Weekly Update 22-7-2024

Last week wasn’t as productive as I would have liked but life happens:  my car’s MOT was due, the Policy Livestream (that took way too long to write up, but is available here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/important-info-7-108435668)…   

I’ll expand on this later since really, these Weekly Update posts aim to answer the question of: “What have you added to the archives?” Behold!!

Champions

 Behemoths

As of posting this, I’m drafting pages for the comics.  So there is not much of an update for you Hashiras, I’m afraid.  However, both the VIP and Patrons’ Choice polls are done so I know what I’m doing for August, huzzah.  Please look forward to it.

Returning to my thoughts on the livestream, it was… umm? 

It was informative, don’t get me wrong.  But after mulling on whether to write up a separate post on the things I had omitted from my initial write-up… there’s not very much to say after all. 

I suppose one positive is that there was some official acknowledgement of the ongoing issue of maintaining a healthy work-life balance if you’re a self-employed/ freelance creator.  I have a respect for those who choose to promote themselves as the ‘brand’ since that’s not something you can do half-heartedly or you’re not very confident in yourself.  So whilst it’s in its early stages, Patreon do want to set up a something beyond a podcast thingy, ala so: https://creatorhub.patreon.com/en-GB/articles/feeling-burned-out-heres-what-to-do-about-it  

But they’re still gathering feedback on that.

And another positive (kind of?) was the pushback this platform made to Washington regarding the proposed ban of that one social media site.  You know the one, right? 

All this was in the name of opposing a policing of the freedom-of-expression.  Que irónico, some would quip. I don’t really have anything to say about since I do not use that one popular social media site and have no real inclination to either. 

Each to their own, each to their own, I’m almost in my 4th decade for Pete’s sake.  And I’m British so… 🤷🏾‍♂️

There was something they mentioned about this platform’s accessibility but I’m not best qualified to go on at length about WCAG 2.11 compliance (which I only learned today means Web Content Accessibility Guidance).

Lastly, I recall there was a very brief mention of the E​​t​sy incident from the beginning of the month.  Admittedly, I had no idea what this referred to at first since I don’t use or know anyone personally who uses E​​​tsy.   To give you some context, think of it as an Amazon but more for hand-made, tailor-made or vintage (of at least 20 years) items.  You deal with the artisan directly and get something crafted just for you.  Or something that was produced in a limited fashion anyway; not a mass-produced item you can just go into a brand-name store and pick up off-the-rack/-shelf, so to speak. Anyway, earlier in the month, certain goods made to/or relating to … ‘stimulating the lower baser emotions’ (to put it euphemistically) will no longer be allowed on the platform from the 29th.  It’s not the first time the seller’s policy update has caused quite a bit of consternation.

Alas, another example of the ongoing “Great Cleansing of the Interwebs”.  Should I hear anything conclusive as to what Pat ​reon is doing, I’ll let you know of course.

Which brings me to my final thought on a question raised in the stream and the answer was… well, you’ll see…

So make of that what you will...

For now, I shall carry on as normal, so please look forward to what appears over this final week and a half of the month.  Please be advised that because cost-of-living, I’ve had to take on commissions to supplement my income here—which I’ll always be grateful to you for—so I can get by.  Existing day-to-day is getting expensive, man…

August is my final month at home before I’m away for September leading into October, so I’ll try to get as much as I can done before then.  Thanks for covering me with my car though (passed its MOT, no repairs needed undertaking, huzzah).

Stay safe, stay well and thank you again for everything. You're awesome and I couldn't continue this without your invaluable aid. ♥