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The Weekly Readlines May 18
Click for the audio version. Narration provided by WondervoxAI.
The Weekly Readlines (rhymes with headlines!) is a feature at LGBTSr providing news you can use every week.
BIG CUP: THE WEEK’S TOP STORIES
The terror from Tallahassee continues: Wilton Manors’ board of commissioners voted unanimously to force compliance of Florida’s anti-drag law for their upcoming Pride parade. There will be no queens on floats this year.Fallout continues from CNN’s clown hall, complete with its audience of hyenas, while right-wing extremists once known as the Republican Party celebrate it as a win.
A 3-judge panel of the 5th Circuit appears ready to reveal itself as the idealogues they are and limit or ban the use if Mifepristone. And mass shootings continued as a daily presence in American life.
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The Twist Podcast #225: CNN’s Clown Hall Fail, Single Serve Bathrooms, and the Great American Pickleball Divide
Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose as we torch CNN’s clown hall fail, encourage the spread of single serve bathrooms, and consider the great pickleball debate tearing the country apart.
Enjoy The Twist on Libsyn, iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, and TheTwistPodcast.com.
Copyright 2023 MadeMark Publishing
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LGBTSr Now Includes Audio Versions of All Posts to Better Serve Readers (and Listeners!)
Click to hear audio version. Narration provided by WondervoxAI.
If you’re like me and your eyes aren’t always in the mood to focus properly, audio can be a way to make things more accessible. This is certainly true of those of us into our 60s and beyond. I’ve heard from readers who are visually impaired, or who have trouble reading fonts. Now I can offer them something that makes LGBTSr inclusive of our readers, and our listeners, too!
Every post, article, and news item will include an audio version. Simply click on the audio file at the top of each item, and enjoy the narration. I’m currently using my own venture, WondervoxAI, to provide the voices. The technology is exciting for a tech nerd like me, and the opportunities it offers to be more efficient and provide more service to various audiences is pretty amazing.
Fasten your headphones!
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Springing Into Joy: It’s Time To Plant Your Garden and Experience Nature’s Bounty
Click for audio version. Narration by WondervoxAI.
By Mark McNease
The arrival of spring is a welcome sight for gardeners everywhere. After the long winter months, it’s time to get outside and start planting your garden. Not only can you enjoy the beauty of nature as new plants bloom but you can also reap the rewards of fresh produce in your own backyard! Planting a garden in spring is an ideal way to celebrate the season and experience all its bounty.
One of the best parts about gardening in spring is that there are so many different types of plants that thrive during this time of year. Vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers and beans do especially well when planted early on in springtime. Herbs like basil, thyme and oregano will add flavor to whatever dish you decide to cook up with your harvest while flowers like roses, daisies and tulips will bring vibrant colors into any outdoor space.
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Bethlehem Steels the Show: A Day Trip to the SteelStacks, Wind Creek Casino, and the Historic Bethlehem District
Mark McNease
I had some awareness of Bethlehem, PA, mostly because of the casino, now called Wind Creek Bethlehem. But a friend recently told us about her visit to the SteelStacks, complete with a tour of the magnificent rusting behemoth of the Bethlehem Steel plant, and we decided to make a day trip of it. It’s only about a 50 minute drive from our home, so it was easy, and very well worth it. It was the perfect definition of a one-day getaway. We walked over 20,000 steps (each, not combined!), as we strolled along the walkway abutting the massive factory, headed to the casino, then back and over the river to the north side of Bethlehem. There is a south side and we’re saving that for next time!
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Savvy Senior: Best Dating Apps for Retirees
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
Can you recommend some good online dating apps or sites for retirees? I’m a 66-year-old widow and would like to find a new friend to spend time with, but don’t know where to turn.
Cautious Carol
Dear Carol,
Whether you’re interested in dating again or just looking for a friend to spend time with, online dating sites and apps have become an easy and convenient way for older adults to meet new single people without ever having to leave home.
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Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market Reopens at Dvoor Farm
Mark McNease
After a week of rain, it was a delight to get out in the Sunday sun. Planting in our garden could wait a few hours – first we had to hit the farmers’ market at Dvoor Farm for opening day. Bread, pizza, fresh produce, soaps! We were welcomed by a dozen local artisans and merchants, offering salves for the rain-weary soul. More vendors will come on board as the weeks pass, making this farmers’ market the local treasure it’s been for years. Stop by, browse, say hello, and support the Hunterdon Land Trust while you do!
The Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ Market is officially reopened at Dvoor Farms in Raritan Township on Sunday, May 7. After a long winter of waiting, you’ll now be able to enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers as well as homemade goods from talented artisans, thanks to the Hunterdon Land Trust. Whether you’re in search of a weekly grocery shop stop or just looking for an afternoon stroll with friends, this lively marketplace has it all. Reach out to your neighbors and get ready for an incredible day filled with unique wares and delicious food – the Hunterdon Land Trust Farmers’ market awaits!
This historic farm is a popular destination for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and take advantage of what nature has to offer. Learn all about the history, attractions, activities, and amenities that make this farm so special. Explore the grounds with its picturesque scenery, visit the on-site store for some old-fashioned goodies, or join in one of the many events held throughout the year.
Whether you’re looking for a unique wedding venue, an educational opportunity for your children, or an escape from the everyday grind, Dvoor Farms has something for everyone. Learn about its history and discover what makes this farm one of New Jersey’s best-kept secrets. Enjoy all that nature has to offer by taking advantage of the many activities available at Dvoor Farms, such as the farm’s historic walking tour, hay rides and corn mazes, nature trails and fishing ponds. You can also take part in special events held throughout the year, like “Bluegrass Jams” on summer evenings or live music performances during Apple Picking Season. At Dvoor Farms, you can also pick your own apples and other fruits as well as buy fresh produce from the on-site market.
With a wide range of activities and amenities to enjoy, Dvoor Farms is an ideal destination for those looking to get away from it all. Whether you’re visiting for a day or planning an extended stay.
Copyright MadeMark Publishing
Contact: Mark @ MadeMarkPublishing -
The Twist Podcast #224: Supreme Court Corruption, Slaughter in the Produce Section, and An Interview with Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford
Mark/Rick/The Twist
Addiotion Reporting by Android J.Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose as we resign ourselves to the corruption of Clarence “Teapot” Thomas and the Supreme Court, consider the mass shooting craze sweeping America, and dig Rick’s interview with Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford, the first trans alder for Madison, WI.
About Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford
Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford is an inspiring figure in the Madison, Wisconsin community. A tireless advocate for social justice and education, she has dedicated her life to helping those who are most vulnerable in the city. Additionally, Dina also works with local businesses to provide job training and employment opportunities for communities of color in Madison. Her leadership has been a beacon of hope for many marginalized people living in Madison, Wisconsin who are looking to make a brighter future for themselves and their families.
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Savvy Senior: How to Prepare a Will
By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
I would like to make my last will and testament and would like to know if I can do it myself, or do I need to hire a lawyer?
Don’t Have Much
Dear Don’t,
Very good question! Almost everyone needs a will, but only around one-third of American have actually prepared one. Having a last will and testament is important because it ensures your money and property will be distributed to the people you want to receive it after your death.
If you die without a will (a.k.a. dying “intestate”), your estate will be settled in accordance with state law. Details vary by state, but assets typically are distributed using a hierarchy of survivors i.e., first to a spouse, then to children, then your siblings, and so on.
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Book Review: Gentleman Bandit: The True Story of Black Bart, the Old West’s Most Infamous Stagecoach Robber, by John Boessenecker
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
The Bookworm SezGentleman Bandit: The True Story of Black Bart, the Old West’s Most Infamous Stagecoach Robber, by John Boessenecker
c.2023, Hanover Square Press $32.99 376 pagesHere, take this.
It’s yours. You’ve always wanted it, you’ve always known somehow that you were going to have it and now’s the time. It’s not like you’ve ever passed on a chance to seize what you want, so go ahead – just take it. But as in the new book, “Gentleman Bandit” by John Boessenecker, remember your manners.
On the morning of July 26, 1875, stage coach driver John Shine was stopped on a short route up a mountain by what he thought was a large band of desperadoes with rifles. One of them, a man dressed in white clothing, head masked, his boots wrapped in rags to conceal his footprints, demanded that Shine throw down the coach’s lockboxes and mail bags – which Shine did, with great haste before he was told to “Drive on.”
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Self-Publishing: The Wide Distribution Versus Kindle Unlimited Debate
Mark McNeaseI’ve been a self-published (independent) author and publisher for over 12 years now, and I still vacillate between making my books available widely or keeping them exclusive to Kindle Unlimited. I’m in the go-wide-phase now, with my books available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Smashwords, and through various audiobook retailers via Findaway Voices. I’ve even begun publishing AI-narrated audiobooks through Kobo, with one up and more to follow.
The biggest advantage for authors to being Kindle-exclusive are the Kindle Unlimited reads: subscribers pay Amazon a monthly charge to read unlimited eBooks, and the authors get (literally) pennies per page read. That was fine for a long time, since it can make up a significant percentage of the author’s monthly royalty payment. But it can also feel like a cage, and for someone like me who wants to roam freely and explore any and all options, the time came to put-up-or-shut-up. I have enough of a catalogue, and enough projects in the works, to take the plunge once again and stay there. Here are some pros and cons of the wide-versus-exclusive debate that never seems to fade.
Self-publishing Widely vs. Being Exclusive to Kindle Unlimited – A Comprehensive Comparison
With the proliferation of electronic publishing and self-publishing platforms, authors now have the option to choose between publishing their work exclusively on Amazon Kindle or going wide by publishing on multiple platforms. Here are some pros and cons of both options.
Kindle Unlimited
Kindle Unlimited (KU) is a subscription-based service offered by Amazon that allows readers to read an unlimited number of books for a monthly fee. Books enrolled in the Kindle Unlimited program are exclusive to Amazon, providing authors with a higher revenue share of the subscription fees.
Advantages:
1. Higher Revenue Share: For books enrolled in KU, authors receive a higher revenue share from the subscription fees than books sold on the store.
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An Introduction to Dreamshaping
Introduction
“All things are of the substance of dreams.” For many years that has been my personal mantra, my code, if you will, to live and dream by. Explaining what this means is tricky. I’ll start with saying what it does not mean: It does not mean that nothing we experience is real. It does not mean we should rely on wishful thinking to create the kinds of lives we want to live. In my experience, wishes are for birthday cakes, fleeting and usually unrealized unless the odds of them coming true were already in our favor. It does not mean life is free from struggle, or that the dream of it is meaningless because we’re just going to wake up someday and realize we never existed.
Life as we experience it is the ultimate lucid dream—those dreams in which we become aware that we’re dreaming. We look around us in the dream we’re having, and we understand within the dream that we have the power to create it, frame by frame. We are suddenly unbound by the rules of everyday life, in which options are few and our days are filled with things we must do: work at jobs we don’t really like, meet obligations we would prefer to be free from, remain in relationships that are poisoning us, and generally live in a state of low-grade helplessness. The world is going mad! Polarization and politicization, partisanship and mistrust, lives that feel like a grind, wearing us down as we endure them rather than celebrate them. We hope to survive to that end of the tunnel we’ve been travelling toward, where light, and Social Security, and freedom are enjoyed for a few golden years that rush by like water over a dam. But then, if we want to, we wake up in the dream and realize it’s a dream. We’re not truly stuck. We can make choices. We can be our own dream guides, leading ourselves each day as we both live this dream and create it.
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The Joys of Coming Home
Mark McNease/Robot Intern
Nothing beats the feeling of coming home after a wonderful vacation. It’s like being reunited with an old friend – your own familiar bed! But beyond the sweet embrace of relaxation and comfort, there are many other things to love about coming home from a much-needed break.
One of the best parts about coming back is the stories you have to share with your family and friends. Who doesn’t love retelling their adventures from vacation? And if you come back with souvenirs, even better. I always get coffee cups, T-shirts and hats: inexpensive and simple reminders of where we’ve been.
Coming home also gives us the opportunity to attend to our day-to-day needs that missed while we weree away. From the taste of home-cooked meals, to catching up on our favorite shows, it’s nice to be able to return to normalcy and routine after a week or two in as different environment.
Most of all, coming back from vacation gives us time to reflect and appreciate everything we have. Even though we may have seen some amazing places, and experienced new people and sights, it’s always nice to come home. There’s no place like it!
So next time you’re off to explore the world, be sure to enjoy the journey, and savor the homecoming. Together, they’re two of life’s greatest pleasures. Happy travels!