Category: Blogosphere

Update

~ susie ~ 2 Comments

So my right arm, shoulder, neck and hand are really shot. (Oh, and I have arthritis in both thumbs.) Constant pain, weakness, getting tests. (It did not help that WordPress “updated” the site again, and I now have to make three additional movements to get the things done I used to do with one movement. Why male techies are so bad with ergonomics, I have no idea. By the way, because I have been such a fanatic about that sort of thing, I have never had carpal tunnel. Most of my problems originate from herniated discs in my neck.)

person using gray laptop computer
Photo by Mimi Thian on Unsplash

Anyway, I absolutely have to minimize how much I do, and since I get paid to post at the other site, that’s got to be my priority.

What are the things you want and need from this site? What do you look for when you come here? Please, be specific. Do you want the constant doom scrolling, or nah? According to my stats, I average about 300 visitors a day. Also according to my stats, no one clicks on the story links. (The highest amount I’ve seen in weeks is eight clicks on a story.)

What about the music? Do I need to post this many? Should I seek out new music, or just stick to oldies?

Please let me know in the comments.

R.I.P. Kevin Drum

~ susie

Kevin was a really smart guy — and occasionally criminally obtuse. (See “Where Are All The Women Bloggers?”)

But you couldn’t take flubs like that too seriously, because he really was genuinely nice and thoughtful.

I met him and his wife Marian years ago when I was visiting a friend on the West Coast, and they volunteered to play host for a gathering of bloggers. I remember it was the first time I met Arianna Huffington, who introduced herself as a “huge fan of your work,” and then I heard her ask someone else who I was. Ha, ha!

Anyway, Kevin frequently brought needed facts to the discussions, and he will be missed.

Winter fund drive

~ susie

A few reasons you should donate to my winter fund drive:

  • It’s going to be quite a heating bill this month.
  • My car’s exhaust system has a leak that I can’t afford to fix just yet ($1000+) because I’m still paying off the $700 bill for the state inspection I put on my credit card last month. It’s really cold out but my mechanic says I have to drive with the window cracked, anyway.
  • I urgently need to see a dentist. It’s been 10 years. I assume you don’t need gruesome details.

And in the age of the Mango Mussolini, life is extremely stressful. You get to walk away; I don’t. Obviously, I need another job. I’m still looking but so far, no dice.

If you value the context I bring to these times, please send some of your hard-earned dollars my way. Your support keeps me going.

Venmo: @Susan-Madrak-1

Or you can donate to Paypal here.

Thanks!

Fall fund drive

~ susie

I got some, shall we say, challenging news last month when one of my part-time gigs slashed my monthly pay — as in, several hundred dollars less. As you can imagine, it’s a big hit and I’m in no position to handle a full-time job until I’m feeling better.

I don’t know what you like about this site, but I have to assume it has some value to you, or you wouldn’t keep coming back. So if you can donate (or even better, sign up for a monthly subscription), it would be much appreciated during this difficult time. Thanks!

Remembering Jim Capozzola

~ susie ~ 1 Comment

Who died on July 2, 2007. He was the man behind the late Rittenhouse Review.

There was one blogger (I can’t even remember who) who really hated him. “Just give me time,” Jim would tell me. “I’ll turn him around.”

If he was here, I know he’d have something brilliant yet kind to say about a particular closeted Republican leader. He felt sorry for those who were still in the closet — but he also thought it twisted them into a knot that turned them in to religious fanatics.