music That Moved Me was not going to be limited to sacred music. I wanted to share stories behind the record labels, individuals, and music that inspired me on my journey through life, no matter the genre. As someone who is quite familiar with planning and research, I tried to find out as much as I could about other podcasts out there with a focus on Gospel Music history. I don't see the other shows as the competition, I just wanted to make sure that I'm not covering the same old stuff. I ran across a list of the Top 12 gospel music-related podcasts in production today, and I can't wait to check out each one of them. The good news for me is that none of these other shows cover the same people, places, and things that I hope to highlight. This podcast was supposed to begin with the story of Light Records and the people who helped shape what has become the now popular Contemporary Urban Gospel. While the initial subjects are no longer with us, their music lives on inspiring both musicians and listeners alike. In fact, many of their songs now considered classics of the genre. My intent was to publish the first episode of this podcast on Friday, November 3, 2023. Instead, it will be available on Wednesday, November 1, 2023. Hope you'll join us then. New Podcast #3: Playing Through the Pain While we all love winners in the world, we also applaud the efforts of the athletes who are determined to play through injuries, tragedies, or just being overlooked and/or underestimated by the so-called experts. Soccer legend, Mia Hamm, is quoted as saying, “true champions aren't always the ones that win, but those with the most guts.” This podcast was to be dedicated to all the underdogs, the longshots, and the comeback kids of the sports world. They are our true heroes. And that's why I'm here to tell you their stories. Now that I'm watching sporting events again, I find myself drawn not only to the five-star, can't-miss prospects who easily fulfilled their enormous potential. I also like to root for the athlete who had the less than impressive scouting report, who went on to prove the experts wrong. They are the most relatable, the ones who let us know that dreams do come true. This was to be the final show of the Descant MMG "First Friday" podcast trilogy series, with full episodes to begin airing Friday, December 1, 2023. It will now be available on Wednesday, December 6, 2023. I hope you will join us. Parting Shots And with that, my podcast house is back in order. I still don't know for sure what I did wrong, but I no longer have to worry about my former hosting site. I'm grateful that they provided a home for my shows when I was starting out and wish them nothing but the best. Apparently, their actions were not personal, because they asked me to consider using them for any future shows I create. What's a nice way to say, “when hell freezes over!” Today's Quote “If the plan doesn't work, change the plan but never the goal.” – Anonymous
By: Kenneth E. Boone, Sr.
My car, which I named Moody Blue, decided to cooperate when I needed him to. Now, I live to fight another year., Bear with me. I promise that it will all make sense. Here we are, a couple of weeks after the flood gates of challenges burst open. I told you all about them as a way of getting things off my chest. And even though I spent a lot of time griping, I spent almost as much time counting my blessings. I was hoping that last week would be a calm one, and for the most part it was. The week started with a text from my son, letting me know that he would be flying to Minneapolis to attend a corporate retreat. I'm sure the powers that be are going to lean on him to take a position at their headquarters. As I mentioned a time or two, Kenny faced his fair share of challenges in his early years. He and I clashed many times, with me ending each skirmish by telling him that he will understand my position when he becomes a parent. Guess what? He now gets it, and never hesitates to let me know that I was right. It makes me feel wonderful when he thanks me for never giving up on him. And I never will. And another thing. We are both still very much alive and well. I don't know about him, but I've gotten over a dozen forms of urgent communication over this past week that all turned out to be bill collectors and scam artists. So, I still have to be on the alert for anyone with nefarious intentions. Update on My Podcast Network Because of claims by my hosting site that this show was "Under Review" for possible violations of one of their Terms of Service policies, I decided the best thing for me to do was pull the show from their site. I also pulled the three new podcasts scheduled for release this Fall. I'll keep you posted as to where they will end up. As I mentioned last week, my three original podcasts were left untouched, for now. I'm not just going to wait for the other shoe to drop on those shows. So, I found new homes for two of those podcasts. While I couldn't keep them all in one place, the show hosted by Celia and the one hosted by Angel are in a safe place. If either one of them chooses to resume recording, we'll just pick right up where we left off. My first podcast is now in limbo. I'm actually leaning toward deleting it, but my mind isn't made up yet. Update on My Humble Abode Life on the home front is still slightly chaotic and somewhat inconvenient. The good news is that there were no new equipment malfunctions last week. I did notice that the room air conditioner for this space was blowing hot air. But after cleaning the filter, cool air once again filled the Glorious Corner Studio. I still need a new roof, a new HVAC system, and a new hot water heater. Not to worry. I still have running water, electricity, natural gas, and let's not forget, cable and internet. Add to that, a doable plan to finance those repairs and/or replacement. Did I tell you that I consider myself blessed? Still do! I'm still getting bombarded with letters, emails, and phone calls from people trying to sell me all kinds of things. I'm still get ads for tub-to-shower conversions, chair lifts, retirement communities, and reverse mortgages. Add to those things solicitations from insurance companies offering to sell me final expense policies. Will it ever end? I refuse to sit here and complain because no one will listen. That's because they have their own problems, some of which are much worse than mine. And Now for the Blessings (Again) I told you that I redirected this podcast to another hosting site, which happens to be much better than the previous one. This will be the third episode that I'm publishing through this site, and the process seems to get easier. I'm not even upset that I can only put up one show on this site. As I said earlier, I found homes for the other shows I want to keep alive. And these restrictions are forcing me to focus on this podcast as well as the website and YouTube channel. It appears as though they got the wildfire that was threatening my in-law's home and property under control. And by offering a helping hand to the first responders, I'm sure Kay and Rick made a lot of new friends in the Spokane Valley in eastern Washington. When them out of harm's way, we can turn our attention to the victims and survivors of the wildfire in Maui, Hawaii. As I watch images of scorched earth, and hear reports of the rising fatality count, all I can do is pray. I wish there was more that I can do. Parting Shots The air conditioner on my car, which I named Moody Blue, is still only blowing hot air. The dashboard still lights up with various warnings, but I finally took him in for his annual inspection. While I was stressing out over an inevitable inspection failure, Celia remained calm. I needed that. She also reminded me that Resolution #7 on my list for 2023 was to “not borrow trouble”. I really needed that! Before I took the car to the shop, I dusted off my trusty Google machine and did some research. I was happy to learned that the seat belt and air bag warning lights coming on are not a cause for an inspection failure. Just the check engine light coming on would result in immediate failure. That hasn't occurred in my car yet, but his name is Moody Blue, so anything is possible with that guy. It seems like I worried a lot about nothing, because he passed with flying colors! The owner of the shop told me that he would be more than happy to take a look at the air conditioner and see if he can fix it as inexpensively as possible. Even if he can't, I still have the use of a road-worthy car for another year. By the time the next inspection rolls around, I'll be in a position to purchase a better vehicle.and it's due for an inspection that may not pass. In the meantime, the tank is still filled with gas and it still starts and stops when I need it to. And, like with the first two cars I owned, I'll simply roll down the windows if it gets too hot. I would say that on balance, I had a great week. Nothing has gotten any worse. And with the car passing inspection, it's like I took a small bite out of the elephant. I'm confident that I can take another bite this week. That's because I'm a truly blessed believer in minor miracles! And if I continue to feel the stress, I could always take advantage of my no-cost member to the fitness center and pedal my anxieties away. Today's Quote “Miracles are not done to produce faith. It is faith that makes miracles happen.” Jocelyn Soriano – Writer
By: Kenneth E. Boone, Sr.
Just when I thought things couldn't get any crazier, I recently got a letter addressed to the “Estate of Kenneth E Boone”. Now, I've been called a deadbeat a time or two, but never has anyone suggested that I'm dead! That's right, someone thinks that I'm deceased. After extending their condolences, the letter went on to suggest that the administrator of my estate contact them about a sensitive matter. Celia thinks the letter is part of an attempted scam, or a collection agency, and I tend to agree with her. I'm neither going to worry about it or response to it. But I do find the timing strange, in a cosmic way. I opened the karma flood gates last week by talking about the problem I had with Facebook a few years ago. The letter I just referenced is just the latest in a number of odd things that have happened to us this week. That shouldn't surprise me because bad things typically come in groups of three or more. Allow me to take a little time to articulate all of my recent woes. But before I do, I'd just like to say that my problems are trivial compared to what others are going through. But these “disasters” are indeed mine and it helps me to say them out loud. My Podcast Network I constantly visit the website of my podcast hosting platform. It wasn't until I noticed that my flagship show, "Much More to Say", no longer appeared on their directory of podcasts in the Personal Journal category. So, I contacted my host to try to get answers. That's when I learned that my show was "Under Review" for possible violations of one of their Terms of Service policies. They determined that there was more music than spoken word on the show. That could very well be true, but a little computer-generated heads up would have prompted me to fix that issue. Where are the bots when you need them? Not only did they effectively cut off the air supply of my best show, but they also placed under review the three new podcasts I scheduled for release this Fall. I already recorded, published, and began promoting trailers for those shows. Now I have to go back and tell all my listeners "never mind". How embarrassing is that? For some reason my old shows were left untouched, for now. I should be grateful, but I'm not. I'm just waiting for the other shoe to drop. Those shows have even more music in the background than the current ones that are under review do. So, like someone who found a crate of abandoned puppies or kittens left on my doorstep, I had to find new homes for my shows. Not just the four that are under review, but the other five that are part of my network. But God is good, and he's blessed me with the ability to think on my feet. Happy to say that I placed most of my shows on other hosting sites. I couldn't keep them all together, but they are out there ready to be heard. That means if you choose to listen to any of my shows, you just have to go out to Apple Podcasts, and they will be there! However, I'm still having a hard time with the podcast hosted by Angel and may have to place it on another site. I will keep you updated on what's going on with my network. You can reach out to me if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. My Humble Abode I would describe things on the home front as slightly chaotic and terribly inconvenient. It's like those television commercials where all hell is breaking loose. You see meteors striking earth, earthquakes opening the ground, and even escapees from the zoo on the prowl. Things couldn't get any worse. But then you see the actor or actress, who is calmly sipping their coffee, taking their bubble bath, or whatever else the sponsor is purporting to be the solution to all of life's travails. After getting over the initial panic, I feel like the serene person in the ad. Start with the house itself. I need a new roof, a new HVAC system, and of this week, a new hot water heater. All have gone kaput. But I still have running water, electricity, natural gas, and let's not forget, cable and internet. I consider myself blessed. The air conditioner on my car, which I named Moody Blue, only blows hot air. The dashboard lights up constantly, and it's due for an inspection that it may not pass. That's the bad news. The good news is that the tank is filled with gas, and Moody Blue starts and stops when I need it to. As a man of a certain vintage, I'm bombarded with letters, emails, and phone calls from people trying to sell me all kinds of things. From tub-to-shower conversions to chair lifts, retirement communities to reverse mortgages, and every scam known to man, I clearly have a target painted on my forehead. Good thing I still have my wits about me, or they would get everything and leave me to dine on cat food. I could sit here and complain, but that would do me no good. That's because no one will listen. Also, because others have it a lot worse than I do. And Now for the Blessings I told you that this podcast is under review and that they suspended some services until the review is complete. As bad as that is, the silver lining is that my new hosting site is much better. And because one of the site restrictions is that I can only put up one show, I forced to give this show the attention it deserves. I just came across a YouTube channel that focuses heavily on solo podcasters hosted by a British gentleman and titled “Podcast Creators Hub”. After watching a half dozen videos, I've learned a lot about this show that I wasn't aware of before. It's a short form storytelling solo podcast. Now that I know that I can explain it to people who ask. I griped about the condition of my house, and it's not something that I should minimize. But things could be a lot worse. Yesterday, I learned that my in-laws are living in the path of a massive fire that's engulfing the Spokane Valley in eastern Washington. In typical fashion, Kay and Rick didn't evacuate. Instead, they stuck around to assist the first responders in any way they could, like giving them complete access to their property and handing out cold beverages. I pray that I can show that much courage in the face of potential disaster. Parting Shots With all the events of this past week, I'm hoping for calm this week. I checked in with my namesake and am glad to report that he isn't the alledged decedent. In fact, it was his opinion that the letter was merely a scam. On Wednesday, I will be publishing the second episode of this show on through my new podcast hosting site. The first one went without a hitch, and I'm hoping for the same outcome for this one as well. If not, then it's back to the drawing board. As for the house, I'm blessed to have steady income and a lot of equity in the property. Between those to sources of funds, we should be okay. In the meantime, I have a long “Honey Do” list to keep me busy. I'm praying for Kay and Rick, as well as anyone going through their share of challenges. I pray that God will deliver them, and if not, provide them with the wisdom and strength to find their way to the other side. Stay blessed, my friends. Today's Quote “Flaming enthusiasm, backed up by horse sense and persistence, is the quality that most frequently makes for success.” Dale Carnegie – American Writer
By: Kenneth E. Boone, Sr.
American educator and journalist Morris Mandel once said, “putting your best foot forward at least keeps it out of your mouth.” As someone who has been known to do both, there's really not much of a difference. The video flood gates have opened! I just posted the first video adaptation of my monthly “News, Notes & More” blog post on YouTube. Although I won't promote the video in any other place but here, I am proud to finally get it done. Like most new ventures, the quality of that first video leaves a lot to be desired. But just like with my podcast work product, practice makes progress. And that's all you can hope for. Driving along Mt. Holly-Huntersville Road, I once again passed Assurance United Methodist Church. It's only 6.7 miles and 12 minutes from my house. I really enjoy the services, the clergy, and the congregants. So why is it that I can't seem to make my way there on any Sunday morning? The people there made us feel welcome. In fact, the last time we attended, one of the ushers brought the Communion bread and wine to Celia before she had her first hip replacement surgery. They even insisted that I stay in my seat while they brought the ceremony to me as well. So, again I ask, why is it that I can't seem to make my way there on any Sunday morning? And while I'm posing questions, what does my not attending church have to do with my Descant MMG Blog? Alot more than you would think. I apologize for constantly repeating myself, but I just can't help myself. As you may know, from February 2019 until June 2020, I wrote a companion blog to my first podcast titled “From Grievance to Gratitude”. I had a blast writing the over 50 weekly posts, only pausing while I recovered from Congestive Heart Failure. Not only did I enjoy writing the blog, but a lot of people also enjoyed reading it. And that includes my own son, Kenny. In fact, he told me that he learned more about his father from those posts than from any other source of information. As far as promotion, other than mention the blog on each of the episodes of my podcast, I posted a link on Facebook and Twitter. I got a number of Likes, Shares, and Comments in response to my posts. All were positive. So, what went wrong? I'm just speculating here, but I suspect I unknowingly failed to toe the company line. It seems like there is a call and response mantra that must be recited when signing off for the weekend. Instead of saying it, I committed the unpardonable sin of telling my “friends” to have a great weekend. I should have known that I did something wrong when I got very little “Likes” to my posting. If that didn't warn me, than maybe the growling emoji posted by one of my “friends” should have. Those actions didn't faze me because I don't value myself by the activity my social media presence generates. I didn't immediately put two and two together, but I recall that the very next week I tried to post a link to my blog post, I got a message from Facebook saying that my website was blocked because I violated some Community Standards. What the hell is that? I never use profanity in my posts. I never posted anything controversial. And I never went to war with anyone on any social media platform. To this day, all I typically do on those platforms is to post links to my podcast episodes, wish my friends a Happy Birthday, and Like posts where they trumpet their most recent accomplishments. I know, I'm boring that way. So, I wrote to Facebook asking for an explanation as to why I couldn't post links to my website, as well as searched Google for similar stories and possible solutions. Since Facebook has almost 3 billion active users, I wasn't surprised that I didn't get a response from them. But I still wanted to know why. In the meantime, I still had words, sentences, and paragraphs running around in my head and needed a way to get them out into the world. So, I continued to write my blog on my website and only post links to Twitter. When it dawned on me that Facebook's ban wasn't going to be lifted, I had the bright idea to create another blog on another website. This time, I decided not to post blog links on Facebook. That seemed to do the trick. Creating the new website was the best thing I could have possibly done. The site looks and functions much better than the old one. In fact, I'm ebarrassed to even look at the old one when I have to go back there for any reason. Since I don't post links to my blog on Facebook any longer, I had nearly forgotten about the problems I had with them. That was until I did some online research on an unrelated matter. It seems as though you can be in violation of Facebook's Community Standard if any user lodges a random complaint about your content. Only then that things begin to add up. Like I said earlier, when I posted a benign “have a great weekend”, I was met with radio silence. No big deal. But couple that with the growling emoji and the blockage the very next week and I realized that someone refused to take my slight lying down. LMAO. Before I go any further, I must to insist that my grievances are tongue in cheek. I really don't care if someone narc'd me out to Facebook for saying the wrong thing. I spent over thirty years living outside the boat, living through the ups and downs of secular life. I didn't reappear on the scene as some sort of Prodigal Son, showing up in tatters after hitting rock bottom. I am the same person as I was in 1987. I still make mistakes, but not the same dumb ones. I still try to be kind and respectful. I guess you can say that I am older and wiser. Instead of verbally lashing out when I feel like I'm under attack, I'm more likely than not to write down my thoughts. Those thoughts soon became blog posts, and I felt relieved. Still do. Again, I ask, what does my not attending church have to do with my Descant MMG Blog? Nothing and everything. I still remember the warmth and joy of fellowship that comes from communing. There's nothing quite like it. It's the same feeling I get when I visit my favorite 12-Step meeting. I also remember the pain of rejection and abandonment that comes when you violate the canons. Since they can't arrest or sue you for any infractions, shunning is their most powerful weapon. I used my first blog as an exercise in soul cleansing. Without naming names, I got a lot of things off of my chest. One of those things was my disgust for the ritualistic components of not just the religion I practiced, but religion in general. Moving forward, I promise to be more cautious with my social interactions. When it comes to church attendance, I will sit in the back of the sanctuary. And I will not volunteer for any choirs or committees. As for my blog, I will continue to write it, but I will not post links to the blog on social media, or anywhere the faithful can see it. You only have to ban me once. Parting Shots I've made plenty of mistakes speaking my truth. I do suffer from chronic foot-in-mouth disease. It's like they say that just because we enjoy free speech protection, we just can't stand up in a movie theater and yell “FIRE”. Nor should we want to. Speaking of mistakes, my first YouTube video adapted from my “News, Notes & More” blog post is full of them. In fact, I can predict that the first dozen or so videos will be garbage. But that's not going to stop me from proceeding. As long as I do my best to kindly tell the truth, I can live with the technical screw ups. That's the only way to improve. Today's Quote “Just put your best foot forward and hope for the best. You also have to acknowledge that you're going to make mistakes.” Damon Lindelof – Award Winning American Screenwriter |
About the HostKenneth E. Boone, Sr. is a writer, podcaster, music lover, sports enthusiast, and retired accountant. Archives
May 2024
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