Corrupting Power
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Weekly Update - 1/22/25
🕑 Added 2025-01-23 00:40:03 +0000 UTCIt's not been a great week, so for those of you who just want to know what's happening (and get angry when I talk my personal life and/or politics), there'll be a Breakpoint chapter up as soon as I can get it finished, and Quaranteam: Phil's Tale for probably Saturday or maybe even Sunday, as I'm going to need a little bit of help in proofing it (especially since it's going to set the tone for some upcoming stuff). The What Am I Writing poll for this month currently has Captains' Days one vote ahead of Amor Ex Machina and two votes ahead of The Threadbinders so if you're considering upgrading to vote for this month, you've still got a few days left. Those of you who don't want politics, tap out here. Those of you who are with me for everything, let me tell you a bit more about my last week.
On Wednesday of last week, I got a call from a dear old friend of mine who had some emergency work that needed doing. This person's one of my oldest and closest friends, so I agreed to take the work on, and that consumed a lot of last week, but on the plus sides, I got to help an old friend out and the emergency reserve coffers got filled up a bit.
That brings us to Monday, which was the darkest day this country has had politically in lifetimes. 1500+ people who treasonably attacked our capitol building were set free, people who assaulted the very seat of our government, attacked law enforcement, and generally wanted to disrupt the rule of law. These people attacked cops, and law enforcement is completely against their release, so for those of you trying to argue this is just politics as usual, grow up and see yourself out. And when you have to call the police to protect you from these people raiding your house? I hope you'll let them know how much you were in favor of their release.
Add in the fact that a major project I spent hundreds of hours working on was summarily dismissed on Tuesday, with basically no reason given beyond "I just wasn't feeling it" and that's a little bit crushing. The project is still mine, I can continue to shop it around, but I'd spent a lot of time on this thing, and it felt like it was going to get a greenlight. I still think it's one of the best things I've ever done. The lack of feedback is what really stung the most, though.
So I was drinking quite a bit on Monday and Tuesday and that made focus particularly hard, and I'm sorry for that, but I sort of needed to figure out how to mentally cope with seeing Nazi salutes on my television and that person not being shamed out of existence immediately. That kind of stuff takes a mental toll on even the strongest of us, and the last time I had to deal with all this shit at the beginning of 2017, I was shacking up with a gorgeous brunette who could at least make me sleep a little easier. No such luck these days.
Between all that and the LA fires, 2025 is turning out to be the shittiest of years I've had in decades, and the first month isn't even fucking over yet. Blargh.
Being creative for a living isn't just put X amount of time in and get Y number of words out. Some days I wish that it was. (Other days I totally don't because I'll get on a tear and pour out an insane amount of stuff.)
I'm doing what I can to get a handle on things again, but here's what the rest of the month is going to look like, including a couple of things I'm hoping to cram in, but we'll see. I still need to get this month's QTUM commission done, as well as A Pack Of His Own. (I owe a QTSS as well, but the commissioner of that's very patient with me, thank God.) I'm going to have QT: Phil's Tale ready probably Saturday or Sunday, although maybe a miracle will happen, and it'll be ready Friday. It'll likely be Pack next Tuesday, and then whatever the You Decide! ends up being on Friday.
If I can get my brain ramped back up again, I'll try cramming additional things into the schedule to fill in for other things I owe - QT2:i7, QTSS, BB, probably in that order. I'm fairly certain I'll be able to knock out 2:i7 before the end of the month (mostly because I know exactly what goes in there, and it's something people have been asking for in terms of QT continuity for a long time) and we'll see how things move forward with the rest of it. I just heard back from QTSS's commissioner that they're happy with the first draft of QTSS3, which means I'm good to move on to QTSS4 for them and once that's close to done, I can post QTSS2 to all subscribers and QTSS3 to alphas.
Here's what I should have out to the free sites for the next month or so: 1/25 - QT2:27; 2/1 - Neon Stonehenge 8; 2/8 - QT2:28; 2/15 - Captains' Days 3; 2/22 - NS 9; 3/1 - A Pack Of His Own 14.
Things'll turn around eventually, and sooner or later, some of these fucking criminals will actually go and serve some jail time. As John Rogers once wrote:
"Rule One: Where there is value, there is crime.
Rule Two: A fine is a price.
Rule Three: Nothing ever stops until a Rich White Guy goes to jail.
Rule Four: There are no Moriartys.
Rule Five: Everyone can be conned."
We'll get through this. Remember, you're allowed to have bad days, as long as you pick yourself back up and try and get some good ones to counter it. I'm doing my best to remember that myself.
Comments
WSV
Best to you as you go through your treatments in order to recover and move forward. Here's hoping you caught it early and that the treatments do the trick, for you!
Admiral Ale
CP, I wrote on my tablet's calendar "2025. Sad day for America". Con Don (The Bottomfeeder) is about to turn us into a 3d rate country. Oky, next, 2 chapters of Neon headhog or whatever. How many read that? I just know, I don't. Finally, YOU take care of yourself, first! As I have found out that I have the BIG C. This and the next couple months I have treatments. I will look forward to your new QT and rereading some other storylines while rest after my treatments. And as always, STAY SAFE & WELL. Aboard The U.S.S. Carnes.
Lwcby
Hey, I feel your pain... I quit my job and moved from a red state to Washington state. Couldn't handle those scumbag magats. Now I'm living in my camper trailer on savings looking for work. At least I'm not in jail for beating the hell out of one of them. BTW, when that guy said we won, my reply would have been yeah but America lost... Take care, hopefully the traitor doesn't invade our allies territory... Later, LW
Jeffrey Sutyla
I'm with you on being appalled at the Nazi salute on TV and the fact that the one giving it wasn't immediately reviled for his actions. We are definitely in for some incomprehensible times during these next few years. Like I have seen you and others say: be kind to yourself.
Shawn Jacques
Your stories are a great break for a lot of us here, so despite the utter insanity of the rest of the world, there are fun and creative and amazing thing going on - like the stories you produce. Don't worry about taking some time for self-care now and then, even if the writing slows down for a bit - you're only human too, just like the rest of us. And, we certainly appreciate all the cool places and interesting people you let us get to know through your work. Helping light other people's lamps is a good way to spend your days, and you do a lot that. So, thanks for that :-)
WSV
I will assume that your audience crosses a spectrum politically and socially, so some may take exception to your anger and frustration. I don't. For the sake of my own sanity and sense of safety, I took a break - mostly - from the news and politics of these trying times since November 6th. I have not watched more than a couple inadvertent snippets of news since the 6th of November, which has kept the blood pressure in check. I do read some things though, especially the daily writings at Electoral-Vote.com and by Professor Heather Richardson. Both helped put the transition period into a newsy, but scholarly, understanding. Enough to get some of the juices turning, but a bit more dispassionate than watching the angst every day on MSNBC. I did keep in touch with two liberal websites - Daily Kos and Raw Story - but not on an every day basis. But now that we began the new Administration, I have been capturing links - with some occasional commentary of my own - documenting things that are reported out on Day One, Day Two, now Day Three - and posting at my Facebook page. I have many like-minded friends who give positive feedback, and a couple distant MAGA relatives who I think are trying to hold back on their outrage over how my links capture their MAGA God in action. It will be an interesting month or year or four-years ahead, won't it? But you, me, we're not alone in this.
Dennis McNulty
As a retired police officer, I too am outraged at what occurred but can only hope karma comes back around at some point. Feel right in the knowledge that we are better than those involved.
Gune
As an Australian I don’t have as big a horse in American politics but I feel for all those who see common sense dismissed and the current pres currently sitting in seat. I don’t get how he got in and frankly scares the crap out of me whenever he opens his mouth. Relations will sour but hopefully only for the next four years. If the world can weather it we will all hopefully be better for it. Sending happy thoughts and joy to those that currently are not feeling it
