As we bring 2024 to a close and reflect on the events of this year, it's all the more important to remain resolute and determined. The new year is going to be one of several that could come with many stressful twists and turns, and some of them could turn dark very fast and very quick. As I mentioned in an earlier journal shortly after the Election, I'm not going to run away or hide from the next day out of fear or get mad and thrash at everything...but I would be lying if I said I wasn't concerned about what the future holds, not just for myself but for all my friends, on here and elsewhere.

Yet I do remember something that was said: "Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light."

Remember that you're not alone in this; that light is closer than you might think...

With that said, what does that do for myself and my future? I'll continue to take it one day at a time; I do have goals beyond simply just "surviving" to the next day. I will continue to grow and improve myself on a lot of fronts, and do my best to be one of those "lights" in the world, even if it's simply just being me in my Twitch Streams.

To a New Year...stay safe everyone!

Hi everyone!

Just wanted to give a heads up that I'll be taking a brief hiatus from streaming because of a mix of a lot of real-life events coming together around this time of year. Normally, I've been able to take things in stride even with my new streaming hobby, but this year, recent and current events have taken a little more out of my energy and productivity than usual, and I simply can't ignore them or get out of them.

It wasn't an easy choice to make given how I have enjoyed streaming and the friends I've made over the last 3 months because of it. The support, advice, and just simply being there to watch have been of great help as well...but there are gonna be times where I need to focus on what I have going on offline and balance that with the creativity I do online. This will definitely be a thing that happens around this time of year, every year, going forward.

Does this mean I'll vanish completely over the next few weeks? No; I'll still be around to socialize with and support other streamers and friends; just that I'll be quietly lurking more than usual as I put more focus on finding a good balance between my annual holiday commitments and my online life, and catching up on personal projects that I don't want to pile up in the background and start a vicious cycle of procrastination and lethargy.

Once things have settled down, I'll be back streaming (hopefully) on December 15th. I hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving, and I'll see you then!

Of late, I've been trying to tamp down on real world drama - politics included - so I can focus on trying to concentrate on taking care of myself when needed and providing yet another place of solace and joy in a world that seems to get more insane by the day. But I feel if I don't say it now, I won't say it at all...

I couldn't really sleep tonight, given what happened with the Election. Where we're going, and what may come to pass...of the feelings that have roiled through me over the last hours, it's been many - anger, disappointment...but yet...the feelings that I was expecting - sadness, despair, fear...they have not gripped my heart as harshly as the twisted knife I felt before the 2016 Election. Maybe it's just a silent acceptance of this new, cruel world? Possibly, seeing how the US has seemingly given in and given up. It truly is a disgusting, sad, pitiful reflection of how careless and weak we as humans can be, and how blind we can be to the larger picture...

...So, then, why am I feeling..."determined"?

Well, I read something from a friend who decided to step out of his comfort zone and touch upon the current situation in his Discord Server...and to some degree, it may apply here and now. It read in part as follows:

"I know that tonight has many of us anxious about the future – myself included. We’re so fortunate to be part of a community that values equality, compassion, and progress, and it’s unsettling to be reminded that these ideals aren’t always the majority view. It’s completely natural and valid to feel disheartened and even scared by what we’re seeing tonight.

I want each of you to know that, no matter the outcome, I am incredibly proud of this community and so grateful to be a part of it. I’m proud of each and every one of you for standing up, being unapologetically yourselves, and showing up with kindness, compassion, and resilience each and every day. The outside world may not always reflect those values, and it may not always embrace what we try to put into it – but what we’ve built here, the way we support each other, and the way we’ve created this space to be our true selves without fear – that’s something nobody can take from us.

When times are tough, it’s more important than ever to lean into our values, to show the world that nothing and no one can dim the acceptance, pride, and overwhelming love we’ve built together. While we can’t control every outcome out there, we can choose how we respond, how we treat each other, and how we protect this space we’ve created.

So tonight and in the days to come, if you’re feeling down, anxious, or afraid, know that you’re not alone. We’re here to lift each other up, to show kindness and compassion, and to stand by our friends. We’re in this together, and we’re here to support each other no matter what happens.

Let’s keep each other close, help one another up, and keep living the values that make this community so special. I’m so proud of you all, of the values you uphold every day, and of this community we’ve built together. Regardless of what happens, this will always be a space for kindness, love, pride, and resilience. We are furry trash and nobody will ever take that from us."

Those words gave solace...but also awoke something inside my heart in the face of the oncoming darkness...

The best way I can describe it? It's like a fire...a blazing one at that...not of anger...but something...positive, like something awoke in me. This feeling inside me doesn't feel like a spur-of-the-moment passion or simple naivete...it does feel genuine...Passion? Determination? Defiance?

Perhaps it is borne of the realization that if I were to just cower back into the closet, hide myself from the world, and simply give up like everyone else, that I would be betraying myself, my words, and everything I believed in and worked towards up to this point.

The rest of the world may have given up, but that doesn't mean we have to. And while the fear, the darkness, and the uncertainty ahead is daunting...I'm not running away. I will continue to press on, get out of bed, dust myself off, and continue to be who I've always been for 30+ years, in the good times and bad.

I will not run from the truth, I will not hide my eyes, I will not cover my ears. I will continue to move forward into the future undaunted...

So...I woke up this morning with a massive headache, and despite some much needed hydration and some pills, it has not broke or diminished.

With that in mind, I'm not confident that there will be a stream today (even if I were to push it back an hour). I'd hate to have lackluster interactions with you (or poor performance in-game) with you guys. I can't provide for a happy place to chat if I'm not feeling my best.

Follow my Twitter/X if you haven't done so if you want the quickest updates from me, including a definitive answer on a stream today.

Stay warm; stay safe, everyone!

So as promised in my last stream of Super Mario 64, I'm gonna switch things up and will be playing the latest game in the Zelda Franchise - Echoes of Wisdom!

Showtime is at 12:00PM CDT/1:00PM EDT with the stream opening up 15 minutes prior.

Details here: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/58364191/

Hope to see you there!

So it is something completely different, and I am still getting my feet wet on this new hobby.

Came to the realization after the fact that I never posted the notification or submission here on FA for my last stream, which does have me wondering how to go about notifying people here ^^;;;

I feel like the easier thing to do would be to follow my BlueSky https://bsky.app/profile/studthekan.....oo.bsky.social and be notified of when I'm about to go live. I usually make a point of posting an hour in advance to give people a heads up (unless I'm not gonna stream for one reason or another then I'd post about it). Obviously the easiest notification would be if you're already following my Twitch Channel and be notified automatically when I go live, setting a 15-Minute Pre-Stream to give people a chance to join.

Still, I do enjoy it even if I'm starting small; it's really a matter of being able to put time aside to do more in terms of editing, say like making Shorts, and putting them on my main YouTube channel.

For those that have been able to watch, I do appreciate the support as I move forward, and I really would like to expand this in the future once I feel more comfy and ready to do so. <3

===UPDATE===
This has been around for quite a bit, but I deleted my Twitter/X (for obvious reasons) and moved over the BlueSky; the above has been edited to reflect that.

Much of the details are listed in the submission here: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/57800217/

But the gist of it is that I will be premiering my first ever stream in less than an hour now on Twitch.tv!

Come join me at https://www.twitch.tv/studthekangaroo to watch me play Metroid Prime Remastered for the Nintendo Switch!

Also follow me on Twitter/X https://x.com/StudtheKangaroo to get notified on when I'm about to go live along with my latest updates to my stream schedule.

Hope to see you then! =3

Hello all!

After some work and more fine tuning, I'm confident enough to move forward with a premier date of August 18, 2024!

For those who haven't, you can follow me on my Twitch channel at https://www.twitch.tv/studthekangaroo , which also has a link to other media channels like YouTube, Twitter/X, and so forth.

I'm very excided to go forward with this, and if all goes well and I get a solid feel for it, I'll consider expanding my streaming schedule or going forward with collabs and other things. That's still VERY early stage, so we'll see what comes!

Hope to see you all there!

Hello everyone!

For as long as I can remember, I have considered getting into livestreaming and streaming some single-player and multiplayer content. I'm not considering going into full-time or even part time content creation as I do have plenty of real life commitments, including a full-time job. So this is more or less a dive into a once-a-week hobby that I would like to experiment with and go from there. I'm not looking for huge success (though any supplemental support, bits, etc. would be very much appreciated), but something to enjoy either with the community or with my friends in general.

I know I have the basic means to do streaming - a stable internet, a powerful machine, basic streaming equipment, and a general set up on Twitch, which you can find here: https://www.twitch.tv/studthekangaroo

Right now, I am looking in the future at a Sunday Afternoon schedule, from 12:00pm-3:00pm CDT on Twitch. As for what will be streamed? Well, I have quite the backlog of games that I've bought or got as gifts, but have not played yet. This includes the following:

-Metroid Prime Remastered (Leaning on this as my Debut Title)
-God of War: Ragnarok
-Super Mario 3D All-Stars (Contains Super Mario 64, Sunshine, and Galaxy 1)
-Tales of Arise
-Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (Switch Remaster)

The list goes on; there are plenty of games in my Steam Library that I've had quite a bit of interest in but have not played yet due to storage limitations, and I have considered getting back into Minecraft, which I have not played in a dog's age, with friends. So there won't be a shortage of "fresh" content, even old content, that I can play and give my unfiltered, fresh take and reactions on select games, even those I've seen others do. Granted, watching someone play something is very much different from experiencing that game for yourself.

At the moment, I am looking into some options for how to create even just a basic 2D avatar that can interact with my face, a general stream layout, bits/notification setups, so on and so forth. If this turns into a good endeavor that I can enjoy doing on the side, I will consider adding more games to my library, other add ons, so on and so forth.

For now, I'm just in an experimental/exploratory stage to see what happens. As such, I will consider starting some of my social media profiles from scratch to give myself a cleaner slate to start with, or relegate that to "After Dark" accounts. Although I know for a fact that much of my audience will likely be limited to 18 and older. Any advice, pointers, etc., for how I can get off the ground and be successful even in this small "hobby" endeavor would be much appreciated.

Thanks for taking time to hear me out and I look forward to hearing more from you!

Hi everyone!

My fiancé  WolfgerLion64 has been on a roll with his work after having to take an unwilling hiatus from it for reasons too many to name @-@ but if you're looking for some quality work, please check him out! You won't be disappointed!

Hope you all are keeping warm and safe. It's a little cool here, but no snow ^^; the first I've EVER seen Christmas without any snow.

COVID is gone; slight lingering tickle but I can talk and sing (thankfully).

Yup...over the past 2 years, my best friend  A25, and my Finance  WolfgerLion64 and his mother been through COVID-19, and I guess it's my turn of the Three Gaming Musketeers to hunker down and power through...

Had 2 separate tests done because I wasn't sure of the result of the first one (one of those vague "Control" line situations), and the second test came back a solid positive for COVID-19

I'm doing fine; symptoms are mild at the moment and have had shots in the past; in fact, this whole thing feels similar to when I had side effects from my other COVID Vaccines. I'm drinking water, electrolyte drinks, etc, etc...basically going hog wild with my recovery and then some. Thank goodness for the weekend =m=;;;;

=======UPDATE: 12/12/13=======

So I have minimal symptoms lingering, but I was basically able to get back to work. So it's behind me now...thankfully

Having worked in some shape or form of financial fields, including my current job at a bank, I've had my share of hearing people being almost scammed (or having been scammed) into a scam that robs them or others of their money under the guise of good faith efforts. More often than not, they ask for cash or gift cards through the mail or domestic/international wires.

The latest scam I have seen pop up has been a Discord User going by the name of "IceFrogDota#5548" claiming to be an administrator for Steam and helping them rectify user accounts that were hacked and falsely reported for being involved in a cryptocurrency scam...unfortunately, my fiancé was on the receiving end of one scam, but I interjected before he got in too deep.

What people do not realize is that this user (by force or sheer luck) hacks certain accounts and uses their Steam Wallet to load up funds (most likely illicit funds) and make purchases through obscure gaming websites. According to forum posts on the Steam Community, this user has been engaged in ongoing efforts to scam people by demanding they pay them in gift cards or other funds to "refund" the cash that was loaded into the Steam Wallet or face account deletion.

Let me break this down for you:

1. Steam CANNOT delete your account for violations of Terms of Service. If you break TOS, you face suspension or being banned depending on the severity or type of transgression committed.
2. Steam WILL NOT CONTACT YOU outside of official communication channels (i.e. Email via a Support Ticket). Always be skeptical of any communication you receive in any shape or form; that may look official but have subtle differences (i.e. Email Address doesn't match the company, hyperlink hover boxes lead to a different URL than the described picture/text).

I know FA has a very picky rule about "name shaming" users regardless if they're on FA or not, but given how prevalent and recent this scam is, I cannot in good conscience stay silent with critical information, but I will make this very clear:

If you are approached by the aforementioned user (or anyone in general on Discord claiming to be "official" employees of Steam or any company), DO NOT ENGAGE WITH THEM. Do not talk with them, do not click or download anything from them; just ignore them, block them, and report them.

If you have any concerns about your account after such a contact, contact the affected service directly through secure, trusted URLs; in the case of Steam, their support page can be found here: https://help.steampowered.com/en/

Share this journal along with a brief summary of the scam to let others know what to watch out for and what to do.

Be vigilant, be safe, be careful; this time of year sees a lot of scam activity.

So, as you all know, earlier this year, I got engaged to my sweetheart  WolfgerLion64 after our original plans got upended by visa problems that resulted in him being barred for 5 years.

After talking to an attorney on what can be done to get married and help overcome the bar, I was told plainly that the fastest option outside a K-1 visa is to get married in a country that recognizes same-sex marriage and then get the process rolling from there.

Of course...it's next to impossible to do that since to even get to some of these countries by flight requires a stop in...where else...the United States. I was told that he can't even pass through the US on the way through to another country (i.e. Canada) without getting stopped and getting into trouble.

I'm stuck, I'm frustrated, I'm crushed...this is fucking ridiculous...

I need help, I need advice, I need action...I'm not taking my chances of waiting longer than I have to in the hopes of my fiancé not suffering a traumatic event or fate down there...not with how things are going...

--Update--

Things are still more or less the same...we're suck in virtually impossible situations. All routes point to a physical meeting...I can feel my mind just cracking and my heart breaking...I just want my mate...is it really that hard to ask for...? T^T

Many of us, like me and my fiancé  WolfgerLion64, have lives beyond the internet, and so as time passes and we go on about our days, some things don't catch our attention, or we don't really stay up to date about some stuff.

Recently, an apparently well-known YouTuber named "Dream" decided to reveal his face after being behind a simple smiley mask/persona for a while, and the internet is just going wild about it (reveal video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtpdMkKvB6U ) with strong reactions in support of (and against it). On one hand, good for him and his fans, but on the other hand with the criticism, "really? people starting a shitstorm over this? 9-9;;" (Apparently that is what's also happening)

And now, my fiancé has been beaten down by a so-called "friend" simply because Wolfger's reaction to the news was generally more-or-less a "meh", kind of like me...which I imagine would be the reaction for many of those that don't follow internet trends, cultures, stars, etc., even more so when we're not ardent fans or followers of one person or group. So I can imagine to a degree how that conversation would go if someone starts up about something very huge and a big deal in one's eyes, only to be disappointed if the reaction from others is that aforementioned "meh" if they either haven't heard much or are just not interested in it. Believe me, I've had that happen, but I quickly dampen my emotions and expectations to have a more level-headed conversation (or just avoid it altogether if I already know the person isn't interested in the same things I am or not as much as me).

But I digress...

This "friend" beat down my fiancé as the latter simply restated his opinion and wanted to agree to disagree on one another's hype (or lack thereof) over the event in question...but they continued to try and beat Wolfger down, and ended the conversation by saying how hurt they was for "their feelings being downplayed" and "our friendship is trash".

...

I will not name names, but I will say aloud here to that person (you know who you are) and those like them... it's not all about you!!!

I have no tolerance for people like that; to me, this conversation is an example of two things: "Cancel Culture" bullshit, where a person should be made to feel like shit and be forced out of society simply because their reaction isn't 100% perfect or they fumble over a Straw Man Argument that comes completely out of the blue...and manipulation of one's mental/emotional issues to try and get attention to one's self, only to then belittle/betray that trust if that attention is not to your absolute liking. Both strike a chord with me because this isn't the first time this "friend" has done this, and Wolfger has dealt with toxic relationships in the past over this...

If this is how you are, and how you will act or behave towards people, let alone my friends and loved ones, I want nothing to do with you, and want you to just leave us alone. It is clear that you need some help...far better help than what you can find online, and engaging in this behavior is not helping you...

I do sincerely hope you get that help and support and become a better person in the future to where we can be friends, but until then...this bridge is closed. Good bye...

After 12 years of an online relationship, with over 2 of those years spent in person, I finally proposed to my lovely  WolfgerLion64 in a slow buildup by giving gifts to him and his mother.

It was emotional, and I'm glad I followed through with it, with no regrets.

With him now officially my fiancé, the work can now begin to resolve his inadmissibility and try to get a K-1 visa to marry him here in the USA. When I get back, it'll be time to consult immigration/LGBTQ+ lawyers to help get the process started and get it resolved.

For now, I'll enjoy the rest of my trip here in Port of Spain, making memories no more as just boyfriends, but as a couple. I could never be happier.

I love you, my sweet Wolfger~ <3

So hours earlier I was able to reach out and talk with  WolfgerLion64 and he is just a couple hours from reaching Port of Spain, safe and sound.

However, I was relayed some bad news. He was told adamantly by USCIS that he could have returned home in 2020, which is contradictory to the adamant info we were receiving ever since he was stranded - that Trinidad was completely shut down; not even citizens were allowed in.

Furthermore, my petition for his extension of his Visa was denied (something that was new to me), and so they canceled his Visa back in 2020 and now have barred him for 5-Years.

What's more, despite that I prepared and paid for the damn thing, I was completely kept out of the loop.

This is going to be a nightmare to clean up...at least I can take comfort in knowing he will be safe back at home...now the fight begins.

I was looking forward to a greatly anticipated visit from my mate  WolfgerLion64, the first since he went home last July after the pandemic subsided enough for the borders to Trinidad to open and let him home...a visit that everyone, my family included, were looking forward to with open arms...

...

But now, that will not happen...

Because of a technicality with USCIS in spite of COVID throwing everything for a loop and forcing him to remain grounded in the US while the borders to Trinidad were closed...his visa was canceled...and now he's stuck in Miami International...with me having not heard anything from him for hours now...

I had a sickening feeling it was going to happen, that this would happen...and I failed to heed the signs...and now it could cost my mate his chance to be with me for the long haul... T^T

I will keep things updated as I hear about this...but for now...just keep thinking about me and my mate...he means the world to me...and I'm sick to my stomach over the whole thing...

--Update, 6/2/22; 12:07 PM CDT--

Currently, I have been in communication with staff members and case workers for Sen. Tammy Baldwin. I've given all the information I could and they are currently inquiring about his wellbeing and his case. I will continue updating this journal as I learn more and will post a new journal if a major development comes up.

Major Update; see following Journal: https://www.furaffinity.net/journal/10235959

Hi, everyone!

A quick update - everything is going fine and is business as usual...in spite of being knocked flat by my COVID booster and getting a finger crushed over the weekend (no serious damage!).

Excitedly looking forward to the new year and the prospect of seeing my lovely  WolfgerLion64 again in the Spring, and he is too.

Currently, he is doing a growth drive (details here: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/44861179/ ) where he's trying to raise up money not just to come back up here and (hopefully) start building a life up here with me, but also to help out financially.

For those that are interested in it, go check it out; otherwise, please spread the word!

Hello All,

It has been a while. Although the last journal I posted was back in February concerning the passing of  RockytheProcy and the COVID-19 Pandemic, I have been on here and there in silence as I browse the galleries of Furaffinity.

As of Early August, I am back to full-time work, being a Financial Specialist for a bank with a local branch; truly a blessing given that I'm earning once again, and well timed given how the unemployment benefits expired earlier this month.

It also marks 2 months since my lovely  WolfgerLion64 returned home to Trinidad & Tobago, something some of you may have known already if you're watching him. I miss him, and look forward to when we can be together again. There is much that has to be done, so if anyone reading this is interested--or know anyone who is--in commissioning him to help him catch up with paying off debts and saving for the eventual filing fees for a Green Card Application in some shape or form, please spread the word.

That pretty much covers it; other than that, I'm just rolling along with the days as they come and go. Eventually, I will get caught up with uploading any arts I've commissioned or drawn to the gallery; I just need to get motivated to actually do it.

Until then, be safe.

For some who have not yet heard but are looking at the title and have just found out, yes...it's true.

Heard within the last hour that  RockyTheProcy died in the hospital from COVID-19...with his death, we lost a talented artist, and a beloved member of this community. I didn't know him personally, but I loved his artwork; he will be missed by many, no doubt...and my sympathies go out to all his friends and family.

This should come as a sober reminder that despite the strides made to combat this virus, the pandemic is still far from over. It's been over a year since COVID-19 struck the United States and upended everything we enjoyed in our lives, as well as everything we did to maintain and further our lives in terms of jobs and income. As of this journal, the US now stands at over 28.6 Million cases and over 512,000 deaths...also, despite my credentials, job experience, and efforts...I still have fallen short in finding a good-paying job, along with many others--some of which may be reading this journal right now--and must continue to rely on assistant programs like unemployment to get by. Months can feel like years, even more so if things halt progress against this virus...or--heaven forbid--make us LOSE progress...

It's been said many times before, but the most effective thing we can do is take care of ourselves - wear a mask, stay socially distant, ultimately take care of ourselves and our bodies, even if it means giving up on applying our fetishes to real life; I had to give up on gaining weight and try to eat healthier because to continue gaining would put me in greater danger of dying from this virus. I know there are some that cannot wear a mask because of other health issues, and I understand that...if that's the case, then please, do what you can to have friends and family do your errands like picking up groceries, medication, etc. if you can't take all reasonable steps to keep yourself and others safe; only go out when you absolutely have to, like for a doctor appointment or something critical of the like. Ask yourself: how important is this errand that I must go?

There's already enough of the populace out there that put their pride and arrogance over decency and sensibility; the best we good folk can do is do what we can until we can start getting some sense of normalcy back in our lives...if that's even possible at this point... v.v

Disclaimer: Much like my other journal, thoughtful debate and discussion is encouraged. Comments intended to demean, insult, threaten, and inflame will not be tolerated and will be dealt with in the appropriate fashion depending on the severity of the comments.

With the posting of this Journal, we are now less than a week away from determining if we'll finally have a path of reprieve to mend the divisions in this country...or suffer another 4 years of lies, corruption, division, hate, and deceit.

The opening line should be a pretty clear sign where I stand - I utterly despise Donald Trump and the Republican (GOP) Party, both of whom engaging in blatantly open and corrupt practices to subvert our right to vote and then some, being "Higher Than Thou" Hypocrites about the whole thing, and at such levels that Nixon wished he could've gotten away with...but I digress. My personal opinion has no merit on established facts...and the facts are that our current election system is broken and open to exploits similar to what we're seeing right now, and what can be done to fix it.

The first and foremost thing about the US Election System is that it doesn't go by a direct Popular Vote (PV), but instead, uses something called The Electoral College (EC), where Electoral Votes (EVs) are given to the one who wins the majority of votes in that state, regardless if they win by a landslide or half-plus-one (51%). However, almost all the states use a complicated, messy system comprised of 2 key parts. First is that they use First Past the Post, where whoever wins the majority of the PV wins in that contest; however, not all states don't do run-off elections if no one gets over 50% of the vote and will give victory to whoever wins the plurality (highest count under 50%). Second is that most states use a Winner Take All system where in any of the aforementioned scenarios, a candidate wins ALL of the EVs from that state. Because of that, it is open to the very unlikely but EXTREMELY dangerous possibility of a candidate winning 270 EVs with not even 33% of the PV. As such, the EC tends to give more power to the lesser populated rural states, who more often than not tend to vote Republican, resulting in 4 elections since 1876 resulting in a Republican winning the Presidency with a minority vote. Even if a candidate wins a clear majority of the PV and EC, there's still the chance the result could be flipped on its head if enough Faithless Electors decide "Yeah, this guy clearly won, but we're voting for the other guy instead". About a month after Election Day, 538 Electors are chosen by the States to then cast their votes for the next President of the United States, where they could very easily flip their vote, though I must point out that there has never been a time where enough Faithless Electors have flip-flopped to change the outcome of the election, but the concern has been raised for this election given the current actions being taken by the GOP.

So you might be asking, "How do third party candidates fit into this?"...well, recall FPtP. Most states run elections (not just the Presidential Election) that use a FPtP system that don't condition a runoff if there's no clear winner of the majority of the PV, giving the election to the one who wins the plurality of the vote; Wisconsin where I live is one such state, as our current governor won by edging out enough of the vote to win the plurality of votes but not over 50%. FPtP systems are notorious in that they have what's called "The Spoiler Effect", where enough votes are peeled off from one of the major candidates that hurt them enough that the other major candidate wins; more often than not, the candidate that is the preferred winner by the majority is the one that loses because of the Spoiler Effect. Some say that's one of the main reasons Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 Election. Until our system is improved--which I'll get to in a moment--Third Party candidates are something we cannot consider...and with the 2020 election being considered by many as the one that will decide the fate of democracy in the United States, wasting a vote on a Third Party Candidate or a Write-In is a massive mistake. Hell, if you can't even get high enough in the polls to be in a debate to argue your points, your running for high office is a waste of time and resources; just pull out and compromise on one of the candidates that'll help lay the groundwork...

So then...what do we do? There are many ways to fix our system for the better. YouTuber CGP Grey has incredible videos on his channel that lay factually better options on the table, while making it much more entertaining than my grim, straight-to-the-point journal here. Solutions he propose including eliminating the EC, changing to a rank-based voting system, and doing a more fair approach to drawing out voting districts; some of which, if implemented correctly AND successfully, can give Third Party Candidates a very real shot for high office, to which I say when that happens, "Go ahead and vote how you please". Go check it out; you won't be disappointed - http://www.youtube.com/user/CGPGrey

Of course, to even have a remote chance of enacting such change, you need to first take advantage of the tools you have available to you to get people into office that will have a higher likelihood of enacting said changes. In this particular election cycle, the choice is clear - it's time to swallow our pride and reservations and vote Joe Biden and Democrats into office, since Trump and the GOP have clearly shown they don't care about the rules, norms, or your lives as long as they get their way. After all, if you're hoping for relief during this nightmare of a pandemic, you'll have to wait until AFTER the election since Mitch McConnell has adjourned the Senate until then.

Your best bet is to go directly to your polling place and vote, even if it means bringing your mail-in or absentee vote directly to the clerk to be counted. Between the GOP's lawsuits, the crippling of the USPS, and people setting fires to ballot boxes around the country, this is one election we cannot leave to chance with our vote...

This has been jumping around my mind for a while now, and I think it's time I get it out there. Let me make a couple things perfectly clear before you read ahead:

1. This journal covers a controversial topic that may be sensitive or enraging to some people, and is meant to elicit thoughtful debate. If you are not going to partake in thoughtful debate, I advise you turn around and not continue reading. Comments attempting to inflame, demean, or harass people will be removed, and, depending on the severity of the comments, result in being blocked and reported.
2. Just because I am taking middle ground to do a thorough analysis of said subject(s) does not mean that I practice or condone said subject(s); any actions that endanger or threaten the life, livelihood, or well-being of anyone, regardless of gender, age, creed, sexuality, etc. must be held to account to the fullest extent of the law.

With that said, the subject I want to talk about and get off my chest is the issue of depictions of characters that are not over the age of 18. There's been heated debate about art depicting characters who aren't 18+, especially those who are minors. It's been heated so much that there are people out there basically making lists of people that incidentally draw art depicting apparent minors, or characters with pedophile tendencies, in an attempt to out them writ large to the entire community in the hopes of shaming them and making them withdraw from the web and not be seen again. These so-called "social justice warriors" partaking in a huge crusade to pour bleach on the internet so kids (and adults) don't have to see the ugly content some of us may have incidentally come across when we were younger, so that there's more "good" in the world...I really have to ask - is it really worth being a total PC asshole to do it? /=/

Don't get me wrong; I completely understand where these people are coming from when it comes to art depicting characters that aren't 18+ (let alone 13+). It's not the most comfortable (if not ethical) thing to see...but at the same time, the arguments against art depicting characters under the age of 18 seems...pointless. Here are my reasons why:

1. It's a character of pure fiction that's made of paper & pencil/ink or pixels; it does not "feel" or "want" anything, except for what our imagination puts to them (Fair Use/Creative Commons). One person could imagine them being overzealous and extreme against a particular subject; another person could imagine them being utterly joyous and embracing it. Each person finds enjoyment in their own personal twist on a character or a situation; it's the thought put to paper, and they're free to express it, even if we may not agree with the subject matter, the opinions on said matter, or simply have a different preference. Might it make us raise our eyebrows and question the person? Perhaps...but we most certainly shouldn't jump to conclusions about the artist personally or his thoughts on certain subjects. One example of this is the show Family Guy. I've lost count of how many times I've seen Stewie Griffin in sexual situations (mostly by his choice). There was one episode where he's provocatively posing in diapers; another where he's engaged in BDSM with Brian; another where he's naked in the living room hitting on a gay guy from Meg's class. The episode of getting himself pregnant using Brian's DNA is probably one of the more explicit situations Stewie put himself in since later that same episode, he's in multiple pictures by himself or with Brian in nude poses (though obviously no explicit junk showing). Another one I've lost count on is the amount of times Herbert put (mostly) verbal moves on Chris Griffin, and in one episode, imagining himself in a happy relationship with Chris, with the latter being in his mid-teens. Does that make Seth MacFarlane and his team a bunch of pedophiles or endorsers of pedophilia because they drew/wrote it? No; Stewie, Brian, Chris, and Herbert are fictional characters, in a fictional story setting that was made for laughs and gasps, in a fictional world that does not exist. To me, this is trying to conflate a serious, real-life issue to something that doesn't even conform, let alone apply to it; no one is going to take the issue of child pornography or child sexual abuse seriously if your Exhibit A is someone's Rule 34 fanart of Chris Griffin. Plus, the issue of fictional porn has pretty much been settled in court...how so? Look at my next reason.

2. In 2002, the Supreme Court issued a ruling in "Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition" that led to striking down two provisions of the Child Pornography Prevention Act of 1996; one provision covered a broad range of media concerning Child Pornography, including "digital" works, and the other covered advertisement that may imply that minors engaged in sexual activity of the product being promoted. While the Supreme Court agreed that sexual assault/molestation of a Child, having them make pornography, and then distributing it is repugnant and must be punished to the fullest extend of the law due to the harm it brings the child, the Court also ruled that, fictional works that happen to show depictions of minors in traditional and digital art engaged in sexual activity falls under the protection of the 1st Amendment's Freedom of Speech Clause; it also ruled that the provision about advertising "implying" minors involving sex needs to be more precise. As such, the aforementioned provisions of the CPPA were deemed overly broad and unconstitutional, even countering arguments like, "But predators will seduce children with fictional child porn!", with, "How is that any different from using toys, candy, or even money?" See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashcr.....eech_Coalition for finer details. The case overall reaffirms that fictional works of art, as long as it is not made and distributed while featuring/using a real life minor, are legally protected under the 1st Amendment. If a case involving pedophilia or sexual acts on a fictional minor (i.e. American Dragon Jake Long [14], Gumball [12], Stewie Griffin [>5]) were brought to the Supreme Court, the Court would most likely throw it out in a heartbeat, reaffirming the above case, possibly with a footnote that the art would fall under Creative Commons/Fair Use (or something similar), and thus, would not be illegal in spite of the subject matter. It would also most likely reaffirm that, if the art was made using actual minors that were forced to pose for it, THEN it would be illegal.

3. This one is more of a personal rant...but...to those of you that, despite the above, are foaming at the mouth and ready to go for the throat...Is there really THAT MUCH a lack in children in the real world being sexually taken advantage of that you have to crucify artists that dabble with PURELY FICTIONAL characters!? According to statistics from the National Center for Victims of Crime (members.victimsofcrime.org) concerning Child Sexual Abuse, during a one-year period in the USA, approximately 16% of youth ages 14-17 are sexually victimized, with 28% of that same age group saying they've been sexually victimized at one point or over the course of their life up to that point. If we were to take those percentages and apply it to the 2018 Child Population Numbers for Kids 15-17 (~12.5 Million) from The Annie E. Casey Foundation's Kids Count Data Center (https://datacenter.kidscount.org/ ; their latest count, and also, there was no way for me to include 14-year-olds from the given model in my calculations), that means each year, at least 2 million kids are sexually victimized, and at least 3.5 million have been (or are being (God forbid)) sexually victimized! The sad thing is, not all of those cases are picked up by the cops, or solved. How about you take that energy and help solve REAL LIFE, HARD EVIDENCE CASES of sexual predators of children, instead of going after artists perceived of being sexual predators just because they incidentally have a kid's ass exposed while he's standing on a chair in the doctor's office!? ...wait, did I just describe Norman Rockwell's "Before the Shot"? .___.;;

And those are my takes on the whole debate, and where I stand. Do I condemn real life acts of sexual abuse, molestation, and taking advantage of minors for personal gain? Absolutely. Do I condemn artists and writers that dabble with it in fictitious works that had no involvement of real life minors? No...but then I must ask you, the reader: is there a point I'm missing? Again, I do see why people would be at best, uncomfortable, and at worst, detestable, of works that depict minors. It's not a socially acceptable thing by today's standards, no matter how fictional it is, how historically accurate it may be, how artistic it is, or if its even going for a laugh or serious food-for-thought. We shouldn't take for granted the seriousness of Child Sex Abuse or active acts of Pedophilia...but should we really be treating artworks depicting fictional minors in sexual situations as the worst thing to happen to this planet, when the Courts have essentially ruled "As long as no real minor is forced into that position, all bets are off", and there's millions of minors out there that are sexually victimized each year? I'm going to guess that this will still be a debate long after I write this. People on certain sides of this want a definitive black-and-white solution to this where there's anything but black-and-white to work with. Art, for some, is just a job; for others, it's a form of therapy; and others, a mix of both. For the second group, art allows escape for their feelings, while minimizing the damage or risk they'd might put towards other people. Attacking them for expressing themselves in art (regardless of the subject matter) may in fact have the opposite effect. They might think, "What's the point? I have nothing to lose now...", resulting in their creativity being regressed, and leaving them to act on impulses that will result in lives being hurt and ruined. Again, just because the subject matter is uncomfortable doesn't mean the artist themselves condones or does the behavior in it...that feels like persecuting someone for having a thought at a certain time (but never carried it out) that they themselves might not be proud of having, but can't come to take down something they essentially put their heart and soul into making, because it is a physical manifestation of feelings they wanted to get out. I feel frustrated having to hammer this point out time and time again; probably because I took a Psychology 101 class and learned its Golden Rule of "Correlation is Not Causation", and take that seriously on a broad spectrum so as not to rush to judgment.

If any, the negative fallout over this feels less like doing social justice and more like people wanting to make that "Safe for Kids" place with no regards to how it affects everyone else, while doing nothing to take responsibility for what their kids see and do online. This is one of those cases where it's possible to walk and chew gum at the same time, and it's not that hard to do, nor does it require a lot of effort. And If, despite your best efforts, your kid still stumbles onto an uncomfortable subject or something terrifying, you do your best to comfort your child and teach them about what is right or wrong about something, and address their feelings. That is a key part to parenting - helping your child develop and understand certain issues and feelings...going all out angry on the offending issue for even existing teaches your child nothing except to be hostile to everything that you personally don't agree with, and keeps out key pieces essential for child development, like keeping an open mind, coming to their own conclusions about perceived right and wrong, etc.

When the internet is full of things that you don't know is truth or fiction, is accurate of a person or just the work they do, and even things that are good and bad, not taking time to look before you leap is the worst thing you can do for yourself and others...

Shelve that Anger, take a deep breath...and think...

I can hardly believe it is almost July. So much has happened since my last entry...and here's where things stand:

1. Out of Work - Due to a mix of executive decisions and COVID-19, I'm out of work. After more than 6 years working at Advance America (and not even a year as Center Manager), my center shut down along with 5 other centers in the entire Upper Peninsula of Michigan. This despite my division being among the top performers in the Region (Michigan). I'd like to get back to work, but with Unemployment being the way it is now, I'm not exactly in too much a rush to return to work (I mean, I'm earning almost twice as much through UI than I did with my job). It's not ideal, but what do you do when the other alternatives for jobs are very lackluster (or not necessarily safe, all things considered). With July around the corner now, I must step up my job search, but the good jobs are far and few between...my former job wasn't a dream job, but it earned enough to break even and then some. And with the extra UI benifits expected to expire at the end of July, and no solid indication that those benefits will be extended/improved upon before then with the current Congress, time is running out.

2. My Mate -  WolfgerLion64 is still stuck up here with me in Wisconsin while COVID-19 still has Trinidad and Tobago's borders closed to everyone, including nationals like himself. Not that I'm complaining; having his company and help in times like this have been truly a blessing~ With how things have been going with COVID-19, especially the recent debacle in the uptick in cases, I would not be surprised if he sees snow again before returning home. He's been with me since October, and was supposed to return before April came around; I even had a week planned out for the two of us to just have fun before his trip home...well that went flying out the window on a rocket in a hand basket to hell real fast when COVID-19 struck. Until it is safe, and until his country opens its borders, I'll just enjoy every moment I have with him.

3. SCOTUS Decision on Employment - No words can describe how happy (and frankly surprised) over the Court's decision that employees can't be fired for their sexual orientation, saying that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act includes sexual orientation as part of discriminating against sex. Though much like previous cases like United States v. Windsor and Obergefell v. Hodges, I wished SCOTUS included mention of the 1st Amendment's Establishment Clause in their ruling, since most likely the firing of LGBTQ Employees are motivated by religious/faith beliefs about gay marriage (if not gays in general), so I think there's going to be cases where religious zealots still make lives for LGBTQ hell; not to mention the ruling only covers employment, not housing, credit, etc...so there's still a long ways to go. I'll still celebrate the decision as a victory, no less.

That's pretty much it for what's happening on my end. Stay safe, stay protected, and stay smart!

I keep wondering how time seems to fly by so quickly. For the past 6 months, my mate  WolfgerLion64 has been staying at my place for his very first winter up here... and now in less than three weeks, will be returning home to the sunny Caribbean shores of Trinidad and Tobago.

I thought I was going to miss him badly after he stayed two months out of 2018 up here with me... just thinking about him leaving after all this time hurts. v-v

We've had so much fun up here, despite the weather; I'll always cherish the memories we've made... his first Christmas up here, his first Thanksgiving, and so much more... including his very first experience with snow. Having him around the House made such a tremendous difference in my life... And not knowing when he'll be in my arms again after this puts a heavy weight on my heart...

Among the most important things we've done up here was looking to impossibly attending school to further his education. Now it's just a matter of getting everything in order. I hope he is successful in that endeavor.

With fears of the coronavirus going around, I am somewhat scared for him on his return trip, and hope for the best. I know we'll be together again in the future... I just hope time doesn't recklessly pass by too quickly before that moment comes again...