Blogging | Piss and Moan

Pardon me

Posted on May 28, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Pardon me, but your agenda is showing.

Some companies are good at hiding it. Others not so much. Some blatantly censor content (Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube), some do not. Some quietly push a liberal agenda and some quietly push a conservative agenda (though this is becoming more rare).

If you take a look at the Discover feed, here on WordPress (parent company Automattic), you will see that over time their agenda is beginning to show. It isn’t about highlighting good content, though it may be to some, it’s about highlighting only one side of the content – that which fits their agenda.

Thus, I have found myself skipping Discover because there isn’t necessarily good writing or salient points of view, just agenda. A confirmation bias of politically correct, social “justice” agenda. I wanna see ALL points of view. I wanna see ALL manners of opinion. I wanna see an agenda-less feed of good writing, art, history, politics, food, humor, entertainment, DIY, outdoors, and hobbies.

Is that too much to ask?

People are ugly

Posted on May 7, 2019 by backuphill

I have debated and debated with myself about sharing this comment from one of my blogs because, really, should something like this really see the light of day? But, after much contemplation, I have decided that exposure is better.

Simply put, people are ugly. Discrimination is ugly. Hate is ugly. Discrimination and hate goes both ways. It isn’t just an issue for certain backgrounds, heritages, or colors.

Behind the scenes, I have been trying to get Google/Gmail to do something with the email account this comment came from. So far, crickets. Haven’t gotten a response in user forums and can’t find a place to be able to report abuse from such an account. Interestingly, the tech giants are eager to silence some opinions, voices, points of view, but not others.

Anyway, it’s pretty clear to see from the user info that the intent of the email account is to harass a certain demographic of the population, but also to hide behind the anonymity of the internet. Oh, but there is an IP address, so not really all that “secret” if someone has the means track them via that method.

Oh, and the comment will probably shock you. Actually, it probably won’t. If you have an opinion on anything and have a blog, you’ve probably run into some of these ugly people in your comments section, provided you allow comments. I have noticed some blogs don’t allow for comments. I can only assume it is for the reasons seen below:

Kind of makes your stomach turn, doesn’t it? Even if it isn’t shocking. Do you take it as harassment? A threat? Both? Or do you pass it off as some ugly, unhappy person sitting in their elderly mom’s basement leaching off her social security and spending time trolling people all day?

At the end of the day, I know not all people are ugly. But, unfortunately, there are more ugly people than pleasant people. Well, maybe that isn’t even true. I guess what I am trying to say is that the small minority of ugly people make a lot more noise than pleasant people, thus we end up hearing more about ugly people than pleasant people.

So, pleasant people, go out there and make one person’s day by doing something for them that make a bright spot in their day. Heck, even smiling at someone can make their day better. Try it.

Have you had a comment like the one above? What do you do it if you have? Do you delete and ignore, engage and respond with kindness, or something else?

WordPress scheduled post delay

Posted on May 1, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by rawpixel.com on Pexels.com

A schedule is a good thing and it helps to plan ahead when you know you are busy. So, writing a blog entry ahead of time and then scheduling it to post on the appropriate day and time is great, except…

Anyone notice that your scheduled entries aren’t posting at the designated time? Like you said you wanted it to post at 8:00am but notice the time comes around and you still haven’t gotten notification that it has posted. 30 minutes later you’re thinking to yourself, Did I set the wrong time? Did I choose the wrong day?

When you go to check then you get a notification that it has posted. Sometimes that notification, at least for me, doesn’t even come until I get to the actual blog entry to see what was wrong with it.

Here’s the thing, WordPress can’t tell me it was posted and I just didn’t get the notification because there are times I will look at my Reader and my post doesn’t show up there. I scroll and scroll to make sure I didn’t miss it – it’s not there! I got to my blog page and it isn’t there either. That’s when I go straight to the blog entry to actually force it to post.

I have to say it is rather irritating.

Why do I have to do this if I have set a time? Is anyone else experiencing this?

What the heck, WordPress?

Posted on April 25, 2019 by backuphill

Are you like me and logged in this morning to find something different with your WordPress account? Maybe the layout is different? The Sidebar on the left is missing stuff?

Looks like WordPress has made change to the organization of the sidebar and I DON’T LIKE IT!

In the “cleaning up” process, they actually created more clicks for users to start a post. It went from one to three because an “Add Post” button is now buried in the menu.

This sucks. Stop changing stuff and put it back!

Thanks, but no thanks on this one.

Win a prize!

Posted on March 15, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

OK, guys, here’s your chance to win a prize!

I have a great give away lined up for you. Make sure you read all the way to the end (no cheating!) to see what you get. The rules are easy and there are only 12 steps!

First the rules:

Like this blog post.
Follow this blog, if you haven’t already.
Like three other blogs with the word “Loop” in the title.
Stand up if you are sitting; sit if you are standing.
Pat your head and rub your tummy.
Follow EVERYONE, and I mean everyone, I am following.
Stand in front of the house/building doing “The Crane” pose from Karate Kid for a total of 4 minutes (if you don’t know what that is, watch Karate Kid first. Oh, and wear pants if necessary).
Buy charcoal toothpaste.
Brush vigorously with said toothpaste until you foam at the mouth – take a selfie and post in the comments.
Find a dine-in pizza place, walk by a table with a pizza one it, and take THREE pieces of pepperoni off the pizza. Tell table occupants those were tainted and eat them.
Thank a police officer and a member of the armed services.
Leave a pic of the shocked pizza restaurant faces after you ate their pepperoni in the comments.

*If you completed steps 1, 2, 3, 6, & 11, I thank you and so do other random bloggers.

*If you completed steps 4, 5, 8, & 9 then you are a moderately rational person.

* If you completed 7, 10, & 12 – well, you need help.

*If you completed all the steps above, thank you. You’re also an idiot.

The Prize

You probably didn’t do any of these things (OK, hopefully at least #1 & #2), so the prize is the satisfaction of knowing you don’t fall for these stupid “follow loops” to win prizes like other social media people. Good job! Pat yourself on the back.

Anyone else annoyed by these things? It seems to be the trend on Instagram right now.

Like a wrecking ball

Posted on March 4, 2019 by backuphill

trump-1

Anyone else feel like they hit a wall the moment they left the bed?

The urge to return to the warm confines of the sheets and just melt back into the mattress was very strong this morning.

MONDAY came in like a wrecking ball. It never hit so hard…

*There ya go, get that little ditty outta your head now*

You’re welcome, and unhappy Monday to you too.

Now, where is my intravenous coffee pot?

Useless feedback

Posted on February 12, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

We have probably all been there at one time or another with our jobs. Those instances where the boss, or someone else, gives you some feedback on your job/project/presentation/training and it is utterly useless.

Thanks, XXXXX. If only your input made any difference to me at all.

I have a Teachers Pay Teachers site where I sell materials I created over my 15 years in the classroom. Some things are simple worksheets and some thing are more involved lessons or units. Side hustle? Yes. Gonna get rich doing it? Definitely not. I know some people are making good money on/from the site, but no me.

One really irritating thing that happens when someone buys an item is that they are supposed to leave feedback. Now, obviously, this isn’t a requirement but it is highly suggested. What I have found more times than not, is that those who leave feedback offer nothing valuable. Wanna know the most common “feedback” left on the site?

Thank you.

Now, how in any way is that valuable feedback? Why even bother? Why not just leave it blank?

TpT needs to have a minimum number of characters for feedback. Do you think maybe people could leave a comment that is say, at least 140 characters? Seems reasonable. Get it together TpT! Let’s find a way to make the comments a little more valuable.

How about you? Do you have an instance where you got utterly useless feedback? Tell me about it in the comments.

I’m not done loving you

Posted on February 8, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by burak kostak on Pexels.com

I am sorry. Your once forgiving ways have slowly diminished over the years and it is time for us to part. The way you met my needs was unparalleled, unselfish. We worked together so well, it was like you were a part of me. I wasn’t done loving you, but I think you were done loving me. I’ll never hold another like I held you. I’ll never watch over another like I have watched over and protected you. I’ll never look at another like I have looked at you. You will be missed, but not forgotten.

Ever had one of those experiences you just wish you could take back? An instance of regret as you dispose of something you have loved for a long time?

Do you have favorite items you just can’t bear to let go of because they are worn out?

I had that experience a few days ago.

My favorite mechanical pencil has finally decided it doesn’t want to hold an eraser. The mechanical part (lead dispenser) works just fine. But the eraser. The eraser kept falling out and I couldn’t patch it any longer to make it stay. As soon as I had to erase something, it would just fall out. I am not perfect, so having the ability to erase is kinda of big deal. So, now, after 10 years of using this pencil I was faced with a choice.

Do I continue to use it and get an eraser that isn’t attached to the pencil? Then I would have to keep track of two things…OR, do I just bite the bullet and toss it – moving on to my next favorite pencil?

If you read the first paragraph, you know the outcome of this love story. It is a sad story.

So, what favorite item did you hate to get rid of but were forced to? Tell me what it was and why in the comments!

Choices vs. Choices

Posted on February 7, 2019 by backuphill

There are days were choices are just hard. It’s always this versus that. Me versus them. Us versus them. Me versus that.

So today, the choices seemed harder than most days:

Get up, work out, have a fabulous body (some day, because it isn’t right now).

Stay in the warm, comfy bed and sleep more.

Effort and exertion versus rest, comfort, and warmth.

Dang it.

Fine.

I got up.

But I hated it.

Stupid choices.

Why can’t we just have both?

Choices suck.

Stir the crazy

Posted on February 6, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by Kaboompics .com on Pexels.com

In the PNW, we have had cold and snow and ice. Reality check = it doesn’t look like it will let up any time soon. The overnight lows are high teens and daytime highs are mid thirties. Yes, I realize those aren’t polar vortex numbers, but for our area this is cold and it doesn’t usually last this long, nor does it give the prospect of lasting long.

Anyway, my job affords me the opportunity to telecommute (you know this already) and I have taken advantage of that since driving with stupid people (more so than typical days) isn’t my thing (I’ve mentioned this already this week too).

That being said, I think I might be going a bit stir crazy. Cabin Fever. “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” kind of crazy. I haven’t left the house since Sunday evening. My interaction with others has been limited to those in the house and those I can communicate with at work, via Skype, Zoom, text, and email.

While I haven’t hacked my way through a door with an ax, yet, I think I will venture out this afternoon and try some human interaction before the next wave of snow and ice comes this weekend.