When I originally joined Publish0x, it was with the intention of providing quick cryptocurrencies updates. I published in English and French at first and then realised that I could also import my Blog onto the platform.
That Blog, which still lives in the depths of Blogger, is called Intelli Gaming and deals with everything relating to games of all types. Videos games, design, architecture, gameplay, strategy, observations, etc. It also deals with arts and craft somehow because an interest of mine is miniature scenery and modelling.
I then started to learn more about what people were writing about and discussions that were taking place here. I discovered so much variety that I saw in it a medium where I could connect with others and share some of those passions while also getting feedback. To me, an environment where people can say what they want, in written form, with illustrations, and comments is a great tool to have constructive discussions.
I was shocked sometimes at the way people discussed certain subjects in their articles and I got blocked after posting, what I felt, were respectful comments. Not ad-hominem attacks but comments on the subject at hand. That discouraged me because one author in particular has many followers and sponsors. I felt ostracised somehow. But others gave me the kick that I needed to forge ahead, write my articles to illustrate how I felt and most of all, to express what I have to say.
This current article examines some of what I have published on this platform in the past 6 months since I joined. I chose to cover the articles of which I am the most proud and somehow, it is also the articles that took me the most time and for which I did the most research.
Generally, I am trying to cover subjects in chronological order. But that is just a high level organisation and current events may take precedence. My article about the Canadian election is an example of diverting from older works to cover more up to date issues as I see fit.
What this means is that I have a ton of subjects to cover in the future and I am excited about the prospect of being able to expand on some of the Foundations that I laid here.
First, the Pros and Cons and then 3 treats to close Hallow33n. Thanksgiving is for all right now!
The Pros: Top 3 Favourite articles
Those articles are the ones I am the most proud of. I either took more time to write them or they are just more important than others - to my eyes and mind.
A - What's Going on in Xinjiang? Genocide or not?
I made the illustration for the cover and I wanted to illustrate with a cloud of words the topics at hand. The words are somewhat positioned but not in a very strict manner. For example BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South-Africa) and BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) are more on the right in the image, indicating that they belong to the China and Russia. But other words just apply equally to all 3 superpowers. Notice the eyes, all over the picture with a big one at the top, symbolising Big Brother.
My goal with that article was to convince people that the events in Xinjiang (re. Uighurs) are mostly propaganda, aimed at dividing the world. I will write another article in the future about the "Divide and Conquer" principle. It is fundamental.
I am not sure if I wrote this in the article but understand that the world in my view is always in shades of grey. China did some things wrong but the USA did plenty of things wrong. Perhaps not wrong in their respective management of their countries, but wrong from a moral, ethical perspective. But again, to reiterate my point, the world should stand united. There's no reason to be casting blame while suffering endures and the militarisation of the world under false threats from within (humanity itself) is not helping us to progress together, in this civilisation that unites all of us.
B - Encyclopediae Draconnica
Image source from Advanced D&D 2nd Editions, TSR, Wizards of the Coast
I have too many books at home. I haven't read enough in my life. One book I spent too much time on was the 2nd Edition of the Dungeons & Dragons Monstrous Manual, which describes and illustrates tons of fantasy creatures of imagination. I did not really want to review the Manual as it is of a very technical nature, full of rules and numbers.
In the Encyclopediae Draconnica, I took the opportunity, with this Manual, to gather dragons from all over the world, real, imaginary or historical. What took a lot of time was taking the pictures, cropping them, putting the black border around them! (Notice the dragon above has a block border) And then all the links, all the research. At some point, I literally had thirty browser tabs opened, all talking about Dragons!
C - Seeking Truth
I am proud of that article. I wrote it when I felt that disinformation and "echo chambers" of the main stream media (MSM) were getting dangerous in their collusion and self-references. The Eye of the Black hole symbolises the darkest place in the cosmos and the loss of information which it represents.
In other words, seeing how many people have forgotten their own Critical Sense and just gobble up all that they are told as true because of the medium that is used or because they don't seek information elsewhere. Of course, the disinformation I am referring to is about all sorts of theories: 911 attacks, Beirut explosion, flight MH370, the pandemic, the vaccines, etc. So many subjects to look at in the future.
I will here make a confession. If you are reading this article, you will here get a piece of my heart and mind: I spent the last 3 days (Nov. 22, 23 and 24) looking at everything MH370. I still can't say where the victims are today. I wish I could. I just had to move on to other things (such as writing this article here) but mysteries like this, especially when they involve power plays or crime, fascinate me and I feel compelled to examine them. I am curious and I love solving puzzles. That's why I am seeking truth.
One thing is for sure. I now know a lot more about commercial airlines, civil radars, military radars, flight routes, the geography of Malaysia and Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia. I've learnt about the Diego Garcia military base of the USA, about the Maldive islands and about transponders. I also learned about passports, flight protocols, nationalities, crisis response groups and military exercises. And semi-conductor technology! All of which will allow me to write better articles in the future.
The Cons: Bottom 3 Worst articles
The three articles that I dislike myself, not because they are bad but mostly because they are short and did not get the attention they deserved when I wrote them. And by attention, I mean my own attention towards that article.
A - Techbots vs. Duke Nukem
Its not a game I recommend. It is really old and I didn't have much to say in the article to review it. I still put the efforts, of course, but to be honest, I just wanted that game to be checked (reviewed), which then allowed me to move on to others. I don't recommend you to read that article either! But if Techbots invade Earth... my article will be crucial and I will get so many tips that I will be rich. That was my plan.
B - Bought New Dragon Princes of Caledor - Ulthuan.net
This article was directly imported from Intelli Gaming and I just wanted to share that the forces of good were getting stronger. With the addition of new Dragon Princes to my army, the forces of evil and division, the Greater Demons of Chaos such as Tzeentch, will have a much harder time to overcome the forces of good.
The future article I will write about the entire battalion of Dragon Princes and their standard bearers, banners, heraldry and weapons and armours will be more interesting.
C - Magic the Gathering: Duel of the Central Bankers
This was just to share my caricatures of the central bankers in a Magic the Gathering style format. And please note that the honourable Treasury Secretary Yellen did not really say that quote. That quote comes from my imagination. Do I have too much time on my hands to be making fake Magic cards that caricature central bankers to illustrate my criticism of their actions? Yes, probably.
And yet... Lo and behold! 7 years later, interest rates are still at zero! Patience, she said. Patience!
As such, it is not really an article but much more a part of my journey and creative accomplishments that would otherwise have fallen into Oblivion.
3 for Hallow33n
I missed the writing contest of the @Theblackdoll on Read.cash this year for Halloween. I will submit one article next year for sure. But for now, I just wanted to illustrate some articles that I wrote which fit very well in the themes of horror, scary novels and everything supernatural.
A - A Black Cat and a Yellow Room
A review of an important detective novel which features a black cat. Murder, mystery and suspense.
B - Metamorphoses
The title is the plural of metamorphosis. Because the article illustrates many such transformations. The cover was edited to include an original cover for Kafka's story, as well as art from John Blanche which I had just covered, as well a Yellow Room and a Black Cat. The dead mouse is the victim. But so was Gregor Samsa.
C - Dracula Moonlight Sonata
(Above: Image source from Advanced D&D 2nd Editions, Ravenloft, TSR, Wizards of the Coast)
Dracula and the Théâtre des Vampires have both heavily inspired my conception of romantic horror. I should add that some of my past partners have coerced me, against my will, to watch The Beauty and the Beast, all of it, which has also influenced my view of such topics. If there is such a Beauty out there, I should bring her to my castle!
I recommend to read Dracula more and watch the Beauty and the Beast less. You should keep that in mind as the year pass in your life and the Beast gets re-imagined and re-released again, and again, and again...
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Coming Up Next
The next article will be about the Seven Wonders of the World. It is a subject that has been written about on this platform in the past however I want to seek inspiration in those and attempt to synthesise and illustrate all of it. Subscribe today so you don't miss out on future post! Again, thanks for reading!
