You Can Take The Boy Out Of Ohio But You Can’t Take The Ohio Out Of The Boy

in #life4 years ago (edited)

A True Dilemma

Like seemingly everyone else on planet Earth, we watched Social Dilemma earlier this week on Netflix. I thought I realized how intrusive mainstream social media was in your lives but I had no idea how bad it really was. I was appalled at the devious ways in which these companies are manipulating their users.

Companies like Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, and Twitter are not only hacking our brains but they’ve created a channel for anyone with enough money to exert tremendous influence across entire countries, even influence elections and incite civil unrest.

The crypto-community tends to be far ahead of the curve when it comes to online privacy concerns but I suggest you all to watch Social Dilemma. Even if you consider yourself knowledgeable on the subject it’s a great refresher course.


“Technology doesn’t have a Hippocratic oath. So many decisions that have been made by technologists in academia, industry, the military, and government since at least the Industrial Revolution have been made on the basis of “can we,” not “should we.” And the intention driving a technology’s invention rarely, if ever, limits its application and use.” ― Edward Snowden, Permanent Record


I have a huge dilemma of my own. I want to delete my Facebook and Twitter accounts. I hesitate because, as a self-published author, so much of the success of my writing career is based on my ability to reach readers. Until I can think of an alternative, at the very least, I’ll be turning off all notifications these apps generate.

Definitely, put Social Dilemma on your watchlist.

Mic Check, One-Two. Is This Thing On?

Is it just me or have you noticed a HUGE drop in engagement here on Hive lately?

I've been around long enough to realize these things are cyclical and people tend to take breaks when the currency price is down but I'm beginning to get a little concerned.

You Can Take The Boy Out Of Ohio But You Can’t Take The Ohio Out Of The Boy

There are certain foods I start to crave as the autumn air gets cooler. One of them is chili. I’ve made Cincinnati-style chili for decades but never followed a recipe so it turned out a little different every time.

I was turned onto this style of chili when I worked in a coney restaurant, Boardwalk Coney Island, while in high school during the mid-1980’s in Columbus, Ohio. The owner of the restaurant, a Greek man named Pete Smerles, made the most delicious chili and coney sauce I’ve ever eaten. The restaurant is long gone but the memory of how good the food was stays with me.


“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” ― J.R.R. Tolkien


The chili took him days to make (yes days) and now I know why. I’ve been searching for a while to find a decent recipe and finally did. I made this recipe a few days ago and it was a keeper. This was as close to Pete’s chili as I've ever tasted and brought back a flood of good memories. I would encourage you all to try it. You wouldn’t think cinnamon would be good in chili but it really is. To eat it in the true Ohio-style you have to ladle the chili over spaghetti noodles and top it with copious amounts of raw onion and sharp cheddar cheese.

Rediscovering My Inner Handyman

Covid-life has given us nothing but time. Lately, I’ve been trying my best to get caught up on my honeydo list. Back when we were homeowners I used to like puttering around and fixing things but since we moved into the condo there’s not as much opportunity for it.

We’ve had a cupboard door hinge that was coming loose for a while and after close inspection I noticed the hole the hinge screw was seated in was stripped out. A good friend of mine let me in on a secret (thanks, Romeo).

All you have to do is put a few match sticks and a little wood glue in the stripped-out hole, let it dry overnight, then cut the matchsticks flush with the cabinet. Then, the screw will stay securely in place. Score! It’s now as good as new.

Mindful Moments: Perfecting The Pause - Book Update

Beta Reading
Done.

Illustrations
Nearly Done. Ophelia only has two or three illustrations left. They’ve all been phenomenal.

Next Steps
The meditation sections of each chapter were revised this week to make them all unique. I heavily revised the first chapter, Two Week Media Detox to include more about social media. I also scaled the two week timespan down to a single week because I felt it would be more actionable.

I’ve also sent the working manuscript to the book designer for him to begin his layout and cover work. We should have a completed book within the next 3-4 weeks if all goes as planned!

Now, to finalize the book launch plans.

That’s all for now. Enjoy your weekend everyone!

With Gratitude,

Eric Vance Walton

(Gifs sourced from Giphy.com, all photos are original)


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I am an American novelist, poet, traveler, and crypto-enthusiast. If you’ve enjoyed my work please sign up for my author newsletter at my website. Newsletter subscribers will receive exclusive updates and special offers and your information will never be sold or shared.

Alarm Clock Dawn, one of the first full length novels published on the blockchain, and the book that started it all for me can be found HERE. Or Click Here to read it for free on the Steemit blockchain

My book on meditation, The Perfect Pause, is priced at $12.99 (paperback) and $4.99 (eBook). Buy the paperback and receive the eBook for free!

Let’s Keep In Touch

www.ericvancewalton.net

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So nice to hear you've made such good progress with your book Eric!
There have been some positive spin-offs from Covid lockdowns and skme of those are:

  • All the men caught up with home repairs and became skilled at DIY jobs.
  • We all became good chefs/ cooks & bakers as restaurants and takeaways were closed or we were doubtful of their Covid sanitation protocols.
  • Vegetable gardens sprung up everywhere
    Etc etc, so it wasn't all bad!
    I had to chuckle when I saw you also got stuck into the food pots and DIY:):)
    As for FB and Twitter, hubby took himself off FB as he got mad when they removed one of his posts,yet other posts that he thought were actually inciting hatred, stayed so it just doesn't make sense!
    I'm not very active there but use it for our little bnb.
    I will look for that documentary, thanks for sharing, and have a good weekend further:)

Thank you! It's been great to actually have have sufficient time set aside for working on the book. I've never had that luxury before. In the past I've had to just work on book projects, here and there, as life dictated.

Those are all great aspects of this past year. I think people are actually spending more time with their families and focusing on their health. We have a friend who lost almost 30lbs and looks 10 years younger after this summer.

I mainly keep Facebook active for the handful of readers who still follow my author page and to keep connected with old friends and family back in Ohio. I wish I could get everyone to join Hive but people are hesitant for some reason. My brother left Facebook about six months ago and he said he's never been happier and more at peace. The political posts really ate away at him.

I hope you had a great rest of your weekend!

You are not the only one to realize this, Eric! Even the rewards have fallen enormously. A publication with 25 may be the most voted publication of the day. I hope good writers stay, like you. I missed your weekly publications this week, although I figured you'd be busy with your book review. Good thing the pictures are almost ready. Did you get someone to do the prologue for your book? I hope so. I also hope you have an excellent weekend. Cheers and take care.

Thank you! I hope the good content creators stay too Nancy! There are many more competitors than their used to be. You’re right, I was working hard this week on the book. I’m so happy with how it turned out. I haven’t found anyone to do the cover quote yet but I haven’t given up hope yet. Enjoy your weekend and I appreciate your comment!

Oh yeah, that match trick is gold. My buddy who owns a handyman business taught me how to do that with toothpicks and I have been using that trick ever since. Great stuff. I haven't really heard about the documentary, but maybe my wife and I will have to give it a watch at some point. Your chili sounds fantastic. I'd probably put it over a hotdog instead of noodles, but that makes sense since I am from Michigan, home of the coney dog! I have been wanting to make some steak chili for a while. I am the only one who would eat it in my house...

I felt such a sense of accomplishment when that match trick worked! Lol. This stuff was made to go over hotdogs. I’ll probably do that when I make another batch. I had no idea Michigan was the home of the coney dog! Were they invented in Detroit?

Actually Flint I think believe it or not. It is probably a highly debated issue between states and cities.

Hmm, interesting bit of trivia there.

Hello dear friend @ericvancewalton good evening
When there is a monopoly and power, these things happen dear friend, it is the law of the juice, if we do not like it, as you well say, we must close our accounts in them. But what do we achieve with those? We are a grain of sand on a great mountain.
Good that you are dabbling in the chili recipe

Those of us who have been around for a long time, and we move on even if there are no compensations or the value is insignificant, we notice these types of behavior, it has always happened and will continue to happen

It's good that your book will be out in a few weeks. congratulations dear friend
I take this opportunity to wish you a wonderful weekend

Yes, it feels like there's so little we can do to change the corporate behemoths for the better. All we can really do is modify our own behavior. It sounds like there's a growing movement within the tech world itself to do a better job at self-regulating. Maybe morality will win?

It's been SO quiet around here these past few weeks. It's reminiscent of 2017 on Steemit after SteemFest 2. I know it'll pick up once the currency starts growing again.

Thanks, my friend. Enjoy your weekend!