Spirited Man: We Are In A "FOURTH TURNING," What Does That Mean?

 

[VIDEO] Van Neistat is the brother of one Casey Neistat. Before I ever discovered Casey, there was a documentary show called The Neistat Brothers which aired for one season on HBO. Basically they were doing YouTube videos on premium cable long before Casey made a name for himself on YouTube. Casey and Van are longtime filmmakers and both have taken the YouTube plunge.

Van is a more recent phenomenon and I should've shared this video with you when it was first posted. Van was talking about this book which is called The Fourth Turning. Basically it asserts that what we're experience or have experienced occurs in 80 year cycles. We go through calm periods and then suddenly we're in periods of conflict. And it seems we're in a period of conflict right now.

I really like the idea of Gen X being the nomad generation of fixers. The other descriptions of younger generations as artists or heroes could also be apt for those generations. Time will tell if they will live up to that, right now we need the fixers and of course as time goes on the hero and artist generation will hopefully leave a more peaceful society.

Regardless I need to do more of what Van - The Spirited Man - does which is read. This book seems up my alley for sure. 

Enjoy.

BTW, I haven't posted a lot because life happens. Often when I go to my job I carry a laptop for my own personal use and unfortunately it's been acting up on me. Goal is to get it fixed and get back onto my irregular schedule for this blog.

Update

I've reactivated the "Beta" version of this blog. I hope to do more mobile pics and share more entertainment based items on that blog. Perhaps you will see more wrestling there and hopefully more movies. I want to keep this blog for more news, political, history, or certainly more serious purposes.

I still want to be more creative for the new My Mind's Eye blog, however, I feel as if I won't be as creative there for now. Perhaps you'll see more of my YouTube videos there, or perhaps you might see them at the "Beta"

Origin: When Blogger had their own Beta version of Blogger not long after the purchase by Google in about 2006-07 I started such a blog back then. I get bored with the concept and choose to delete it though brought it back years later. However Blogger Beta, eventually became Blogger itself and at some point there was no need for a Beta blog.

Now I'm still trying to figure out the purpose of a "Beta". Hopefully i found a formula though this blog itself isn't updated as often as it used to be. Let's feel this out! 

My Mind's Eye

Was the name of two blogs that I had started since I've been blogging. One of the state purposes of at least the first iteration was more creative with the usage of images.

The first iteration was my favorite as Blogger had evolved and I used a special template called "live journal" for that blog. It featured a very simple layout a menu in the top left corner that expanded depending upon the function such as home, links, archive, etc. Of course back then if you want to update the blog you had better know html code to be able to customize accordingly.

Also you had a link for a permalink at the bottom and a time which was usually with the title at the top of the post. It was a very simple layout that allowed me to share whatever video or image I needed to share.

The second iteration was just about similar even if I had to ultimately evolve with the times. I also didn't devote a lot of attention to it and it seems when I did give it some update it was only for fits and starts. Either way I have a new idea for that name.

Stick with the idea of creativity in whatever form it may take. Perhaps it will be with images and certainly with video. And I have an idea for a future YouTube video and I don't expect it to be too creative just try to hone my skills in that area. Besides I've said this a while ago, my goal is to really just get started and see where it goes.

The title of that video or series of videos as it were is, My Mind's Eye. That name will have a purpose.

Is predictability the key to good blogging?

John G. Shedd Public School: Is predictability the key to good blogging?

I posted this to the Shedd School blog earlier this summer. I as a policy atttempt to post at consistent times there and at The Sixth Ward. Not that I heard much feedback on it, but at least anyone who continues to read the blog will know when to see the latest post.

Unfortunately I don't always follow that rule. Sometimes I don't always have a post on the ready and sometimes the post comes later than I'd like.

So often when I do find the opportunity to post here most of the posts here are random and perhaps for a time that needs to stop. Another thing is what can I post here that'll interest people.

A lot of posts have been wrestling and although I consider this blog a hobby, never mind the ads I installed here last year, I've posted about whatever interests me at any given moment. Perhaps I'll get back to some of the things that got this blog noticed.

Meanwhile unlike a lot of things I've done online over the years I want to put some thought into it and then execute. And at least for here it means post more consistently and predictably.

Meanwhile over at Shedd School blog I shared a video about a man's trip into New Orleans. Check that out when you get an opportunity.

Gun rights and a future free speech page

I've got a gun rights page on this blog and am working on a page for free speech here as well. Question is what else should I add on those pages? Should they include US Supreme Court rulings? Perhaps information on attacks on gun and free speech rights? Not sure where to start other than providing bare minimum information that I hope would be helpful to those looking for information on those particular subjects.

For my free speech page I plan to use the free speech page at Electric Moleskine as a template also!

Since I missed a few days of posts...

I working on my laptop away from Chicago, and will be doing so again next week when I will be posting a series of scheduled posts. However since I'm not on a blogger vacation yet, perhaps I can bang out some posts since I missed a few days this week. Perhaps I'll make up some time for that. :)

Vlogging

YouTube.com

 Over the years I've written about those videoblogs that have been created over the years. These days videoblog aren't just blogs set up to exhibit videos now it's a YouTube channel. YouTube channels have grown in prominence over the years to the point where there's currently some activity on my YouTube channel.

There are some videos being posted that are more current and lately I wanted to upload some footage from my 2016 vacation on Amtrak's Southwest Chief to Los Angeles, California with jaunts to Las Vegas, Nevada and Grand Canyon, Arizona. Nothing groundbreaking or exciting just forcing myself to share some of the memories I created for myself over the years. That means I don't expect many of those videos to go viral.

To share these videos I may post some of them here though I had created a blog for that purpose to show photos and videos the new My Mind's Eye. Perhaps I'll have a feed in the sidebar - to replace the space a Feedjit widget used to take up - so that you can see what's new there although nothing much has been new there for a while.

I suppose you can say although I do have a YouTube channel I still want to create a platform similar to those long ago vlogs that I used to be a fan of. Of course I wanted to do some of the stuff they did, however, I feel as if I lack the talent and patience for editing. And the same for being creative like creating title cards or watermarks. Perhaps I'll get there and do all of those things the best way I knew how, just bear in mind this "blogmaster" is not a professional videographer.

As of late I have been using my iPhone to record videos (I've owned three generations of iPhones since 2012). Since 2015 I have utilized Olloclip to shoot photos and videos that have greatly enhanced my snapshots and videos. I should show you the difference between wide-angles, fish eye, or telephoto and then just use the lense on my iPhone that isn't enhanced.

Since about 2007 or 2008 I've also owned a mini-DV Sony Camcorder and from that time to now I see how firewire has fallen out of favor. If I owned the new generations of digital camcorders (or as I've learned I could just find a good still camera to shoot video) I could just used a simple USB process to upload video to a PC. As of now I have to figure out how to upload video from my mini-DV tapes without firewire.

Another thing I would like to do is find some editing software. Perhaps edit footage from my mini-DV tapes or edit iPhone videos. Now that I have a Windows 10 machine they don't seem to have a native complimentary video editing program that Windows machines from XP to Vista would provide. Even then those complimentary programs won't recognize an iPhone video which are typically MP4 or MOV.
  
I have some work to do on this but with some time or patience and a willingness to learn my YouTube channel will be a lot more active than it used to be. It doesn't matter to me if I don't get 100K subscribers and get that nice plaque and congrats from someone at YouTube. Just post for my own enjoyment and see what happens.

Updates

Last month I finally did something that probably should've been done years ago. I installed ads on this blog, and that means passive income. Google ads has made money for me over at The Sixth Ward.

To be fair, it's also a good idea for me to consider installing Amazon ads. Just sign up for their program and on occasion just promote them. I don't really promote Google ads enough even at The Sixth Ward.

If you're a supporters click on an ad in the sidebar and under the first two posts. I'll make some money when you do! :P

No more Feedjit

This is what you see on Feedjit's homepage. They ran this application as a not-for-profit. It was cool to see the traffic roll in. Too bad that some of the best aspects of it was rolled back for example I could log-in as an admin and keep your IP from registering. Either way sometimes things just come to an end and this is one of them!

Black History Month

I'm sorry that I hadn't done more this year with regards to Black History Month. Allow me to remind you that history is made everyday, especially Black history. As I'm learning no accomplishment is too small, that said Black history doesn't stop in a month of only 28 or 29 days.

Not only strive to make history everday of a year, also strive to learn more Black history every day of the year. There's always a book to read on this subject. Better yet there's always a movie to watch on Black history, and besides movies are more my speed anyway.

Regardless, February may only be Black history month just remember that it's all year long. This is for every aspect of history, especially American history or world history!

Is it time to use a tipjar?

A few years ago in October 2005 I floated the idea of starting a PayPal account and starting raising money for my blogging activities. In that post years ago I had some ideas:

• I need high speed internet access fund.
• I need a digital camera with focus fund.
• I need a tripod and other equipment fund.
• I need my own webspace fund.
• I need my own computer fund

However it's funny that in 2018, the infrastructure of the internet is so different. Some people have used Amazon where available to score a few extra bucks for example Marathon Pundit. Then there were ads - for example Google Ads which I use at sixthward.us (aka The Sixth Ward blog).

As far as raising money what have I seen out there. Well there's GoFundMe and there's Patreon. If I was more business minded I could create merchandise. Perhaps create a good looking logo for this blog or any of the other blogs I have. Perhaps a pertinent quote or catchphrase or slogan or just one word. Perhaps just emblazon a shirt or ballcap or tote bag with this blog's url.

Then again I could ask anyone to donate bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies. I have seen some blogs out there as for bitcoin for example HeyJackass.com which I had just discovered lately. While cryptocurrencies have experienced some wild ups and downs especially since they're relatively new I also recognize that thanks to this volatility there are some gains to be had with it and of course just as many losses. The main gain is well bitcoin can be cashed out if you're hardpressed for money.

All the same many of these sites or social media content producers that are asking for donations because they have needs. I stated the needs from 2005 though these aren't the needs of 2018 exactly. Many sites or social media producers - which I include YouTubers - mainly ask for your support in the form of monetary donations. I would consider this akin to a tip because you basically liked what was produced for your enjoyment.

Think about it this way you work at a restaurant, you may tip the waiter mainly because you like the service. Certainly another aspect of this is that perhaps you liked the food, of course if you got bad service would you enjoy the food?

Then again even if you just flat out ask for support you have needs. Like any business venture seeking investors of even a loan there are needs. So many people asking for donations or patronage may list the need for books to read (depending upon what their goals are) or equipment (say computers or cameras) or perhaps even webspace or bandwith. I should say in my case if I ask for funds the money could go towards a domain name.

So if I was to ever go these many routes to support my blogging these are the needs for 2018.

• web domain
• equipment such as cameras either for video or photography
• creative software such as wordpress
• computers - whether a laptop or desktop or even some incidentals to keep them working
• i suppose i could have a miscellaneous category perhaps research or even field trips

Let me explain that last one, there are occasions where I do want to visit somewhere and document that place. Say for example over at sixthward.us, perhaps I can spend a day of photography in different parts of the city to see the streetscape. Perhaps give some ideas as to what I would like to see on my part of the south side.

Or for this blog, I've had the idea of say going to Gary, Indiana and documenting their downtown area. See how far that city has gone from their 1960s peak. Or better yet go to Detroit and seeing how far they have fallen from their 1950s peak. Though to be fair I've been to Detroit in 2009. Both would be examples of field trip. Who's to say bloggers should just sit behind a computer and right without visiting places.

Also I may need to refine that miscellaneous part a bit more. Another potential expense are for business cards, my cohorts at sixthward.us are keen on business cards and it's about time. So perhaps another way of gaining exposure you meet people you give them business cards hopefully they check you out and like what they see.

Anyway, I hope you all get the gist. Perhaps this is something worth exploring for the future. This has always been a hobby but who knows it can begin to become more of a side hustle at some point.

Set up a railcam page on this blog

Flagstaff, AZ July 2016

This is one of the few times you will see a page here. Just think back in 2005 when I starnted this blog the thought of pages would've been unthinkable. In fact pages weren't available until 2010 so for quite a while pages were unthinkable.

Anyway, I wanted to share two live cams on this page which is to be called - Railcam. A service called Virtual Railfan has a YouTube channel that features several livecams around the country for the benefit of railfans who like to watch trains roll by.

Because I like to see Amtrak trains I chose the two cities from where these webcams operate - La Plata, Missouri & Flagstaff, Arizona - because these are the two stops for Amtrak's Southwest Chief (SWC). On the page you can expect to find a schedule for the SWC and a train tracker also. Both will help you determine when you'll see SWC trains arrive at these respective stations.

My two SWC trips were 11 years apart in 2005 & 2016. They both were memorable trips as it's not often that I see the great plains, the prairie, and the southwest desert. The most memorable and unique in all the years I've taken the train occurred in 2016

In 2016 after arriving in LA at the architecturally significant LA Union Station we stayed in the LA area for no more than two days before moving on to Las Vegas by bus. This was part of the plan by my family and actually there was no plan we were planning it as we go. After at least two nights in Las Vegas we left for the Grand Canyon.

We spent the day at the Grand Canyon having arrived there via a tourbus and then from there we spent the night in Flagstaff, Arizona. We got on board a westbound SWC in the wee hours of the morning to return home.

While I don't want to ever not have a plan to go from city to city on vacation - i.e. Las Vegas or Grand Canyon - this is something I'm looking forward to in the near future. Especially if I can afford a sleeper onboard the train.

Updates for February

This month my goal is to fit at least a whole month of posts. So this is February so I can shoot for at least 28, but who knows perhaps you might see at least 30 or so posts here. It's been a while since this blog can claim so many posts during any given month here.

As it happens there may be a break perhaps only Sundays for the most part. That's what I did last month at www.sixthward.us took Sunday off and took a few days off around New Year's. And at that published 35 posts there last month. Found things to post about too.

What helped? Chris Kennedy - who's running for the Democrat nomination for Illinois governor - made comments about Strategic Gentrification. Then there were the issues regarding President Obama's library. Finally a story regarding a shooting in Chicago's Burnside neighborhood.

What will help me keep up my pace for posting in February? Time will tell although bear in mind this is also Black History Month and I already wrote one post about that on Friday.

My Mind's Eye is back!

Though in a different iteration I've brought back My Mind's Eye. I had shut down the original currently dubbed The Eye! just about 10 years ago because I had believed the concept had run it's course.

While I seem to be on a meme kick as of late, hopefully you will see some of the photos taken on my iPhone and some original videos also shot on my iPhone. Perhaps some other creative endeavors will be shown there as well. Time will only tell.

Been sitting on this since blog September of 2014. A prominent photo there is of a huge donut that you can get at Dat Donut on 83rd & Cottage Grove. Nifty thing and certainly one donut that can be shared with more than one person.

This is probably going to be a relatively easy blog to maintain aside from the videography as most of the photos and memes will just be e-mailed to this blog. Furthermore the other part of the work here is that when I get to a computer there will be further edits and formats before publishing.

Reactivated an old project...

At some point in the last 7 or so years I started an Instapundit like blog called Electric Moleskin. I've always considered this blog a flagship and hopefully it will continue to be. However, I don't write here as often as I'd like and on top of that I want to really use this space to flesh out some opinions on national issues.

It'll be more important here than on E.M. where hopefully I can just do quick links about the news of the day. It just forces me to keep an eye on a variety of current events. Although my initial idea was to just focus as much on Black issues as I can.

One of those issues you will see is the sudden failure of the Chicago-based Black-owned Seaway National Bank. Something I wrote about often enough on my other major blog, The Sixth Ward.

Happy new year

I know at this point it's now 5 days into 2016. While I wrote a lot about my job hunting frustration in 2014 things have settled down the past 13 months or so have been filled with a small amount of setbacks to great beginnings. What I hope for in this new year is a continuance of my good fortune.

I also wish the same for many of you who continue to read this blog although it seems I haven't devoted enough attention that has been seen in the past.

It's now Christmas Eve

You know I think this is time for break although this blog hasn't really seen furious posting at all this year. And for sure there will be a break for this weekend and I'll fill you in as to what's going on this weekend.

BTW for the winter, it's now snowing on this blog. It's also snowing over at my Shedd School blog. In fact, I made it happen there first and now it works here as well.

I hope you all have a safe and merry Christmas.

I need to get like Newsalert...

They just announced having 3 million unique users. Not sure I would want that much attention here, but hey it just shows that you have to know what you're doing to get that many people to put their eyes on your site. He thanked many bloggers for their help in getting his blog to 3 millions viewers. BTW, I could only wish I was like Instapundit one of the most well viewed blogs on the web!

Also I feel like this blog almost resemble the Taxing Tennessee blog. Alas it stopped posting in January of this year, however, it seems to be with the same purpose as this one. I have ideas although perhaps the blogmaster there digs much, much deeper into the issues that I usually do.