It’s been a tough year for the world and a tough year at Chez Ian (cancer, housing issues, blah.) Personally, I’m just beginning to recover from cancer treatment, though some of it will be ongoing, and sucking, for another six to twelve months. China, deciding to the right thing (Zero Covid) stupid, is now releasing some restrictions and that’s going to go badly. Russia invaded Ukraine, ground forward and will likely wind up with less than it’d like and more than the West wanted.
Europe has been the big loser in the Ukraine war, which many of us predicted, and is looking forward to a brrrrrr, and very expensive winter, hosting a few million more Ukrainian refugees and watching some of its most important industries move away, while in America they’re looking forward to receiving said industry and smiling happily about how the EU is not firmly in the US camp.
It’s been a busy and important year, and I have covered, ummm, some of it, and said some things that needed to be said.
So it’s fundraising time. I did an emergency fundraiser earlier in this year, and I’m grateful at how people helped me. About $2,300 was raised, so that’s where the fundraising total for the annual fundraiser starts, as the intention was never to raise more money, just to move it to where I needed it.
The goal this year is $11,000.
If we hit $6,500, I’ll write a big summary article on the world’s current position and outlook, and if we hit $11,000 I’ll write an article on reasons for hope for humanity’s future.
Most years I have more tiers than that, but I have articles left from last years fundraiser. They’ll get done, my word on it, and I’ll excuse myself by mumbling “ummm, cancer and radiation and so on”. I don’t want to add too much to the pile, but the articles above are the highest level summary articles I can write.
It’s also true that if you like my writing and want to see more of it, it’s donating or subscribing (like everyone I like subscriptions) that tells me “write more at the blog.”
My current plans for the blog include more articles about what can be done, along with more book reviews.
Anyway, it’s been a lousy year, but I hope it’s been a good one for you personally. As always, if your financial situation is such that you’re worried about your own necessities, please don’t give!