The Compassion of A to Z? (Part 2 of 2)

A Conversation Begins

        The response to part one of this two part series was fantastic.  The comments overwhelmingly display support and positive attitudes toward the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.  I thank everyone who commented on part one and if you missed that post I encourage you to go back and while there be sure to peruse the comment section to get a sense of the A to Z love that is out there.

        In that post I didn't mean to mislead anyone that we had been deluged with negative feedback about A to Z.  That is definitely not the case as the comments on that post will attest.  What I was doing in that post was creating a set up for the discussion  about The Compassion of A to Z.  The complaints actually only amounted to murmurs and unfounded rumors about how some had reacted to the A to Z Challenge.  I think we sometimes have a tendency to hear negatives more loudly than the positives and that's probably why the negatives caught my attention

The Compassion of A to Z

       When I started the A to Z Challenge in 2010 I was already blogging everyday so it was nothing for me to continue to do so using the gimmick of the alphabet.   If one is not used to blogging daily and finds it a chore then there’s nothing wrong with that–the Challenge may not be for them if they find daily blogging too difficult.   I do commend anyone for at least putting forth an honest effort even if they do feel the need to drop out of the Challenge. We especially appreciate when bloggers who drop out communicate that to the A to Z Team so we can take them off the list.

       But before I get into the issues of removing blog links from the list. let me first point out the fact that the Team of A to Z Co-hosts and all of their volunteer helpers put a lot of effort into keeping the list cleaned up as best we can for the enjoyment of the participants.  Despite the fact that we make it very clear on the sign up page the criteria that allows bloggers to participate in the A to Z Challenge, there are always opportunists and as well as others who skip reading our requests and suggestions and just add a link without any thought other than to be on the list.   This is the first inconsiderate act that makes the job more difficult for the Challenge administrators.  Unfortunately most of the problems related to these entries don't become evident until after the Challenge has started and we are all at our busiest.

       Our mission is to make sure that participants will find links that are valid and lead to blogs that are actually posting for A to Z.   Some of you are understandably perturbed when you find a non-participating blog that is still on the list.  Others might feel that we are being too tough when we remove the blogs of those who fall behind.  A suggestion was even made that we were lacking compassion in removing the bloggers who weren't able to keep up with the letters and the daily posting.  The very basic rules of the Challenge are to post daily from A to Z--that's what makes it a Challenge!

        I found the term "compassion" to be interesting as this was the very term that I had discussed with the A to Z Team.   We didn't want to come across as hard-nosed about removing blogs because we know that things can happen to interfere with blogging--computer problems, illness, family emergencies, increased workloads or you name any one of a myriad of life complications that can interfere with our April Challenge.  We try our best to open up a line of communication between us and the blogger who is experiencing problems before removing them.  We leave encouraging comments and send emails.  We don't want to take links off the list because we'd rather the list stay filled with all the starting numbers.   But if we are getting no response then in fairness to you who are playing by the rules we must remove the bloggers who aren't.  We extend compassion but compassion does not mean playing the fool.

The Compassionate A to Z Team

         Those who might have thought the A to Z Team was mean or lacking compassion are unfortunately not likely to be reading this post and that's too bad.  There are probably a few who might be harboring resentment about being kicked out of the Challenge because they couldn't keep up.  Again we have to point out that it is a Challenge--you don't meet it, you don't win it.  That doesn't mean that you are a loser, it just means we hope you try again and better luck next time

         The articles at the A to Z Blog as well as the team members' own blogs and even comments of help and encouragement that we leave are part of our desire to teach about better blogging and to uplift spirits of those bloggers who might be a bit discouraged.  The entire A to Z Community is about friendship and mutual support.  I see a lot of compassion all around.  A lot given and a lot received when needed most.  

       I don’t know about people quitting blogging because of the A to Z Challenge. I doubt that’s true, but if it is I think it is a statement on the bloggers who quit and says nothing about A to Z. Sometimes bloggers just leave their blogs and there's no reason to blame the A to Z Challenge. Since we rarely know the people behind the blogs, it’s hard to say why blog owners do what they do or even why they respond to the A to Z Challenge as they might.  But if bloggers do reach out there's usually someone in the community who is willing to take time to listen and to lend whatever assistance they can.  

 
     Is there a more compassionate way to run this Challenge?  I’d like to hear some answers to that question.  There are undoubtedly some better things we can do and hopefully we will keep figuring those out.  The Blogging from A to Z April Challenge will never be perfect but it will keep getting better.   One of the reasons that A to Z will keep getting better is because of all of the amazing members of the A to Z community.  And they are not just April friends, but we have become a year round community of helpful bloggers.

       My thanks to all of you!

Here's what Dr.Gulara Vincent has to say about A to Z:

"...not only I survived the challenge and built my blogging muscle, but I now keep up the good work and exercising that muscle daily. Thank you for this amazing experience. It changed my blogging practice. What's more, it changed me. I feel more present and reflective in my daily life."

I think that sums it up for a lot of us.

        Is there a more compassionate way to run the A to Z Challenge?    How has A to Z affected your approach to blogging and life in general?    When you came to a non-participating blog from the Linky list did you read their posts or leave a comment?  

     

       Check out the A to Z Challenge After Party and join in the conversation.  Leave a link to one of your A to Z posts while you're there.  

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Compassion in A to Z? (Part 1 of 2)

The Complaints

     While we still have A to Z on our minds, with an apology to those who have been trying to get away from thinking about the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, I wanted to address one of the more common complaints that has come up now and then regarding how some people see the Challenge and how it is handled by the A to Z Team.

         The issue I have in mind involves those who drop out of the April Challenge or those who cannot keep up.  This happens to a number of bloggers who enter the Challenge and when this has to be done they should not feel any shame, feelings of inadequacy or incompetence as a blogger, or anything else negative about themselves.   The intent of A to Z is not to humiliate or embarrass anyone, but merely to offer up a Challenge to bloggers who would like to test themselves in accepting this Challenge.

         My analogy is typically the running of a marathon.   Some people choose not to run in a marathon for reasons that should not fall under anyone's judgement.  You won't find me entering a marathon because for one thing I don't want to have a heart attack and for another I couldn't keep up even if my heart withstood the exertion.   Marathon running is not on my list of things I feel compelled to do and that's my business about which I feel no shame nor do I feel left out when marathon day comes to the Los Angeles area and it seems like most of the city is wrapped up in marathon activities.

         Same with A to Z--if you want to do it then go ahead and if you don't then don't and just don't make a big deal about any negatives of others doing it.  Compassion goes both ways.  No one should try to make you feel bad for not participating nor should you belittle the event and its participants if you choose not to be a part of it.

        However if you do say you're going to do the A to Z, you should make every effort to keep up as the Challenge calls for and to finish the event.   If you honestly can't then so be it, but to drop out and then try to disparage the Challenge is not right.  That's the same as trying to run a marathon and finding you can't keep going and then blaming the marathon for what you weren't able to do and then expressing your opinion that the marathon should go away because it makes some people feel bad.  If you can't do something then fine, but that doesn't mean others shouldn't do it and have to listen to negativity from others who don't like it.  Really now, the A to Z Challenge is not politics, but it's supposed to be fun.

       In fact, more than once I have heard some bloggers suggest that others have been quitting blogging because of the Challenge.  Some have suggested that bloggers have quit out of shame of not having been able to finish the Challenge, anger because the Challenge takes up all of April, or that A to Z has taken the fun out of blogging.   Are you kidding me?   I doubt that this is true, but if it is true for any bloggers then I think it is a statement on the bloggers who quit.  Their actions say nothing about A to Z.

       The concept of someone quitting blogging because some other bloggers like to participate in the A to Z Challenge is akin to me saying at Super Bowl time that because I don't like football and everyone seems to be wrapped up in the Super Bowl that it's taken away all enjoyment of life for me so now I'm going to crawl away into some darkened place because of my shame and humiliation and curl up and die.   No, it's not like that at all--I just do something else that I like to do while others watch the Super Bowl and talk about it endlessly before and afterwards.  Then later on life goes back to normal whatever normal life might mean.

Different Strokes or Do You Like Artichokes?

       What it all boils down to is that some people like some things and other people like other things and we should respect that.   You might blog about your dog, your job, your hobby, your ailments, or even your latest book and that's all well and fine.  If others are up to reading about your chosen topic that's okay while if others want to move on and read something else then that shouldn't be the end of anyone's world.  We should all be free to pursue our interests just so those interests don't actually interfere with anyone else's happiness.   And if you feel that someone else's interests are interfering with your own happiness then you might want to examine more closely to see how it is interfering, why you think it is interfering, and rationally assess if there is any actual interference or if you are perceiving things in an irrational manner.

        If a crowd is smiling and having fun because of some positive event then you too should be happy for them.  If you aren't feeling this and feeling somewhat alone then it's not because they have left you out, but you have rejected them and decided to alienate yourself from their positive atmosphere.   If this is what is happening then don't try to find what is bad about what others enjoy, but try to understand who you are and how your needs can be fulfilled without expecting others to make you happy.

         We are each in charge of our own happiness.

        In part two I will address the issue of compassion as it applies to the A to Z Team and participants.   And before anyone thinks that these posts are only A to Z Challenge related, let me reiterate what I've said on other occasions:  I see A to Z as a microcosmic activity that exemplifies life in general--how we approach A to Z and how we respond to it is reflected in our everyday behavior in work and personal life.   My hopes are that what I am saying in these posts will be seen as having a broader application than just in the A to Z Challenge.

       In general do you see the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge as being more of a positive or a negative thing?    Did you finish the 2015 Challenge or any past Challenge?    Did you ever start a Challenge (not necessarily A to Z) and have to drop out before it ended?   Either in finishing or quitting, how did you feel about about your performance in a Challenge and the outcome of what you did?

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impressive a to z bloggers and #BOTB Winner

         Before I go to naming the winner of my most recent Battle of the Bands showdown, I wanted to recognize a few of the A to Z participant blogs that particularly stood out for me.  As many of you might have noted in the A to Z Reflections posts, there are many of us who agreed that this April Challenge of 2015 was one of the best we've had so far.  Some of the content in the blogs of this Challenge was clever, thoughtful, fun, and in some cases rather amazing.

        I commend everyone who finished the Challenge.   I give acknowledgement to those who tried, but didn't quite make it.   And a special recognition to the following:

Rena at Doctor Fairy Godmother presented a complete A to Z Video series.  A daily video series meant not much writing on the blog, but her presentations were either very well improvised or scripted ahead of time.  Rena's delivery was engaging and had excellent content.  Rena has a good style.

A frequent commenter on my site is Michele from Angels Bark.   Like I am, Michele is a music fan and she put her love of music to work in her series  An A-Z Musical Tour of My Life.

Since I have a fascination with dreams I was very interested in the Dream series offered by Susan Scott at Garden of Eden.   She writes with depth and great intelligence.  I encourage you to check out her blog.

Andi-Roo at The World 4 Realz is a blogger whom I discovered a couple Challenges ago.  She's had some ups and downs recently and is still trying to make it to the end of the alphabet, but at least she's pushing onward and trying to get it done.  Maybe a few of you can stop by to cheer her on.

Visiting Maryann Holloway's If I Only Had a Time Machine is an education, but a fun one that is well worth one's time.  For the A to Z Challenge her theme was World War 2.  If you're a history buff and want your history delivered in an interesting way be sure to take a trip on Maryann's Time Machine.

One of the blogs that had me laughing out loud during April was The Ranting Monkey.  His A to Z posts are apparently not representative of what this blogger normally writes, but still now I'm curious as to what's going to be on the blog the rest of the year.

As one who loves food and eating out, I always enjoy a blog that talks about restaurants.  One of my favorite discoveries this year was The Chinese Quest, self described as "Five hungry Jewish guys on a quest to find the best Chinese restaurant on Long Island and NYC."   Mee Magnum is a clever blogger whose posts made me want to go back east and join them in their quest.  I encourage you to check out this very entertaining blog

      These are but a few of the terrific blogs I discovered this year and I could certainly go on and on and on.   If you haven't done so already, I encourage you to visit the links of those who joined in with their Reflection Posts to find many more great blog links.   And be sure to keep visiting The A to Z Challenge Blog for upcoming information about the journey ahead on the A to Z Road Trip where you can discover some of the blogs you missed during April.

      My recent Battle pitting versions of "Je Crois Entendre Encore" by David Gilmour against Alison Moyet is one that I've had waiting on hold for over a year.  In fact this is a pairing that came to my mind from the point when I first began presenting Battle of the Bands pairings.  Since the song is an aria from an opera it seemed like it might be tough for many listeners.  In fact I noticed that some of my usual voters were absent for this round of competition.  Were they put off by the operatic nature of my selection?

        As one voter Sheboyganboy Six said in his comment:

I know that if you featured ACTUAL opera arias in your BOTBs, probably a bunch of people would skip voting, but I would like the battle better every time!

        Perhaps Mr. Six is correct not only from the standpoint of using actual operatic artists, but even using opera as performed by popular artists.  For many people, myself included, opera is not an overwhelmingly favorite genre of music.  Opera is a musical style that requires some amount of patience as well as an appreciation that often calls for some education about the form along with adapting ones ears to what sometimes comes across as a somewhat alien means of musical expression. 

         Though I cannot cite any statistics, my guess is that a vast majority of people would say that they do not like opera. These numbers would probably be far higher than the numbers of those who would say they don't like classical music which would also be a percentage that would comprise the majority of people.  The talent of the operatic singer is typically respected by audiences, but the music is not the music of choice of most of us.

          Nevertheless there are certain pieces coming out of the realm of opera that are so exquisite that they transcend any aversion to the genre of opera to be able to be appreciated by most who hear the music.  I believe that "Je Crois Entendre Encore" is such a piece of music.  The melody performed by a pop artist extends beyond opera into an ethereal realm that one can accept as beautiful music for the modern listener.

The Contestants

           David Gilmour and Alison Moyet are both very capable artists who present this Bizet aria with equally high degrees of musical skill and professionalism.   For most of the voters it seemed to come down to some genuine quality of Gilmour's voice as opposed to some displeasing quality of Moyet's voice.  On the other hand, there were those voters who found Moyet's voice to be soothing, expressive, and more controlled.  In essence the voting was primarily influenced by a preference of vocal style with some sway factor coming from the instrumental backing.  

         For me this was a very tough decision that took me back and forth.   Gilmour is a sentimental favorite for me as his version of the song was the one to which I had first exposure as a pop interpretation.  I've watched his video repeatedly and I'm a long time fan of David Gilmour's music.  That an artist with Gilmour's pop music stature took this amazing piece of music and performed it with such credibility in concert is to me a wondrous thing.

          But then there is Moyet with her tremendous vocal control.  Unlike many voters, I enjoy the deep sound of her voice--"mellifluous" as one voter indicated.   In the Moyet version I particularly like the instrumentation.   I particularly like the marimba and glockenspiel so uniquely added to the arrangement.  The strings, almost identically arranged as the voices in the Gilmour version, add a truly beautiful haunting accompaniment to Moyet's vocal.

         As I have said, this is a difficult decision for me.  I'm tempted to just throw up my hands and declare my vote a tie as I adore both versions.  However if I must choose then I'm going to go with my greater sense of the musical purist and go with Alison Moyet.  This helps her advance in the race, but still not enough for the win.  But this was a close race indeed.

Final Tally

David Gilmour           14 votes

Alison Moyet             12 votes

A New Battle Coming Soon!

         Next Friday May 15th I will have a Battle of the Bands pairing that led me to some curious findings.  My next Battle will be a piece from the film that I will be presenting as my entry in the Blood, Boobs, and Carnage Blogfest hosted by Alex J Cavanaugh and Heather Gardner on Monday May 18th.  I hope you find this next Battle to be interesting.

        Have you visited any of the blogs that I highlighted from A to Z?   Have you ever watched a complete opera?    Would you be likely to refrain from voting if I presented two versions of a musical piece in a genre with which you were unfamiliar or did not particularly like?

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A to Z Reflections: What Participants Say

       Since this is my sixth Challenge that means I've already done 5 years worth of Reflections and in some years those Reflections were broken down into a multi-part series of analytical posts about the Challenge.  Anything I would say this year would only be repetition of what I've said in the past.  If you're really interested in some of my A to Z thoughts then please go back to the Reflections of previous years.

       As with every year there have been the detractors and naysayers about A to Z.  Some of their issues I am empathetic with while some are decidedly silly in my opinion.  I'm always willing to discuss these negatives but mostly these are something to do with the complaining blogger and not to any inherent deficiency of the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge.  This Challenge remains a mighty event that many love, some accept, and more that a few benefit from.

      Also I would be remiss in failing to thank the extraordinary efforts put forth by our dedicated A to Z Team of co-hosts as well as my own Ambassadors and all of the rest of the Minions, Muffins, and other volunteer helpers who put hours into trying to make this Challenge of 2015 run smoothly.  It's still not perfect, but it's still pretty excellent.

       So instead of me saying the same things I usually say, I'm going to let some you in the A to Z Community speak.   Here are some quotes gathered from comments and other sources:

I started blogging again because of this challenge. I abandoned my blog for far too long, but I had not previously connected with other bloggers. I only shared each new post with my friends, so I hope I didn't disappoint too many visitors. Participating in this has reminded me how much I enjoy writing and it has also given many great ideas about posting more regularly.Thanks for being such an excellent host, Arlee!

         Elizabeth @ Liz's Random Ponderings

I write what I know most about. That would be me and my life’s experiences. During this challenge, however, I wrote fictional pieces and it was fun.

Now, especially having finished the challenge, (yay!) I am thinking about new directions my blog may be taking.

This is the way I feel about my blog. There are two people who I know will faithfully read my posts, no matter what. That would be me and my greatest supporter, my husband. I have a feeling that there isn’t any other single person who is waiting with bated breath for my next bit of pearls of wisdom or that it will change their life in any way if I am not expounding that day.

WAIT! Don’t stop reading yet.

What I love about this challenge is that I re-discover how much I like to write. What I love about writing is the journey. This challenge puts me back on track to do something that I love.

I can’t tell you how much writing changes my outlook on life. Well I can tell you, or write about it. :) Thanks for this challenge!

Lynda Grace at Lynda Grace An Hour Away

Having the feeling of victory over something that is a little bit harder than we thought is like a crowning jewel and would be cherished for quite a long time.
When I joined this A-Z Challenge I never knew that I could come up with such topics and express my feelings I don't usually do.
I guess I would that I'm victorious in this challenge and thank you for letting me in.. 'til next year! ♥

Teresa Dosado at Whatever Makes You Happy

Some haven't finished but haven't given up!

Not only will i participate again next year, but it’s inspired me to blog using the A to Z concept but with specific themes – e.g. travel, food, jobs, etc. It might take me more than 26 days to get through each theme, but it’s given me the motivation I’ve needed for a long time to start writing more, and more consistently. thanks!    IsItReally2015

Oh, Arlee,...You’re so kind, thank you for your continued support. I know I am eons behind, but this challenge has taught me a lot. Even if it closes and I’m not done, I am determined to address my topics, still. They are all very important to me personally and professionally, and I have A-to-Z to thank for getting me back into the groove of writing articles again. Thanks again for everything!

Rhetorical Redhead

Jeffrey Scott  used Ranting as his A to Z theme but no rant about his feelings for the A to Z Challenge:

What a great month. I've had a lot of fun participating. I'll definitely be back next year. Met a lot of great blogs and bloggers. Looking forward to reading continually their updates.
Hopefully, I'll be one of those others have been glad to get to know.
Keep up your great work here! Enjoyed your thoughts this month.

J.A. Scott

There were those who kept their thoughts short and sweet:

D.G. Hudson said:
Nice badge. I'll post it in my sidebar! This was my most fun challenge.
Rainforest Writing



Karen Mortensen said
This was a good challenge for me. I am glad I did it. Can't wait till next year. 

I Made It Through the Day

bookworm said: 

This was my first A to Z but it won't be my last - I will be reflecting on Monday about just how much I enjoyed doing this I haven't felt this energized about blogging in a long time. 
Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com




Dixie@dcrelief
Truly a positive experience! Thank you A-Z Team!!

Remove the Rose Colored Glasses

Then we heard such encouraging thoughts as these:  

Mee Magnum said
Lee, thank you for your very kind words! It was a blast to be a part of and so much fun to come up with subjects for some letters. Definitely helped stretch my noggin’
I’m so glad I discovered this. GREAT work in putting it together and keeping it running year after year.
Mee Magnum at The Chinese Quest

I am both sad and relieved that the blogging challenge came to its end. It’s been an amazing month. I feel I’ve grown as a blogger and as a person in the short space of time.

My fear around blogging has decreased dramatically. Every time I published a blog post in the past, I felt there would be nothing to write about the next time I decide to blog. I am pleased to say, the challenge proved me wrong.

Dr Gulara Vincent

I think this simple statement sums up things nicely:

Another successful year. I can't imagine an April without the challenge.

Delores at Under the Porch Light

Find other Reflections Here:
**************


*************


ON Wednesday May 6th

     Please try to come back to Tossing It Out for this Wednesday's Insecure Writer's Support Group.  I need some help with some research that I'm currently working on and will be offering a very brief survey for you to answer.  The questions are writing related and something in which you might have an interest.  Please help if you can with just a couple minutes of your time.




Please Vote Now!

      If you have not yet voted on my current Battle of the Bands I hope you will visit here and cast your vote.  The winner will be announced on this coming Friday May 8th.

*****

Zoology (Elements of Blogging) #AtoZChallenge

     Zombies seem like a natural blog theme since there is so much popularity in this genre, but Zoology might be an even better topic.  The photo opportunities are endless and nearly everyone enjoys seeing animals and learning about their behavior.

     Since there are zoos throughout the world, just focusing on different zoos offers a wealth of material that can keep a blog going for a long time.  Even concentrating on one large zoo you will never run out of information and news about that one location.  The famous San Diego Zoo has several blogs affiliated with it (see link below), but there's no reason why anyone else couldn't step in with their own blog on this zoo or some other well known zoo.

      The final letter of the alphabet might be limiting as far as number of themes you can use, but zoology is virtually unlimited in its range.  For that matter, a blogger can certainly go a long way using zombies as a theme.

Some Zoology Blogs:

Animal Bliss

San Diego Zoo Blogs

Bizarre Zoology

Still on the Track

Wild Woman's Wolfpack


 Now that We've Reached Z End?

      What's next?

A to Z Reflections Post

       The A to Z Reflections Post is a tradition that began after the first 2010 Challenge.  This is the time when you tell about your experiences with the Challenge, share blogs that you found particularly interesting, and register your complaints or compliments about A to Z.   You can tell us all about the good as well as the bad.  The Reflections Post Linky List will go up on Monday May 4th.   You can put up your reflections post anytime after the Challenge is over up until Friday May 8th and then after the List has gone live you add the link leading directly to your Reflections post.   That's important so I hope you're paying attention.   The Reflection Post Linky List links need to lead directly to your Reflections post and not to your general blog URL.

One More Thing!

       Also, if you've survived the 2015 Blogging from A to Z April Challenge why not order a t-shirt to let everyone know about your accomplishment!   T-shirt worthy warm weather is upon us and you can start some conversation about your blogging at your summer outings or while just out and about.  Become a walking A to Z Challenge billboard and provide an opening to talk about your own blog.   You might get some new readers while you're at it!

        To order your A to Z Survivor Tee visit A to Z Challenge Survivor.  

 




A to Z!!   What a challenge it has been!


.

You (Elements of Blogging) #AtoZChallenge

        Blogging about yourself can be a risky endeavor if you are looking for a far-reaching long-lasting audience.  All-about-me blogging can be a bore to many readers if not handled in an interesting manner and sometimes self-revelation is not the best thing for you to be doing in relation to your professional life and personal privacy.

         What I'm talking about is not memoir blogging or professional profile blogging, but more of a public peek into your private diary or your state of mind.  Some of the blogs of this nature that I've read can be intriguing if not a bit discomfiting.  There can be a titillating soap opera nature of such a blog, but after a while such a blog can seem to be going nowhere slowly.

          Still, blogging about yourself can have potential if done correctly.  My advice would be to devise some sort of purpose to what you are trying to achieve with your personal blog.  Also I think in order to keep others interested you must find a way to connect with readers to make your own experience relatable to theirs.   If the reader doesn't get what you are saying then you are likely to lose them fairly quickly.

         A blog about you can work, but my suggestion is to proceed with caution, keep track of your audience, and be ready to change if you see the blog isn't working.

         How much about yourself are you willing to disclose on your blog?   Do you feel uncomfortable or intrigued when a blogger starts discussing very personal issues?    Do you think egocentric blogs are overly indulgent?


Blogging about self:

Laughing at Life, 2 (about self during A to Z)

Kay Gets Crafty (also an A to Z me theme)

Klahanie Blog

X-Files (Elements of Blogging) #AtoZChallenge

         Certain popular television shows as well as movies and other pop movements with cult followings can make for interesting blogging that can reap a number of followers.  Much like the membership base of fan clubs, a popular culture blog can tap into a ready made audience of those interested in whatever topic is being followed.

        The X-Files certainly fits into this category with television shows, movies, books, and other merchandising available to fans around the world.   With the announcement by Fox Entertainment of new X-File episodes returning to the air there is a revived interest in the series.   This X-Files revival provides an opening for new blog opportunities for anyone with a strong interest in the series or inside knowledge about the behind the scenes production scoops.

          Fan blogs like the ones centered on The X-Files can likewise be found about topics as diverse as Star Trek, Game of Thrones, soap operas, reality shows, and many other popular shows, movies, and published entertainment franchises.

          Are you an X-Files fan?   Do you keep up with any fan blogs?   If you were considering your own fan blog what topic might you consider?  
             

Blogs that may or may not be about the X-Files:

The Waiting Is the Hardest Part (X-Files is her A to Z Theme)

My Truth...An X-Files Blog

The X-Files Lexicon Blog

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• X Files (curationclub.com)
• Monday Q&A: Science fiction and fantasy at Mercyhurst with Rachel Masters (goerie.com)
• 'The X-Files' Returns To TV As Six-Episode Event Series (techtimes.com)

Walmart (Elements of Blogging) #AtoZChallenge

Walmart on Blogs

       Of all of the businesses that people blog about, Walmart might generate the most online chatter.  Beloved by many and demonized by others, the mega monster chain has blogs in it's favor and blogs of detractors as well as company blogs that promote Walmart from the inside.  When you start searching you can find many blogs focused on Walmart.

       Originally I had not intended on using Walmart as my "W" topic until a very suspicious thing happened with my local Walmart that is an anchor store in the shopping center across the street from where I live.   To me going to Walmart is somewhat of a hassle so I usually only shop there once or twice a month.  However they offer much cheaper prices on certain items so I tend to shop for these at Walmart instead of the higher priced grocery store where I do the majority of my food shopping.

Suspicious Walmart Incident

      Probably few of you heard of the situation to which I am referring, but I'll tell you the story and then let you come up with your own conclusions.   On Thursday April 16 I heard mention on the radio that the employees of the Pico Rivera Walmart were protesting at a nearby hotel where a labor meeting was underway discussing the status of our closed store.  Closed?   I had not heard that they had closed.

        Apparently on Tuesday April 14th with 5 hours notice to the employees, the store management announced that the store would be closing for an undetermined period of time in order to fix ongoing plumbing problems.   The estimate was that they could be closed for up to 6 months.  Some employees could have the option of moving to other store locations, but many would be out of work.  This all with only 5 hours notice.   They just happened to make the decision to start repairing the plumbing that quickly?

         Now curious, I began researching online for any information about this closure and what I discovered next amazed me and left me very suspicious.  Besides our Pico Rivera Walmart, the corporation simultaneously closed four other stores in the same manner--four stores across the U.S. in Oklahoma City, two stores in Texas, and one in Florida.  Looking at a map these stores are somewhat evenly distributed across the southern United States.   Some strategic connection could be construed by looking at where these stores are in relation to each other.   The plumbing alibi at five different stores across the United States doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

        Conspiracy theories abound on this story and anyone who has been reading Tossing It Out for a few years probably knows that anything conspiratorial catches my attention, especially when corporate America or the United States government is implicated.  When you add religious prophecy then you've really got my attention.  All of these things start coming into play with the Walmart story.

What Is Walmart Up To?

        The most immediate reaction to why these stores had closed was that it was a sort of punishment to labor and a warning to the unions to back off.   As I had reported here on November 23rd of 2012 in a post called Does Walmart Deserve a Whipping?, our local store was one of the targets of the labor movement against the Walmart corporation.

      The jabs at Walmart by labor have continued ever since at the Pico Rivera store and reportedly at the other stores recently closed for plumbing problems.  Using the store closures as a retaliatory action against labor seems like a feasible corporate strategy, but on the other hand a questionable one that could backfire in a number of ways.  The labor angle sounded possible, but I wasn't buying that explanation so I went further down the crazy rabbit hole of the internet.

A More Sinister Walmart Conspiracy?

       My next investigations into Walmart connected the current events to suspicious reports dating back over the past few years.  Google and YouTube are rife with stories about underground tunnels crisscrossing the United States for the purposes of troop movements and underground cities being built in case of some above ground catastrophic event.

       This tunnel theory starts sounding a bit fantastical, but there is somewhat convincing evidence that it can be done more easily than most of us might think and that it has actually been achieved to some degree and this work is currently underway throughout the United States.  When we consider the research now being done with  ETT (evacuated tube transport) that is developing super trains that could potentially run at speeds up to 1800 MPH, we can see how a vast tunnel system would be necessary for this type of technology to be practical.

         Some wild theories now abound that the closure of the Walmart stores have nothing to do with plumbing, but the Walmart Corporation is in league with the U.S. government to use the locations in conjunction with work currently being done on the tunnel systems.  This is all far-fetched sounding and even impractical from the standpoint of why they would need tunnels that intersected Walmart locations.  Then again Walmart is known for their highly efficient supply chain management strategy (Vendor Managed Inventory) that requires an intricate web of transportation and warehousing.  The Walmart model of operating has certainly not gone unnoticed by the U.S. government.  Besides how much do you trust the U.S. government or any corporations these days?

       I won't go into too much detail in this post since I want to keep what is turning into a long article from becoming even longer.  If you're interested you can do your own searches about the tunnel theories.  But there is another sinister report that has come out that I think is worth a mention.

FEMA Detention Camps!!!

       Either there are some people with wild imaginations out there who are trying to scare us or there is some element of truth to the story.   Some of you have heard the rumors of government sponsored FEMA camps being organized around the country to be ready for some future event that will require rounding up large sectors of the population and placing them in camps or detention centers.  It's happened in other places throughout history.  Could it happen now in the United States of America?

       There have been plenty of scenarios related to epidemics, natural disasters, civil unrest, foreign invasion, or the collapse of the power grid that could be motivations for the government to move populations into controlled areas to establish control and order.  Any of these threats could potentially cause a chaotic state among the populace to the point where government would feel compelled to avoid the chaos that would likely ensue from any of these disasters.

        The temporary closings of the Walmart stores have caused some to speculate that these sites might be getting retrofitted to act as detention centers that might be needed in the near future.  In the event of the collapse of the infrastructure in the area where I live, I believe that this as well as all urban areas would be especially frightening as people struggle to survive.  A detention center manned by government control officials might be seen as necessary to stabilize the societal deterioration.   Has Walmart become complicit in helping to organize authoritarian rule of the people?

         When you think about it, the Walmart machine is highly efficient at logistical movement of supplies, management of labor, crowd control. and organizational structure.  A nation governed by a corporation or network of corporations is not unforeseeable and probably is in place already to some extent.   Are you looking forward to being moved into a control center managed by the U.S. Government/Walmart?

Shmita!

       No this is not some profane utterance, but a principle of Judaism that I will not go into detail about here.  You can look it up.  And why am I bringing this up in relation to the Walmart Conspiracy?

        A few days prior to the Walmart closing and my investigations into all the crazy sounding conspiracies, I happened to flip the television on to some show about Bible prophecy where they were talking about things like "the Blood Moon", Shmita, the Rapture, and the Tribulation. (Again I offer these terms with no explanations but Google can explain to the uninitiated.)

       The guy on TV was telling about how the next seven year cycle culminating in Shmita would be coming this September of 2015. He said at the end of every seven year cycle there is an economic downturn, the most recent being 2001 and 2008 which some of you probably recall as being somewhat bad economic years.  The TV prophet added that this year the Shmita would correspond with a blood moon, which some of you might recognize as something with prophetic implications.

        The upshot of all the prophecies was that in September we will be seeing the biggest economic collapse ever and perhaps the collapse of the U.S. as we know it.  There will be chaos and martial law will be declared with government troops fanning out across the nation to take control of every community.

        Okay, I know that now some of you are thinking I'm heading into Crazy Town, but I'm just telling you things I heard and observations I have made.   One thing that did come to mind when the Walmart story emerged was that if the stores open in six months as projected, that would be in September just in time for the Blood Moon, Shmita, and martial law being administrated due to a chaotic state resulting from everything falling apart.  They would need dentition camps and strategic networks for movement of troops and supplies.

          Yes, wild sounding I know, but could it happen?   If anything I think there is some great material here for some dystopian fiction.   I hope it's fiction.

          Have you heard about the Walmart closures, the tunnel network, or Shmita?   Why do you think the Walmart stores have been closed for an approximately six month period?   Do you read any of the Walmart related blogs?

Blogs about Walmart (can you believe it?):

Walmart Is Pure Evil

Walmart Watch

Walmart Blog  (official company site)

Walmart Sucks

I Heart the Mart  (coupons and deals)

The People of Walmart  (hilarious and at times unbelievable though true)

...And the list goes on...

Related articles

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• Former Presidents Warn About the "Invisible Government" Running the United States
• Workers say Walmart closed stores to retaliate against activists