DigiSnaxx vol 1
No more updates, everything is DigiSnaxx now; things be gettin' streamlined!
Wow, yea, this feels comfortable; there's quite a bit of debt, and no job ... but I'm treading water for the time being.
I've also got some solid work in the pocket, along with a map I'm content to follow.
DigiSnaxx is a weekly collection of news and musings.
Each week I'll share the articles written for ColombiaReports.com, as well as other articles I think are of note; with a narrative threaded between them.
This may be best viewed in browser, I'm not sure how all of the link-previews will transfer; if they even will transfer ;p
Two articles I really wanted to highlight was the excellent work by 404 Media:
Joseph Cox
And a look at the WordPress connection:
frodo
Long story short, WordPress was famously open-source, and owned by the single person; and that single person finally flipped a switch, causing turmoil.
What was once thought to be for the community, had its proprietary walls raised quickly. Anywho ... WordPress is used by the a near majority of internet websites; and also incredibly vulnerable to hacking.
Lots of free plugins, which means lots of unmaintained software/access points.
So the idea that an app used by US government officials, at the highest level of security, are using WordPress websites ... well ... then, curious.
Colombia Reports
OMG, Colombia's Senate just won a vote to not have a public referendum on an improvement of labor rights in the country, by two votes.
A conservative media outlet published numbers indicating nearly 90% of the population wants a public referendum.
Adriaan Alsema
Writing for Colombia Reports has been fantastic, and an excellent way to stay up to speed on what's happening in the country, and in relation to the rest of the world.
In other news from Colombia, the country is joining China's Belt and Road Initiative, while the president also grants asylum to a convicted money launderer.
And let's not forget about the former president on trial for fraud and bribery allegations, along with the teetering talks with regional militias to lay down their arms.
Oh, I forgot, important context ... the "acting" US ambassador recently "threatened" Colombia for engaging China in trade conversations.
Need to mention the people fighting a South African mining company, I'll try and get an update on them as well.
This next part reads like a telenovela ... President makes May Day speech, brandishes Simon Bolivars sword, and a flag that means "until death, we fight" basically.
Former Foreign Minister, with solid activist credentials, pens an open letter saying that the President is on drugs; apparently dude wrote a second letter as well.
And the President outs the former Minister as being a puppet of US Florida Senator ... anywho; also another former president of the Senate was arrested on corruption charges ... jaja, never a dull moment!
Ok, what else ... the kittens might be off to the adoption center again ... I could cry, or I could recognize that such is life.
Canin Carlos
The LinkedIn Version
Honestly, I'm thankful to be where I am; I feel so much healthier and able to pursue the energy my life seeks to manifest.
Organizational Updates
This website has been reduced to two levels of membership; Snaxx ($96/yr) and MEIC ($3,000).
There are coupons for each, and limited space for MEIC.
I need to start thinking about actually building a business; though I think I've got the first one down to be taking the first steps.
idioke o idioki ?
Either way, the concept already has nearly four months of content outlined.
The deployment plan has been reduced to the most minimum; a WhatsApp Channel and Broadcasts; advertising classes.
The rest is marketing.
Canin Carlos
I moved to Bakata / Bogota, by the way; and so hope to work for/with the local barrio; long story short, more info elsewhere perhaps.
Either way, a few other ideas are brewing, while a small team exists to help pull things off.
MEIC cost $3k ?!
Yea, for those who want to meet for two hours each month, and get direct support on issues of diversity, organization and cross-cultural communication.
There are two other levels, for those who only seek one hour each month ($1500), or for those who just wish to attend weekly conversations twice per month ($540).
These conversations are a place for white males to confront conversations about diversity, with themselves and other white men; yours truly included.
Canin Carlos
My life here in Colombia is once of nearly constant cross-cultural communications; my norms being so different from those of the people around me.
There are places of congruency, it wouldn't work otherwise ... while in this type of life, the lessons learned are lessons meant to be shared.
Though I would like to make a sufficient economy out of the work as well.
The University lawyers contacted me, under suspicion that I might have been a victim of racial discrimination when I was laid off. I tired.
Anywho, this is what a DigiSnaxx will be; oh yo, let's put some music in here as well ... a friend recently released this video, made in collaboration with Praxis Studio out of the Aburra Valley; though Solep is from Cundinamarca.
I've got about four songs with a group here in Bakata called Little Street Records, and another 4+ songs with a group of artists in Antioquia under the banner Oriente Rap.
I'll explain the Bakata thing later.
Oh good lord, and Colombia formally asked to be part of the BRICs economic collective; which again, the US is isolating itself to a very dangerous degree.
While for myself, in retrospect having experience something similar (intentional isolation); to finally be free of it feels to be a form of heaven.
What I really hope to do with this newsletter, and these words, is help people open up their hearts, minds and bodies to new ways of looking at our shared human experience.
I've got quite a few different brands to implement; and a few more conversations I would like to have; the next step being to get the foundation settled for it all.
And so that I think about wraps that up for now; thanks for readin'!
Until the next issue ~ vamos puessh.