Mark McNease

In the wake of Elon Musk’s takeover and ruination of Twitter, and his decision to allow the free flow of misinformation and hate speech, millions of users are looking for alternatives. The one I’ve settled on is called Mastodon. Not only does it have a cute cartoon Mastodon logo, it’s a good opportunity to start over. Gone are the thousands of random Twitter follows and followers. I’m finding like-minded people, politically and creatively, to add to a much smaller and engaged list.

It’s not for everyone, and there are other options out there, but I’m liking it. It’s not a single, for-profit company. It’s open-sourced, and once you create an account you will need to choose from a dizzying array of servers, all of which are connected to Mastodon. I’m on the “mastodon.world” server. Don’t be overly confused by that, all the users are connected, so you don’t need to be on someone else’s server to follow or be followed by them. And a great selling point is that most of the servers, hosted by individuals, have strong-to-strict content guidelines to prevent the sort of pollution swallowing Twitter.

It’s a learning curve, but it’s a nice sense of renewal, and a great escape from the Twitterverse that is sure to only get darker, uglier, and more toxic.

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Dr. Hurley is the National Medical Director for AmeriVet Veterinary Partners. He will be a guest on Cat Talk Radio monthly to answer your medical questions about cats! We’re very excited to welcome him to the show and look forward to many engaging episodes as he shares his knowledge.

About Cat Talk Radio

Cat Talk Radio is all about cats, what makes them do what they do, why they occasionally misbehave and what cat guardians can do to fix it. We educate you on how to modify unwanted cat behavior by providing the proper environment and stimulation, enabling cats to express their natural behaviors in ways that are preferable for both the humans and cats. You will learn how to have fun with your cat, fascinating cat facts and be inspired to try new things, which will lead to a happier relationship and closer bond with your cat. We’ll also call attention to the plight of cats in our country, feel compassion for their challenges and share the message.

A big leap of faith! I’ve started my first Kindle Vella serial. The platform is an Amazon Kindle offering that allows readers to enjoy one chapter at a time of what could be a novel, a novella, or a short story. I’ve been especially creative this year, and I’ve wanted to branch out. This is a good start, and an excellent challenge: I must write at least one chapter a week for this. I’m aiming to get two out each week, same day for consistency and growing some fans, but for now it’s one chapter a week.

Please check it out at the Kindle Vella store. The first three chapters will be free for any Vella story. Also, PLEASE RATE IT, and folllow it, too. If 2023 is anything like this year has been, I’m entering the most productive time of my life. Come with me! You’ll also notice that it’s my first project under the M.A. McNease name. It’s me. It’s not a pen name. It’s just part of my renewal. I like it, and I hope readers do, too.

I could not be more pleased to announce the publication of my sister Cathy’s Second Edition In Harmony with the Seasons. The first edition was published in 2014 and now, with 7 new chapters and a new introduction, we’re offering this feat of expertise, experience and wisdom in a new edition. Cathy has been my go-to for medicinal advice for most of my life, and her many years as a master herbalist, teacher and healer make her a second-to-none resource. The new book is available as a Kindle eBook or paperback. Dig in!

About In Harmony with the Seasons: Second Edition

This Second Edition of In Harmony with the Seasons includes a new introduction and seven additional chapters offering Tools for Sanity. It brings us current time in the author’s life, adding lessons learned and knowledge acquired since the First Edition’s publication.

Join co-hosts Mark McNease and Rick Rose as we marvel at the red tide that wasn’t, offer a fond farewell to Nancy Pelosi’s Speakership, give thanks for the Respect for Marriage Act, and take a head-turning spin through the news cycle.

It’s been a long journey for Marshall James. Beginning with ‘Murder at the Paisley Parrot,’ through ‘Beautiful Corpse,’ and now ‘Final Audition,‘ the conclusion of the series. Time marches on for everyone, as it clearly has for Marshall. He’s come full circle, and in this final story he’s given the opportunity to have the ending he’d been denied so many years ago. Will the conclusion of the story bring joy, sorrow, or something else entirely? Find out as Marshall takes us back to a 1980s Los Angeles forgotten by most, a New York City as current as the squeal of subway tracks at dawn, and a bridge he had to cross between them one last time. Now available on Amazon.